A/N: Hey again! Are you surprised to get this update? Well it turns out I had this second epilogue almost entirely crafted and I forgot all about it over the past year. Since I recently posted this story on my AO3 page, and since I reached a personal follower milestone this summer, I thought I'd indulge in a little more fluff for one of my favorite AUs. This second epilogue takes place at the birthday party of some of Emma and Killian's children and we get a reunion of all the friends and family and tying up of some loose ends of where everyone ended up. It is, at it's very core, fluff fluff fluff and I hope you all enjoy and thanks for reading!

About Ten Years Later

For the majority of her life, Emma Swan had found the surest comfort in one state of mind. It was the calm that came when she was tucked up somewhere quiet, letting the world fade from the forefront of her thoughts and allowing her pencil or charcoal or pen to glide across the page. Drawing had always been her outlet, and when she'd settled on design specifically and immersed herself in her work over everything else, Emma had known real comfort, at least compared to the turbulent and often unpredictable tumult of her life in the foster system.

Yet in the past ten years or so, Emma's definition of fulfillment and happiness had changed. She still found a solid sense of enjoyment in her work, and there was that burst of pride she'd feel when she got a dress just right or when she watched a bride fall in love with a design Emma had crafted from start to finish. But now her world was so much bigger than the ambitions of her career. She was a mother now to four precious little ones, and she and Killian had built a life and a world for themselves that, while sometimes chaotic, was even more successful than her star-reaching career.

To enable that change and that growth on all horizons, Emma decided the best course of action was to cut back at work, going in only three days a week and mostly from the offices she and her friends (who all promptly followed to this quaint little town once Emma relocated) had opened in Misthaven. Sometimes she still went to the city for big appointments or meetings about the fate of the company, but the truth was life felt so much better being here, even with all of the fancy new opportunities Bliss had garnered over the past decade.

Where they had once been just a startup, desperate to find their footing in NYC, Bliss Boutique was now a fully-fledged bridal brand with five locations, not counting the Misthaven office. Their NYC hub was still the biggest, but Emma and her friends had found opportunity was just as plentiful in Boston, LA, Chicago, and Atlanta. They were careful about their time commitments though, and after putting in the effort to train the best teams that they could, all four friends took big steps back from the day-to-day burdens to be with their families. Of all of them it was Ruby who traveled most, but even she was slowing down with the happy addition of her two little girls over the past couple of years.

Emma and her friends weren't the only ones readjusting to life in suburbia and with family demands either, and of everybody in their circle, the two people whose roles had changed the most were easily Killian and Liam. Both brothers had decided at the birth of their first children that the most important thing to them would always be family. So, despite their once notorious reputations for being workaholics, they managed their affairs in a way that keep Liam owning the family business and Killian owning Citizen NY while not having to constantly be there. They checked in now and then to make sure the ships were still afloat, but there was never a day when Emma wondered if the brothers regretted their decision. Especially with Killian, it was clear that doing right by his role as father and being the best husband possible would always be his paramount wish.

"Are you certain about staying home to help with this, Emma?" Killian asked, pulling Emma from her thoughts as he motioned at their backyard, which was currently in the process of being decorated but looked rather discombobulated. "I know you've got deadlines for next season's line, and despite appearances I can handle this, love."

Emma smiled at her husband, who in the more than ten years that they had been married had never lost any of his thoughtfulness or caring tendencies. He was still the picture of support, and time had been good to him, which kept the flutter of awareness spiraling through Emma's system even all this time after they'd been married. It was silly maybe, but Emma knew it was also a gift. Most people didn't have this kind of love that truly endured, and there were more than a few times they'd been made fun of for being like newlyweds even though they'd been building their lives together for years.

"I have no doubts that you could throw our kids the best pirates and princesses themed party Misthaven has ever seen, but this is where I want to be," Emma admitted. "Tiana has everything handled for the launch, and I trust that if she needed me she'd call."

Killian came around to where Emma stood and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest and ducking in to kiss a spot on her neck that wasn't covered by her hair. It was an intimate embrace, but one Emma was very familiar with too, and she felt herself leaning into his warmth and stability without any hesitation out here in the gardens they got to call home. Even when the kids all came barreling out of the house later with their loudness and their general childish enthusiasm for life, Emma and Killian didn't move. Emma just laughed at the scene before her and felt her husband do the same.

"Hard to imagine our little lass is ten now," Killian said, and Emma didn't have to look over her shoulder to know that Killian was staring at their daughter Hope, who had been their first bundle of joy and who was growing so fast it made Emma's head spin.

Their eldest daughter was a thorough mix of dreams, aspirations, hope (just like her namesake), and heart. She was fearless and funny and oftentimes so smart it almost scared Emma how much she understood at such a young age. But Hope was also just a girl still even if she was growing too quickly for Emma's liking. With her curly brown hair and her wide green eyes she was truly beautiful, and someday Emma fully expected Killian would take his current protective fatherly instincts and go actually ballistic. Emma could just picture school dances and teenage first dates, and while those were all milestones she was so excited for her children to have, she knew Killian would be guarded and skeptical and highly protective of his baby girl.

"It's not for her," Emma joked as she watched Hope leading their other three children with that ever-present sense of being the boss that her younger siblings all fed into. "Hope seems to think she's all grown up already."

Killian growled at the thought, which set Emma laughing again and now she did turn in his arms to press a kiss to his lips lightly. He was just so cute when he got like this, all bent out of shape because he couldn't control time, and since all of his reactions only ever came from the purest place of love, it warmed Emma's heart to see him be this way. Killian had stepped into the role of parent so effortlessly, and just as Emma had expected all those years ago, he was a great father and the greatest partner in all of this that she could have ever hoped for.

"Mommy and Daddy are kissing again," a tiny voice said, breaking their moment, and Emma bit back another chuckle, turning to find her other daughter Lizzie. At four years old today their youngest child (by a whole five minutes thanks to her twin brother Ryder being born first) was precocious too and ever the observant one. She was still coming into herself, as all kids at that age did, but the sass she carried with her… well it did 'Aunt Ruby' very proud.

"Aye little lass," Killian said as he scooped her up while she giggled in his arms. "And now it's your turn." He proceeded to press kisses all over her little face and Lizzie loved it even as she tried to wriggle free from his arms pleading for mercy in a four-year-old way.

"Hey Mom?" Their eldest son Lee (named for his favorite uncle) asked, reminding Emma of an exact miniature version of Killian in every way. "Do you think it's better to be a pirate or a prince?"

Emma pretended to grapple with that question, knowing that with Lee, who was often her philosopher and who had a sense of goodness and heart just like his Dad, this answer would really matter. If she had to guess, she would assume his problem in choosing stemmed from the varying kinds of stories kids heard in the world. In some fairytales pirates were the bad guys, but since Emma knew in her heart that Lee would prefer a party spent pretending to be a swashbuckler traipsing across the high seas, her answer was easy.

"I think every person is more than just one label, honey. You can take the best of every world and make something even better… but if I had to pick one… I'd say pirates probably have a lot more fun."

Lee grinned at that before hugging her tight and Emma held him back, knowing that she only had a few more years left of these easily flowing hugs. At seven, Lee was growing just as fast as the rest of his siblings, but Emma couldn't stand the idea of any distance coming between this family. They were her brightest stars and surest sources of joy and so she cherished every moment that they had together as much as she possibly could.

"Knock, knock!" A voice sounded from the other side of the yard pulling the Jones family's attention elsewhere. Everyone knew exactly who was here (because Ruby had established this as her M.O. for all big family gathering entrances), but it didn't stop all of Emma and Killian's kids from responded eagerly.

"Who's there?"

"The party!" Ruby replied, this time with the chorused voices of her two daughters Hazel and Jade who looked almost like little carbon copies of Ruby save for a dash of some Graham-gifted traits here and there.

This first arrival inspired all sorts of glee from the kids, which was only compounded as one by one each of Emma's friends and their family arrived. One would think it had been ages since they'd all been together, but honestly it was only yesterday. These families were so bonded together, with life long friendships forming between kids of each clan that Emma hoped would rival her ones with their parents someday, and they didn't need birthdays to unite them all. But it never hurt to have special food and a pretty cake, and Emma found herself laughing at how everybody was equally caught up in the promise of one of Elsa's creations, regardless of age, gender, or personal flavor preference.

"Wow, Elsa. I know I say this every time but you really outdid yourself," Emma acknowledged as they took the cake and put it on display on the long table away from the hustle and bustle of the yard. "I mean I know you said you were making a boat but this…"

"It's a 'right good ship.' At least that's what Liam said when he saw it this morning," Elsa supplied with some laughter and the friends all joined in with her.

"That man has never deemed any of your creations less than 'right good' in all the time you've known him," Ruby teased and Mary Margaret chimed in.

"Seriously though. I'm actually shocked he didn't say more."

"Oh he did. But I figured I'd spare you all the poetic musings on cake, otherwise we'd be here all day."

"Good thinking," Emma agreed as she looked out across the lawn and her eyes landed on Liam who was standing there with Killian amongst a huge gaggle of the kids. The two brothers were in their element to be sure, but Emma knew that as different as they could be, they were also incredibly similar. Emma could totally imagine how complimentary and proud Liam had been of Elsa, because she benefited from that same kind of encouragement from Killian every day.

"David can be just as bad," Mary Margaret said, though she sounded delighted at what she was painting as a shortcoming. "You know he brought the kids for their annual check ups yesterday and it turns out he spent the whole time talking about the party we threw for Belle and Will."

Emma could readily believe that David would do that. He shared that same want to brag about his wife and their kids, and for Belle and Will's delayed wedding reception (they'd ended up just eloping after a super long engagement) Mary Margaret had pulled out all the stops. She'd been totally and completely in her element, and the party was romantic but also full of the same adventurous spirit that Will and Belle shared.

"You mean the party you threw," Elsa said with a laugh. "I just brought some cake."

"And I just made a dress," Emma offered.

"And I got busy with my husband at the coat check."

"Ruby!" They all yelled, the three friends looking to make sure no little ones had heard that part. When they were assured they did, Emma looked at her friend with a raised brow.

"Coat check? Really?"

"What? It's tradition," Ruby shrugged. "Plus it's not like you guys can judge. I know for a fact Emma and Killian's 'walk' was code for something else."

Emma sighed, feigning like it was a hardship to bear the brunt of Ruby's censure, but in reality she loved it. These friendships they all shared were the bedrock of her life. She'd found so much to make her happy because she had her friends, in good times and bad. And besides, Ruby wasn't wrong. Emma and Killian had snuck away at the wedding, because they had a little tradition of their own to keep up.

"Did you ever think when we all met that first day that we'd end up here someday?" Elsa asked happily, mirroring Emma's own thoughts that they were so lucky to have each other. Emma reached out for Elsa's hand as Ruby came around the other side to take her other one.

"I did," Mary Margaret said hastily and the other three laughed. "What? I did!"

"Oh really?" Emma asked. "And what, you have some prophetic ability you conveniently never mentioned the past twenty years?"

"No, but I knew that we were going to be friends forever and that we'd all find whatever it was that would make us happy, and isn't that what we've done?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Ten times over," Ruby agreed as she squeezed Emma's hand, bringing Mary Margaret in to complete their circle. "And honestly, I don't really care how we got here. I'm just glad we did."

"Aw Ruby," Elsa said with a tone of pure emotion in her voice. "Don't get all thoughtful too. You're our rock, remember? Half the time you're the only thing standing between me and all those happy tears."

"Don't mind Ruby," Emma said with an air of assurance. "She's just gotten soft in her old age."

Ruby gasped at the words and the sound was loud enough and so theatrical in its delivery that it drew the eyes of most of the kids who were playing. Instantly one of Mary Margaret and David's sons asked what was wrong.

"I do believe Auntie Emma just questioned my honor," Ruby said with feigned shock and dismay.

"Well you know what that means then," Hope said, popping over from her spot across the yard. "You'll have to settle this the old fashioned way."

"So… eating contest?" Emma guessed even though she knew that wasn't it before looking over to Ruby who shrugged and offered her own faulty option.

"Hopscotch show down?"

"No, mateys!" Elsa's daughter Brielle replied with her eye patch obscuring one of her blue eyes and a hook covering one of her hands. "It's a duel we'll be having."

"A duel sounds fine, honey," Elsa said as she crouched down to straighten up Brielle's hat and tuck her blonde braided hair back over her shoulder. "But you know what would be even better?"

"Using those water balloons Uncle Killian made on Daddy?" she asked and Elsa nodded with a wicked gleam in her eye and a Cheshire cat smile at her lips.

"Exactly. Go get him!" Just like that all of the kids were off, sprinting towards some unknown location to get the ammo they would need to go 'attack' Liam in what would no doubt be a hugely comical affair.

"Wow, that was uncanny," Ruby whispered as the kids all scampered back away to hash out who would be crowned victor amongst them all. "She sounded just like Killian for a second there. You remember last Halloween?"

"Oh I remember," Emma whispered back. "I'm pretty sure that night is what started all of this. The kids got one look at all of their Dads in all that leather and we were done for. It's been all pirates all the time for months now."

"You have to admit it was pretty great though," Mary Margaret said before muttering more softly. "They weren't the worst outfits I'd ever seen."

"No they were not," the others agreed and Emma tried to fight off a blush as she thought back to that night. Who knew she'd be into the whole black leather and a bottle of rum thing? She certainly hadn't, but after that night she was a convert for sure.

"We should pick something similar for this year. But what could compare?" Elsa asked, honestly wondering if anything could match this year's costumes.

"Maybe cowboys?" Mary Margaret offered, and Emma liked that idea more than she would admit out loud.

"I got it, bikers!" Ruby said with a victorious grin. "We get to keep the leather, but lose the sword fights. It's genius."

"You want us to dress the kids as bikers?" Emma asked, and when it dawned on Ruby that some of their little ones might like to be just like their Dad's Ruby blanched.

"Okay, maybe cowboys are better."

As her friends continued discussing the merits of which fantasy trope would be best for their husbands, Emma found her mind wandering. It was obviously an intriguing debate, because she loved thinking about what kind of costume she could get Killian in next, but today it couldn't seem to hold her attention. Instead, she looked upon the backyard, seeing all the happiness here and wishing it would never end. If she could stop time right in this moment she would, because it felt as close to perfect as perfect could be, but alas that couldn't happen. All she could do was try and soak it all up, and make the most of every moment with the people she loved most in the whole wide world. And in the meantime she'd try to hide her feelings, concealing this bittersweet sensation that had overtaken her and putting her best foot forward, for her children and for all their great big family too.

Casting his gaze around their back yard today, Killian couldn't help feeling like he was the luckiest man in the world. To bear witness to all of this happiness, and to see that his children and his wife were safe and content was everything he could want. Whatever other dreams he'd had before, they were overshadowed with the wish to have this, and though Killian couldn't fathom how he could be this blessed, he knew better than to take it for granted.

Years had come and gone since he and Emma first met, and in that time Emma and Killian had found the kind of joy that people could only dream of. Their life was simple in some ways but also so unique. They'd prioritized each other and their love, learning to balance the duties of work and a continued connection between them, and when their children had been born they'd added that to their world too. It wasn't easy, and there had been missteps, but Killian knew they'd always prove the victors if he and Emma stayed a team. As he looked across the party to his wife where she was laughing with her friends, he knew his heart could never have chosen better. Emma was the best person he'd ever known, the most loving mother, and the most uplifting wife. She was a marvel, and he was just honored to have her love and stand beside he in all this glory.

"You know I knew even way back at the beginning that you two would end up like this," a voice said from beside Killian and he turned to find Mrs. Hubbard, a woman who he held dear to his own heart, grinning at him. "You had that look about you from the start. Like she was the answer to your every prayer and every question."

"She is," Killian offered honestly and the older woman chuckled, patting his arm gently.

"Well I just want to say that I'm happy for the both of you. Sometimes things don't go the way they should, but if ever there were two people who deserved fate's kindness it's you two."

Killian appreciated that praise immensely, mostly because Mrs. Hubbard didn't dally with untruths. She spoke her mind with absolute clarity, and she wasn't interested in bullshit. What you saw was what you got with her, and if she said Killian and Emma were meant to be together, then it was a damned impressive bit of evidence for a fact he'd always known.

"Now all we need is for you to agree to move here," Killian said and Mrs. Hubbard looked amused but not totally against it. "Oh come on now, you know you want to, and the kids miss their 'Grandma Lizzie' when she's gone."

"Okay enough of that. You know good and well it's not fair to use those angels against me," Mrs. Hubbard said as she looked out at them and all of the other children playing. "But maybe you're right. Perhaps it wouldn't be so terrible to think about a move."

Killian grinned at the thought that he was making ground with this woman he'd come to love and appreciate but who was stubborn as an ox. She'd once said she would never leave the city, but now with the right kind of effort, Killian believed he might be able to have her here by the time Hope's next birthday rolled around. It shouldn't be too hard a prospect, especially not given how much their children really did love her and how they doted on her constantly.

"Daddy! Grandma! Did you see? I made Joey walk the plank!" Ryder squealed as he ran over to them and then swung his plastic word about.

"Well done, lad," Killian said as he ruffled up his son's hair and Mrs. Hubbard made a sound of similar affirmation before speaking her mind.

"You are easily the most fearsome four year old pirate I know," she said, making Ryder beam up at her with childlike wonder. "Just be sure that when the party's over you're still my good little boy."

"Okay. But first I have to find the treasure," Ryder explained.

"A man's got to do what a man's got to do," Mrs. Hubbard agreed before giving him a good squeeze and sending him off with the other kids.

Killian laughed at his son's exuberance as he ran away, but then his eyes drifted over to his wife, and he saw that Emma was looking just a bit out of sorts. She too was watching the happenings of the party, standing in a circle of her friends who were all sharing in the day with them, but there was a bit of wistfulness and a trace of sadness in her eyes. Immediately Killian understood that look. Emma was giving into musings about how time was passing by too quickly. Their little ones were growing up, and it was hard to handle even as it was a gift to be a part of, but all Killian could think was that he had to cheer her up and remind Emma that it would all be all right.

"Speaking of men doing what must be done, I think it might be a good time for you and Emma to get turned around in that rose garden of yours, don't you?"

"Aye," Killian said to Mrs. Hubbard with a nod. "I think that's exactly what needs to be done."

With those words of confirmation Killian crossed the yard, interacting with their kids and the children of their friends and family as he did, but his end destination was still the same. He needed to get to Emma, and she picked up on that almost from the start, looking at him with so much emotion and all the love he'd come to expect from his miraculous wife.

"Could I steal you away for a moment, Swan?" he asked when he'd finally reached her and taken her hand in his and Emma nodded, saying she'd back to her friends before putting her arm through Killian's and heading with him past the fray of the party and into their special grove out back. As they left they heard whisperings from Emma's friends about how the two of them were as cute as ever, and Emma laughed at that despite everything.

"Funny how that never changed. All these years later and we're still everyone's favorite couple for conversation." That was an understatement, but like Emma, Killian knew it was more a humorous fascination than something to be rebuked or resented.

"I choose to take it as a compliment, love. They just want to see us happy and they make their opinions on our successes very evident."

"That's for sure," Emma replied as they finally made it to the rose garden. Once they were there Killian could feel some of the tension already beginning to leave Emma. Her shoulders loosened their tight stance and her breathing evened just the slightest bit as she leaned into him a little more.

"Now, do you want to talk about it?" Killian asked, knowing already what Emma would say even before she replied.

"There's nothing to say except I love this, you know? I love our life and you and our family so much. I can't believe we have this and we have them, but they're getting so big so fast… I want it to slow down. I feel like time's flying by way too fast."

"Sounds like we need to press pause then," Killian murmured as his he traced his hand along her body, feeling the shiver of anticipation that came when he did. "We need a moment out of time, right?"

"Killian."

Emma said his name with a mix of passion and also warning. He could feel her want for him radiating off of her. The air around them was heavy with the desire they both shared, but her mind was rightly telling Emma that this couldn't go too far. They might be far from the party right now, but anyone could walk back here, and the last thing they needed when intimacy came was an audience. Still, Killian trusted himself to walk that line. He could still distract his lovely wife and rid her of those thoughts that plagued her without taking her right here in the open. And doing so would bring them both the purest satisfaction, of that he was quite sure.

"God you're perfect, Emma," he mused as his fingers traced along her slender form. He pulled her closer so they were flush against each other and their mouths were only inches apart. "Every day I wake up and wonder how you can be real. You're more beautiful with every passing day. You're too good for me – too good for anyone – but you are real, and by some miracle you're mine."

"Always," Emma promised with a smile.

"And just as you are always mine and I am always yours, so to will we always have this. The kids will grow, and the years will pass, but it won't change what matters most. It won't change the love we have for us and for them."

His words were the balm that his wife needed, and Killian felt the shift in her when she accepted that truth. She didn't need to say anything, but somehow she said everything by bringing him down for a kiss. Infused in it was all the same intensity and attraction that they had shared from the start, and though they both knew it couldn't go much further than a kiss, the look they shared when they finally broke apart was heated and amorous.

"Tonight, when everyone's gone and the kids are in bed, we are totally revisiting this conversation."

"As you wish, love," Killian said with a soft laugh as he wrapped his arm around her and led her back towards the festivities once more. "As you wish.

And with that, the two of them headed back into the fray of the magical life they'd created for themselves. They finished the day on a high, and the days that followed were similarly perfect, even the hardest ones. For through it all Emma and Killian had love and had each other, the two most crucial parts for a life worth living and the best foundation for a real and lasting happily ever after.

Post-Note: So I can't believe I forgot to ever finish this when the story was originally completed, but revisiting this and getting to craft a finale for this fic has been so fun and so uplifting. I already gave Emma and Killian and the other characters in this fic a lot of closure before, but it leaves me feeling happy when I get flash forwards like this one in a fluff-filled AU. It's also crazy because my life is in a completely different place now than it was then, but though I'm on a different journey, this fandom and this couple are still great anchors for me. You guys are all great, and I want to say, from the bottom of my heart, that I truly appreciate all of you have read. If you never commented, if you commented once, or if you're one of the lovely cheerleaders who comment time and time again, I want you to know it's been extra special to share it all with you guys. Anyway, I hope in the future you'll read more of my works, and if you haven't already you should check out my other stories. I promise they are all similarly fluff filled. In the mean time though thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a lovely rest of your day!