I can't actually believe this but this is the final chapter, guys. No joke, this is it. Twelve weeks and however months before that owrth of planning and hours spent writing with 59,558 words in total we've reach the end.
Thank you to everyone who stuck with me through this story from the beginning and to those who joined us for the ride in the middle and even those who have only picked this up at the end. It is the readers that make a writer who they are, whether it's fanfiction or published books, and I'm so grateful to you readers and your feedback. All of you are incredible and thank you so much!
Be sure to let me know what you think of this story as a whole now that it's over and if you're not quite ready to let me go (Wishful thinking, I know then be sure t check out my other CaptainSwan stories, a couple of which still have a few weeks worth of writing in them before they're done.
Thank you all again!
"When, my, time comes around
Lay me gently in the cold dark earth
No grave, can hold my body down
I'll crawl home to her"
- Work Song, Hozier
And so the story came full circle. Emma was stood before no less than a hundred people, the one's that she knew, like Ruby, Jefferson, Mary-Margret, David and their son Leo all sat at one round table, not far from where she herself should be sitting, and then there were the ones she didn't. Their was more than enough family for Tink, apparently, parents with teary eyed smiles and her cousin Belle, who Emma had grown quite use to being around. Then there was all of Tink's friends, their supermodel skinny bodies looking amazing in the light green bridesmaid's dresses, their hair all done elegantly like they were headed to a red carpet. Tink wasn't even that famous, Emma thought, having only actually seen one of her TV shows about zombies before turning it off out of nothing more than petty spite. Or perhaps she was just being bitter over it all. But here she was, heart ready to break through her chest, speaking to each of these people and telling them all about her friendship with Killian.
It was very easy to feel self-conscious with all eyes on her, especially when most of them were calculating and judging, narrowed eyed across flutes of champagne and whispers just under her nose. But looking at Killian, the soft, encouraging smile on his face was enough for her to continue, to flit through her prompt cards and properly start her speech.
"Final word of warning," Emma said, after her lovely starting point speech about how this was the happiest day of her life. It had been total bullshit, but no one (par Ruby and possibly Mary-Margret) needed to know that. "Killian can hold his drink to an almost lethal degree, as I discovered on my 18th birthday when he decided a night of tequila slammers was the way to go," Everyone chuckled at that, and it made Emma feel equal parts warm that she was possibly earning their approval, and cold that she was sharing one her greatest memories with these people, memories she herself didn't fully have after such a night of drinking. "You know when someone tells you they were so drunk that the entire night was a blank and you say, 'No way, not possible'. Let me tell you, it's possible," There were more laughs and even Emma could feel herself smiling, remembering how Killian had come to the loft the following day, smiling at her like the cat who got the cream while she buried herself beneath the covers, resigning never to see the sun again.
She opened her mouth to speak again, to follow her little prompt cards and tell everyone about how she and Killian were forever in trouble at school, how they wound up Liam so much that he locked them outside of the bar, only letting them in after about five minutes in the rain. But she couldn't, not when Killian was looking at her like that, a softness to his face that she'd not seen since Liam's death. What she had to say would be hard, excruciatingly so, but it needed to not only be said, but heard. And so, folding her cue cards up and using them as something for her hands to hold onto, Emma spoke instead from her heart, however broken it was.
"Choosing a…" She began, but felt her throat close. Speaking so openly about her feelings was not something Emma had ever been good at. Even after Killian had nestled himself beneath her armour, she found it hard to speak out. It had been years now and she'd still not told him she loved him. But that changed today. "Choosing the person you want to spend the rest of your life with is one of the most important decisions any of us makes, ever." She began, smiling as she looked to David and Mary-Margret, hugging little six year old Leo tightly as David's hands rested on Mary-Margret's only slightly raised belly where baby number two was in the making. "Because when its wrong, it turns your life to grey. And sometimes – sometimes you don't even notice until you wake up one morning and realise years have gone by." She could stilled feel the ache of Neal's betrayal, the first and the last, settle in her gut, tugging at her confidence whenever she felt good about herself, threating to drag her back into the darkness of doubt that she'd spent so long crawling out of. "We both know about that one, Killian,"
He smiled sadly at that, the memories of Milah obviously not quite gone, of believing his future was right there, cooking quails eggs and asparagus in a pastry Emma was sure had been made up, only to have it torn away.
"Your friendship has brought glorious technicolour to my life." Emma said with a smile, feeling as her eyes began to prick. She couldn't help but remember her years before Killian at a time like this, of crying alone in her foster homes because she wanted her parents so bad, of sitting silently in closets, her hand over her mouth to stifle her breathing as thundering footfalls fell outside the door. There had been no one to protect her before she met Killian and Liam, she'd been lost in the darkness alone and afraid until they'd shined a light down on her and brought her out into the sun. She would be forever indebted to them for that. "It's been there, even in the darkest of times. And I am the luckiest person alive for that gift. I hope I didn't take it for granted," She said, thinking of lying to him about Henry, of how much easier it all could have been and how much hurt could have been avoided if she'd just told him. But he'd said it himself, he'd have never have gone to Boston if he'd known, and Emma was glad she didn't have that hanging over her, not when Henry was the perfect eleven year old, eyes full of hope and wonder. He'd never have the live the childhood they did.
"I think maybe I did," She said, a little self-depreciatingly as she thought of all the time she'd snapped at his kind words, of how she'd rejected his comfort and fallen instead into the arms of another. Those were things she could never take back, even if she wanted to. "Because sometimes you don't see that the best thing that's ever happened to you is just sitting there, right under your nose," Emma didn't have to move her eyes from Killian to know that Ruby and Mary-Margret were watching her pityingly. It was them who'd known all along how Emma had felt about Killian, and they were to ones who always told her to go for it, to take the plunge and allow herself to be happy. She'd never listened, and she hated herself for it every day.
"But that's fine too," She said, breaking her and Killian's eye contact to look instead at the pitiful glances and narrowed eyed stares of both her friend's and Tink's. "It really is. Because I've realised that no matter where you are," She said taking a deep breath and meeting Killian's gaze once more, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her with a longing she'd never know he could harbour. It hurt, she realised, to look at him as she said this, to know that her chance had passed ad their lives would continue to be separated. Two kindred spirits, set on different paths. "Or what you're doing, or who you're with, I will always honestly, completely, truly love you." She could feel her eyes watering then, tears threating to spill over her cheeks as his gaze stayed unwavering on her. The silence around them was almost deafening, Emma thought, hearing nothing but the thumping of her blood in her ears and the quiet fell from dramatic to awkward. People were sharing looks and even the bride looked irritated, but Emma didn't relent, not yet. Not until she knew that Killian understood, even if the others didn't. By the way she could see his jaw clenching, she had a feeling he did.
"Like a sister loves a brother, and a friend loves a friend." She continued and was sure the entire ballroom release a breath of relief. There needn't be any drama at this wedding, not when so much work had been put into it. "I know I'm not Liam," she said with a pang of guilt knowing that brining up Killian's brother was still a sore spot, especially on such a joyous day, but she felt this needed to be said. "And I know how crushing it is that he can't be here to say this, and I promise you, I'm not trying to take his place." Killian was looking at her with tears in his own eyes now, she saw, but no one seemed concerned. Liam had been Killian's only family, talk of him was enough to send him spiralling, and everyone knew it. "But know that I will always stand guard of your dreams, Killian. No matter how weird or twisted they get."
For the last words, Emma looked away from Killian, knowing that what she had to say was crushing enough without seeing his face. Instead, she looked to the crowd, the expectant faces of guests and family. She looked at the blue and green steamers on the walls, of the balloons on the table and the bright and flowery centre pieces. She looked anywhere but at him.
"So, please, everybody, join me in a toast," She said, raising her own glass with a bright, false smile on her face. This was the best day of her life, she'd said it herself. But a lie was only as strong as the liar was, and Emma was doing everything she could to play her part as Best woman. "To the bride and groom."
"To the bride and groom!" Everyone chorused and Emma felt her legs begin to wobble. She didn't sit down though, not when everyone else was getting ready to dance. Instead she slipped away to the side of the dancefloor, watching her friends from afar as her heart continued to crack.
Jefferson was dancing with Ruby, the two of them fumbling around the dancefloor like a pair of idiots as Mary-Margret danced with Leo, bending over to compensate for the height difference. Henry and Violet joined the mix too, but Emma was too busy watching Killian and Tink, his arms around her waist as her's circled his neck, her smile bright and beaming as she spoke softly to him. While everyone was occupied, Emma slipped from the room, pressing her back against the wall outside of the ballroom as she took very deep, not so calming breaths through her mouth, finally letting her eyes water while she was in solitude.
She managed perhaps a couple of minutes, maybe even seconds before Henry barrelled past her, his blazer abaonded and his tie loose around his neck, before diapearing around the corner.
"Henry?" She called, wiping her eyes as she pushed off of the wall.
"Henry just –" Killian said, stepping into the hallway with her.
"He just went through here," Emma said, pointing towards the black painted door, the words 'Fire Escape' written across it. If Killian noted Emma's red eyes and tear tracked cheeks, he didn't say, and she was grateful of that. "Henry?" She called as they stepped through the door, standing on the gravel covered roof that overlooked the bright lights of the city beyond. The view was enough to take Emma's breath away, that and how cold it was up there, the wind whipping strands of her hair and rising goose bumps on her bare shoulders and arms.
"Mum?" He called back and Emma saw him, sitting on a bench that had clearly be put up here for admiring the view, his hands clasped in his lap as he stared at the floor
"What are you doing out here?" Emma asked, crossing the distance between the door and the bench before lowering herself next to her son. Killian was only a step behind, choosing to stand on Henry's other side rather than sit down.
"I, um – I kissed Violet." He said shyly, wringing his hands in his lap. Emma could hardly say she was surprised, she'd seen how her son looked at the other girl, like she hung the stars herself. He was always trying to impress her and they'd known each other since they were in nursery together. In Emma's experience, it was hard to spend that much time with someone and have such a strong bond with them without falling in love. But then, Emma had never made the advances Henry had, and she couldn't help but envy her son's boldness in that moment. He may have his mother's stubbornness, but he certainly had the fight-for-what-you-want attitude of his father.
"Is that such a bad thing?" Emma asked, her arm around his shoulders despite her being the one that was cold.
"Of course it is!" Henry exclaimed, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Emma knew for certain that it as anything but obvious.
"Hey," Killian said, his hand landing on Henry's shoulder in the manly comforting way she noticed men often did. There was a softness about the way Killian did it, though, a comfort built on sympathy without a hint of pity. It was refreshing to say the lease. "Look, I was watching the two of you. You're good together," he said before he smiled at the younger boy. "And I don't mean to upset you, but you make quite the team." Even Emma had to smile at that remembering when Killian had said the same thing about the two of them after they'd managed to lock another foster child, one that had a habit of stealing any and all of Emma's belongings into the upstairs closet. Sure, they'd gotten into a whole world of trouble for it, but it had been worth it. And being grounded together didn't feel like being grounded at all. She and Killian had always been a team, even if she'd lost sight of that.
"Don't you get it?" Henry said, eye imploring with the adults of his life to understand. This wasn't a talk she could imagine Heny having with Neal, in fact, Henry rarely spoke to Neal if not for their contact weekends. He seemed just as hurt by Neal's adultery as Emma had and it had shown her that the one person she could always count on, the one who would always need her and never leave her was her son. She thanked her lucky stars every day that he'd been brought into the world, even as she cursed the rest of them for fucking everything else up. "She's my friend. It would be like you two kissing," Emma didn't miss the way Killian's jaw clenched at that, his eyes dodging hers as she looked at everything else. She made a note to ask him about that later. "I'll just tell her to forget the whole thing."
"Henry," Killian said, his grip on the younger boy's shoulder tightening slightly. "That would be a huge mistake." He'd perked Emma's interest, that was for sure. Henry also seemed to looking at his godfather curiously, his head tilting slightly like a confused puppy. It was adorable quirk that Emma was terrified he would grow out of. "If you really do care about her and you let her go, then she'd going to listen to you. She'll go out there and start a life of her own," He said, reelasing Henry's shoulder and seeming to step back slightly, scratching the back of his ear in a way Emma knew meant he was nervous. She didn't see why, though, and clearly, neither did Henry. "She'll meet another guy who you won't be able to stand and you'll feel obsolete in her life. Then – then you'l go out and make it your lives mission to go out there and meet the most perfect, beautiful girl in the world just to try and get over her." He paused then and swallowed past a lump in his throat, his yes wandering to Emma as he spoke.
"You'll end up marrying this girl and spending the rest of your life with her," He said, and for someone who'd only just become married that day, he sounded far from enthused about it. "You'll tell yourself that she's perfect and that you really must be happy, but she won't be her you know?" He said and Emma was sure she could hear regret in his voice and not one single word that left his lips was a lie, she knew it, she felt it. "You'll have missed your chance and your lives will pass each others by, like two ships in the night."
"But you two never actually kissed," Henry reasoned and Killian's silence to the question was deafening to Emma's ears, but Henry didn't seem to notice, tunring instead to his mother. "Did you?" He asked and Emma blanched slightly.
"Of course not," She said. That was something she knew she'd remember.
"Henry?" A voice called and Emma saw as the door to the hotel opened, Violet stepping out on the gravel in her pink occasion dress.
"Violet!" He replied, launching himself off of the bench to go and join her. "I'm really sorry," Emma heard him say, even acros the distance and smiled. "If you want we can pretend it never –" He was cut off as she pressed her lips quickly against his. The poor boy seemed speechless after that, his eyes wide and his breath held as he looked at the brunette girl before him.
"I don't want to pretend," Violet said with a gentle smile, her dark eyes glowing orange in the light of the city below them. "You left before could say anything.
They went inside then, Henry waving a quick good bye to his mother and godfather before accepting Violet's outstretched hand and following her inside with the promise of finishing then dance. It was sweet, Emma thought, just how quickly Henry was growing up. The only thing that spoilt the moment was the sielcne still wrapped around her and Killian, his wandering gaze over the city lights as she clenched and unclenched his jaw. Henry's queston had struck a nerve, it seemed, and Emma couldn't stand that her answer had apparently hit home too.
"Killian?" She said tentatively, watching as his eyes snapped back to her for a moment, whatever thought he'd been clinging to drifting away like a balloon on the breeze.
"I only realised, uh, tonight that you forgot." He said, catching his bottom lip between his teeth and worrying it slightly before releasing it with a sigh. "Your 18th birthday, about five tequila slammers in, I think," He said with a laugh, one Emma couldn't find herself joining in with, too caught up in what he was saying. "It was before you fell off the stool." That was the last thing that Emma had remembered of her birthday before waking up in the hospital, her stomach pumped and her head in agony. It seemed it was possible for Emma to forget kissing Killian Jones, and she was berating herself horribly for it in her head.
"That's why you took Tink to the dance." She said, the harshness of the truth slamming into her stomach like a punch. Of all the thing she had forgotten – song lyrics, doctor's appointments, her own birthday – she had forgotten Killian's kiss.
"And you went with Neal." Killian said, his hands falling into his pockets as she stared at him, her eyes watering once more, but she blamed it on the wind. They'd been so close, only seconds away from being everything Emma could have possibly dreamed of and her memory had gone and fucked it all up. Emma had hated herself for some pretty stupid things in her time, but this took the cake. The way Killian was looking at her then, blue eyes shimmering in the lights of the buildings, her dark suit barely a silhouette against the skyscrapers of the city beyond. She'd almost had this, she'd almost had all of it, and one stupid mistake had kept it just out of arms reach. It wasn't something Emma was sure she'd ever be over, at least, not in a hurry.
With the wedding over, the guests were getting ready to go home and the happily married couple were ready for their honeymoon in New York where Tink would be filming in between romantic moments. It churned Emma's stomach, especially now she knew just had close she had come. But now wasn't the time to think on it, now was the time to say goodbye to her best friend – the man she loved – as he embarked on his new journey with his new wife.
Ruby was saying good bye to Jefferson very openly, the two of then wrapped in one another's arms as they whispered god-knows-what to each other in the breath of space between them. Mary-Margret had said her goodbyes to the happy couple, as had David, even little Leo getting a hug from a rather solemn looking Killian before taking her mother's hand. They'd flown out the day before Emma and her group had, the two of them seeming to have way more spare time than Emma and Ruby did. Or perhaps they were just far more organised, Emma didn't really care.
"I'll see you soon, Lad," Killian said as Henry wrapped his arms around his waist, patting the small boy's hair as he hugged him back.
"Promise?" Henry asked, looking up at him without breaking the hug.
"I promise," He said with a soft, not too forced smile before Henry let him go, waving once to Tink before stepping back to where Violet stood, taking her hand in his immediately. Emma would marvel at the sight and maybe even take a picture of the adorable moment if it wasn't her turn to say goodbye.
"Well, bye then." Emma said, standing before Killian, tucking loose strands of hair from her ponytail behind her ear as she fought the urge to fidget under his gaze. It was such a sad look and it broke Emma's heart to see.
"Aye" Killian said with a nod, his hands clenching once into fists at his side before he reached for her, his arm snaking so perfectly around her waist. Emma only hesitated for a moment before letting her arms circle his neck, pulling him in closer as breathing him in like the ocean air. Strangely, the two scents were all that different. Being acutely away of Tink's watchful gaze, Emma resisted the urge to thread her fingers through the soft hair at the base of his skull, choosing instead to release him from the embrace.
Stepping backwards, she shot Tink one quick, false smile before turning on her heel and beginning to walk. She didn't wait for her friends and family, knowing that they'd either find her or catch her up. Her steps were fast as her throat closed up, her eyes brimming with tears she refused to let fall. There was no point crying over something that couldn't be. Emma was far better off continuing with her life as Killian did with his own. Almost, in this instance, was just going to have to be enough.
A few weeks passed and Emma was following her advice and living her life. She'd done as promised and spent some of the money Liam had left her in his will towards getting her book published. It was ironic, really, that despite being a now published writer, Emma hadn't been able to find the words to describe her joy as she opened the first cardboard box stamped with her name and pulling away the paper to reveal the stacks of books, all with identical covers inside.
"Once Upon A Time," Henry said, looking over Emma's shoulder at the brown leather bound book in her hands, reading the golden embellished title aloud.
"You wanna see the best bit?" She said with a smile, looking as Ruby began pulling another book from the box, no doubt to marvel at her own art work inside. Following Henrys nod, Emma opened the book up, skipping the first blank page and landing instead on the dedication page.
"For Mary-Margret, for teaching me the true meaning of hope and happy endings," Henry read aloud and Emma smiled fondly, looking at the cursive font printed on the page, remembering every one of Mary-Margret's little pep talks over the years. "For David, who taught me that it was for the likes of us." Emma had never let that go, even as her initial plans fell apart. "For Henry, who has never stopped believing in me," Henry seemed to sit up straight at that, clearly proud of the dedication Emma knew he'd earned. "For Ruby, who stuck by my side even as the road got bumpy. For Killian, who showed me what it meant to live your dreams," Henry said and Emma heard his voice catch at the beginning of the next sentence, and she didn't blame him, she'd felt her eyes burning simply writing it down. "And in loving memory of Liam Jones, the greatest brother anyone could ask for, a true hero and the guardian of our dreams. Thank you all, for being the family that I could only have dreamed of."
"Do you like it?" Emma asked, bumping her shoulder against his as he settled the book back down on their kitchen table, the room having become a jungle of obstacles, most of which being stacks of cardboard boxes filled with this exact book.
"I love it," He said with a beaming smile and Emma let her arm wrap around his shoulder, kissing the top of his head quickly. This was it, she thought to herself, she was getting there at long last.
It was flurry from that moment on. Emma's book 'Once Upon A Time' hit the shelves first in a few local bookshops, Emma's smile brightening when she spotted it in the window display on her walk to work. Then the demand grew. Her book had, by some miracle, become a hit. Emma's inbox was full of emails from fans, people asking about the characters and begging to know more. She was swamped with it all. Her phone was ringing, people asking if they could sell the book in their stores and before long Emma had even gotten herself an agent. Sure, it was Mary-Margret's step sister Regina, the same woman Emma had found the basis of the Evil Queen character for, but she didn't seem to mind and she was a decent agent, organising book talks and even a book signing in the centre of Bristol, in a hotel Emma had never even heard of.
"Your own book," Mary-Margret beamed as she stood with Emma in the back room of the hotel, waiting for Emma's entrance for the signing. It had all happened to fast, Emma thought, it was overwhelming to the point she wanted to run and hide, but she didn't. "We're so proud of you," She said, holding Emma's face gently in her own hands and Emma could feel herself smiling already, something, she noticed, she'd been doing much more recently, even if she hadn't heard from Killian in a while. Everything was working out and Emma was now living her dream, just as she'd promised Liam she would.
"Emma!" Ruby shouted, bounding into the room on her high red heels, her face alight with a smile brighter than the sun as she spotted her and Mary-Margret. As the illustrator for Emma's book, Ruby got to come along to these signings as well and had even suggested the idea of picking the favourite images in the book and making them into prints and canvases for people to have signed at these special events. Regina had lapped the idea up, of course, claiming that they'd have to be a special, limited edition thing and only used at the events to make them even more desired. So far, it was going down a dream. There were six prints in total, and Emma couldn't deny they were the best ones.
One was of Snow white and Prince Charming (influenced very much by Mary-Margret and David) standing in each other's arms at their wedding alter after hearing of the Evil Queen's threat. It was a nice one, Emma thought, iconic for the path of the plot. The next was of Little Red Riding Hood standing in the woods, her hood trailing across the ground like blood in the snow. As the illustrator, Ruby had had her pick of who to base the characters off of and she'd chosen Little Red Riding Hood to be be herself. It didn't look too bad, in Emma's opinion. There were others, one of the Evil Queen dressed in her bejewelled dressed and of the Mad Hatter (Jefferson, of course) slowing descending into madness, but Emma's personal favourite was from a story much later in the book.
The story of the Saviour and the pirate. Ruby hadn't allowed Emma to see this picture until it had been printed and before the publication of the book, The Saviour had remained both nameless and faceless. Ruby, however, had had different ideas. The print in question showed the Pirate and Saviour at a royal ball, disguised to the characters of the book as Prince Charles and Princes Leia, but to the reader, they showed their true selves. Emma already knew the pirate in disguise was Killian, him being the only pirate – besides BlackBeard – to even be in the story as the notorious, but misunderstood, Captain Hook a kind man who had tuned to piracy after the untimely death of his brother.
Emma should have known by Ruby's sly, wolfish smirk as she handed Emma the print that she would be the face of The Saviour, her blonde hair pinned into a beautifully elegant updo, her red ball gown a stunning contrast to her pale skin. It was a beautiful image, truly it was, but Emma couldn't help the loss she felt from looking at it, how The Saviour looked at the Pirate and how he looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing he'd seen in his hundreds of years.
"Your fans await," Mary-Margret said with a proud smile and Emma found herself beaming in return. She barely had a second to fix her hair and flatten out the green dress Regina had insisted she wear before she was being urged out from behind the curtain, and out into the room beyond.
Hours passed and Emma felt as though her hand was ready to fall off. She barely even recognised her own signature anymore as her marker glided across the same page over and over again. Some fans would stop and talk to her, to tell them how her book had changed their lives or had given them hope. Emma even had one girl come up to her with a badge on her chest that said 'Long Live Regina'. It was an interesting choice for a favourite character's but Emma would hardly begrudge the girl for her choice.
"You've only got one left, Emma," one of the book shop assistants said in her ear as the book was placed on the table before her. Emma didn't even look up as she spoke, instead, opening the book to the first blank page and getting her pen ready.
"And what's your name?" She asked, dredging up as much inner happiness as she could to give the fan the most real smile she could manage, her way to keep from simply telling them to make it quick. Her smile faltered when she caught the gaze of the man looking down at her, a smug little grin on his face as her eyes widened.
"Hi," Killian said, scratching his ear quickly and Emma realised she was still yet to even move, let alone speak.
"Hi," She breathed out instead. It was a shoddy reply, she knew, but her mind had gone pretty blank already. She'd not known that he had heard about her book signing, let alone that he would come to it, the copy of the book she had sent him clearly the one he's placed before her. It already had a signature in it in the form of a thank you note she'd written early in the writing process, telling him that he would finally get to be the pirate he'd dreamed of in this book.
"I figured I'd hang back and be the last one," He said and Emma felt her lips tilting up in a little smile of her own, one that only encouraged his to grow. "I didn't want to hold up a queue of angry fangirls," He said with a chuckle, but Emma was still too bemused by his presence before her, in thhis particular room, in Bristol – Not America.
"Smart," Emma praised, lifting her pen from where she'd dropped it and poising it once more over the paper. "So, to Killian and family, is it?" She asked not too subtly and Killian noticed this, of course he did. He'd been able to read her as clear as a book since the day they'd met, just a cautious six-year-old and a nerve racked seven-year-old. What a pair they'd been. Even Liam had said on occasion that they were a force to be reckoned with when they put their heads together. Emma couldn't help but wonder if that had changed.
"No." He said quickly, and Emma hoped her face didn't betray the flutter in her chest at his words. "No, it's just me now."
"Your wife?" Emma asked, and now subtly had simply gone out of the window with the rest of Emma's rational thought, leaving behind what could only be described as a giddy teenager. It was getting a little embarrassing, but she couldn't find it in her to stop. Especially when she saw Killian shaking his head.
"We – uh, we both knew it wasn't right." Emma's inner teenager was currently squealing like an excited pig into a pillow and honestly, she was fighting a serious urge to do the same. Luckily, she managed to keep her poker face on, only smiling slightly when he smiled at her.
"Since I've got the time, I can get you a double signed illustration as well, instead of just Ruby's signature?" Emma said, trying to keep the hard-to-get thing running as long as she could. She wasn't sure why, maybe so that she could determine this wasn't just some really weird dream she was having that she was going to wake up from. It was, after all, seeming far too good to be true. But perhaps that was just Emma's past speaking for her, a lifetime of disappointment and hidden tears berating her for having even a slither of hope.
"An illustration it is," He says with a smile, his hands slipping into the pockets of his jeans as he stands still before her.
"One signed illustration for Killian Jones," She said, looking over to Ruby's table next to her own and the very empty looking pile of pictures. "Ruby, would you mind showing our last attendee the illustrations we have left?" Emma could already tell by the wicked smile playing at the girls scarlet lips what the answer is going to be.
"Sorry, Chief. But I'm really busy right now," Emma knew full well she wasn't, judging by the fact she was sat in her chair, feet propped on the mostly empty table, twirling her pen between her fingers. Taxing work, Emma didn't doubt, but she also didn't argue.
"Well, if you'll follow me into the back room I can show you the ones we have," Emma said, rising from her chair and straightening her dress out once more, sitting down for hours having done the floaty fabric few favours.
"I had a quick look before I came out," He said and Emma just knew it was Mary-Margret that let him have a snoop around, not that she minded, but the other woman can be awfully devious when she wants to be. It was half the reason Emma chose to right the character of Snow White as a bandit and not the shy, terrified bird whisper she'd originally been known as. That and Emma had always found that side of Snow White incredibly dull. A bandit was way more interesting. "I think I know which one like best."
"Let me guess," Emma said, pulling back the black curtain and stepping through, looking over her shoulder as he followed behind "The one of Captain Hook aboard his ship?" She asked and he smiled back at her, shaking his head no. "No, I know! The one of The Evil Queen. I think Ruby went overboard with the diamonds and cleavage, personally but what do I –"
"No," He said, cutting her off quite effectively when they reached the space in the back room designated for spare books and Ruby's illustrations. She started slightly at the snapping tone, but he amended himself quickly and the moment was gone. "No – uh," He bumbled and Emma felt the grin on her face already as he scratched the back of his neck. "It was the one of Prince Charles and Princess Leia – The Saviour and The Pirate – dancing together out of their time."
"That one was awfully popular," Emma said, far more breathlessly than she would dare admit. She wasn't lying, of course, it had been an incredibly popular image, but Emma knew for a fact that it was the one Ruby had printed the most of, and she also knew that was not a coincidence. "We might be all out."
"Is that so?" He asked, rising his eyebrow in the sinful way Emma hadn't seen him do in a while. That coupled with the smirk on his lips and the new found knowledge that he and Tink were no longer a thing had her ready to fall right into his arms. She didn't, for the sake of her dignity, if nothing else. "Well, I suppose a dance with the Princess herself would do nicely."
"I've heard she's rather picky about who she dances with." Emma said, rejoicing in the chuckle she heard escape Killan's mouth.
"Well, perhaps I can be deemed worthy. Maybe if I take her in my arms – in a manly way," He added and Emma felt herself laughing until his arms came around her waist, holding her tightly, his hands rested at the small of her back. "Like this," He said and Emma's arms were already around his neck. She'd spent far too long waiting for this moment to arrive, dealing with rejections and heartbreak, missed opportunities and other women; she'd be damned if she let him slip away again. "And I'd ask her to dance with me, the way I should have years ago." Emma knew what he meant, their end of school dance, the pivotal moment that had set them both on very different paths, the one that had changed everything between the both of them.
"Please," Emma said, her nose brushing against his gently, a smile gracing her lips as he swayed slightly, the two of them embracing like a pair of teenagers living off of stolen moments away from prying eyes. "You couldn't handle it." She said. She felt Killian's laugh before she heard it, the rumble of it vibrating though his chest pressed lightly against her own.
"Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it," He said, clicking his 'T' with a very challenging tone, his smile just as wicked as he gazed down at her in his arms. It was a smug look that Emma was more happy to wipe right off of his face. And she did just that.
Slipping her hands from around his neck, she grasped at the collar of his leather jacket before tugging him towards her, their mouths colliding like two stars destined to crash. It was explosive, like thousands of tiny bundles of dynamite were detonating against her skin, setting her nerve endings alight. Goose bumps raised where his fingers trailed up her arms with a feather-light pressure, one of his hands moving to cup her chin, tilting her head to just the right angle. This, Emma thought, sighing slightly in relief, something she felt Killian smiling to against her lips. This is what I've been waiting for.
And for once in Emma Swan' life, 'Almost' was the word furthest away from her mind.
That is guys, it really is. It's been one hell of a ride.
Thank you again for following this story, commenting and even those of you who PM'ed me about it. All of those are still very welcome of course and I hope to see your names popping up on some of my other CS stories. (TWD XOVER coming soon, CaptainSwan Enchanted Forest AU, cute little one-shots etc.)
The 8tracks playlist for this story will be up soon too, under the same name as the story and my profile is the same as this one too.
Until next time.