A/N: For thedarkdragonfly who sent me some inspiring requests for the universe from the previous chapter.

Rated: G - Family Fluff

A Heart Full of Love II: A Bite-Sized Preview of Toddlerhood

/

"I'm sorry?" Killian said, his words edging slightly higher with surprise as he stared at the woman in front of him. "Our son did what?"

Ariel opened her mouth to respond, but a small, brown-haired child made a run for the doorway from somewhere behind her, and she had to stoop and snatch the child around his waist, sending him gently back into the classroom with an admonishment. Huffing out a breath and rolling her eyes at the near escapee, she tossed her red hair over her shoulder and turned her attention back to Killian.

"He bit one of the other kids today during free play," she repeated, glancing over her shoulder to make sure there were no more escape attempts in the making. "Have you noticed any aggressive behavior at home lately?"

"No, not at all," Killian faltered, failing to think of a single instance."He's incredibly gentle with Hope, and Emma and I as well. We've never once seen him bite anyone. I'm sorry, but I've no idea what came over him. Was there an altercation of some sort – something that provoked it perhaps?"

"Play seemed to be quiet and calm. I regret that I wasn't in the room myself, but my co-teacher didn't see anything that would indicate it was provoked. We did look back over the classroom cameras just to be certain, but he seemed to be played nicely with Hope and another child. He simply leaned over during play and bit the other boy on the hand."

"Honestly, I don't know what to say..."

Killian wasn't sure whether he was supposed to be upset or embarrassed, but he settled on confused. What the teacher was saying didn't align with the Liam he and Emma knew at all.

"Luckily he didn't break skin, and the other parent was very understanding. We spoke with Liam about how biting is not an appropriate behavior to engage in with his friends, but it would be helpful if you and Emma were to underline that in a home setting where he may be more receptive. He mostly seemed upset afterwards. Obviously, we also want to avoid any negative connotations when it comes to biting, while still stressing that in this situation, it's inappropriate. I think that's a conversation best left to you and Emma, however."

"Aye," Killian murmured, feeling more out of his depth than he had the first time he juggled both twins together as pups. "We'll certainly have a talk with him tonight. Is there any way I can apologize to the other parent? I know both Emma and I would be distraught if either of ours came home with a bite."

"Unfortunately, we don't share 'who bit who' in these circumstances, but I'll happily convey the sentiment to them. As I said, they were very understanding – these things sometimes happen in a daycare setting as much as we try to prevent them."

"Well, again, my apologies. Hopefully tomorrow will be free of any such incidents."

Ariel smiled and nodded, kindly reminding him not to forget the twin's lunches before returning to the rest of her charges. By the time Killian walked back to the car, a pile of artwork pressed between his wrist and chest, and two lunch bags in his hand, he still hadn't come to terms with the fact that their child had actually bitten someone.

"Everything okay?" Emma asked as he slipped into the passenger's seat beside her, picking up the scent of his agitation before she even noticed the slight furrow of his brow.

Ariel had never asked either of them to return to the classroom for a chat after they'd gotten Liam and Hope settled into their car seats, usually giving them all of the highlights of the day while the kids got their shoes on, so he knew Emma would be curious as to what was going on.

"Aye, why don't we get these pirates settled in at home though, we'll talk then," Killian suggested, tucking the bags between his feet and thumbing the edges of their artwork thoughtfully. He didn't want to have this conversation about their son while he listened. "Everything's fine, just...we could use a bit more privacy."

"What's privacy?" Hope wheedled, elongating her vowels as she tested the new word, her fingers drumming on her seat.

"What do you use it for?" Liam followed. "Can we have some?"

"Privacy is time that mommy and daddy have alone while you and your brother play quietly."

"Killian," Emma interrupted, pressing a finger to her head and biting back a smile, "I think that concept might be a little beyond them."

"Like when you do the dishes after dinner together?"

"Aye, lad, now who's hungry? The faster we get home, the sooner you'll get fed."

The enthusiastic response from the twins soon devolved into a loud argument as Emma pulled out into traffic, Liam voting for apples slices and peanut butter, while Hope tried to convince him they should get the potato chips that Emma kept hidden on the top shelf.

"I don't understand," Emma muttered, gaze flickering to where the twins were sitting in front of the television watching a movie about sheep who were playing soccer with llamas, both of them laughing ecstatically whenever one or the other kicked the ball. "He's so calm, and gentle. I mean, if she'd told me it was Hope...are we sure it wasn't Hope?"

"It's not as if they're easily confused, Swan."

It was true. Though they'd both had blonde hair as pups, by the time they were a year old, Hope's had fallen out completely and had soon regrown the same near-black as her father's. By the age of three she had a soft set of curls that fell around her chin – the chin was Emma's, as was her stubborn, and at times, combative nature. Liam looked just like his father, down to his dimples and the eyebrows that simply never stood still, but his hair was Emma's flaxen gold, and his temperament veered more towards quiet and observant than aggressive.

"Right. Yeah," Emma muttered, pausing in her attempts to cut the carrots in front of her so small that neither toddler would notice them mixed in with the rice. "It just doesn't make sense."

"I know, but we'll have to have a discussion about it tonight with him. He can't do it again. The other parents might not be so understanding a second time."

"Is it normal for kids to bite like this? I don't think Mary Margaret has ever mentioned Leo biting..."

"Perhaps we can check with their pediatrician, but I'm hoping it was just an experiment that he won't repeat. Do you think after dinner is a good time?"

"No, before. They both stink, and baths are just going to make bedtime too hectic for a serious talk...maybe I shouldn't have gone back to work," Emma sighed, watching with a soft smile as Liam fed Hope half of the extra large potato chip he'd found in the bag. "Maybe they're just too young to be in a group setting like that. Maybe they miss me."

"I really don't think that's it, love – not that they don't miss having you around all day, but they've been in Ariel's class now for months, and they've been thoroughly enjoying it. You see how happy they are to share their adventures each day. It's good for them."

"Yeah, but not for whatever kid Liam decided to snack on."

Emma had thought Liam understood.

Unsurprisingly, given how proficient he was with the English language, Killian had found the right words to have a conversation with a three year old about biting – a loaded topic. He'd explained that there was a time when biting was appropriate, and a time when it wasn't, and that either way, it wasn't a behavior for children, and certainly not something that you did to your friends. Liam had nodded his head, and scrunched his brows, and itched his ear, and just been so damn cute with his hair flopped over his eyes that Emma wanted to scoop him up and tell him not to worry about a thing.

He was her baby, and clearly if he'd bitten some other kid, the kid probably had it coming.

But then her mom brain reminded her that if either Liam or Hope came home with a bite, she'd be pretty pissed, and she and Killian owed it to whoever that other kid was to make sure Liam understood.

She really thought he'd gotten the message.

But apparently she'd not only been wrong about that, she was also wrong about the other kid deserving it – because the little video screen she'd asked to see was paused in front of her, Liam's mouth latched very firmly around a small boy's arm as he tried to take a seat for circle time.

"I'm so sorry this happened again," Emma stammered, unable to take her eyes off the image or her mind from the thirty seconds of video that had played before it – Liam and Hope had been sitting quietly for a story, and then a third child tried to sit down next to Liam. Sure, the kid had shoved a bit to get into the small space, but nothing that should have warranted an actual bite. "We talked with him last night and really felt he understood...he seemed to feel really bad that it happened at all."

"I know this is a tricky thing to handle," Ariel said. "It's not the first time we've had issues with biting, but it does cause health and safety issues for the other kids. Have you thought about taking Liam in to see his pediatrician? Sometimes things like gum or dental pain can cause this."

"We haven't seen any signs of that at home, and we're very good with brushing, but maybe a visit to his doctor wouldn't hurt. We'll set something up. Is he – are the kids still okay to come in?"

"Absolutely, we just ask that you guys keep this issue at the forefront and continue to have a discussion with Liam about it. We'll do our best to prevent it from happening again, but of course we can't see everything each child is doing every second they're here, so..."

"Yeah, I totally get that," Emma sighed. She had a hard enough time with just the twins. She couldn't imagine an entire classroom. "We'll let you know if we have any updated information. I'm just really hoping this is a phase or something..."

"And that is a frequent explanation," Ariel smiled. "Hopefully it's nothing more than that and it will pass."

"Emma?" Killian hollered up the stairs, slipping into his own leather jacket and dodging Liam as he ran into the living room with a toy ship in his hand. "Are you ready yet?"

Hope thumped down the stairs and raced past him, making tight circles around the kitchen table, her dark curls bobbing up and down as she ran.

"Mommy's brushing her teeth," she singsonged, clipping a chair with her foot and sending it crashing into the one beside it.

Killian sighed and got ready for Hope's next loop, snatching her and lifting her from the ground when she came within reach. "Listen here, you little scoundrel," he mock-snarled, rolling her against his chest as she shrieked, "what have I told you about running in the house? I think it's time we make you walk the plank."

"No, daddy, don't!" Hope cried, squirming against his grip as he pretended to heave her back and forth.

"Right, tickles it is then," he growled, burying his nose in the crook of her beck and blowing raspberries as she fought him off with giggles that veered far closer to screeching.

The sound of small feet slapping heavily against the hardwood was the only warning Killian got before he felt Liam barrel into his legs, the blow quickly followed by the sharp sting of teeth clamping down on his thigh. He yelped, more in surprise than pain, and scrambled to both maintain his balance and set Hope down safely, all while not falling on top of Liam, who had darted out of the way, his hand clutching the edge of his sister's shirt.

The urge to snap at Liam died on his lips when he looked at his son, taking in the utter confusion and fear on his face.

"Okay, all ready," Emma announced, bounding down the stairs in much the same way Hope had. "Did I hear something about tickles..."

Her words faded away as she took in the scene before her. Killian stood very still, his hand rubbing a circle on his thigh as he stared at Liam, and Liam was clutching Hope as if he were terrified.

"Where are we goin'?" Hope chirped, effectively breaking the tension as she dragged her brother to the front door where their coats waited, still crumpled on the floor from their morning jaunt in the park. Liam's eyes lingered on his father for a second longer before sliding away.

"Killian?" Emma nudged, the slight uptick in his musk alone alerting her that something was wrong. "What happened?"

"He bloody bit me, Swan," Killian ground out, careful to keep his voice as calm and even as he was able, his fingers still pressed against the damp indentation on his jeans.

"Well," Emma drawled, biting her own lip to stop the half-smile that wanted to break free at how hurt and put out her alpha husband looked, "it's a good thing we're on our way to the doctor."

"Everything looks good to me," Dr. Parsons said, flicking off the small light in his hand and dropping it back to the desk. "Now, you could always bring him to the dentist for an x-ray, but I'm not seeing any indications that Liam's experiencing oral pain, and since he's said as much himself, I wouldn't be too worried."

"That's good, of course," Killian sighed. "Is there any explanation you can give us for the sudden biting?"

"What has Liam said when you've asked him?"

"It's happened three times – the last just before we got in the car to head here, but that's the only time we've seen the behavior ourselves," Killian said, rubbing at his thigh to indicate just who had been the victim this time. "He said he didn't know why he did it, and he seemed extremely upset and sorry over the whole thing."

The doctor hummed, reaching for a stack of books nearby and handing a sticker book to Liam while he sat on the exam table. "Do you think you can put all of the car stickers on the road for me, Liam?"

"I like boats," Liam asserted. "Daddy has a boat. We go on it when its warm and not bedtime."

"Ah, maybe you can take a look for any boat stickers in there," Dr. Parsons suggested, making sure Liam seemed involved in his task before turning his attention back to Killian and Emma. "What was going on when he bit you. Were there any situational cues?"

"I was upstairs," Emma said. "I missed the whole thing. Killian?"

"Hope and I were playing," he shrugged, motioning toward their daughter who was sitting in one of the nearby chairs flipping through a book about animals. "Nothing out of the ordinary at all."

"And was Liam engaged in playing with the both of you?"

"No, he was in the next room with some of his own toys."

"And then what happened?"

"He threw himself into my leg and bit me. I nearly dropped Hope on top of him."

"It sounds like you were carrying Hope?" the doctor asked, and Killian nodded in confirmation. "Is it possible that Liam thought his sister might be in some sort of danger?"

"Danger?" Emma scoffed. "Killian was tickling her. He tickles them both every day. It's one of their favorite games."

"Well, I did threaten to make her walk the plank before that," Killian muttered, wondering if perhaps the doctor was on to something, "but again, it's nothing Liam hasn't heard or seen a thousand times before."

"What about the first two times he exhibited this behavior?"

"The second time was when the kids were sitting in a circle at school," Emma said. "Another kid tried to sit next to Liam, and he bit his arm. The first time...I don't know – the teacher said they were playing in a close group and they weren't sure there was anything that happened."

"Was Hope nearby in both of these instances?" Dr. Parsons asked, his fingers tapping on the keyboard as he made a few notes on Liam's chart.

"They're never far apart," Killian interjected.

"Yeah, Hope was sitting next to Liam the second time, and the other child was trying to sit in a small space between them. The first time it was Liam playing with Hope and someone else."

"I think that Liam is in perfect health," the doctor reaffirmed for them. "My suspicion is that he is just going through some very early development."

"What does that mean?" Emma asked, worried about what this would mean for their son.

"It's not very common, but sometimes traits that would have a normal onset during the early stages of puberty can start earlier. Even though someone may not identify as alpha, beta, or omega until their teens, the body has already started developing accordingly. For instance, the alveoli in the gums that an alpha possesses to transfer the compounds of their musk into the scent gland of an omega, while not fully developed in young alphas, are still present in an immature state from birth."

"That's all very interesting," Emma said, "but how does it explain what Liam is going through? His teeth look normal for his age."

"I think Liam may be experiencing some over-protectiveness, courtesy of his genetic makeup. As I said, it's not common, but it does happen. We tend to see it most often in lines with a strong alpha heritage in the males. Is that the case for either of you?"

"Aye," Killian hedged, "all the males in my family have been alpha."

Emma shrugged, looking elsewhere and taking a step closer to Killian as her discomfort rose to the surface, tinging her scent with a bitter edge that caused her husband to wrap his arm around her shoulder. She was never fond of this line of questioning. "I wouldn't know – I don't know my family history."

Dr. Parsons simply nodded and made another note on Liam's chart. "I think the reason Liam is confused and upset by the incidents is because he truly doesn't understand why he's done it. There's no reasoning that he's aware of, it's simply a primal reaction to something his body perceives as a threat – maybe a child reached too close to Hope, or pushed her trying to get a seat. With you," he said, motioning to Killian, "you were roughhousing as normal, and Liam reacted instinctively to his sister's outburst."

"Okay, that all sounds very...I'll have to take your word for it," Emma smiled, "but what can we do to keep it from happening? I get that it's normal – if a bit earlier than we anticipated dealing with something like this, but it can't keep happening at school."

"Aye, how can we help him get through this?"

"Well, we can run some labs to be sure, if you'd like. Though if my suspicions are correct, the hormone imbalance responsible will most likely even out in a few weeks, and the phase will pass. For now, I would suggest having a conversation about how school and home are safe places, and that going to an adult if he is worried about his sister is more appropriate than biting. It may also help to explain the difference between actual danger and something more benign, like an unintentional push."

"At least we have a possible explanation," Killian sighed. "Is it a simple blood draw for the labs?"

The doctor nodded. "Absolutely, I can have the nurse come in when we're done and take care of that right here if you'd like?"

Killian glanced at Emma and she nodded. It wouldn't be Liam's first blood draw, and it would be better to have a solid answer just in case there were any other unforeseen complications down the road. They thanked Dr. Parsons, both kids looking up from their books just long enough to wave goodbye, and waited for the nurse to come in. It didn't take her long, and in a matter of minutes she had a small table laid out with the equipment used to draw blood.

Emma held Liam on her lap while the nurse made a game of finding a good vein in his arm, tapping different spots and making silly noises until she found a vein she claimed was the 'biggest and strongest'. Hope was still completely enthralled by the pile of books next to her on the other side of the room, seemingly oblivious to everything.

"Now, there will be a little sting," the nurse warned him, "but it will be very tiny, I promise. Then, I'm going to use this to take just a little bit of your blood."

"What do you do with it?" Liam asked, brows scrunching comically together as he waited for an answer.

"We run it through a big machine with lots of hoses, and buttons and noises. Isn't that cool?"

"I guess so..." Liam hedged, still uncertain, but determined to be brave.

"You ready, bud?" Emma whispered, smiling as their little boy squeezed her hand hard and nodded.

"Yup."

"Okay, here we go – just a little pinch," the nurse said, sliding the butterfly needle cleanly into Liam's arm, red blood filling the line and pooling in the sample tube she quickly attached.

Though both Emma and Killian had expected it, Liam's sharp intake of breath and clenched jaw still made their hearts leap – but what they hadn't expected was Hope's book falling to the floor as she leapt to her feet, both her arms crossed tightly in front of her chest as she glared at the nurse.

"Hey, you! Don't hurt my brother!" she scolded, looking for all the world as if she wanted to launch herself at the nurse.

"Well, that's interesting," the nurse teased, clearly unused to seeing vocal, brazen little girls in her office.

"No, that's just Hope," Killian beamed, wrapping his arm proudly around Emma. "She takes after her mother."