Feb 13, 2019
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CS Valentine's One Shots: Day Eight
Prompt: First “I love you”
I don’t know if this qualifies as canon or canon divergent. I think of it as “filling in a plot hole.” Dark Hook’s words to Emma in Broken Heart about how he always said it first made no sense. After all, from what we saw on screen Emma said it first and Killian had only ever said it indirectly. I know some people explain it by saying the darkness twists truth, but I got to thinking about all those “off screen conversations” A&E are always saying happened. And in Operation Mongoose, all Emma said was that she never told him how she felt. Maybe he threw the “L” word around all the time . . .
And warning: this got a little angsty, especially the ending. I swear I’m not doing this on purpose . . .
Three Little Words
Three Times Killian Jones told Emma Swan he loved her and one time he didn’t.
One: First Date
The sea always calmed Killian, and while calm was an odd way to feel when he was finally on a date with Emma Swan, it was the best word he could use to describe how he felt right now. Despite his worries over his supposedly cursed hand, despite the ice witch who was out there somewhere, Killian felt deliciously content in this moment. Emma’s hand was in his, he could hear the soothing beat of the waves beneath the docks, and Emma’s hair glittered like gold in the moonlight.
She let go of his hand to lean against the railing of the boardwalk, and as she did, he noted the elegant curve of her neck, the way her ponytail swished against her shoulder blades, the almost girlish way she popped her foot and dug her toe into the old, wet boards. She shivered, and he inwardly berated himself for not thinking of the dropping temperatures or her bare shoulders (aside from admiring her soft skin, that is).
He shrugged out of his leather jacket and quickly draped it over her. “Here love, you have more need of this than I do.”
Emma accepted it gladly with a soft thank you, slipping her arms into the sleeves and hugging her torso. She was uncharacteristically vulnerable tonight, and he hoped that was because she felt safe with him.
She shivered still as she drew the jacket tighter around herself, and Killian came closer to wrap his arms around her from behind. She sighed and leaned back into him. Words didn’t seem necessary for the moment as they simply stood there, wrapped up in one another, gazing at the stars. Killian lowered his head to nuzzle into her neck, the scent of her shampoo making his heart thud loudly in his chest.
“I love you,” he whispered. He wasn’t sure if it was the quiet, or her softness in his arms, but the words just slipped out.
She stiffened slightly, and he held his breath, fearful that he had spoken too soon. She turned, still in the circle of his arms, her face flushed, eyes shining and darting to and fro. The moment stretched out, marked by the undulating sound of the waves below.
Finally, she raised up on her tiptoes and kissed him. He kissed her back, knowing it was the only answer she could give. At least for now.
Two: Valentine’s Day
“Swan!” Killian shouted, as he burst into the loft. His fear ratcheted up a few more notches when he saw that the place was empty. It had been weeks since the Crocodile left town, and therefore weeks since there had been a crisis, but Emma’s text message had him falling right back into that mode. He glanced down at his screen to read the message again.
Come to the loft. Hurry.
He heard a laugh from the top of the stairs, and when he lifted his gaze from his phone, he saw Emma standing there, a bright smile on her face. Killian let out a huge sigh of relief as he pocketed his phone.
“Bloody hell, Swan, you scared me to death!”
“I scared Captain Hook?” she teased, crossing her arms over her chest and cocking her head. “Yay me. Now get up here, pirate.”
Killian did as she asked without further complaint. Belle had teased him about being whipped, and when she explained to him what that meant, he couldn’t really argue. He’d traded his ship for this woman, jumped through a time portal for her. Anything else was a trifle, really.
When he reached the second floor of the loft, Emma stood in front of her bathroom door with her hands behind her back grasping the doorknob. She wore an eager grin and there was delight shining in her eyes.
“Do you know what today is?”
Killian scratched his jaw with the curve of his hook. “Aye, Valentine’s Day, a holiday which requires Granny to decorate the diner with tacky red hearts and naked babies with bows and arrows.”
Emma chuckled and shook her head. “Yeah, I know, it’s kind of cheesy. But you’ve done so much for me, I wanted to do a little something for you . . . so . . . “
With that she flung the door open, simultaneously grabbing his hook and pulling him through the door. The claw foot tub in the corner was filled to almost overflowing with big, frothy bubbles.
“It’s a bubble bath,” Emma explained, shaking his arm excitedly. “You were so thrilled with showers, and my parents said there were no bubble baths in the Enchanted Forest, not like this, sooo . . ta-da!”
Killian grinned at the thought she had apparently put into this. He approached the tub cautiously, dipping his hand in to find the water invitingly warm. It was difficult to keep water at such a perfect temperature back in the Enchanted Forest. He glanced around and also saw candles burning all over the room.
“Come on,” Emma said, yanking on his arm, “before the water gets cold and the bubbles disappear.”
She had already yanked off his jacket and tossed it on the floor. He was blushing, which was slightly embarrassing. “You, uh, talked to your parents about this?”
Emma rolled her eyes as she unbuttoned his vest. “Are you kidding? My dad would have a coronary. After he pulled his gun on you, that is. I just asked for a few hours without the baby. I think mom suspected something, but my dad seems to be a little clueless about that sort of thing. Or at least when it involves me.”
Killian’s vest was cast aside, and he watched Emma as she worked on the buttons of his shirt. Her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth as she worked them. “How do you do this with one hand?” She muttered. “These buttons are tiny.”
Killian cleared his throat nervously as he closed his hand around Emma’s, “I think I can handle it from here.”
“No way, sailor,” Emma corrected him with a heated stare, “that tub is big enough for two.”
His blush only increased as he gazed into her eyes. Not only was this a new step in their own relationship, but it was a level of intimacy he had never shared with anyone after losing his hand. Sex became nothing more than a rough, quick release with nameless, faceless women who craved a night to forget just as much as he did. While some women had seen him without his hook, no living person had seen him without his brace since that horrible, painful day on his ship so long ago. And he hated to admit it, even to himself, but he was ashamed.
“Emma,” was all he managed to choke out as he rubbed his thumb nervously along the inside of her wrist. He wasn’t sure how to put what he was feeling into words. He just stood there, staring at the floor and clenching his jaw.
“Hey,” Emma said softly, reaching up with both hands to cup his face. She eased his chin up until his eyes met hers, and what he saw there stole his breath. Understanding. Patience. And above all, acceptance. She ran her thumbs wordlessly across his cheeks for a moment, then her hands drifted down to finish the buttons. She eased his shirt off his shoulders and one arm, then carefully worked the other sleeve around his hook. Then she ran her hand over the leather straps, almost as if she were admiring them.
“It’s okay,” she whispered as she unbuckled them. Her voice soothed him, but he still closed his eyes as she eased the brace completely from his torso. He kept them closed as her hands mapped his chest, his shoulders, his arms. Then she was cradling his stump in both hands, running her thumbs over the scars. His eyes finally opened to see her do what he had thought was unthinkable. She lifted his arm to her lips and placed a soft kiss at the end of it. His own breath came out in a shaky hiss.
“It’s okay,” she said again, pressing his stump against her to rest between her breasts. She stepped closer, her free arm encircling his waist, her cheek pressed against his chest, his bad arm wedged between them.
Killian, almost overcome with the tenderness of the moment, brought his hand up shakily to run his one hand through her hair. He lowered his face to breathe in the softness of her hair. “I love you so much,” he told her huskily.
She lifted her head to look at him, her mouth agape. Her eyes were awash with intensity, and he waited with bated breath for her words to come.
But Emma’s expression changed to a smirk as she yanked at the zipper of his jeans instead.
Three: The Cabin in the Woods
He stands there, simply gazing at her in amazement. He can’t believe she doesn’t know. Tears prick at his eyes. Is it that hard for her to believe she’s enough?
“Don’t you know, Emma?” he finally manages to say around the lump in his throat. “It’s you.”
The look on her face almost kills him. So shocked and full of wonder. They are drawn together slowly, tenderly, and as he kisses her, he can taste a tear in the corner of her mouth. He turns to kiss the salty path on her cheek.
“I love you,” he breathes against her petal soft skin.
She just buries her face in the crook of his neck and sighs.
Four: The Loft
One moment, lowly deckhand Hook feels cold steel slice through skin, muscle, and sinew. He reaches his one hand out to Emma Swan, regretting that he hadn’t grabbed hold of the moment offered him earlier. That he hadn’t leaned down and kissed her. Because no one has ever looked at him that way before. And no one has ever looked as devastated as Emma Swan does right now as he falls to the ground, the life bleeding out of him.
The next moment, his eyes are opening and he’s on his back on a hardwood floor. He’s Captain Hook again. No, he’s Killian Jones, hero and the man who loves Emma Swan. He smiles. They did it. Henry and Emma did it!
Henry! He leaps to his feet, ignoring the groans of Snow and David still on the floor behind him as he races upstairs to be sure the lad is ok. He doesn’t even have time to look for the boy when Emma bursts in, “Hook!” the first word on her lips.
He can tell she’s frantic and distraught, so he plays cocky and comedic. It was the right choice, as her face lights up with joy. She comes racing up the stairs, his given name now spoken with delight as she tackles him with a hug. It takes him by surprise when she tumbles with him onto the bed, knocking the breath out of him in the process. But he delights in the weight of her pressing him into the mattress and he enjoys it even more when she pins his arms on either side of his head, propping herself up to grin down at him. He really wishes her parents weren’t right downstairs.
“Didn’t mean to frighten you, love,” he tells her, “when I woke, I came up here to check on your boy.”
“He’s fine, Henry’s fine . . . “ She trails off, her smile faltering, and her eyes getting a sort of far-off look.
Concerned, he sits up, his forehead creasing as he searches her suddenly pale expression. “What is it, love?”
“It’s just . . . when I saw you die . . . I was afraid I would never get to tell you . . . “
Killian thinks he knows where she’s going with this. He understands her walls, her fears, her insecurities. Mostly because he’s felt them too. He tries to encourage her, but feels he only succeeds in plastering a ridiculously broad grin on his face.
“To tell you . . . thank you.”
For a brief moment, his heart drops all the way to his stomach. He died for her, and still she holds back. But he swallows down the hurt and disappointment. It has to be on her terms, he only wants it on her terms, and so he smiles. He barely hears the rest of her babbling thank you.
“All in a day’s work for a hero,” he tells her when she finishes. She presses her forehead to his, burying her fingers in his hair. He wonders if she expects him to say it like he always does: I love you. But this time, he can’t.
Killian Jones is a patient man. One day, perhaps, she’ll simply say it. Those three little words he longs to hear from her lips.
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Love Potion #9
Happy (day after) Valentine’s Day! This is a collaborative story written by @ bixisarusher, @flslp87 @hellomommanerd @snowbellewells and @whimscallyenchantedrose. A big thanks to @duathadun for making the above graphic!
Summary: When Cupid puts a love potion in Storybrooke’s water supply on Valentine’s Day, all kinds of chaos ensues. Can the heroes find a way to reverse the spell and bring peace back to their overly loving community?
~<3~<3~<3~<3
Valentine’s Day dawned crisp and clear, the sun shining down on the snow that had blanketed Storybrooke overnight, making it sparkle like tiny diamonds. Emma woke slowly, enjoying the warmth of her bed and the security of Killian’s arms around her.
Life was actually pretty great right now. She and her family had found that third way. She’d managed to avoid getting stabbed by Gold’s 30-year-old newborn son (what even was her life anymore?). She’d helped defeat the Black Fairy. They’d managed to foil Jafar’s crazy plan and brought back Aladdin and Jasmine’s happy ending, and they’d been slowly but steadily been working their way through the Land of Untold Stories folks, bringing them their happy endings as well.
Best of all, there hadn’t been a villain in Storybrooke for a good two weeks. This had to be some sort of miracle.
She and Killian had made the most of their peaceful moments, spending long days and passionate nights holed up in their home, thoroughly enjoying each other and the fact that neither of them were dead, about to die, or prophecied to die.
Tonight, she and Killian had plans for a romantic Valentine’s dinner followed by, no doubt, plenty of other romantic stuff, because Killian was probably the most romantic guy she knew.
Yep, life was pretty close to perfect right now. Nothing could ruin her day today. Life was good…
And that’s when her phone rang.
“Hello?” she said sleepily into the receiver.
“Miss Swan?” Regina said. “I think you need to get down to my office ASAP. We have a situation. Seems Cupid was among our Land of Untold Stories guests.”
“Um…okay?” Emma said, running her free hand through her hair. “Cupid being in town qualifies as a crisis?”
“It does when he’s been secretly making a love potion, that he decided to pour into Storybrooke’s main water source, the wishing well. The whole town’s going crazy. I just saw Grumpy chasing Granny down the street with an armful of red flowers.”
Emma rolled her eyes at the mental image of Grumpy and Granny, “Well, it’s not a pretty picture but i have no problem with that. As long as he’s chasing her, he won’t have time to interrupt Hook and me.”
“Emma,” Regina’s voice lowered, “there’s more.”
“There always is, Regina. What else?”
“Well, there’s your parents,” she stopped as if hesitant to say anything.
“Come on, just spit it out.”
“It seems your mother ordered some interesting gifts for your father for Valentine’s Day and he’s sharing just a bit too much with some of our the guests who still remain.”
Emma groaned, “Oh dear, that doesn’t sound like dad at all.”
“What doesn’t sound like your father,” she heard from behind her in bed.
Turning to Killian, who had been absorbing every word, she quickly explained what was happening in Storybrooke. When she finished, his eyebrow went up, “Oh, I don’t know about it not sounding like your father, love. While just the other day,” was all he could get out before she covered his mouth in a quick kiss to shut him up.
“Emma, are you still there,” coming through the phone quickly brought her back to the problem at hand. “What else?”
“Well, Gold is in the clock tower singing some aria at the top of his lungs to Belle.”
“OH that I need to see.” Emma interrupted her, “And you Regina, how has it affected you?”
“What do you mean?” Regina responded with an uncharacteristic giggle, “It’s not affected me at all, but I can’t say the same for Robin.”
“I’ll be there in a while,” Emma told her clicking off the phone and tossing it on the nightstand. “I guess our quiet time is over for now. Do you have any ideas how to handle this situation?” she asked Killian who was laying back, arms behind his head and a devilish smile on his face.
“Now that you ask Swan. I…”
Unfortunately, before Killian could voice the solution he had been ready to propose, or could try to kiss the whole situation out of her mind and get her focus back to more enjoyable activities, there was a wildly panicked flurry of knocking on their bedroom door, and soon Henry’s anxious voice broke through as well.
There had been one fairly PG, but still supremely uncomfortable incident where they had nearly scarred her teenage son for life early on, once Emma had returned from the Wish Realm and they hadn’t emerged from their bedroom promptly enough for her bottomless pit of a son who’d wanted his breakfast the next morning. Without thinking, he had barged in to demand sustenance and been permanently cured of entering without knocking at just the idea of what he’d nearly seen. Though Killian had been flopping around laughing so hard at the whole thing when Henry had made his quick exit that he’d gotten them both tangled up in the sheets and nearly made the lad wait even longer for his morning meal, Emma had been seriously considering a lock on the door for a bit. Her pirate swore the blush hadn’t left her cheeks that day until it was nearly time for lunch.
Regardless, Henry was knocking now, but clearly not going to be put off for much longer. “Mom, Killian, come on! I know you’re awake; I heard the phone! This is important!”
Emma stood, wrapped a long robe around her festively red, silky camisole and shorts pajama set and went to open the door.
Henry launched into his explanation the moment the door opened and was already moving toward the bed to lay down the opened storybook where she and Killian could both see. “The storybook is going crazy this morning! I can’t even add anything to it! All the stories are mixing around together, the endings are shifting, and they keep coming out wrong with the wrong couples together… Archie’s going to get himself killed by Mr. Gold if he brings Belle any more gift books of romantic sonnets with coupons for free sessions tucked in the pages!”
“I may have an idea about that, Kid. That was your other mom on the phone…”
“But that’s not all,” Henry blurted out, too excited to wait for her to finish. “I was sure we had documented all the newcomers, but according to this, there are two sisters roaming down Main Street handing out fancy, old fashioned Victorian-looking valentines to EVERYONE. And some fussy little short dude they’re ignoring following behind telling them to ‘behave more decorously’. According to this, their names are Kitty and Lydia, and the guy pestering them is a Mr. Collins? Have you heard of them before?”
Emma shrugged uncertainly, but when her glance slid to Killian, there was a gleam in his eye. “Really, Swan? You haven’t heard of them? They’re from quite the romantic tale…”
“Yeah, well,” Emma said, rummaging around her closet for appropriate love potion fighting attire, “We’ll have to save the full story for later. Sounds like things are getting dicey in town. Now, either of you have any idea how we stop Cupid?”
Henry shrugged. “I guess the best thing to do is learn all we can about love potions, and then maybe we can figure out what to do?”
“But in the meantime,” Emma said, “what do we do about everyone who’s already smitten?”
Killian stepped up before her, leaned down and kissed her gently. “Perhaps you should alert your parents. We could all meet at the mayor’s place of residence and devise a plan. In the meantime, as this curse does merely elicit false feelings of love, what’s the worst that could happen?”
Henry facepalmed. “Killian, take it from an author. That’s the thing the heroes say just before everything goes crazy.”
~<3~<3~<3~<3~<3~<3~<3~<3
Killian stepped from Swan’s yellow vessel and looked around the main street of time. It appeared the lad was right. He hadn’t seen such chaos in the streets since the bloody Snow Queen’s spell of shattered sight.
Leroy chased Dopey through town brandishing his pickaxe. “Don’t you run away from me you leafy bag of tree sap!” he yelled. “I saw the way you were looking at Granny! Don’t think you can steal her from me!”
A crash across the street from Granny’s made Killian jump. He turned to find Will Scarlet standing among the shattered shards of Dr. Whale’s jar of tongue depressors. “You thieving scum!” Whale growled, “ You think you can just take Mother Superior right from underneath my nose? We’re in love.”
“Mother Superior?” Will whined. “What the bloody hell would I want with her, mate? It’s Tinker Bell who warms the cockles of me heart.”
The door to Granny’s banged open, and the woman herself stalked out, crossbow at the ready. “Alright where is she?” she asked. “Where’s the bookworm? She thinks she can have the Dark One? He’s my hunk of sparkly golden imp.”
Killian turned concerned eyes toward Emma. “Swan, I believe your lad was correct. It seems we’ve got quite the problem on our hands.”
“You think, Guyliner?” Regina asked, pulling up to the curb and getting out of her car. “It’s complete chaos, and this is just Main Street. You should see the rest of town. Now, if you and Miss Swan would stop gawking and follow me, I think I have the beginnings of a plan. What we need to do
is gather everyone in town who has not been affected and see if there’s a pattern. “
Emma turned to Killian, “Will you see if you can find my mom and bring her to Regina’s office?”
“Just your mom? Shall I round up Granny and Belle also?”
Smiling her thank you, she kissed him quickly and turned to follow Regina into her office, but just before the door shut, stuck her head back out and yelled, “Oh and Killian, whatever you do, don’t drink the water.”
As they walked down the hall, she couldn’t help but notice that the usually pristine city building was far from tidy as she stepped over flower petals, lose leaves, pieces of confetti and what appeared to be a pair of black boxer briefs covered in red lips.
“Regina hold up,” she called just before Regina rounded the corner into her office. “Do I want to know the explanation for those?” she asked pointing at the garment.
Spotting the black garment on the shiny floor, Regina’s face flamed red as she hurried forward, picked them up and stuffed them into her coat pocket before pretending to zip her lips, “not a word,” she muttered with clenched teeth.
Emma zipped her own lips, her eyes twinkling, “I won’t say a word about the briefs but is that a,” she leaned in for a closer look at Regina’s neck, “hickey you’re trying to cover up?”
Regina slapped her hand over her neck and growled, before stomping into her office to sit down behind her desk, once more attempting to regain control. “Now, shall we make a plan?”
They sat around the desk and talked about what they knew about the curse. As they made a list of who was affected and who was not affected, one thing became clear. It seemed that the curse affected men, differently than it did women, which explained why all the men, save one or two were acting very much unlike themselves.
“Now that’s interesting,” she murmured just as footsteps were heard outside the room, and the buzz of conversation from her mother, Belle and Granny came into view. Frowning that Killian wasn’t with them, she got up and walked to the door to look down the hall. “Where’s Killian, mom? Isn’t he with you?”
Snow turned to look over her shoulder, “Oh, I think he said something about being thirsty and was planning to get something to drink before meeting us in here.”
Emma’s eyes got round and she turned to Regina, “What is there to drink in this building?”
Regina frowned, “ugh oh, water,” she responded sheepishly.
Before she could second guess her decision, Emma took off looking for Killian, praying he had heeded her word and not taken a drink of water. Just as she rounded the corner, Killian was balling up a paper cup to toss into the trash.
“Killian,” she exclaimed breathlessly as she clutched his arm, “did you just take a drink of water?”
“Aye Swan, it went down quite nicely too. Shall I get you a cup?”
“Oh Killian,” she said, “tell me you didn’t! You know what that water is doing to everyone!”
He grinned and then winked at her. “Perhaps you best come inspect for yourself, love.”
“Killian,” she growled, “this is not the time for…”
He stopped her with a long, slow, passionate kiss.
“Rum,” she said breathlessly when they finally had to come up for air. “You taste like rum. That’s what you drank, isn’t it?”
Killian laughed. “The very same. Who would settle for water when rum is available for consumption?”
“Who indeed,” Emma laughed. She considered going in for another kiss, but finally decided against it. She was afraid if she tried Regina’s patience too much longer, the fireballs might start flying.
“Okay, Regina,” she said instead, taking Killian’s hand and rejoining the rest of the group. “We’re all here. So what’s this big plan you have?”
“What we need to do is to first of all get to a safe place - I was thinking Gold’s shop.“
Confused looks answered Regina’s suggestion.
“Except any of you have a less romantic place in mind.”
She had a point, and so they maneuvered themselves through the street, as the chaos around them intensified. People threw things at each other, Tink and Katheryn seemed to be in a cat fight over Jefferson, who himself was trying to outrun Thomas on his way to Aurora. “And they said Make Love Not War”, Emma mumbled to herself as they finally entered the shop.
The looming place offered shelter today.
Killian sighed and leaned against one of the counters. “Speak, Regina, what did you come up with so far?”
She collected herself for a moment before she began. “Well, we know the potion is in the water supply. It must have affected anyone who drank tap water or, you know, boiled a tea this morning. It has a quite random pattern of picking the object of affection, I haven’t cracked that code yet, but maybe the book can help with that. Cupid himself was said to be registered at Granny, but I couldn’t find him yet. Another reason I picked Gold’s as hideout: Maybe there’s something here that helps us at least spotting him.”
“Good. I’d suggest we split? Henry, you should occupy the book together with Regina, Killian and I will search the back room.”
They nodded and hastily applied their terms. In moments like these, Emma was glad she has a partner like Killian. He had his own fair share of experience when it came to magic and tactical approaches, as well as all sorts of decoding. It’s something she had noticed back in Neverland and in her crisis-laden life it always came in handy. Well, two calm weeks they had had, back to the normal goose-chase it was. So, the two searched the shelves and boxes for anything possibly linked to a love potion.
She handed him a book written in runes, but he shook his head after glancing over the title. “It’s on animals. I don’t think Cupid classifies a… - Bloody Hell.” He scooted forward a few sentences, staring pointedly. “There’s a label for True Love Potion here!” A little rack stood at a side counter, with neatly stacked labels to it although only a few bottles could be found in it. Killians finger pointed at a sing with a seemingly glowing heart, between one with a sun and a half-moon. “Those are alchemists’ symbols, and the heart looks like it’s supposed to be made of gold, thus in its purest form.”
Emma settled next to him. “Yeah, I remember it from when the curse first broke. Gold made me retrieve a bottle of my parent’s True Love from Maleficent. It’s what he used to bring magic to Storybrooke, so now it’s gone.” She took a second to process how ridiculous that whole statement was. “That’s probably where it would belong, but as I said, he used it up.”
“Just how long was that ago?”
“Phew, I mean, time blurs in this town, - definitely two years.”
“But look at the dust markings on the wood. There’s a rich layer on that board, just this very spot is clean.” Instead of saying more, Killian met her eyes.
“You mean…”
“Not long ago, a single bottle stood there and then someone took it.”
Before Emma could fully realize the depth of their finding, a noise from the front room drew her attention and she saw Astrid peeking into the room. “I was looking for Mister Gold,” she said in her quivering voice.
“The bloody Crocodile?” Hook began, but Emma shooshed him.
“Killian, she can’t help it.” She held up the empty vial. “Potions and spells and stuff, remember?”
Astrid’s eyes grew even huger than normal, “Oh NO! I don’t love him. I mean, how could I when I have a man like Leroy?”
“You mean Grumpy Leroy,” Emma said, “With the pickaxe and…”
“Untimely interruptions?”” Hook added.
Astrid nodded. “I was hoping for some help with a locator spell. My fairy powers aren’t up to snuff at all today, and there’s too much crazy going on all over town. Have you seen it out there?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Emma said. “Let’s go. We know there’s a missing spell from in here, and we might have an idea on how to counter it, but you and the other sisters are a lot better at brewing up that stuff than I am. You think you could gather the other fairies?”
“I know I can!” Astrid reached for the empty glass tube and waved her hand goodbye and took off out of the shop.
Emma turned to Killian and rolled her eyes. “Even the fairies are susceptible to whatever Cupid dumped in the well. She actually thinks she’s in love with Grumpy!”
“Poor lass won’t stand a prayer against that crossbow.”
~*~*~*~*~
The hysteria in town was escalating at an alarming rate. Emma had become separated from Killian when he left to break up a fight between Anton and a very crabby man with a Jamaican accent. The last she’d seen of her pirate, he was reaching for his sword and yelling, “Sebastian, don’t make me use this again!”
Sea people.
In the meantime, the fairies had the beginnings of a counter potion brewing, or so they thought, and Emma was startled to learn that Astrid wasn’t under the spell, and Mother Superior and a serious attitude about dating relationships. What the hell was that about?
She just wanted to find Killian and see if they could find an easier solution to this mess. He wasn’t out in the street, but there was a huge crowd gathering at The Rabbit Hole. Curious, she made her way over to the bar, and heard a piano sounding the ending chords to an old love ballad she used to hear in one of her foster homes. The people crammed inside were clapping and calling for an encore, and there, leaning against that old Spinet, was the love of her life, nodding toward Happy, of all people, who worked his fingers across the keys and began playing a new song. Killian opened his mouth and started singing another ballad, this time one sang by Barry Manilow. Emma leaned back against the door frame deciding to listen and noticed her father and Robin climbing up on stage beside Killian. Robin picked up a guitar and pulled the strap over his head while David slid behind the drum set and picking up sticks they joined in, their voices harmonizing beautifully. Realizing her mouth was hanging open, she slowly shut it just as she felt someone loop their arm through hers. Turning she saw that her mother and Regina had joined her.
“Aren’t they wonderful?" Snow murmured, a sappy grin on her face. Emma frowned at her, "they aren’t bad, but why didn’t I know dad could sing?” Snow patted her hand, “I don’t know, I guess it just never came up. He croons in my ear sometimes when,” she hesitated a moment, “we’re getting busy.” “Eww, mom. TMI!” Snow dimpled and blushed prettily, “Sorry?” She turned to Regina, “Doesn’t Robin sing to you?” Regina looked at them out of the corner of her eye and winked, “He has been known to burst into song a time or two.” When she looked back at Emma, she had a satisfied smile on her face and asked, “Did you know Killian could sing?”
Emma glanced back up onstage, watching him work the crowd, “I’ve heard him in the shower a time or two but I can’t say he’s ever sang just for me,” she finished just as the guys transitioned into the opening bars of Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA.“ Snow laughed, "Well now you know.” “Yea, now I know.” Emma looked at the other two women, any idea whose idea it was for them to suddenly give a concert in the middle of this latest crisis?“ Regina glanced at Snow, "It was your mother’s. I have to say when she first suggested it, I was hesitant but it seems to have worked.” Emma glanced at them a confused look on her face, “Wait a minute. You told the guys to get up on stage and hold an impromptu concert? Why?” “Well,” Snow explained, “there was so much chaos going on, I suggested we needed a way to get everyone’s attention, and this is what the Killian suggested. I mean, look at the crowd,” she waved her hand toward the room at large, “they’re mesmerized by what’s happening up on stage.” Emma looked around the room and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Killian, Robin, Happy and her dad had the crowd eating out of their hands. People were standing, moving closer to the stage and singing along. “As strange as this is, I agree, it’s working. What should we do? Shouldn’t we be looking for a way to break the curse?” Regina looked around the bar, “I think we sit down and enjoy the concert. The effects should wear off the longer they’ve not had any more water.” “Ok, shall we?" Leading the way, Emma found them a table in the back and they sat down and watched the happenings. She couldn’t believe how well the men worked together, almost as if they had been practicing on a regular basis. They moved easily from one song to the next, ballad to rock, pop to blues. She had to admit one of her favorite moments was when they sang a Led Zepplin song and her dad killed the drum feature but she almost lost it when the first few bars of Bohemian Rhapsody came on and Gold took over the parts that had been made famous by the late lead singer of Queen. "Well I didn’t expect that,” Regina responded dryly when they finished and after taking a bow, Gold jumped down off stage and joined the melee in front who were moving to the music. “Emma, any idea where they got their song choice ideas?” “Henry.” “Henry? Really?” Regina asked. Emma nodded her head. “Yes, Henry. He turns the satellite radio up really loud and plays the air guitar along with all the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s bands. Says that’s how "real” rock should sound.” Turning back toward the stage, Regina smiled, “It seems he’s not the only one who likes that music.” Snow shook her head, “Apparently not. Look at them.” A few more songs and then they announced the final song of the night and segued into a surprisingly decent rendition of The Backstreet Boy’s ‘I Want It That Way’ while the crowd raised their hands holding lighters aloft and swayed back and forth in time with the music. Once the song was over, the men played to the audience with bow after bow and the noise overwhelmed the room causing the table to shake. Emma clutched the edges of the table and looked around wildly for some way to stop the motion, but the shaking kept on. "Mom. Mom, wake up,” Henry called to her, gently shaking her shoulder. Emma roused herself enough to open her eyes to see Henry leaning over her and a concerned look on Killian’s face who was standing close behind. Looking down she realized she was clutching a pillow from the sofa so tightly that her fingers were aching. Pushing herself into a sitting position, she looked up at her boys, “What about the curse? Was it broken?” They exchanged confused looks before Killian spoke up, “There’s no curse love. You were dreaming.” Emma pushed her hair back from her face, “Dreaming? But it felt so real.”
“Come love, let me draw you a nice bath while Henry and I prepare your Valentine’s Day dinner.” Emma took the hand he was holding out to her and let him pull her up and they walked slowly up the stairs. As he was preparing the water, adding bubbles, laying out towels and bringing her a big fluffy robe, she watched. Once the bath was ready, he leaned in for a quick kiss, “Can you take it from here Swan, or do you require my expertise?” Emma frowned, “Your expertise?” “Aye love. My expertise at getting you out of your clothing.” She put her hand on his chest, “Slow down. Impressionable boy downstairs.” Killian took a deep breath, “Maybe later then.” He winked at her as he turned to leave the small room.
“Killian, can I ask you a question?” “Anything Swan, you should know that.” “Do you sing?” He raised his brows curious about the origination of the question, “I’ve been known to sing a seafaring song or two. Why the Inquiry?” “Oh it’s nothing,” she responded, a slight frown between her brows. “Do you know the song ’I Want It That Way.’ "And what way would that be Swan?” He inquired of her. “No, no. It’s not what I want, it’s a song that plays on Henry’s radio station he always has blaring.” “Oh well Swan, you know what I think of that music box. You should get in your bath before the bubbles pop. I’ll see you downstairs when you are done.” Emma shooed him out the door, undressed and sunk under the warm water. Shaking her head at the craziest dreams she could come up with she leaned back and let her thoughts drift. Later as the bubbles started to pop and she heard music drifting up the stairs, she climbed out, dried off and wrapped herself in the fluffy warm robe that Killian had left behind. As she opened the door, her feet took flight, when the song that started playing happened to be “Born in the USA.”
~fin
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Oh my god
There’s two of you ;)
Captain Swan featured in Variety’s Valentine’s Day 30 Relationships We Love - February 14, 2018
CS Valentine's One-shots: Day Five
Prompt: Valentine’s proposal, or in this case, a proposal followed by a Valentine’s wedding
I was having trouble with my muse for the last few prompts. Then I remembered that in my MC God Bless the Broken Road, I mentioned in the epilogue that Emma and Killian were married by the following Valentine’s Day. I don’t know if this breaks the “rules” or not, but I couldn’t help doing a one shot of those deleted scenes. It ended up longer and a whole lot angstier than I intended, and I’m also not sure I succeeded in making it stand alone. *Warning: Shameless self-promotion ahead* Therefore, here are links to the other stuff in this verse if you are interested:
MC God Bless the Broken Road: https://archiveofourown.org/works/8072611/chapters/18497593
Series Musings of Pastor’s Kid Killian Jones: https://archiveofourown.org/series/629957
Popcorn with Milk Duds (one-shot): https://archiveofourown.org/works/11792322
Held (one-shot): https://archiveofourown.org/works/12654315
I was also inspired by the story I have heard my entire life of how my dad proposed to my mom J
Rated T for themes. Trigger warnings: brief mentions of drug abuse, brief mentions of teen pregnancy, religious themes
Always and Forever
Emma stood in front of her mirror, noting the blush rising to her cheeks as she fastened the clasp of the necklace Killian had given her for Valentine’s Day years ago. Her fingers trembled slightly, and she kept gnawing at her lower lip. It was completely and utterly ridiculous for her to be this nervous. Sure, they were calling this their “first” date, but it was far from a normal one.
“Mommy, stop staring at yourself! You look perfect already!” Her six year old cried out behind her. His voice was equal parts whiny, breathless, and excited. She laughed at his reflection in the mirror. He was jumping on her bed, alternately flinging his entire body down on the mattress then bouncing to his feet again. Luke was a mass of constant motion with a perpetual sheen of sweat and constantly mussed hair.
And Luke was the reason it was ridiculous to call this a first date. Since he inherited that dark, thick mass of messy hair as well as his bright blue eyes from his father.
“Do you think Daddy will bring you flowers? Will he take you to a ball?”
Emma narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “A ball? Where do you think we live, the Enchanted Forest or something?” Then she reached down and tickled her son – their son – until he was squealing with laughter. Henry then came bursting in, yelling, “Me too, me too!” as he tugged on Emma’s skirt. She complied by tossing the three year old on the bed, tickling both boys anew until they were both breathlessly begging her to stop.
Just as Emma let them go, she heard the doorbell ring. Both boys yelled, “Grandma!” and raced down the hall. Emma glanced through the peep hole to check that it was indeed Elizabeth Jones, then let Luke pull the door open. Both boys showered her with hugs and kisses. It warmed Emma’s heart to see how the entire Jones family treated Henry with the same love and affection as they did Luke.
Elizabeth rose from greeting the boys and gave Emma a hug of her own. “Oh, Emma,” she enthused, still grasping her by both arms. You look stunning.”
“Thank you,” Emma told her as she shook out the skirt. The top of the dress was simple; black, sleeveless, and form-fitting with a scooped neckline. But the A-line skirt had an overlay with gold embroidery. It was simple, yet elegant, and accentuated Emma’s figure without being overtly sexy. Elsa, who had gone shopping with her, had gasped that it fit her personality perfectly, and Emma had to agree. It was even comfortable, believe it or not. “Killian said he was taking me somewhere that had to do with Christmas, and gold and black works, right?”
“Absolutely,” Elizabeth agreed with a smile, “red is so overdone at the holidays. Of course, I think Killian would love you even in a paper sack.”
Emma brushed off the compliment, that infernal blush rising to her cheeks again, and hurried into the kitchen to show Elizabeth the leftovers for dinner. She found herself rambling on about bed time, then trailed off when she realized that Elizabeth had been taking care of Luke since he was born. But the woman just nodded and smiled. Then the doorbell rang again.
“Daddy!” Luke screamed at the top of his lungs as he darted for the door.
Elizabeth caught him in a bear hug from behind. “No, no, little man. Let your Mommy and Daddy say hello to each other.”
“Why? They say hello all the time.”
Emma shook her head and laughed at her son’s answer, then took a deep breath and pulled the door open. She blinked as she took Killian in with a heated and appreciative gaze. Would his handsome looks ever cease to take her breath away?
“Swan,” he breathed out with an equally appreciative look on his face, “you are absolutely exquisite.”
Emma ducked her head and blushed. Then she ran her gaze up and down his frame before giving him a crooked smile, “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
The smile that lit his face dimpled his cheeks and crinkled his eyes. His tailored suit with a shirt of deep blue and a black tie made her relieved that she had picked a fancier dress. They just stood there for a moment staring at each other as if the clock had rewound about seven years until Luke came barreling past Emma to collide with his father’s waist.
Killian had to greet both boys and attempt to explain for the hundredth time to Henry why all four of them couldn’t go before he and Emma managed to get out the door.
“Maybe I should have picked you up,” Emma quipped as Killian helped her into the passenger’s side of his truck.
“Nonsense,” Killian argued back, “no gentleman would agree to that arrangement.”
Emma rolled her eyes at that. “So, where are you taking me?”
“Well,” Killian told her, shifting slightly in his seat as he pulled out of Emma’s apartment complex, “we’re driving into Portland to see a production of The Nutcracker.” He scratched behind his ear as he glanced at her nervously. “Is – is that okay?”
“Okay?” Emma replied hoarsely, tears filling her eyes. “It’s way more than okay. I haven’t been since Ingrid passed.”
He let out a deep sigh of relief. “That’s what I thought.” He then lifted her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss there. It was so incredibly thoughtful, and so like him to remember. Emma had always dreamed of going to see the ballet when she was a little girl, so when Ingrid had adopted her, she had made a point to take her every Christmas. Even Killian had tagged along that year they were dating.
Killian didn’t release her hand. At first. But the longer he clasped her hand, the more jittery he became. She was used to him rubbing his thumb across her knuckles, but tonight his hand seemed to be going into spasms. And either Emma was imagining it, or his hand was getting clammy. Emma finally slipped her hand free and set it in her lap. She eyed Killian curiously. Had he gotten sick but didn’t want to cancel their date?
“Are you okay?”
Killian gave a nervous chuckle, “Sure, I’m fine.”
Emma narrowed her eyes at him, not completely buying it, but she said nothing further. She put on a bright smile and started telling him about Luke and Henry’s antics at the park today, but when it dragged on into a one-sided conversation, she petered out. She gnawed on her lower lip as she gazed out the window at the fresh blanket of snow on the ground. They normally had no problem talking for hours over nothing at all, but tonight, on their first official date now that they were a couple again, he was strangely silent.
But then they arrived at the theater, and he flashed her that gorgeous smile of his. He gallantly insisted on opening her door, then took her arm like he truly was escorting her to a ball. She thought of Luke’s childish questions and couldn’t help smiling. Once inside, they were preoccupied with finding their seats, and Emma was in awe as she always was of the theater itself. The silence between them now was a comfortable thing, and as the lights dimmed, Emma slipped her arm through Killian’s and squeezed it. He smiled adoringly at her, and she rested her head on his shoulder as the lights came up on Clara, Drosselmeyer, and the enormous Christmas tree.
As the show went on, however, Emma became concerned again. Killian pulled away from her to lean forward, resting his chin on his fist. Then his legs were bouncing. But the thing that concerned Emma most was when she pulled her eyes away from Grandmother Ginger to see him kneading his left knee. She swallowed down her concern and concentrated on the remainder of the ballet.
Afterwards, Killian took her to a fancy Italian restaurant down the street from the theater. It was a gorgeous place, intimate, with fancy tablecloths and flickering candlelight. But Killian still didn’t seem like himself. Their conversation kept stalling, and he just couldn’t seem to stop fidgeting. Emma could only nibble at her chicken parmesan and sip at her wine because of the dry lump in her throat.
On the drive back to Storybrooke, Killian asked her about work, and Emma gladly talked on and on about every little thing from Aurora’s new pregnancy to the new Doc McStuffins stickers that all the kids seemed to love. She actually went on a five minute tangent about how the children’s show was doing wonders to help her calm kids down when they were getting an exam. Anything to keep them from lapsing into silence again.
“They should have made a kids show about a doctor for toys ages ago,” Emma’s chuckle sounded strained, even to her own ears. She sighed with relief when the town sign came into view.
For the first time since Portland, Killian turned to her with a tender smile. “Want to go for a walk along the beach?”
“Are you serious?”
Killian’s face fell, and a look of confusion darted across his eyes. Emma hadn’t meant her words to come out so clipped and harsh, but what did he expect? It had been one of the most awkward dates in her entire life. With someone she thought she knew better than anyone in the world.
“Why wouldn’t I be serious?”
Emma barked out a sarcastic laugh. “You can’t be that dense, Killian. You’ve acted the entire night like you’d rather be somewhere else, and now you want to take a romantic stroll along the beach?”
Killian blinked rapidly. “Emma, you don’t understand . . . I never meant . . . that is to say . . . “
He had turned the deepest shade of red Emma had ever seen, and he was rubbing at that knee of his again. The way he’d been acting tonight, you would think . . . Emma gasped. When she spoke, she tempered her words carefully, “You’re not taking the pills again, are you?”
“What!” Killian yelled. “How could you think that?”
“Then answer the question!”
“Of course I’m not! You have that little faith in me?” He had gotten so upset, he had pulled the car over. He shifted in his seat to face her, rubbing the back of his neck agitatedly.
“What am I supposed to think? You’re jittery, your palms are clammy,” Emma counted off the symptoms on her fingers, “you’re unable to focus, I mean, what else could it be?”
The color had drained from Killian’s face as she spoke, and suddenly another possibility washed over her like ice cold water.
“Or . . . “ she swallowed, her eyes filling up with tears. She shook her head briefly, and cut the tears off. “Take me home, Killian,” she whispered.
“Emma, no, please,” Killian protested, reaching for her. Emma shook off his hand.
“So can you explain why you’re acting so uncomfortable tonight?” Emma sat there with her arms crossed, watching him as he stared out the windshield, his hands squeezing the steering wheel, and his jaw clenching.
“No,” he finally whispered, defeated, “I guess I can’t.”
Wordlessly, he put the truck back in drive and headed back to her apartment complex. The silence between them now was a painful, tangible thing. When he parked right outside her unit, Emma shifted in her seat, clutching the pendant of her necklace in her fist to give her courage.
“Killian, remember how you told me that you wouldn’t push me for more than I was ready for in this relationship?” At his curious nod, she continued, “Well, that’s true the other way around. I don’t want you forcing this because . . . I don’t know, because you think I need you or because Luke wants it so badly. If the spark just isn’t there anymore, then –“
“Emma,” he said, cutting her off, “check the glove compartment.”
He said it with almost resignation, but when she glanced at him, he had a tiny, wry smile on his face. He gestured with his hand. “Go on, just humor me. Open it.”
Emma took a deep breath as she reached for the glove compartment. She couldn’t help flashing back to Thanksgiving seven years ago when she opened Killian’s glove compartment and an almost empty bottle of pain pills fell into her palm. But this time, she saw a small velvet jewelry box. Her mouth fell open as she cut her gaze back to Killian. His grin had widened and he gave a rueful shrug. With trembling fingers, Emma pulled out the box and opened it. Inside glittered an engagement ring. A simple, round diamond with two other tiny round diamonds set on either side of it. Emma blinked, her mind reeling.
“This,” she whispered, “is why you were so nervous tonight?”
“Aye.” There was a long pause before he continued. “I know it sounds crazy, since this is only our first date since we got back together. But, Emma, that ring is honestly seven years overdue. When I bought you that necklace, I looked at rings first. I almost bought one. Maybe I should have.”
Emma placed a hand gently on his arm. “No, Killian. We weren’t ready then.”
He pulled in a deep, shuddering breath and nodded. “But I’m ready now, Emma. I’ve wanted this for years, if I’m being completely honest. And like I said, I know it might seem fast, but think about it. We’ve actually been dating for eight months anyway and were just in denial about it.”
Emma was able to chuckle at that. “You sound like Mary Margaret.”
Killian managed a nervous laugh himself and then shrugged. “Well, she was right.” He ran his tongue nervously along his bottom lip as he shifted closer to her and clasped both her hands in his. She could tell he was completely earnest and sincere right now, but all she wanted to do was grab him and kiss him.
“So, Emma, will you marry me?”
That was it. She couldn’t hold the tears back any longer. They poured down her cheeks, and he grasped her face tenderly, wiping them away as they fell. She managed to nod, and then finally to speak. “Yes, yes, of course I will.”
He kissed her then, and her tears turned to deliriously happy smiles. He managed to slip the ring on her finger, despite the way she kept peppering his face with kisses. Then their lips met again, with passion this time, and it was all Emma could do to pull herself away. She laughed at Killian’s whimper of protest, but grasped his face and rubbed his nose with hers.
“Sorry, but we’ve got a kid inside who is going to flip out over this news.”
Killian wholeheartedly agreed. They hurried inside to find both Luke and Henry asleep on either side of Killian’s mother. She looked up at them sheepishly, knowing she had been caught spoiling them, but Emma cut off her apologies by holding out her hand to show off the ring. Killian’s mother leapt from the couch, pulling Emma immediately into a tight hug. When she pulled away, tears shown in her eyes, and she held both hands up to her mouth. When she finally spoke, her words shocked Emma.
“It’s about bloody time.”
Killian laughed and leaned down to brush a kiss to his mother’s cheek. Emma decided to refrain from reminding her how she felt about the two of them getting married seven years ago.
“Mom, we want to go ahead and tell Luke,” Killian whispered.
Elizabeth nodded her head in understanding, quickly gathered her things, and hurried out. Emma and Killian then knelt beside the couch and began gently shaking their son. Finally, his eyes blinked open and he frowned at the sight of the two of them.
“Waz – goin on,” he muttered as he rubbed at his eyes.
“Look what Daddy got Mommy,” Emma told him, showing him the ring on her finger. Luke furrowed his brow and rubbed at his hair as he stared at it.
“That’s nice,” he finally muttered, collapsing back down on the couch, his eyes falling shut.
Killian laughed as he shook the boy again. When Luke finally opened his eyes again, Killian explained, “We’re getting married, little lad. Mommy and Daddy are getting married.”
Luke sat bolt upright at those words, his eyes growing as wide as saucers. “Seriously?” he asked. Emma and Killian nodded. “Yes!” Luke cheered as he leapt from the couch. “This. Is. Awesome! Are we all moving into Daddy’s apartment? Or will we get a house? Do I need to pack right now? Will Henry call you Daddy now too? Awesome, awesome, awesome!”
Emma and Killian laughed as they watched Luke run circles around the room. Getting him back to bed proved to be impossible, so Emma and Killian both changed out of their fancy clothes and cuddled up with both boys on the couch to watch Star Wars: A New Hope. Amazingly, Henry only woke up long enough to mutter unintelligibly and then curl into a ball on Killian’s lap.
They woke up like that the next morning, Emma in the crook of Killian’s arm with Luke’s head in her lap, and Henry splayed across Killian’s chest.
Her engagement ring sparkled in the light of dawn.
**********************************************************
Eight weeks later, Emma is standing in front of the sanctuary doors of Storybrooke Fellowship, dressed in a strapless, white lace gown. Her hair is in a low bun, a simple veil tucked into it. Luke is clutching her right arm, bounding on his heels, and her left hand clutches her simple bouquet of forget-me-nots. In some ways, it’s hard to believe they pulled this off in only eight weeks.
In other ways, it had been the longest eight weeks of her life.
Of course, when your fiancée, his brother, and your two cousins run a catering and event business, pulling off a last minute wedding is nothing. And Killian’s dad being a pastor meant they had no trouble reserving the church – for free. On Valentine’s Day.
Yes, it is Valentine’s Day. If someone had told Emma even a year ago that she would be marrying Killian today, she would have laughed. She laughs now, thinking about her phone call to Killian a year ago exactly and how she mistakenly thought he was dating Ariel.
“What’s so funny, Mommy?” Luke asks.
Emma shakes her head, “Nothing kid, I’m just happy, that’s all.”
Luke grins broadly, revealing the two front baby teeth he recently lost. “Me too, Mommy.”
The first notes of the song “God Bless the Broken Road” by Rascall Flatts begins to play from inside the sanctuary. It’s their cue. With a deep breath, Emma pulls the doors open and steps inside. As she walks down the aisle, every word of the song rings true for the journey that brought them here. She is torn between locking her eyes with Killian’s at the end of the aisle to looking down at their son, who looks happier than she’s ever seen him. As for Killian, his grin threatens to split his face, and his eyes are filled with so much tender awe, that it almost makes her start crying already.
The song ends as they reach the front, and she can’t tear her eyes from Killian’s. David, who is officiating, opens by asking, “Who gives this woman to be wed to this man?”
“I do!” Luke shouts enthusiastically, shoving his hand up in the air. Everyone chuckles at his exuberance. Luke then turns to point to Henry. The three year old was the ring-bearer and he’s currently attempting to share Elizabeth Jones’s lap with the flower girl, Liam and Elsa’s little girl Haley. “And my brother, too. We’re both excited for Mommy and Daddy to get married.”
The congregation laughs again, especially when Luke fist pumps his father before going to join the rest of the family on the front row. Once it has died down, David glances at the couple mischievously before beginning the homily.
“Well, I think all of us here at Storybrooke Fellowship would agree on one thing: It’s about time!” David’s opening is greeted not only with laughter, but even a few amens. Behind Killian, Liam shoves him teasingly in the shoulder. Emma glances back to see Mary Margaret giving her a smug look.
“I also think,” David continues, “that we all got a little tired of watching these two date while swearing they weren’t.”
Killian rolls his eyes at David, but his smile shows that the ribbing doesn’t really bother him. As for Emma, she can’t seem to wipe the stupid smile off her face. David wraps up his short message, then tells Killian to share his vows. Emma turns and gives her bouquet to Mary Margaret and almost loses it when she sees Elsa and Anna wiping at their tears. She takes a deep breath as she turns to Killian and takes his hands in hers. She anchors herself in his bright blue eyes.
“First, Emma,” he begins, “I have to say that I don’t deserve you –“
“Stop,” Emma breaks him off with a hand to his lips. She blushes as she glances at David. “Sorry, I just can’t let him say that.” She looks back at her groom. “Killian Jones, you are a good man, and I am honored to become your wife.”
Killian smiles as her fingers slip from his lips, and he quirks a brow at her. “I thought I was the one saying my vows right now.”
Emma ducks her head, blushing slightly as the congregation laughs once more. Kilian releases one of her hands and grasps her chin gently. He tilts her face to look at him, and he says his vows while his thumb ghosts along her jaw.
“Emma, I think we have an advantage over some newlyweds. We already know that neither of us is perfect. And we understand that we don’t have to be. We choose to see the best in each other, and I vow to keep doing that every day for the rest of my life. It always amazes me how you can’t see how big your heart is. The way you forgive. The way you never give up on people. And I vow today to make it my job to protect your heart. With my words and my deeds. Always and forever.”
Emma can hear several people sniffling in the audience when Killian finishes, but for some reason a calm has settled over her. Killian’s gaze is like a peaceful place in the storm. She grasps the hand that still cups her cheek and kisses it before clutching both his hands firmly in hers.
“Killian, if I’m being honest, I’ve longed for this day since I was 19 years old. Then I thought I had to put that dream aside. But look what God has done. Using our son to bring us back together.” Her voice falters for a moment, her tears threatening to spill over. Killian gives her a tiny nod of encouragement. “And so I choose today to look forward, not behind. When we were young, we were lovers. Now we’re best friends. And today my vow is to take it one step further: to be your soul mate. Your partner in all things. Always and forever.”
Her tears are slipping down her cheeks now, but she doesn’t care. Killian reaches out and catches one with his thumb. The rest of the service goes by in a blur, from the exchanging of rings to Elsa and Anna’s duet. Then David is giving them a knowing grin.
“I am blessed and honored, in front of all these witnesses, to now pronounce you husband and wife. What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”
There is a long pause, and finally they both glance curiously at David. For Killian, it’s more of a glare.
“Oh, did I forget something?” David asks, feigning ignorance. Once he’s gotten sufficient laughter from the crowd, he smiles and says, “That’s right. I forgot. You may kiss the bride!”
Emma surprises Killian by pouncing first, grabbing him by the lapels of his tux and hauling him in. He catches up quickly, though, kissing her back with fervor that elicits hoots from the crowd. He then dips her dramatically. He holds her close as he sets her back on her feet, and whispers for only Emma to hear.
“What was that you said years ago about not feeling comfortable making out in church?”
Emma leans back to see the cocky, slightly rebellious smirk of a smart-ass pastor’s kid. She then pulls in close and whispers back, “You’re my husband now, making out with you is considered holy.”
Killian waggles his eyebrows. “As a PK, I can confirm that your opinion is scripturally and theologically sound.”
Emma rolls her eyes and kisses him again for good measure, thrilling slightly at the teasing reprimands from the rest of the family. They’ll just have to get used to it. Because always and forever is a very long time.
OnceABC’s official post on Hook Valentine post (2016)
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