A/N: This is the last regular chapter! I'll post the epilogue in a few days, and I hope you all enjoy. Come flail with me on tumblr emmaswanchoosesyou.
November 26, 2011
Killian sighed at his computer screen. Skyping with Liam and Tink was generally a source of joy, but today...he was conflicted. Tink was smiling at him sympathetically and encouragingly, but his brother's face was fixed in a scowl.
Tink nudged Liam's shoulder as she spoke to Killian. "Well, it's good that you got to spend Thanksgiving with Emma and her family."
Liam glowered. "Where she still didn't tell them that you're together."
"She just needs time, brother. I'm not in a particular rush either."
"But your entire town knows. She has to be hiding the relationship from them very purposefully for them not to know."
"Oh, Liam, stop. If they're anywhere near as oblivious as you were when we started dating, it's no wonder they haven't noticed." Tink turned back to face computer's webcam. "Killian, I think she's good for you. You've seemed so much more settled since you went back to Maine."
"I am. I love Em…being around Emma."
Liam snorted. "You're ready to tell this woman you love her, after she's all but cut you out of her life for a year. Then she refuses to tell her brother about your relationship? Honestly, Killian, I think she's making a fool of you. She seemed relatively uninterested until you were promoted and got a hefty raise. You make a pretty good catch for an orphan girl."
Killian heard the sound of keys loudly clattering to the floor. He turned around to see Emma running away, back out the door she'd quietly entered. He had no idea how much she'd heard, but it was clearly enough to wound her and send her fleeing. "Fuck!" He slammed the laptop shut and moved to follow his girlfriend.
He saw her about half a block ahead, but she was able to move much more quickly given that she was wearing shoes appropriate for the snow and he was wearing his slippers. "Emma, wait! Please! My brother is an arse." He continued to run toward her, and gave a sigh of relief when she stopped at the corner.
Emma turned around, hands on her hips, chest heaving. Her cheeks and eyes were red with anger and hurt. She glared at him. "What, Killian? Have more to add?"
He reached toward her, sighing when she flinched away from him. "No, Emma, I don't. And Liam was completely out of line."
"He couldn't have just come up with that out of nowhere."
"Love, you missed the part where Tink spoke favorably of you. My brother is a curmudgeon. I'm so sorry."
"Did you tell him those things? About my past? Do you really think I'm that...shallow and greedy?" She wrapped her arms around herself, the tears streaming down her face at this point.
Killian's heart broke in his chest as he cursed his brother. "God, no! Emma, in no world do I think- I could never believe that of the woman I love. You're everything to me."
"Then how did he know about me being a foster child? And why would he have said that unless you complained about me?"
"I know it may come as a shock, Emma, but I have talked about you in the four years we've known each other. Liam and Tink know that you were in foster care, they know about Dave, and they even know about Ingrid and Ruth. You see, I can't seem to stop talking about you."
She eyed him warily but relaxed her shoulders. "I...it's just been a long time since anyone has used my past against me that way. And you didn't say you didn't complain."
He sighed again. "Aye, lass, I did. Please remember that I was very hurt and confused when I stayed with Liam and Tink. This was right after we…"
"But did you really think I only started talking to you again and then was interested just because you got a promotion?"
"No! My love, you are not that kind of woman. You're one of the most independent people I know, and you do such good work. You've accomplished so much. I love- I love how you always persevere and work to attain your goals. Emma, if you don't know that you're the best thing to ever happen to me, you're daft."
Emma snorted. "Calling me daft is a great way to show how you care."
"That's because you're not an idiot, darling. So I hope you do realize that it's the other thing, the one where you mean the world to me." He reached out to grasp one of her hands.
She squeezed his hand and then gasped. "Killian your hands are like ice! And you're blue around the lips. I didn't even realize you weren't wearing a jacket or anything. Let's get you back inside before you freeze to death."
Linking her arm in his, she guided him back to his house. She drew him back to the living room and pushed him onto the couch gently. "Wrap yourself up in the blanket. Do you want me to start some tea?"
"If you wish. But then will you come sit with me?"
"Sure." Emma puttered around the kitchen for a few minutes, finally emerging with two mugs of tea. She set down their drinks, and then went to retrieve the keys from where she'd abandoned them earlier. "Oh, and here's your spare key. I still had it from sneaking in yesterday morning….I kinda dropped it on the way in."
"About that - Emma, I am so sorry. That my brother was an arse, that-"
She took his hand even as she interrupted him. "Killian, it's fine. Well, not fine that he said that, but I kind of get it. Liam was being protective. The same way David is for me."
"Yes, but I still regret that you heard that. You really are the most brilliant woman I know."
"And I know you would never try to hurt me, and that you're looking out for my heart."
"Always, love." He squeezed her hand, spreading the blanket over her legs, even as he scooted closer to his girlfriend. "In the spirit of 'always', I actually wanted to give you that spare key. To keep permanently."
Emma took in the almost bashful look on his face, the red tips of his ears, the earnest look in his bluer-than-blue eyes. "Are you sure?"
"More than sure. Emma, I want you in my life...indefinitely." He pressed his forehead against hers.
The brilliance of her smile almost blinded him. She kissed him lightly and placed her palm on his cheek. "I want that too."
"I would also like for you to meet Tink officially at least. I can understand if you don't want to talk to my brother."
"Killian, I don't want to be the cause of a rift between you and your brother."
"Love...you're my family too. I know you appreciate the value of the family you choose."
"I do, but my point remains."
Killian sighed. "I imagine he'll get over it, especially after one of Tink's stern lectures."
She picked at the hem of her sweater. "Then do you think we could have a do-over tomorrow? With fewer stupid insults? And then maybe an intentional snowy excursion?"
"Swan, do you want to build a snowman?"
She flashed a grin at him. "Anyone who doesn't is heartless and unappreciative of a good snow."
He kissed her nose, then pulled away at the sound from his phone that indicated he had a text. "Aye, we shall. Especially since it seems Liam feels he owes you an apology."
Sunday morning dawned cold and blustery. That was definitely the excuse Killian and Emma gave for staying in bed until almost eleven, when hunger finally drove them out of bed. Killian pulled on a pair of sweatpants, while Emma wrapped herself in the sheet from the bed. After a lazy meal and getting more suitably dressed, they curled up next to each other on the couch while they called Liam and Tink on Skype.
Tink answered. "Hello, Killian. Emma! It's so wonderful to finally put a face to all the stories. I've been wanting to meet you for a while now. Killian has been crazy about you for ages."
"Hush, Tink. Stop filling her ears with nonsense." He jokingly covered her ears until she swatted his hands away, smiling and rolling her eyes.
"Hey, Tink. It is nice to meet you. I hope you have some good stories about this guy that you can tell me."
The man in question groaned. "I knew introducing the two of you would be a horrible mistake."
Emma and Tink smirked evilly at each other. "This is going to be excellent. I have so many embarrassing stories about young Killian. He was-"
"On that note, I'm going to go clean something while you all bond. I don't know if I can handle the humiliation of you all talking about me as I sit here." He pressed a kiss to Emma's forehead and prepared to walk away.
She reached for his hand as he stood up. "Come back in like five minutes?"
"Of course, love."
He went back to the bedroom to make the bed and put away their clothing. He'd cleared out a drawer for her on one of his days off, and he smiled as he put her clothes from the previous day inside it. Introducing Tink to Emma had been a good choice, and he was glad his brother's wife was so welcoming. He wanted to be there when Liam and Emma talked, but for now he was content to sit back here. The mild indignity of whatever stories Emma was hearing were worth her comfort.
A few minutes later, he made his way back out to the living room, where he found a laughing Emma.
"Oh my god, that's amazing. I can't wait to tease him about it- oh, hey, Killy."
He groaned as he sat down next to her again. "Tink, you were sworn to secrecy about that. No one was supposed to know."
"I just thought she should have some of the best stories. I told her my favorites."
"That's it. I've made a horrible mistake." He sighed theatrically. "Oy, put Liam on. We should embarrass him instead."
Emma linked their fingers, and he squeezed her hand gently as his brother walked into view. Tink stood, patting her husband's shoulder as she walked away for a bit.
Liam cleared his throat. "Little brother, hello. Emma - I'm so sorry for my abominable behavior. The things I said were terrible, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused you."
Emma's voice wavered a little before evening out. "I-I forgive you. I know what it is to be protective of your sibling or anyone you care about. You should have seen me around Mary Margaret when she and my brother first started dating."
"Thank you. You're very kind, and I hope we can put it behind us. I hope we'll meet in person soon. If you can convince Killian to come back here for Christmas, we'd love to have you stay as well."
Killian finally broke into the conversation. "Well, older brother, you're a bit late on that front this year. We've made plans to spend the holiday in Minnesota with Emma's mothers."
She turned and smiled brilliantly at him, emerald eyes sparkling with happiness. "Yep. David will find out about us by then, for sure. I plan on telling him soon anyway. But maybe next year we could do Christmas in London with you guys?"
Liam nodded. "Absolutely. As I said, you're welcome here any time. I know Tink would love to see you and take you to see everything while telling every embarrassing story about Killian that she knows. I may have a few myself." He winked at Emma, and Killian could only groan again.
Tink returned, and the four continued to chat for a while longer before bidding each other farewell. As they'd planned the previous day, Emma and Killian bundled up for their outdoor snowman building extravaganza. Killian quickly set to work on building the snowman. Emma set off in search of additional ornamentation for their snowy creation.
Killian was adding the torso when he felt something wet and cold hit the back of his head. He turned around to glare at Emma, where she was standing some ten feet away, laughing and holding a few more snow balls. He growled and prepared to charge her. She shrieked and started to run. She still managed to hit him a couple more times before he tackled her into a small snow bank near the corner of the yard. "I've caught you now, you devious wench."
"So you have, Captain. Whatever can I do to win my freedom? Will you accept snow angels and an unmoving target for snow balls?" She batted her eyelashes at him.
"Normally, I prefer to do other more enjoyable activities with a woman on her back, love. But in this case…" He grinned and shoved the snow he'd managed to grab hold of down her jacket. He hurried to stand and sprint away before she could retaliate.
"Killian Jones, I will end you!"
"Not if you can't catch me first!"
Emma's prior experience as a bail bondsperson stood her in good stead, and it didn't take long for her to reach him. Grabbing his scarf, she pulled him close to her. She kissed him demandingly, and any thoughts of snowy vengeance faded from his mind as he wrapped his arms around her and returned her kiss.
She broke away after a long moment. "Mmm. We should probably stop before we scandalize your neighbors."
"Probably. Though it would be fun."
"Yeah, but I feel like I should set a better example as sheriff."
"I can see the headlines now. 'Sheriff resigns amid kissing scandal'. It'll be brilliant."
She shook her head at his nonsense. "I love you." Realizing what she'd said, her eyes widened. But she made no attempt to take back her words.
Killian stared at her for a second before embracing her even more tightly. "I love you, too, Emma. So much."
She buried her face in his shoulder. "I've been wanting to tell you for a while now."
"Me too, love. Now I think we should probably tell your brother about us soon, since I want to tell everyone I know that the most amazing, beautiful woman in the world loves me."
"Do you think he'll take it okay?"
"I honestly don't care, as long as we're together."
She smiled up at him. "Then there's nothing to worry about."