Killian arrived in the kitchen to see a confused Anna Elizabeth sitting cross-legged on the floor with two of the cabinets opened. Killian sat down beside her and asked, "Do you need help finding something, Anna Elizabeth?"

She turned her head to look up to him and said, "Uncle Killian, I can't member what Mommy used to make cookies."

"Well, lucky for you, I do," Killian said, as he kissed the top of Anna Elizabeth's head. He then began recounting to his niece what they would need, as he watched her dig through the cabinet. He got on his feet and pulled a chair up to the long kitchen counter so Anna Elizabeth could easily place everything up there.

As Killian was watching her, it suddenly dawned on him that he wasn't quite sure where Elsa's recipe actually was, so he began rummaging through the various drawers in the kitchen. His niece gave yet another confused expression as she questioned, "What are you looking for, Uncle Killian?"

"Well, love, I don't know where your mommy's recipe is to make the cookies," Killian answered.

After a few moments silence, Anna Elizabeth quietly said, "I know where it is." She then ran off to her room to return a few moments later with a large index card in hand.

"I wanted to draw a pretty picture that Mommy and Daddy would have liked," Anna Elizabeth confessed as she handed the index card to her uncle.

This wouldn't have been the first time Anna Elizabeth colored on this recipe, but as he turned it over, it took everything he had in him not to break down.

Anna Elizabeth had drawn three figures on the back of it, labeled "Mommy, Daddy, and Me". Killian then bent down to his niece's level and wrapped her in a hug as he said, "You did a marvelous job, love. They would have loved it very much."

Anna Elizabeth simply smiled at him as they pulled away. Killian's eyes then moved to the recipe card in his hand, and he realized they lacked quite a few of these ingredients.

He then told Anna Elizabeth, "We'll have to go to the store once Emma gets here to get some of these things. Why don't you go to room and get the apron that Aunt Anna gave you, so we'll be all ready to bake when we get back."

Anna Elizabeth nodded then excitedly ran off to her room. As Killian began scanning the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator to see what they did have, he unconsciously started singing as he was doing so. He then heard a voice calling his name.

He recognized it as Emma's, and called out, "In the kitchen, love," then went back to singing.

As Emma walked through the door, she instantly heard Killian and said, "She gets it from you, you know."

He stopped singing as he turned to look at her and asked, "What?" Emma smiled as she replied, "The singing. Anna Elizabeth sings all the time. She gets it from you."

"You think so?" Killian innocently questioned.

"Yeah. Except for Bryan Adams, though, she's singing 'You Can Fly' from Peter Pan."

Killian smiled as he replied, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure she knows all the words to that song. Well, the entire movie, actually," which made Emma laugh.

"You know, most little girls' favorite movie is one of those princess ones. But of course, your niece's favorite would be the one involving a pirate," Emma said as she continued to laugh.

Killian raised an eyebrow at her as he questioned, "Are you trying to imply that's my influence, Swan?"

Emma then stepped a bit closer and said, "Maybe I am, Captain." Emma backed up from him as she heard small feet running toward them.

Anna Elizabeth excitedly said, "Emma!"

Emma squatted down so she could hug her.

Emma then asked, "You ready to make cookies?"

Anna Elizabeth nodded before she said, "Uncle Killian said we have to go the store." Emma rose back up on her feet as she turned to Killian and said, "Do we now?"

Killian simply motioned toward the counter as an answer. As Emma glanced over there and saw only flour and sugar – she assumed the butter was in the refrigerator.

"That's all you have?" Emma asked, this time raising her eyebrows at him.

"Well, love, I'm not in the habit of baking," Killian answered.

"Well, I suppose we'd better get to the store," Emma said as she ruffled Anna Elizabeth's hair. The three of them then made their way to Emma's car.

CSCSCSCSCSCSCS

About 30 minutes later, Emma and Killian had managed to get everything they needed. When they were coming out of one of the aisles, Anna Elizabeth spotted something and her eyes lit up, "Marshmallows!" She then grabbed a bag of mini-marshmallows, turned to look up at Killian and Emma, and asked, "Can we put marshmallows in the cookies?"

Killian and Emma exchanged a glance before Killian replied, "Of course, Anna Elizabeth."

As they made their way to the checkout counter, Killian and Emma were both relieved they didn't have to wait to in line – mostly because they didn't know how much longer Anna Elizabeth's patience would last.

As Killian took out his wallet after all the items had been scanned, he noticed that Emma had Anna Elizabeth giggling at something she had said as they were putting the groceries in the buggy. He couldn't quite hear what was said, but it made him think about how much his niece loved Emma.

He then heard the cashier ring up the total. As he handed the kindly older lady the money, she smiled over at Emma and Anna Elizabeth, and then looked back at Killian as she said, "Your wife and daughter are lovely." Killian nervously began scratching behind his ear hoping his face didn't show his confusion when he suddenly remembered the woman had only just moved here a couple months ago.

Killian fumbled over his words as he tried to explain, "Um, she's not...we're not..."

The cashier then seemed to understand and quickly apologized, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't know."

"It's quite alright. It was an honest mistake," Killian replied. Killian prayed the cashier couldn't hear how that the last statement was more of a question. The woman simply nodded as he followed Emma and Anna Elizabeth out the door.

As they arrived at the car, Emma asked, "What was that woman apologizing to you about?"

Killian really wasn't sure if he should tell her, but he knew that if he tried to avoid it or lie, Emma AKA the human lie detector would see right through him.

So, he casually replied, "It was nothing really. The woman mistakenly thought that we were married and that Anna Elizabeth was our daughter."

If Emma took it seriously, you couldn't see it on her face as she simply replied, "Oh."

The truth, was, however, that it was driving Emma just a little bit insane, so after a few minutes of silence in the car ride back, Emma asked, "Do we really, you know, act like a couple?" although she couldn't look Killian in the eyes as she did.

"Well, it has been brought up a time or two," Killian replied as casually as he did earlier.

"But why?" Emma asked, that time turning to face him.

Killian knew she deserved honesty so he answered, "Well, Swan, we do spend quite a bit of time together, and we are rather close. And as far as Anna Elizabeth goes, you are really good with her. You also have blonde hair, and I have blue eyes," Killian paused as a thought entered his mind, "And you can be rather stubborn," but he didn't say it out loud, and continued instead, "So, I suppose it's not entirely ridiculous that people who don't know the situation could think we are a family."

Emma only stared at him in silence before moving her eyes back on the road.

Within a few minutes, they were back at Killian's house. As he was unbuckling his seatbelt, Emma placed her hand on his and admitted, "I suppose it's not completely crazy," as she offered him a small smile. She then withdrew her hand as she continued, "But can we not make a big deal out of this. Can we just like move past it, and get back to normal?"

"Of course, love," Killian replied with a sincere smile. But deep down, he wasn't sure if he could get past it, and if truth was told, Emma wasn't either. But, they both pushed those thoughts aside, and went to go help a stubborn and independent little girl bring the groceries in the house.

As soon as Anna Elizabeth got inside, she immediately climbed on the chair and plopped down the two bags she had been carrying. She then proceeded to read the recipe the best she could, which resulted in a frustrated expression on her face.

When she turned around and saw her uncle, she complained, "Uncle Killian, I can't read this."

"I know, love. And if you can hold on for one moment, Emma and I will help you," Killian answered as he motioned to the blonde beside him.

When Emma set down the bags she had been carrying on the counter, she lifted Anna Elizabeth from the chair and set her down. Emma then got down on her knees and said, "Tell you what. Why don't we go search for your mommy's apron, so I don't get flour all over my clothes. I don't think she would mind if I borrowed it. What do you think?"

"You was Mommy's bestest friend just like Evie is mine," Anna Elizabeth answered, smiling brightly, as she took Emma's hand.

Emma quickly turned her head to give Killian a grin as he mouthed, "Thank you." Emma simply nodded as Anna Elizabeth continued to drag her to the other room.

When Anna Elizabeth and Emma returned a few moments later, aprons in place, Killian had everything out and set up on the counter. He was now leaning against the refrigerator with his arms folded over his chest.

As Anna Elizabeth climbed up in the chair, she turned to face her uncle and asked, "Are you going to help, Uncle Killian?"

"Yeah, Killian. This was your idea after all," Emma chimed in.

"Alas, my sister-in-law was the baker, not me. I believe it was you, Swan, who pointed out my last rather disastrous encounter with baking," Killian replied.

He was trying to be serious, but Emma saw right through it, "Your joking aren't you?"

"Of course I am, love," Killian smiled at the two blondes in front of him.

As he walked over on the other side of Anna Elizabeth, she turned and told him, "Uncle Killian, you got to have a apron."

"It'll be fine, love. A little flour isn't going to hurt this shirt," Killian replied.

It was then that Emma noticed it. "Aerosmith, huh?" she said.

"Hey, Swan, just because you're not a fan of Steven Tyler's rather high-pitched singing doesn't mean other people can't be," Killian told her, grinning.

Emma rolled her eyes as she began mixing the flour and sugar in the bowl with a whisk. Anna Elizabeth's eyes had darted back and forth between them during the encounter before resting on her uncle, and she then began giggling as she said, "You and Emma are funny, Uncle Killian."

"Well, Anna Elizabeth, if I can make you laugh, then I have done my job as your uncle," Killian replied, as he glanced up at Emma and saw her shake her head and grin. The three of them then simultaneously went to work mixing up the cookie dough.

They soon had everything mixed together and were adding the chocolate chips and marshmallows in, although Anna Elizabeth seemed to be eating more of the marshmallows than were actually going in the mixture.

Once it was ready, Killian placed the spoon on one of the dishtowels on the counter, as Anna Elizabeth looked at him with pleading eyes. She then asked, "Can I lick the spoon, Uncle Killian?" As Killian glanced at Emma, he could practically read her thoughts, "Like father, like daughter."

"Well, love, we still have to use the spoon to put the cookies on the baking sheet," Killian answered.

"Oh," Anna Elizabeth began, looking down.

But she then perked back up as she asked, "Then can I lick the spoon?"

Both Killian and Emma couldn't help but lightly laugh at the four year old before Emma answered, "Yes, Anna Elizabeth. You can lick the spoon when we're done."

She then reached around the little girl to grab both the mixing bowl and spoon and began scooping them on the baking sheet in front of her. Anna Elizabeth watched her intently, a smile never leaving her face.

As Emma handed the spoon to Anna Elizabeth to let her do it, a small thought entered Killian's mind, "I could easily get used to this." He thought about how normal and natural all this felt, and he couldn't help but wonder if Emma felt the same. The smile on her face seemed to say yes. His head echoed his own words that he had told Emma earlier – about being a family. However, he quickly shook his head and labeled it all as wishful thinking.

As Killian continued to watch them, he was beginning to slowly realize his resolve to not fall for her (if he hadn't already) was fading away. However, he simply told himself that he was caught up in the moment as Emma placed the chocolate chip cookies – well, actually chocolate chip marshmallow cookies – in the oven.

Killian was brought out of his reverie when he heard Emma ask Anna Elizabeth, "Well, kid, what should we do while we wait?"

His niece's bright eyes turned to Killian as she said, "Uncle Killian, can you please tell me how Mommy and Daddy met?"

"They met in college," Killian answered, knowing the reaction he would get – Emma rolled her eyes (and Anna Elizabeth probably would have if she were a few years older), while his niece simply said, "I mean the story, Uncle Killian."

"I know, love. Come on, then, I'll tell you," Killian answered. Anna Elizabeth was already skipping to the couch.

As Emma made her way over, Killian stepped in front in her and said, "Now, Swan, you have to make sure the cookies don't burn."

Instead of replying, Emma smacked his arm (not as gently as she intended) and made her way the couch as well.

As soon as Emma sat down, Anna Elizabeth was climbing in her lap. Killian sat down beside them and tried to rack his brain for details as to how Liam and Elsa actually met – he had told his niece all this before, more than once actually, but the details always seemed a bit fuzzy.

"Well, it was your father's third year of college, and your mother's second year at NYU. Your father was studying archic – building houses and your mother wanted to open up her own bakery," Killian began, then Anna Elizabeth added, "Because Daddy was taking care of you and Aunt Belle and Mommy was taking care of Aunt Anna."

"That's right, love," Killian answered as he ruffled his niece's hair. He then continued, "Neither your mommy or daddy were looking to fall in love, but when they met something happened," Killian paused to take in the smile on Anna Elizabeth's face – she loved hearing this story – before he continued, "It was wintertime, and it was starting to snow. Your parents bumped into each other on their way to class, and your father noticed that your mother only had a long-sleeve shirt, and he offered her his coat. Your mother's answer was, 'Thank you. That's very sweet, but the cold doesn't bother me.' Your father only smiled with a bit of confusion and instead offered to walk her to class. A couple months after that, your parents started dating. And then three years later, they were married in a beautiful ceremony on the beach right here in Storybrooke," Killian said as Anna Elizabeth chimed in, "And then they had me! And then you moved here, Uncle Killian."

Killian only nodded as Anna Elizabeth then looked up to Emma and smiled as they all heard the timer go off in the kitchen. Anna Elizabeth jumped up and rushed off to the kitchen dragging both Emma and Killian with her.

Emma pulled the cookies out of the oven and set them on the counter as she quickly told Anna Elizabeth, "We have to wait a few minutes to let them cool." Anna Elizabeth nodded as she rested her elbows on the counter where she had climbed back up in the chair. Killian walked up behind his niece and wrapped his arms around her as he said, "The cookies smell wonderful. You and Emma did an amazing job," as he smiled up at his blonde friend.

"You did pretty good yourself. We didn't have to get the fire extinguisher," Emma teased as Anna Elizabeth laughed.

"Am I ever gonna hear the end of that, Swan?" Killian asked. "Hey, you tease me all the time. You have ever since we met," Emma said.

"That's because it's part of my charm, love," Killian answered, smirking as he grabbed a cookie and handed it to his niece then grabbed one for himself. Emma rolled her eyes before she grabbed a cookie. As soon as Anna Elizabeth finished her cookie, she yawned and laid her head on the counter. Killian moved to pick her up, but then Emma said, "I got it."

"Thanks, love," Killian replied as Emma picked up Anna Elizabeth and carried her to her room as the latter wrapped her arms around Emma's neck.

When Emma had come back from Anna Elizabeth's room, she plopped down on the couch beside Killian.

"Does she just fall asleep anywhere?" Emma asked.

Killian smiled as he replied, "Yes, because she thinks she's old enough to not need a nap, but she always falls asleep around this time every day."

"She probably won't be too happy in kindergarten next year when they make her take a nap," Emma said.

"Yeah," Killian replied, as he gazed downward.

Emma didn't even have to ask what was wrong, so she simply said, "You still have another year, Killian."

"I know, love. I was thinking this morning how fast she's growing up, and I'm not sure I like it," Killian answered.

"Yeah, even though Elsa never planned on really having kids, she couldn't stand the thought of Anna Elizabeth growing up either," Emma said.

"Liam didn't plan on it either. He was always so concerned with taking care of Belle and I. He was really selfless that way," Killian said.

"You know, Killian, you always talked about Liam being too hard on himself, but you are too. You don't have anything to worry about," Emma said, reassuring him. She then began teasing, "Although, she'll probably be as sarcastic as you are."

"I actually hope she isn't," Killian replied while smiling, "That always got me in trouble in school. And it still does, sometimes," he finished.

"Yeah, I know. Do you know Regina that calls you Captain Sarcasm instead of your name?" Emma said.

"I know, love. I can't help that she doesn't find it – or my sense of humor – charming," Killian answered.

"And you think I do?" Emma teased before she continued, "I feel like I'm constantly rolling my eyes around you."

"You know you love it," Killian answered.

"I got used to it," Emma corrected at which Killian responding by playfully smacking her with a small pillow that was on the couch.

Emma started giggling before she said, "I think we'd better keep it down. Anna Elizabeth is a pretty light sleeper."

"You know, Swan, you know as much about my niece as I do," Killian answered.

"Well, Elsa and I were really close, so she's kind of my niece too," Emma said.

Killian said, "I know. She adores you, Swan." He then shifted in his seat, so he was facing Emma more as he said, "I don't know if I've ever thanked you, Emma. For helping me with Anna Elizabeth. You might not think so, but you do a lot."

"I love her too, you know. I guess maybe we are kind of like a family," Emma said, as she nervously fumbled with her swan necklace – a connection to her birth mother – and averted her eyes from Killian.

"I guess so. And we kind of made Elsa's recipe our own with those marshmallows," Killian answered.

"Speaking of recipes, do you want me to