12.

Killian glanced up when he heard Emma padding back down the stairs. "Are they both asleep?" he asked whilst stirring the mugs in front of him.

"Yes," she sighed, "finally. Ollie was out like a light before we'd even finished the second page of our story. But Hope was up to her usual tricks."

"Ah," he nodded knowingly as he reached for the bottle of rum. "spiked tonight or not?" he asked her and poured some into his mug of hot chocolate.

"Erm, not," she decided.

He nodded and put the bottle back. "So, how many stories did she convince you to read tonight?"

"Three," she said with a wry chuckle. "Every time you think she has finally gone to sleep and stop reading, she suddenly snaps her eyes open and demands more."

Killian picked up one of the mugs and handed it to her. "She's a stubborn lass, that one," he spoke of their five year old daughter.

"Thanks babe." Emma kissed his cheek in gratitude for the hot chocolate. "Of course she is, she's your daughter," she teased, for which she received a rather offended frown from him. "Fine, she's our daughter," she laughed as she followed him into the lounge. "I have no idea where Ollie gets his placid nature from though."

Whilst Emma had managed the bath and bedtime for their children, Killian had tidied the kitchen after dinner, straightened up the lounge and picked up abandoned toys, seen to a load of laundry and then prepared their nightly mugs of hot chocolate. With two small children to care for, their evenings usually consisted of nothing more than a couple of hours sat in front of the TV with their hot chocolate to unwind before they collapsed into bed together, exhausted. If they were really lucky, there was occasionally the opportunity and desire for a little fooling around too.

It was hardly the swashbuckling lifestyle that Killian had once lived as a feared pirate or the lonesome life Emma had once endured as a scrappy young woman chasing skips. Not that either of them would change it for the world, things were so much more meaningful and rewarding now. The couple had never been happier with the life and family they had created together.

Picking up the remote, Killian began to skip through the channels, searching for the weather channel – he had a habit of checking the weather every night. Once he was satisfied, he handed the remote to Emma who went on the hunt for something new to watch, since they had caught up with all the shows they were currently watching.

She paused on a channel in the middle of a movie whilst reaching for her drink. The current scene was that of an elderly couple, still obviously in love with one another as the women held her partners arm and they ambled along together slowly.

"Do you ever imagine us being like that someday?" Emma asked, gesturing with her mug towards the TV before setting it back down on the coffee table.

"Like what?" he asked.

"Like that couple." She nodded her head towards the screen. "The pair of us old and grey and yet still looking at one another as though we're each others answer to everything. Do you think we'll be like that?"

"Aye, I like to think so," he turned his head and gave her a smile that still managed to take her breath away. Emma smiled shyly and took his hand.

"So, you're still going to love me when my hair turns grey and I'm all old and wrinkly? But," she continued before he could answer, "be careful how you answer that, since I still love you and you're already an old, old man," she finished with a chuckle, teasing him again about his age.

"Ha ha!" he rolled his eyes, used to her playful jibes about his rather advanced age, compared to hers. "Of course I will still love you. I was going to say that I will love you for the rest of my life, but I'm pretty sure I will still love you even beyond that."

"Aaw," she looked up at him, falling in love with him just a little bit more as she leaned over to kiss him softly. "You old softie, you," she smiled and stroked his cheek. "I feel the same," she confessed. "But...how about if I put on weight and get really fat?" she wondered.

"No matter what," he vowed.

Emma gave him a soft smile, before her expression became rather pensive as she obviously pondered over something. "Do you think either of us will get fat as we get older?"

He shrugged. "Considering I have seen you eat all kinds of rubbish in the last few years and you've barely gained a pound, I doubt it, love. And I'll be fine, I've always been trim," he boasted, patting his own belly.

"Hmm," Emma smirked, "remember I have seen that wish realm version of you!" she chuckled.

Killian pouted, unamused at her insinuation. "He was a fool that had given up on himself. I have too much to live for."

"Good come back," she grinned and leant forward to press her lips against his again. "What if we both lose our hearing and we're just yelling at each other all the time and not making any sense?" she asked, coming up with another scenario.

Killian rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself. "There is nothing that can stop me from loving you."

Emma smiled, but then thought of something else. "What if I get really sick? Will you nurse me in our old age?"

"Of course I will, love. Until my last breath." He squeezed her knee. "Even if you are an awful patient!"

She poked her tongue out at him. "Will you still love me even if I forget who you are?" she wondered. "Like, if I get sick with Alzheimer's or something horrible like that?"

"Emma, love," he turned his body so he could see her face on and took her hand. "I don't know where all this is coming from, but our love has already transcended between realms, time, alternate realities and even death. I don't think there's anything that can tear us apart. Our love story is one for the ages, it's eternal and there is nothing that can change that."

Emma sighed softly, kissed him briefly and lay her head on his shoulder, nuzzling into him. "Thank you for asking me to marry you," she whispered.

"Best decision I ever made," he murdered in reply. "Thank you for saying yes."

"Easiest answer I ever gave," she replied.

"And just in case I'm the one who loses his memory or I just grow stupid in my old age, don't ever forget how damn much I love you," he added as he lifted her chin to share a deep kiss.

"And just so as you know," Emma murmured as her fingers traced the opening of his shirt, revealing his chest, "even if you go bald, get fat, lose your hearing and have no idea who I am, I will always love you, too," she vowed.

"Come here," he murmured, nodding with his head as he pulled her onto his lap so that she straddled him and proceeded to kiss her quite thoroughly.

Emma was enjoying the sensations of Killian's warm tongue teasing her own and his hand stroking the soft skin of her bare midriff between her sweater and jeans, until he pulled away and she whimpered at the loss of his touch. "Why did you stop?" she complained.

He glanced up towards the ceiling. "Do you think they're truly settled for the night?" he wondered of their kids, meeting her eye again.

She smiled, knowing what he had in mind and nodded. "They were both rather wiped out. I'd say we have a few hours before we get any little visitors."

"Good," he grinned as he got up from the sofa and took her hand. The TV was flicked off with a jab at the remote, the remainder of their mugs of hot chocolate were abandoned on the coffee table and the couple sped their way upstairs for some special adult alone time.