Shore Leave

CS Genre: Canon divergence (5x20—with a healthy dose of Jones Brothers feels)

Emma and Killian walked hand-in-hand from Granny's back to their home. It was the last time they'd go home together as fiancés. Tomorrow evening they were getting married. Emma could hardly believe it. Married! She squeezed Killian's hand as they walked up their front sidewalk.

"And what was that for, my love?" he asked smiling gently at her.

"I'm just happy," she said. "Gold took care of our little Black Fairy problem for us, and we're getting married! I can't wait to be your wife."

Killian turned her until they were facing each other. Leaning down, he kissed her gently. "And I cannot wait to be your husband. I cannot wait to pledge my troth to you forever."

Emma laughed, loving that her husband-to-be used such formal, outdated language. "It's just….I never thought I'd have this, you know? Never thought I'd find love, let alone True Love. Never thought I'd have my family with me to watch me tie the knot."

For the briefest moment, Killian looked wistful and then his face cleared and he reached up to cup her cheek. "I'm forever grateful you do, Swan. The fact that we're to have your lad and your parents as witness to our nuptials is more than I ever could have hoped as well."

They fell silent as Emma pulled out her key and unlocked their front door. After she shrugged out of her red jacket and hung it up, she turned toward the stairs. "I'm gonna go check on a few wedding detail upstairs. Wanna join me?"

He kissed her soundly. "I'll be along in a moment, Swan. I'd like to catch Henry when he returns home. I have something I'd like to ask him."

Emma nodded and then headed upstairs to their bedroom, turning on the light and then opening the closet door to look at the four wedding dresses hanging inside. They were all pretty—a couple simple and sleek, another lacy and feminine, the last a full-blown princess dress—but there was something missing. None of them were the one.

Emma closed the closet once again. She was too tired tonight. Tomorrow she'd figure out what to do about the dress. Wandering over to the window seat of their large bay window looking out over the sea, Emma let the warm sea breeze waft through her hair as she looked up at the stars. It was so beautiful, so peaceful here and she was so happy she felt like she could combust, but still there was a tiny hint of unease in her heart.

That tiny wistful look Killian had given her when they returned home weighed on her. He was just as much of an open book to her as she was to him, and she knew what was bothering him. He loved her, loved her family and was infinitely grateful for the life he now had, but his side of the wedding venue would be woefully empty. With Nemo and Liam the younger off who knows where, there was no way to invite them to the wedding. And he had no other remaining family.

It made her heart hurt and the tears come to her eyes. What she wouldn't give to bring Killian's family back! What she wouldn't give to discover a way to transport Liam the older back from the dead!

Looking up to the stars as they twinkled above, Emma clasped her hands together. "I wish Liam could be here to celebrate this special day with Killian."

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

Liam Jones stood at the wheel of his ship, closed his eyes and basked in the sunlight on his face. It was a wondrous place, this paradise he'd found when he was finally able to move "on". He sailed the realms to his heart's content, enjoying the constant perfect weather. There were no storms here, no dangers, now sickness or pain. He could stand in the sunshine for as long as he wished and never have to worry about sunburn. There was no need to purchase provisions; His hold was always stocked with the choicest food and wine. He could eat to his heart's content—him and his crew—never having to worry about scurvy, never having to resort to hard tack or the other less than palatable fare sailors in the other world often had to consume during long voyages.

There was no dissent here, no discord. There was no need to work or to complete chores. The ship never needed repaired, the decks never needed swabbing, the sails were let out and brought in by themselves, with no need of he or his men to labor over them.

Liam traveled to all manner of exotic lands, meeting all manner of fascinating people. There was a joy here—in every land, upon ever shore—that was beyond anything he'd ever known on earth. At every port, the natives greeted him and his men as though they were old friends they'd been waiting to see again.

It was idyllic. He couldn't wait until Killian and that blonde beauty of his arrived in this land and his joy could truly be complete.

"Captain, captain!" called his first mate, hurrying forward, a scroll in his hand. "This just came for you. From Olympus, I believe."

Olympus? Hm…the gods rarely troubled themselves with mortals living out their eternal reward. Breaking the seal, he unwrapped the parchment and read. "The god Zeus requests your presence at his palace to discuss an affair that will greatly augment your joy."

Greatly augment his joy, eh? That he could get behind.

Rolling up the scroll he nodded and then looked to his first mate again. "I'm being summoned to Zeus's palace. I leave the ship in your very capable hands while I'm away."

"Very good, sir."

Liam closed his eyes and thought of the bright, white, beautiful portico of Zeus's palace, feeling briefly weightless, before opening his eyes once again to find himself face to face with the head of the gods himself.

One of the many, many advantages of this land was travel at the speed of thought.

"Your Divineness," Liam said, bowing deeply.

Zeus raised him up and then shook his hand. "Liam Jones. So glad to see you once again."

"I'm honored to be summoned," Liam said, smiling. "What can I do for you?"

Zeus began walking, his hands behind his back, and Liam follow at his side. "It's not what you can do for me, Liam Jones, but rather what I can do for you and for your family."

"I'm all ears."

"I received a wish from Emma Swan last night," Zeus said, "If you are amenable, I'd like nothing better than to grant it."

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

Emma woke on the morning of her wedding day to bright golden sun and the happy trilling of birds. She sat up and stretched wishing the other side of the bed hadn't been so conspicuously empty all night long. Killian and his ridiculous superstitions!

After luxuriously indulging in a long, hot shower, Emma dressed in her favorite pair of jeans and a light, cream-colored sweater before heading downstairs. No doubt her mom would be over soon to help her with all the little last minute details they needed to figure out before the wedding tonight.

There was a knock at the front door just as Emma reached the bottom of the stairs. Emma smiled to herself. Her mom certainly wasn't wasting any daylight today!

Emma opened the door, smiling broadly. "Mom, I thought we agreed to meet at ten. You're at least an hour ear….oh!"

For a brief moment Emma was shocked speechless. It wasn't Snow White standing on her doorstep but Liam Jones. The original Liam Jones. As in Killian's brother, father-figure and dearest friend. As in the Liam Jones they'd seen in the Underworld. The one Killian told her had moved "on".

"Um…what are you doing here?" Emma asked after she'd finally found her voice.

Liam chuckled. "Not precisely the greeting I was hoping for, Lass."

Emma shook her head, trying to desperately clear the cob-webs, then she stepped back, gesturing the oldest Jones man inside. "Sorry, you just took me by surprise is all."

"Don't concern yourself with it, love," Liam said, stepping inside and looking back at her. "I daresay it's rather unsettling to find a man long dead upon your doorstep."

Emma chuckled. "Yeah, but over the past four years or so, I've kind of gotten used to 'unsettling'. It's pretty much a daily thing in this crazy town."

Liam laughed and took the seat at the kitchen table that Emma indicated. "I'd imagine so."

Emma poured two glasses of water, set one before her future brother-in-law and kept the other for herself. "Killian will be overjoyed to see you. Especially on this day. I don't know if you still keep track of what's going on around here, but today's our wedding day."

"Oh I'm well aware," Liam said. "In point of fact, it's your wedding that's brought me to your fair town. I must say it is a vast improvement to its Underworld equivalent."

Emma hummed in agreement. "I hope it doesn't come off as rude to ask, but how are you here? Killian told me you moved on to heaven or whatever they call it."

"As it happens, Lass," Liam said, stopping to take a quick sip of water before continuing, "I'm here because of you."

"Me?"

"Aye," Liam said. "Did you not make a wish upon a star last night that Killian's family might be present for his nuptials?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say I did," Emma said, "but…wishes upon stars actually work?"

"Indeed they do. Zeus heard your request and saw fit to answer it. He's granted me shore leave within the land of the living for this day alone, for my brother's wedding."

Emma felt the tears rush to her eyes, completely overwhelmed at the thought of the happiness this would bring Killian. He'd done everything for her, given up his own life more than once to save her and Henry. The thought that she could finally, finally do something for him was more than she'd ever hoped for this day.

"Killian's not here today," Emma said apologetically.

"Well of course he's not!" Liam said with a decisive nod. "Killian's no fool; he knows just what abysmally bad luck it is to see the bride before the wedding!

"If I were you'd I'd try down at the docks, if you're looking for him," Emma said. "If I know my fiancé, he spent his last night as a bachelor in that ridiculously small bed on the Jolly Roger."

Liam laughed. "I've no doubt you're quite correct, but I rather think I won't seek him out. If you'd be willing to assist me, I have an idea about how to surprise my little brother."

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

Killian pulled at the collar of his wedding tux. The nerves and the unusually buttoned up shirt making him feel distinctly uncomfortable.

"Don't worry, Killian," Henry said, patting him on the back. "Everything's going to go great. This is going to be the best day of your life! Just enjoy it."

"I shall endeavor to do so, lad," Killian said, "but I simply wish this day to be perfect for your mother."

"She wants the same for you," Henry said, "believe me! And she's gone to some pretty extraordinary lengths to make it happen."

"She's a marvel, Swan," Killian said, feeling his heart swell. He still felt like pinching himself, wondering how such bliss could be real. The woman he loved literally more than life itself had agreed to become his wife, had agreed to pledge to love him for the rest of eternity.

Henry chuckled. "You're getting that stupid, sappy look on your face again, Killian. I'm just glad you and mom are planning on going on a nice long honeymoon after the wedding, so the rest of us don't have to see how lovestruck you are all the time."

"Ah yes, the honeymoon!" Killian said, an appreciative gleam in his eyes. "Two weeks alone with Emma will be nothing short of heaven."

"Yeah, you can spare me the details," Henry said, giving Killian a dubious look.

Killian laughed just as Archie stuck his head into the room. "They're ready for you Killian. It's time."

Killian felt one last swoop of nerves before he nodded. "Very well, Doctor. I shall see you at the altar."

Archie gave him an odd smile…as though he knew something Killian didn't. The cricket went on to mutter something under his breath that sounded vaguely like "He has no idea what's in store for him."

Odd. Extremely odd.

Come to think of it, over the course of the day many of the townspeople had given him similar odd, knowing looks. From the dwarfs, to Charming to Regina to everyone in between, everyone seemed to know something he didn't.

"Oh Killian! I can't wait for you to see…" Snow had begun that afternoon as Killian had lunch with his future in-laws. But she hadn't gotten farther than that before her husband shushed her. What could possibly be going on?

"You coming, Killian?" Henry asked, already out the door and halfway to the stairwell that would lead them to the roof where Killian would pledge his life to Emma.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

For a moment as Killian stepped out onto the rooftop, he was blinded by the setting sun, but when his vision cleared, he noticed everyone—from the wedding guests to Henry looking at him expectantly. Killian shrugged it off, attributing it to nothing more than interest in the bridegroom's entrance.

And that's when he saw the end of the aisle, the bower of flowers under which he'd be wed. The man standing there wasn't Archie Hopper, it was…it couldn't be!...it was Liam.

No longer caring about the crowd, Killian broke into a run, nearly tackling his brother with the force of the hug he gave him.

"Liam! How is this possible?"

Liam laughed and clasped his brother tightly to him. "You can thank your lovely bride for it. It was her wish that convinced Zeus to give me shore leave. Glad to see me little brother?"

"Younger brother," Killian corrected automatically, "and how can you even ask such a question? Of bloody course I'm glad to see you. It was more than I could have ever dreamed!"

"I shall remain here in your Storybrooke for your nuptials and your reception, and then I must return to my home in the hereafter."

"Are you…are you happy there, brother?" Killian asked.

"It is more idyllic than words could describe, Killian," Liam said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Perfect sailing conditions, perfect happiness, everything ones heart could desire."

Killian felt his eyes mist. "I'm happy for you, Liam, truly, but you'll never know what it means to me to have my dearest family here for the happiest day of my life."

"I think I can imagine."

So many thoughts, so many questions swirled within Killian's mind, but before he was able to voice any of them, the music started, and he looked up to see his love, his Swan sweep onto the aisle, her parents at her sides.

Even if Killian lived another three hundred years, he would never forget his wedding day. From Emma Swan vowing her love, to Liam pronouncing him and Swan man and wife, to his first dance with his new wife, to the celebration that went on long into the night, Emma on one side and Liam on the other, there wasn't a single, solitary thing Killian would have done differently.

After centuries, Killian Jones had finally found his happy beginning.

Notes:

-Happy Friday! Happy start of a long weekend for those of us in the US. I am so ready for a 3 day weekend!

-This canon divergence scene is something that I've been wanting ever since the Underworld. I so, so, so wanted Liam to be the one to marry Emma and Killian. I know it didn't work out this way, and I liked the wedding as it was, but it seems reasonable that Zeus could have given Liam one day of shore leave to officiate his brother's wedding, right?

-In this version of the story, Rumple really did destroy the Black Fairy in 6x19 like he told everyone he did. I figured if Liam was only going to be around for one day, Killian really deserved a chance to enjoy it without another dark curse hanging over his head.

-Up next: Again, I'm not sure. I'll most likely go through my list of prompts you all have sent me and pick one of those.