Chapter Text
The sound of toddling feet approaching from down the hall awoke Emma and Killian from their slumber. It was 6am and Hali was right on time to wake her parents up, as she did every single morning at the same time. The door let out a creak as it was nudged open by Hali’s little hands, allowing her access to her parent’s room.
Killian’s arm tightened its embrace around Emma, as he pulled he closer to him in an attempt to get two more minutes of sleep. His lips found her shoulder as he placed light kisses there, causing Emma to smile and sigh happily as she turned her head to look at him. Her lips caught his in a warm and sleepy kiss as she tried to savour the quiet moment, knowing that they would be interrupted any second now.
“Good morning, handsome.” She whispered, nuzzling her nose against his.
“Good morning, love.” Killian replied, sighing in content.
As if on cue, Emma and Killian felt warm little hands touching their legs under the duvet, as Hali made her way up to greet them.
“Oh no! Something is touching me. It must be a monster. Quick Swan, save yourself!” Killian shrieked jokingly at his daughter’s presence. He couldn’t see her yet but he heard her adorable little giggle underneath the duvet as she thought her parents didn’t know it was her.
“No, Killian. We go down together. I will not leave you here to perish by yourself. This monster may be fearsome and eat you whole.” Emma played along, trying to stifle her laugh.
“Thank you, love. I think we should attack now and take this monster down.” Killian eyes widened in excitement and he winked playfully at Emma, signalling to the duvet.
They threw the duvet back and Hali jumped out at them, roaring and growling as though she was a monster. Killian and Emma pulled themselves to sit up against the headboard as they readied themselves for her attack.
“Oh no it’s a Hali monster!!!!” Killian mock shrieked, looking at her with a pretend scared face.
Hali took her chance at that moment and suddenly jumped on top of her parents in a bundle, causing them to let out a sudden shocked groan as their bodies were crushed under their daughter – who thankfully isn’t that heavy.
“It’s me, mama and daddy!!!” Hali squealed, throwing her arms up in the air. She giggled suddenly and snuggled up in the space between her parents, as they looked at each other.
“Oh is it really? I thought you were a monster! I was terrified for my life.” Killian played along, reaching down to tickle Hali under her arms. She giggled uncontrollably and Emma couldn’t help but to laugh along with her.
Killian wrapped his arms around his daughter’s small body and pulled her against his side in a cuddle. She leant her head against his chest and reached out to take his big hand into her two small ones, playing with his fingers and measuring her hand against his. Emma watched in awe as her two loves had a little moment together, enjoying each other’s company without a word. Killian caught Emma’s eye and smiled that heart melting smile that she loved so much.
“I love you.” Emma mouthed across at Killian. He winked back and mouthed the words back at her.
Suddenly Hali interrupted them and looked up at Emma with a cheeky grin across her lips. “Mama… can I come to work with you today?” She asked sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes at her mother. No doubt Killian had taught her that one, the cheeky git.
“Um… sure I don’t mind. But don’t you want to stay here and keep daddy company, kid? It’s Saturday, you should go to the park together or something” Emma asked with a raised brow, wondering why her daughter wanted to sit about at the station rather than going to the park to play. She looked over at Killian and he just shrugged his shoulders, reaching to scratch the back of his ear.
“No, I want to be a Sherriff today, mama. Please can I?” Hali pleaded.
“Sure, kid. Why don’t you go and get changed whilst mama takes a shower?” Emma leant to kiss Hali on the cheek, before the little girl jumped off the bed and ran to her own room.
Killian pulled Emma to his side once again as she tried to get up to take a shower. Pulling her to lay beneath him, his lips found hers in a tender kiss whilst his fingers tangled themselves in her hair. When he pulled away Emma looked up at him breathlessly, blinking in amazement at his sudden kiss attack.
“What was that for?” She asked in a hushed tone, reaching up to trace her fingers over his cheek.
“No reason. Just wanted to show you how much I love you.” He smirked, placing his hand over hers on his cheek, and his hook at her thigh.
“That is a perfect reason. Although I really don’t want to move now and I have to take a shower.” Emma pouted and covered Killian’s lips with her other hand to dissuade herself from being tempted by them, otherwise she would never leave the bed.
“Well you could always stay here with me.” Killian mumbled, smiling enticingly behind Emma’s hand, placing a light kiss on her palm.
“No, I have to get up. Hali is excited and I can’t break her little heart. Rain check?”
“Okay, Swan. I’ll hold you to that.” Killian chuckled, licking Emma’s hand and causing her to jerk it back to wipe it on her shirt.
“Ewww Killian! That was so gross.” She giggled, pushing Killian off her so that she could go to bed. He let out a playful growl at her sudden disappearance from the bed, wanting her to come back. Emma just turned and grinned at him, sticking her butt out at him before she entered the bathroom. She could hear him laugh from the other room and it made her giggle to herself that she was able to have that effect on him. As much as she wanted to go in there and have her merry way with him, she needed to get to work and Sherriff the town.
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Emma and Hali finally arrived at work at around 7:10am and David was waiting for them as he had been on the night shift and wanted to be relieved from duty for the day.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!” Emma apologised profusely, leading Hali into the office by her hand. She had remembered to pack her a bag full of snacks and things to do, like her colouring books and her favourite teddies.
As soon as David saw Hali, he knelt down and held his arms open for a hug. She looked at him for a moment but soon ran into his arms and hugged him tightly. “Hello, Uncle David.” She smiled.
“Morning, little one. It’s good to see you again. Are you helping your mother out today?” David asked out of interest, holding Hali by the shoulders. She nodded at him sweetly and smiled, feeling a little shy.
“She’s a little shy at this time of morning. She’ll come out of her shell a little more later on.” Emma explained in attempt to let David know that her daughter wasn’t blanking him.
David stood up and nodded in assurance that he understood and grabbed his coat, before making his way out of the Sherriff’s station. As soon as he moved away from Hali, she moved to tuck her little hand in Emma’s once again, wanting her reassuring touch.
“Right, come on Kid. Let’s get you set up in my office.” Emma smiled down at her, squeezing her hand lightly as she led her into her office. Lifting Hali up onto the chair beside hers, Emma pulled out some snacks and colouring books for Hali to enjoy whilst she worked. Hali’s eyes lit up as she spotted the pop tarts, she’d always loved them since she was able to eat solid food. Killian wasn’t so enthusiastic about her eating them, but Emma always snuck some to her anyway. Kids have to have one guilty pleasure.
“Mama, can I do some of your work.” Hali asked sweetly, pushing her colouring books to the side.
“It’s all paperwork sweetie, you can’t do that I am afraid.” Emma let her daughter down gently, whilst she tried to think of something she could do. Looking around the office she noticed the non-emergency phone and figured Hali wouldn’t get into too much trouble with that. “Why don’t you answer the phone for mama?”
Hali nodded in excitement at the suggestion and ate the last bite of her pop tart. Emma slid the phone over to her and let her loose on it, as she got back to her mountain of paperwork.
“If you need help sweetie, just tell me okay and I’ll help you.” Emma said, watching as her daughter waited patiently for the phone to ring. She couldn’t believe how grown up her little girl had gotten, she was becoming more independent and soon enough she would be a rebellious teen. Emma wasn’t looking forward to those days.
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Hours passed and Hali took the calls expertly, advising people on how they can deal with their issue and offering them a sweet hello and goodbye. Emma couldn’t help but to smile over at her in amusement at her excellent telephone manner.
“You’re doing great, kid!” Emma assured her, leaning over to kiss her on the forehead.
“Thanks, mama.” Hali smiled sweetly, leaning down on her arms as she waited for the phone to ring.
Just then the phone did ring and Hali answered it excitedly, placing the huge receiver to her little ear as she listened to the person on the other end.
“Hello, mama’s Sherriff office. How can I help you?”
“Hali, munchkin. It’s daddy, can you pass the phone to your mummy please.” Killian spoke on the other end of the phone.
“Sorry, mama is busy right now.” Hali replied seriously. Emma looked over at her with a raised brow, wondering who she was talking to.
“Please, hand me over to mummy.” Killian asked in a half pleading tone.
“I told you mama is busy.”
“Who is on the phone?” Emma asked her, holding the hand out for the phone.
“Just daddy.” Hali said nonchalantly, holding the phone out of Emma’s grasp.
“What does he want?”
“Nothing, mama.”
“Hali, I need to ask your mother something and it is really important, so please can you give the phone to her?” Killian asked once again, hoping to win his daughter over.
Emma moved around her desk to come and sit beside Hali as she spoke. She wanted to know what Killian wanted and wondered why he hadn’t just called her on her cell phone. Patting her pockets down though, she realised she didn’t have her cell phone with her. She must have left at home this morning.
“Mama said I am in charge and I don’t want to give the phone to mama. I want to talk to you daddy…please?” Hali pouted, looking up at Emma with sadness in her eyes.
Emma could never say no to those pleading eyes and this time was not different, she just couldn’t stand to see her daughter looking sad. “Okay, talk to daddy for a while. But I need to speak to him when you are finished, okay?” Emma bartered tenderly, watching her daughter’s eyes light up with excitement.
“Daddy, mama said that I can talk to you for a little while. I have been so good today and I answered all of the phones. Mama said she is proud because I have answered them so politely and she has been able to work.” Hali began to ramble and Killian listened intently to what she had to say, taking an interest in the high moments of a four year old.
“That sounds great, princess! Sounds like you have had a really great day and I can’t wait to hear about it more when you come home. Daddy has missed you so much, I can’t wait to give you a big snuggle.” He replied, with a heart full of love.
Emma went back to sorting out the filing and paperwork so that Hali could have some privacy to talk to her daddy, she didn’t want to intrude on their cute little moment. Looking over at the clock though, time was really getting on and she decided she would call it a night in ten minutes.
“Can we have spaghetti for dinner, daddy?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask your mummy. Is that what you want tonight? Daddy will have that ready for you when you get home. I love you!”
“SPAGHETTI!! Yes please, daddy. I love you too, lots and lots and lots.” Hali replied sweetly, looking over her shoulder to see Emma packing her stuff up.
“Hali it is almost 4pm. We should be getting going home now. Get your coat.” Emma called from her office, as she packed Hali’s snacks and toys into her bag.
“Bye, daddy!” Hali called down the phone and slammed it down onto the receiver in excitement, as she ran to grab her coat from her chair, pulling it over her shoulders.
Emma held her hand out and Hali slid her hand into it, sucking her thumb as they left the station to head home.
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“Daddy!!!!” Hali exclaimed, as her and Emma walked inside the house. She slid her hand quickly from her mother’s so that she could run into Killian’s waiting arms. He was standing over by the stove with the spaghetti boiling away, when Emma and Hali had come home and he was so excited to see them. He scooped Hali up into his arms and snuggled her tightly to his chest, burying his face in her hair as he cradled her head. Emma watched on lovingly as she watched them have their little moment.
“How was work, love?” Killian asked, moving to stand beside Emma so that he could kiss her swiftly but sweetly.
Emma leaned into his side, playing with Hali’s hair as she snuggled into her daddy’s shoulder. “It took a while, but Hali answered the phone for me so that I could get it done. She did so well! At least I know she can take over when I retire.” She laughed, causing Killian to chuckle with her.
“Yeah I called to speak to you earlier, Swan. But this little devil wouldn’t allow me to speak to you.”
“I did wonder what that was about. Sorry, she gets a little wrapped up in her work because she is a real professional you know.”
Hali’s head shot up at the mention of her name and she smiled as she looked between her parents. “Daddy wanted to know wat we were having for dinner and I told him sketti!!”
“Oh I see, so mommy doesn’t get a choice then?” Emma teased with a smile, poking Hali’s little dimples.
“She’s a princess, Swan. Her orders come before all else.” Killian added, watching as Hali nodded smugly.
Emma pulled a mock jealous face and began to laugh out loud again. “She is so your daughter.” She scolded Killian playfully. He just shrugged and raised that enticing brow as he smirked.
“Come on let’s eat. I am starving!” Emma pouted, glancing over at the kitchen.
“We best feed mummy, eh princess?” Killian chuckled, tickling Hali under her neck.
“Yeah, mama needs to eat and I want my sketti.”
“Coming right up, princess.”