The Groom's Side—pt. 2
CS Genre: Canon divergence from 6x20
Emma smiled a she leaned back against the door, her heat lighter than she remembered it ever being. She was so in love she nearly ached with it, and tomorrow she got to declare that love before all of her family and friends, she got to make a commitment to the man she loved that would last for all eternity. A few years ago she wouldn't have believed a love like this existed, she wouldn't have believed happiness like this existed, but a surprise visit from Henry several years ago had changed her entire world. Now she had love, family, a home, a place to belong, a place that not only tolerated her presence but actively wanted her.
It was almost too much to take in.
"You must be thinking about Killian," Henry said, rolling his eyes as he stepped up before her.
She grinned at him before ruffling his hair. "What makes you say that kid?"
"That look on your face," he said. "If it were any more sickly sweet, I'd probably get tooth decay just from looking at it."
Emma laughed. "Hey, can I help it that I am so happy I'm about to explode?"
"Yeah, don't do that," Henry sassed, "it would be a pain to have to clean up."
They were silent for a moment, before Henry abruptly reached up (not so far up anymore) and hugged her. "I know I complain about you and Killian being all lovey-dovey and everything, but I'm happy too mom, and I'm really glad to see you happy."
Emma kissed his forehead before letting him go. "Thanks kid. I really am. Anyway, we better both head to bed. Big day tomorrow."
"Okay," Henry said, turning toward the stairs before abruptly turning back. "Oh, I almost forgot! I heard back from them a little while ago. Operation Groom's side is a go."
Emma's heart swelled. About a week ago, Henry had met with her and her parents to discuss an idea he had for a wedding gift for Killian, a gift from all of them. It had been unorthodox, to say the least, and something that no one in the world but Henry could have done, but they'd all enthusiastically agreed. After all, everyone deserved to share their most important moments with the most important people in their lives, didn't they?
"He's going to love it, Kid," Emma said, emotion in her voice.
A few minutes later, Emma laid in her bed, hoping to fall asleep right away. The sooner she got to sleep, the sooner she'd wake to her wedding day. But after tossing and turning for fifteen minutes, she finally gave up, turning on her bedside lamp.
It was just no use. Without Killian here, the bed was too big, too cold, too lonely. It should scare her how important he'd become to her, but it didn't. If Killian had shown her anything, it was that he was never going to leave her. Even death hadn't succeeded in keeping him away.
The only thing, apparently, that could keep him away from her was a stupid wedding superstition. Emma huffed out an exasperated breath as she reached for her phone and swiped at it until she'd reached his phone number. Her finger hovered over the little phone icon, indecision filling her. She wanted to talk to him, needed to talk to him, but should she call him? Did talking to the bride before the wedding risk bad luck too or was it just seeing?
Before she could make up her mind, her phone began to ring, and the butterflies fluttered around Emma's stomach as she looked down to see the photo she used as Killian's contact. Apparently she and her True Love had the same idea.
"Hey," she said. "I was just thinking about you."
He chuckled. Hello love. As it turns out, I'm always thinking about you.
"So apparently we're not risking bad luck by talking?" She asked.
Wouldn't matter if we were. He said. I just needed to hear your voice, needed to be near you, even if it is just through this talking phone.
Emma laughed. "Killian, have I told you lately how much I love you and your old man ways?"
As they continued to talk, Emma settled back in her bed, smile back on her face. The thought that she had an entire lifetime to spend with this man was quite possibly the best thing she could imagine.
Killian's wedding day dawned crisp and clear and utterly beautiful. He took a brisk walk along the shore before heading to Granny's for his morning repast. He was happy, happier than he'd ever been, but try as he might, he couldn't banish the small kernel of sadness in his heart when he thought about how much he wished Liam might be with him today.
He took a deep breath and slowly let it out as he boarded the Jolly and headed below deck to his cabin. He wouldn't dwell on what couldn't be changed. He had to believe his beloved brother was looking down on him today, was with him in spirit. That was enough. That had to be enough.
He'd been in his quarters for no more than fifteen minutes when he heard a quick knock. "Killian, can I come in? Gramps sent me over with a tux for you to try."
Killian grinned, letting his soon-to-be stepson in. "Aye? And does your grandfather have better taste than your grandmother? That white monstrosity the Lady Snow left for me this morning was truly an abomination."
Henry laughed, hanging a garment bag on one of Killian's cabinets and unzipping it to reveal a fully black tuxedo. "This more to your taste?"
Killian looked it over carefully, before turning back to Henry. "Aye, that will do nicely."
"Thought you might like it," Henry said, his voice a bit distracted.
Killian noticed that the lad kept looking to the stairs. "Anything the matter Henry?"
"What? No! Why should anything be the matter?"
"You look quite agitated, lad," Killian said, placing his good hand on Henry's shoulder.
Henry shrugged, looking to the stairs again. A moment later, there was the sound of footsteps nearing, and Swan's lad visibly relaxed. "Nothing's wrong, Killian," he said with a smile. "In fact, everything's right. I was just afraid the wedding gift Gram, Gramps, Mom and I got you wouldn't get here in time."
"Wedding gift?" Killian asked, brow furrowing, "what wedding gift?"
"Permission to come aboard, Captain?" came a booming voice from above. If Killian didn't know he was in a far distant realm cut off from communication, he would have thought it belonged to…
"It's Nemo!" Henry said, sounding more like the excited child Swan talked of meeting when he was ten-years-old than the teenager who stood before him now. "Nemo and your little brother Liam!"
Killian's eyes widened as his eyes sought the lad. "Nemo and...and Liam?" he breathed. "But how?-"
Henry rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. Ah, there was the teenager he knew and loved. "You gonna let them board or not?"
Killian pushed aside his surprise, a smile covering his face as he called up. "Aye! Permission gladly granted."
A moment later the tall, lanky form of his younger brother bounded down the stairs before Captain Nemo followed at a more sedate pace. The men greeted each other with much laughter, handshaking and the affectionate clapping of hands on shoulders, before Killian pulled back, looking at his recently found family.
"You're here! You actually came!" His voice was small, filled with wonder.
"Of course," Liam said with a grin. "I wasn't about to miss my own brother's wedding, especially after how desperately you fought to get back to your lady love after our last adventure together on the Nautilus."
"But how?" Killian pressed, looking toward the captain for answers. "Swan and I tried to contact you, but you were beyond the reach of even our magic. How did you know to come?"
Nemo nodded toward Henry. "For that, you have your lad to thank."
Killian glanced over at Henry, who was beaming with pride. "Henry? I'm grateful beyond words, but how did you manage a feat even both your magical mothers were unsuccessful in attempting?"
Henry rolled his eyes good-naturedly, pulling a pen from his jacket with a flourish. "Duh. I'm the author, remember? The rules say I can't write my own happy ending and stuff, but they don't say anything about using the pen to get a message to hard to reach people."
"And this was the wedding gift you say your mother and grandparents and you put together for me? My family present for my wedding?"
Henry shook his head. "That's only part of it. Captain, did you get the other part?"
Nemo nodded and reached into the satchel on his shoulder, pulling out a large flagon of some kind and handing it to Killian. Killian turned it over in his hand, felt its weight, and then turned confused eyes at first Henry and then Nemo and finally Liam.
"Spirits? Your wedding gift to me is spirits?"
Henry barked out a laugh. "In a manner of speaking."
The furrow in Killian's brow deepened. Swan's boy was talking in riddles, but all three men looked intently at him as though they expected his understanding, so he mumbled out a confused "Thank you?"
"There was one other thing I wanted to talk to you about, Killian, though, before the wedding," Henry said, an odd, almost expectant glimmer in his eye. Killian was tempted to pinch himself. This conversation was so odd he felt he must be dreaming.
"Aye?" he said hesitantly, noting the broad grins on both Nemo and Liam's faces, "and what might that be, Lad?"
"I'm sorry but I can't be your best man anymore."
The statement was swift, to the point with no explanation, and Killian felt as though the proverbial rug had been pulled from beneath his feet. "You…you don't wish to be my best man? Have I, have I done something to offend you?"
Henry quickly stepped forward, placing a hand on Killian's arm just above the brace for his Hook, the smile slipping from his face. "No! Nothing like that! Of course I'd be honored to be your best man, I just figured there was someone else you'd want to have that honor. The person who's been the best man in your life since about two-hundred years before I was born."
Was he suggesting…? Surely he couldn't mean…? It was impossible! Killian had seen him move "on" with his own eyes! How could Henry…?
"You can't mean…?" Killian whispered, feeling the tears prickle at the back of his eyes.
Henry nodded emphatically. "I do mean. You see, that ale Captain Nemo got you isn't just any ale. It's magical ale from Dunbroch. I asked the captain and your brother to get some from the witch there on their way back. You pour it on the ground, and you can bring back one person who's already passed on. It'll only last a few hours, but I figured there was someone you might want to bring back for your wedding."
The tears truly filled his eyes this time, and one escaped its banks and trailed down his face. "You mean, I can bring Liam here? I mean the older Liam," he clarified with a nod in his younger brother's direction.
"Uh-huh," Henry said. "He'll have to go back at the end of the reception, but he can be here for all the main events."
"And you and your mother and grandparents wished to give me my brother as my wedding gift?"
Henry shrugged again. "Yeah. I mean, everyone should have their closest family members with them for their wedding."
Killian felt as though his heart would burst. It was everything, everything he'd ever wanted. There was not a thing in the world that would make this day more perfect. "Come here, lad."
Henry came willingly, leaning into the hug, returning it in equal measure.
When Henry finally pulled away, he looked up at Killian with an excited sparkle in his eyes. "So, what are you waiting for? I think it's about time Uncle Liam got here!"
Killian smiled. "Aye, I believe you're right."
Uncorking the flagon with trembling hand, Killian poured its contents upon the floor of his quarters and watched as a fine mist rose from the liquid. When the mist cleared, there was Liam, his brother, his hero, his whole world up until Neverland stole him away. He stood tall in his naval blues, proud delighted grin on his face.
"You look a damn sight better than you did the last time I saw you, little brother," Liam the elder said, by way of introduction.
"Younger," Killian corrected automatically before pulling his brother to him in a crushing hug.
Several hours later
Killian took Emma's hand, lacing their fingers before leading her out the door onto the secluded balcony off of the ballroom of the sorcerer's mansion, where their wedding reception was underway. She looked up at his beloved face with questions in her eyes.
"Why are we out here?" She asked.
Killian gave her a wicked grin before swooping down and capturing her lips in a kiss that threatened to make her knees buckle. They'd been together for more than a year now, but he still had the ability to make her feel like she was about to melt into a little pile of goo at his feet. Finally he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers.
"Well, wife," he caressed the word in a way that made her toes curl in her ridiculously uncomfortable heels, "I thought it was high time we have a moment to ourselves. It seems the entire town is conspiring to keep us from each other."
Emma laughed and looped her arms around his neck, bringing his head down for another kiss, this one slow and deep, her tongue swiping at the seam of his lips seeking entrance, a request he readily and eagerly granted. Reluctantly, very reluctantly, she pulled back several moments later as hands began to wander. "Think we're gonna have to hit the pause button for now, sailor. Married or not, I have a feeling my dad would murder you for having your way with his daughter out in public where anyone could walk in on us."
Killian grinned and then shrugged. "It's not as though I'm unacquainted with the prince's wrath. He has, quite literally, stabbed me in the back before."
Emma laughed and reached up to peck him on the lips once more. "You're really never going to let my dad live that down, are you?"
"What kind of a pirate would I be if I let an advantage like that slip through my fingers?"
Emma laughed, cupping his face in her hands and caressing his scruff with her thumbs. "Was this day everything you hoped it would be?"
He kissed her again, this time making sure to keep it short. "No, it was much, much more. I have no words strong enough to express my thanks for bringing Nemo and my brothers here tonight. You're a marvel, love."
She beamed up at him. "Hey it wasn't all me. It was Henry's idea, actually. He wanted you to feel as loved and surrounded with family as I do."
The skin around his eyes crinkled as he smiled tenderly at her. "I already did, Emma. You, your lad and your parents made sure of it. Nevertheless, the fact that I got to spend this most important day of my life with Liam…I am blown away that you would do this for me."
"I'd do anything for you, Killian," she said, feeling the truth of the statement to the marrow of her bones.
She saw his eyes mist with emotion before he leaned down and captured her lips once more. She had no idea how long the kiss lasted, it could have been moments, it could have been hours, but eventually they were interrupted by the clearing of a throat.
"I don't wish to interrupt," Liam the elder said, grin on his face suggesting he found a good deal of humor in doing just that, "but my time is nearly at an end. I can feel the other side pulling me back."
Emma heard Killian's quick, indrawn breath, and she squeezed his hand sympathetically before letting him go.
"So soon, brother?" Killian said, "It seems as though you just arrived."
"I'm afraid so," Liam said. "I sense Zeus already gave me more time than I deserved, but it's time I get back to my ship and my crew."
Killian stepped forward and hugged him, burying his face in his brother's neck as he used to do as a young child in need of comfort. "And you're happy there, Liam?" he asked in a choked voice. "In that great beyond?"
Liam laughed. "Happy doesn't begin to describe it. Killian, it's perfect happiness all day every day. It's fair winds and blue skies, perfect sailing weather. There's not a thing I'd change about it, save for the absence of my younger brother."
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting," Killian said in a small voice.
"Nonsense," Liam said. "You deserve this time of happiness, this love and family and joy. We'll be together again someday. Until then, I'll be watching over you from above."
Emma felt the tears blur her vision as she watched her husband hug his brother one last time, before stepping back and watching Liam disappear into a bright, glowing light. Stepping forward, she took Killian's hand and laid her head on his shoulder.
"You okay?"
He turned his head and kissed her forehead. "Aye, love. More than okay. Having him here with us on this day, even only for a few hours, it made what was already a perfect day bliss."
She kissed him one more time and then grinned at him wickedly. "Speaking of bliss, how about we officially take our leave and then get started on the honeymoon?"
Notes:
-So there you go, the rest of the CS wedding fluff!
-It probably won't be next week, but the next installment will take place during 7a. We'll get to see what is happening back in Storybrooke while Henry's off living through curses in Hyperion Heights. Specifically, I think I'll focus on something related to Emma's pregnancy with Hope.