And here we are, at the end of another story; it has been a fun ride, and I have to thank all of you who went on this journey with me. Enjoy the epilogue, and I hope to see you in a few weeks for my next fic that I already have outlined. A little spoiler... florist!Killian.

It is Christmas Eve and Killian is holding Owen in his arms so that the laddie can put ornaments on the big tree they have in the parlour of the Storybrooke Mansion while Emma sits on the sofa and gives them instructions, her hand resting on her stomach.

"There's too many red ones grouped together", Emma says and Owen frowns, then stretches out and starts rearranging them, his tongue stuck between his lips in concentration.

"How about now?" Killian asks his wife as he shifts one more Christmas ball, turning to look at Emma with a hopeful expression because it seems they have been at this for hours.

"Now it is perfect", Emma says and smiles when Owen wiggles in Killian's arms and demands to be put down.

"Can we open presents now?" Owen asks as he climbs on the sofa next to Emma while Killian follows at a more sedate pace, looking over his shoulder at the Christmas tree and feeling stupidly proud because it really looks wonderful with all the red and gold balls and tinsel hanging from the branches.

"It is not Christmas yet, baby", Emma tells him and kisses the top of his head. "You have to be patient for a few more hours."

Killian sits on the other side of Emma and lays his hand on her stomach, frowning when she covers his hand with hers and squeezes his fingers so hard it hurts.

"Emma?"

"I think it is time to call for the physician", she says and Killian's eyes widen, his heart dropping to the vicinity of his knees. "The baby is coming."

"Now?"

"Right now", Emma says and grits his teeth, squeezing his hand tightly once more. "I waited to tell you until you finished with the tree."

For a moment Killian thinks he is going to panic even though it has been months since his last episode, but then he looks at her trusting eyes and he knows that everything will be okay.

"Can you go get Kristoff, little love?" Killian asks Owen and the laddie nods, scrambling off the sofa and yelling for Kristoff at the top of his lungs because "his brother and sister are coming".

"Do you think I really might be having twins?" Emma asks wistfully, then holds onto Killian's arm as he helps her to her feet.

"Can you walk? Maybe I should carry you upstairs", Killian ignores her question because right now he is not even sure which way is up and Emma shakes her head, telling him that she is perfectly capable of getting to their room.

Kristoff comes with Owen on his heels and tells Killian that the grooms have left to get the village physician and Lady Misthaven, then takes Emma's free arm and the three of them slowly ascend the stairs while Owen jumps excitedly from step to step ahead of them.

They meet Mary at the door of their bedroom and as soon Emma is in bed Killian, Owen and Kristoff are banished from the room.

"Do not leave me", Emma's voice stops Killian at the threshold and Kristoff gives him a pointed look, then picks up Owen and carries him away.

"I want to stay with mommy and daddy", Owen veils and looks at Killian over Kristoff's shoudler, but this is one instance when his puppy eyes do not have the desired effect on his father.

"You will see us again soon", Killian calls after him and returns to the room where Mary is helping Emma put on an old sleeping gown.

"Come here", Emma demands and Killian approaches the bed, then takes off his hook and his coat, sitting down next to his wife and wrapping his handless arm around her so that she can lean on him, his hand holding hers to help her deal with the pain. "I am scared."

"I know, love. Everything will be alright."

"Is Mr. Stewart coming?"

"He is on his way, darling, do not worry", Killian says, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice because he does not want to frighten her further.

Mrs. Simms arrives with hot water and towels and takes a peek between Emma's legs, then tells them that their baby is impatient to come out.

"You need to push, m'lady", she says and Emma shakes her head, crushing Killian's fingers so hard he sees stars, but he knows better than to tell her to ease up on his only hand.

"You can do it, darling", he says and kisses her temple, wishing he could take all her pain and make it disappear the way she had been doing for him since they have been married, and even before that.

"Push, Emma", Mary urges too and between the three of them they manage to convince Emma that she has to do it now.

The next fifteen minutes are pure agony because Emma is in pain and Killian cannot do anything to help her except hold her hand, but then a baby cries and they both forget about it when Mrs. Simms swaths their daughter in a pink blanket and lies her in Emma's arms.

"A girl", Killian says, completely in awe as he looks down at their lassie's tiny face and traces her pink cheek with his finger.

"Hello, Amelia", Emma murmurs and kisses her forehead, then gives Killian a tired smile and rests her head on his shoulder.

"Shall I take her while Mrs. Simms cleans you up?" Mary asks anxiously and Killian is about to move away to give them more room when Emma's voice stops him.

"Thank you Mary, but no. Killian is going to hold her", she says and he turns toward his wife and daughter, trying not to look scared out of his mind.

Which in fact he is.

Killian looks like he is about to face a firing squad, but Emma ignores his pleading gaze and gently lays their daughter in the crook of his bad arm, placing his hand on her tummy to keep her in place.

Mr. Stewart arrives but neither of them pays him much attention because Killian is too busy admiring Amelia and Emma is too busy watching him; he is infinitely gentle with their baby and the smile that curls his lips when Amelia grabs his finger and holds on is the most beautiful thing Emma had seen in the world after their little girl's face.

Once the physician is satisfied that everything had gone well and that both Emma and Amelia are fine, Emma dozes a little and she wakes up again to the sound of Killian's voice telling Amelia a story about a princess who fell in love with a pirate.

"How is she?"

"Wonderful", Killian says and reluctantly gives Amelia to Emma, carefully straightening one blue sock on her tiny foot.

"You should go get Owen before he thinks we have forgotten about him", Emma tells him and Killian rushes out, undoubtedly feeling guilty for neglecting their son for so long. "You are so lucky, Amelia, because your daddy is such a good man."

"Mommy!" Owen whispers as soon as Killian carries him in and looks at his sister with wide eyes when Killian deposits him on the bed next to Emma.

"Owen, meet Amelia."

"Hello Lee-lee", Owen says and leans in to give Amelia a big kiss that startles her and makes her whimper a little. "Why is she sad?"

"She is not sad, laddie", Killian hastens to reassure him and takes him in his lap, smiling at Emma over his head and telling him that they have to be really gentle with the baby.

"Like this?" Owen asks and carefully caresses her head with his small hand.

"Exactly like that", Emma says and blinks quickly as she looks at them, at her beautiful baby girl and adorable son and handsome husband who gazes back at her as if she is the reason sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

"I like her", Owen announces after a few minutes and then wiggles out of Killian's lap and lies down next to Emma, snuggling into her side and falling asleep in minutes.

"That went well", Killian chuckles and lets Amelia hold his finger again, his thumb caressing her fist as he studies Emma's face. "Are you alright, love?"

"A little tired, but perfectly okay", Emma reassures him and puts her hand on his knee. "How are you?"

"I was not the one who had to go through childbirth", he says with a shudder and she smiles sheepishly when she notices the bruises on his fingers.

"Your hand certainly did go though it", she tells him and he just shrugs, telling her that he had been through much worse.

The grandfather clock in the hallway strikes midnight and Killian smiles, his dimples flashing when he wishes Emma Happy Christmas.

"Happy Christmas, Killian", she says, leaning in for a kiss and sighing against his mouth because she finally has everything she had ever wished for.

"You gave me the best Christmas present a man could wish for", Killian murmurs when they separate and looks down at their sleeping daughter, and Emma lets him hold her again, thanking her lucky stars that her husband is not only wonderful and caring with her, but with their babies too.

"You do realize that you are going to have to put her down in her cot quite soon if you do not intend to spoil her?" She teases and Killian looks affronted, then grins and tells her that he has every intention of spoiling their little princess.

"We shall see", Emma says sleepily and relaxes against the pillows, one arm around Owen and the other resting across Killian's lap, her eyes drooping until she cannot keep them opened anymore.

"Sleep tightly, my loves", she hears Killian whisper and feels his scruff graze her nose when he kisses her forehead, and she lets herself go, knowing that Amelia is safe in his arms and that all of them are safe in his heart.

Now, and for the rest of their days.

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