Where We Belong

It Won't Be Like This For Long

It won't be like this for long

One day soon that little girl is gonna be

All grown up and gone

And this phase is gonna fly by

And he's trying to hold on

It won't be like this for long

By: Darius Rucker

Killian and Anna Elizabeth arrived hand in hand at Granny's Diner for lunch. As soon as they got inside, Anna Elizabeth asked, "Can we sit at the counter?" Killian nodded and lifted her up on the barstool. He then took a seat beside her, and Ruby came over to take their order.

She had started working at her grandmother's diner as a teenager and was now the co-owner – her, Elsa, and Emma had been good friends since high school.

When Anna Elizabeth saw the red-streaked brunette, she said, "I want some chicken tenders, please, Ruby."

Ruby wrote that down on the notepad and then said, "With honey mustard and apple juice to drink, right?"

Anna Elizabeth nodded, making a few stray curls land in her face. She moved them and then grabbed one of the kids' menus in front of her and started coloring.

Ruby smiled then turned her head to face Killian and asked, "What about you, Killian?"

"Just a burger and fries with a Coke," he replied.

"Alright," Ruby said as she wrote down the order then continued, "It'll be out soon, you guys."

As Ruby turned to walk away, Killian repositioned himself on his elbow and watched Anna Elizabeth draw what appeared to be a princess as she hummed the same song she had been earlier. When Ruby returned with the food and set it in front of Anna Elizabeth and Killian, she leaned on the counter on the other side of Killian and said, "She looks so much like Elsa."

"That she does. She also has her mother's independent nature – she wants to do everything by herself," Killian replied.

Ruby smiled as she replied, "That's Elsa alright. And I'm not all surprised that Anna Elizabeth loves chicken tenders so much."

Killian gave her a puzzled expression before he asked, "Why is that, love?"

"I know it's been a long time, but I remember that's all Elsa ever wanted to eat when she was pregnant. It got to the point that I didn't even have to ask Liam what it was he wanted when he would come in for a to-go order," Ruby laughed at the memory.

Killian smiled back as he replied, "Now that you mention it, I distinctly remember running to the store for my brother to pick up rocky road ice cream and blueberries." Ruby smiled as she glanced between him and Anna Elizabeth before some customers waved her over.

The brunette then stood up and said "Duty calls," as she made her way to the other side of the diner. Killian shot his gaze over to his niece, who was sipping her apple juice before he began eating his own meal.

When they finished eating, Killian laid the money on the counter and then asked Anna Elizabeth, "You ready to go home, love?"

She replied, "Uh-huh," as she yawned.

"Are you sleepy, Anna Elizabeth? Perhaps you could take a nap when we get home," Killian told her.

"I'm not tired, Uncle Killian," Anna Elizabeth protested, even though Killian knew better.

He'd lost track of how many times he carried her to her bed because she had fallen asleep on the couch watching TV or on her floor while playing with her toys. She had been the exact same way with her parents.