Happy Sunday! Here is the penultimate chapter to this little story. The last one still needs to be written, so it might take a longer while before I post it. I hope you enjoy this one in the mean time.

This chapter has not been pre-read or beta-ed, so all mistakes are my own.

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT, Disney and all that jazz.


The Cab - Chapter 4 - The Proposal

About 18 months later

Thank God it's Friday, Emma thinks as she leaves work. She can't wait to get back to the apartment she and Killian have been sharing for the past 6 months, to put on some more comfortable clothes and just relax for the weekend.

She never thought she would actually be looking forward to sharing a space with a man. But then again, there are a lot of things she never thought she would be doing before meeting Killian.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows, really. When she had first moved in, she was very unsure of herself, she doubted her decision every day for quite a while. Which then created tensions with Killian. Fortunately, he is patient with her, so it helps a lot.

It's not always easy; they have their ups and downs, like any other couple. But, overall, the good highly surpasses the bad. And Emma is perfectly comfortable – and happy – with that.

One Friday night, she comes home to a delicious smell. She follows her nose to the kitchen, where she finds Killian standing over the stove, stirring something in a pot.

"What's all this?" she asks as she steps closer to him for a hello kiss.

"Hello love," he says brightly. "I am making dinner," he adds in answer to her question.

"But it's Friday night, we usually order take out," she replies in confusion.

"I felt like cooking tonight," he shrugs. "Fear not, it's nothing fancy. Go on and make yourself comfortable, it's almost ready."

"Alright," she accepts, still confused, but she kisses his cheek and goes to their bedroom to change.

As she is removing her make-up, he calls out that dinner is ready. She quickly finishes up and walks to the kitchen, where she finds the dining table littered with candles in addition to their meal.

"Killian, what's going on?" she asks in confusion.

She feels his arms circling her abdomen from behind, and she relaxes into him.

"Can't I offer you a romantic dinner?"

"Of course, you can. It's just… you've never done this before."

"I should have done this a long time ago," he grumbles.

She turns around in his arms to look him in the eyes.

"Hey, no one's ever done this for me before. Forgive my confusion, I'm just surprised, that's all. Thank you," she finishes with a soft smile.

He smiles softly in turn. "You're welcome, love. You deserve this."

Her only reply is a light kiss on his lips, then he guides her to her seat at the table.

"Would you like some wine?" he asks as he pushes her chair.

"Yes, please," she responds with desperation.

Killian laughs. "Hard day?" he asks as he pours the red liquid into her glass.

"Bleh," she winces. "I got this new case, and the guy seems to have disappeared into thin air."

"I'm sure you'll find him, love," he assures her.

"You really think so?"

"I have yet to see you fail," he winks.

She grabs his hand and gives it a light squeeze before digging into her plate.

Killian tells her about his day while they eat; the conversation flows naturally. Emma sometimes still wonder how she got here, but she then reminds herself that this is what she wants. She wants this normal life, with a normal guy. She just never thought she would actually get it all, which is why she sometimes wakes up in the morning and she is surprised to find Killian beside her. But thankfully, that happens less and less.

After dinner, Killian shoos her away from the kitchen and mandates her with finding them a suitable movie to watch on Netflix. She is none too happy to oblige, so she grabs her glass of wine from the table and goes to get settled in the middle of the couch. Killian joins her just as she presses play.

After a while, she finds herself reclining into his chest comfortably. One of his hands finds its way into her hair, and the light movement of his fingers on her scalp makes her close her eyes in contentment.

And then, suddenly, she feels cool metal around her left ring finger. Her eyes snap open as her heart starts racing. A gorgeous princess cut diamond is perched on her finger. She waits for the panic to overtake her, but it never comes.

Killian takes her hand brings it to his lips to press a kiss to her finger and the ring.

"Will you marry me?" he whispers in her ear.

The warm feeling that runs through her body at these words is unexpected, but welcome.

She doesn't hesitate. She turns around to face him so that he can see how happy she is.

"Yes," is all she says, but she is firm. She wants this.

She promptly kisses him to seal her vow.

"Please don't wait for another life-changing question before doing another romantic dinner," she tells him after settling back against his chest.

He laughs. "I promise, love. This was the first of many."

"Good," she smiles.


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