Emma and Killian had quickly settled into their domestic life. She was working as a probation officer - which seemed like the perfect combination of her past with the criminal justice system (in several ways) and her desire to help kids like her who'd lost their way.
People who didn't know her well would be surprised at her soft spot for children in need, thinking only of her tough exterior and rocky past - but those who knew her best saw the incredible amount of empathy and compassion she had for them. She desperately wanted to be a force for good in their lives - the way she wished someone had been able to be that force for her.
About a year after they "officially" started dating, he proposed during a picnic by the water. While his nerves had his emotions raging like the ocean during a storm, the waves in the nearby marina lapped calmly against the wooden docks as he awaited her answer. Her breath hitched as she saw the gorgeous emerald stone he held out to her, flanked by a couple of smaller diamonds on each side. It was beautiful, simple and just a bit unusual - but she loved that they were so in-tune with each other that he didn't need to ask about her preference, he just knew she wouldn't be happy with the traditional diamond.
When she said yes they fell into an impossible bliss - somehow more and more in love with one another every single day. Even with the added stress of Mary Margaret's constant insistence that they invite more people and scale up the wedding, they seemed to balance each other perfectly - taking turns trying to explain that neither of them wanted a big to-do.
They were married in a quiet ceremony with one of Killian's associate pastors presiding over the affair. Despite his affiliation with the church (and even more of Mary Margaret's protests), they decided an outdoor wedding suited them best - and on that day (5 years ago now), he went weak at the knees at the site of his true love walking toward him in a simple satin gown, arm in arm with her father.
She was perfect - and he thanked God now more than ever, that for some damn reason, she felt the same way about him.
Both of them decided early on that they'd like to have kids - but they put it off for a while, taking some time to just enjoy being married. It wasn't always easy. There were fights over housework, careers and finances - the same stupid things that all couples fight about. But even in their fighting they never once lost sight of the fact that they loved one another unconditionally - even when they disagreed.
Two years later Emma brought their baby boy into the world - William Arthur Jones. Killian thought he would die of happiness when he saw the two of them together for the first time. His brilliant wife, exhausted with her golden hair tied up into a ponytail - beaming down at the perfect little human in her arms, tear tracks running down her cheeks as she was overcome with emotion. She never thought she could have this. Never thought she could be this. And yet, here she was. He was terrified of all that was to come, but he knew they'd find a way to work it out together.
As the years passed it became apparent that Killian was determined to be the absolute best of fathers. There were times when his fervent devotion made her melancholy - recognizing that it's root was in his troubled relationship with his own father, and his disdain for the man who'd destroyed his family. But then she'd see the way Killian smiled at their son while they laid on their stomachs on the living room floor - reading books or playing with blocks, and everything seemed right with the world.
Her boys spent a lot of time together, Killian taking care of William on most days while Emma went to work. His schedule was a lot more flexible than hers - and he worked from his home office often and took William with him to the church when he needed to go in. The fact that he'd made sure to find a way for her to continue working after they had their son only made her fall in love with him more - if that was even possible.
And as much as she appreciated it, they did seem to get into a lot of trouble together. More than once she'd come home to see some half-built project (her favorite being a tree-house for "lost boys only" that took Killian nearly six months to actually finish), or find that they'd destroyed the kitchen with their baking "experiments."
She supposed it should've been no surprise when Killian (with their son's help) got himself into a little bit of trouble by starting an accidental argument with Father Smee that seemed to be playing out agonizingly slowly and very very publicly.
"Just let it be, Killian," Emma tried to sound exasperated while she whisked up some eggs for breakfast, but they both knew she was enjoying it as much as he was.
He came around the corner into their kitchen, black shirt hung open to reveal his toned chest and tight abs. Even though he was capable of buttoning it up himself, he always liked watching her nimble fingers work the buttons through their slots.
Stepping up behind her, taking in the smell of her shampoo as he slipped his arms around her, he sighed in contentment before placing a tender kiss to her jawline and moving back to his coffee to take up his cause.
"You know I can't just let that kind of ignorance slide, love. Something must be done. If not me, then who?" He adopted a falsely gallant tone that made her giggle.
"You don't think you're blowing this out of proportion?" She retorted. "I mean, it all started with one little thing for Will-" he cut her off with a wave of his hand.
"It's not about the lad. You know that, darling. There are greater forces at work here." He stood determined.
"Know what you're going to say this time?" She gave in, stepping away from the stove for a moment to check on their son happily coloring in a picture of a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder.
"Oh yes. I've got it all planned out. Rest assured, love, this is the last one." He took another sip of coffee as she smiled back at him, turning the burner off before coming before him and slipping her hands under his still unbuttoned shirt to run along his chest and around to his waist.
He groaned at the contact, wanting her to do so much more than that - but with their son coloring just a few feet away, he settled for the glint in her eye that shone with the promise that they'd get to that later.
A couple of months ago he'd insisted on showing William what he considered to be a classic film - All Dogs go to Heaven. Little did he know that the viewing would spark something not only for their son - but for the whole town.
As the final credits were rolling he turned back to his father, his face suddenly serious - eyebrows furrowed in deep thought and consternation.
Killian wanted to laugh at how adorable he looked like that, but knew that would only upset him, so he bit his lip to stifle his chuckle.
"Is it true?" His son finally said, climbing up into Killian's lap, staring into his father's eyes as if he could find the answer there if he looked hard enough.
"Is what true, son?" Killian said, brushing back a stray strand of the boy's dark locks. The boy's hair looked exactly like his own, often sticking up at odd angles no matter what they did.
"Do all dogs go to Heaven?" William responded quickly.
Killian just blinked for a few moments - not realizing the theological implications of the animated movie. He tried to sift through a million thoughts, worried about saying something incorrect. After all, how pathetic would it be for a child to be unable to rely on his pastor of a father for theological questions.
"Dad?" The small voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Killian cleared his throat. "Well, son, the Bible tells us that God loves all his creations - and since God created dogs, I'd say that's a yes. And really," he mused thoughtfully - talking more to himself than his son now, "Heaven is meant to be a happy place, and I'm certainly happier when there's a dog around. Not to mention, I don't think there's anything in the bible that would specifically exclude dogs…"
William's eyes lit up. "That's great! We should get a dog! That way he can come to Heaven with us!"
Glancing over the surprising morbidity of that statement, Killian's stomach fell at the realization that both he and Emma would now certainly be faced with an insistent toddler pleading day-in and day-out for a puppy. As if the poor woman didn't have enough on her plate already with work and putting up with the two of them.
"We'll see about that, William. But for now, let's get your shoes and go for a walk."
They'd made it to the churchyard - William's tiny hand clutched in his father's as they walked - when he noticed the marquee and stopped so suddenly that Killian practically dragged him forward before he realized his son had stopped dead in his tracks.
"Do people know?" He looked up at his father as he asked - Killian mentally noting that they'd need to have a conversation about how to ask specific questions.
"Do people know what, lad?"
"That all dogs go to heaven? I didn't know…" He explained, trailing off.
"I doubt it's something people think about often, son. Why?"
"We should put it on the sign. So people know." He pointed at the marquee - which currently displayed the title of his current message series. Not exactly enthralling stuff.
Killian scrubbed a hand through his hair, mentally weighing the possible outrage he'd face for using the sign for something so… silly, and the possibility that it's sillyness would be exactly the thing to draw some attention.
He decided quickly that if the community could get over him punching someone in the church on his first day, they probably wouldn't kick him out for this.
A little over an hour later Killian snapped a selfie with his son in front of the newly changed sign, reading: All Dogs go to Heaven.
About a week later he was driving over for a sparring session with David and he'd nearly run off the road upon seeing what was on the marquee at his former church.
"Only humans go to heaven. Read the bible."
His Adam's apple bobbed as he gulped at the heavy realization that he may have just started something quite a bit bigger than he intended.
David just laughed him off - thinking the whole thing was hilarious. That in a moment of weakness he'd done something to placate his toddler and ended up in what was bound to be a bit of trouble.
Killian took a swing, the desire to punch that smug look off of David's face taking over the pastor's senses. His father in law just kept smirking back at him.
"We've all done it, Killian. You should've seen Mary Margaret's face when I let Emma paint her bedroom herself." David panted between movements.
"Showing your age there, old man," Killian teased as he landed a blow to David's ribs. He straightened up at the small victory, determined to prove it wasn't just a momentary lapse in parental judgment. "It wasn't just to make the lad happy. I've done some research into the matter in the past few days. I think it's true. I mean, God's a good guy, and what kind of an asshole wouldn't allow dogs into heaven?"
David's feet stopped shuffling as he dropped his hands to his side to give Killian a look that just shouted, "Really?" They both devolved into laughter after that - deciding they'd had enough for one day.
The entire incident played out over quite a few weeks. After seeing that response - he knew he only had one option: to fight back.
They'd settled into a kind of rhythm of changing the signs once a week. Father Smee would change his on Tuesday, Killian would change his on Saturday. It had actually become a spectacle of sorts - people gathering at the base of the sign, waiting for Killian to put up his response.
It was quite hilarious, really, having a few churchgoers shouting out their guesses like they were on Wheel of Fortune as he filled in the lines. The members at his church had even started writing in their own suggested responses - placing them in the tithe and offering box at the side of the worship center.
He often stuck with his own responses anyway, not wanting to stir up political trouble within the church by choosing one person's entry over another. But he posted the submissions on the church blog for everyone to enjoy. They seemed to get a real kick out of it.
As he dragged the ladder out to the marquee one final time (he knew this was going to be the end of their little debate), he thought back on their argument via church sign. The whole thing was a bit ridiculous when he laid it out in his head:
Killian: "All dogs go to heaven."
Father Smee: "Only humans go to Heaven. Read the Bible"
Killian: "God loves all his creations. Dogs included."
Father Smee: "Dogs don't have souls. This is not open for debate."
Killian: "Evangelical Free dogs go to Heaven. Catholic dogs can talk to their priest."
Father Smee: "Converting to EV Free does not magically grant your dog a soul."
Killian: "Free dog souls with conversion."
Father Smee: "Dogs are animals. There aren't any rocks in Heaven either."
He knew his last response would put Father Smee over the edge. But he couldn't help but smile as he looked up at his final comeback.
"All rocks go to heaven."