Returning Home-Extra-Killian and Belle Wedding
"Mom and Dad are getting married today!" Colin burst into the Charming's house excitedly. Barely pausing to wave hello to David and Mary Margaret he raced to Kili's room.
Ruby followed the seven year old whirlwind into the house. "Thank you for taking him. There is no way we can get ready and keep him corralled." She handed Emma a small garment bag. "We can pick him up on the way to the Jolly around one thirty."
From the downstairs apartment Emma could hear the excited squeals and running around. "Has he been like this all day?"
Ruby just looked at her. "All week. I am just glad there was only a week between proposal and wedding. I don't think the town could handle much more hyper Colin. I am just glad Catie, while just as excited, is slightly calmer."
"I'll have him ready."
With a quick hug Ruby stepped back. "I will see you later."
After finally getting Colin settled on the couch next to Kili watching a Stitch movie Emma went to get dressed. She would hold off on getting Colin changed until the last possible moment. As she pulled on her dress she again contemplated just not going. Both Killian and Belle would understand. It was going to hurt seeing Killian marry someone else. Due to Kili's close friendship with Catie and Colin the group was together often and it had become easier with time to see Killian and Belle together. A small part of her still wished for what might have been if she had stayed. Which she knew was silly. Killian was with Belle and marrying her and she had even started dating, letting herself warm to the idea of finding somebody to spend her life with. So far there had not been any sparks, but she had hope that she would find someone. When she got out of the bathroom Colin had already taken his suit bag down and gotten his pants on and was working on buttoning the shirt. "Colin."
Looking up somewhat guiltily he quickly went back to his shirt. "I just can't wait for Mom and Dad to get married. Most kids aren't lucky enough to see it."
Crouching down she straightened his collar and helped him with the cufflinks. After putting the matching vest and suit jacket on he held out a tie to her. "Not a clip-on?" she asked in surprise.
Colin gave a decisive shake of his head. "Dad and Henry have real ties and cufflinks."
Trying to remember how to tie an actual tie Emma helped him with it. "Let's try to do something with that mop of hair."
He pulled away. "Dad will fix it when we get there."
The doorbell rang and Colin all but flew up the stairs. Yanking the door open he barreled into his mother, almost knocking her over. Emma quickly pulled him a step back, glad she had just washed his hands and face. "Sorry about that."
Belle just smiled softly, reaching for his hand. Her usual calm countenance was actually glowing. "I can't thank you enough for watching him and getting him dressed." With a wider smile she looked down at her eldest son. "Ready to go?"
"I'm still ring bearer, right?" he was asking as he climbed into the car.
Mary Margaret came up behind her. "Ready to go?"
She nodded. Today would truly close the door on her past. She called Kili to her. When he arrived she had to admire how handsome he looked in his gray suit pants and vest with a matching tie. Neal and Leo looked just as cute in their slacks and dress shirts. Mary Margaret was carrying little Eva Ruth in her arms. At just three months she was adorable. "Let's go."
Ready to get going already Catie tapped her foot impatiently as Aunt Regina and Aunt Ruby fussed with her mom's dress. "You look beautiful, Mommy," she said when her aunts were finally done.
Belle held her arms open and gave her a hug, Catie being very careful not to mess up the dress. "We wouldn't be here if not for you and your brother."
Catie nodded proudly. Mom and Dad were just going to do a quick ceremony on the beach with only their closest friends but she and Colin wanted an actual wedding like they saw on TV. Once Mommy and Daddy had agreed they had even been allowed to help plan. They had easily picked the Jolly Roger for the ceremony and the backyard for the party afterward. She had even got to help pick out the dress, although Mom had refused to wear white. Catie thought the pale yellow dress that reached Mommy's ankles was beautiful. Her own dress was similar in color and style but only reached just past her knees. "Is it time yet?" She could not wait to see her parents get married. She thought she and Colin were so lucky they got to see this and regretted that Liam was too young to remember this day. Most kids were not this lucky and only had pictures or videos.
"Soon," Belle told her. Looking in the mirror Belle could not believe she was getting married again. This was so different from the last time. Last time it had just been her, Rumple, her dad and Dr. Hopper present. They had left little Neal's christening celebration to be alone in the woods with no celebration afterward. This time Henry was going to marry them as ship's captain, Killian shared the title with his oldest son. Ruby and Regina were standing up with her while Robin and David did the same for Killian. Catie was to be flower girl and Colin ring bearer. The people they were closest to filled the Jolly's deck and even more of the town would be at the reception afterward.
Her mind drifted back to the night Killian had proposed. It was supposed to be their first night out together after Liam had been born. That morning however Mark had gotten a nasty bug so Granny had not been able to babysit. Since they had needed to cancel their dinner reservations they had decided on a quiet dinner together once the kids had gone to bed. During the day several former lost boys had gotten drunk (several had just turned twenty-one) and vandalized cars and property causing Killian and Robin to spend the day running around chasing them and then filling out the requisite paperwork. He had come home late and exhausted. They had ordered a pizza for Catie and Colin but the two had been unusually uncooperative. They'd had some kind of fight during the day and were alternating between sniping at or ignoring each other. By seven o'clock they had both been sent to their rooms. To make it even more stressful Liam, who was not a crier, could not be calmed. He had been crying most of the day and she had been at her wit's end. They had spent the night trading off checking on and correcting the Twins and trying to calm and comfort Liam. It had been after eleven thirty by the time they had gotten the kids to bed and undestroyed the house.
"So much for a quiet night," she had muttered as she collapsed against Killian, unable even to muster the strength to eat the pizza she had warmed for them while Killian finished straightening the family room.
Killian had managed to bring his arm around her as he stretched his legs out. "This is definitely not how I planned the night to turn out."
There was a tone to his voice that she had not been able to place. She had lifted her head to look up at him. His eyes were closed and his face sad. "Killian, what is it?"
He remained slumped. "It will wait." He started to reach into his pocket when Liam started crying. Tiredly he shoved himself to his feet, not noticing the small box that fell out of his pocket. "I will get him. Try to eat something."
Curious Belle reached to pick the box up, realizing it was a small jewelry box. Before she could reach it Colin raced to her. "Mom, Catie won't stop-"he stopped mid-word when he saw the box. "Who is the present for?"
"Present?" Catie had come flying down the stairs after her brother. "Who has presents?"
Before Belle had been able to say anything Colin had flipped the box open. "A ring, that's boring." He thrust the box at her.
Catie grabbed the box before her mother could. "That is an engagement ring," she announced. "It is pretty."
Hearing Liam's cries behind her Belle turned her head to see Killian descending the stairs, gently rocking his still crying youngest son. The look on his face was resigned as he dropped onto one knee in front of her. "This is not how I planned to do this. I love you, Belle. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He smiled at her.
Belle looked away from his shining blue eyes, Catie and Colin were in pajamas, with Catie's ponytail half out, bouncing excitedly waiting for her answer, Killian's shirt was untucked and his hair practically standing straight up from a day of chasing lost boys and a night of chasing their twins, Liam still sobbing on his shoulder. She knew she looked a mess her hair was in a sloppy braid, her clothing wrinkled. She smiled back at him. Despite this being the completely last situation she would expect a proposal in, somehow it fit. "I would be honored."
Leaning forward he gave her a kiss as Catie held the box and Colin put the ring on her finger. "Daddy's hands are full," he told her.
"Off to bed," Killian ordered the Twins, rising to get Liam a bottle.
It had of course not been that easy. It had been almost two hours before Liam went back to sleep and the twins were too wound up to fall asleep. Finally they had all piled in the master bedroom reading one of the twin's favorite books 'Hush Little Alien' with Killian singing it several times. The book (that rewrote the Hush Little Baby song into alien lyrics) was the only lullaby that would put Liam to sleep, preferably sung by his father. When the kids finally dropped off she reached over them to lace her left hand with Killian's right, her engagement ring flashing in the dim light. "I do love you and can't wait to marry you."
His smile was still a touch sad. "I wanted to make it special."
"It was perfect," she told him. "This is our life and the twins would have been heartbroken to miss it."
"I had to hide my phone. The kids wanted to call all their friends."
She squeezed his hand. "See, perfect."
"Aye."
"It's time! It's time!" Catie's excited voice pulled her back to the present.
Smiling Belle picked up her bouquet, taking a deep breath. "Let's do this."
She couldn't resist watching Colin and Catie walking down the aisle, Catie dropping her rose petals and Colin proudly, and tightly, holding onto the pillow with the rings. Ruby was next followed by Regina.
Her father extended his arm. "You are so beautiful today. I love the family that you have built. Killian is a good man who will love and protect you always."
She could feel her smile widening. "He puts the kids and me first, always."
"You are happy?"
There was no hesitation. "Very."
The wedding march started and she stepped beyond the invisibility spell Regina had put up to hide them from sight until the ceremony. Her gaze went immediately to Killian and she couldn't help smiling. Colin was standing next to him while Catie was just in front of Ruby. It did not surprise her that he had allowed the twins to remain standing with them. This was the stillest she could ever recall them standing. When she reached Killian she was barely aware of her father placing her hand in his and retreating to his seat. All she could see was Killian's blue eyes shining with love for her. She felt Catie press up against her leg and gave Killian a questioning look. He looked from her to the Twins and back again with a 'what could I do?' look. Her smile widened as she realized he was right. This would not be right without Catie and Colin right there. She gave him a 'you win' smile and they turned to Henry. They had decided to use the traditional vows of this world. The ceremony passed in a blur, all she could focus on were Killian's shining eyes and bright smile, his hand squeezing hers and Catie pressed against her side. When Henry pronounced them Husband and Wife all she was aware of was Killian pulling her close and giving her the lightest of kisses as Catie and Colin grabbed them around their legs before Colin let go. Before she could look for him he was back, Liam cradled carefully in his arms. She felt her smile grow bigger as Killian bent and lifted Liam into his arms and she slid her arm around his waist and the twins pressed close. Somehow this felt right, to have their children with them as they were presented for the first time to their family and friends as husband and wife. This was their family, their life and she could not be happier.
