Killian glanced around his nearly empty office. All he had to do was finish taping and addressing the boxes. Then he'd leave them with an employee to ship before heading to the airport to catch the next flight to Dublin. From there, he would board a train to Drogheda where he had grown up.
He'd be miles away from Emma, unable to see her again. Losing her hurt far more than losing his job. Which, quite frankly had come as a shock to the former workaholic.
"Mr. Smee?" said Killian stepping out of his office and heading towards a cubicle where an older man with a red tie was working. "Mr. Smee, I need you to send the boxes in my office to this address."
Mr. Smee took the slip of paper from him. "Will do, boss." Mr. Smee was suddenly distracted by something behind Killian. "Mr. Jones," he said.
"What is it?"
Mr. Smee pointed over Killian's shoulder.
Killian turned to see Emma standing in between clusters of cubicles. Like a magnet, Killian was drawn to her. "Hello, Emma."
Emma was wearing a pink dress and black cardigan, and her chest was rising and falling rapidly, as if she'd been running.
"Emma, love, why are you panting?"
"Because I've been running," said Emma.
"From Alaska? In a dress?"
"I need to talk to you," said Emma, ignoring his comment.
"I don't really have time to talk. I have to catch the next flight to Dublin."
"Killian, no," shouted Emma.
The whole office went quiet. Killian glowered at all of them, prompting them to get back to work.
"I need to say something," said Emma. "It won't take long."
"Quite passionate, Swan," he said.
"Three days ago, I didn't really want anything to do with you. I was your assistant and nothing more. Then we had our adventure up in Alaska and everything started to change. Things changed when we kissed, and when you told me about your tattoo. And when you acted like a gentleman. I didn't even mind that you checked me out when we were naked."
Everyone in the office chuckled or gasped.
"I didn't see anything," said Killian. "I wasn't just acting like a gentleman."
"You saw something," said Emma, "but I didn't realize any of this until I was standing alone at the altar, in my wedding dress without a husband. You can imagine how disappointed I was when it dawned on me that the man I love is about to be kicked out of the country. So Killian, let's get married because I would like to date you."
Killian was shaking his head. "Emma, you deserve the best, and that most certainly isn't me. You don't really want to be with me." He tried to keep his voice from shaking.
Emma took Killian's hands in hers. "Yes I do," she said, looking up at him with wide green eyes.
"Emma, there is a reason why I've been alone all this time. I don't deserve a family or love in my life. I'm better off on my own. It would be easier if I just left, and you moved on with your life. You have a wonderful family who loves you. Go back to them."
"I don't want to take the easy way out, Killian," said Emma. "Love means fighting to stay together, no matter what happens. That's what my mother always taught me."
"Emma," he breathed, leaning closer to her. Before he knew it, Emma's fingers were curling around his collar and she was kissing him like he was the only thing that mattered. His arms tightened around her as he deepened the kiss. He didn't care that he was in front of all of his former employees. It was like he and Emma were the only ones in the world.
He ran his fingers through her hair and cradled the back of her head.
Finally, the need for oxygen forced them to separate, but even then, he still leaned his forehead against hers.
"Are you going to get down on your knees this time, love?" asked Killian with a smirk.
"I'm going to take that as a yes," said Emma.
"I love you, Emma Swan."
"I love you, Killian Jones," said Emma, before leaning in to kiss him again.
"Yeah, show him who is boss, Emma," called one of her coworkers, before everyone in the office started clapping.
-/-
"So, let me see if I understand this," said Mr. Hopper. "You two are engaged again. For real this time."
"Yes," said Killian. "She couldn't resist me. I can hardly blame her."
Emma rolled her eyes. This was so not the time to be making jokes.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this process, because one wrong answer and I'm going to take you down."
"Okay," said Emma, taking Killian's hand. "We're ready."
"Let's do this," said Mr. Hopper.
-/-
"When did you two start to date?" asked Mr. Hopper.
Emma sat at the table with her hands folded. "A week ago."
"How is that going?"
"So far it's great," said Emma. "It's no fairytale, but it's still great. Thank you for asking."
-/-
"What kind of toothpaste does Emma use?"
"Cinnamon," said Killian with a smirk.
-/-
"Was it love at first sight?" asked Mr. Hopper.
Emma raised her eyebrows. "No."
-/-
"I knew he was going to be my best mate, right from the start," said David.
Mary Margaret sighed and nudged her husband.
-/-
"What side of the bed does Killian sleep on?"
"The left," said Emma.
-/-
"Look, are they soul mates? No. Will they kill each other? No" said Graham.
-/-
"Are you a good driver?"
"I'm an excellent driver. Swan said I captain quite a vessel," said Killian.
-/-
"In my mind I see Emma with a different Irishman," said Graham.
-/-
"We don't use the name Killian around Henry," said Gammy, holding the little white dog. "He still hasn't warmed up to him. Killian," she said.
The dog barked.
"Killian," she repeated.
The dog barked again.
"See, it's the damnedest thing," said Gammy.
-/-
"Is Emma a good dancer?"
Killian grinned. "Oh yes. You can tell by the way a woman drinks rum if she's a good dancer."
"How is the rum relevant to the dancing?"
"Well one might lead to the other," said Killian.
-/-
"I call her Swan because she's gorgeous," said Killian.
-/-
"When you ask about what position—" said Emma, blushing.
"Top or bottom?" Mr. Hopper clarified.
-/-
"I let the lady choose, but either way there are always bumpy seas ahead."
-/-
"Why does it matter if Killian likes beans or coconuts more?" asked Emma. "What does that have to do with our relationship?"
"Just answer the question," said Mr. Hopper.
-/-
"Who are you engaged to?"
"The lovely Emma Swan," said Killian.
-/-
"Who are you engaged to?"
"I'm engaged to Killian Jones."
-/-
"And on the wedding day, who will be standing next to you."
"Killian Jones," repeated Emma. "I'm going to marry Killian Jones."
"Not Captain Hook?" asked Mr. Hopper.
Emma scowled at him. "What is this? A game show? I'm going to marry Killian Jones."
-/-
"Is that your final answer?" asked Mr. Hopper.
"Yes," said Emma and Killian together after hours of questioning.
"And while we're at it, we're going to live Happily Ever After. Put that in your file," said Emma.