So I am taking a moment from flailing over NYCC spoilers and snippets to post this. This chapter is pretty long, but I had to set up the next chapter that is going to have a bit of drama. But now with some wedding fluff. By the way I was asked how long Killian and Emma have been dating. In this fic about 7 months.

Emma wasn't sure that she would ever truly be over the fact that she had said yes to marrying the man she loved, as she had been so sure earlier that evening that they were going to mutually decide to end things. And yet there in the bedroom with her head resting on his bare chest and her fingers making nonsensical shapes in the wiry hair, she could catch the glint of sapphire and diamond ring that caught the light.

"Should I be worried that you keep staring at that ring as though it is on someone else's hand?" he teased, startling her with the fact that he was still awake. They had arrived home several hours before from the rehearsal dinner and wasted no time pouncing on one another. Taking advantage of the fact that Henry was at Neal's, they had not really talked out any details of anything. Instead they had appreciated the privacy and each other on a few surfaces that were usually off limits.

"Just thinking," she said, twisting her head to prop her chin up and meet his gaze. "You already had a ring?"

He chuckled, running his hand down her bare arm slowly, caressing her left hand and then lacing his fingers with hers. "I purchased it about a month ago. It's not my mother's, though I did have that in mind when I had it designed. I knew I wouldn't find anything in a store that came close to what I would want for you."

Lifting their joined hands toward her, she smiled. "I love it," she told him. "But you didn't answer my question. You have been carrying it around on you?"

"I had a plan," he admitted sheepishly. "Before all this business about the job in Boston, I had arranged with Henry for me to ask you. I was going to take you out on the water for a midnight sail, profess my love to you, and ask you to marry me. I thought that doing so on the water would provide me ample opportunity to beg you if you were hesitant. No place for you to run." He couldn't have missed the way her muscles all tightened at the mention of her tendency to run, but he was patient as she let it course through her. "Love, I didn't do this on a whim. I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

She blinked back her tears. "I want to marry you too," she said, appreciating that his smile grew when she said that just as plainly. His flowery speeches were nice, but he could appreciate her frankness just as much. "We do need to figure out this Boston thing though."

If his hand had been free he probably would have raked it through his hair and or at least given that characteristic swiping scratch behind his ear that he did when nervous or uncomfortable. "I don't wish to take it and be separated from you. I'd rather stay here."

"I hate the idea that you're giving up something so important for me…"

"Some day," he said, lifting their hands to his mouth and giving hers a gentle kiss, "Some day you will realize the depth of my love for you. There is nothing in this world that would make me happier or more content than to spend the rest of my days waking up with you in my arms, laughing and enjoying our time together, making love to you, and wondering what I have done to deserve such a beautiful and brilliant lass. The location and circumstances don't matter at all to me. Neither does my profession. There is nothing I wouldn't do to be with you, my love. I would slay dragons, give you foot massages every night, scrub toilets, procure onion rings for every meal – anything."

She squeezed his hand in hers. "Even sing a duet with Elsa?"

If he had seemed surprised when she agreed to marry him – he may have asked twice more to be sure before driving them home – that question sent his normally cream colored complexion to nearly snow white. His blue eyes grew to the size of saucers and his lips parted wordlessly as he stared at her. "What the bloody hell?"

"I knew you were distracted at lunch," she teased, glad to be on the more knowing end of things. "Regina suggested that your song might do better commercially as a duet. We also decided that it was too soon after releasing the one with Liam and Elsa to do well. So everyone sort of thought you should do it. I told her that you wouldn't, but she insisted that I ask."

"And I agreed to this?" he stammered out, giving his best impression of how he had worried she would wake up and feel seeing the engagement ring on her finger.

"You didn't disagree," she clarified, waiting a beat before laughing. "You don't have to do it. I was just wondering if you were even aware of that conversation. I told you that I'd never pressure you into performing or anything with music. That's your choice what you do with your talent…"

His eyes had been watching her intensely, looking for any sign that she was just teasing or exaggerating. However, there was none and his memories of the awkward lunch only seemed to confirm that she was telling the truth. "When?"

"Killian, you don't have to do it," she said, losing that mischievous glint and tone.

"I'm a man of my word. And perhaps it wouldn't be horrible."

They made no firm decision in those wee hours, instead agreeing only to talk to Elsa and see how she felt. The song, even with Regina's excitement, was first and foremost a wedding gift. And the wedding was only hours away. As soon as that topic changed, his own mannerisms seemed lighter and less taut.

"Should we tell Henry today?" she asked after they decided that announcing their engagement to everyone might be in his words "bad form" at the wedding of another couple. She was not willing to take the ring off, but they had no plans to stand in front of the assembled group and formally declare anything. What could they tell people anyway? They had no wedding plans and there were still things to work out with all of the details.

"I suppose he would like to know how it turned out."

Her brow knitted together as she watched him again pull her hand up, this time adding her wrist to the spots that he brushed his lips against with a smile growing each time. "You told him you were going to ask?"

There was a shyness to his smile as he again pressed his lips to the pulse in her wrist. "I promised him that he would be included on my decision to propose. He may have even accompanied me to the store about your ring."

She tried to recall where they had been over the past few weeks, questioning herself about what she had missed. "The day you shopped with him for Violet's present? Please God tell me that you didn't encourage him to buy her a ring too."

"No, not that date but not long after. And our conversation was quite the opposite, love. But we did discuss my procuring this bauble for you and when I might ask. Plans were for your birthday, actually." He wrinkled his nose. "I suppose I grew impatient."

"That's just next month," she noted. "But I am glad you did it anyway. And apparently my son approves and won't freak out when he finds out you did. Wait…you didn't think you had to ask his permission or something. He's my son, not a parent."

"It wasn't permission as much as it was asking for his blessing. I love you and Henry both. I would not wish to insert myself into your life without his acceptance. And if he had disapproved, I would have just worked harder to win him over. I can be very charming, you know." Thick and dark eyebrows raised and lowered wildly as he teased.

"I guess I have to give you that," she challenged back, squealing as he rolled them so that she was on her back and he hovered over her. "You did make me fall in love with you despite my wishes not to."

"Forced to love a man you can't keep your hands off of," he teased with a click of his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Such a horrible fate. To look at that beautiful smile one would never believe that you are in love with me due to duress. Perhaps I should stage a rescue mission, my love. Should I arrive on a trusty steed and whisk you away, fair princess?" He lowered his mouth to hers, nipping at her bottom lip as their joined hands ground into the pillow next to her ear.

"I don't need rescuing," she breathed out against his mouth, "but I wouldn't mind seeing you on a horse."

The stubble tickled her as he dropped kisses along her jawline and chin before returning briefly to her mouth and back in the line again. However, it was her tiny sighs and moans that caught his attention rather than her giggles. "You sound quite like a lass in distress. Perhaps we should rethink this."

Her freehand found the hair curling at the nape of his neck and buried there as he kissed her slowly and languidly. She pulled him toward her more, but he did not speed up his movements, eliciting frustrated and intense moans from her. "We need to get some sleep," she protested as he again pulled back to appreciate the glow of her skin and her panting smile. "I have to stand up in front of all those people to support my friends. I don't need to look as though I've been doing this all night."

He teased her more both with his body and words as he mentioned that some of her friends might be a bit jealous. It was something that the two of them could experience that she had never felt before – the way they could bring the sass and playfulness into their lives in even the most intimate of moments. Nothing was ever normal or the same about them, both holding onto each other intensely one moment and stifling laughs the next.

And despite the fact that she did have to speak to the makeup artist privately the later that morning about hiding some of the marks he had left, she didn't regret a moment of her time alone with Killian.

***AAA***

Emma ran the tip of her index finger over the back of her earring, checking it again out of fear of losing it. One of the gifts that Mary Margaret had given to her two attendants and Elsa was a set of matching jewelry. The earrings, which were called shooting stars, climbed up her ear with a series of small diamonds. They seemed a bit loose when she first put them in, leaving her to worry about their placement.

"Did you see the loot?" Ruby asked, the dark haired woman looking every bit the fashion model even in her terry cloth robe that matched Emma's and had her name on the back. "She freaking got us personalized baskets of stuff as a thank you for dealing with her melt downs and dramatics. It's like we're celebrities at an awards show getting swag bags."

Emma had seen the overflowing basket of goodies on the table, but had yet to look at it closely and had assumed it was just a generic gift. Curiosity got to her with Ruby's enthusiastic description and sent her scrambling to check. Sure enough her basket was filled with trinkets that probably had not cost that much but were filled with sentimental value. There were notepads with her first initial, a pen with their names and the date of the wedding, photo frames that were filled with shots of the girlfriends having fun at various occasions, a photo that Emma had never seen of herself and Henry from his very first day of school. And a photo that Emma had assumed would be too awkward for the light of day that had been taken the night she and Killian had first had dinner together with the other couple. The stiffness of their poses was evidence of their discomfort, but she could see past it the warmth in Killian's eyes as he looked at her rather than the camera and the way couldn't even hide the smile at his arm strategically hugging her shoulders.

Ruby peered over her shoulder, scoffing a bit. "You look ready to run. I hope your engagement announcement photo is something better than that."

Emma smiled back at her photographed self. "I think we have a few that might work. But honestly I don't think we're going to go through the whole announcement…" She stopped, dropping the frame back among the gifts. "You know?"

Ruby shrugged, sauntering over to the clothing rack where their dresses were hanging. "You forgot to take your ring off until after you got here. And you totally have started that whole throw your hand around like you're the only one in the world to have ever snared a guy and landed a ring on that finger. I mean congrats and all, but you're not fooling anyone."

While she had told Killian that morning that she didn't want to take the ring off, he had pointed out that keeping things under wraps meant no new jewelry on display. Besides, he had promised her, kissing a line from her ear to her mouth. He would appreciate the opportunity to slide it back onto her hand that evening without the nerves of the proposal.

"Yeah, about that," Emma said, her eyes squeezing shut as she steadied herself for the onslaught of Ruby's diatribe about remaining single and not letting a man convert your name. "I was going to tell you soon. I swear. I just didn't want to ruin…"

"Congratulations!" Ruby said, throwing her long arms around her friend. "Seriously. I feel like I'm partially responsible. I mean I did help Granny set you two up."

Emma leaned back out of the embrace and placed the back of her hand against Ruby's cheek and then forehead. "What have you done with Ruby Lucas? You must be an imposter."

"Maybe it's the bottle of champagne in the other room," she said nonchalantly. "Or maybe I'm not the crazed single woman you claim." She pursed her blood red lips. "Or maybe it's the setting. I mean this is pretty sweet and perfectly matrimonial."

Shaking her head, Emma looked toward her friend with mock horror. "I'm going with the champagne and cutting you off. No more drinking until the reception. I don't want to have to roll you down the aisle with a bucket just in case."

"No chance of that," Mary Margaret announced, walking in with as sardonic of a grin as the eternal optimist could muster. "Do you really think that I would tempt my friends with the real stuff before my wedding? You two are giving toasts later. I don't need to worry that you have drank too much and turned into truthful but vindictive little monsters." She lifted the bottle that was in Emma's basket. "See, genuine and 100% fruit juice."

"There goes that theory," Ruby slurred for effect. "Anyway, get this over with. Tell the bride your news so that she can test out this water proof makeup stuff." She swept her arm out grandly and grinned. "And go ahead and promise us now how you won't be abandoning us…"

"Abandoning us?" Mary Margaret asked, looking thoroughly confused. "Wait! Killian isn't…I mean you guys aren't…" She sighed. "You're moving away, aren't you? Killian found a job someplace else and we're going to have to be those friends who Skype and call and eventually just become names on a Christmas card list." She pinched the bridge of her nose with her finger and thumb. "I know this is all part of us being adults, but I hate it. I am going to miss you so much…" She broke off, emitting a strangled sob before launching herself into Emma's arms.

It was Ruby who rolled her eyes first. "Just tell her already."

"I didn't want to ruin your special day," Emma said, glad that the terry cloth robe was so thick that it was absorbing the tears. "But Killian and I got engaged last night…he proposed after your…"

"Engaged?" Mary Margaret asked, her head popping up from where she had buried it in Emma's shoulder and her voice perking up at the word. "Seriously? As in getting married?"

"Unbelievable, right?" Ruby chimed in, pulling Mary Margaret away like the bride was a hysterical fan crushing on an entertainer. "Emma, go get the ring and show her."

Looking back and forth between her two friends, Emma gave in with a sigh and turned to dig the ring out of her bag. She slid it onto her finger, the weight of it already feeling like a familiar friend. As she expected, Mary Margaret oohed and ahhed over the ring, asking questions about the proposal and offering suggestions.

"You mean he didn't get down on one knee or anything?" Ruby asked, pulling her friend's hand over for a better look. "I thought he was more traditional."

"It didn't seem necessary. I'm not big on the whole ceremony for the sake of ceremony." She threw her hand over her mouth with a gasp. "I didn't mean that about today, Mary Margaret."

"No, I get it," the teacher said pulling Emma's left hand back toward her. "You aren't me. You probably would have been okay with the living together forever thing without worrying about getting married. You're more independent than me. And that's one of the things we all love about you."

"I think you're confusing me for you," Emma teased. "I can't have a wedding like this one. I couldn't even halfway fill up this church. I don't have the family and friends…"

"You have more than you think," the bride said with a knowing nod. "I don't have sisters. But I have the two of you. David and I know we won't ever have nieces or nephews because of that. But I have Henry and whoever else comes along. I never knew my grandparents, but I have Granny. We all lack for blood relatives, Emma, but we find our own family. And it is so much more special because we choose each other. That's more important than a crazy cousin or aunt getting drunk at your reception."

***AAA***

The church where they were holding the ceremony was the perfect New England sort of place with its stone façade and towering trees around it. The pews were packed with friends and distant family of the bride and groom, leaving almost nobody in the town itself. Killian and Liam managed to snag seats together, wanting to see Emma and Elsa without worry. And while Elsa was behind the wall waiting for her cue, Emma made the long walk down the aisle on her son's arm and carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers. The slow march toward the front seemed to last forever, but she locked eyes with her now fiancé and couldn't help but smile at the wink he gave her in indication that he too was having thoughts about the day he would see her walking toward him.

Wearing the light lemony dress with her hair half up in a braided crown and the rest curling precisely down her back, Emma seemed to practically float. Only her occasional tugs at Henry's arm for walking to fast were evidence that she was not actually some sort of professional bridesmaid. She smiled at Killian just as the photographer snapped another shot from his kneeling position just to the side of the aisle.

Killian felt his chest practically bursting with pride at seeing her and catching the occasional glint of the ring that seemed quite at home there. And it seemed to overflow at the way Henry counted out his steps with focus he usually reserved for playing his trumpet. His eyes felt wet and he worried that he might make a fool of himself by crying in front of all these people. It wasn't even the wedding that was making him emotional, but the thought that these two people were now part of his life forever. Thankfully his brother could be counted on to lighten the mood.

"When did we get so lucky?" Liam stage whispered as Emma continued and they could no longer even see her profile. "I know that I'm quite the catch, but you…You are one lucky bloke to con a woman like Emma into loving you."

So much for family loyalty, Killian thought wryly as Ruby came into view next. The demure yellow dress seemingly clinging to her even more than it had to Emma. "There's something I need to tell you…"

Liam laughed, probably too loudly for the inside of the church with the cheerful strains of the string quartet ushering in the attendants. "You mean you're going to admit you finally proposed and she was either daft enough or snockered enough to say yes? I saw the ring, brother. But congratulations. Like a said, lucky bloke."

The large muscular arm of his older brother crushed around him and earned a few dirty glances from others in attendance. "We haven't announced it yet, but I thought you'd wish to know. After all…"

"We're family," Liam finished, finally remembering his inside voice. "And I'm about to have a sister and nephew. I am quite pleased with this development."

Puckering his lips as if he had tasted something sour, Killian whispered furtively to the other man. "Don't say that to Emma, mate. I don't want her to realize that you're part of the package deal. You may find yourself charming, but I know the real you."

Mary Margaret's entrance silenced the two as she glided into view in what Emma had called a mash up between the traditional princess dress and the modern gown of a woman who was trying to hide the slight indication of her pregnancy. Ruby had worked tirelessly on it and even spent four hours finding the perfect combination of pearl headband and glittering tiara to sit nestled in the pageboy style haircut of the bride and hold the lacey veil in place. Only those closest to the couple knew why she held the cascading bouquet the way that she did.

Killian noticed that Emma was wiping at her eyes when Elsa sang, as was his brother. The song, which had come easily to him when he let himself think of Emma, spoke of finding a home not in a place but with a person. The lyrics told the story of broken lives repaired and finding yourself again in the eyes of another because they believe in you when nobody else does. And though Liam did not often offer praise, a squeeze to his leg and solid nod said more than flowery words could. He caught Emma's gaze while Elsa crooned out another bit of the chorus, the green eyes of his fiancé dancing with delight as he winked at her. She had once told him that he was a terrible winker, something he denied though knew was true.

It might not have been very traditional, but those assembled broke into applause as Elsa finished the song. Even the bride, who had heard it already (something she insisted on since her pregnancy hormones had her very emotional and likely to break down sobbing at a surprise), threw her arms around the blonde singer and enthused about how wonderful it was. It took the priest another few minutes to settle everyone down before the couple could exchange vows.

Killian was quite impressed that both the bride and groom spoke clearly and expressed their love so well. Neither stumbled over their words as the pledged themselves to each other and promised each other a future filled with love and family. He knew from the bachelor party and rehearsal dinner that David was more than a little nervous about this development, but he had told Killian that the nerves only stood to prove how important this all was to him. Had it meant nothing, he wouldn't have cared so much about it all.

Liam was fiddling with his phone and took the annoyed glare of his brother in stride as he tapped out a message. The fact that it wasn't Elsa on the receiving end was enough to earn a jab in the ribs. "What on earth?"

"It's work," Liam hissed back. With the church filled, it was hard to imagine that anyone was left in Storybrooke. However, Killian knew that David's ex, Katheryn had not attended, nor had Zelena, Mal, and Lily for their own reasons. Regina had been a reluctant guest, saying she felt as if she was betraying her friends. However, Robin needed a date to the wedding where his son was a ring bearer. She had recoiled at the suggestion he take someone else.

Killian waved his hand at the couple standing at the altar. "You do realize there is a wedding going on. Show some respect."

***AAA***

Taking the stage, even in a church that was filled with people she knew, was not something that Elsa liked to do alone. Her eyes first scanned the few rows of the church in search of Liam or her sister, but could not locate either. Singing the song that Killian had written was not exactly impromptu. Yet she felt that surge of adrenaline hitting her and sending her careening toward near panic levels as the pianist and other musicians played the first few notes.

Thank goodness for Emma she thought, as the other blonde woman gave her a tip of the head that seemed for all the world to be encouraging. She did not flinch as Elsa began to sing of finding love in ordinary circumstances that contradicted the strength of its emotion. The singer could only hope that her voice was steady and did not warble among the notes. With each phrase her confidence grew and by the chorus she had spotted Liam and shared a look before turning her attention back to the bride and groom. Finally the song was over and Mary Margaret's tearful expression was not unexpected as she pulled Elsa in for a hug.

Elsa took a grateful seat on the front pew after the song, watching gleefully as Mary Margaret and David exchanged vows and Emma tried valiantly to hide her left hand beneath the cascade of flowers. That had done nothing to hide the smile she won't stop flashing at Killian or the way that she practically sighed at moments in the ceremony.

She was certainly happy for her friend and already considering how to congratulate her. There was just one thing that weighed heavily on her. Liam. Was he going to take a cue from his brother? Would he want to get married too? She wasn't opposed exactly, but she wasn't in a hurry either. She did not have a son like Emma or a baby on the way like Anna and Mary Margaret. She was happy with her life. And the step of getting married seemed best for the future not the present.

However, how could she explain that to Liam without him seeing it as rejection? It was silly she decided, as she smiled through Mary Margaret's personal vows about having always imagined a life with him and all her dreams coming true. She did love Liam, but marriage was not something she was even ready to consider. It was silly, she told herself. He wasn't even hinting at it, but still… He and Killian were competitive as brothers. Would Killian's engagement spark something in Liam?

Shaking her head slightly, she concentrated on the fact that Roland had spotted his father and was waving enthusiastically in the direction of his parent. Both Henry and Graham had hands on the boy's shoulders to keep him place. On the other side of the altar stood both Emma and Ruby, as well as an impossibly blonde Alexandra. The little girl had nearly dislodged her crown of flowers off of her golden ringlets as she rubbed up against the skirt of Emma's dress and at one point wrapped her arms around Emma's legs and plopped to the floor with her basket of flowers tumbling over.

Leave it to a teacher to find nothing that unusual about the children's behavior, as Mary Margaret smiled and laughed adorably at the scene playing out. Her voice was steady as she slid a platinum band onto her husband's finger and she seemed to breathing in the moment to remember everything as he slid one onto hers. Unscripted, David lifted her trembling hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, a move that left half the women in attendance swooning. Elsa was close enough to hear Mary Margaret's gentle sigh and then her teasing words that called him Prince Charming, an inside joke between the two.

However, it was all back to smiles and excitement by the time it was over. To the sound of her delighted squeal, he yanked her into his chest and lifted her off the ground as he kissed her solidly and without restraint. Everyone jumped to their feet and cheered the couple's new union and affectionate display, even Mary Margaret's pseudo uncles who were all sitting rather uncomfortably in suits that didn't quite fit. One in particular was cheering loudest of all, a short in stature man named Leroy who was the grumpiest man Elsa had ever met. He called all women sister and tended to snarl rather than smile. But even he was celebrating the wedding with loud calls and whistles.

***AAA***

The reception itself was a short distance away at the town's country club. The long driveway to the spacious estate like building was lined with colorful oaks that provided a beautiful canopy that would be lit with thousands of twinkle lights after dark. The guests rode past the impressive golf course and polo fields that would have normally been a hotbed of activity. Rolling fields of green spread out for what felt like miles. Even inside the impressive building, the outdoor views coincided with natural looking displays of flowers on the tables and a homier atmosphere than most assumed from the location.

Once the photographer had finished with the obligatory photos, she settled in to snap candid shots until the first dance of the couple, the cake cutting and throwing of the garter and bouquet. Emma took the opportunity to leave her post at the head table to share a dance with her fiancé before being summoned back to duty.

Liam couldn't help but feel happy for his brother, who was most clearly in love with the woman and even more so now than he had ever seen. Elsa danced with her boyfriend, commenting on the same and asking if he had noticed Emma's ring.

"Worst kept secret ever," Liam mused, dramatically dipping Elsa to her delighted squeal. "But they are trying so hard to act like everything is normal."

"It's kind of cute." She smoothed her hand over his lapel. "The good news is that I think they will have a smaller wedding than either this or my sister's. I could see them eloping."

"Over my dead body," Liam argued emphatically. "I fully intend to be standing next to my brother as he sees her walk down the aisle."

"You're such a protective big brother."

"Killian always called me a bit bossy," he confessed. "I imagine that Anna did the same with you?" He slowly lowered his hand along her back.

"You would be right. Though that mostly came out when we were playing pretend. I wanted to be a queen and tell everyone what to do. I find myself still having that desire sometimes."

"Is that so? Perhaps this is something we should explore further? In private?" The crinkle of his eyes and his lopsided grin practically did her in. "Bloody hell but I best not tease you for risk of winding myself too tight. Zelena's been texting all day with concerns over orders and such."

The blonde frowned, her hands running down the lapels of his jacket. "She's awfully needy. Have you noticed that?"

"She's a businesswoman," he said with a lift of his shoulders. "I know she is a bit of a perfectionist, but it is all in the name of her entrepreneurial spirit."

***AAA***

Ruby attempted to pull her dress into the right position with one hand as she emerged from the dimly lit corner. Her other hand was assessing the damage to her hair from the quick tryst that had gone unnoticed as far as she knew. Graham would be following momentarily, having heeded her warning to wait at least two minutes before emerging.

"Forget the hair," Emma said, sidling up to her friend. "The smeared lipstick and the fact that you can't quit smiling is making you look more and more guilty."

"At least the photos are over?" Ruby commented out of the corner of her mouth as she let herself be led to the ladies' room. It wasn't like it was the first time that the friends had done this sort of thing. "I mean they seriously can't take any more of us?"

"Don't count on it," Emma said with a serious tone, stepping over a stack of shoes people had discarded to continue dancing. "That woman keeps lurking around here. I halfway expect her to pop up out of a potted plant or something."

Ruby allowed her friend to repair the damage to her once intricately styled hair as she reapplied a bit of the lipstick and powder. She was eternally grateful when near disaster struck that she had lost an earring. However, Emma found it perched precariously on the yellow fabric gathers and threatening to be tossed to the floor.

"Shouldn't you be…I don't know…taking notes or pics for your Pinterest wedding page?" Ruby asked, catching her friend's eye in the mirror. "I know you don't want this big of a thing…"

"Don't even suggest that."

"I know. I know. But you need to do something. I mean Granny is going to have a coronary if another of her set up couples get married without her in attendance. She practically strung up the last ones that eloped."

"Your grandmother is too much sometimes," Emma muttered, a bobby pin between her lips. "Too much."

"Don't I know it? The woman lives vicariously through you guys. I'm a lost cause and she…"

"She's looking pretty cozy with the good doctor out there." Emma's eyes sparkled as she nearly impaled Ruby with the pin. "And I heard Marco asking her to dance."

Eyes wide and hand over her chest, Ruby gasped for breath. "Are you calling my grandmother a player?"

"Just saying she may have been distracted enough to not notice your little disappearing act with Graham. It was Graham, right?"

"Alright, Emma, I'm not going to bring up the fact that Killian kissed you more passionately than David and Mary Margaret earlier. I mean that was a big ole smooch." She laughed at the pink already rising on the blonde's cheeks. "Do I need to take Henry tonight? Or are you two done celebrating?"

Though she couldn't really come up with the words to deny it, Emma came up with the next best retort. She stuck her tongue out at the reflected image of her friend and turned quickly on her heels. "See you out there in a few?"

***AAA***

Elsa sighed against Liam's shoulder, her eyes fluttering shut as the noise of the reception seemed to dull in her ears. She knew that she should be mingling, as even Emma had pointed out that Regina and Zelena (fresh from the bar crisis) had made an appearance at the event. "It's good for business," she had said with a wink before disappearing back onto the dance floor with Killian.

"I never know how long we are supposed to stay at these things," Liam muttered, his voice echoing in the nearly empty glass he was holding. "Not that I don't love a good party, but I kind of want to sneak you off back to the condo and not answer our phones or the door until Monday."

"That sounds lovely," she said, meaning it whole heartedly as she sank further into his side. "Think we can get away with it."

"Aye." He replaced the empty glass back on the table and kissed the top of her head in one fluid motion. "I'll go make our excuses." He scooted out of the tan padded chair and made his way over to where Anna and Kris were chatting with Ashley and the flower girl, Alexandra. She could see him having a quick word with both and her sister shooting her a concerned look at the excuse Liam had obviously offered. She tried to appear both tired and contrite as she smiled back.

"They'll tell Killian and Emma," Liam told her, helping her to her feet. "Look weak, darling. Your headache is something we must attend to immediately."

They slipped out largely unnoticed, having already given their best wishes to the bride and groom and made their excuses. Anna would have no problem representing the sisters, as much of the attention had already shifted to her and her own pending nuptials. Given that she never met a stranger, Elsa felt comfortable enough to leave her.

Having already situated her in the car, Liam jumped into the driver's seat and pulled out a hat he usually wore when running. In an elaborate display of stealth, he yanked it down over the upper portion of his face and crouched down in the seat. "Don't want to get caught," he said in a stage whisper. "Maybe we should come up with code names?"

"Just drive," Elsa said between fits of laughter. "You really are a dork."

"Am not," he proclaimed in his best impression of a four year old. The car rolled to a stop at the end of the drive. "But you love me for it, right?"

"Sometimes," she agreed, her head bobbing studiously. "It can be pretty annoying. But it's also pretty cute."

The banter continued as he drove them back toward the condo, the music of some classic rock station playing just loud enough and the windows on the car down to let a cool breeze blow. She was coming up with some sort of classy but zinging retort when she realized that he had passed their usual turn and was headed to the edge of town.

"Did you forget something?" she asked, assuming that there had to be a reason he would not be driving them home.

"Nope," he explained, turning the wheel to take a narrow road just before the sign about leaving town. "I just thought we could use a break from the day to day."

Incredulously she took in their attire – his pressed and tailored suit and her dress that was similar to Emma and Ruby's. Even her shoes gave her pause, as they were not the type to wear for a hike through the woods. "Where are we going? Are you planning to murder me? Am I getting on your nerves this much?"

His eyes stayed on the still narrowing road, but he reached over a hand to clasp hers. "Just taking you to a little spot I like. And before you freak out, look in the back there, darling. I packed us some clothes and even snagged a bit of that wedding cuisine."

A stickler for the rules, she tried to ignore the knot in her stomach as they sped past two no trespassing signs and a gate that had at one time been put up to keep people out. It now hung rusting into nothingness. He could sense her discomfort as he squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I found this place when I first arrived at Killian's. It was a bit of a sanctuary for me."

"Come here often?" she asked as the car rolled to a stop at the end of the road. She saw nothing but trees and brambles that would impede them. It did not look like anyone had been there in years.

"Not too," he confessed, letting go of her hand to pull the bag of clothes up to the front seat. "I have never shared it with anyone. Not even Killian."

"I'm honored, I think."

He couldn't help chuckling at her discomfort a bit. "Get changed and we'll head to the real spot. It's worth it."

She didn't argue with him, though she wasn't sure that she could recall the last time she had changed clothes in a car. It made her feel quite young, as her only memory of such activity was skinny dipping after the prom with friends. That had been so unlike her, but the memory was still one of her favorites in terms of that time. "You brought my bathing suit?" she realized, noting the lack of underthings.

"Aye, I didn't wish to presume," he said, yanking his tie off with glee. "There's a quiet little spot with a pond. It's spring fed so the water stays just the right temperature nearly all year." The interior of the sedan was small, but they both managed to dress without too much trouble. That was especially true after she warned him that she wasn't going to go old school and make out in the back of his car.

Once ready, he led her down the path toward the spot he was talking about. The two stepped over roots and rocks with ease, stopping twice in small clearings to take a picture together on his phone. He swore he wasn't about to hit up social media with the pictures, but wanted to remember their quiet moments together. Soon enough he showed her where the abandoned spot was located and marveled that the sun seemed to take the chill out of the already fall like air.

"There's even a bench," she said, noting the weather worn bench that was still sturdy if a bit discolored.

"Not even the best part," he chuckled. He waved an arm in gesture to the crystal blue water of the smallish pond. There was barely a ripple on its still surface. "Do you dare?"

Skeptical, she drew a line in the dirt path with the toe of her shoe. "Are you sure it's safe? Is there something living in that water? Alligators? Piranha?" She laughed shakily. "Am I sounding like Anna?"

"Perhaps a bit," he said, fingers skimming the hem of her shirt. "We don't have to, but I thought it might be fun. And while I cannot assure you that there is nothing alive in the water. I have yet to be mauled, maimed, or even slightly injured in my many swims here."

"Trust you?"

"Trust me."

She crossed her arms in front of her and pulled her shirt up over her head. "Last one in's a rotten egg." Without hesitation, she yanked off her shoes and shorts and was half way to the water as Liam's voice echoed after her to slow down.