Sixty seconds now feels more like thirty
Tick-tock, won't stop, around it goes
Sand through the glass sure falls in a hurry
And all you keep trying to do is slow it down, soak it in
Keep trying to make the good times last as long as you can
But you can't, man
It just goes too fast
~Fast, Luke Bryan~
Emma and Killian were walking away from her yellow bug and making their way toward the high school baseball field.
The blonde noticed that her husband kept looking behind him with his eyes roaming the parking lot.
She then asked, "Killian, what are you doing?"
"Love, we both know that there wasn't any real reason that Liam had to be here half-an-hour early," he stated matter-of-factly without looking at her.
Emma shook her head before she pointed out, "I say wanting to hang out with Grace before the game is a good reason."
Killian turned toward her with narrowed eyes and told her, "And by hanging out, you mean asking her on a date."
"Well, he is 16, and you know he has liked her for a while, and she likes him back. Them dating is pretty much the next step."
"That doesn't mean I have to like it."
Emma sighed in response, and Killian asked, "What is it, love?"
She ran her fingers through her hair before she responded, "It's just that, well, I thought we established that you were too overprotective over Anna Elizabeth up until she was married. I'm not saying you shouldn't try to protect our kids, but you can be over-zealous. I was hoping to avoid that with Liam."
Killian sighed as well as he thought over her words. He then admitted, "I know, love. I'm trying, but I believe the only way I can be protective is to be overprotective."
Emma offered her husband a small smile as she reached over to squeeze his hand. She then told him, "We'll figure it just like we do everything else."
"Together," he supplied as he returned her smile. She then reached up to kiss his cheek as they continued making their way toward the field.
When they had arrived at the bleachers, they were greeted by Leo shouting, "Uncle Killian! Aunt Emma!"
Both of them smiled at the four-year-old before Killian ruffled the boy's brown locks. Emma then asked the little boy, "Are you excited to watch Uncle Liam?"
"I love baseball! Grandpa says I can play too when I'm big!" Leo exclaimed.
"Did he now?" Emma responded, with a teasing smile toward her brother. David simply shrugged before he responded, "What can I say? Playing baseball is a family tradition," resulting in laughs and head shakes from his family.
Leo then chimed in, "What's a tadition?"
"Well, sweetie, you know how we all eat at Aunt Regina and Uncle Robin's for Thanksgiving?" Mary Margaret asked her grandson.
He nodded, and she continued, "That is a tradition. It's something that families always do together, and it's very special. Baseball is a tradition because a lot of people in our family played it."
The little boy nodded in understanding. He then stated, "I'm hungry and thirsty."
"I'll take you to the concession stand," David told him. He then began to get up when Anna Elizabeth spoke, "Let me take him. I'm thirsty myself."
David nodded before he handed her a few dollars. She then got up and Leo asked, "Can you give me a piggy back ride, Aunt Anna Lizabeth?"
She smiled at the little boy as she answered, "I'd love to." As she began to lift him up, Calin began to protest, "I'm not sure…"
He was cut off by a glare from his wife. He bit his lip and quickly recovered, "Uh, that is, I'm not sure you remembered to bring your wallet. You were so determined to finish grading those tests before we came here."
Anna Elizabeth offered him a grateful smile before she teased, "I remembered. I'm not completely scatter-brained, you know."
Calin only shook his head before he watched her make her way to the concession stand. That glare was noticed by his mother-in-law, but she chose to let it go for now.
Just then, Emma happened to see her son talking to Grace by the fence. The 16-year-old was scratching his ear, and the blonde couldn't help but grin at the nervous gesture inherited from Killian.
Emma then turned her attention back to her family, and she began laughing at something her brother was saying.
However, everyone's eyes soon turned toward the baseball field when they heard a loud and resounding, "Jones! Get over here!"
Liam's face instantly turned red. He scratched behind his ear once more before bidding a quick goodbye to Grace. He then ran over to the dugout.
Though everyone felt bad for the teenage boy's ego, they couldn't help but chuckle lightly. David then teased, "Like father, like son."
Killian immediately defended, "I don't know what you're talking about, mate." His words held no meaning, however, when he started to scratch behind his ear.
Emma then playfully spoke, "He's got a point there. I've always been a distraction for you."
"Oh, that door swings both ways, Emma," Mary Margaret added with a grin.
The blonde ran her fingers through her hair before she pointed out, "You know, I would have thought that the teasing would have stopped after 18 years of marriage."
"Don't count on it. One of the jobs of family is to make fun of each other," David told his sister with a grin. She only shook her head in response while everyone else chuckled.
Mary Margaret then added, "David and I have been married for quite a few years longer than you two have, yet Regina still brings up how we are 'annoyingly cutesy'. Emphasis on annoying."
"That's because Her Majesty feels the need to always be right," Killian stated.
Emma smacked his arm before she asked, "Where are Regina and Robin anyway?"
"They went to the city to visit Roland, Rilynn, and little Luke," Mary Margaret explained.
The blonde smiled at her sister-in-law as she asked, "How old is he now?" "He just turned a year old," the pixie-haired brunette answered as she beamed.
Emma smiled once more as she noticed that her daughter and Leo were returning, with a blushing Grace with them.
When the teenage girl sat down, she was nervously twirling her hair between her fingers. Emma then assured her, "Don't worry about it, kid. Everyone gets embarrassed at one point or another. My second date was a double date with David and Mary Margaret, and you should have seen him."
Grace couldn't help but chuckle before she spoke, "Thank you, Emma." The blonde smiled and nodded before the brunette commented, "I'm really glad that you guys are cool with Liam and I dating."
"Of course we are, kid. He talked about you a lot anyway, and he's done it even more in the last two months he's been 16," Emma assured her. She then grinned and added, "I'm sure that Aurora and Phillip can relate."
Grace blushed once more before she agreed, "Yeah, they can." She then added, "I still can't believe Liam talked to them before asking me out."
Emma smiled as she spoke, "Well, the idea of respect was taught to him, but that was all his idea because of how much – and how long – he has liked you."
The 17-year-old girl offered a shy smile as she admitted, "Well, he wasn't the only one." She then turned her attention to the baseball field, where the game was starting.
Emma then glanced over at her husband, who was wearing a longing expression. She pulled him from his thoughts when she whispered, "It'll be alright, Killian."
He simply nodded in response before Emma looped her arm through his and entwined their fingers. Both of them then turned their attention to the field to proudly watch their son.
CSCSCSCSCSCSCS
When the game had ended, Liam walked over to his family carrying his baseball bat, glove, and helmet, and he was sporting a red clay stained uniform.
David then told him, "That was a pretty impressive slide into home to win the game," with a smile.
The dark-haired teenager returned the smile as he responded, "Thanks, Uncle David." The man nodded in response.
He then felt that Leo was trying to climb down off his shoulders. He only shook his head before placing his grandson on the ground.
The four-year-old instantly ran over to Liam and asked, "Can I put on your helmet?"
"I'm not sure it'll fit," he replied as he bent down on the little boy's level. Leo simply shrugged in response as though it didn't matter.
Liam couldn't help but smile before he placed the helmet over Leo's head. The teenager then spoke, "Now you look like a real baseball player," before he stood back up.
Leo beamed as he turned to face the rest of the family. Mary Margaret then told her grandson, "You are so handsome! I think we have to get a picture for Mommy."
The little boy nodded excitedly before Mary Margaret reached to grab her phone. Leo then turned and looked up at Liam and asked, "Will you be in the picture with me?"
Liam smiled as he bent down once and answered, "Sure thing, buddy." Leo returned his uncle's smile before he grabbed the baseball glove.
The brown-haired boy then faced his grandmother, while Liam adjusted his bat and did the same. Both of them smiled brightly before Mary Margaret snapped the picture.
Liam then stood back up, and Leo handed the baseball gear back to him. The little boy then ran back over to his grandparents.
Mary Margaret then lamented, "I so wish that Evie wouldn't have had to work today, and that August and Belle didn't have that literary conference four hours away. They would have loved being with all of us and watching the game."
"Yeah, they would have," Emma wistfully agreed. She then took a breath and stated matter-of-factly, "But, Evie is one of the best nurses that they have, and there was an emergency. And those conferences are part of August and Belle's job so that they can become a better editor and writer."
The pixie-haired brunette nodded with a sigh, and David ran a soothing hand up and down her back. He then told her, "Emma is right. We all have obligations, and sometimes, we can't get out of them."
"But we've still all managed to come together quite a few times as a family," Killian added with a smile.
His smile was returned by all before Anna Elizabeth teased her younger brother, "And now, aside from that winning run, we get to talk about Liam's first date and girlfriend," though her teasing was overshadowed by the nostalgic tone of her voice.
The teenage boy blushed and scratched behind his ear before he elbowed his sister in the arm. He then complained, "She'll be over here any second – don't embarrass me!"
"I would never do that, Liam," Anna Elizabeth answered honestly, and he smiled back in response.
Just then, Grace came back from talking to some friends and asked Liam, "You ready to go to the park?"
"Totally," he answered as he smiled at her. The two of them then goodbye before they began making their way toward their vehicles.
"Just make sure that you're home before dinner, kid," Emma told her son. "I will be, Mom," he responded.
As he and Grace began walking away, he was stopped by a surprising, yet not unwelcome hug from his sister.
Liam furrowed his brows but hugged her back nonetheless.
When they pulled apart, she told him, "Have fun, little bro." He rolled his eyes and muttered, "Younger."
They then bid goodbye once more before he and Grace headed toward the parking lot. The rest of the family followed suit.
Emma then turned toward her husband and asked, "Ready to go?" "Aye, love," he answered before he grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers.
As they were walking toward the bug, Killian was wearing a contemplative expression.
He then commented, "Swan, I noticed that Anna Elizabeth was acting a bit odd."
"Odd how?" Emma asked.
"She just seemed rather emotional. More so than usual," he answered.
"I think that you're looking too much into things, Killian. She seemed perfectly normal to me," the blonde defended.
"So, the way that Calin was being a bit overly protective is perfectly normal, too, Swan?" he retorted.
"If something was wrong, which I'm sure that there isn't, she would tell us. You're overreacting," Emma stated.
"You and I both know that Anna Elizabeth is a lot like Liam and Elsa in that she doesn't want anyone to worry about her. She likely won't tell us unless we ask her about it," Killian defended.
Emma ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. She was silent for a few moments before she took a deep breath and told him, "I promise you that she's fine. It's just, well, you know that I'm not one to be overly emotional. But there was one time that I was. Do you remember?"
"Aye, love. When you were pregnant," Killian simply responded. A moment later, his eyes widened, and he asked in a surprised tone, "Anna Elizabeth is pregnant!?"
Emma rolled her eyes before she pointed out, "They are married, Killian. It was bound to happen sooner or later."
He took a deep breath before he looked over at his daughter's retreating form. He then spoke, "Perhaps I should go check on her."
His wife sighed as she told him, "You're doing it."
"Doing what, Swan?" he asked confusedly.
"Hovering," Emma replied.
"That's ridiculous. I do not hover," Killian defended.
"Are you kidding me?" Emma disbelieving stated with crossed arms. At her husband's raised eyebrow, she continued, "You always hover."
Killian crossed his arms as he pointed out, "I do have a right. She is my daughter."
"Who may not even be pregnant. Even if she is, she might not know it," Emma told him.
"Shouldn't that be something that she does know?" he asked as he tilted his head.
"Killian, we were trying for a baby, and it didn't even register with me until I was at the doctor's office."
He sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. He then told her, "Fine, love. I see your point."
Emma nodded her head satisfactorily before she told him, "You know, you can be just as stubborn as I am when it comes to our kids."
"Well, Swan, it must be all the time I've spent with you," he teased with a grin. He then kissed the side of her head.
Emma only grinned and shook her head before she entwined their fingers, and they continued making their way toward the bug.
That night, Killian and Liam had just finished putting away the dishes. When they walked into the living room, Emma thanked them.
"It's the least we could do after you prepared such a delicious meal," Killian told her when he had joined her on the couch. He then kissed her cheek.
Emma smiled at him before Liam added, "You are a good cook, Mom. You could be on one of those food competition things."
The blonde couldn't help but grin as she pointed out, "Thank you, Liam. But I'm not sure I'm quite that good."
The dark-haired teenager simply shrugged before the three of them heard a knock at the door.
"That's Anna Elizabeth. She's gonna fix the button on my dress shirt," Liam announced.
His parents nodded before he headed toward the door.
"My shirt's in my room. I'll go grab it," he told his sister as soon as he opened the door.
She smiled and nodded before she stepped inside the house.
When she walked into the living room, Killian was standing up. He told her, "I'm going to fix some hot tea. Fancy a cup, love?"
"No thanks, Dad," Anna Elizabeth answered.
He raised an eyebrow as he observed, "Are you alright? You never turn down tea."
She twirled a curl around her finger as she assured him, "I'm fine. I just don't want any."
Killian nodded satisfactorily before he headed toward the kitchen. A moment later, he stated, "Ah, of course - caffeine isn't good for the baby."
Anna Elizabeth's blue eyes widened, and she saw her mother bury her face in her hands. The curly blonde then whisper yelled, "Both of you know?"
Killian then defended, "It isn't your mother's fault, love. I noticed that you were rather over emotional at the game, and I was worried about you. Emma tried to reassure me, but as usual, I was just a tad overprotective."
"A tad?" his wife pointed out. He just rolled his eyes in response.
Emma then asked, "How long have you known?"
"A few weeks," Anna Elizabeth answered. She then took a deep breath and continued, "But the only people who know besides me and Calin are Dr. Whale and Evie. And the only reason she knows is because she was my nurse that day."
Killian confusedly asked, "Why the secrecy, Anna Elizabeth? Don't you and Calin want children?"
"Of course we do! We're absolutely thrilled about it!" she clarified. She then spoke, "You guys know that all Liam has talked about since his birthday is asking out Grace. I refuse to take away from or overshadow his first date."
Both Emma and Killian smiled at their daughter before he told her, "You are an amazing sister." Emma then added, "And you'll be an amazing mother."
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly at their words before she spoke, "Thank you guys."
They nodded before the three of them noticed Liam coming out of his room. They quickly schooled their faces before he arrived in the living room.
When the teenage boy handed the navy blue shirt to his sister, he apologized, "Sorry it took so long. It was shoved in the back of the closet."
Anna Elizabeth simply nodded before Emma spoke, "That explains why it has so many wrinkles."
Liam couldn't help but roll his eyes while Killian grinned from the kitchen.
Anna Elizabeth then said, "I can iron it. I have to do the same thing with Calin's dress shirts - he just throws them anywhere. I swear he is worse than a child."
Her parents and brother couldn't help but chuckle before Emma observed, "Well, I'd say that the honeymoon phase is officially over," with a grin.
Though Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes, her face couldn't help but form a grin as well.
When Killian, with a mug in his hand, returned to the living room, Liam excitedly asked, "Is that hot chocolate?"
"Afraid not, lad. It's hot tea," Killian told his son and then watched as his teenager's face contorted in disgust as he commented, "Yuck."
The dark-haired man rolled his eyes before he stated, "It seems that you've gotten more of your mother's American genes."
"Coming from the guy who spent most of his life in America," Emma quipped.
Anna Elizabeth and Liam couldn't help but laugh out loud, and they were soon joined by their parents.
When they had all sobered, Anna Elizabeth spoke, "I should be getting home, you guys."
Liam then chimed in, "And you're sure you'll have my shirt finished by Friday?" She smiled as she answered, "You bet."
He returned her smile and nodded in response. The four of them then bid their goodbyes before Anna Elizabeth made her way out of the house.
The dark-haired teenager then suggested, "You guys wanna help me on Mario? I'm stuck on this one stupid level."
Killian and Emma couldn't help but grin. He then answered his son, "Sounds like fun, lad."
Liam nodded satisfactorily before Emma added, "While you guys do that, I'm gonna hop in the shower.
She then rose from the couch and headed toward she and Killian's bedroom.
A few minutes later, the game was set up, and Killian was about to start playing. However, he soon heard his son's frustrated grunt.
He turned to Liam and asked, "Everything alright, lad?"
"I'm fine, Dad," Liam answered, a bit annoyed.
Killian sighed before he sympathetically spoke, "You know you can tell me anything."
The teenage boy was silent for a few moments as he looked at his phone. He then took a deep breath and admitted, "It's Grace. Things were so awkward when we were hanging out at the park, and when we're trying to text each other. It's like we don't know how to talk to each other because I asked her out. It's so lame."
"It's not lame, lad. It's perfectly understandable. But you don't have to lose your friendship with Grace," Killian tried to reassure.
"Dad, she's, like, my girlfriend now. We can't be just friends," Liam pointed out.
"I know, but she doesn't necessarily have to stop being your best friend," Killian rationed.
"She can't be both," the teenager argued.
Killian had to refrain from shaking his head. Liam was so stubborn, just like his mother.
The dark-haired man then took a deep breath and tried again, "Tell me, lad, have you heard about your mother and I's first date?"
"No," he simply answered, with curiosity in those blue-green eyes.
"Well, it started out as a bloody awkward mess," Killian began. His son raised an eyebrow and asked, "Really?"
"Indeed it was," Killian answered. He then elaborated, "When I picked her up, we only greeted each other before we resorted to looking at our shoes. After a few moments, I spoke about the restaurant, and those were the only words spoken between her apartment and our destination. After we had been seated and had ordered, we commenced horrid small talk about the weather and the monotonous details of our jobs. The tension between us could have been cut with a knife. In truth, it was rather disastrous."
"How did you guys fix it?" the teenage boy asked.
"Well, things began shifting when I began reaching for the breadsticks in the middle of the table. I bumped your mother's water, and it spilled all over her dress," Killian stated. He couldn't help but find his son's widened eyes to be quite funny.
The dark-haired man then continued, "I was totally humiliated, but, to my surprise, Emma was laughing. I asked, 'What's so bloody funny about ruining the perfect date?' I then added that it had already been ruined by the fact that we couldn't bloody talk to each other. Your mother replied with, 'That's the problem. We're trying too hard to make this perfect.' "
Liam's brows furrowed as he spoke, "Dad, that doesn't even make sense. Girls like for stuff to be "romantic" and "perfect,"" with clear confusion at what both those ideas actually meant.
Killian grinned before he finished, "Perhaps, but real love doesn't require all of that. I'm not saying you shouldn't make an effort, but it's often the simple things that mean the most. Emma and I were so caught up in trying to live up to some romantic ideal that we had forgotten the reasons we fell in love in the first place. Do you understand, lad?"
The dark-haired teenager took a few moments to think before he answered, "Yeah, I got it. I should think about something that Grace and I both like and figure out how to make a date out of it. That way, we can still talk like friends, but we can be on a date, too."
"That's it, Liam. You always were a clever lad," Killian proudly told him. He then continued, "You get that from me," with a grin.
Liam rolled his eyes before he said, "You're such a dork."
"So your sister used to tell me," Killian replied, still wearing that grin.
His son rolled his eyes before he pointed out, "You gonna help me beat this level or not?"
Killian only shook his head before he dramatically answered, "Yes, lad. I shall defeat that wretched Bowser and rescue the fair Princess Peach."
Liam only rolled his eyes once more before he began watching his dad play the game.
Once Killian had defeated the level, he handed the controller back to Liam. As Killian watched his son become engrossed with Mario, he was reminded of when Liam was a child.
He sighed as he thought about it didn't seem like Liam should be old enough to receive dating advice, but here they were. In a week's time, Liam would be going on his very first date, and Killian still didn't know how to feel about it.
Seeing Anna Elizabeth off to prom with her first boyfriend was one of the hardest things that Killian has ever had to do. With her hair all pushed to one side and that blue dress, she looked so much like Elsa that it was almost too much.
And then there was Liam. The son who reminded Killian so much of himself. In more ways than Killian wanted to admit. His saving grace in all of this was that Emma was by his side.
Though the song had nothing to do with the title I chose, I couldn't help but think of the song since it does apply to the concept of this one-shot . :)
I didn't intend for this to span two chapters, but that's what happened. I hope y'all enjoyed it thus far. :)
I also wanted to let y'all know that I'm starting back college on Monday, so I won't have as much time to write. Y'all will have to be patient with me :). Until Part Two, my lovelies!