Epilogue

4 years later

Killian gently shifted Dylan away from his side and shook loose the red-and-white checkered picnic blanket in his hand.

As it floated to the soft grass, Dylan squealed and ducked away from it, clinging to Killian's leg.

Absently patting the little towhead, Killian then removed the basket from the crook of his arm and laid it on the blanket. "Your mum is going to be very hungry, Dylan," he told his son. "Should we get the food ready for her?"

A tiny nod was his response.

In the double stroller parked beside them, the twins began to squirm in their seats.

"Just a minute, girls," Killian told them. Then, his attention drifted to the playground, where his most rambunctious and daring child was trying to climb back up the twisting slide after riding down it - backwards.

"Adi, love, don't do that!" he called.

Pushing back the strands of black hair that had escaped her braid, Ariadne glanced over her shoulder. "Okay, Daddy!" she said -

And immediately ran to the swing and jumped feetfirst onto it. Standing in the seat, she began swinging, throwing her body forward and back to gain momentum.

Hope and CJ picked that moment to start whining in earnest, and Dylan took it upon himself to begin food distribution by turning the basket of sandwiches upside down and shaking it.

Killian was in the midst of deciding which crisis to deal with first when he heard his mother-in-law's voice.

"Killian, you look like you need help."

Relieved, Killian turned to see Snow and David with Neal in tow.

"I would much appreciate it, M'lady," Killian said, smiling gratefully.

Neal, spotting his niece on the playground, scowled fiercely. "I wanna be on the swing!" he hollered, fists belligerently on his hips.

David looked to Snow, who gave a small nod.

Stepping forward, she gently took Neal's shoulder. "Neal," she said sternly. "I understand you want to use the swing, but yelling at Adi is unkind, and it will scare her."

Killian rather doubted that last bit, but for the purposes of the lesson, he could respect what Snow was saying.

"Remember how you felt very scared of the clown at your last birthday? You don't want Adi to feel like that, do you?"

Chagrined, Neal grasped the bottom of his shirt and twisted it. "Sorry, Mama. I forgotted not to yell. I don't want to scare Adi. I just wanted to use the swing."

"That's very good, son," David said, patting his back. "Why don't you go ask Adi if you can use the swing when she is done?"

Neal nodded and scampered off to the playground. As Killian collected the fallen sandwiches – thankfully protected by their plastic baggies – he could hear his young brother-in-law speaking to Ariadne.

"I'm sorry I yelled, Adi. When you're done swinging, may I pwease use it?"

"Yes," Ariadne said, and with that settled, Snow sat beside Killian and assisted with the food, while David went to the stroller and worked on unbuckling the twins.

"Thanks for bringing the food," Snow told Killian, placing a bag of chips back in the basket. "We brought lemonade and plates. They're in David's truck."

Delighted to see his grandmother, Dylan toddled over and dropped himself into her lap.

"Hi, baby," she told him, leaning over and kissing his cheek.

Dylan, who was quite shy and not a very talkative child, merely grinned and snuggled against her.

With a twin in each arm, David turned to his wife and gave her a flirty smirk before responding to her earlier words. "Was that your way of asking me to go get the drinks and plates?" He teased.

"Yes, please," said Snow cheerfully.

"All right, just gotta set these kids down, aaand…" With an exaggerated swooping motion, David swung the one-year-old twins carefully to the blanket. Hope and CJ wiggled excitedly, then worked at the process of sitting up.

"Be back in a second," said David.

Snow's eyes affectionately followed him, and she wrapped her arms around Dylan, rocking him back and forth.

"Is Belle still coming?" Killian asked, as Hope shakily rose to her feet. The baby took a pair of wobbly, hesitant steps, headed directly for the picnic basket.

He intercepted her easily, giving her a series of rapid kisses on her cheek, which made her giggle and grab at his chin. "Dah!"

"Yes; as far as I know, she'll be here," said Snow in reply to Killian. "I think she was taking Reynard to get a haircut first."

"Ahh," said Killian, well aware of how traumatic such undertakings could be for little ones.

Just as he said it, Belle came into view, strolling towards them along the path that wound behind the trees and up to the park.

With her was Jefferson, whom she'd been dating for the last two years. They each held one of Reynard's hands.

Reynard, hair freshly cropped, had a large smile on his face as he skipped merrily between them. He was a delightful child, if somewhat timid, and Killian had great affection for him. For his part, Reynard was unequivocally impressed with the fact that Killian was a real-life pirate captain.

The boy was a combination of his birth parents, with thick, light brown hair, a warm complexion, and bright blue eyes. Most importantly, though, he was a normal, hardy, hale, and curious boy.

Killian waved to the trio, and Belle and Jefferson waved back. Reynard, not wanting to let go of either of the adults' hands, only smiled shyly at his 'pirate friend'.

"Before they join us, Killian," Snow said, letting Dylan crawl out of her lap and over to the picnic basket to resume his efforts, "I have some news to share with you."

"Dylan, stay out of there, lad-"

Killian stopped as Snow rested her hand on his shoulder, and he obediently switched his attention to his mother-in-law. Whatever she wished to tell him, it was not a passing comment; the way her eyes met his, with both anticipation and a touch of mirth and excitement, told him just how important the announcement was to her.

"I am sorry, M'lady. You have my full attention," he promised, while Hope cuddled closer to his chest and CJ, who had made her way to his side, used his jacket to pull herself to her feet.

"Well, I was just hoping…you haven't thrown away any of your infant stuff yet, right?"

Killian did a brief mental inventory of their house. "We've disposed of a few crib sheets and outfits and the like that were soiled and not salvageable, but we haven't gotten around to sorting and donating the rest."

Though Emma and Killian had planned to have one more child after Dylan was born, (which had led, amusingly enough, to a set of twins – life loved throwing them the unexpected) they had also decided that the twins would be their last.

"Why?" he added curiously.

With a sly smile, Snow patted her stomach meaningfully. "Well, we were just thinking – if you wanted us to take some of it off your hands…"

Killian took a moment to process, then felt himself break out into an overjoyed smile. "Of course! Yes, we'd be happy to. Congratulations!" Covering the hand she'd left on his shoulder with his own, he squeezed her fingers proudly.

Snow beamed. "Thank you, thank you. David and I are very excited. Now that he and I are on the same parenting page, and Neal's behavior has improved so much, we – we were ready."

"Am I to expect a new sister-in-law, or another brother-in-law?"

With a slight shake of her head, Snow said, "We don't know yet. We've only just decided to announce it. You're the first person who we've told."

Killian blinked. "What about Emma?"

"She isn't here yet." She patted his knee. "And you're family, sweetheart. I wanted family to know first."

That kind of simple, uncomplicated acceptance never failed to put a lump in his throat, no matter how many times Snow and David gave it. (He never wanted to take it for granted). "Thank you, M'lady."

With that, Snow began to distract Dylan from the basket.

"All right, girls," Killian said to the twins, who were becoming restless. "Are you getting hungry?"

Hope, with her silky wisps of dark brown hair and green eyes, looked up at him expectantly; and Calista Jane (who had been named by Henry in an ode to some fictional offspring of this world's interpretation of Captain Hook) tugged at her short blonde pigtails and giggled.

"I would take that as a yes," said Belle, who had drawn close enough to overhear. Her eyes twinkled.

"Hello, Lady Belle," Killian said. "Master Reynard; Jefferson."

The hatter game him a nod, shielding the sun with his hand. "We brought dessert," he said.

"Tea and cake?" joked Killian (because, if his own portrayal in those drawing-movies his children loved so well insisted on being so absurd, it was only fair the others had to suffer ridicule as well).

Jefferson merely rolled his eyes. "Clafoutis."

"Rey!" shouted a childish voice, followed by a thud.

Wincing, Killian turned to the playground to see Ariadne crouched in the playground gravel, having jumped from the swing without hesitation.

Anticipating a skinned knee, Killian patted his jacket to see if he'd brought band-aids, but Adi had already risen and was running towards the picnic blanket.

"Hi, Rey," she said to Reynard, rubbing at the dirt on her knees. "Wanna play on the playground?"

"Okay," Reynard responded.

Having collected her young friend, Ariadne turned to go.

"Wait, young lady," said Killian, noticing something. "Turn around."

Ariadne spun on her tiny shoes, daintily as a dancer.

"Come here," he told her, beckoning with his finger. Hope, still on his lap, pointed at her sister for emphasis.

Realizing she'd been caught, Adi stuck out her lower lip and trudged towards him, slowing as her feet hit the blanket.

Reaching out with his hook, Killian caught the cord around her neck and lifted the hydra tooth attached to it.

After his memories had returned all those years ago, he had dug the tooth from the depths of his pocket and created the necklace for his little lass to wear when she was older, as Henry had politely declined the souvenir. Precocious child that she was, Adi loved it.

However…

"What did I tell you about your necklace, love?"

A wide-eyed model of innocence, Adi dimpled at him. "It's a special tooth daddy found a'fore I was born."

Evasive. Oh, she was devilishly clever for one so young. "What else did I tell you about your necklace?"

"IIIIIIIIIII don' knowwwww," sang Adi.

Patiently, Killian slid the necklace over her head, gently spun her around, and began to redo her flyaway braid. "That it's not safe to wear it on the playground," he reminded her. "You can put it back on when we get home. Okay?"

"Yes, daddy," Adi said, mournfully tragic over the idea of giving up her favorite accessory.

Reaching the end of the plait, Killian rewound the elastic, all the while knowing it would be out of control again in minutes.

"There you are, my darling. Go play."

Hopping in place, Ariadne squealed at Reynard. "Come on, Rey, race you to the slide!"

She was off before Reynard even realized what was happening. The little fellow blinked a few times, then rushed after his playmate as fast as his little legs could move him.

Always fretting when it came to her once-sickly son, Belle called after him, "Reynard, be safe please!" Nudging at Jefferson with her elbow, Belle begged, "Will you please go keep an eye on them? Just until we get lunch set up?"

"Absolutely," Jefferson told her with a dashing grin (not as dashing, Killian decided, as his own of course; but that was neither here nor there).

Belle patted his back, then joined Killian, Snow and the kids on the blanket.

"Here is the dessert," Belle said, patting the round plastic container she'd brought.

"Thank you," Killian said with a smile. "Glad you could make it."

"Wouldn't miss it. And don't thank me for the clafoutis; Jefferson made that." Sighing, she leaned back on her hands, watching across the park as her son cautiously follow Ariadne up to the slide, while the Hatter supervised.

Hope and CJ, deciding that their brother and Snow sorting through the basket looked like a far more interesting activity than sitting still and listening to adults talking, wriggled away from their father and toddled over to their grandmother's side.

Continuing his conversation with Belle, Killian said thoughtfully, "Curious; I thought Jefferson's talents would lie with a needle and thread, not baking. You ought to hang on to that one."

Belle gave a half-smile. "Jefferson would probably agree with you…"

Killian raised his eyebrows in question.

"He proposed to me last week."

"Last week?" Killian repeated, startled. "What was your answer?" Given the length of time she and Jefferson had been dating, a proposal was not shocking.

Belle's hesitation was. She clearly loved Jefferson – why did she sound so uneasy?

"I told him I wanted to think about it," Belle said, chewing on her lip.

Killian waited a few beats, watching as his small brother-in-law claimed the empty swing he'd wanted and began pumping his legs.

"Do you not want to be married again?" he asked at last.

"No. I mean, yes, I do. But that's the problem. I keep thinking…what if Rumple's soul is still with Hades? What if he's suffering, being tortured, and I'm sitting here wanting to plan a wedding?" Belle blinked, and Killian could spot tears pooling in the bottom of her eyes.

Though he didn't understand her attachment to the crocodile (and never would), Killian could understand her suffering all too well. "Love, he's not."

"P-Pardon?" Belle stammered.

"Do you recall what Rumpelstiltskin said in the Underworld? And Zeus confirmed it to me. The other gods returned to their Underworld duties. Rumpelstiltskin's soul would have been judged long ago. Hades no longer retains the power to keep him there," Killian reminded her. "It is why I do not fear what will happen after my own death, even though I signed that contract of his."

Belle considered this. "But, what if…What if he went to the Worse Place?"

Smiling comfortingly at his friend, Killian said, "Rumpelstiltskin died doing something heroic and self-sacrificing. That seemed to be enough to send the spirits of Cora and Dave's brother to the Better Place. I wouldn't bet against him getting his own happy afterlife."

"You…You really think so?" Belle asked hopefully.

"I do. And I think you deserve your own happiness, too," Killian emphasized. "And if marrying Jefferson is part of yours, you should tell him yes."

Mouth curving fondly, Belle said, "You're going to put Archie out of a job one day." Lifting her knees and hugging them, she stared at the playground. "But you're right. I want to. And I want to have the wedding before Grace starts college."

"Is she leaving town?" Killian asked. All the teenagers Henry's age were branching out with their young lives. Henry himself had decided to take a year off from school and write, and then decide whether college was for him. Violet, his former girlfriend, had decided to go to the university in New York.

Belle shook her head. "No; Grace is going to take classes online. But I don't want her to have to emotionally adjust to it all while trying to juggle courses."

At Killian's concerned expression, Belle quickly added, "I didn't mean to make it sound like that. We're close, and she is supportive of the idea of me marrying her father. Jefferson already talked to her about it at length. But I'm sure it'll take some getting used to, for all of us. Reynard too."

"It'll all work out, Belle," Killian said with a wink. "Just be sure to invite us to the wedding."

"I don't think anything can top the wedding Snow threw for you and Emma," Belle grinned, poking him with her sandaled foot.

It had been quite the event, complete with a flowery wedding arch and a swan sculpture made of ice. But it had made Snow radiant with joy, and that was the important thing. Emma and Killian had their moment of True Love in the Underworld; the second wedding had been for Emma and her parents to finally experience a normal family tradition together: wedding planning.

"I don't know. Your father is a florist. I expect he'll want to make an entire garden for you."

"Well, at least he will approve of this marriage. He loves Jefferson."

Though Killian didn't much care for the man based on the story Emma had told of Jefferson kidnapping her and Snow, the hatter was, at least, better than Rumpelstiltskin. And people changed. "That's good."

"It'll definitely make family gatherings easier."

While nodding, Killian directed a habitual glance at Dylan and the twins. They were still being entertained by Snow.

Automatically, he then turned to the playground, and saw his boisterous child once again courting trouble.

"Adi," he sighed. "Excuse me, Belle."

Unfolding his legs, he stood, stretching the stiffness from the joints. Gods, but he was getting old. After taking a moment, he went to his daughter's side.

Ariadne was at the bottom of the slide, scowling as mercilessly as any pirate captain up at Reynard as the little fellow clutched the top of the slide in a death grip.

Jefferson was clearly trying to decide how to handle the situation, unsure as to whether to climb up and help Reynard, or remove Adi from the situation.

"Come on Rey! Don't be chicken. I did it!" said Adi, and Killian was shocked to her his own voice – his former voice – in such a small child.

But he had grown past that, and he would teach Adi to do the same.

"Adi," he said sternly, "what is going on?"

"Rey's too scared to go down the slide," Adi explained disdainfully. "He's a baby."

"Adi, I will not hear you say another unkind thing to Reynard. Apologize to the young gentleman like a lady, and go sit with your grandmother until you can play nicely. Jefferson, will you escort her please?"

"Of course," said the hatter.

Killian rarely spoke harshly to Ariadne, and she froze for a moment in surprise and guilt. "Sorry, Rey," she whispered, and rushed back to the picnic blanket with Jefferson following.

Withholding a sigh, Killian walked to the playground equipment and hoisted himself onto the upper deck, where the slide lie.

He sat next a quivering Reynard and extended his hand. "Hey, little lad. I'm going to help you. You don't have to go down the slide. Take my hand?"

Fingers still curled tightly on the sides of the slide, Reynard shook his head. Clearly, he feared letting go meant slipping down the apparatus.

Though Killian could have easily swooped him up, he decided to give Reynard the chance to help save himself. "You only have to give me one hand," Killian persuaded gently. "You don't have to let go."

After a long hesitation, Reynard cautiously released his left hand and slowly extended it to Killian.

Taking it, Killian drew him backwards until Reynard's seat was off the slide. "Good boy. Brave boy," he praised as the sniffling toddler clutched him.

"I'm scared of the slide," Reynard whimpered into Killian's arm. "Too tall."

"That's all right," he assured him.

Killian sat with him in silence as Reynard's crying subsided. Eventually Reynard removed his face from Killian's arm and leaned back, gazing at the cloudy sky.

Wondering whether the lad was thinking of paradigms or Play-Doh, Killian waited patiently.

"Mr. Jones, was my daddy bad?" Reynard asked quietly.

A pang hit Killian. The child was too young – not much more than a baby, really. How could he understand such things – how could people speak to him of such things?

"Who told you that?"

Reynard shrugged, but Killian had his suspicions. Reynard's meek personality and shy demeanor made him a favorite target of teasing among Storybrooke's youngest denizens – although thankfully the culprit was unlikely to be Adi. Emma and Killian had taken great care not to speak negatively of Rumpelstiltskin in front of her, given that Reynard was her favorite playmate.

Killian thought of his own father then, and how damaging the failure of a parent could be. How best to reassure the child? He didn't want to give him platitudes and lies.

But finding good in darkness? Well, thanks to his family, that was something he had learned to do. "Reynard, remember how your mother told you how your father saved your life? By sacrificing his own? That could never, ever be something bad. Right?"

Wriggling his sandals, Reynard nodded.

"That's all you need to remember," Killian told him. "Rumpelstiltskin loved you. And you don't have to be ashamed of him." When the boy grew, he would learn more about the kind of person his father was, undoubtedly. The good and the bad.

But he hoped those two simple truths would be enough to help Reynard come to terms with his father's villainous acts.

"All right, then," said Killian. "Are you ready to get down?"

Reynard lifted his head fearfully. "No slide?"

"No slide. I'll help."

Killian lowered himself from the playground tower, then reached up for the boy. Reynard trustingly leaned down and allowed Killian to take him.

"All right, lad. Let's go see what Adi's doing, shall we?"

Emma breathed in the clean spring air, walking briskly towards the park from the station. Despite her best efforts, she was late for the lunch picnic, thanks to the Lost Boys. And Granny. And the Lost Boys being rowdy in the diner. And Granny kicking them out. And them going back and pranking her. And Granny chasing them away with her crossbow.

As she neared the park, she saw a couple, hands entwined, walking in her direction.

"Graham, Lily," she called out. "Hey."

They both smiled and waved. "Hi, Emma."

After drawing closer, Emma exchanged the usual pleasantries with her friends, then invited them to the picnic. Thanking her, they declined, explaining they were meeting Maleficent for lunch to announce their engagement.

Feeling sincere delight at the news (jeez, when did she become such a sap anyway?) Emma congratulated them before moving on, all the while wondering how nuts her mom was going to go when she heard. There hadn't been any weddings in Storybrooke for years.

Soon, she had arrived at the park. She immediately saw the bubbling cauldron of activity that was her family: The adults trying to set up the picnic on the blanket, the children tumbling and playing and generally interfering.

A perfect chaos.

Emma grinned.

When they spotted her, everyone called to her joyously, even though they could already see she was coming.

She was perfectly loved.

Eyes and heart filling, Emma's feet moved faster.

The breeze picked up, and then she was among them. Among the laughter, food, joy; and above all, the thread of love that bound them together.

Here it is, the epilogue! I hope it makes the story feel a bit more complete, and brings some smiles in these trying times. Special thanks to all my readers, and my friends on tumblr who cheered me on. I have started a new CS au story, so be on the lookout