Epilogue
She had been a little surprised when he had insisted they write they own vows. As old-fashioned as the man was, he thought pre-written, overused declarations of love were the equivalent of the greeting cards he had been introduced to last christmas. Perhaps it was just the romantic in him.
As much her nerves had jolted at the thought of coming up with the right words, the perfect way to describe everything he meant to her, she had agreed. Now, as she stood just behind the closed doors of the hangar, the one that led straight towards the dock where the Jolly Roger waited, her fist crumpled the small piece of paper that held her words as her heart tried to leap out of her chest.
"You ready?" David asked, holding his elbow out to her. She slipped the paper into her other hand, hiding it from view behind her small bouquet of middlemist flowers.
The moment washed over her, overwhelming her senses. She had never thought she'd be here, about to marry the person she'd call the love of her life, her True Love-capitals and all. Not only that, but she would for sure have questioned someone's sanity if they ever told her she'd meet and fall for the man of the moniker Captain Hook. Such was everything in her world, her family, and her home of Storybrooke, Maine.
It was a lot better to not think about an outsider's perspective. This world was hers and she was happy.
Blissfully happy.
"Ready," she told her father. She hooked her arm through his and grasped his forearm gently as a couple of the dwarves slid open the doors.
It was a picture-perfect day in Storybrooke. It was the middle of May, and the sun casted golden rays on every surface. Its light beautifully reflected off the calm waters before them.
Her nerves were going haywire in the best possible way. Excitement exuded from her core, almost pushing her to run down the walkway into his arms. It must've shown because she felt her dad pat her hand on his arm as if to say savor it.
Her eyes watched her heeled feet make footprints in the satin strip of runway that led straight to him. She wasn't nervous. No, she was elated, awed, proud. Proud of herself for finally reaching this point in her life. Proud of him for the same reason.
They were such kindred spirits, them. They understood each other in a way words would never be able to explain, their lives two pieces of the same puzzle. From the moment they met, the shattered parts of their souls started to seal together. Each wanted to be what the other deserved and in that they had found themselves. A gift neither of them ever thought they'd receive.
When they reached the start of the seats, cueing the relatively small amount of guests to stand up and face her, she let her eyes follow the walkway, her head slowly lifting up when they recognized a pair of black boots. They were freshly shined, she noticed. He had kept his attire a surprise to her and her heart jumped in anticipation. She gazed up his body and her jaw went slack.
The view was nothing in comparison to him.
She wasn't sure what she had expected, but it wasn't this. Maybe his Captain's attire with a new waistcoat, maybe a dress coat like the one he donned as Prince Charles. Instead, he wore a perfectly tailored black suit. Her eyes roamed up the black buttons sewn with red stitch, complimenting the scarlet tie tucked into the cotton waistcoat tastefully. The faded swirls patterned on the tie matched the lace ones on her dress and she wondered if Regina had had a part in this. The final detail was the earring on his right ear, the simple silver stud.
When her gaze locked with his, her breath left her. The glacier blue of his eyes glimmered under the shine of the sun, making them pop. He had been keeping his hair longer in the front ever since she admitted to loving running her hands through it, but it was nicely parted to the side today. He had trimmed his hair just a week ago but already she saw the tips were curling under his ears at the nape of his neck.
The radiance of his smile made his eyes crinkle more than his lips and it made her melt to see him so happy. She had been so focused on him she hadn't noticed her father's hand had moved to her back as he pushed her forward slightly. He kissed her cheek and whispered he loved her before letting her go. Her eyes went to Henry standing beside Killian as his best man, and pulled him into a quick hug as Killian reached out to shake David's hand, the two men sharing a nod.
Sidestepping to the other side, she embraced her mother tightly. "Thanks, Mom. Everything is perfect," she whispered in her ear as she handed her the bouquet to hold. There had been no other choice for her Maid of Honor. Even if it was because she knew she would never hear the end of it from her mother if she hadn't.
Two more steps and she was in front of him. "Killian, you look…" Amazing? Handsome? Dashing? Perfect?
"Believe me, Swan, no one is looking at me."
"I am," she argued, smirking lightly.
His grin widened, his tongue sweeping the inside of his lip flirtatiously. Always the tease. Even on their wedding day.
"I'm happy you like it, love," he told her, his smile quickly softening. His tone told her he had been nervous about it. She would have to show him later just how much she indeed loved it.
"May I have a moment?" Killian asked Dr. Hopper, who nodded and stepped back.
He closed the small distance between them, holding her hips lightly as he leaned in so his mouth was at her ear. Her body shivered out of habit when his breath hit her skin, his lips just brushing her ear. "I wish to tell you…" She heard him swallow, his next words sated with emotion. "…how utterly stunning you look, Emma." She self-consciously glanced down at the dress Regina had helped her cook up. Being able to produce whatever you wanted by magic had its perks. It was simple yet elegant; a white gown that hugged her curves and stopped just above the floor with a small train at the back. Swirls of lace winded up and around until they reached her capped sleeves. Her hair cascaded down in waves, caressing her shoulders.
He had told her such so many times, but in that moment, he made her feel as though she really was the most beautiful woman in the world. He pressed a chaste kiss to her flushed cheek before pulling back to stand in front of her again.
Jiminy returned to his place beside them.
When her hand took his, she gasped when the feeling of cold metal didn't embrace her fingers. "Where are your rings?" she quickly whispered, unable to hide her surprise. Lord what else was this man gonna awe her with today?
He brought her hand to his lips, smiling but not answering her question. His right hand held hers as his hook caught her other palm. Her fingers wrapped around it tightly.
Finally, he answered. "Darling, the only ring I'm concerned with now is the one you're about to put on me."
Tears pricked at her eyes at the enormity of his statement. He was ready in the same way she was ready for this moment; ready to let go of his demons, his past, and his choices. He didn't need any more reminders after today. Today gave him the ultimate expression of her love for him, the ultimate wipe of his sins.
The road had not been easy. The past five months alone had tested their love and their commitment to each other more than any other time in their relationship.
They'd had their good days. They'd be on their couch watching something Henry had picked on Netflix, a bowl of popcorn being passed around. Killian's arm would be around her shoulders, tucking her into his side. One night, when a movie ended and Henry had fallen asleep in the chair adjacent to them, Killian had gotten up to scoop her son into his arms and brought him upstairs to the bedroom Henry had decorated to be his own and she didn't think she had ever loved him more than when she saw him care for her son.
Or when they were wrapped in each other's arms in bed after making love, soaking up every detail of the other as they talked. Just talked. He told her stories of the many centuries he'd lived, she told him about her foster families and the places she grew up. Tales that encompassed good and bad but were no less important, as they had led them to not only the people they'd become, but to each other as well.
Other nights were awful.
The first time she'd had a nightmare, she woke with her body coated in a cold sweat and her muscles shaking. She hadn't known she was screaming until his arms wrapped around her. She didn't want his comfort. She thrashed in his embrace, yelling at him that she had made the wrong choice, she should've let him go the first time, how could she have been so goddamn selfish. He held her until her arms went still and snaked around him. She didn't let go the rest of the night.
His, despite his promise, were kept hidden from her for a while. When she awoke one night to an empty bed, she found him on the deck at the front corner of the house, flask in his hand. She asked how many he'd had and he told her he'd lost count. He braced for her anger but she just took a swig from his flask and mirrored his stance leaning against the railing. After a moment she took his hand and they watched the sunrise together.
Sometimes the night would end in distraction, with one of them coaxing the other to their bed and allowing their lips to erase the pain. Some nights they'd handle it separately, their hearts too exhausted to say I'm sorry again, leaving it to hang on the edge of their lips until it dried out. And sometimes, as they lay in bed, one would slip their hand in between them and wait for the other to need it.
When the wounds really began to surface was when her fears started creeping in again. The Dark One had made attempts to once again curse the town line. It was just another ridiculous display of control, but it had left Killian in a rage. I should have killed him the second I got back, he'd said. Are we just going to let him run the rest of our lives in this town? This has to end. When he went to grab his cutlass from its place by the side door, she'd lost it. She shouted at him for not thinking of her, did you forget we share a heart Killian? He'd stopped in his tracks. After everything, she'd said, you'd still recklessly threaten your life when you're supposed to never leave. You're supposed to survive. Why hadn't you survived, the moment I finally believed that you would never leave and you die, Killian, she screamed at him, her anger reaching its peak and spilling over, staining everything they had worked through. They'd stared at each other, their eyes speaking for them as the tears burned their cheeks. The reality of their respective brokenness had hung in the air like thick smoke.
She'd started to crave the fights that were normal. The petty ones about him moving her stuff if it was out of a place (the man was a complete neat-freak) or when they argued about whose turn it was to empty the dishwasher. Most of those ended up with them losing themselves in each other, taking the other on whatever surface was closest.
A month passed and before they knew it, Christmas and the new year were approaching. They had finally settled into the house and decided to have everyone over for dinner on Christmas Eve. As Snow and Regina were in the kitchen cooking, she leaned against the pillar by the staircase, watching Henry and Roland chase each other up the stairs. She smiled, picturing another small child with Killian's eyes and maybe her hair joining them. She hadn't noticed, but Killian had been watching her from his place in the living room.
The house held most of its size at the back. Their dining room held all of them snugly as they filed in to sit at the long wooden table they'd picked out together. Killian and Henry sat at her sides and when the consumption of alcohol had upped to three glasses an hour later, she felt Killian's hand skate up her thigh. She swatted him away but her eyes told him later, and she reveled in the new feelings of pure contentment. A glance passed between her and Regina at the table, making Emma realize how Regina probably felt as she did; in a state of awe at the amount of love around them.
Later, while the others were relaxing by the fire in the living room, Killian helped Emma with the dishes. "Happy, Swan?" he'd asked. She hadn't realized she was smiling as she handed him the last plate for him to dry.
"Very," she said, watching him drag the damp cloth across the plate with his hand, his hook keeping the plate in its place.
He slid the stack of dishes to the side to be put into the dishwasher later before snagging his hook on her belt loop, pulling her to his chest. She splayed her palms on his back, rubbing against his strong muscles. She hummed into the thermal sweater she'd bought him, a scarlet red that they both knew he looked delicious in. He brought his knuckles up to stroke down her cheek when she looked up at him. His head leaned down and she smiled into his kiss. She couldn't stop smiling and he grinned back, their teeth hitting each other's. Sloppy as it was, she thought there was no better kind of kiss.
"I was going to do this later with the rest of the gifts, but why waste a quiet moment," he said before slipping down on on knee in front of her. Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes pinching at the corners when he pulled out a small ring box from his pants pocket.
"There is nothing I'd love more than more nights like this with you and Henry, except perhaps if I had the honor of calling you my wife. I love you, Emma Swan." He opened the box to reveal what appeared to be a smaller, slimmer version of Liam's ring. The details looked intricate, but her eyes couldn't see past her oncoming tears to look at it closely.
"Will you marry me?"
She had answered yes in the best way she knew how; a kiss.
Their good days far outnumbered the bad.
And today was the best day of all.
When it came time for their vows, he stood up straighter, tightening his grip on her hand as his chest rose in a deep breath.
Emma, my love,
I saw the fire in you the moment we met. You bested me before you even knew my name. But it was when you shackled me at the top of that beanstalk that I saw a glimpse of the woman underneath that hard exterior and the look in your eyes was one I knew all too well.
You'd told me that I could be a part of something. I wanted nothing more than for that something to be you, but it wasn't until I saw how far you were willing to go for your son in Neverland that I thought it possible. I thought what an honor it would be to have love like that, not only in my life, but from you.
I felt my heart beat for the first time in centuries when you kissed me. From that moment on I knew the man I was wasn't going to win your heart, and so begun my voyage beside you, to prove to you I was worthy of your love. Whether you liked it or not.
You've changed me, Emma. And when I say that, I mean that you are the reason I decided that I could. You took a broken man and told him he didn't have to be that way anymore. You are my personal sun, having lit my path from the moment I laid eyes on you, showing me what the light could give me and what darkness could not. There are no words I could ever say that equal my gratitude to you.
It's been quite a journey, Swan. One that has tested us so many bloody times, but no monster, no demons–-not even death can break us. This next adventure with you as my wife is one I have the greatest honor to be apart of.
As I stand in front of the family you've blessed me with, with half of your own heart in my chest–my greatest gift–I wish to say that you are simply the strongest, most beautiful woman I have ever known, and I love you.
Her hand let go of his briefly to wipe the onslaught of tears trailing down her cheeks. Henry removed a tissue from the inside of his jacket and handed to her with a knowing smile. "Thanks, kid," she laughed, bringing out a chuckle in the audience.
She clutched his hand again. She found his gaze and took a deep breath. She commended herself for making the choice to give Henry her nearly shredded piece of paper when she'd hugged him earlier. She found the words slipped easily from her lips as she began her own vows.
Killian,
You know words don't come easily to me, especially ones that mean so much. This list is endless, but I picked some reasons why I love you that I have never told you.
I love you because you look at me and see Emma the woman, not the Emma the savior. You lift the burdens I sometimes don't even realize I'm carrying and that means everything to me.
I love you for insisting on sleeping on the right side of the bed so your hand can hold mine at night.
I love that you still call me Swan, because it is a reminder that you are my best friend, and have been on my side from the beginning.
As she recalled her memorized words, the next declaration had her forcing down a lump in her throat, though that didn't stop her voice from cracking or more tears from escaping.
I love you for becoming a father to my son and loving him as if he were your own.
I used to hate that you knew my thoughts, my feelings, just by looking at me. God, it irritated me to no end. But now…it's actually one of the things I love most about you. You challenged me in all the ways I needed to be challenged. You broke every wall I ever put up, every piece of my heart I had blocked out.
Thank you for believing in me to the point I believed in myself.
You've opened my heart in a way I never thought possible. If anything, you've shown me that nothing is impossible when someone loves you as much as I love you, Killian Jones. I will follow you anywhere.
I love you.
The toes of his boots tipped forward; he looked like all he wanted to do was rush forward and kiss her senseless. She squeezed his hand and smiled at him in understanding. Soon, she told him silently.
Jiminy asked for the rings. Henry came beside Killian as her mother did the same to her. Each pulled out a black sleeve of velvet and turned it upside down, each ring falling into their outstretched palms, before stepping back.
"Please repeat after me," Jiminy instructed. "How about ladies first?" he nodded towards at Emma, smiling.
She brought Killian's hand up in between them, her other hovering with Liam's original ring. Well not completely original, she smiled to herself. Her fingers trembled as she kept her eyes on Killian's.
He had told her when she found him in the deepest parts of Hell, when she tried to shove Liam's ring back around his neck, that that ring didn't equal his life anymore. You're my life, he'd told her.
"I, Emma Swan…"
She slid the ring halfway up, stopping at his knuckle, as she began their final vow.
"This ring is the symbol of unity in which our lives are now joined. Whereever we go, we will always return to one another. This is my promise of love to you. To give the best of myself and ask no more than that in return. To share with you my time, and to bring joy, strength, and happiness to you every day of your life."
When Killian's repeated the same vow and the ring sat snug on her finger, he brought her hand to his lips, holding it as if it were the greatest treasure he'd ever laid eyes on. He was already stepping forward as Jiminy said the magic words.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss–"
His hand cupped the apple of her cheek. She reveled in the sensation of the new adornment, its metal smooth as silk as it pressed into her skin. When their gazes locked, time stopped. His brilliant blue eyes sent a flutter to her heart and butterflies to her stomach, like she was seeing him for the very first time. It was only a moment, but they stood there just looking at each other, saying everything there was to say before he leaned in to touch his lips to hers. He kept them there for a beat before retreating. Distantly, she heard the crowd clapping and cheering, but his face was less than an inch away from hers and it was all she could see. She realized the first kiss had been mostly for show when he pulled her lips back to his more fervently, snagging her body into his with his hooked arm, reminding her of the moment when he promised her he was survivor.
A cough–probably from her father–broke them apart, their grins wide and undiminishable. She was laughing and her heart felt the lightest it had ever been.
"Ladies and gentleman of Storybrooke, I present Mr. and Mrs. Jones."
Long after the guests had retreated to their chairs, having ate and danced themselves to exhaustion, the dance floor was empty except for the two of them.
For the reception, they'd chosen the open field that held such a harrowing memory for, well all of them, but particularly her and Killian, for the same reason she emptied the house. Killian had been the one to suggest it: A new memory.
Mary Margaret had outdone herself. The ceremony and reception were perfectly organized, decorated, and representing of what Emma had envisioned and more. Emma would be lying if she said she hadn't been worried about losing control over her wedding, but it was looking like her mother knew her better than she thought. Emma was a simple woman and that was reflected in every detail of the day, the subtle pink of the middlemist that was interlaced with antiqued hints of Killian's nautical past being her favorite. Her heart vibrated with a emotion she couldn't put into words as she thought about the family she come to know, and who had come to know her.
The string lights strung across the canopy above them casted a dim glow as they swayed, shrouding everything in darkness except for each other. She felt his thumb brush across her cheek, erasing the trail a single tear had left in its wake. She placed her hand atop of his to hold it against her cheek. She smiled when her finger glazed over his ring.
"So, Mrs. Jones," he murmured into her hair, the new name sending pleasant shivers down her spine. "How was your day?"
She hummed. "Pretty good actually, though I'm kind of counting down the minutes until we can leave."
He chuckled darkly into ear, catching her meaning. He hugged her tighter, rocking them to the side a bit, before guiding her chin up with his forefinger. His eyes crinkled at the corners as his gaze bored into hers like fire. She felt her heart lift up in her chest as it thrummed with such a resounding beat it made her breath catch.
His eyes bugged. "Did you feel that?" he whispered, almost not trusting his voice.
All she could do was nod. She stared up at him and marveled at the fact that this man was hers; her world, her light, and now her husband. Their connection had surpassed everything but fate long before they shared a heart, but never before had it felt so strong. She caressed his cheek, grazing his stubble with the lightest touch of her fingertips before tip-toeing up to kiss him.
"How did you know?" she asked when she pulled back.
"Know what?"
"That we-that you-" she stuttered.
"That I'd win your heart?" he guessed. How does he do that?
She smiled that smile only he brought out. "Aye."
"Oh, I didn't," he answered with a sigh, his tone honest. "You gave me quite the challenge, Swan," he teased, leaning his forehead against hers. Her hands had fallen back to wrap loosely around his neck as they continued to sway in place. He was quiet for a moment before he continued. "But I knew it'd be worth it if I did."
She smiled before leaning back slightly. He looked at her curiously as he watched her bring his hand up in between them and start to slide his ring off his finger.
She placed it gently into his open palm. "Look at it," she told him, a hidden smile trapped between her teeth.
His eyebrow shot up in question, a smirk in his eyes, but he stayed quiet. He brought it up to his eye level, twirling it until he saw it-the light hitting it just right. His lips parted instantly, his eyes softening as he looked at the ring and then back to her.
He left a breathless kiss on her lips before sighing happily, "I love you so much, Emma."
She slid the ring back onto his finger. "You have my heart," she responded simply, echoing the words now permanently etched on the inside of his ring.