"Hey, you guys," Emma greeted Anna Elizabeth and Liam as they climbed into the yellow bug at the daycare center.
"Mommy! I builded a Lego pirate ship!" the four-year-old boy exclaimed.
Emma smiled before she commented, "I bet you did an amazing job."
"He showed it to me. It was pretty awesome," Anna Elizabeth conceded.
Liam offered a proud smile to his mom and sister before he turned his attention toward the window.
A few moments later, Emma began slowing down as she came upon a stop sign. Some papers slid off the dash and onto the floor board.
"I got it, Mom," Anna Elizabeth spoke. She then grabbed the papers and started to place them back on the dash.
However, the 12-year-old girl's eyebrows furrowed, and she scrunched up her nose as she looked at the papers in her hand.
"Mom, why do you have adoption papers for me?"
"Well, kid, today is the anniversary of when I adopted you," Emma explained, and she couldn't help the fond smiled that erupted.
A thought then entered her mind, and she added, "I realize I probably should have told you sooner, but at the time, you were only five, and…"
She was cut off by Anna Elizabeth's excited voice, "We should celebrate!"
"Really, kid?" Emma asked, and she couldn't hide the surprise in her tone.
"Totally! It'll be so much fun!" Anna Elizabeth answered. The pre-teen then suggested, "We could grab something to go from Granny's and have a picnic."
Emma smiled brightly at her daughter as she answered, "That sounds great, kid. It's a plan."
Anna Elizabeth smiled back brightly in response as her mom pulled up to their house.
When the three of them had gotten out of the bug, they simultaneously turned their heads at the sound of Killian's truck.
After he had made his way over to his family, he greeted them with a smile and each then received a kiss on the head.
The four of them then began walking toward the door. Emma then commented, "I thought you were going to be home late today."
"Well, love, finishing that house didn't take quite as long as we thought," Killian explained. He then teasingly asked, "Aren't you glad to see me, Swan?"
Emma grinned as she teased, "I don't know. Maybe."
Killian rolled his eyes and shook his head at his wife before he dug into his pocket to grab his keys.
Once they were all in the house, the dark-haired man asked, "Shall I help you with dinner, love?"
"I don't want to have to call the fire department," Emma teased once more, earning another head shake from her husband.
She then told him, "There's been a change of plans actually. Myself and Anna Elizabeth are going to have a picnic on the beach."
Killian furrowed his eyebrows before he realized what day it was. He then spoke, "I believe that's a marvelous idea."
"It wasn't mine," Emma proudly responded before she looked over at her daughter, who was keeping her little brother occupied.
Emma then joined her children in the living room and announced, "Okay, you guys, we're going to order take out from Granny's. Me and Anna Elizabeth will then go have a picnic while Liam will stay here with Daddy."
Liam immediately exclaimed, "Me and Daddy can play pirates!"
Killian only grinned while Emma shook her head. She then told her husband, "He is definitely your son."
"Alas, love, you're the one whose last name was Swan," he pointed out.
The blonde only shook her head before she spoke, "Alright, you guys tell me what you want from Granny's."
"Pizza! With lots of pepronis!" Liam announced.
Killian grinned at his son as he conceded, "I think that'll be quite delicious, Liam."
"Deicious?" the little boy repeated with confusion.
"it means that the pizza will taste very good," the dark-haired man then clarified. "Oh," Liam replied in understanding.
Emma smiled at her boys before she turned her attention to her daughter.
"And you, kid?"
"Chicken tenders, Mom," Anna Elizabeth stated as though it should be obvious.
Emma refrained from rolling her eyes before she grabbed her cell phone from her pocket.
Killian the nudged Anna Elizabeth's shoulder and with fake curiosity, asked, "I wonder what your mother will order?"
With the same tone as her father, the pre-teen replied, "You know, I'm really not sure."
With a roll of her eyes, Emma quipped, "Both of you guys are ridiculous," before putting the phone to her ear.
Both Killian and Anna Elizabeth laughed before the dark-haired man glanced around and asked, "Where's Liam?"
"He's probably putting on his pirate costume," Anna Elizabeth stated with crossed arms and nonchalance in her voice.
Killian then teased, "You know, love, I seem to remember you always wanting to dress up and play pretend. And a few of those times, you were a pirate. That's what you went as for Evie's 6th birthday party."
"I know, Dad," she simply responded, and it was clear that she wanted to change the subject.
He then prodded, "Actually, if my memory serves me, you were a pirate fairy princess, complete with wings, a wand, and a tiara."
"Daaad," the curly blonde complained.
Killian ran his fingers through her hair as he responded, "You know I love you, darling, and with love, sometimes comes embarrassment."
Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but a moment later, a fond smile appeared on her face.
Killian then kissed his daughters' forehead before he began heading toward his son's room.
A little over half-an-hour later, Emma and Anna Elizabeth were settled on a blanket on a secluded part of the beach.
The pre-teen took a bite of a chicken tender and swallowed before she asked, "Hey, Mom, can I ask you something?"
"Of course. Anything, kid," Emma responded.
Anna Elizabeth then began twirling a blonde curl around her finger. A moment later, she took a deep breath and stated, "First of all, I think it's awesome that you wanted to adopt me. It's really cool of you."
The blonde sensed where her daughter was headed and perceived, "But you're not sure why I did."
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she elaborated, "I became yours the day you married Dad. That's all the matters."
Emma agreed, "You are right. You became my family along with Killian, and you also became family to David, Mary Margaret, Regina, Evie, and Jamie. And that is what matters. That's what important to me. To us." She then took a deep breath and continued, "But, in the eyes of the law, it's a different story."
The 12-year-old furrowed her eyebrows as she asked, "What do you mean?"
The blonde thought for a moment before she explained, "Killian became your legal guardian upon your parents' death. He has all the rights as if you were his biologically. But, just because I married him doesn't automatically give me those rights. That marriage certificate said nothing about you becoming mine, as least not legally. Does that make sense?"
Anna Elizabeth looked thoughtful for a few moments before she surmised, "So, like, you wanted a document that said I was yours?"
Emma smiled as she answered, "Exactly, kid. I wanted to be absolutely positive that you were my little girl." The pre-teen offered a bright smile in response before her mom took a deep breath and admitted, "But it wasn't my idea."
Anna Elizabeth furrowed her brows in confusion and tilted her head as she simply asked, "What?"
"Well, like you said before, you became mine the day I married Killian. That was the only thing that mattered to me – I never even thought about the legalities of it all," Emma clarified. She then continued, "But a conversation with Aunt Mary Margaret and Aunt Regina made me see things differently."
Anna Elizabeth's blue eyes simply held a question, so Emma began again, "You see, the fall following Killian and I's wedding would be when you were to start kindergarten. Which meant registering you for school, and your dad and I decided it would just be easier if I was the one to do it. It was a week before registration, and I was having lunch with your aunts. I was complaining about all of the paperwork I would have to fill out, and Mary Margaret then asked if I had all the correct documentation regarding my guardianship of you. I gave her a puzzled look before I asked what she was talking about, resulting in Regina telling me she couldn't believe I hadn't already taken care of this in a tone that was one part scolding and one part concerning," pausing to chuckle at the memory.
The pre-teen then added, "That sounds like Aunt Regina," with a chuckle of her own.
Emma simply nodded before she finished, "Regina then began to explain the legalities of the situation. As I said earlier, just because I had married Killian didn't mean that I had any rights to you, and not having them could cause problems in the future – like with school registration. Aside from the legal side, Regina knew how important it was that you were my little girl, and I needed to make it official for both our sakes'. I thought over her words for a few minutes before I suggested adopting you, and she agreed that it was a great solution. She then offered to take care of it for me, since family law is her specialty. Since I was married to Killian and was living with both him and you, and I had been part of the day-to-day care of you for six months, the process wouldn't take nearly as long. So, that night, I talked it over with your dad, and the next day, we went to Regina's office to get started. Since it would take at least three months for the adoption to go through, Regina typed and signed a letter saying I was in the process so that I could still register you for school. And five months later, which marks seven years today, Regina delivered the papers to me – you were legally mine."
Anna Elizabeth couldn't fight the bright smile that erupted on her face. She then pulled her mom in for a crushing hug. She then spoke, "I'm so happy you wanted to adopt me."
When they pulled away, Emma was wiping tears from her green eyes as she said, "I said the exact same thing to Mom." The 12-year-old smiled once more.
Bryan Adams' voice then cut through the moment, and Emma reached for her phone. Anna Elizabeth stuffed another piece of a tender into her mouth while Emma greeted her husband.
The blonde listened for a couple minutes before she spoke, "Okay, I'll see you at home later. I love you, Killian." He bid his goodbye as well before Emma hung up the phone.
She slipped it back into her jeans pocket before she picked up her grilled cheese. She then heard her daughter's question, "Hey, Mom, why do like that?"
"Um, the grilled cheese?" Emma asked confusedly.
Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes before she clarified, "I meant all the 80s songs. It's like all you listen to."
The blonde shrugged as she answered, "Well, that's what was popular when I was kid, and I grew to love all the songs and artists. I saw no reason to listen to anything else, and I guess I still see it that way."
The curly blonde nodded before she commented, "Well, I think you – and Dad – are starting to rub off on me. I kept singing a cross between "Jessie's Girl" and "You Make My Dreams Come True" while I was doing homework the other day."
Emma couldn't help but chuckle before she spoke, "Well, to be fair, I don't think it just started. You have always loved to sing, and it was always Disney when you were little. But I've noticed as you've gotten a bit older, I've been hearing more of the 80s."
"Yeah, well," Anna Elizabeth simply answered, as she nervously ran her fingers through her hair and looked down at the picnic blanket.
The blonde sensed her daughter's hesitation and assured her, "I know that being 12 in junior high is tough on a kid, but if you want to listen to 80s music as opposed to, uh, I don't know, Justin Bieber, or something, then that's okay. You just be you, and it won't make a difference to your real friends."
A few moments later, the pre-teen looked up and offered another bright smile. She then said, "Thanks, Mom." "Of course, kid," Emma replied as she ran her fingers through her daughter's curls.
Anna Elizabeth then asked, "Okay, so, I pretty much know all the singers you like, but who is, like, your favorite band?"
Emma placed a finger on her chin as she thought about her answer. She then replied, "Well, kid, that's a pretty hard question, so I'll just give you one of my favorites: Chicago."
"Who?" Anna Elizabeth, and her mom couldn't help but laugh. Emma then grabbed her phone from her pocket and commented, "It'll be better to just let me play them for you."
The pre-teen nodded, and a few moments later, she heard, "You know our love was meant to be the kind of love that lasts forever. And I want you here with me, from tonight until the end of time. You should know, everywhere I go. Always on my mind, in my heart, in my soul.
Baby, you're the meaning in my life. You're the inspiration…"
By the time the chorus was sang the second time, Anna Elizabeth was singing along. Emma couldn't help but chuckle before she observed, "Kid, you've only heard this song once when you were five. How do already know the words?"
Anna Elizabeth shrugged as she replied, "Well, I've always been a quick learner," with a grin. She then scrunched up her nose and furrowed her brows as the first part of her mom's words registered and she asked, "When did I hear this song?"
"Your dad and I played it at our wedding. As I recall, you decided to join us on the dance floor during this song, so the three of us swayed along. I thought you were adorable."
"Mooom," Anna Elizabeth complained. Emma simply rolled her eyes in response before taking a sip of her drink.
As the next song began, the pre-teen girl furrowed her eyebrows once more as she asked, "What song is this?"
"It's called "We Built This City", and it's by Starship," Emma answered.
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she commented, "It's totally different from the last song," before eating a French fry.
"Well, "You're the Inspiration" is a love song, and this one is pretty far from it," Emma acknowledged before she chuckled.
The pre-teen girl chuckled as well before she admitted, "I guess I didn't think about that." She then added, "It is a cool song, though."
Emma smiled as she spoke, "I have to agree with you – it's always been one of my favorites."
"Mom, I think any song that came out between 1980 and 1989 is your favorite," Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but tease.
The blonde shook her head at her daughter, but a moment later, she couldn't but laugh because the curly blonde was right.
Emma then added, "Well, since quite a few of them are already your favorites, I'm pretty positive that by the end of the day, I'll be saying the same about you."
Anna Elizabeth only grinned and giggled in response.
Over half-an-hour had passed, and Emma and Anna Elizabeth were heading back toward the car when the pre-teen spoke, "I had so much fun, Mom."
"I did, too, kid. I'm glad you suggested this picnic," Emma told her daughter.
Anna Elizabeth grinned as she added, "And I now I have more music to sing along to."
"So, now I can expect to have "You're the Inspiration" and "Faithfully" added to the playlist that is Anna Elizabeth?" the blonde teased. The pre-teen couldn't help but roll her eyes in response.
When they arrived at the car, Emma spoke, "Hey, kid, I think I'll just leave this blanket in the car. It might come in handy. Would you mind putting it in the trunk?"
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she took the blue blanket from her mom's hands.
She then walked around to the back and popped open the trunk. When she did, she tilted her head at two large boxes. Her curiosity almost got the better of her, but she decided to just ask her mom about it.
When she got in the car, she questioned, "Hey, Mom, what are those boxes in the trunk?"
"Well, one is a box of my CDs. They got lost in between the move from Boston to here. David found them in the room he and Mary Margaret use as storage. He brought them to work this morning," Emma explained. She then took a deep breath and continued, "And the other one has stuff in it of your dad's that Killian had. Belle was looking for something of her oldest brother's, so I brought his things over to her – I just keep forgetting to take it back in the house."
Anna Elizabeth listened intently as her mother spoke and nodded when Emma had finished. She then asked, "Can we look through them when we get home?"
Emma smiled as she answered, "Sure, kid." The pre-teen smiled back brightly in response.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the house. As soon as Emma shut the engine off, Anna Elizabeth practically leapt from the vehicle.
Emma couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head as she watched her daughter sprint around to the back of the bug. She then got out and joined Anna Elizabeth, who was placing the boxes on top of each other.
"Kid, there's no reason for you to carry both of them. I can take one," Emma told her pre-teen.
The blonde expected her daughter to argue, but she instead grabbed the box on top and headed toward the door.
When they got inside, Anna Elizabeth looked around and noticed the absence of two people. She questioned, "Where's Dad and Liam?"
"Oh!" Emma spoke in realization. She then explained, "That phone call from earlier was from him. He's babysitting for Aunt Belle and Uncle August."
The curly blonde nodded before they both came into the living room and sat on the couch. She then began examining the contents of her box and commented, "Wow, Mom, there are so many CDs in here."
"Yeah, I know – it's only matched by my book collection," Emma conceded with a grin. She then continued, "Whenever I got my monthly allowance, I used some of it to buy a new book or a new CD, and it's also what I wanted for my birthday or Christmas. The majority of this collection, however, was bought by me at the same time. There used to be a video and CD store in town, but they had to go out of business. So, they had a sale to get rid of their inventory, and I made David drive me over there because I didn't have my license yet. I know he thought it was a bit – or a lot – excessive, but he also knew that I was still relishing in the feeling of having something of my own," her voice cracking on the last part.
Though Emma managed to composed herself, Anna Elizabeth was pretty perceptive for a 12-year-old. The curly blonde quickly wrapped her mom in a hug, and the two of them stayed embraced for several long moments.
When they pulled away, Emma ran her fingers through her daughter's hair and told her, "Thanks, kid." "You're welcome, Mom," Anna Elizabeth replied with a bright smile.
The pre-teen then turned her attention back to the cardboard box and pulled out two CDs and a vinyl record. She then asked, "Why do you have three copies of Slippery When Wet?"
"One of them had gotten scratched so badly that I had to get another one," Emma explained. She then recalled, "Although, I'm not sure why I kept the scratched one." She shrugged her shoulders before she continued, "And the vinyl record was a present from David. He knew how much I loved that CD, so he got me the record as a decoration on my wall."
"Cool," Anna Elizabeth responded with a smile. She then turned over the back of the record and began perusing the songs. Without looking up, she asked, "Did my parents like Bon Jovi?"
"Oh, they loved them. That band really was your parents' favorite," Emma answered. A moment later, she giggled and reminisced, "I remember Elsa telling me that even though she did most of the singing to you, there were times when she would hear Liam singing "Livin' on a Prayer" to you. She wasn't sure it was the most soothing or calming song to put you to sleep, but it always seemed to work."
The pre-teen couldn't help the fond smile that formed on her face. She then joked, "So, I guess I've always listened to 80s music – I just didn't know it."
Emma couldn't help but smile as she agreed, "Yeah, kid, I guess you have."
Anna Elizabeth then turned her attention back the box of CDs. She would pick up each album and look at the titles, and Emma did the same. Every couple minutes, the blonde would hear her daughter begin to hum for a few moments before she would stop.
After about 20 minutes, Anna Elizabeth asked, "Hey, Mom, did you mean what you said earlier?" "About what, kid?" Emma questioned back as she looked up with a curious expression.
"Well, you see…" Anna Elizabeth began. Her nervousness was made evident by her rubbing her hands together. She then felt her mother squeeze her arm, and she instantly relaxed. She then took a deep breath and continued, "It's just that I really liked all of the music we listened to today, you know, Chicago, Journey, Bryan Adams, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, and all the other ones I can't remember. And well, I thought it'd be cool to listen to all of them more often – I mean, it's really an amazing decade of music."
Emma listened intently before she perceived, "And you're worried about the fact that it may not be what's really popular." The pre-teen simply nodded, and the blonde continued, "Listen, kid, what is most important is finding friends who like you for you – and if they think less of you because your taste in music is dated, then they weren't your real friends to begin with."
"Do you really think so?" Anna Elizabeth asked.
"Well, if you, Jane, Alexandra, and Evie are anything like me, Mary Margaret, Regina, and Belle, they'll definitely tease you about it, but it won't change the fact that you're all friends," Emma assured her daughter, and the curly blonde offered a bright smile in response.
Anna Elizabeth then pulled her mom in for hug and spoke, "Thank you, Mom for everything." Emma stroked her daughter's curls as she responded, "You're so welcome, kid."
When they pulled away, Anna Elizabeth turned her attention back to the CDs, and Emma asked, "So, kid, you gonna give it a shot?"
The pre-teen looked up with narrowed eyes and asked, "Mom, did you seriously just do that?" Emma's only response was laughter, resulting in an eye roll from her daughter.
The next CD that Anna Elizabeth pulled out had a Christmas ribbon tied around it. Her eyebrows furrowed and she asked, "What's the deal with the ribbon?" as she held up the Best of the 80s CD to her mother.
Emma smiled as she answered, "That CD was a Christmas present from Elsa. It was a special one-time only edition that included copies of the original lyrics signed by the artist. Not only was it an amazingand thoughtfulgift, but much more importantly, it was from my best friend. I kept the ribbon so that I would remember that."
Anna Elizabeth smiled before she looked down at the CD. As she began playing with the ribbon, her smile faded. She then spoke, "I still miss her. And Dad."
"I know you do, Anna Elizabeth," Emma spoke before she pulled her daughter in for a hug. When they pulled away, the pre-teen spoke, "I just wish I had something of my dad's, you know, like Mom's clip. A hat or something." She then looked back down and ran her fingers over the CD.
Emma couldn't help but smile as she spoke, "I have just the thing."
Anna Elizabeth looked up with a curious expression as she watched her mom dig through the other box. A couple of minutes later, Emma pulled out a gray t-shirt.
As she handed it to her daughter, the blonde explained, "This was a concert that your parents, as well as Killian, Belle, Anna, all went to. Your parents had been dating for a year, and it was meant to be date, but their siblings were having quite the teenage stresses, so they made it a family affair."
Anna Elizabeth's expression changed to a smile as she observed, "My parents really loved their sisters and brother, and they always wanted to take care of them, didn't they?"
"Yeah, they did," Emma agreed as she stroked her daughter's curls. She then continued, "It's why Killian is so protective over you. I know it comes across as overprotective, but it's only because he loves you so, so much, and because he loved his brother so much."
Anna Elizabeth offered a bright smile in response. She then held up the shirt and announced, "I think I'll put it on."
Emma smiled as well as she commented, "It probably won't fit, but I think it's a great idea." The 12-year-old nodded before she ran off to her room. Emma grinned at the sight.
She then placed the boxes one on top of the other before she stood up. She then grabbed the boxes and headed toward she and Killian's room.
When she came out, she heard the front door open and the familiar, "Swan!"
Emma smiled before she walked into the kitchen and greeted her son and her husband.
"Mommy, I had so much fun with Colette!" Liam announced.
She bent down on his level and told him, "I'm so glad that you did," as she ruffled his black hair.
The little boy smiled brightly before he asked, "Where's Anna Lizabeth?"
"She's in..." Emma began but was cut off by Anna Elizabeth's shout: "Mom, where are you?"
"In the kitchen," Emma responded, and a moment later the pre-teen appeared before her parents and brother.
Killian immediately noticed his daughter's shirt and asked, "Is that your fa..." trailing off when he felt his wife lightly hit his arm. He took a deep breath and started again, "That was the favorite shirt of Uncle Liam's, and it means a lot to me."
"Do you mind if I keep it?" Anna Elizabeth nervously asked as she twirled a curl around her finger.
"Of course not, love. He would want you to have it," Killian assured his daughter as he ran his fingers through her hair.
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly before she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, one he happily returned.
When they pulled away, they noticed the absence of their two family members. Killian then spoke, "Well, love, I believe we should locate your mother and brother." Anna Elizabeth nodded in response.
They found Emma and Liam in his room, and the four-year-old was staring at his bookshelf with furrowed brows. His mom was sitting beside him trying to help him pick out a book, but unfortunately for her, Liam was his mother's son.
Both Killian and Anna Elizabeth grinned before the curly blonde suggested, "Hey, Liam, why don't I read you The Tale of Peter Rabbit?"'
The four-year-old's blue-green eyes lit up as he ran over to his sister. He grabbed her hand and dragged her to his bookshelf.
Meanwhile, Emma walked over to her husband, who was wearing a smug grin. He then told her, "It seems you've been passed over for our daughter."
The blonde only smiled and spoke, "Let them be." She then took Killian's hand, and they walked into the living room.
When they sat down on the couch, Emma snuggled against Killian's side and sighed contentedly. He smiled as he asked her, "I take it you and Anna Elizabeth had a lovely afternoon."
"Yeah, we did," Emma conceded. She then looked up and told him, "You know, I was reminded of something today."
"And what's that, love?" Killian asked curiously.
"How much I love our life together," she began. Her husband smiled at her before she continued, "Elsa and I were a lot alike. Being a devoted wife and mother was the last place we saw our futures heading, but all it took was meeting someone who didn't believe that future was for them either. But falling in love made us all realize that is the future we truly always wanted."
Killian's smile grew before he leaned in, and she met him halfway for a tender kiss. When they pulled away, they rested their foreheads against each other's.
A moment later, they pulled back and Killian spoke, "Well, love, there is no one I'd rather spend my life and my future with than you."
Emma smiled brightly at him before she admitted, "You know, for the few months of our marriage, there were so many times I wondered why it took us so long to realize our feelings, and I wished I hadn't run away from them. But adopting Anna Elizabeth made me see differently."
"How so?" Killian interrupted.
"While I miss Liam and Elsa so, so much, I'm so happy that I get to help raise Anna Elizabeth as Mrs. Killian Jones - nothing has made me happier. I'm so glad that I decided to give you and your niece a chance - two of the happiest days of my life is our wedding day and the day those adoption papers came through."
Killian smiled brightly at her before he reached up to wipe the tears that had formed in her green eyes.
He then told her, "I love you so much, Emma." "And I love you, Killian."
They kissed once more before Emma settled back in against Killian's side. She then told him, "Oh, by the way, you can now expect a fully 80s playlist from Anna Elizabeth."
He only chuckled before he observed, "Converted her, did you?"
"Technically, you're the one who started it. You're the one who would quite often sing her to sleep, and I know it was all 80s ballads," Emma pointed out with a grin.
"If you want to get really technical, my brother and sister-in-law were the ones who started it. Elsa would rock the little lass in her arms and sing her to sleep."
Emma smiled fondly at his words before she added, "And Liam thought that "Livin' on a Prayer" was an appropriate lullaby."
Both of them laughed at that before they composed themselves. Killian then seriously stated, "Part of me was always afraid that Anna Elizabeth wouldn't think of her parents that often. Not that she would forget them, but she was so young when they died that I wasn't sure they would be important to her. But they are special to her, and she will make sure that they are a piece of her. Seeing her in her father's shirt proved that - it's as though Liam is still here serenading his little girl with Bon Jovi."
"And he always will be. Both of them will," Emma sincerely added as she reached over to squeeze Killian's hand, as she looked up at him.
He offered a grateful smile before he placed a kiss on her forehead. She then rested her head in the crook of his neck, and they sat in comfortable silence for a little while.
That silence was broken by Anna Elizabeth leaving her brother's room for her room as she loudly sang, "We've got each other, and that's a lot for love. We'll give it a shot..."
As she closed the door behind her, Liam came bounding into the living room with the explanation that Anna Lizabeth was taking a bath. He then climbed in between his parents and excitedly told them all about Peter Rabbit.
As Emma looked between the smiling faces of her husband and son, and then glanced over at the sound of her daughter happily singing, she couldn't help but think that the shot she had taken had been more than worth it.
The title for this fic is a phrase from Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer." I know use that song (and artist) a lot, but I thought it fit really well here. It does tie in really well to the plot, and I thought it was appropriate since I decided that this is where Anna Elizabeth received her father's Bon Jovi shirt .
BTW, even though I have no idea how it even made it into the plot of this one-shot, I did A LOT of research on guardianship and adoption to try to figure out Emma's rights to Anna Elizabeth. But because the situation is so unique, I was not able to find any helpful information. So, if it's wrong, I apologize, but I did try.
Just a note that the next 3 one-shots will be in Captain Swan One-Shots! Not sure how long it'll be until they'll be posted, but I hope y'all check them out!