If this is how it's like and it's only her daughter's first Halloween, Emma already knows- she's gonna have a problem on her hands. Her father and her husband's ridiculous rivalry (albeit completely friendly and out of jest now) was driving her up the wall, and today's chronicle- Halloween.

Once you get rid of Dark ones and you come to terms with the fact that your mother is Snow White, father is Prince Charming, husband is Captain Hook- to start with- Halloween just seems like a picnic plus candy. In fact, she would have never guessed that Mr. Captain Hook himself- scurvy be warned- would have the sweetest "hook" of them all. It seemed like the basket full of candy she had gotten ready for the trick or treaters by their foyer wasn't as full as when she first placed it there. With Henry being out of the house, Leia being only 9 months old- not even walking yet-, the culprit had to be her husband. In addition to that, his kisses recently always tasted of chocolate- a hint of nut, a touch of caramel- all components of her favorite candy, Snickers. Hmmm...

Now that things had finally been restored back to calm and serenity, Storybrooke was in full force- Halloween. The whole town had adopted this tradition- from Granny's having spooky cobwebs adorning her cashier, to the Town Hall having jack-o-lanterns. Her mother was adamant that this year they dress up- the plan was to have trick or treating by the Town Hall, ending with a party at Granny's. She even was able to get Granny to adopt a spooky motif: Skeleton Pie (previously Chicken pot pie), Goblin's Graveyard Lasagna, Scarecrow Stew.

Her mother decided to dress up as Little Red Riding Hood (to pay homage to Ruby who was off in Kansas with Dorothy), and her father was the big bad wolf. The seven dwarves had decided to dress up as the seven days of the week (whatever that meant). Belle had even gotten Gold to dress up with her and Gideon- they were the three bears (given that was the name of their local spa, she couldn't help but chuckle imagining Gold with a spa towel on his head). Emma knew that if Henry were here, he would be off the walls excited that everyone was getting in the spirit and he for sure would already have different plans for their costumes.

So here she was, the Saturday before Halloween, Leia was finally down for her nap and she couldn't procrastinate any longer otherwise she would have to make the costume (not the worst thing in the world if she could use her magic-though it's been a little wonky since she gave birth). She seriously considered having Killian dress up as Disney's Captain Hook, but she already knew- a lot of convincing, a lot of pillaging and plundering would have to occur for her husband to consider it.

"Emma!" Her father's grin was as wide as it could be as he entered their living room. "Sweetheart, I found the perfect costume for Leia. Now I know your mother was thinking that the three of you could do a group costume, but honestly Ems, this is just amazing. I just had to buy it- she'll look adorable and-"

"Swan! I've found what we shall dress Leia up in for Hallow's Eve's festivities. Love, it's quite magnificent- I didn't know they made them in that size and my little love shall-"

She couldn't help but snort with laughter- her husband and father face to face, each holding up the tiniest Halloween costumes. Her father had found a little princess outfit, tiara headband, gold shoes for his granddaughter. Her husband held in his hand a little pirate costume, complete with the ruffles, the pirate head scarf. Honestly both costumes were absolutely adorable, but perhaps seeing two grown men's faces darken with competing glances as they held their respective baby costumes was a sight.

As if she knew that her father and grandfather were vying for her attention, Leia's cry rang out, jolting both men out of their staring contest.

"Is my little princess awake?"

"Little love, hold on, Papa's coming!"

Both men raced to the nursery before Emma could even lift herself off of the comfy couch. Oh Lord, she thought. Another chapter for the books.

0000

Her father and mother watched Leia the next day so Emma and Killian could go on a date night. As they were settling in to eat their dessert, she received a message from her mother, Leia dressed up in the princess costume. This is all your father. She had to work very hard to distract and kiss the frown off of Killian's face so they could properly enjoy themselves.

0000

The next day she was called into the station to help her father with the dwarves (turns out the seven days of a week costume idea only led to seven dwarves severely disgruntled at one another and finding individual costumes). Finishing up the paperwork, her father came into her office shoving his phone into her face. Turns out that while she and her father were dealing with the dwarves, her husband had decided to dress Leia up in his costume. Give a smile, little pirate for Grandpa. Perhaps it was only her daughter's gummy smile- her eyes twinkling with the innocence and glee that only babies seem to possess- that was able to pacify David.

0000

The day before Halloween, it got worse- she's not sure exactly how, but her poor daughter went back and forth between each costume. As soon as she needed a changing or she was given a bath, it was like there was this alarm that went off in her father and husband's heads. Ultimately enough was enough and she knew she had to do something before they all were together at Granny's.

0000

She contacted Smee to make sure that Killian was distracted with the Jolly Roger right before the town trick or treating. She left his costume in the Captain's quarters so that he would have no excuses and would just meet her at the town hall.

She asked her mom to make sure that her father would be with her and wouldn't try to find a way to come pick up his girls on their way to the party. Her mother's giggle was more than she needed to hear, but whatever- it got David out of her hands.

blowing raspberries on her stomach as she changed Leia into her costume, she couldn't believe that this was her life now. "Little one, I know daddy and grandpa are so crazy- but that's because they're so crazy about you. Who are they crazy about? You my little duckling," as she peppered kisses on Leia's cheeks and listened to her daughter's baby giggles.

0000

They were the last ones to arrive in the town hall. Having Leia in the baby carrier, she walked up to where everyone was gathered- everyone making silly faces and cooing over the little one, she wasn't surprised to see both her husband and father coming forward to greet them. She could tell they both were anxious to see which outfit she had dressed Leia in, and she couldn't help but meet her mother's eye, both of them with smiles on their faces.

Before her father and husband could fight over who would get Leia, her mother stepped forward to hold her, so that Emma could take off the little fuzzy jacket she put Leia in.

It wasn't a pirate costume underneath, nor was it a princess one. In fact, Emma had dressed her up in what she deemed as the best costume choice. To complete the look, Emma pulled the hood from behind Leia and over her head to complete the look.

Looking behind her, she was met with two dumbstruck faces, which immediately morphed into big-ass grins.

"I've got to hand it to you Ems, that's actually the perfect costume."

"Our little duckling, Swan- that's brilliant."

And so concludes the tale of how the little pirate princess found her way and became a duckling.