A/N: Hey, y'all! I actually received a request for some bonding between Emma, Anna Elizabeth, and Baby Elsa following "A Beautiful Scar." I already had some planned, so this just makes everyone happy :)
"There's a love that's divine. And it's yours and it's mine, like the sun. At the end of the day, we should give thanks and pray to the One," Anna Elizabeth sang softly as she rocked her baby girl in her arms.
Elsa cooed at her mother, and Anna Elizabeth smiled at the sound. She then spoke, "You like that song, don't you? You must take after me, then," before she chuckled.
She then continued singing until Elsa fell asleep. Anna Elizabeth smiled once more before she carefully got up from the couch and walked to the nursery.
She carefully placed Elsa in her crib before she watched her sleep for a few minutes. She then said, "I love you, my precious Elsa Charlotte."
She then turned on the baby monitor and headed back into the living room. She sank onto the couch and turned on the baby monitor that she kept on the side table.
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but yawn as she flipped on the TV. She adjusted the volume before she grabbed the throw on the back of the couch.
Just as she had settled in comfortably, her cell phone rang. She quickly grabbed it and smiled at the caller ID.
She answered it and greeted her husband teasingly, "Hey, Calin. I'm not so sure my dad appreciates these hourly phone calls."
She could just see the eye roll as he responded, "Ha ha. Very funny," making Anna Elizabeth chuckle.
Calin then told her, "I'm calling to ask if you wanted me to bring you by some lunch."
Anna Elizabeth's eyes widened as she asked, "It's already lunch?" before clicking "info" on the remote.
Seeing that it was almost noon, the blonde sighed and spoke, "Elsa is only a month old, but I can't even remember what a normal sleeping schedule looks like."
"I think that makes two of us," Calin agreed with a slight chuckle. He then took a breath and offered, "If you want, I can look after Elsa while you take a nap."
Anna Elizabeth smiled at her husband's words before she told him, "Thanks, Calin, but since Elsa's asleep, I'll probably take a quick one before you get here."
"So, that's a yes to the food?" he asked teasingly, and Anna Elizabeth could just see the grin on his face.
She rolled her eyes before she decided to tease back, "Would I ever turn down food?"
Calin chuckled in reply. He then spoke, "No, you wouldn't. You have the same appetite as Liam."
"You know, I really appreciate being compared to my teenage brother," Anna Elizabeth responded. She tried to sound annoyed, but she began laughing a moment later. She was soon joined by her husband.
When they had sobered, Anna Elizabeth spoke, "I'll see you in a little bit, Calin. I feel like eating one of those big salads with lots of extra dressing."
"Sure thing," he replied. He then paused and continued, "Lemonade to drink?"
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but grin as she said, "You know me so well."
The blonde expected him to tease back, but he instead sincerely spoke, "Yeah, I do. Every stubborn part of you that annoys and amazes me at the same time."
A fond smile enveloped her features as she responded, "Well, I know that I love every part of you, even the part that's still a bit awkward."
Calin couldn't help but chuckle at that before he told her, "It's your fault, you know. I've been tongue-tied around you since the moment we met. But you know I wouldn't change a thing."
Anna Elizabeth's smile grew as she said, "I wouldn't either." She paused before she continued, "I love you, Calin. I'll see you in a little while."
"I love you, too. See you soon," Calin told her before he hung up the phone. Anna Elizabeth pressed the "end call" button before placing the phone aside.
She then laid down on the couch and curled up once more with the throw.
She was fully intent on taking a nap when she caught sight of a photo album and a small stack of photos on the shelf under the coffee table.
"Hmm, I have some time now," Anna Elizabeth surmised aloud. A few moments later, she sat up and grabbed the pictures and the album.
As she placed the album in her lap, she thought, "Might as well go on and get this done."
As she began thumbing through the photos, she couldn't help but smile. The photos consisted of Elsa with Anna Elizabeth and Calin, along with the rest of their family.
Even before she was born, the baby girl had captured the hearts of everyone, as evidenced by the smiles, fond looks, and the sweet way they held her.
Anna Elizabeth was still in the hospital for quite a few of the photos, but her family made sure she wasn't overwhelmed. In truth, having her family there made Anna Elizabeth's recovery a bit easier.
It only took the blonde a few minutes to arrange the photos, and she then began taking a good look at them.
Added in with the fact that her hormones were still a bit unbalanced, the tears soon began welling up in her blue eyes as she studied the pictures.
She already knew that one particular photo would quickly become one of her favorites. She had snapped the photo with her phone, and it was timed perfectly.
Calin had been settled in a chair beside Anna Elizabeth's hospital bed. He was holding Elsa close to his chest, and he began gently rocking her to sleep. Anna Elizabeth had timed the photo just as Calin placed a sweet kiss on Elsa's forehead.
A wide smile appeared on her face as she ran her fingers over the photo.
Just as she turned her attention to another photo, there was a knock at the door.
"Why doesn't he just come in?" Anna Elizabeth wondered aloud.
She then got up and walked over to the door. When she opened it, she furrowed her brows at the sight of her mother, holding the food from Granny's.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you, Mom, but why are you here?"
"Well, I ran into Calin as I was leaving Granny's, and he mentioned that he was bringing you some lunch. When he got called back to work for an emergency, he asked if I would bring the food by," Emma explained.
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she ushered her mother in the house. The curly blonde then spoke, "Thanks for bringing by my salad - and for dropping by."
Emma smiled as she replied, "Sure, kid." She then held up a pink gift bag and added, "I also wanted to drop off this for Elsa."
Anna Elizabeth shook her head before she pointed out, "You and Dad have already done so much for us."
"It's just a little something that I knew you'd love," Emma told her. She then grinned and spoke, "Besides, I have to spoil my only grandchild."
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but offer a smile in response. She then took the bag from her mother and sat down at the kitchen table.
"I think I'll open this present first - now you've got me all curious."
Emma smiled as her daughter began opening the bag. She pulled out the two onesies, in which the black one read "Mommy's Little Princess," and the white one read "Daddy's Little Girl." She couldn't help the gasp that came out as she asked, "Are these mine?"
Emma nodded before she elaborated, "I found them while cleaning out one of the closets last week. I thought it would be a great thing for you to pass on to Elsa."
"Thank you, Mom," Anna Elizabeth spoke with a smile before pulling Emma in for a tight hug.
"You're welcome, kid," the blonde replied as she stroked her daughter's curls.
When they pulled away, Anna Elizabeth looked back at the onesies. She then tilted her head and asked, "Didn't you give these to my mom?"
"Yeah, I did. You were around six weeks old when I came to visit. I think that Elsa had a similar reaction as you did to the present," Emma began with a chuckle. She then became reflective and continued, "That's also when your mom asked me to promise that I'd always be there for you."
"Well, I for one am very glad that you kept that promise," Anna Elizabeth said with a wide smile. Her smile turned to grin as she teased, "Even though marrying Dad wasn't part of that plan."
Emma laughed at that before she observed, "I really don't think anyone was actually surprised by that."
With a giggle, Anna Elizabeth told her, "You guys weren't exactly subtle about it. And that's coming from me as a four-year-old."
The blonde only shrugged before she admitted, "What can I say? We were both pretty smitten."
Both women laughed at that just before Anna Elizabeth heard Elsa's cries through the baby monitor.
"Oh! She must be hungry," Anna Elizabeth surmised before she began to get up from the table.
Emma placed a hand on her daughter's arm as she told her, "Let me give her a bottle. You eat your lunch."
Anna Elizabeth smiled as she spoke, "Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, kid," Emma replied with a smile of her own. She squeezed her daughter's arm before she got up and headed to the nursery.
When she arrived, she walked over to the crib. She gently picked up the crying baby before she began talking softly to her.
"Hey, Elsa, my sweet granddaughter. Grandma is gonna help Mommy take care of you for a little bit."
The baby's cries softened a bit, but they didn't stop completely.
"Shh, it's okay. Let's go get you something to eat," Emma soothed before she headed out of the nursery.
When she walked back into the kitchen, Anna Elizabeth offered, "If you want, Mom, I can hold her while you fix the bottle."
Emma shook her head before she spoke, "It's okay, kid. It may have been 17 years since I've had a baby in the house, but I had become quite the expert at fixing bottles with one hand."
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but smile in response before she nodded. She then proceeded to pour the dressing on her salad before she mixed it all together. She then began eating.
Emma had already placed the baby bottle full of water and the formula on the counter. She was currently - and carefully - dumping the formula into the bottle. She then shook it and popped it in the microwave.
Elsa's wailing had momentarily stopped, but Emma soon went to rocking her as to help soothe the baby girl.
The microwave dinged a moment later, and Emma then grabbed the bottle. Once she checked the temperature, she sat down before she began feeding Elsa.
"There you go, kid. Food makes everything better, doesn't it?" Emma told the baby girl, making Anna Elizabeth chuckle.
The curly blonde then spoke, "I guess that's one way to look at it."
"Considering how much you eat, Anna Elizabeth, I would think you'd be inclined to agree with me," Emma teased with a grin.
Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes before she said, "Now you sound like Calin. He was teasing me on the phone earlier."
"Oh, come on, what kind of family would we be if we didn't tease you?" Emma told her daughter, her grin growing.
Anna Elizabeth only shook her head in response while Emma chuckled.
The blonde then looked back at her granddaughter and realized that she had her fill of milk. She placed the bottle aside before asking after a burp cloth.
"There's actually a clean one hanging behind you. Calin and I thought it'd be a good idea to leave some in here," Anna Elizabeth explained.
Emma nodded before grabbing the cloth. Once the baby had been burped, the blonde settled her in her arms.
"If it's alright with you, I just want to rock her a while. Even when she falls back asleep."
As her mouth was full, Anna Elizabeth simply nodded. Emma nodded as well before she turned her attention to Elsa.
As Emma began softly humming "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You," a smile enveloped across Anna Elizabeth's features.
She then commented, "You're so good with her, Mom. And with me and Liam - I hope that I'm that good of a mom."
Looking up, Emma assured her daughter, "Oh, you are, kid. Elsa may only be a month old, but she's already so very loved and cared for."
Anna Elizabeth's smile grew before she sighed and admitted, "I know, Mom. I just still worry a bit sometimes - especially after the way I freaked out over having a c-section."
"But you and Calin were both able to get through it just in time to bring this beautiful baby girl in the world," Emma spoke with a smile.
Anna Elizabeth smiled back in response. She then took a couple bites to eat and and took a sip of lemonade before she cast a loving look at her baby girl.
She then spoke, "Becoming a mom really is one of the best things to ever happen to me."
Emma smiled as she said, "I can tell. Next to you graduating college and marrying Calin, I don't think that I've ever seen you so happy."
Anna Elizabeth beamed as she replied, "I am so, so happy. It means the world to me to have this beautiful baby girl with the man I love."
She then became reflective, sighing as she did so. She then asked, "Were Mom and Dad this happy about me?"
Emma nodded before she elaborated, "I think they were a little more nervous because they had both lost their parents and were worried about becoming ones themselves. It would be different than raising their siblings who had already been old enough to take care of themselves in some aspects."
She then took a deep breath before she smiled and continued, "They may have been slightly terrified, but I think they were even more excited - they were ecstatic at the thought of having a family together."
Anna Elizabeth smiled at that before she offered, "And I'm sure they would be just as ecstatic about having a granddaughter. They would probably spoil her like you and Dad already do."
Emma only rolled her eyes and shook her head in response. She then pointed out, "It's not like you and Calin are much better. She already has both of you wrapped around her finger."
With a chuckle, the curly blonde agreed, "I can't argue with that. She really does."
She then shifted in her seat, eliciting a groan of pain.
A worried look came across Emma's face as she asked, "Are you okay, Anna Elizabeth?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Mom," she responded before she took a deep breath. She then spoke, "I'm still just a little sore."
Emma offered her daughter an understanding look. She then asked, "How is your recovery going?"
"When I went to see Dr. Whale last week, he assured me that everything is healing like it should," Anna Elizabeth answered.
"That's great news, kid," Emma spoke with a smile, reaching out to place a hand over her daughter's.
Anna Elizabeth smiled before she added, "Since it can take up to three months for the incision to heal, Whale wants me to stay home from work that long just to be on the safe side."
"That's probably a good idea," Emma surmised. She then carefully readjusted Elsa in her arms before she observed, "I bet it'll be hard on you to be away from your students for that long."
"Oh, I already miss them like crazy," Anna Elizabeth began. She then smiled and continued, "My substitute had the idea for all of them to make cards for me. She brought them by a few days ago and told me how excited they were about making them for me."
Emma smiled as well as she spoke, "I bet they'll be over the moon when you come back."
Anna Elizabeth nodded in response before she took some bites of her salad.
She then said, "As much as I am loving being home with Elsa, I will be glad when this scar heals so Calin will stop being all overprotective over me."
Emma couldn't help but chuckle at that before she pointed out, "I don't think there's much hope of that, kid. Calin is as protective over you as Killian is over me. He never stopped worrying during and after I was pregnant - Calin's the exact same way."
With a sigh, Anna Elizabeth conceded, "Yeah, he really is." A fond smile then appeared, and she continued, "But I wouldn't mind if Elsa takes after him."
Emma smiled as well before she added, "Especially considering that she already looks like him."
The curly blonde nodded her agreement before she said, "I wouldn't be at all surprised if she winds up with brown eyes."
"I guess we'll just have to see," Emma surmised. She then turned her attention to her sleeping granddaughter and quietly spoke, "Won't we Elsa?"
The baby continued to sleep peacefully as her mother and grandmother looked on with loving smiles.
Just then, Emma's phone beeped. She quickly grabbed it and read the text message.
She then announced, "Well, kid, I'm needed back at the station. I'm gonna go lay her back down."
Anna Elizabeth nodded before Emma got up and headed to the nursery.
When Emma had lain the baby back in her crib, she watched her sleep for a few minutes with a smile on her face.
The smile only grew as she proceeded to talk softly: "Hey, Elsa. You know what? Grandma has something very important to tell you. You have the best mommy and daddy in the world. They are going to take such good care of you, and they love you so, so much. They are gonna raise you to be an amazing person, and I'm so excited to see it."
She then lightly chuckled and added, "But let's not rush this growing up stuff, alright?"
Emma watched her granddaughter sleep for a couple more minutes. She then turned around to leave, only to see Anna Elizabeth standing at the door.
The curly blonde wiped a few tears from her eyes before she spoke, "I heard you through the baby monitor."
She then crossed the room and wrapped her mother in a fierce hug.
When they pulled away, Anna Elizabeth told her, "If I am half the mother you were - are - then Elsa will never have to wonder if she's loved."
Emma smiled as she reached up to wipe a few tears of her own from her green eyes.
She then spoke, "You are the reason I became a mother - the reason I wanted to be a mother. And now that I see you with your own daughter, I couldn't be happier, Anna Elizabeth. I know you'll be an amazing mother because you already are one - I really mean that, kid."
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly at that before she pulled Emma in for another hug.
While they were still embraced, the curly blonde spoke, "Thank you, Mom - for everything," before pulling away.
Emma then moved a few of Anna Elizabeth's curls off her shoulder before she told you, "You are more than welcome, kid. And thank you."
Anna Elizabeth smiled before she and Emma bid their goodbyes. Emma then began heading out of the house.
Anna Elizabeth then turned her attention back to Elsa. She couldn't help but smile as she watched her baby's chest rise and fall.
She then spoke, "You are very lucky, sweetheart. Aside from Mommy and Daddy, you have some amazing grandparents. Some of them - including the two you were named after - are in Heaven. But you still have Grandpa Killian and Grandma Emma. Grandma has always loved me - and Daddy - like her own. And I know she'll love you just as much."
As she reached down and carefully stroked Elsa's arm, she smiled and finished, "No matter where you end up going, know that you are always loved, my sweet baby girl."