A/N: Hey, you guys! This one-shot was a (very long-overdue) request for some cuteness with Anna Elizabeth and Baby Liam. I hope y'all enjoy :)

Emma groaned and buried her head in her pillow. "Killian, how did we let this happen?"

He propped himself on his elbow and looked down at her. "Love, unless we counted backward from Anna Elizabeth's birthday, it couldn't be helped."

She smacked him with the pillow. She then climbed out of their bed and started to pace.

"You know that isn't what I meant."

She ran her fingers through her blonde hair. She stalked from one end of the bedroom to the other.

Killian then rose to his feet and stopped in front of her. He ran his hands up and down her arms.

"Despite the fact that you tried to maim me…" He cut himself off with a grin as she rolled her eyes. He then took a deep breath and kissed her forehead.

"I think perhaps you're overreacting a bit, Swan. Surely there's a solution?"

"To the fact that our kids' birthdays are only one day apart? How are we gonna pull that off?"

"By being creative."

Emma rolled her eyes again. She pulled away from him and continued to pace along the floor. Killian grabbed her arm and pulled her to the bed.

He ran his fingers through her hair. "Come now, love, between the two of us, I believe we can find a way to give Anna Elizabeth and Liam quite wonderful parties."

She smiled at him and ran her hand along his jaw. She then took a deep breath.

"I'm open to suggestions."

Killian tilted his head and raked his fingers through his dark hair.

"We could have Liam's party one day, and Anna Elizabeth's the next. Or vice versa."

Emma hummed. "It's not the worst idea - but I'm thinking it'd just, you know, be a lot to ask of everyone."

"That's a fair point, love."

With a sigh, she then said, "I guess we could just throw two parties that same day."

He cocked an eyebrow. "You don't sound too sure, love."

She let out another sigh. "I just don't want either of them to be left out. And in this case, it's Liam's first birthday."

"You know our family better than that. They'll endeavor to ensure it's Anna Elizabeth's day as well."

"I know they would, and I know you're right - I guess I just wish we had counted backward."

She cracked a smile as Killian let out a chuckle. He then offered, "I don't think it'll be as bad as all that. If I can survive sharing a room with my control freak of a brother for all those years, I'd wager our children can survive sharing a few birthday parties."

Emma shook her head - and yet, a chuckle escaped. She then told him, "You do realize it's not gonna be that simple?"

His reply cut off when they heard their daughter's voice over the baby monitor.

"Liam? Are you sleeping? I have something to tell you!"

Emma pressed her forehead against Killian's. "I'm glad Anna Elizabeth loves Liam so much, but I wish she'd let the kid sleep."

Killian chuckled. "Let's just see what she has to tell the lad."

He then took her hand and squeezed it. They laid against the pillows and listened to their little girl.

Anna Elizabeth pressed her face against Liam's crib. "I think you'll be excited, too. It's gonna be fun."

Liam rolled around his crib, cooing and gurgling as he did so. He then managed to sit up.

He reached through the bars for Anna Elizabeth's curls. She backed away.

"Liam! You can't pull my hair!"

She then took a deep breath. "That's not nice."

The baby boy dropped his head. Anna Elizabeth then reached through the bars and grabbed his tiny hand.

"But I know you didn't mean it. And now I want you to listen, okay?"

He stared at her with big blue-green eyes. A wide smile broke out across his sister's features.

"It's our birthdays! Mine is Thursday, and yours is Friday."

Liam reached for a stuffed animal beside him and waved it around.

Anna Elizabeth nodded. "Yeah! We'll get presents and toys at our party."

He recognized "party" and clapped his hands. Her smile brightened.

"Mommy Emma and Daddy Killian haven't said anything - they probably want to surprise us."

Liam continued to coo and gurgle before she continued, "I don't know what kind of party. I think we should have a big one."

"Bi?"

She hummed and moved to sit cross-legged. "Yeah! One big party with princesses! And…"

She tilted her head. "What do you like?" When she glanced around the nursery, she exclaimed, "Oh!"

She then looked back at her brother. "You like boats and water like Daddy Killian. And I do, too! That can be our theme! We'll have a cake and decorations and everybody can come…"

Emma and Killian couldn't help but chuckle as Anna Elizabeth talked more and more. She finally took a breath and wished her brother good night.

Killian then slipped out of bed and eased their door open. He watched as the little girl tip-toed back to her own room.

He then walked back over to the bed and slipped underneath the covers. Emma curled in next to him. She drew circles into his chest.

"Well, I guess we've fixed the party problem."

Killian hummed. "You sound as though you need a mite more convincing, Swan."

She couldn't help but sigh. "I guess I just keep thinking about when I was a kid. I never really had a lot of birthday parties until after Mom adopted me."

With furrowed brows, he asked her, "Your foster families never did anything for you?"

"I mean, they made an effort, but I don't know, it never felt like a real birthday."

"Like it was something that had to be done as opposed to actually wanting to celebrate."

"Yeah."

She then moved away from him and curled her knees into her chest. Killian said nothing. He rubbed his hands up and down her back.

She let out another sigh. "It's been over 20 years - I thought it'd be easier by now."

He pressed a kiss against her head. "Wounds that are made when we're young tend to linger."

She only nodded. She then told him, "I just…don't want my kids to ever feel that way."

Killian crawled around and sat in front of her. He took her hands in his.

"Oh, Emma, darling, they are in no danger of that. You are a wonderful mother - you've always loved Anna Elizabeth as your own, and watching you with Liam makes me fall in love with you all over again. You will give our children a party they will never forget."

Emma smiled at him. She then leaned forward and kissed him. He smiled into it before he tilted his head and ran his fingers through her hair.

When they pulled away, she rested her forehead against his. She ran her fingers through his dark hair.

She couldn't help but grin. "Liam won't exactly remember it, you know."

He shook his head and chuckled. "I've quite rubbed off on you, Swan."

"With as much time as we've spent together, it's not surprising."

She then giggled as he let out another chuckle. She then squeezed his arm.

"I'm gonna go check on the kids one more time. Make sure they're actually asleep."

Her hand then went to her mouth as she yawned. She shook her head.

"And then I'll need some sleep."

He ran his fingers through her hair. "I think that makes two of us. We do have to get up for work in the morning."

Emma only hummed before she slipped out of bed and out of their room. She then shuffled across the house to the kids' rooms.

She eased open Liam's door and tip-toed inside. He popped up from his crib. He then reached for her.

"Ma-ma?"

She smiled and shook her head. She then walked over and scooped him in her arms.

"Hey, you, you're supposed to be asleep."

He only cooed and then began to play with her necklace. She carefully pried it from his fingers.

He whined until she reached over in his crib and grabbed one of his toys. He then let out a giggle. Emma smiled and kissed his head.

"I think your sister had something to do with this - but she did have some good ideas for your party."

He clapped and let out a laugh as Emma tickled his stomach. She then told him, "I think we should go thank her. What do you think?"

Liam cooed in response. She let out a giggle.

I'll take that as a yes."

She then adjusted him in her arms before she walked out of the room. She tip-toed across the floor and made her way into her daughter's room.

She barely recognized Anna Elizabeth's sleeping form amidst the pillows and blankets.

Careful not to wake the little girl, Emma sat on the edge of the bed. She placed Liam in her lap.

Her voice barely rose above a whisper. "You know, kid, you're pretty lucky to have a sister who's willing to share a birthday. Especially since…"

She trailed off and shook her head. "I'll tell you one day - but you couldn't have chosen a better older sister."

He squirmed in her lap, his toy falling to the floor. Emma picked it up and waved it at him.

"Do you want this back?"

He shook his head and started to whine. She kissed his head.

"I think it's time for you to go to bed."

She readjusted him in her arms before she stood. She turned her attention back to Anna Elizabeth.

"Thanks, kid. I'm not sure you know how much easier you've made all of this."

With a smile, she then opened the door and headed back into the hall - but not before she heard a faint and groggy "You're welcome, Mommy Emma."