Author's note: For those of you who don't know, I started a special AU Fic Project on my Tumblr for the month of December. Basically, people leave prompts for some of my finished AUs. This is the first. It takes place six years after the end of Heart by Heart. It's Emma and Killian's son's first day of school. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Six Years Later - First Day of School

"Mommy! Hurry up!"

"We're waiting for Daddy, Liam, remember? School's not going anywhere." Emma zipped up her son's Star Wars lunch box, trying to hide the tremble in her own fingers. It was Liam's first day of kindergarten and she was kind of a mess.

But she was nothing on her husband, who hadn't slept well the night before and as a consequence overslept. Emma had only just managed to wake him before going to make Liam's breakfast and pack his lunch.

Liam—who looked more like Killian every day—ran down the hall toward the master bedroom; he ran headlong into Killian, who was straightening his tie. "Easy there, lad," Killian said, catching his son around the middle. He picked the five year old up (even though he was getting too old for that) and twisted him upside down to childish screams of protest. Killian laughed, setting little Liam right side up. "Let's go find your mum."

Liam led him by the hand to the kitchen; he looked exactly the way Killian believed a five year old should look, hair ruffled, t-shirt slightly crooked, socks falling down. No preppy uniforms for his boy. Killian kissed Emma briefly on his way to the coffeemaker. "Morning, my love."

Emma squeezed his hand where Liam couldn't see. "Hey."

"Mommy, Daddy, hurry up!" Liam cried again, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Do you want to go sailing this weekend?" Killian said over the rim of his mug. It was his favorite, one of those cheesy ones that read World's Best Dad. Emma got it for him when they found out she was pregnant.

"Yes!"

"Then please settle down. We'll get you to school, never fear."

The little boy sobered considerably; he loved the ocean just as much as his parents did. It was one of their regular excursions as family. Emma smiled at him before going to grab her briefcase. "You need anything from the bedroom, babe?" she called.

Killian downed the rest of his coffee. "No, love!" He put the mug in the sink. "Alright, Liam. Let's make sure you've got everything." Liam jumped up, smiling. Killian was happy to his son so excited about school, but he couldn't shake the twinge in his heart. Liam was growing up so fast. Hadn't they just brought him home? "Shoes tied? Backpack? Lunch? All your art supplies?" Liam nodded at each question in turn, hoisting the backpack onto his back. Everything was Star Wars, which made Killian laugh. "I think we're ready, Emma!"

Emma emerged from the hallway, hair twisted up on her head. She was dressed for a business meeting, every inch the smart savvy woman he fell in love with. NORI was doing very well six years on; they even had a secondary office on the North Shore. "Let's go. Liam, walk, don't run."

"Okay!" the little boy cried, dashing for the door anyway. Emma reached for Killian's hand as they left the condo and took the elevator to the parking garage. Emma drove them to Liam's school; this part of the city had excellent public schools. Emma's parents had tried to push them into some private academy, but Emma put her foot down. She'd done that. She didn't want to subject her children to such a thing. The elementary school was only a few blocks from the NORI offices, so it was on their way to work. They could drop Liam off everyday; she liked that. Emma pulled into the parking lot and shut off the engine. Liam was already unbuckling his seat belt; he was way too smart for his own good.

Killian beat her to their son's door, steadying Liam as he nearly tripped getting out of the car. "You are definitely your mother's son," he said quietly, smiling fondly.

"Hey, watch it, buddy," Emma groused.

"It's one of your most endearing qualities,Swan," Killian protested.

"Doesn't mean you should point it out to our son."

Killian pulled her in by the waist. "We love Mummy a little clutzy, don't we, Liam?"

Liam smiled, his boyish face lighting up. "What's clutzy mean, Daddy?"

"Accident prone, lad. You know how you sometimes forget to watch where you're going and bump into things?" Liam nodded. "Well, when Mummy met Daddy, she wasn't watching very carefully and spilled coffee all over his shirt."

Emma flushed, but smiled at the memory. Strictly speaking that wasn't the first time they met, but Liam didn't need to know that. "Yeah, well, Daddy didn't seem to mind, Liam." She knelt down and straightened his shirt. "I think he likes it a little too much," she whispered in her son's ear. Liam giggled. Emma bit her lip and rose to her feet. "Ready?"

"Yes!"

Emma and Killian walked hand in hand to the front door of the school; the three kindergarten teachers were standing outside in the bright Honolulu sunshine, collecting their charges. Other parents were biding their sons or daughters farewell for the day. There were more than a few tears, some from the kids but more from the parents.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jones, how lovely to see you again," Liam's teacher, Mrs. Morris, said, holding out her hand. Each of them shook hers. The woman was young, around their age, petite, plump; Emma and Killian both liked her. "How are you, Liam?"

Suddenly, Liam seemed shy. "Fine," he mumbled.

"The bell rings in about five minutes," Mrs. Morris said. "All of my students are lining up along the wall over there." She pointed. "Then we'll go inside."

"Thanks," Emma said. The sudden lump in her throat took her by surprise. God, she didn't want to cry in front of all these people. It was just school for crying out loud. She could do this. Killian saw her face and squeezed her hand tight. "Come on." They walked Liam to the line of children. When they got to the end of it, their usually exuberant son threw himself into his mother's arms.

Emma knelt down and hugged him tight. She stroked his dark hair, a tear sliding down her cheek. "You be good, Liam. Can you do that for me?" Liam nodded against her neck. She squeezed again, then pulled back, kissing his cheek. "Mommy loves you very much. We'll see you soon."

Liam nodded and turned to Killian. Killian was already on his knees, ignoring the hard pavement. He hugged Liam so tight the boy tried to wiggle free; Emma laughed as another tear fell. "Listen to your teacher," Killian said, voice tight. "And be nice to the other children."

"I will, Daddy."

"That's my boy." He kissed the crown of his son's head. "I love you, Liam."

"Love you, Daddy. Love you, Mommy."

Finally Killian had to let him go; Emma immediately stepped into his arms as Liam took his place in line. They stood there with some other parents until the kids headed inside. Liam seemed to have already made a friend, talking shyly to the boy in front of him about his lunch box. When the kids were out of sight, Emma exhaled, her face buried in Killian's neck.

"Shh, love. He'll be fine."

"How are you suddenly so zen? Last night, I was calm and you were freaking out."

"Do not mistake me, Swan. I won't be calm again until we've taken him home. But we've done all we can."

"I guess we have to go to work now."

"Our investors would probably appreciate it."

Most of the other parents had left; they were alone on the sidewalk. Emma cradled his face in her hands, thumb stoking his scruffy cheeks. He was still just as painfully handsome as the day she'd spilled that coffee on the North Shore. The corners of her lips quirked up as she leaned in to kiss him. He kissed her back, hoping it was just as comforting for her as it was for him. They'd been through a lot in the last few years, but they were just as in love as ever.

They walked hand in hand back to the car; Liam took the keys and drove them the remaining blocks to their building. They'd expanded NORI's operations to the floor below the two they initially rented; Killian's research and development staff had tripled. They had projects going all over the archipelago but it was all based out of this central office. Emma's financial acumen made them the envy of most other environmental community. It had taken a couple of years, but now they were in the black financially and could expand even more.

Killian stopped on the second floor to check on an experiment he was running while Emma headed upstairs to her office. She got messages from her assistant, made a few calls. As she worked, her mind kept drifting to her son, wondering how he was doing. Liam was fine. He was a bright child, was surprisingly artistic. He could already count to a hundred and knew his alphabet. Killian spent long hours with him, reading. Emma liked to watch them from across the room; they were adorable, her boys.

"Swan?"

Emma looked up from the report she was reading. "Hey babe."

"Brought you some sustenance."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I thought we'd share lunch today. That okay?"

Emma got up and joined him on her couch. "Yeah, it's very okay."

Killian laid the take out bag aside and gathered her in his arms. "Thinking about Liam, lass?"

"Yeah."

"I was thinking earlier that it feels like we just brought him home. Where did the time go?"

"Raising a son and running a company," Emma replied, head on his shoulder.

"You're bloody good at both, Swan."

"Not sure I'm feeling that today."

"I miss him too. Remember that time he tried to turn my desk into a pirate ship?"

Emma laughed. "You're the one who wanted to show him Peter Pan."

"The number of times I've seen that movie..." Killian sighed heavily. "Wouldn't change a single second though."

Emma kissed the underside of his jaw. "Me neither."

"You sure about that? Still happy you hitched yourself to this horse?"

Emma sat up, facing him. "Very happy." They gazed at each other for a long time until they both leaned in for a kiss. It was slow and languid, loving and gentle. Killian's fingers wove into her coiled golden tresses making them tumble down her back. "I've got a conference call at one o'clock."

Killian sighed. "I know. I just like your hair better this way."

Emma kissed the corner of his lips. "I'll make it up to you."

"Of that, I have no doubt." He grinned and picked up their lunch. They ate, talking about visiting the North Shore office at Liam's first school break. They hadn't visited Robin and Regina in ages. Emma promised to call Elsa about it as Killian went back to work.

Liam was in a very different mood when they picked up him from school that afternoon. He came running as soon as he spotted them; Killian caught him, grinning broadly. The ache in his chest eased the moment Liam was back in his arms. "So how was school, lad?"

"It was great! Mrs. Morris gave me a gold star for knowing my ABC's!"

"That's great, Liam," Emma said, accepting Liam's backpack and lunch box.

"Can I do it again tomorrow?"

Both parents laughed. "Of course you can," Killian said. He put Liam down and took his son's hand. Emma took the other and together they walked back to the car and home.

Later that night, after Liam had gone to sleep, Killian sagged into their bed, exhausted. Liam had talked a mile a minute about everything at his school; it took longer than usual for him to fall asleep. Killian had read three chapters in their latest book, instead of the usual one, waiting for Liam to settle down.

"Tired?" Emma asked, snuggling into his side.

"A bit."

"You wanna talk about it?"

Killian kissed the crown of her head. "Do you think it gets easier?"

"What?"

"Watching him grow up."

"Probably not."

"I thought not." He held her close, her scent comforting. He loved his family more than he could express. His only regret was that his brother wasn't there to see it. "Emma?"

"Yeah?"

"What would you say to having another? Perhaps a little lass with her mum's eyes and little dimpled chin?"

Emma propped her head up. "You want to have another baby?"

"Only if you do. Seeing as you would be doing most of the hard work."

She rolled her eyes. Killian had been insanely doting while she was pregnant with Liam, putting up with her cravings and crazy mood swings. They'd had a scare early on; Emma couldn't forget that heartstopping moment when she thought she'd lost their baby. It had put her off having more for a while, even though she loved Liam fiercely.

"You always said you regretted being an only child."

Emma glanced away; that was true. "You seriously want more?"

"Perhaps just one. We don't have to man a ship, Swan."

She pictured Killian with a little girl; she'd have him wrapped around her finger in no time. Slowly she smiled. "Okay. We can try for another baby."

Killian's smile lit up his face as he tackled her to the bed. She giggled and wrapped her arms around him as he kissed her. It would take some doing but until then they could have fun practicing.