"Killian?" Emma called.

"In here, love." Killian shouted back from the bathroom.

She started moving in the direction of his voice as she spoke, "Is Liam with you? I can't find…"

Emma trailed off as Killian came to view, and with him, his four year old mini-me. She couldn't believe how fast he was growing up. So fast, actually, that he now stood by Killian on the bathroom counter with shaving cream all over his face, mimicking his father's movements with a wooden popsicle stick.

"Hey there, buddy. Whatcha doing?" Emma planted a kiss on the back of Killian's neck, before moving to stand behind Liam on the counter.

"Shaving with daddy!" Liam beamed.

"I can see that, kid. How about you let me help you so we can get you dressed for today?"

"But you're not helping daddy!" Liam whined.

"I'll help daddy once I get you dressed. I promise." Emma held out her pinky for Liam to lock her promise with.

"Aye lad, listen to your mum." Killian winked at her through the mirror.

Liam nodded and wrapped his little pinky around hers, before reaching his arms up, making grabby hands at her.

Emma picked him up and carried him to his bedroom to help him get dressed.

In the past year, Emma and Killian had moved in together, gotten engaged, and planned a whole art exhibition surrounding Killian's paintings to her… which was set to open in a few hours. Although they weren't technically married yet, Emma and Killian were already preparing adoption papers so that Emma could officially be his mother. Which is why Killian started teaching Liam to call her mommy, instead of Emma, a few months ago. He felt easing his boy into the idea was the best way to go, even if he was still too young to really understand it.

Killian made his way to them, just as Emma was tying the laces on Liam's shoes. He wore a miniature grey suit, with shorts instead of full-length pants, and a vest instead of a blazer.

"Mama, daddy needs help!" Emma couldn't stop the flutter in her heart every time Liam referred to her as his mother. It was magical in its purity.

"And how do you figure that?" Emma asked.

Liam didn't say anything, but pointed to something behind her. Emma turned to find Killian standing by the door, his tie in a tangled knot around his fingers- she couldn't control the chuckle that escaped her.

"How even…" Emma breathed.

"Bloody thing's out to get me, Swan." He eyed the tie suspiciously.

Emma undid the knots on the tie before straightening it out and tying it properly around his neck.

"There you go," she said as she patted his chest.

"What would I do without you, love?" Killian leaned in and pecked her lips in thanks.

"Keep an eye on Liam while I go get dressed. Don't let him eat anything… or touch any of his paints. If he messes up his clothes, he'll end up a mess in all the pictures," Emma warned.

"Gotcha, boss." Killian saluted her.

They arrived at the gallery twenty minutes later. After months of hard work, Emma was so excited to finally see the end product. According to Killian, she was in for a few surprises as well.

They stood in front of the main entrance, their eyes fell on a sign that proudly read the words "Forgetting Neverland".

"It seemed fitting, love," Killian explained, his mouth pressed directly to her ear in a display much too intimate for such a public setting.

"Oh yeah? How's that?" She mumbled in return.

"Neverland never seemed like a place I'd want to visit; it's beauty and splendor merely a superficial visage to hide the ugliness of a life spent never growing, never learning. And you, my love, inspire me everyday. You've shown me there is beauty to be found within the unjust. Liam and I didn't deserve the hand we were dealt, and neither did you, but perhaps without it, we wouldn't have found each other. We wouldn't have evolved into the people we are today. Though we are jagged and scarred because of it, I'd do it all over again if it means I end up with my brother, my son, and you, my love."

Emma didn't know what to say to that; her emotions truly overwhelmed her, so she pulled him towards her and pressed her lips to his in a passion no words could describe.

"I must say, I'm surprised; I didn't think you'd actually last this long with her, Killy," interrupted an all too familiar voice.

Killian pulled away from Emma only to glare daggers at the short blonde woman grinning behind Emma.

"This event is invitation only. Sod off, Tinker Bell."

"Whatever do you mean? I'm sure I'm on that invite list." She winked at him.

Before Killian could respond, Emma whirled around until she was so close to Tink, she could feel her breath on her face.

"Listen, bitch. You've got to get this through your head-" Tink seemed to shrink a little at the force of Emma's words. "Killian and I are happy and in love and you don't fit in anywhere in this equation. I was willing to give you a chance before, but I've had enough of your games." Emma looked towards Killian, who gave her a nod of approval and a giant grin in pride, before she took another step towards Tink. For her part, Tink didn't utter a single word, sound, or even dared to breathe. "Get. Out. Of. My. Sight. And don't you ever bother my family again, got it?"

Tink opened her mouth a few times, surely to argue some dramatic, and probably offensive, points, but nothing seemed to do the trick. So instead, she turned around, kicked down the giant sign that read 'Forgetting Neverland', and stomped her way out of sight, like a child having a temper tantrum.

Before anyone could register what had happened, a tall man in a baseball cap was walking in the direction of the torn sign. He crumpled up what was left of the sign, and moved it out of the way, then started hanging up an identical new one.

"Uhh... Excuse me?" Emma was so perplexed by the events of the past few moments that she just stood there, mouth agape, and let Killian do all the talking.

The man didn't answer, but continuing putting up the sign.

"Excuse me? Sir?" Killian tried again.

Still no answer. Killian and Emma shared a bewildered glance before he gave it one more shot.

"Hello? Can you hear me, sir?" Killian took a few steps forward.

"Right, Killy. Good as new." The man turned to face them, removing his hat in the process, revealing stoic blue eyes, and the light brown curls that fell across his forehead.

"Liam?" Killian whispered.

"Aye, little brother. I've missed you."

The brothers stared at each other for what felt like hours before they almost tackled each other to the ground in the ferocity of their shared hug. Emma picked up little Liam and started softly explaining the situation to him.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Despite his words, the blinding smile on his face showed just how happy he was.

Rather than give a direct answer, Liam tilted his head in Emma's direction and winked. "Emma, darling, you look even more beautiful in person."

"How was your flight?" Emma asked Liam, but couldn't take her eyes off Killian.

"You?" Killian whispered in awe.

"Magnificent. Li?" Liam continued as if his brother hadn't spoken.

Liam started bouncing on Emma's hip, making grabby hands at his uncle. It wasn't long before Liam was flinging Li into the air. His boyish squeals of laughter encompassing their surroundings.

Killian made his way back to Emma, who just shrugged, "Surprise?"

"Bloody hell, lass," Killian muttered as he pulled her towards him and kissed her lips, then her cheek, and her neck. "I love you."

"I love you." Emma echoed.

Suddenly, something occurred to Emma. "Liam?"

"Aye, love?" He paused his game with Li.

"What was that all about with the sign?" Everyone abruptly turned to Liam with the same question now running through their minds.

"Oh, that? Well, when you and Killian shared all her antics with me, I figured something like this might happen… so I stopped by here as soon as I arrived and got a few extras made. I even have two doorknobs and a bunch of red curtain fabric in the back of my rental."

When no one said anything, Liam continued, "What? Did you really think I'd leave anything to chance when my baby brother finally decides to live out his dreams properly? Not on my bloody watch."

Emma began to chuckle slowly. Killian followed behind her with low sniggers. Then Liam joined in with a few chortles. Soon enough, they were all outright laughing. Tears, cramps and all. Even Li managed to get some laughs in there, though probably just because everyone else was laughing.

It took them a moment, but once everyone composed themselves, Liam spoke again,

"Right then. Now that that's settled, I'm going to head to the hotel to get dressed and grab Elsa and the kids. I promise to be back before people start arriving."

With that, Liam hugged his brother and his nephew, gave Emma a kiss on the cheek, and was on his way.

"Am I finally allowed to go in then?" Emma turned so she was cocooned in Killian's arms with Li between them.

"Aye, love." Killian placed a kiss to her forehead before starting towards the main entrance, reaching his arm behind his back for Emma to take.

The gallery was designed in a way so that upon entry, you had the option of choosing from two paths; one marked with a single yellow stripe, the other marked with a single blue stripe. The yellow path held all the paintings of Emma's life, in chronological order just like he gave to her. It started with the painting of her all alone as a baby in the basket. Then the foster home at age five. The bad group home. Her stint on the streets. When she found the water. Alone on the streets. Then finally when she became a lifeguard.

Killian's path went pretty much the same in that it went from that first painting with his whole family, all the way to his divorce from Milah.

The two paths moved closer and closer together until they merged into one. A green stripe marking their unity. Every few steps forward marked the presence of another painting. The path showed everything from their first meeting, to Killian's regal depiction of them. But more than that, Killian also added a couple more milestones. There was one where they had just moved in together, and another depicting their engagement.

Emma was astounded by all of it. No matter how many times she'd seen the painting, the shock and awe of it all never seemed to fade. Not even a little.

However, what really did it for her was the final wall, right at the end of the green-marked path. It was a clutter really, but a clutter of every single painting Li ever made. There were the ones that he worked on for Emma, but there were also a whole bunch that were basically scribbles brought on by a rainy day spent in doors.

She had planned on waiting until after the showing. Until later tonight when they were alone in the comfort of their home. She had this whole extravagant reveal planned with cake and surprise little trinkets. But seeing this man, seeing everything he's done for her, for his son - looking at him now, holding Li as he pointed at all the different paintings he did - watching the glow of happiness shine through their eyes, Emma couldn't keep it in any longer. She could feel the tears well up.

Killian seemed to notice her internal struggle.

"Are you alright, love?"

"I'm pregnant."

Killian just stared at her for a solid minute. "Come again?"

"Killian, I'm pregnant. We're going to have a baby!" Emma's tears were flowing freely now. Killian looked like he just might drop Liam.

"You- we- Emma?" A giant grin broke out. Suddenly, Emma was being lifted, right along side Li, and it was the happiest she'd ever been in her life.

She was starting a family with this man and his- their boy. The man she was going to spend the rest of her life loving and being loved by. And Liam, bless his beautiful soul was going to get the chance neither Emma nor Killian ever had. He was going to have more family than he knew what to do with. And they're going to love him more than any of them thought was possible.

Disclaimer: Characters not mine!

Authors note: This is it! First off, id like to apologise for the delay. Summer vacation kind of takes my attention away from everything. BUT, i want to thank every single person who supported me through this. Whether you favourited, commented, or even just read it, you're a star and i really appreciate all the love you sent my way! I also want to thank the amazing So Much Tea and CaptainWiley for their epic beta-ing skills. I honestly couldn't have done it without you.

That being said, this is only a temporary goodbye because... I HAVE ANOTHER STORY IN THE WORKS! I personally think its really cool and a lot edgier than this one. But don't worry, it'll be filled with angst and lots and lots of Captain Swan... and Shady!Killian. I probably won't be able to get it out until I'm back to some type of routine... so probably around September. (I might be able to squeeze in a one shot prompt or two until then if you want to send some in, though! I'd love to hear your ideas)

I love you all. And i hope this epilogue was worth the wait and was what you might have had in mind.

Thank you!