His grip then tightened - and his smile faded - when he heard a voice behind him.

"I should have known all that noise came from you."

Killian steadied his breathing before he turned around, his gaze hardened. "It's a children's birthday party, Teach. What the bloody hell did you expect?"

"To take a walk in peace."

"Then by all means, walk."

The older man only hummed. He then nodded toward the party.

"So, tell me, Jones, who are you celebrating?"

Killian clenched his fist. "Why do you even bloody care?"

With a shrug, Teach replied, "Well, I don't, of course. But I suppose curiosity got the better of me."

Killian scoffed. "And you think I'll satisfy it."

"I just thought you'd jump at the chance to prove what a good father you are."

"I don't have to prove anything - least of all to you."

He slammed the door to his truck and stomped away - only for Edward Teach's laughter to ring in his ears.

"I see that temper of yours hasn't changed."

Killian stopped in his tracks. Both of his hands curled into fists. He spun around and marched over to him. He pushed his finger against his chest.

"Believe me, you don't want to see it at its worst."

Teach shoved his hand away. He then grinned and nodded behind him.

"And here comes Emma to your rescue. Not that it's the least bit surprising."

"And just what the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Come now, Killian, surely you know much better than that."

Teach then smirked. "Liam and Elsa were daft for leaving you Anna Elizabeth - and am I wrong in surmising this party is for her and Liam?"

When Killian didn't answer, he continued, "You can't even give the lass her own birthday party. How long until she's overshadowed simply because she's not really yours?"

Killian drew back his fist and swung. Teach sidestepped out of way - Killian's hand slammed into the window.

"Bloody hell!"

He cradled his hand as Emma ran over to him. Her eyes widened.

"Killian, what happened?"

Teach interrupted, "Your husband thought fit to hit me. I suppose we're both lucky I have fast reflexes or else you'd be arresting him."

"You bastard!" Killian seethed. "You bloody goaded me into it just to get a rise out of me."

"Perhaps I did. You're an easy target."

Killian raised his fist again when Emma placed both hands on his chest. "Stop, Killian. You and I both know he isn't worth it."

"But he would be stupid enough to find out," Teach interjected yet again, another smirk playing across his face.

Emma glared at him. "You've made your point, okay? Just leave before I actually do have to arrest you both."

Teach hummed. "I suppose it wouldn't be wise to argue with the sheriff. So, I will be on my way." He then folded his hands behind his back and walked away without another word.

Emma sighed before she turned her attention back to her husband. He still cradled his hand.

He winced when she took it into her own hands. Her eyes widened at the purple and black.

"We might have to get Whale to take a look at this."

"I'll be fine, Swan. It's only a few bruises."

He then let out a sigh. "I think my pride hurts worse than my hand."

She let go of his hands and cupped his face. "You know Teach just wants to push your buttons. Why do you let him?"

"Because he's that same infuriating bastard who thinks he owns the whole bloody dock and all the water. He always fancied himself a better sailor than myself or my brother and loved to rub it in. Not to mention the superiority complex."

"Believe me, I get why you hate him - and he's never going to change. You just have to let it go - I thought you had."

"So did I - but when he dared to mention our children's names, something snapped."

He leaned against the truck and buried his face in his hands.

"And maybe he's right."

"Hey, you are an amazing father, Killian. Our kids know how much you love them."

He sighed and pulled away from her.

"And what if that isn't enough to keep Anna Elizabeth from feeling overshadowed?"

"You would never let that happen."

"You don't bloody know that."

He pushed himself off the truck and started to pace. He ran his fingers through his dark hair.

"This is about your brother, isn't it?"

He let out another sigh and raked his fingers back through his hair.

"I should have known you'd figure it out, Swan. You read me as well as I read you."

She only squeezed his hands and waited for him to continue. He took a deep breath before he did so.

"It's just still so hard knowing that he's not here to watch Anna Elizabeth grow up - knowing that he's not here to raise her. Instead, she has me - and I'm just bloody trying to not muck it up."

He slammed his hand into his truck - and then winced in pain. He shook his hand. Emma couldn't help but sigh before she pulled out her phone.

She told him, "I'm texting Belle to bring you some ice."

He only rubbed his forehead before his wife then perceived, "And seeing Teach - and having him needle you like that - only reminded you of how hard it was after Liam and Elsa first died."

"Aye." Killian took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. He sucked in a breath to keep the tears at bay.

She wrapped him in a hug. She curled her hands around his shoulders and buried her face in his neck. He relaxed into her embrace and squeezed her waist.

They stayed in each other's arms until they could no longer sense the time passing. He then pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

"Oh, Emma, I don't know what the bloody hell I would have done without you all these years."

She kissed his forehead before she caressed his cheek.

"You still would have been an amazing father to Anna Elizabeth."

"I'm glad you think so."

"Killian."

He grinned. "I'm joking. Mostly."

Emma shook her head. She then took his hands back in hers and asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

He let out a deep breath. "Teach really rattled me - but you were right, love. I can't let him get to me."

She nodded. She then planted a kiss on his cheek. When she pulled away, she gestured back toward the party.

"Come on, I think I see Belle with the ice. And you have to give Anna Elizabeth her present."

He entwined their fingers and nodded. "Aye, love, let's set sail." She couldn't help but smile and shake her head.

When they rejoined their family and friends, Belle rushed over. She took the present from him before she passed him the ice.

"Are you alright, Killian?"

He took the ice and laid it across his hand. He winced and gritted his teeth. "Bloody hell, that hurts."

Belle scrunched her nose. "You have to be more careful."

"Good advice, sis. I'll remember that the next time Teach decides to pi-"

Emma elbowed him and motioned to the impressionable ears who ran around the park.

He rolled his eyes. He then took a deep breath and finished, "The next time Teach pushes my buttons."

At his wife and sister's worried expressions, he covered, "I promise I'll be fine. You two worry too much."

"Someone has to worry about you," Emma chimed in with a smile. He smiled back in response.

He held the ice to his hand until the cold soothed the wound. He then held it out to his sister.

"Thank you for this, love. I think I'll be alright now."

Belle eyed him for a moment before she nodded. She then handed him the present.

He then looked down at it. He waved it in the air.

"I should go find our niece and give her this."

A smile then made its way across his face. "I can't wait for her to see it."

Emma and Belle returned his smile before he headed off across the grass. His blue eyes searched for the little girl until he spied her sprawled across a blanket with Liam crawling around beside her.

She then sat up and pulled him into her lap. She pointed up at the sky.

"See! That one looks like a crocodile. I bet it's the one from Peter Pan."

Liam squirmed in her arms. He pushed against her and started to whine.

Anna Elizabeth lifted him from her lap and placed him back on the blanket. He crawled around once more.

"You just wanted to play, didn't you? That's okay - I like to play, too."

His only answer was to continue crawling around the blanket. He grabbed one of his toys and waved it around.

Anna Elizabeth smiled before she tilted her head. "I wanna look at the clouds."

She lay back on the blanket, her blue eyes roaming all over the sky. She pointed up - only for Liam to fall on top of her and giggle.

"Liam! What are you doing?"

"Well, love, I think he wants to play with his favorite sister."

Killian grinned as he plopped down on the blanket. Anna Elizabeth scrunched her nose.

"I'm his only sister, Daddy Killian."

"Which makes you his favorite."

Killian then grabbed the little boy and pulled him into his lap. Liam squirmed.

"Just a moment, lad. I only needed to move you to give Anna Elizabeth a present."

She shot up, her eyes lighting up. "Another present? But you and Mommy Emma already gave me one."

He ruffled her hair. "Indeed, we did. But I had one more for you. It's a special one."

Liam slid further down in his father's lap until he let him go. He crawled across the blanket and reached for another toy.

Killian smiled and shook his head. He then turned to Anna Elizabeth.

He smiled at her. "Ready for your present?" She nodded, all her curls landing in her face. She pushed them out of the way.

He couldn't help but chuckle. He helped smooth down the rest of her hair. With a deep breath, he then passed her the gift.

"Happy birthday, Anna Elizabeth."

A smile lit up her entire face as she tore into the wrapping paper. Pink and black flew everywhere.

"It's a book!"

She then blinked a few times before she read the title aloud: "Treasure Island." She hugged it close to her chest. "I can't wait to read it."

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much." With a grin, he added, "It's all about pirates, treasure, and adventure."

Anna Elizabeth giggled. She then held the book back in front of her and looked at it.

"I wonder if it'll become my favorite?"

Killian's eyes welled. He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I think there is a very good chance of that considering it was one of your father's favorites."

He tapped the book. "This very one belonged to him - that's why it's so special."

Her eyes widened. "It was Daddy's book? Really?"

"Indeed it was. And I think he would be very happy that his little girl gets to enjoy it."

She scrunched her nose. "I'm not little. I'm nine."

He shook his head - and rubbed at his eyes. He then told her, "Ah, yes, how could I forget?" He then ran his fingers back through her hair.

"I'm happy you like the present, love."

"I love it. Thank you, Daddy Killian."

She then launched into his arms and threw her arms around his neck. He squeezed her tight.

When they pulled away, he told her, "I'll sit with Liam, love. You can go play with your friends."

"They're still eating cake. I wanted to play with Liam."

He smiled. "Alright then. I'll just go find your mother. You and your brother have fun."

She nodded before she lay back on the blanket. Killian watched her a few moments more before he rose to his feet.