Where We Belong

From Godfather to Father

I remember I thought you looked like an angel

Wrapped in pink soft and warm

You've had me wrapped around your finger

Since the day you were born

-My Little Girl, Tim McGraw

When Killian Jones was sitting in the waiting room of Storybrooke Memorial Hospital awaiting the arrival of his niece, he never dreamed he would be the one raising her. Four years later, he was watching her color at the kitchen table as he brought her a bowl of Fruit Loops. As he placed the bowl in front of her, brushed a curl from in front of her eye, and sat down in the chair beside her, he thought of the day when his sister-in-law Elsa told him that she and Liam wanted him to be Anna Elizabeth's godfather.

Anna Elizabeth was 3 weeks old as she lay sleeping in her mother's arms. Killian was in the kitchen making the tired new mom some coffee, and his brother Liam was outside helping their sister Belle pack her car to go back to New York City. As Killian walked back into the living room and sat the coffee mug on the table, he said, "Let me take her while you drink your coffee."

As much as Elsa adored her baby girl, she welcomed a small break as she carefully handed Anna Elizabeth to her brother-in-law. The small pink bundle squirmed for only a moment and then fell back asleep as Killian adjusted her in his arms. Elsa grabbed the mug from the table and took a long sip as she watched Killian with her daughter. She couldn't help but see the look of adoration on his face as he watched her sleep – Anna Elizabeth already had her uncle wrapped around her little finger. Killian heard Elsa shift in her chair; as he looked up, he could see that she had something on her mind.

"Something you want to talk about, love?" he asked.

Elsa set her gaze on Anna Elizabeth, and then back to Killian, "Yes, actually."

Killian nodded for her to continue.

"Liam and I have been talking, and there's something rather important we wanted to ask you," Elsa said, as she nervously fingered her blonde braid. Killian rarely saw Elsa nervous – he knew whatever she had to ask him was serious.

Killian sat up straighter, careful not to the wake the baby, and simply replied, "Yes?"

There was silence for a moment, then Elsa looked over at Killian, caught his gaze, and spat out, "Will you be Anna Elizabeth's godfather?"

Killian pondered the question for a minute. Her godfather? Killian adored his niece - he would do anything for her, as well as her parents, but the question caught him off guard. Why were his brother and sister-in-law thinking about this now? Well, there was only one-way to find out:

"You and my brother want me to be Anna Elizabeth's godfather? What made you think of this now after she's just been born?"

"A lot went into this decision, Killian," Elsa began, "you, Liam, and Belle lost your parents just as Anna and I did. While Anna and I were old enough to take care of ourselves, you all were still children – and I know how hard it was. Liam was barely 16 when he became whom you and Belle relied on. You all had to grow up too fast. Liam and I didn't want our baby girl to face that same fate in case anything should happen to us, and we knew you would make the best choice. My sister Anna and her husband Kristoff live overseas, and Belle lives in New York City where her career is her focus. Liam and I, as well as yourself, have put down roots here. We have dear friends who are more like family, and we couldn't think of a better place for our daughter to grow up, and a better person to raise her if the worst does happen."