I'm so sorry that I updated late. It seems like I always update late. I was gone all day yesterday and didn't get to bed until around 1 in the morning. I am not going to be able to update next Saturday either as I am gone all day again. If I can, I will update on Sunday.

Thank you so much for all the support on this story!

I do not own OUAT or its characters!

Fall

Killian threw his arm around the back of the couch. Emma cuddled closer into his side.

"This is nice," Emma said.

Killian nodded. "Aye. Finally some peace. Your parents wedding anniversary party really took all my energy."

Emma laughed. "Same here. Promise me that we will never have an anniversary party that big."

"I can't promise you anything," Killian said with a chuckle. "That's up to your parents. You know how they go all crazy with this stuff."

"You're right. Let's just never tell anyone that it's our anniversary."

Killian chuckled. "Agreed, but your parents probably have it marked on their calendars already."

Emma laughed again. "You're probably right."

The two laughed. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Suddenly, they heard a loud thump! that was followed by a series of heartbreaking cries.

Emma and Killian jumped. They immediately stood up and rushed over to the stairs.

Sprawled out at the bottom of the stairs, five-year-old Hope laid crying. One of her arms was thrown across her stomach while the other arm was thrown out on the ground.

Emma and Killian knelt next to her. Killian pulled her into his lap. "What happened, sweetling?"

Hope's breath stuttered as she tried to talk. "I-I f-fall."

Emma's heart clenched. "Let's bring her to the couch."

Killian nodded. He stood up, holding Hope in his arms, bridal style. He carried Hope over to the couch and laid her on it. He knelt down next to her. "It's okay, sweetie."

Emma knelt down next to Hope's head. "Where does it hurt, baby?"

Hope rubbed her stomach.

Emma brushed the hair out of Hope's face. "I'm sorry, baby."

"I'm going to go get some ice." Killian stood up and rushed into the kitchen.

"M-mommy?"

Emma answered right away. "What is it, baby?"

"M-my head h-hurts."

Emma gently touched Hope's forehead. "It's okay. Daddy's getting some ice to make it better."

As if on cue, Killian walked into the living room with a small bag of ice that was wrapped in a dish towel. He knelt down next to Emma and rested the bag on his daughter's stomach.

Emma took the bag and put it on Hope's head. "She said her head hurts. I don't want it to swell."

Killian nodded.

After a few minutes, Hope's eyes started to droop and she fell asleep.

Emma took the bag off of Hope's head. "Gosh, she scared me so much."

Killian took the ice bag from Emma and set it on the coffee table behind them. "Aye, she did."

"We need to find a way to make the stairs safer or something. I don't want this to happen again."

"I agree, but there isn't anything we can do. She must've been running down the stairs, even after countless lectures from us to not do so. She might have more falls, but all that matters is that we are there to pick her up."

Emma rested her head against Killian's shoulder. "You should go into motivational speaking."

Killian chuckled and shrugged. "Perhaps."

Hope shifted uncomfortably on the couch. She opened her eyes slightly. "Shh, Daddy. I tired."

Killian smiled and kissed Hope's head. "Okay. Sorry, love."

Hope curled up into a ball and closed her eyes again, falling asleep in the blink of an eye.

"We should put her to bed," Emma said. "She's tired."

Killian nodded. He stood up and pulled Hope into his arms. She immediately curled into his chest, tucking her arms between her and Killian.

Emma smiled and brushed some hair away from Hope's face. "Come on, baby. Let's get you to bed."

The two walked upstairs, Hope safely tucked into Killian's arms. Emma opened Hope's bedroom door and walked in, Killian in tow. Killian walked over to Hope's bed and tucked her in. Emma waved her hand and Hope was immediately in her pajamas.

The two kneeled down next to the side of her bed, Emma closest to Hope's head. She kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, kiddo." She pulled away and smiled softly at her daughter.

Killian pulled one of Hope's hand out of the covers. He kissed her knuckles. "Goodnight, sweetheart." He carefully put his daughter's hand back down to rest on the covers.

Killian stood up and pulled Emma up with him. They walked out hand in hand, tossing a look back at their daughter to make sure she was safe. Once they shut the door, Emma started down the hall at an alarming speed.

Killian quickly followed her into their room. "Emma, what are you doing?"

Emma threw open the closet door and knelt down, searching for something. "I'm looking for something that will fall-proof the stairs. Maybe a bunch of pillows…"

Killian knelt down next to Emma. He took her hands into his hand and hook. "Emma, love, we can't do that. Hope has to learn on her own that running down the stairs isn't okay."

"But what if she falls again?" Emma asked. "I don't want her to get hurt."

"If she does, we will be there to help pick her back up again."

Emma sighed. "You're right."

"Now, was that so hard to admit?" Killian teased.

Emma laughed and playfully pushed Killian's shoulder. "Shut up, pirate."

Killian chuckled. He stood up and pulled Emma up next. "Now, let's go get dinner ready so when Hope gets up, she can eat."

Hope yawned and opened her eyes. She was curled up in a ball with a stuffed bear tucked in her arms. Her blankets covered her. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Mommy? Daddy?" she called quietly.

When she realized they were downstairs, she stood up and and ran to the stairs.

As soon as she reached the stairs, she remembered falling and immediately got scared. She backed up into the wall and sat down. She pulled her knees to her chest and started crying.

Moments later, Emma and Killian heard the cries of their daughter and rushed up the stairs. When they saw her crying, they rushed over to her, each sitting on either of her sides.

As soon as she kneeled down, Hope crawled into Emma's lap and curled up. She grabbed one of Emma's arms and held onto it, refusing to let go.

Emma brushed the hair out of Hope's face. "What's wrong, baby?"

Killian sat next to Emma and put an arm around her, keeping his good arm out so he could touch his daughter.

Hope buried her face in Emma's stomach. "I falled."

Emma's eyes widened. "Again?"

Hope shook her head. "Before nap I fall. Stairs scary."

Emma's features softened. Her baby was afraid of the stairs. Emma kissed her head. "It's okay, honey. Mommy won't let you fall."

Hope held on tighter to Emma's arm. "Want Mommy to carry me."

"I will."

Hope relaxed a little.

"Did you have a good nap?" Killian asked, trying to make Hope feel better.

Hope nodded. "Yes, Daddy."

Killian smiled. "Good. Now, why don't we go eat?"

"Okay, Daddy."

Killian stood up, then helped Emma up. "I'm going to go set the table." He gave Emma a quick kiss on the lips and kissed Hope's forehead before heading downstairs.

Emma rested Hope on her hip and took a step towards the stairs.

Hope held on tighter to Emma's neck. "Don't let me fall, Mommy. Me don't want to fall."

Emma held Hope closer to her. "I won't let you fall. I promise." Emma started walking down the stairs. With each step, Hope gripped her mother tighter and buried her face further into her shoulder. By the time Emma touched the main floor, Hope was practically choking her.

"See, baby? Mommy wouldn't let you fall."

Hope slowly pulled her head away from Emma's shoulder. She looked at the ground and then at the stairs. She looked at her mother. "Thank you, Mommy."

Emma kissed Hope's head. "Of course, baby. Now, let's go see what Daddy has for dinner." Emma walked into the kitchen, Hope still on her hip, and smiled at Killian, who was putting plates on the table. "We made it."

Killian looked up and smiled. "Brilliant." He walked around the table and stood next to Emma, looking at his daughter. "Did Mommy help you?"

Hope nodded. "Yeah."

Emma passed Hope over to Killian. "I'll finish setting the table."

Killian smiled. "Thank you, love." Emma kissed him quickly before moving to finish setting the table.

"I don't like stairs, Daddy," Hope said. She rested her head on Killian's shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Killian rubbed Hope's back and kissed the side of her head. "Stairs are nothing to be afraid of, love."

"They hurt."

Killian chuckled softly. "I know, but you will overcome your fears one day."

Hope was quiet for a moment before she said, "Not today."

Killian nodded slightly. "Not today."

Emma walked over to her husband and daughter. "The table is set. We can eat now."

"Want hug from Mommy and Daddy," Hope said.

Emma smiled. "Okay, baby." She went and stood next to Killian. Killian wrapped his arm around Emma and pulled her into his side. Emma reached her hand up to rest on Hope's back.

Hope smiled. "Love Mommy and Daddy."

"We love you, too," Killian said.

Emma nodded in agreement. "Always."

I hope you enjoyed that chapter!