A/N: Hey everyone! So as I said we are very close to the end of this fic. This is the final chapter before the epilogue (and it is on the shorter side because I didn't even plan on including this). That being said I am rounding out this AU with my usual fluff and hopefulness. This chapter shows us Emma's first day back at school and the meshing of her old life with the one she has now as well as some introspective Killian and a little smuff for good measure. Hope you guys enjoy and thanks so much for reading!

Ten minutes was all that separated Emma Swan from the quiet stillness of her current classroom and the hustle and bustle of a new school term, and Emma knew from past experience that those ten minutes would go by so slowly while also passing in the blink of an eye.

All throughout the rest of the year things would never be as neat and tidy as they were right now. No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried to maintain order, little bits of chaos would pop up in the way they always did with kids this age but Emma didn't mind it. Right now the room was too mellow and removed from its purpose. It should be filled with kids and learning not empty desks and tables.

For now though, the overhead lights illuminated the stagnant calm that clung with these last few minutes of summer. The cleaning products the janitorial staff used was still evident in the air around her but so was the coastal scent of sea and salt that came on days like this which started cool and warmed with a late summer humidity. Since the heat never stuck around for long they didn't have air conditioning of any kind, only the open windows that let in a very familiar ocean breeze.

Emma made note of all of her classroom supplies and decorations, seeing everything was placed just so. There was a big welcome sign for her students and a bulletin board cleared completely for their wishes and goals this year. Emma had the hopes of her past students all tucked away in the bottom drawer of her desk and someday the ones that were written today would join them. Until then though, they had a whole year ahead, a great big chunk of time to fill, and so many things to accomplish.

First days of school always came with a mixed bag of emotion. In many ways the first day was a new beginning and the start of a challenge Emma always wanted to rise to. She had a duty to these kids to be the very best teacher that she could be and to give them their best shot at success, but she was also reminded of the children she'd already said goodbye to. They were moving up and moving on so to speak and though Emma knew a handful of them would stay in touch most of them would become mere memory to Emma and she to them.

That bittersweet reality had for the longest time left a little bit of sadness in Emma's heart, but for the first time she greeted the changes with a true openness. Today would be a good day, and one of the best parts of it was that when the school bell rang at 2:45 and her students were dismissed she wouldn't be going home to that same humdrum life of last year. Instead she had something so much more waiting for her.

The thought of Killian and their life together made Emma turn back to her desk and take stock of the vase that currently resided there. Six sunflowers in the peak of their bloom looked back at her and attached to the arrangement there was a card. Emma had already read it a few times and texted him a thank you, but she couldn't help just one more look.

You're going to be fantastic, my love, just as you always are.

Emma smiled as she folded up the note and stuck it in the pocket of her yellow sundress. She should have expected this kind of thoughtfulness from her husband, for he showered her with like-minded gestures at every turn, and yet this morning had been rushed and not conducive to thinking ahead. Emma woke up in Killian's arms, blissfully content only to realize that she was running late. Summer was over and with school came early mornings and old responsibilities.

Of course Killian managed to slow her down some and to give her an exceptional first morning of school before she sped off to get here on time. She was exceptionally grateful for his choosing to build a house so close to her work and all the way here Emma thought about what they could do with that extra time. She blushed walking into the school, swarmed by dirtier imaginings than she'd ever taken with her into work but all of his distraction kept her slightly off balance and that much more open for this sweet surprise.

"The last time we were in this room you were barely able to contain your misery. Now you look liable to float away with all the happy."

Emma's eyes flicked up to find Belle in the doorway sending a smile her way and Emma nodded, knowing it was true. At the beginning of the summer she'd been mourning the loss of a man she barely knew but wanted to be with more than even she could comprehend. Now Emma had that man in her life and by her side and she had been given the chance to pursue all that possibility, finding that it outshone any fantasies she had before.

"Don't try and pretend you're not happy too." Belle grinned at the reply as she stepped around to sit atop one of the student desks.

"I wasn't going to."

They were speaking now in a roundabout way of Will, who (in the same style as his friend Killian) had started to largely uproot his life to be closer to the woman he was falling for. New York was too far a distance for Will and since Belle was happy here he was doing everything he could to stay with her. It was lovely to see and now, after a summer of jokes and teasing, all of her friends actually had love in their lives. To say that Mary Margaret and Ruby were delighted was an understatement. Their matchmaking, at least in their eyes, was a resounding success.

"How did one summer change everything so radically?"

Emma laughed at Belle's question. It lined up with many a query Emma herself had made though she knew it was more than one summer. None of this would have happened had she not met Killian. He'd unintentionally brought a happy ending not only to her but to Elsa and Belle too. There was joy around town in spades now and it was all his doing.

"I don't think we'll ever know. It's one of those things you just kind of go with." Belle nodded and looked off a little dreamily. It was the same look Emma had seen upon her face in the past when Belle found a truly great story, but this time the story was theirs and it was real.

"Speaking of going places, how was the homebound honeymoon?"

Emma flashed a smile at the thought of her five days of 'newlywed' domesticity with Killian. They hadn't had much time before school began again, but they'd made the most of it, making the house everything they wanted right down to the smallest details and falling into more perfect moments than any two people should be allowed to have. Because they hadn't the time for a trip away, Killian then surprised Emma with a two separate trips that would fall in the school vacations. She was excited for them, but secretly glad that for now they'd gotten the chance to just take in their new home together.

"It was great." Belle chuckled and Emma tilted her head in question. "What, it was?"

"It's nothing. Just when Will talked to Killian yesterday he said something like 'it was bloody brilliant because I didn't have everyone in creation trying to interrupt.'"

Emma laughed at that. That sounded like Killian, and she knew for a fact that there had been a few times where those interruptions might have happened if not for her husband's sheer force of will.

"I think it's going to be a really good year," Belle said the words after a moment with a sound belief and Emma agreed.

"Yeah I think you're right."

Before either of the friends could discuss more, Emma heard the busses pulling into the school lot and Belle departed, leaving Emma with a final 'good luck, today' before returning to her library. In past years Emma would have clung to that to tamp down the slight nerves that always came about her students liking her and finding a way to get them excited, but this year no such fear came. Instead she was merely certain that this would be the start of another new adventure.

One by one her students filed in, moving through the halls of Storybrooke elementary before finding their seats that had already been assigned. They varied in their level of enthusiasm but by the time the last of them had come inside there was a general buzz of anticipation in the room. Emma set out to right any worries right away.

"Good morning everyone. I'm Mrs. Jones and I'll be your teacher this year." Emma smiled when she introduced herself with her new last name, but the brief pause she allowed herself was interrupted by one tenacious student's hand that shot up into the air.

"Yes…" Emma looked down at her seating chart to find the boy's name, "Connor?"

"I thought your name was Miss Swan? Last year Mrs. Hubbard said it was." Emma was about to reply when another girl interrupted.

"She got married. Jeez, where have you been? It's all anyone talked about all summer." Connor mumbled about being at his grandparent's house out of town and Emma sought to calm the situation and divert to something a little more academically inclined.

"You're right I did get married, and it did change my name, but what it didn't change is that we are going to all have a great year together." Another hand shot up but the girl who it belonged to didn't wait to speak her peace.

"Do we get to make a wish list? My friend Grace said you make a wish list in your class and I have a really good wish." Emma smiled.

"We do, but that gets saved for the end of the day. We have more to do first, like learning who all of you are."

Giving the chance for the kids to introduce themselves provided a good cut away from her own personal life and set the rest of the day on the right trajectory. From that moment on Emma directed the conversation to more necessary topics and she laid down the foundations for everything that would be happening this year.

Over the next few hours every student began to understand their new routine. They learned what time of day signaled what subject, had lunch in the cafeteria with all the other fifth graders, and then got to spend an hour with Belle in the library. Emma meanwhile was going a mile a minute trying to keep the ship afloat, but at the end of the day as she'd promised it came time for wishes.

It intrigued Emma the way that the kids always responded to this activity. It was one she'd come up with her first year and though some student's had more fun with it, using their wild imaginations to dream things up, all the kids were thoughtful and another form of quiet fell over the room. There was just the scratch of pencils on paper and then the eventual creak of desks as kids came to hand Emma their wishes one by one so she could hang them up.

"What about you Mrs. Jones?" Emma blinked at the question and then realized that she hadn't written anything, and when she tried to think of something to put down she was slightly at a loss. What did she need that she didn't already have?

Emma ultimately realized that there was very little that her heart could really want other than the life she was building with Killian and the chance to continue teaching these kids, but she scrawled down a quick wish for her students more than for herself.

Make sure everyone feels like they belong because they do.

Her students liked the note and she hung it up on the board, but as she did something clicked for Emma. A piece of a puzzle she'd been trying to work out since the wedding finally dawned on her about what the charity Killian and she would be building could do. She didn't have very long to focus on it but Emma made a mental note before getting the kids off to the busses once again, smiling all the way as she did.

And why shouldn't she be smiling? Things in Emma's life were really, truly, good and Belle was right – they were heading towards a very good year and (Emma would guess) a very happy life.

….

Back in the beginning of the summer when Emma and he were just at the start of the journey, Killian admitted that sailing was a remedy to nearly anything life could throw his way. A ship gave a man the means to leave troubles behind at least it always had in Killian's experience. Being out here on the boat today should have calmed Killian, but instead he found his mind wandering most of the day. He was surrounded by his friends and his brother all of whom were chatting happily amongst themselves, but Killian's mind was still ashore.

Emma had faced her first day of school this morning and he couldn't help but think of how all of that was going. He was completely assured that his Swan would be fantastic. She had a way with people and with children especially that made her a superior teacher, but it was still a change. He'd grown accustomed to a certain degree of togetherness, and though she was arguably far stronger than he was, Killian knew she was probably missing him too. The thought made him smile and he pulled his phone out again to look at their text exchange from earlier.

E: I think I have a secret admirer.

Beneath that text had come a picture of the flowers that he arranged to be delivered to the school this morning. Killian grinned at the facetiousness in the comment. She had been goading him into a response, and though Killian was fully cognoscente of that he still found himself caving in. He loved very few things more than this back and forth between him and his wife. It was something he would never grow tired of as long as he lived.

K: My love for you is no secret, Swan. The whole bloody world is likely assured of it by this point.

E: Oh so they were from you.

When he first read that reply he'd been stocking this vessel up for the day and had taken pause at that. Why the hell would she doubt they were from him? What other man was prone to sending his wife flowers? The thought alone had him nearly growling aloud but he played it cool to her.

K: Didn't you get the note?

The thirty seconds it took her to reply had felt like an eternity, but now he could just read her response without delay.

E: Yes. But I like knowing you have that look on your face right now that says you're slightly confused and a little bit fired up.

He'd then proceeded to reply that she should be ready for an evening of making that bit of teasing up to him and his minx of a wife was thrilled at the prospect. She told him she expected nothing less than a whole evening of his showing her his thoughts on the matter and Killian had been remiss to even get on the boat after that. But since Emma wouldn't be home anyway, he might as well enjoy a day on the water.

"I've got to say, mate, I see what you were on about with early retirement. I'd love nothing more than this wayward, seafaring life." Killian chuckled at Will's joke as his friend basked in the afternoon sun.

"Like hell you would. Besides, I'm not retired. Technically I shouldn't even be out here. There's a million things to do to-,"

"To make Emma's dream real, aye we know brother. You've said it once or twice already." Killian scratched behind his ear as the others nodded in agreement. He wasn't embarrassed of the sentiment, just a little flustered with the fact that he'd said those precise words enough for Liam to mimic his thoughts so well.

"And what about you, Liam? Surely you of all people can't have a life of idleness ahead." Liam scoffed at the claim from Will.

"There's nothing idle about marrying Elsa and filling our world with every last child she'll give me."

"So stay at home Dad, then. Not bad as far as gigs go." Liam tossed one of the life vests at Will that no one was using and Killian watched his friend easily dodge the item.

"And what are you going to do then, Scarlet?" Will shrugged casually.

"Thinking of buying the bar here. Leave Patrick on full time at Bandit's. That place does a good business, but you couldn't pay me to go back to New York. Not now."

"Does Belle know that's the plan?" David asked. Killian's new friend had been enjoying the day perhaps more than anyone else, mostly because he did have a full time job that had taken up a lot of his free time this summer.

"Aye, Ruby told her."

"And how does Ruby figure into it?" Liam asked.

"She's gonna run it for me." Killian shot a glance to David who responded with a grin. This sounded a lot more planned out than some passing potentiality.

"Seems a pretty sure thing."

"Well it will be when the sale's final." Killian shook his head at that.

"So you've just been sitting on this all day hoping to wind the conversation to this, then?" Will nodded.

"Pretty much." Now it was Killian's turn to throw something at his ridiculous friend. "Oi, don't get all bent out of shape over it. Not like you told me first about marrying Emma."

"Probably would have been better if he did. He would have gotten a nicer response then 'love is a farce' and 'you're an idiot.'" Killian winced thinking back at that moment. Even if the brothers were past that old wound, it still wasn't a very pretty interaction.

"You ate your words soon enough."

"Indeed I did and thank God for that." The men fell silent on the boat, no doubt thinking of all their good fortune, until finally David cut in.

"You know the school day is technically over… " Nothing else had to be said for all of them to get their stuff together and get the boat sailing back to the marina. It still took some time but eventually Killian was back on solid land, heading home to the house where he could only hope to find his wife already awaiting him.

When he arrived Killian moved through the front door and saw Sandy waiting for him. He made sure to bestow some affection on the continuously quiet dog before letting her out front. They'd had the whole of the property fenced discretely and Sandy never wandered far anyway. She realized where her home was. Besides, Emma was here, and Killian was well aware of Sandy's undying devotion to her. He respected the trait whole-heartedly since it was one he too possessed.

As Killian roamed through the house looking for Emma he didn't call out for there was no point. He could sense that she was here, and he followed the sound of music playing through the rooms to the kitchen. Killian wasn't prepared for her when he got there though, for Emma was a vision sitting at the island on a stool, her hair tied back in a messy bun and her glasses on as she poured over papers in front of her.

Emma still wore that same yellow dress that she'd had on when leaving the house. It was the one she'd worn when he first got to Storybrooke months ago and it was an impossible temptation despite its acceptability for school. Killian saw her sweater was long gone and the way she looked simultaneously prim and proper and laid back struck him to his core. It made him face a question he'd long been grappling with: how the hell did he possibly get this lucky? He didn't have an answer but in that second her green eyes looked up to see him and a light of new excitement emanated from them.

"Oh good, you're home! I had an idea when I was at school about what we can actually do to make a difference with the foundation and I think I finally found it." Killian looked around at the materials all over the counter and the books that appeared to be pulled from the public library on children's development and public policy.

"You did all of this in an hour?" Emma looked up at the clock and then shrugged, flashing him a brilliant smile when she glanced his way again.

"Yeah, I guess I did."

It was impossible for him to hold back anymore and in three short steps he had Emma in his arms and he was kissing that gorgeous smirk of hers. It started as a simple manifestation of his being constantly impressed with her but then it shifted. Suddenly they were both moving a gentle kiss towards so much more. Killian wasn't sure who'd sparked the transformation but he didn't have any intentions of seeing the fire put aside. Instead he pulled back and pressed his forehead to Emma's before asking her a serious question.

"Is there anything you haven't written down, yet?" Emma shook her head and then smiled again, signaling that she took the meaning of his inquiry. He had ideas for their time right now that didn't involve this new revelation and Emma looked equally interested in that agenda alteration.

"Nope. It'll keep."

That was all the promise Killian needed to pull her with him through the house, stealing kisses along the way. They'd been in this new home under a week, but Killian was well versed in maneuvering his wife up to their bed. He'd been largely successful in keeping Emma all to himself since the wedding and it had him moving faster than they would have even a few days ago.

"If this is going to be your reaction when I get home from work every day, maybe I should take my time. Make us wait for it." Emma's teasing made him groan and in a sudden change of direction he pulled her into the living room. "Killian?"

"Can't wait. Need you now." He mumbled the words against her neck feeling the truth of them profoundly in this moment.

Emma laughed at his comment but it turned into a moan as he pushed her back on the couch. He delighted in the sight of her like this, flushed and ready despite their barely having done anything. It made his own hunger grow and all the missing her that came today stormed back to the forefront. Killian moved above her, his hands roaming under her dress. Emma was still too covered for his liking, and he had to find a way to handle that without pulling away.

"You know, since it's the first day I don't actually have much work to do… we have all night for you to make good on whatever you're thinking." Killian grinned at that.

"Have I ever told you how brilliant you are, love?" Emma smiled as she moved to strip the scrap of cotton that was under her dress away, tossing it to the ground. The sight kept him spell bound (because fuck that was hot), but then her amused smile turned to him and her fingers came to unfasten his jeans.

"I think it's been mentioned once or twice." He groaned when her hands were on his hard length and then he took the reins back from his feisty and all together too alluring wife.

"And you understand that taking you now is just the beginning. We'll have this and then as soon as you've told me those no doubt fantastic plans of yours, it's a night in with your husband; there'll be dinner, a little rum, and then you in our bed for he whole damn evening." Emma smiled and whispered a reply against his lips.

"Sounds like torture. How will I ever bear it?"

Killian grumbled about her taking everything he gave her but he needn't have worried; as always Emma gave him the whole world when they came together and he had the distinct pleasure of watching her fall apart twice before she took him with her. Then they lay there intertwined on the couch, both trying to catch their breath.

"I love you, Emma, and it's a love unlike any other I've ever known." Emma smiled at that before pressing one last gentle kiss to his lips and whispering a reply.

"I know."

That was it. Two simple words, but the look in Emma's eyes said more than any verbose proclamation ever could. She loved him just as fiercely as he loved her and she did it with all the passion that this remarkable woman carried with her always. That fire in Emma could be used to accomplish anything, to stand the test of any trial, to rise to any challenge in the world, but she chose to share it with him. Killian knew because of that that he was truly blessed to call her his and to be hers in return.

And luckily for both of them, they would always have that privilege in their lives and that great love found in a slightly hopeless place never waivered. Instead it lived on that day and every day thereafter, providing both of them a perfectly happy life.

Post-Note: So this is somehow the last chapter before the epilogue. I am truly shocked but also aware that it's time. This has been such a fun story to write, but with the end of their summer comes the end of this particular story. No worries though, the last installment will include a flash-forward that will hold typical CS cuteness and a HEA of my own personal variety (AKA kids and joy and general adorableness to give you cavities). I am not entirely sure when it will be published but I would think my December for sure. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed and thank you so much as always for reading!