A/N: Emma has a realization while in the Underworld. The outcome? A proposal of course. Inspired by one of my all time favorite songs 'Be Without You' by Mary J Blige, which gives me the feels no matter what. It was a pleasure to incorporate into the mixtape, and I hope you guys enjoy!
As she trekked through the graveyard for more clues with her mother, Emma thought again that she really, really wanted to be back home. She could do without the worry and the stress, and she hated to see her parents and her family struggling as she did. Her parents especially were missing Neal, their faces constantly etched in worry. Every second that they all were here, Emma felt guilt weighing down on her. Her brother, small and unaware as he was, deserved his parents, and her parents deserved their second chance to watch it all happen.
That had bothered her before, the fact that they wanted a redo, but now, Emma was more secure in who she was, and in her relationship with her parents. They'd chosen her, and they always would, going so far as to risk the chance at their future with Neal to help her find her love again. She would always be grateful, and in many ways, the choice they'd made to follow her and to save Killian had smoothed over so much of the hurt and pain from her childhood. Their love was real and certain, and they were fighting for her just as hard as they fought for her brother.
"I always liked early autumn for weddings." Her mother's comment pulled Emma from her own thoughts.
"What?" Emma couldn't keep the shock from her voice. Snow only smiled in return.
"I just keep thinking of things to look forward to, when we get home. Early autumn would be best. It can still be outside, but not too hot." This would have been the moment Emma would freak or deny or… something. But Emma simply processed her mother's statement.
"I wouldn't have any idea how to go about planning a wedding, but I always love the way the leaves look in September." Her mother grabbed her hand and smiled.
"You leave the planning to me. If there's one thing being a Queen has taught me, it's how to throw a party." Then it happened, Emma felt the giggle growing in her chest, she felt lighter, as the sound passed her lips and was released into the air.
Laughing in the red hell scape wasn't something Emma ever expected to do, but she couldn't help it. Despite the decay around them, despite the danger and the risk, Emma was having a moment, a good moment. Leave it to her to have to kind of die to get there, but now that she had this clarity, she wasn't letting go. Her father chose that moment to find them and commented on Emma's happy expression.
"What is it? Did you find something?" Mary Margaret patted Emma's hand and whispered.
"She's about to." Emma hugged her Mom close and waved goodbye to her parents, setting off to find Killian. She ran through the streets of Underbrooke, trying to get back to the inverted loft and by extension to Killian. When she got there, he was mercifully alone, holding down the fort.
"Emma, love, can I get you something?" He turned towards the kitchen, waving towards the provisions they had.
"Marry me, Killian." His head swung around so quickly, she worried he would hurt himself, and his blue gaze was wide and confused, but at its core, drenched in hope.
"What did you say?" She stepped forward and put her hand against his chest.
"I told you to marry me. But I guess I should have asked, right? So, will you marry me, Killian Jones?" He stared at her, slack jawed, clearly shocked, and Emma laughed again. She had actually managed to make him speechless with her words for once. Usually it was the other way around.
"Emma, love, I don't understand." She closed the space between them and pressed her lips to his gently before pulling back.
"Remember when we first met, and we climbed the beanstalk?" He nodded.
"Aye, love, I do." She could see the burn of red in his cheeks, and knew he was probably not liking what he remembered, his flirtation and her cold hard replies. She ran her hand along the scruff of his beard and continued.
"You asked me if I had ever been in love. I told you that I hadn't, and it wasn't true. Only it kind of was, because I've never been in love like this, not until you. It took time, and people thought it wouldn't last, but despite all that, I'm never happier than when I am with you. I never feel safer than when I'm in your arms, and I never want to go another day without you by my side. So marry me, please. Because I love you, and I don't want to be without you."
"I think it is I who should be asking you, but hell if I care. Yes, Emma, I will marry you. Nothing would make me happier." Emma was so overjoyed at his response, that she pulled him down for a kiss, one that instantly ran passed demanding and on to sizzling. If he hadn't pulled back, Emma would have demanded they move upstairs, and address the overwhelming need clawing at her, but as it was, she wanted to hear him out, so she brought them down to sit on the couch together.
"Emma, love, I feel it only honorable to tell you that you shouldn't marry me because you fear my leaving. Nothing could keep me away from you, clearly not even death." He smiled at that and she shook her head.
"It's not about fear. It's about hope, and truth, and our future. It's about what we're fighting for. I want to fight to get home. I want the big white wedding, which I didn't think I ever would have. I want my Dad to walk me down the aisle and my Mom to use a whole box of Kleenex crying. I want to see my son in his first tuxedo, and most of all I want to get to you and stand up in front of everyone in our crazy little town to tell them you're mine." His voice came out rougher than usual, as if charged with emotion.
"I want all of that too, Emma. More than anything." His lips were on hers again, and she clutched at his dark hair, that was getting so long as time was passing. Oh well, the better to run her fingers through. This time though, she pulled back, having one last thing to say.
"There's something else. When we get married… I think I want… no I know I want more kids." She felt his arms tighten around her.
"You mean it, Swan?" The happiness in his voice was undeniable and she looked up into his blue eyes and saw all the love in the world there. She nodded, tears gathering in her eyes and spilling over happily onto her cheeks. His thumb cleared them away.
"I love you. And I want the whole thing. I want every part of the happily ever after." He stood up, extending his hand to bring her with him.
"Then you shall have it love. Now come on, we've got a bloody maniacal lord of the Underworld to defeat."
Perhaps it was just good timing, or perhaps it was the new driving force that motivated her and the others, but they did just that, staking out the impossible – a path that lead them all home. And when they got there, Emma and Killian made good on their wishes and dreams for the future. They did indeed get a fairytale ending, and truth be told, it was one that was worthy of any true love.
…
Chemistry was crazy from the get-go
Neither one of us knew why
We didn't build nothing overnight
'Cause a love like this takes some time
People swore it off as a phase
Said we can't see that
Now from top to bottom
They see that we did that (yes)
It's so true that (yes)
We've been through it (yes)
We got real shit (yes)
See, baby, we been...
Too strong for too long (and I can't be without you, baby)
And I'll be waiting up until you get home ('cause I can't sleep without you, baby)
Anybody who's ever loved ya know just what I feel
Too hard to fake it, nothing can replace it
Call the radio if you just can't be without your baby
I got a question for ya
See I already know the answer
But still I wanna ask you
Would you lie? (No)
Make me cry? (No)
Do somethin' behind my back and then try to cover it up?
Well, neither would I, baby
My love is only your love (yes)
I'll be faithful (yes)
I'm for real (yes)
And with us you'll always know the deal
We've been...
Too strong for too long (and I can't be without you, baby)
And I'll be waiting up until you get home ('cause I can't sleep without you, baby)
Anybody who's ever loved ya know just what I feel
Too hard to fake it, nothing can replace it
Call the radio if you just can't be without your baby
See this is real talk
I'm a always stay (no matter what)
Good or bad (thick and thin)
Right or wrong (all day, everyday)
Now if you're down on love, or don't believe
This ain't for you (no, this ain't for you)
And if you got it deep in your heart
And deep down you know that it's true (come on, come on, come on)
Well, let me see you put your hands up (hands up)
(Fellas, tell your lady she's the one)
Fellas, tell your lady she's the one, oh
Put your hands up (hands up)
(Ladies, let him know he's got your love)
Look him right in his eyes and tell him
We've been...
Too strong for too long (and I can't be without you, baby)
And I'll be waiting up until you get home ('cause I can't sleep without you, baby)
Anybody who's ever loved ya know just what I feel
Too hard to fake it, nothing can replace it
Call the radio if you just can't be without your baby
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you
Post-Note: Two chapters today guys, mostly because I am shameless and love me some proposal fluff. Where as my other update today had Killian popping the question, I felt like I hadn't written Emma writing in a while, so here we are. Hope you guys enjoy!