Hi, everyone! I just wanted to tell y'all that the next several one-shots (as well as Too Fast) are all requests. I will not be taking any more because I have so many to write, but if you did request something, you will see it soon! :)
Elsa had just settled on the couch with Anna Elizabeth in her arms. The six-week-old had fallen asleep in her mother's arms, and Elsa just wanted to rock her.
Just then, she heard a knock at the door. She slowly and quietly got up and made her way to the door.
She opened and was greeted with a smiling Emma. The blonde quickly apologized, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know she was sleeping."
"You're fine, Emma. Don't worry about it," Elsa assured her friend with a smile. Emma smiled back before she was ushered inside the house.
When they had settled on the couch, Emma handed her a friend a pink bag. She then told the new mom, "I know I've hardly been by here to see Anna Elizabeth, and I hope this makes up for it."
Elsa shook her head before she pointed out, "You're the sheriff, Emma. That's pretty much the most important job in town – I completely understand."
Emma offered a grateful smile before she spoke, "Even so, I saw this at the store, and I thought it would so adorable on Anna Elizabeth."
Elsa smiled before she carefully adjusted her baby girl in her arms. With her free hand, she reached into the bag and pulled out two onesies.
One of the onesies was white, and it had pink and black writing that read "Daddy's Little Girl". Silver, glittery hearts surrounded the words, and a white and black polka-dot bow was on one of the shoulders. The other onesie was black, and it had silver glitter and hot pink writing on it that read "Mommy's Little Princess". A silver glitter crown was above the words, and a hot pink bow was on one of the shoulders.
Elsa's smile grew bright as she spoke, "Oh, Emma, they are absolutely precious. I love them. Thank you so much."
"You are so welcome," she responded with a bright smile. She then asked, "Do you want me to put them in the nursery?"
The new mom nodded in response before she handed her friend the bag. Emma then got up and headed from the living room.
When she came back from the nursery, she asked, "Who gave Anna Elizabeth the Disney princess mobile?"
"It was a gift from Anna. Even though she's already bought so much, she insisted that her favorite niece have something that isn't just about practicality," Elsa fondly spoke with a wide smile.
Emma couldn't help but smile at her friend's words. However, the new mom's smile soon faltered, and Emma surmised, "You miss her, don't you?"
"Every time she leaves to go back to Denmark," Elsa admitted. She then took a deep breath and continued, "You think it'd be easier since she's lived there for years."
"But she's still your easily excitable and impulsive younger sister that you love dearly," Emma supplied.
"And whom I still feel like I need to take care of, despite the fact that she's married with a child," Elsa added.
"I'm sure you'll always feel that way. I know that Anna was already a senior in high school when you guys' parents passed, but you still took care of her. You guys were already incredibly close, and you became even closer. There is nothing wrong with you still wanting to make sure that she's okay," Emma assured her friend.
Elsa smiled as she spoke, "Thank you, Emma. I needed to hear that – sometimes I feel that I worry too much." She then added, "And so does Liam," with a light chuckle.
Emma chuckled lightly as well before she spoke, "Well, you know, I think it's the job of older brothers to be overprotective."
"I think that David just wants to make sure you're alright after everything that happened with Neal," the braided blonde perceptively responded.
"I'm fine. I've completely forgiven him, and I'm over him," Emma tried to defend, only to receive a knowing look from Elsa in response.
Emma then sighed and resigned, "Okay, fine. I'm on my way to complete forgiveness and being over him. I just haven't quite got there yet."
"A broken heart does take time to heal, and you will get there," Elsa assured her with a comforting tone. Emma offered a grateful smile before she reached over to squeeze her friend's hand.
Elsa smiled back before she teased, "I may not know the exact time frame, but it will probably take longer than four and a half months," with a grin.
Her blonde friend rolled her eyes before she conceded, "I know you're right. Patience just isn't my strongest suit."
"I know," Elsa simply responded, still wearing that grin.
Emma eyed her friend for a moment before she spoke, "Can we just change the subject?" The new mom nodded, but before either one of the women could speak, Anna Elizabeth was waking up.
Elsa smiled as she softly talked to her daughter, "Hello, my precious girl. Mommy has some news for you – Emma came to see you."
The blonde in question smiled before she moved from the loveseat to the couch. She took Anna Elizabeth's small hand in hers as she told the baby girl, "Hey, Anna Elizabeth. I'm so glad to see you."
Elsa smiled at the sight before she asked, "Do you want to hold her?" Emma looked up at her friend and smiled as she answered, "I'd love to."
Elsa then gently passed the baby to her friend. Anna Elizabeth squirmed a bit, but then settled in Emma's arms.
The new mom noticed that the blonde was a natural, and she commented, "You're so good with her."
Emma didn't look up from the baby as she simply nodded her response. She watched the little girl for a few moments before she looked up and observed, "Speaking of being good with her, Killian told me that you and Liam asked him to be Anna Elizabeth's godfather."
"I feel like there's a question of why in there," Elsa stated.
"Oh, don't get me wrong – Killian is great with kids. He is a little unsure of himself, and he doesn't always know quite what to do with them, but he is a natural. He'll figure it out," Emma immediately clarified.
Elsa was a little surprised that her friend knew all of this about Killian after only knowing him a few months. However, she chose not to dwell on it.
She then simply stated, "Liam and I did a lot of talking, and we knew that he was the best choice. He will do an amazing job of raising her should anything happen to us."
"Which it won't," Emma added, with a pointed look toward her friend. Elsa shook her head before she spoke, "It doesn't hurt to have a plan just in case."
Emma took a deep breath before she resigned, "I guess not." She then looked back down at the baby girl in her arms. A moment later, she heard her friend's voice, "Since you're here, would you mind watching and holding her a bit so I can do some laundry?"
"Of course not. I don't mind at all," Emma assured Elsa when she had looked back up. The new mom offered a grateful smile before she began heading toward the laundry room.
However, she stopped and turned back around. She then added, "If she gets a little fussy, she probably just wants you to sing to her. Sometimes, it's the only way to get her to go to sleep."
Emma nodded in response before she watched Elsa leave the room. When the blonde looked back down at Anna Elizabeth, she started whining a bit – as though she were on cue.
"Shhh, it's okay, Anna Elizabeth," Emma gently told the baby girl. She then remembered Elsa's advice and continued, "You know, when I went to visit Mary Margaret and Evie the other day, they were watching Snow White. I bet you would love that one song as much as Evie does."
Emma then paused a moment as she thought about the lyrics to said song. When she had remembered them, she began to sing, "Someday my prince will come. Someday we'll meet again, and away to his castle we'll go to be happy forever I know. Someday when spring is here, we'll find our love anew, and the birds will sing and wedding bells will ring. Someday when my dreams come true."
Elsa had caught the last part of the song as she strolled into the living room, and she couldn't help but smile at the sound.
Even after Anna Elizabeth had fallen asleep, Emma continued to watch her. The baby girl was so peaceful; there had been quite a few times in the last few months that Emma had longed for that very feeling.
The blonde then heard Elsa break the silence, "You know, sometimes, I envy how well she sleeps. She doesn't have a care in the world."
Emma couldn't help but grin and shake her head. She shouldn't be surprised that Elsa could read her mind – they were best friends.
As Elsa sat down beside Emma, the new mom spoke, "It looks like she fell back asleep. I think I'll take her back to the nursery."
Emma nodded before she carefully passed the baby to her friend.
When Elsa returned a few minutes later, she immediately turned on the baby monitor before sitting back on the couch.
When she had turned her attention back to Emma, the blonde was wearing a smile that Elsa couldn't quite read.
"What is it?" Elsa asked curiously.
"Well, I was thinking about when we were in high school. You were adamant that dating wasn't for you, even though you saw how happy your sister was with Kristoff and how happy David and Mary Margaret were. You were absolutely certain that you would never fall in love, but you were still happy and content as you could be."
Elsa smiled fondly as she answered, "And then I met Liam. He was everything I never knew I wanted or I didn't think I could have. We were – are – so similar, and I wouldn't want to live my life without him."
Emma smiled as well as she continued, "And you are an amazing wife and mother. I remember when I came to visit you right after Anna Elizabeth was born. She was still in the nursery, and even though you had just given birth a couple hours before, you were so determined to go and get her. Liam only smiled and shook his head before he managed to convince you to stay."
The new mom couldn't help but chuckle before she became reflective and spoke, "You know, after Anna and I lost our parents, I did feel like I was responsible for her. But more often than not, we were taking care of each other. We were sisters. I thought that – and friendship – was the only thing that was meant for me. All that changed when I realized I was in love with Liam, and I wanted a future with him. Shortly after he proposed, we talked about having children one day. The thought terrified both of us because we had both lost our parents, but we wanted a family. And now we have Anna Elizabeth. You know that this isn't the life I pictured for myself, but now, I can't picture it any other way."
Tears had begun to form in her eyes, and Emma pulled her in for a hug. When they pulled away, Elsa nervously fingered her blonde braid and asked, "Did you mean what you said earlier? That you think I'm an amazing mother?"
Emma smiled as she answered, "Absolutely. I know that Anna Elizabeth doesn't know it yet, but she is so incredibly lucky to have you as her mother. And one day, she will tell you just as much." Elsa smiled back in response.
The new mom then took a deep breath and told her friend, "Well, Jamie and Evie are just as lucky to have you."
"What?" Emma disbelievingly asked, as she leaned back against the couch and crossed her arms.
"Come on, Emma. I know you've only just moved back to town, but that doesn't change how much your niece and nephew adore you. They always ask about you, and they're always so excited to see you."
Emma simply shrugged as she responded, "They're sweet kids, and they're my family."
"That doesn't lessen the fact that you're a wonderful aunt to them," Elsa pointed out. Her blonde friend offered a small smile before the new mom took a deep breath and continued, "And even though we aren't actually related, you are my best friend. And in my mind, that makes us family. Anna and I both felt so incredibly lost after we lost our parents, but we had all of you to help us through. I'm part of this great family, and I'm so glad that my daughter gets to have so many people that loves her."
"That is one thing you'll never have to worry about. I know I can speak for everyone when I say that we will always be here for you," Emma spoke. She then sincerely added, "And you feel like a sister to me, and you can always count on me to be here for you and your daughter."
"Do you promise?" Elsa asked.
"Of course I do," Emma responded.
"I mean it, Emma," Elsa stated. At her friend's perplexed expression, she continued, "You know why Liam and I chose Killian to be Anna Elizabeth's godfather. We trust him implicitly, and we know he will take amazing care of our daughter. But taking care of a child by yourself isn't easy, and I would feel so much better if I knew he had someone to help him. Even if nothing happens to us, I want you to promise that you will always be there for Anna Elizabeth."
Tears had once again formed in Elsa's eyes, and Emma found herself wiping her own green ones. She then took a deep breath before she spoke, "Even though I've really only been around you the last two months of your pregnancy, and Anna Elizabeth is only six weeks old, I love that baby girl so much. As much as my own niece and nephew. No matter where I go or what I do, I promise you that I will always be here for Anna Elizabeth."
Elsa pulled Emma in for a hug, and the braided blonde spoke, "Thank you so much." "You are so welcome."
When the two women pulled away, they heard crying through the baby monitor.
"I think that someone needs a diaper change," Elsa stated. She then began rise when Emma's voice stopped her.
"Let me. I know that you love taking care of your baby, but I know that you're exhausted."
Elsa offered a sympathetic smile before her friend rose. Emma then made her way to the nursery.
Elsa sat contentedly on the couch as she began redoing her braid. She then heard Emma's soothing voice come through the monitor, and a smile erupted on her face.
Elsa, as well as her husband, had been so protective over their siblings, and they still were. Now, they had a beautiful little girl who had become their whole world, and they both wanted to do everything they could to keep her safe and happy. That was one of the main reasons they had chosen Killian to be her godfather - to ensure that Anna Elizabeth would always have someone take care of her if she was subject to the same fate as her parents were.
And now, Killian wouldn't have to face it alone. Elsa did see how much Emma loved Anna Elizabeth, and the new mom couldn't describe the peace that she felt at her friend's assuring words.
No matter what the future brought, Elsa knew that Anna Elizabeth would always have someone to love and take care of her.
She knew that Emma would keep her promise.