3.
Emma looked up from the kitchen sink where she was rinsing out the baby bottles as Killian came stomping through the front door, a chilly breeze and a couple of fallen crisp leaves following him before he closed the door. "Hey," she smiled.
"Here you go," Killian dumped a grocery bag on the kitchen table, ignoring her greeting. "About 10 pounds of Halloween candy to rot the teeth of every child in town." He scowled as he continued to the fridge with the gallon of milk he'd also been sent out to pick up.
"Aaw, don't be all Grinchy about it," Emma gently chastised him as she stepped towards him and put her hands on his shoulders. "It's only one night a year, let kids have fun!" she added and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
"I suppose at least the dentist in town will be happy," he grumbled. "And what the hell does Grinchy mean?" he scowled.
Emma giggled. "The Grinch is a grumpy character from a beloved children's book who hates Christmas."
"But, it's Halloween?" he frowned, confused by her explanation.
Emma sighed and patted his chest. "I know, it just means you're being grumpy about something that other people enjoy and trying to steal their fun." She turned then to open the bags of candy he had bought and pour them into the huge orange candy bowl so that they were ready to hand out to any little Trick or Treat visitors they might get.
"Hmm.." he commented and stole one of the lollipops. "I still don't get this weird custom of allowing kids to go around begging from neighbours."
"They're not begging, it's just...never mind. Thank you for being a good husband and picking them up from the store for me anyhow." She pulled him towards her again and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him tenderly in thanks.
"I still can't believe you forgot to pick any up yourself!" he snorted, stuffing the lollipop into his mouth.
"Ha!" Emma rolled her eyes as she returned to the sink, placing all the washed out baby bottles into the steamer sterilising unit.
Killian watched her for a moment before something dawned on him. "Where's Hope? I thought you wanted us to take her out tonight. You haven't put her to bed already have you?" he asked, sounding disappointed.
"No, we're still taking her out. She's upstairs with Henry. He came over to visit and volunteered to change her for me and I wasn't about to turn that down," she chuckled, drying her hands on a dish towel. "Why don't you go on up and see if they're done? We can all get going then." She turned to face him with a smile before placing the lid on the unit and turning it on.
Emma waiting until he had ascended the first flight of stairs and then crept slowly after him, eager to see his reaction to what was waiting for him in Hope's nursery.
"Hey, Mom," Emma heard Henry say from Hope's room as Killian pushed the door open. "She won't keep this damn thing on and...oh, hey Killian," Henry stopped. "I thought you were Mom," he laughed at himself awkwardly. Emma, spying from across the landing, could see the sheepish look he gave as Hope once again pulled the headscarf from her head and tossed it aside with a little giggle.
"What is all this?" Killian asked, surprised by the appearance of his daughter. Emma could hear the joy in his tone as Hope turned at the sound of her father's voice. She broke into the biggest smile and she stretched her arms up, asking him to pick her up. He bent down and scooped up the six month old baby from her play mat. "Look at you, my stunning little pirate princess," he grinned, kissing her sweet head of tiny blonde curls.
"Yeah, she's all ready for her first Halloween of Trick or Treating," Henry said, getting to his feet.
"Did you put her in this?" Killian asked, smoothing down the black and red tulle tutu that adorned the tiny pirate costume Hope had been dressed in. The top was a peasant style white blouse with a black, faux leather vest covering it, all covered in tiny little skulls and crossbones.
"Oh no, this was all Mom's idea. She bought the outfit and dressed her, I was just entertaining her until you got back. Hope doesn't seem to like this part of her costume, though." He handed Killian the headscarf.
"Well, she doesn't want to cover up these glorious golden curls, do you baby girl?" he asked her, running his hand through said curls and pressing his lips to her head again. "I can understand, I never wanted to wear a hat either," he whispered loudly to her. Hope giggled as she nuzzled her head into her daddy's chest and grasped hold of his necklace. Hearing a cheerful snicker from behind him, he turned to find Emma stood in the doorway, watching them with a self-gratified smile on her face. "So, what is all this about?" he asked, indicating their daughter's cute outfit.
Emma shrugged. "Hope needs a costume for Trick or Treating on Halloween," she replied, stepping into the room and running her hand over their baby's back. "I spent hours online trying to choose a costume for her, they were all so cute. But then the obvious answer came to me, a baby pirate princess was the only suitable option with her pirate daddy." She shared a loving gaze with her husband which led to a quick kiss between the couple.
Much to Henry's relief, the doorbell rang at that moment. "Probably Trick or Treaters, I'll go," he volunteered and quickly made his escape from the room. He still didn't like to deal with his Mom and step-dad being all gushy around one another.
The pair of them chuckled as he hurried away. "So, what do you think?" Emma asked.
"She's perfect and looks totally adorable. Our little lass is beautiful, just like her mother," he smiled and leant in for another brief kiss.
"Hmm…" Emma hummed and patted his shoulder, "flattery might just get you some later, babe."
He arched an eyebrow high on his forehead. "Promise?" he asked.
"If you're a good boy," she smiled as she smoothed her hand along the scruff of his cheek before giving it a light pat.
Killian tugged her in for more slightly deeper kisses before Hope shrieked at them and wriggled her little hands between them, causing them to pull apart.
They both laughed at her antics and cuddled her between them. "It seems that our little girl takes after big brother and hates the mushy stuff," Emma chuckled.
"Hmm, well sorry lass, you're going to have to get used to it," Killian informed her and kissed the tip of her nose. "So, do you want to head out now? Before she falls asleep?" he asked, juggling the baby in his arms.
"In just a moment, first we have to get into our costumes," she smirked.
"What?" His eyes widened. "Emma, no," he whined. "I'm not wearing a damn costume!"
"Oh, come on," she tugged on his hook to pull him along behind her, "don't be such a spoil sport. Hope really wants you to, don't you baby?" She tickled the little girl's tummy, who squealed in glee threw her arms in the air and slapped them down on her daddy's shoulder in her excitement.
"She's a baby, Swan. She doesn't care about any of this!" he grumbled.
"Now, you promised to be a good boy, remember?" she laughed as she led him into their room. "Besides, all I want you to wear is your old pirate gear and...you'll really like what I'm wearing," she added mysteriously, picking up a bundle of clothes and heading into the bathroom.
Killian sigh deeply. "The things I do for your mother," Emma heard him mutter to Hope and she knew she had won him over.
Because that man would do anything for his girls.