one.
month nineteen. emma and killian's house, storybrooke, maine.
Emma Swan is happy.
She hurries to slide her feet into her shoes and steps quickly into the bathroom. Giving her hair a once over, she bites down on her lip.
Killian has his toothbrush in his mouth and she smiles softly, turning to him. "Okay. Gotta go, Handsome. Elsa's waiting for me."
She pushes up on her toes to kiss his cheek and he grins at her as soon as he spits out his toothpaste. "I'll see you there."
Emma smiles coyly at Killian. "I look forward to meeting you there all dressed up."
He smirks. "I could say the same for you, my dear."
She awards him one last once-over before she heads down the hall and down the stairs.
She grabs a flower from a side table and heads into the living room, where Elsa sits up at a vanity. Her younger sister, Anna, stands behind her, with a giddy smile on her lips.
"Emma, thank you so much for letting us use your house," Anna says as she brushes Elsa's hair.
"It's no problem," Emma twirls the flower between her fingers as she walks around the vanity to look at the bride-to-be, her heart full. "Well, are you excited?"
Elsa smiles wide, her eyelashes fluttering prettily against her soft pale skin. "Yes. I'm very excited. I'm just a little nervous that I'll mess up my words, but… Liam has already told me he doesn't care what I say, just that I say I do."
Anna giggles and finishes the braided crown on her sister's head. Emma moves to slide the flower from her hand into Elsa's hair and sighs.
"I feel like it was just yesterday you were watching me get married. And now I'm watching you marry my husband's brother."
Elsa laughs. "I know. It's crazy how everything works out."
Emma hears Killian come pounding down the stairs at that moment and he calls out, "I'll see you ladies at the church!"
"Bye!" they echo back just before the door closes.
Emma takes a deep breath and Elsa stands up, twirling in her wedding gown just a little. "You look beautiful, Elsa."
"Stunning," Anna agrees. "Absolutely stunning. I have never seen someone prettier!"
Elsa blushes and shakes her head. "Don't say that! You both looked so beautiful on your wedding days, too."
Emma laughs and grabs Elsa's hands. "You can have your day, too, you know. You don't always have to be so worried about everyone else's happiness."
Elsa sighs. "Okay. Fine. I'll have my day." She smiles happily. "I'm just excited to marry him."
"It'll be so nice to have another girl in the family," Emma teases, shaking their hands about.
The bride-to-be giggles and shakes her head. "I cannot wait to be sisters."
/
month nineteen. church, storybrooke, maine.
As Emma watches Killian from her place at the end of the aisle, she has a little smile on her lips she can't wipe away.
She's holding a bouquet of flowers and he's all dressed up in a suit, and it almost feels as if there isn't anyone else in the room watching them. There aren't, not really. Liam and Elsa have kept their guest list small, and have only invited a select few to the little seaside town in Maine for their special day.
Killian has a broad smile on his face, as if he's so incredibly, impossibly proud that she is his, and he bounces on the balls of his feet for a moment, wiggling his eyebrows because of it.
Liam stands beside him, his own smile pleasant. He looks to be nervous, though, and she finds it endearing, because Liam Jones is one of the most forward of gentlemen she has ever met in her life and she thinks Elsa is the only woman strong and bold enough to tame him.
When she stands at the altar beside Anna, Killian watches her. He has a wry little smile on his lips and she just shakes her head, blushing a little at the way he's eyeing her up in the middle of his older brother's wedding.
It's a beautiful ceremony. When Elsa walks the aisle, Emma watches Liam's face, and Killian gets an excited look on his, clapping his brother on the back excitedly.
Their vows are sweet and simple, just like their love, and Emma can tell that they absolutely belong together in the way they both keep smiling and blushing.
Liam holds Elsa's hands until it's time to exchange rings and her heart squeezes warmly when they say their I do's.
It's far more special than when she and Killian had their wedding and she feels a little sad about that, because now she has his ring on her finger and they haven't really started planning this exchange of new vows yet.
However, she knows they don't have to. They're already married. She wants it to be perfect and she wants it to be theirs, so when they're ready, she thinks that's when they'll do it.
/
month nineteen. the jewel of the realm, storybrooke, maine.
Elsa and Liam are both so happy as they start to sway on the deck of The Jewel. Emma clutches her hands over her heart as she watches them.
Killian's singing a song that he wrote for her, but it's still applicable as she watches the two newlyweds bask in this special moment.
She thinks back briefly onto her own wedding day, about that first dance she'd shared with Killian, and a tiny smile fills her lips, because despite her walls, he'd still managed to make her smile.
And after the first dance, the band continues to play, but Killian tucks his guitar away and hurries to join her at their table.
He kisses her behind her ear and whispers, "You are too bloody gorgeous to leave unattended."
Emma rolls her eyes and allows him to drape his arm around her while his lips press against the side of her head for a moment.
"I've got to make the first toast, but I'll be right back."
She laughs softly. "You'll be great, babe."
"I know," he whispers cheekily.
/
Killian sweeps Emma off her feet a few minutes after they're allowed to start dancing and she laughs, because he's so eager.
"I have been itching to dance with you all day, my love," he says on a grin.
Emma hums happily. They sway and he twirls with her once.
"You look really handsome today, Killian."
His smirk spreads fast. "Yeah?" He glances down at himself and then at her, curling her close to him just so he can put his lips against the shell of her ear and whisper, "And you look gorgeous."
Emma sighs. She blushes at his compliment and presses her head against his collarbone. "It's such a beautiful wedding."
"Aye," he agrees. "They did a good job planning it."
Emma takes a deep breath and releases it. "Yeah. They did."
Moving back, she smiles up at him, feeling bittersweet about it. Killian cants his head to the side, obviously sensing it. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she insists, pressing her hands against his chest. "Nothing."
He narrows his eyes at her. "Is this because we haven't planned our second wedding since I proposed?"
Emma bites on her tongue and she shrugs. "I guess, maybe."
Killian hums. "It's been seven months; I guess we're due for it."
Her shoulders fall and she gives him a hard look. "I don't want you to think I need it, Killian. It shouldn't be forced."
Her husband shakes his head. "No, love, I definitely want to do it. It's just… we've got so much going on right now."
Emma gives him another look, laughing slightly. "What? We're going to go to California for a show next month. That's all we have going on right now."
Killian sighs. He holds her hand tighter and she starts to sense something that makes her stomach twist.
He hesitates. "Well, the boys and I are thinking we should probably do more this year. We're, well, they're tired of staying nearby. I know it makes sense for us, but I think going across the map might be nice."
She sighs. "Killian, you know I'm working hard-"
"Aye, there isn't any doubt you are," he promises, shushing her. He shakes his head. "I'm just saying that because of the success of the band, it's a bit silly to limit ourselves. Our downloads are staggering and the numbers just keep getting higher."
Emma swallows, thinking of all of the people they'll have to leave behind.
They have stopped dancing and Killian tilts his head to the side. "We can talk later tonight. This isn't a place for this conversation. It's my brother's wedding. We should be having a little bit of fun, aye?"
Emma glances around her, at the other couples seemingly unaware of the tension between she and Killian, and nods. "Yeah. Okay."
/
month nineteen. emma and killian's house, storybrooke, maine.
They walk home in silence, though Killian holds her heels, and by the time they get home, Emma feels more exhaustion than anything, but she folds her arms to her chest and releases a pent up sigh.
"Okay. So you guys want to tour the United States. We're talking a tour bus going from Maine to California with two dozen stops in between." She presses her hands to her temples and starts pacing.
Her husband nods. "If that's possible. I know it's a lot to think about tonight-"
She shakes her head, dropping her hands to her thighs. "No. I think you're right. It's probably expected of you guys to go on a big tour like that. And it's my fault because I'm keeping you booked around here."
"Emma, it's not your fault. I'm not blaming you for anything. You know I love getting to have weekends at home with you."
She watches him as he crosses the room toward her. He sets her shoes down on the table and stares at them for a moment before looking to her again.
"But I think we've got to think about it because how often does a band blow up like this? How often do we have the phone ringing off the hook because people want us to sign their labels or go on television?"
His smile is boyish and excited, making her heart light, and she can't help but smile in return.
Emma walks into the kitchen, leaving him behind in the entryway. She grabs a bottle of water from the fridge and has a sip from it before she leaves, going to the stairway leading upstairs.
She turns to him in the entryway, finding that as she stares at her husband she doesn't feel tense any longer about their talk, she mostly just misses him.
Emma takes a few generous steps forward to meet him and takes his hand. "I'll work on it tomorrow, but for now… I feel like we didn't get to see each other today."
Killian smiles a little, tilting his head to the side. "Sorry about that. It's my fault for bringing it up."
Emma shakes her head. "It's okay. I just… I wish we could've danced more."
His lips curl a little more and he holds his arm outward, gesturing to their entryway. "Milady, may I have this dance?"
She can't help but laugh softly as she nods. "You may."
They begin to dance in the front entryway to their house and Killian absolutely beams at her. "On our second anniversary, we should do it."
"Do what?" Emma asks, arching her eyebrow.
He chuckles. "Our second wedding."
Her heart flutters and she grins. "Okay. That sounds good to me."
"Yeah?" he asks, continuing to smile wider than she's ever seen him smile before.
Emma hums. "Yeah."
Killian kisses her and she wraps her arms around his neck, easily falling into the feeling. There's nothing timid about them when she takes her hand to his, then gives him a tug toward the stairs.
He raises an eyebrow and then all but chases her up the stairs to their bedroom.
/
month twenty. hotel beach, southern california.
Killian watches Emma from his spot in the warm sand. He digs his toes into it and laughs when Emma jumps at the way the waves splash up against her sundress.
She laughs and pushes her big floppy hat down firmer on her head before she comes rushing back to him. She drops down onto the towel. She's wearing sunglasses and her hair is in a braid over her shoulder. Her skin is sun kissed, she is happy, and she is beautiful.
"It's just a little bit cold," she admits breathlessly.
Killian chuckles. "Well, it's just barely spring, Swan."
Emma shakes her head, pressing her chin on her knees when she draws them up against her chest. She wraps an arm around her legs and then stares out at the ocean as the waves roll in.
"This is fun," she says. "I like beach days."
Killian can't help but grin when she turns back to him. She scrunches up her nose at him when he leans in for a kiss.
It's then that he hears something, an annoying clicking, and he pulls away, furrowing his brow. He looks away from his wife and sees what it is- it's a paparazzi.
In all of his life he'd never dreamed he'd make it nearly big enough to adorn the front page of gossip magazines. He curses under his breath and shakes his head.
"What?" Emma asks, turning to look at the man with the camera. She groans. "What the hell?"
She makes to stand up, but Killian stops her, instead getting up himself. He takes a few purposeful steps toward the man and shakes his head, cupping his hands over his mouth, "Oi! Bugger off! Stay away from my wife, mate!"
The man ducks away quickly, heading back the way he'd come, and Killian watches him, his fist clenched by his side.
It doesn't take long for Emma to stand beside him. She presses her hand against his arm and he turns to her.
"Hey. It's okay. I don't care if they use my picture."
Killian snarls a little. He gives his head a swift shake. "He's going to sell it and make money off of it and I refuse to see your name slandered in any shape or form."
Emma sighs. She lifts her fingers to his hair and shakes her head. "You're too worried about me. I think I can handle my own."
He searches her face. "And what do you expect me to do, then? Just let it happen?"
She shrugs, her smile gentle. "I'm okay. I have you and we know how our story is written."
"And what about when we have children?" He asks, his voice cracking just a little at the idea. "Can I protect you then?"
Emma's mouth falls open. She looks away from him, in the direction of the man with the camera, and back again.
"You may be strong and you may be able to handle yourself," Killian says, lowering his voice, "but I just want to protect my family from bloody gossip columns and false impressions. You don't deserve that. Our future children don't deserve that."
She swallows and nods. She has tears in her eyes as she smiles just a little. "You're right. No one does."
/
month twenty. venue, southern california.
He smiles as he sings and he keeps his eyes on her for most of the show.
He sings passionately, enjoying the atmosphere he's playing in. The crowd is large, one of the largest he's ever played in front of, but the band is alive and more excited than they've been in a while. Probably, as Will had pointed out beforehand, because they're on the west coast.
Emma sways to the beat of the music and he likes to think he can hear her voice singing along with him, but it's probably because he's heard her singing to the album so much when they're at home.
She's happy tonight, her hair done up high above her head while she's dressed comfortably with a drink in her hand. She has him on his toes, trying to impress her with every bar and chord.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are thrilled to be here tonight." Killian says into the microphone. "You have been incredible." He plays a few notes as the audience screams and whistles, demanding another song, and he chuckles, meeting Emma's eyes in the front row. "This last song is for you, darling."
He winks at her as he starts to strum into it, then takes a step back to meet Robin's grin. Robin bobs his head as they play together, and then he steps forward so his lips can meet the microphone.
And it's exactly the way magic would probably feel, he thinks, because he's staring at his wife and he's surrounded by his band, and he's in a room of hundreds of people that are here to hear this very song.
The room echoes his words back to him and he feels his heart racing wildly beneath his ribcage.
This is a feeling he'll probably never, ever get used to.
/
month twenty. hotel, southern california.
"So, great news," Emma says as they gather with the guys in their hotel room immediately after the show. "We just got confirmation for the venue in Ohio."
She pulls back an excited grin as she looks up from her phone and meets all of their eyes as they seem to consider what it means.
"Does this mean…" Robin trails off, hesitant.
Emma nods excitedly. "Yeah. We're going on tour."
She starts laughing and the guys all start yelling, high-fiving each other and wrapping each other up in hugs. Killian goes for her, of course, and kisses her as if the band isn't all gathered and drowning in celebratory feeling.
He bumps her nose afterward, his smile big. "Thank you."
Emma smiles. "You're welcome."
When he pulls away, he stays by her side, his arm wrapped around her as she starts to read off the list of shows to the guys.
"So that means we're going to get on the road and stay on it for about three months. So… I'd get everything in order at home, because we're actually doing this for real. We're going across country and we're stopping a lot, but, you're not going to see Maine for a while."
The guys nod. "Well, I don't have anybody." Will says.
Emma hums skeptically. "That's not what Belle told me."
Robin, Whale, and Jefferson all gang up on Will, clapping him on the back and pretending to strangle him.
"Good God, Scarlet, if you hurt her I will take you to your grave myself." Robin says, shaking his head.
Will holds up his hands. "Listen. It isn't very serious. We just barely went on two dates. That's way different than what the good doctor's got going with Ruby."
Whale holds open his mouth and then shakes his head. "Okay. Fair."
"Yeah, when are you going to make that official, by the way?" Jefferson asks. "Because if you're not, I can think of an interested party."
Emma rolls her eyes. "Okay. Let's not argue over one of my best friends while I'm in the room. I just wanted to tell you guys the good news. We're leaving very soon. I'll email you guys the details in the morning. Get some sleep and enjoy California for one more day before we head back, okay?"
Robin smiles at her. "Thank you, Emma."
"Hey, to celebrate, we should all go to Disneyland tomorrow," Jefferson suggests.
Killian chuckles. "Well, we are here."
Emma just shakes her head and looks up at her husband. "You and I are going to bed and if you wake me up early enough I'll consider it."
He laughs. "What? You don't want to visit the Happiest Place on Earth?"
"I'm tired!" She defends herself. "Being your manager is a lot of work, you know. I have to constantly be on high alert."
"And you do a magnificent job of it," Killian says, dropping a kiss to her forehead.
"That you do!" Robin agrees animatedly. "I don't think we've ever been this organized ever before."
"Yeah," Will agrees.
"Definitely." Whale says.
Emma chuckles. "Well. Thanks, you guys. I don't know what I'm doing half the time."
"We can't tell, if that's any consolation," Jefferson tells her. "You do a great job."
Emma's cheeks are hot and she shakes her head, averting her gaze. "Go to bed! We're going to Disneyland in the morning!"
The guys all cheer, Killian included, and in no time at all, it's just she and Killian in their hotel room.
Killian goes to brush his teeth while Emma just strips out of her clothes and finds something to wear, one of Killian's big tee shirts, before she crawls into the big king bed.
She grabs her laptop from the side table and opens up her planning documents for the wedding, something Mary Margaret had suggested, and sighs as she stares at the sheer volume of it all.
Her husband peels back the covers of the bed beside her after he washes his face and kicks out of his boots and jeans, and then he sets the alarm. "What are you up to?"
"Wedding stuff," she tells him. She opens up her email and finds about a hundred messages waiting for her. It makes her sigh again.
"Ah." Killian settles his head down on his pillow and wiggles his leg until it bumps hers. "You know, we're on vacation."
Emma conceals a smile, looking down at him. "I'm never on vacation. I'm always working."
He holds her gaze as his fingers close the lid of her laptop. She tilts her head at him and gives him a warning glare.
"We're on vacation tonight and tomorrow," he says. He takes her computer and puts it back where it had been before. "And then you can work again."
She drops her shoulders and shimmies down into bed beside him, heaving a sigh as she turns to him. "Okay. Fine. Vacation."
"And we're going to Disneyland in the morning," he tells her. "And you're going to get mouse ears and we're riding every ride we set eyes on and you're going to eat obscenely unhealthy foods."
Emma hums, sliding closer to him. She puts her hand on his chest as her ear rests over his heart. "That sounds like a vacation to me."
He chuckles. "Good."
