"I love you." Killian murmured against the skin of Emma's neck for the hundredth time in a few minutes, making her lay down on their bed. "I love you." He repeated, all while kissing her this time as his hand was running down her stomach to grab her waist and bring her even closer.
"I love you, too." She replied, catching his lips again because she simply couldn't get enough of him.
They'd just come back from the secret ceremony, and the sun was slowly starting to rise in the sky in an explosion of red, orange and pink, announcing a new day. But they just couldn't pay any attention to it. They didn't want to sleep, they weren't even tired despite the fact they'd stayed awake for the entire night. The only things that existed anymore were them, their touch and their taste, as if they were all alone in the world. And the only person Emma could see was this man who was now looking at her like she'd just brought him all the stars.
Her husband.
He gently took off the flower crown from her blond hair to place it on their night table. His eyes were darkened with lust, and he looked like he just couldn't stop staring at her. He slowly ran his fingers down her face, her cheek, her jaw, as if he were discovering her for the very first time. He was looking at her so intensely she felt like her heart was going to burst. He loved her so much. Gods, she loved him so much.
His hand slowly went down to take her hips again, and he leaned to press a bunch of little kisses on her collarbones, making her sigh in pure bliss. His mouth went down then, traveling along the cleavage of her dress and she tilted her head back so he could have better access to her skin. But he wasn't able to reach her breast because of the gown she was still wearing, and he was forced to pull away from her, what made her grown in protest. It made him smile, and he pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, then said in a whisper.
"You're absolutely stunning in this dress, love, but I still can't wait to take it off. I find you even more beautiful when you're not wearing anything."
"What are you waiting for, then?" She panted, encouraging him to act upon his words because she just couldn't wait any longer to be with him.
He smirked again, and answered her request immediately. "As you wish, my darling."
The corset of the dress was luckily not a very complicated one, and she quickly got rid of it, lying down naked before him. She decided that he was definitely wearing way too many clothes too, and she took off his suit, tossing it on the floor next to her gown. She smiled when all of this was done, and she kissed his lips once again before saying against his mouth..
"You wanna know a great thing about having two weddings?"
"Aside from the fact that I'm lucky enough to marry the love of my life twice?"
"Yeah." She chuckled at his words. "Aside from that."
"Tell me, lass." He answered, still intensly looking at every inch of her skin and his fingers softly tickling her side.
"We have two wedding nights." She whispered, and he leaned to kiss her once again.
"Ah, well, it's not like we really need an occasion to do this, beautiful." He smirked yet another time.
"True, but it's even better this time."
"And why's that?" He said, visibly amused.
"Because we're married now, husband." She replied, stressing the last word.
"Like I could ever forget that, wife." he answered in the same charming tone.
She lifted her head up to reach for his mouth, and tilted her face to deepen the kiss as his tongue was finding hers immediately, starting this incredible, familiar dance that always made her feel dizzy with happiness. Her husband, he really was her husband. She could hardly believe it, at how amazing this all was.
She'd found what some people sought for their entire life, sometimes without even managing to truly have it, and she felt like the luckiest woman alive. She'd found true love, with this wonderful man who was her everything. They could overcome anything together. They were going to spend the rest of their lives, of all eternity hand in hand. He was never going to leave her, she knew it because she trusted him with everything that she had. And she loved him with every fiber of her being.
Their moment was gentle, that night. Almost softer than ever before, and gods know that they'd done this so often already. They moved slowly together, their lips never parting. Their hearts seemed to beat in unison as their hands were caressing the other's skin, worshiping each other as if they were the most precious things in the entire world. And all while kissing, they murmured again and again how much they loved each other. She was sure that this was what heaven was supposed to be like. And she couldn't believe that she was lucky enough to know this kind of happiness for the rest of her days.
Their future was right in front of them, bright and hopeful, and so, so happy. They were diving into it at the exact same time, hand in hand. Together, as always.
Three days had passed since the secret wedding in the gardens of the palace. Three days since Emma had got married to her best friend and the love of her life, under the lights of hundreds of candles and in front of the people she loved the most. Three days punctuated by kisses and gentle words, by huge smiles and this incredible, endless happiness that seemed bigger than anything else in the universe. They would laugh a lot when they would think about all these people that didn't know that they were married already, and they had kept this secret ceremony between them like a real treasure. They would tell their love to each other every minute of every day, and she was sure that she could have died from pure bliss right there, because this was just too incredible.
It had been three days, the three best days of her life, and she was now finally getting ready for the real ceremony.
She wasn't even nervous about it anymore. Despite all of these people that were going to watch them as they would promise each other that their love would never weaken, all the anxiety that she had previously felt had faded away since their wedding. She wasn't even scared about these vows that she was supposed to say in front of everyone anymore. Ever since her statement in the gardens of the palace the other night, everything seemed so easy. She'd been able to write down all the things she wanted to say to Killian, because it now seemed completely obvious.
Her speech was a bit more formal this time, as the tradition wanted it to be, but it was as powerful as the first one had been. And she couldn't wait for Killian to hear it. She was so impatient to be able to wear her alliance for real, and to stop hiding the fact that she was his wife after that day, even if she'd liked keeping the secret for a little while. She was so excited about seeing his reaction at the altar when he would watch her approaching, and she just couldn't wait to look into his eyes as they would promise each other the entire world and more for the second time in a few days.
She was so damn happy. She was lucky enough to be able to marry Killian twice, and she knew that these moments would stay with her for the rest of her life.
Her smile hadn't left her once since she'd got out of bed that morning. Killian and her hadn't been able to spend a lot of time together, as they'd been forced to part ways so they could both go get ready. Even if he'd told her that it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, they hadn't been able to stay separated for the entire night, and they had fallen asleep in each other's arms, as always. And before he'd disappeared into another room to get dressed, they'd had the time to exchange dozen of kisses, because they just wanted to be close for a little bit longer.
He was so ecstatic, too. He seemed like the happiest man on earth, and she would have given anything for him to keep this smile on his face for the rest of eternity. He'd probably told her that he loved her a thousand times since they'd got married, what would always make her heart stutter in happiness. She would never get used to hearing these beautiful words, and she knew that they would always make her feel the same way, no matter what. This happiness would stay with them forever now, she was convinced of it. They were both beaming, more in love than ever, the two lost souls having found a home in each other.
Gods, she loved him so much it still felt surreal sometimes.
She was in her room now, getting ready with Snow's help. Her mother was looking at her with a proud smile dancing on her lips, as she'd put on her wedding dress already. The gown was still absolutely perfect, and Emma knew that it was reminding the Queen of her own wedding a little bit. Except that, this time, Regina wouldn't come to ruin anything. She was so sure of it, now, she wasn't afraid anymore. Everything was going to be just fine, because what she felt was too powerful to get spoiled by anything.
Snow had tears in her eyes and she took Emma's hands in hers, speaking so gently her daughter couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. "You are absolutely beautiful, honey. Killian is going to be left speechless. Thank you for allowing me to share this moment with you. I couldn't be happier to be able to help you get ready for your wedding day."
"I should be the one thanking you, Snow." Emma answered immediately. "You've planned everything, you gave me this dress and you allowed us to have two weddings in a few days. You made everything perfect, and it means so much to us. I'm really happy to be able to share this with you, too."
Her mother winked at her, and Emma could see that she was trying not to start crying at her little statement. They'd really grown so much closer during these last few days, and the Queen couldn't stop smiling at the real relationship that she was finally sharing with her daughter after all this time. Things were still complicated from time to time, but at least they were together and Emma didn't want to run away anymore. They were all happy, and they would continue to be, always. This was absolutely perfect.
Exactly as they'd done so for the first ceremony, Snow led her to David after looking at Emma for a few more minutes, as if to etch her image into her memory. Her father was awaiting for them above a staircase, this time, and he smiled when he heard them approaching. They had to go down these steps, cross a hallway, then join the main room where dozens of guests, Killian and Henry were already waiting for them. Their son was the one who had taken the alliances, and he hadn't lost his grin once either, so happy to see his parents getting married once again. Taking David's arm, Emma felt her stomach tightening. It however wasn't from nervousness at all, but from a beautiful mix of excitation and pure happiness.
She just couldn't wait.
Things were a little bit different than it'd been the first time, though. Snow didn't walk away and came to take Emma's other arm, as both her parents were going to lead her to the altar. She saw them exchanging proud looks as she was standing in between them, and her heart missed a wonderful beat. She'd never thought that she could have this. She'd never even dared to truly believe that she would get married one day, let alone with her parents by her side. And they were looking at her with so much love, she knew that she really was lucky. She had a chance to be happy after all the pain of the past, and she promised herself that she would never take this for granted, because she knew how precious this was.
After a moment of silence, they finally started to walk to the huge gates, behind which were waiting the guests. Everyone knew that she was coming, and the noises of conversation had already stopped as she was standing behind the doors. She took a deep breath to get ready for this big moment, then nodded to the two guards that were standing beside them. She was still smiling so big her cheeks were hurting, but she just couldn't bring herself to care.
The gates finally opened after a moment, and a gentle, slow melody started to ring as she was walking into the room. She slowly moved forward, her parents by her side and her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the crowd murmuring in awe around her, and her smile widened a bit more.
Briefly looking around, she could recognize some familiar faces there as everyone was standing up to welcome her. Granny, Red, Ella, Ariel and their husbands were smiling at her, and she happily returned their grins. Kate and Chiara were of course in the first row, and were both looking at her in excitement. The crowd was placed in circle around the altar, and the room was beautifully decorated with flowers and candles, but everything disappeared at once when Emma saw Killian standing there. She met his eyes and she felt like the world was fading around her, as she just couldn't look away.
He was waiting for her at the altar, Henry standing right beside him. The little boy looked like a prince in his suit, and she found him so adorable she sighed slightly in awe. The man she loved was wearing an outfit that was a bit clearer than the one he'd worn to their first wedding, but he was as handsome as ever. Her heart skipped a beat as she was still staring at him, and butterflies appeared inthe pit of her stomach. For a crazy minute, all she wanted to do was pull away from her parents to run to him and throw herself into his arms. She did nothing of the sort though, and simply smiled at him as if they were alone in the room.
Killian was staring at her as if she'd just come right from heaven and were the most important person on earth and the only woman he would ever see. His eyes were shining with tears of joy, and his lips were parted as he seemed to find her absolutely breathtaking. He looked like he couldn't believe that she was there in front of him, because this moment was perfect. And he seemed to think that he was the luckiest man in the entire universe to be able to marry her twice.
She kept on looking at Killian and Henry as she was still walking down the aisle, but absently noticed that the man who was standing behind them was the same who had married them in secret a few days before. He discreetly winked at her as she was arriving, what made her smile widely. He seemed as happy as ever to be there, as if he could tell just how endless their love for each other really was.
She finally arrived to the few steps that were leading to the altar, and her parents let go of her there. David kissed her cheek and her mother did the same, and she felt like her heart was growing once again at how sweet the moment was. She thought for a second that it really was going to burst if it continued that way, but she couldn't have cared less. She was just too happy to do anything but smile at the wonderful life that was opening in front of all of them.
As he'd done so the first time, Killian took her hand to help her get beside him. They both knew that this ceremony was much more formal than the first one had been, and that they couldn't really talk to each other before being allowed to exchange their vows. But he didn't need to say anything out loud, because she knew. She could read everything that he was feeling in his gorgeous blue eyes. Pure love for her and for everything they were building together. And she kept his hand in hers as they were both turning toward the man there, who smiled at them both before starting with the ceremony.
He talked for a very long time about love and mutual support, and she only listened absently, as she knew that Killian and her were already sharing this since the day they'd met, and that it would never stop. She focused on the touch of his hand on her skin instead, and on how gently he was stroking her knuckles with his thumb, making her shiver in happiness. She bit her lip as she was trying to etch every single second of this day into her memory to cherish them for the rest of eternity.
She turned her head to look at Henry, as he was staring at the both of them and looking truly moved by the moment. She knew how important this was for her little boy, too. Being able to see his parents getting married was magical for him, and he seemed overexcited and so touched all at the same time. She offered him a wink when she met his gaze, and he answered with a little smile. He really looked like he was happier than he'd ever been before, and that was all she ever wished for him, to be smiling like that forever.
Their little family really was perfect, and the butterflies came back to fly in her stomach as she was thinking about how much she loved the two of them.
"You can now exchange vows."
Henry approached his dad to give him one of the alliances, looking very solemn as he was doing so. The gold of the ring was shining so brightly under the lights of the candles, everyone looked at it for a second in awe. Killian let go of her hand then, to tenderly place the jewel around her finger. They both didn't move for a while, just staring at this promise that they would carry with them every day of their life. Her heart was pounding so strongly in her chest she felt like he could easily hear it too.
"Emma Swan." He finally started, his voice a bit deeper than usual. "I can't even express how happy I am to become your husband today. You are the bravest, most incredible person I know. You are absolutely perfect, so much that it's still hard to believe it sometimes. You gave me everything I could ever have wished for, just by being by my side. I promise you to protect your heart, whatever happens, even if I know that you can protect yourself, because you're so strong. I promise to make you and our son happy, every single day of our lives together. I promise you to love you a bit more with each passing second, and to overcome every obstacle that we could ever encounter together. Nothing could ever break what we have, my love. What we feel is stronger than anything else in the world."
She smiled at him, tears in her eyes as she'd listened to his beautiful speech. She took a deep breath when Henry gave her the other wedding band, and shared a grin with her son for a second. Then she gently took Killian's hand and placed the ring where it belonged as well. She kept his fingers in between hers, watching their rings shining together for a while. She finally looked up after a moment, losing herself into the blue of his eyes, and she began to speak.
"Killian Jones, you're the love of my life ever since the first moment I saw you. You showed me that I could trust again and that I could be happy. You proved me that I was enough and that I would be very loved, someday. You've never stopped trying to take care of Henry or me since we met, and you've always been by my side, even when we were physically separated. You're so strong, brave and wonderful, and I admire you beyond words for the amazing man you are. I promise you to never give up on us and to never let you down. I promise to show you how incredible you are every day, even if I know that you find it hard to believe it sometimes. I promise you to build this happiness and this future by your side, no matter what. I love you so much. Always and forever."
The room was silent, everyone deeply touched by how pure their vows had been. They let the quiet settle in for a second as they were both looking at each other, lost in their own little world. When the man beside them started to talk again, they still didn't stop staring into each other's eyes. He stated then, a smile clearly audible in his voice.
"Killian Jones, do you take this woman to be your wife, and promise to love her for all eternity?"
"I do." He answered in the second, pronouncing the same words they'd told each other barely a few days before this moment.
"Emma Swan, do you take this man to be your husband, and promise to love him for all eternity?"
"I do." She answered immediately as well, her voice shaking a little bit with how happy she was.
"I then pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The man said, still grinning widely.
Killian placed his hook on the small of her back and her hands came to wrap around his neck and bring him close. They both leaned at the same time, and their lips met for a tender kiss. They were well aware that this sweet gesture couldn't be too passionate, because a lot of people were looking at them, but they didn't really need it to be. The love she could read between them in this moment was worth everything, and she felt it in her bones as they were promising each other that their love would always stay endless.
Emma forgot everything then. She forgot that it was at this exact moment that Regina had come to interrupt her parents' wedding all those years before. She forgot that her threat was still there, hanging above their heads, and that she could come and attack them at anytime. She just enjoyed her husband's embrace and the love of this wonderful man. She was so happy to feel him against her, and could barely hear the cheering of the crowd all around them. All that was existing was him, and she would have wanted this moment to last forever.
They had still so many beautiful things to live together. They were going to be very happy for the rest of their lives. They could overcome anything, even death, because their love was just too strong to be broken. She could feel it deep inside of her as she was kissing her husband, this was for the rest of eternity. She'd found true love. She'd found a home. And she could tell that this man would make her feel that special until the end of time and even beyond that.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you are, already?" Killian said in her ear as he'd wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her close to his chest.
"At least a hundred times, but I don't mind hearing it at all." Emma chuckled, what made him laugh as well.
"Good." He replied gently. "Because you're breathtaking, and I plan on repeating this to you many, many times."
"Tonight, or forever?" She said teasingly.
"For the rest of eternity, my Swan. You'll always be the most beautiful woman on earth to me."
She smiled and turned in his arms to face him. His blue eyes were staring at her so intensely her heart fluttered for the umpteenth time that day. She placed one hand over his heart to feel the beats against her palm, and the other went up to run through his dark locks. She looked at him for another little while, then she placed herself on her tiptoe to press a little peck on his lips. Their wedding bands seemed so bright in the lights of the room, and she was so happy she felt a bit dizzy with it.
"Mom? Dad? Can I talk to you for a second?" A little voice suddenly said beside them and they pulled away, Killian's arm still wrapped around her waist to keep her against him.
They both looked at their son as they hadn't heard him approaching, too lost in their little bubble of happiness. They were standing in a corner of the room as dozens of employees were getting the place ready to welcome all the guests for dinner. They'd of course offered their help, but her parents had strongly refused it, telling them that it was their day and that they needed to enjoy it. So they'd simply spent these few moments between the ceremony and the party together, kissing and laughing with each other, because they just couldn't get enough of the perfect bond they were sharing.
Henry had been helping his grandparents until then, but he was now standing beside Emma and Killian, looking a bit nervous with what he had to tell them. His expression intrigued his mom, and she pulled a little bit away from her husband to look at her little boy intently. Seeing that he was very obviously worried, she placed her hand on his shoulder and waited for him to look into her eyes before saying in a gentle voice.
"Are you okay, kiddo?"
"Yeah." He nodded, offering her a shy smile. "I just have something to ask you."
"Anything, lad." Killian said right away. "This is your day too, and you can tell us anything."
That made Henry smile, for real this time, and he took a deep breath before continuing. Killian came to approach them too, wrapping his left arm around Emma again and looking at their son with a comforting expression, trying to show him that whatever was happening in his mind, everything was going to be just fine. Finally, after a second, the little boy started to talk again and he said in a small voice.
"I'm actually thinking about something quite important since I know that you're going to get married, but I don't know if you'll think that it's a good idea or not."
"Hey, I'm sure that it is." Emma tried to reassure him. "Whatever it is, Henry, it's okay. Just tell us."
"Well..." He hesitated for a while, then decided to finally go for it. "You know, Dad, you've always been a father to me ever since the first time we met." He stated seriously, looking straight into Killian's eyes.
"And you've always been a son to me." He answered immediately, obviously knowing that something crucial was about to happen.
"It wasn't official until now, though." The little boy said with a smile at his father's words. "But now you're married to Mom, so you're officially my step-dad. And I was wondering..."
"Aye?" Killian gently encouraged him.
"Would you be okay with me taking your last name, too? Can I become Henry Swan-Jones?"
Killian stayed speechless for a minute, and Emma felt how touched he was in her own bones. She had to admit that she was pretty moved, too. This request from their boy was definitely unexpected, and she found it so beautiful, as father and son both loved each other so much. Blood didn't matter, Killian really was Henry's dad. This day was getting better and better, and she could have cried from happiness at what she was witnessing.
Finally, after a few seconds during which Henry looked up at him in worry because of his silence, Killian let go of Emma to kneel in front of their son and hug him close to his heart. The little boy rested his head on his father's shoulder and smiled, as if he already knew the answer to his question. After another instant of quiet, her husband said at last, his voice shaking just a little bit.
"Henry, this would be my honor to have you wear my name. Gods, lad. You have no idea how happy this makes me."
"Really?" Their little boy asked, grinning as he was hearing these words and pulling away to look at his father more easily.
"You're my son." Killian said, placing a hand on Henry's shoulder again. "I couldn't be happier that you chose me to be your father. And I'm so proud of you, a little bit more every day. You're an amazing lad, Henry. It's such a joy to be able to see you grow up, and hearing you ask me this today is the most amazing thing."
"You've always been there for me." Henry then answered, tears in his eyes as he was listening to his dad say all these beautiful things. "I love you."
"I love you too, so much." Killian said before hugging him once again.
When they pulled away after a few seconds, Henry looked up at Emma again. She was fighting against herself in order not to start crying, and she sniffed discreetly as she was so happy to see her two boys always being so close. Her son asked her, seeming very serious and a bit worried, as if he were scared that she could refuse his wonderful request.
"What do you think about this, Mom?"
"Oh, kid." She said immediately, her voice a bit muffled by her tears. "I think that this is an incredible idea. I'm so glad that we're such a perfect little family. And even if I didn't agree with this, which is obviously not the case, it wouldn't be my place to refuse, you know? This is between you and your dad. And I'm so happy to hear you ask this today."
The smile Henry offered her then made one tear roll down her face, and she squatted, trying not to trip over her dress, to hug him tighty too. Killian wrapped his arms around the both of them, and they shared a long, intense embrace all together there, as she could feel that her husband was about to start crying as well. This was so amazing she could hardly believe it. She felt like the luckiest woman on earth to have such a sweet, adorable family to share her life with.
They were interrupted in their little moment by her mother's voice, who had obviously no idea of what was going on. Teasingly, she said. "You guys are too adorable. Come on, now, dinner is going to be served soon."
It made her chuckle slightly, and she finally stood back up, wiping off the tears from her cheeks as Killian was discreetly doing the same. She smiled at her son, and realized with surprise that the guests had actually started to arrive for dinner, which would be followed by a ball in their honor. During their intense discussion, everything had been organized, and her parents were sitting at the long table facing all the others, which were placed in circle around the empty spot that would later be used as the dance area.
Deciding to listen to her mother, because everyone was now waiting for them, she took Killian's hand in hers and they shared a look at this amazing moment they'd just lived. Then, with Henry by their side, they finally walked to the main table and sat down at the center of it, as their son was settling next to his mom. She couldn't help but look at her two boys in awe as they were both surrounding her, feeling so complete with them by her side. They were perfect, and their future would be too. She was just so proud of them.
Dinner was served a few minutes later, as everyone had settled in and Emma's heart was still pounding fast at Henry's beautiful request. Their little boy still couldn't help but smile, looking happier than he'd even been, and Killian seemed completely awestruck with what had just happened. His eyes were still shining proudly as he was looking at his son, and she knew just how much this meant for him. She could tell that her husband had lived one of the best moments of his life, and she couldn't have been more thrilled for him. He deserved this happiness so much after everything that he'd been through.
And she tried to etch all these moments into her memory, because this was absolutely perfect. The food was delicious and the wine was flowing, even if Emma and Killian were discreetly sharing a flask of rum to celebrate their union and this amazing day. Everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun, and her husband was regularly pressing little kisses on her lips or cheek, seeming like he couldn't look away from her even for a second.
At the end of the meal, Emma's head was pleasantly spinning a little bit, because of the rum and the huge happiness that she was experiencing. As they were eating dessert, her father suddenly stood up and gently banged his knife against the side of his glass, announcing the toast he wanted to make. Everyone stopped talking immediately and all the eyes were on him in a second as he was smiling widely at the guests. Emma didn't know that he'd planned on making a speech, and she looked at him in surprise as he was beginning to talk, looking so happy she couldn't help but grin as well.
"Emma, Killian, this is our greatest pleasure to be able to witness your wedding today. You both love each other so much, and you deserve this happiness you've found together. I'm so happy to have you here in this castle with us. Emma, it's an honor to learn about you a bit more every day, and I'll always be proud of you. You're incredibly strong and loving, and we're the happiest to have you in our lives, because you make every second brighter with your presence. Killian, despite our pretty rocky start, I know that you are a good man. You make Emma and Henry very happy, and I'm thrilled to welcome you into the family today. So this is for you two, and for this happiness. Congratulations."
All the guests raised their glass to imitate the King, and Emma placed her hand over her heart, so touched by her father's words. He winked at her, seeing how moved she was, and she whispered a quiet thank you that seemed to make him very happy as well. He sat back down and Killian pressed a little kiss to her cheek, murmuring another I love you to her ear as Henry was looking at the both of them with the biggest grin on his face.
The ball started soon after that. The tradition wanted for Killian and Emma to share a dance alone in the middle of the room, but she hadn't wanted that to happen. She didn't want all these people to be staring at her, while she still didn't feel very comfortable dancing, despite Killian who would always tell her that she was a natural. She really wanted her first dance with her husband to be a happy moment, and not to be ruined by her anxiety. So Killian had talked about it with David, and her father had understood her feelings perfectly. Everything happened a bit differently than it was supposed to then, and everyone was invited to join them as they were standing in each other's arms, ready for their first waltz as a married couple.
As Killian's hook was placed on the small of her back, and as she was lost into the deep blue of his eyes, she thought for the thousandth time that day that she was definitely a very lucky woman. He would never have done anything to make her feel uncomfortable, and he hadn't hesitated to break the tradition for her. She knew that this moment would stay with her for the rest of her life, and she smiled, holding his hand a little bit tighter. When the orchestra finally started to play a gentle melody, she wasn't even nervous anymore and let him lead her into this tender dance that she'd become so familiar with.
A lot of couples had actually come to join them to share this moment. Quickly looking around her, Emma saw her parents, Ariel and Eric, Ella and Thomas and so many more of Snow and David's friends. They were all moving together in harmony, but she was too busy looking at Killian to realize how beautiful the scene actually looked. On that moment, he was all that existed and she felt like she could fly from the incredible love she had for him.
As he was dipping her, he took advantage of her position to press a quick but tender kiss on her lips, what made her laugh against him. And they kept on dancing long after the first waltz was over, just enjoying the other's arms and this amazing, unforgettable moment. His eyes were on her and his hook was still holding her close, and she felt like they'd become one.
Husband and wife. They really were married, and it was known by everyone now. This was literally heaven.
The music suddenly grew slower, allowing her to wrap her arms around his neck and glue her body to his. They were so close, she just had to lean a bit in order to kiss him. He was everywhere, his hand and hook on her waist, his scent invading her and she felt like she was floating. With a smile, she told him in a whisper.
"Can you imagine that you're officially a prince, now?"
"That's right." He said, raising his eyebrows in surprise as if it were the first time he was truly realizing it, and it made her laugh. "Who could have thought that I would one day be part of a royal family."
"Who would have guessed that I would, too." She shrugged, because their lives had definitely taken a very interesting turn. "Prince Killian Jones… I like it. It suits you."
"Princess Emma Swan-Jones suits you, too." He winked at her.
"I can't believe that we all share the same name, now. Henry too. This is so beautiful." She added, gently running her fingers through his hair.
"I wasn't expecting this request from him." He confessed softly. "I didn't even know what to say. This lad really is amazing, and I couldn't be prouder of being his father. I just hope that he knows that."
"Oh, he knows, babe, don't worry. He adores you. All of this… this is perfect. It's better than any dream could ever be."
"I feel the same way, my Swan. You make me the happiest man, you know that, aye?" He asked gently.
"I know, and you make me happier than I've ever been."
"And I'll keep on trying to make you smile every day, because I just want you to be happy." He promised, briefly pressing his lips to her forehead. "I love you, darling."
"I love you, too. Beyond words and beyond everything."
They shared a kiss again then, tender and sweet, as if to promise each other all those things they'd just said out loud. They were going to always support and protect each other, and she thought that life couldn't get any better than that, as she was dancing in the arms of the man that was the center of her world.
They ended up taking a little break as they were waltzing for a very long time, to go get some water and enjoy some rest. They shared kisses in a corner of the room and watched their son talking enthusiastically to some of the kids of his age that had come with their parents, as Henry looked very happy to be able to make some friends. Killian hadn't let go of her waist once, wanting to hold her close, but they however got interrupted by an unexpected visit that both made them smile tenderly. A little girl was suddenly there, tugging at Killian's jacket and looking up at him a bit shyly with her big curious eyes.
Emma immediately recognized Melody, Ariel and Eric's daughter. She'd seemed to adore Killian the first time she'd met him, and she'd obviously not forgotten about him. She stared at him seriously when he looked down to smile at her, and she asked in a small voice.
"Could I have a dance with you, sir?"
Killian seemed to find the question absolutely adorable, and he gently pulled away from Emma to crouch and be at eye level with the little girl. He took her hand and looked at her with a small smile, playing along with how serious she was being. Emma couldn't help but find the moment utterly amazing, and she held a bit back, thinking once again the Killian was definitely so good with kids. He always managed to make them feel important, and he really was the best dad Henry could ever have wished for.
"That would be my honor, milady." He said gently, and the little girl finally grinned at his answer. He added, turning to Emma and saying teasingly. "Sorry, love. I'm afraid I have to leave you for a few moments."
"That's okay." She laughed. "Have fun, little princess, alright?" She winked at Melody, who smiled back at her.
Killian picked the little girl up as she was wrapping her arms around his neck, and he brought her to the dance area to make her waltz in rhythm with the music. Melody seemed absolutely delighted, and she laughed out loud as Killian was obviously joking to make her smile. Emma looked at them for a long time, a smile dancing on her lips as she was watching her husband being the kindest man ever. She was sure that she could have stared at him forever.
An idea crossed her mind then, without her fully realizing what it truly meant. She would only completely understand what she'd pictured in her head much later. But for now, she was simply thinking that he really was the best with children, and in a quick flash that lasted for an insane second, the little girl with dark hair that he was holding became one with blond locks, that was calling him daddy. Their daughter, even if she couldn't really grasp it on that moment. Simply because he was amazing with Henry, and she couldn't have hoped for a better role model for their son. And maybe, even if she wasn't conscious of these thoughts yet, for all their future kids to come.
But right now, and even though this was obviously huge, she just shook her head and these thoughts disappeared. She didn't ask herself one question, thinking that it was probably just the rum talking. Killian and her had never talked about having other kids. They'd never been in a stable situation before, and they were only settling in this new life that was being offered to them, all while Regina was back to threaten the entire kingdom. So she simply forgot that this idea had even crossed her mind and she started paying attention to her surroundings again.
As if nothing at all had happened, she walked to go join Henry as he was pouring himself a glass of orange juice. She placed her hand on his shoulder and he turned to look at her with a smile. He was beaming, looking so happy about everything that had happened that day. She took his hands as he was placing his glass back on the table, and she gently led him to the dance area too, saying with a smile.
"Could I have this dance, kiddo?"
He nodded with a huge smile still on his face, and she made him spin on himself as he was laughing out loud. She danced with him and they shared jokes for a few minutes, making him playfully roll his eyes but chuckle all at the same time. Finally, after a while, he said happily.
"You know, Mom, this is like the best day ever. I'm so glad that you and Dad are finally married."
"And I'm so glad that you're happy, Henry." She said tenderly. "I can see it in your eyes. If you could keep that smile for the rest of your life, I would be the happiest mom on earth."
"It's just… It means a lot to me that I'm officially Dad's son, now that I've taken his last name, too. He's been a father to me for so long, and I love our family so much."
"Believe me, kiddo, he's so incredibly happy to have you as his son, too. He adores you, and he is so proud of you. As I am. We're the perfect little family, the three of us, aren't we?"
He agreed enthusiastically, and they kept on talking for a minute, just being as close as ever, as they'd always had the greatest relationship since the little boy was born. Killian came to join them after a while, and he looked at them for a minute with a tenderized smile, before solemnly asking Henry for Emma's hand back. That made their son laugh, and he came to hug Killian for a second before going back to his own friends. His father smiled at that, and he came back to his wife, taking her against him again and kissing her forehead.
The party lasted for a very long time. Emma shared a dance with her father as well, as he was murmuring to her ear just how proud he was of her again, making her smile widely. She spent most of her time with Killian, kissing and dancing with her husband until her feet grew painful and her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. The guests ended up leaving as it was already quite late, and they all came to congratulate them one last time as they were waving to bid them goodbye. Killian's arm was still around her waist and her head was resting against his shoulder, because they just didn't want to let go of each other.
The night was well settled by the time everyone had left, but despite her exhaustion, Emma didn't want this day to end. She knew that this was just the beginning of their lives together, and she prayed for this happiness to last forever. So, wanting to extend these beautiful times just for a bit longer, they spent another little while in the main room with her parents, Kate and Chiara, simply thanking them for the day and enjoying this perfect moment all together.
Henry almost fell asleep as soon as he climbed into his bed, still smiling as he'd dived into his dreams. After closing his door behind them to let him sleep in peace, they finally headed for their own room, as Killian was leading her to their bed, his eyes darkened with pure love and his arms locked around her. She could already feel her desire burning in her lower stomach, and she bit her lip as he was asking in a raspy voice.
"Second wedding night?"
He made her sit down on their sheets, and she answered playfully. "Technically speaking, the first one was a wedding morning." Seeing that he was looking at her in a falsely annoyed way, she added. "Second wedding night with pleasure, babe."
She leaned to press her mouth against his, and they spent the night promising that they would love each other for the rest of eternity, other than with words this time.
They were vaguely exhausted but deeply happy when they headed for the dining room to share breakfast with her parents the next morning. The day of their wedding had been pretty eventful to say the least, and they hadn't really taken the time to rest during the night either, just wanting to enjoy each other as much as they possibly could. They had simply stayed in each other's arms in between their moments of love, trying to catch their breaths and thinking about their luck to have found each other.
They joined Snow, David and Henry downstairs, yawning at how tired they were and hand in hand because they just couldn't let go. Her mother smiled at them, seeming slightly amused by how exhausted they looked as David was obviously a little bit embarrassed, but none of them made any kind of comment. They just asked what they wanted to eat for breakfast, and normally started with their meal, as they both just couldn't stop looking at each other.
Emma was so focused on Killian that she didn't even notice how happy her parents seemed right away. They were almost bouncing up and down on their seats, she realized after a while, and this intrigued her for a moment before she decided that it was all probably because of the wedding. Everything had gone so incredibly well, and they could see that she was immensely happy to be married to the man she loved. The kingdom was calm too, Regina hadn't come to ruin their day, and everything was perfectly peaceful. They had many reasons to be smiling that big, and she then tried not to pay attention to Snow and David's strange behavior.
She only understood what all of this was about as she was finishing her plate. Her mother started to speak, saying out of the blue "We have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" Emma repeated, wondering what it could possibly be this time. She absently thought that she probably had to get used to this, given how her parents seemed to love offering them things ever since they'd all come to live at the castle.
"A wedding gift, actually." David nodded with a smile. "Henry, this is for you, too."
"But you've already organized the entire ceremony." Emma protested. "You didn't need to give us anything else. This was more than enough."
"Oh, but you're going to like it." Snow chuckled slightly.
"What is it?" Henry asked then, grinning widely as Killian and Emma were sharing a glance.
"Come with us, you'll see."
The royal couple stood up, looking vaguely excited about this, but Emma could also read a little bit of nervousness in their eyes. Henry didn't wait to follow them, as always very impatient to know more when it came to surprises. She interlaced her fingers with Killian's, and he shrugged as she was throwing him another questioning look. He had obviously no idea of what was going on either, and he seemed a little bit worried about all of this as well, because they really had no clue of what her parents had in mind.
She however forced herself to relax a bit, helped by the touch of her husband's hand in hers. Her parents' surprises had always been excellent ones, and she could tell that she was going to like this. She just had to get used to all these nice intentions after being mistrustful of everything for so long. She was aware that she still had to work in order to bring those huge walls down, but she was making progress, and trusting David and Snow on this was definitely an important step to take. So she ended up following them too, and tried to stop wondering so much. She would know soon enough, anyway.
They went up the stairs that led to the first floor in silence, walking passed their room without stopping. Her parents brought them to another staircase without saying a word, but she could see that they were exchanging happy looks every few seconds. They followed them to the second floor, more and more puzzled as they were entering another hallway.
Emma obviously knew the castle pretty well given all the time she'd already spent there, as it'd been almost a year since she'd first stepped into this place. But she had to admit that the palace was so big, she probably hadn't seen half of it yet. She'd only been in the few rooms that they would use all the time, but she was well aware that there was still so much more to see. Snow and David were actually taking them to a part of their home that she had never seen before, and she really had no idea of where they were going with this.
The sounds of their steps were muffled by the beautiful rugs covering the floor. Finally, after a while, her parents stopped in front of a huge door, standing in the back of a long corridor. It was closed and she couldn't see what was behind it yet, and she wondered for a minute what was awaiting for them there. But Snow and David turned to them then, and her mother said, looking a bit nervous and biting her lower lip as she was talking.
"Before we show you anything, we want you to know that you're not forced to accept this at all if you don't think that this is a good idea. It has to be your choice, okay?"
"You do know that we can't actually refuse anything if we don't know what this is about, right?" Emma gently teased, trying to make her mother smile.
"I'm sure that we're going to love it." Killian added with a little grin to reassure the couple.
It made David return his smile, and he seemed to relax just a little bit. Without adding anything else, he finally moved to open the door leading to something they still couldn't see, and he gestured for them to go in. Her hand was still linked to Killian's and, Henry walking behind them, they entered the mysterious room there. She raised her eyebrows, intrigued and still not really understanding what was going on. The situation was surprising, to say the least.
They were indeed now standing in what seemed to be a living room. A huge fireplace was opening not far from them, and was surrounded by welcoming couches with colorful pillows displayed on them. In another corner, dozens of beautiful books were placed on several huge shelves, and she saw Henry approaching them curiously to go read the titles of these novels that he didn't know.
She was very confused. She had expected to find an object behind this closed door, anything really, but this was just an ordinary room. She still knew that there had to be a very good reason for her parents to have brought them into this part of the palace that she'd never seen before. She turned to them then, as they were still standing near the door and were looking at them nervously. She opened her mouth to ask what this was all about, but she suddenly got interrupted by her own thoughts.
Her eyes fell on a corner of the living room, and she blinked in surprise. There was an actual kitchen there, with everything they could possibly need to cook a meal, as well as a wooden table with six chairs spread around it. Three doors were also opening in the walls, leading to other rooms that she couldn't see very well given the darkness surrounding them. She could still guess that these were actually bedrooms, as she was able to see the outlines of the beds placed in there.
And then, she finally understood.
Her parents were offering them their own apartment.
She shook her head, not really believing in this conclusion yet because this was too crazy to be true, and she met Killian's eyes to try and guess what he was thinking about all of this. She could tell that he'd realized what was happening too now, because he seemed as awestruck as she was. She didn't know what to say at all, and she wondered if she wasn't simply making false assumptions about the situation. Seeing that they had finally grasped everything though, Snow started to talk again, her voice almost shy as she was saying.
"These apartments have been vacant for years. We barely ever use this part of the castle anymore, since we've always been used to eating in the big dining room all together. But you weren't raised this way and we know that you miss your intimacy sometimes. So we thought that this could help. You have everything you need to live here. You have a kitchen, and we'll ask for the employees to bring you food if you wish to cook some things yourselves. There is a door nearby to go out to the gardens, and you only have to walk a bit to come to the library or the training room that you already know."
"The other apartments around were once inhabited by a few employees that came to live with their family here a long time ago." David continued. "There are however all empty now. You'll have this part of the castle entirely to yourselves. We would of course love for you to still come and share meals with us from time to time, but we thought that you would probably like your own little place, since it is what you've been used to before coming here. There's a room for Henry, one for you, a storeroom and two bathrooms. We tried to do everything for you to be comfortable here… if you want to move in here, of course.
Emma only had to share a brief look with her son, who was grinning from ear to ear, and one with Killian as his eyes were shining with pure joy, to know exactly what their answer was going to be. This felt like a dream, and this was so unexpected she wanted to pinch herself to make sure that she wasn't actually imagining all of this. She liked living in the castle, for sure. She liked her new friends and spending time with her parents. But she was missing these times on the Jolly Roger, just Killian, Henry and her. And Snow and David were now giving them the amazing opportunity to find this back, and to have everything.
She didn't answer anything out loud, because she didn't even know what to say. So instead, she approached both her parents to wrap her arms around them and hug them tightly. This gift was touching her so much, because it meant that she could find her little family back, while still being able to be with Snow and David. She didn't have to run away ever again, because this was the perfect solution to all of their problems.
Her reaction made her father laugh slightly as her mother was sighing in relief. "Is that a yes?" Snow asked in a low voice
"Of course, it's a yes." Emma murmured, a bit stunned and so deeply happy. "I don't even know what to say. Thank you so much. It really means a lot."
They both simply held her a bit closer to them, looking very touched by her joy as well. She still just couldn't believe that this was all real and she actually felt a bit dizzy with how surprised she was. Snow and David quickly showed them around the apartment when they pulled away from her, and she finally realized that it was soon going to be theirs, truly. There was a big bedroom for her and Killian, a slightly smaller one for Henry, and another that would be used for storage, as her father had told them before. A fire was burning in the chimney, and everything was comfortable, welcoming and colorful.
It felt like home.
This was the best gift Emma could ever have imagined for them. She was a princess now, even if it was still hard to fully realize it sometimes, but her parents were now giving her the opportunity to live normally with her husband and son, like an ordinary family. They could cook their own food and simply be together, just like they'd done before. Snow had been raised as a royal, she'd always been used to having her meals cooked for her, to being dressed and being taken care of, but this wasn't Emma's case. She truly missed her independence sometimes, even if she'd never said it out loud.
But everything was simply perfect now.
They all were so surprised that they didn't even know how to react. They just thanked Snow and David hundreds of times, until they laughed and told them that it was enough, and that it was their pleasure to offer this to them. Henry seemed so happy to find this balance back with his parents, and was looking all around the place, as if he wanted to make sure that all of this was real.
They just couldn't wait to be all together again, and they decided to move in that same night.
Her parents and some of the employees helped them to carry all their belongings to this new apartment after dinner, and amazingly quickly, they were all ready to settle in and make this their new home. Snow and David kissed them goodbye, looking genuinely glad but also slightly sad that they were so far from them now. They were living in the same castle, but this was definitely a big change, and Emma promised them that they would come and share at least one meal a day all together. She didn't want to break this new relationship that they were slowly building with each other. They could have everything, this big family and their own place, and she swore that they were going to be very happy there.
And soon, they found themselves alone in this new apartment where they could build their marriage and find each other again. Henry didn't take long to fall asleep that evening, excited to spend his first night in this new room that was now all his. And she was left alone with Killian in the living room as the night had settled in, smiling up at him as their hearts seemed to be beating in unison. He looked at her with so much love she felt the familiar butteflies in her stomach again, and he wrapped both his arms around her waist to bring her close.
"This feels like a dream." He said in a whisper, looking so incredibly happy.
"It really does. Our weddings, this apartment… This is just perfect." She answered, her own arms around his neck as she was watching him.
"And I do plan on fully enjoying our first night here, my love." He teased then, leaning to kiss her lips.
It made her laugh and she led him to their new room, closing the door with her foot because she didn't want to pull away from him even for a second. They wholly enjoyed this huge bed that was now theirs that night – several times. And as she couldn't help but let go of a little moan of pleasure, she thanked the gods that Henry's room was on the other side of the apartment, and that he could fortunately not hear them. This was definitely a very good way to start their lives as a married couple, lives that would be filled with all these wonderful things she couldn't even imagine yet.
I hope you guys liked this chapter! Thanks again for all the support!
