Author's note: Thanks for all the lovely comments! They always make me smile and really motivate me to keep writing so THANK YOU!

Chapter 26

Somehow, in the middle of the night Ava had come into her room and snuggled herself in between Hook and Emma. It was a scene too cute for words; under normal circumstances he would've closed his eyes to enjoy several more hours of sleep but Ava's presence had reminded him of the events that had transpired last night.

He was overjoyed, of course, at what had happened between him and Emma. Beyond overjoyed. Ecstatic. Finally, he'd broken down the sky high walls surrounding her heart, which was no easy feat. Finally, she'd let him in. And he'd nearly forgotten how incredible she was. It had been so long since he'd been with her that it had felt even more amazing than he remembered.

But then there was the matter of Ava. Last night, he'd awoken to find Emma's side of the bed empty and cold. Thinking that she'd just gone to the bathroom, he'd rolled over and closed his eyes. But they immediately flew open when he heard Ava's cries. He'd been about to race over to her; no doubt she'd just awoken from one of her usual heartbreaking nightmares and was in need of his comfort.

But then he'd heard Emma's voice. Her low, soothing murmurs as she spoke to the little girl that she didn't know was her daughter. Curiosity got the better of him and he'd sat outside in the hall, listening in.

The way Emma spoke about Ava's mother, herself, was both amusing and heartbreaking. It was pretty comical to sit and listen to her talk about someone who was actually herself. And yet it was horrendously sad. When she realized that she'd done the unthinkable: abandon her child he knew that she immediately overlook her memory loss and be struck with a bone crushing guilt. She'd blame herself and close herself off, withdrawing from everyone.

Hook watched as Ava snuggled closer to Emma, as Emma unconsciously placed an arm around her, as a little sigh of happiness escaped Ava's lips. They were both so happy. What was going to happen when the truth came out?

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Emma begin to stir. "Hey." She opened an eye.

"Morning." He responded lazily, trying to push his worries to the back of his mind. They were together. At last. That was all that mattered for now.

Emma raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How did Ava get here?"

"I know just as much as you do, darling." He replied. "But she does like to do this. Or rather, she did before...you know."

"Ah." She nodded. "Right."

Ava's brow creased as she woke up, stretching her little arms out, nearly hitting Hook in the jaw but he shifted away just in time. Several times Ava's fists had actually succeeded in making contact and she packed a pretty mean punch. Probably got it from Emma. Hook liked to joke that his jaw was still bruised from where Emma had punched him during their battle at Lake Nostos.

"Hi." She said brightly. If she wondered why her dad and Emma were sleeping in the same bed she didn't question it.

"How'd you get in here?" Emma asked. "The bed's pretty high."

Ava shrugged sheepishly. "I like to climb."

"And you're bloody good at it." Hook added. He sat up and swung his daughter so she was sitting on his lap. "So, princess. What do you want to do today?"

"Go to the park!" She responded.

"Aw, I'm sorry." Emma said as she pulled back the blinds. "It's raining." Though raining would be an understatement. More like storming.

Ava's lip immediately began to quiver. "Raining?"

"But wait." Emma quickly interjected. "I have an even better idea. How would you like to bake cookies?"

"Isn't she a little young?" Hook asked.

"Not too young to sit on a stool and lick the spoon. So how bout it?"

"Ok." Ava's eyes widened. "Let's bake cookies."

"Great. Let me just go take a quick shower and we can start."

"Shall I join you?" Hook joked.

Emma stuck her tongue out playfully. "Not if we actually want to get around to the cookies."

Fifteen minutes later, Emma was digging in the kitchen for ingredients. "Damn-I mean crap." She swore as she opened the cupboards. "Looks like we're out of...just about everything you need to make cookies."

"Oh." Ava said, clearly disappointed as she sat at the kitchen table, digging into a large bowl of Froot Loops.

"Hey, it's cool. We can just go out and buy some." She lifted up the now empty box of cereal and frowned.

"No, it's fine. We can make cookies another time." Hook started to protest.

"I need more groceries anyway." Emma replied. "And besides. I want cookies too."

"Well, in that case. Guess it's time for a trip to the store."

Emma figured that shopping with a toddler would turn a simple task into an event, but she had no idea that Killian was just as childish as his daughter.

For the first fifteen minutes, he followed around patiently while she did her shopping, lifting things off the higher shelves when she couldn't reach them, saving her from having to awkwardly scale the shelves like she normally did.

But then he began to be more...difficult. It started with the cereal. She knew she had a sweet tooth, for her cupboard was more often than not filled with sugary cereals, her favorite being Froot Loops of course. On more than one occasion Mary Margaret had sighed and rolled her eyes at Emma's choice of breakfast food in that motherly way of hers. But once in a while Emma did like to buy whole grain cereals. She did want to live past 60.

But Killian didn't seem to understand the concept of being healthy. She pretended not to notice when he switched her Cheerios for Frosted Flakes. But when he started adding pints of Ben and Jerry, which she only really had occasionally, she had to draw the line.

"Killian!" She scolded after she caught him adding the third pint of ice cream. "What're you doing?"

He gave her a fake innocent look. "Why whatever do you mean?"

She placed her hands on her hips, pretending to be angry. "You're more childish than Ava."

He just shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about. But you really shouldn't buy so much ice cream, love. They do say that it is not healthy. Although I have no idea why. It is so bloody delicious."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say." But she did leave the ice cream in.

After that he kept a running commentary on everything he saw in the store. "Spam? Just what in seven hells is this? Some type of meat, I presume?

Emma walked over and plucked the can from his hand. "Um, well not exactly. I wouldn't really call it meat. Put it back. It's gross." Then she stopped. "Wait. Do you really not know what spam is?"

"No. And I'm glad I don't."

She just shook her head. "What rock have you been living under all this time? Earlier you didn't know what soymilk was either."

"The food in this world is weird."

"This world? Maybe you're the weird one."

"If weird means dashing, then yes."

Next were the doughnuts. There was a tug. "Emma can we get doughnuts?" Ava asked, pointing to the glass case.

"Um, I don't know. I think cookies are gonna be enough sugar for you today."

"Pwetty pweeze?" She pouted.

"Yeah." Killian added loudly. "Pwetty pweeze Emma?" He pouted as well, which she found both annoying and cute.

"Mature." She quipped. "You really are about five years old aren't you?"

In response, he just winked at her. "If we get doughnuts I'll be a good boy. I promise."

"Fine." She huffed. "Guess I could use a bear claw as well." As she reached for a box she saw Killian and Ava exchange a high five.

After three more detours in which Emma ended up with things she didn't really need, they were on their way back to the apartment, loaded down with bags. Killian held an impressive amount in his one hand.

"Just put them over there." Emma gestured at a spot by the fridge. "And I'll put everything away later."

"Nuh uh." He shook his head. "With your organizational skills? Let me arrange your supplies."

"All right." She responded, turning to Ava. "Ready for cookies?"

"You betcha!"

Emma laid out the ingredients on the counter and began to measure and pour. When there was the unmistakable crinkle of the bag of chocolate chips she looked up. "Ava!"

The little girl quickly slipped her hand out of the open bag. "Oops."

"Save some for the cookies, sweetie."

"Okay."

But then the bag crinkled again. Without looking up from the mixing bowl, Emma frowned. "Ava, I said to save the chocolate chips for the cookies."

"Wasn't me." She protested.

"What?" Emma looked up just in time to see Killian draw his hang back. "Hey!" She snatched the bag out of reach and slapped his hand.

He caught her hand and raised it to his lips, lightly brushing it over. "I guess you'll have to, um, punish me now won't you Swan?"

She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Yeah. You're sleeping alone tonight."

His expression immediately turned into one of mock horror. "No. Anything but that!"

Emma just chuckled as she turned back to the bowl.

Later that night, as they snuggled together on the couch, passing back and forth a plate of freshly baked cookies, watching Peter Pan(what else?), it occurred to Emma how domestic this all seemed. Spending her Saturday night with her maybe boyfriend and his daughter, baking cookies, watching a movie. He'd cooked dinner again except this time she'd helped. They'd made tacos this time, and scarfed them down before deciding to watch the movie.

She cast a look at Killian, whose gaze was trained on the screen, where Captain Hook was talking with Tinkerbell. He turned and noticed her stare, and raised his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders.

If this is what it would be like to be married to him, it wouldn't suck.

So this was her life now. Kids movies, cookies, and making dinner together. It wasn't bad. In fact it was pretty cozy. But she couldn't help but wonder how long her happiness would last.

Author's note: Can't you just picture Killian pouting and begging for doughnuts?