Ready, Set, Don't Go - Part Three: Announcements & Wedding Plans
"The ring is beautiful, Anna Elizabeth," Emma told her daughter.
When Emma looked back up, she added, "But not nearly as beautiful as the smile on your face."
Anna Elizabeth's smile grew as she exclaimed, "I know. I still can't believe I'm engaged!"
Emma matched her daughter's smile as she replied, "I am so happy for you and for Calin. This is truly something to celebrate."
"What are we celebrating?" Liam asked as he came through the door after baseball practice.
"Calin asked me to marry him," Anna Elizabeth told him, trying not to squeal in front of the 14-year-old boy.
Liam nodded before he spoke, "Calin is cool. I'll like having him for a brother."
Anna Elizabeth smiled as she replied, "Well, I'm glad that you think so, little bro."
Liam glared at her in a way that looked like his mother as he corrected, "Younger."
Anna Elizabeth only chuckled in response before she became serious and told him, "I know. But for the record, you're a pretty cool little brother."
Liam couldn't help grin at her as he replied, "Well, as far as having a big sister goes, you're cool, too." He then pulled her in for a quick congratulatory hug before he went to his room.
When he was gone, Anna Elizabeth asked, "Where's Dad?"
"Oh, he said something about changing my oil after Liam's practice," Emma answered.
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she turned around and headed for the garage.
When she walked in the garage, she smiled when she heard her father singing. She listened for a moment before she called out for him, "Dad?"
Killian lifted his head from under the hood and looked in his daughter's direction. He smiled as he greeted her, "Hello, love. It's good to see you."
"You too, Dad," Anna Elizabeth replied as she returned his smile.
Killian tilted his head as he looked at her before he observed, "Something on your mind?"
Anna Elizabeth's smile grew as she walked closer to him. She then showed him her left hand. "I'm getting married, Dad!" she practically squealed.
Even though he knew that this would happen, Killian's eyes widened slightly as he digested his daughter's news. It was real now.
Even if he wasn't quite ready to accept it, he truly was happy for her. So, he plastered on a smile that he prayed his daughter wouldn't see through as he truthfully told her, "I'm happy for you, Anna Elizabeth. Calin is one lucky lad."
"I think that I'm the lucky one," Anna Elizabeth began. Killian offered a small smile before she continued, "Thanks, Dad."
Killian nodded before he pulled his daughter in for a hug. He held on tightly until Anna Elizabeth told him, "Dad, you're squeezing me."
As Killian let go, he apologized, "Sorry, love. I'm just…uh…so happy for you."
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly as she thanked him once again. She then told him, "I can't think of a time when I've been so happy."
Killian moved her hair behind her shoulder as he told her, "You deserve it, love." He then took a deep breath and continued, "I know that Calin will give you everything, Anna Elizabeth. It's why I gave him my blessing."
Tears began to form in Anna Elizabeth's eyes as she wrapped her father in another hug. As they pulled away, she told him, "You have no idea how much that means to me, Dad."
Killian smiled at her. He then wiped her eyes as he told her, "I think I might, love." Anna Elizabeth smiled back at him in response.
Just then, Emma came into the garage and announced, "Our baseball player says he's starving, so I'm gonna fix lunch." Killian nodded, and both he and Anna Elizabeth chuckled lightly. Emma then asked her daughter, "You want to stay, Anna Elizabeth?"
"I'd love to, Mom, but Calin and I are grabbing something from Granny's to go. We're then heading back to his place to start wedding planning," Anna Elizabeth explained.
"Already? He only proposed last night." Killian pointed out, with crossed arms.
"Dad, please don't," Anna Elizabeth stated.
"Don't what?" Killian asked.
"Be all overprotective about this wedding," Anna Elizabeth began pleadingly. She then took a breath and continued, "Besides, you and Mom told me the next day that you guys were getting married. You explained that Emma would be my aunt for real now."
"You were barely five years old – how can you possibly remember all of that?" Killian asked her, a bit exasperatedly.
"I have a very strong memory – it's very helpful in the field of teaching," Anna Elizabeth answered, with a satisfied grin.
Killian rolled his eyes as Emma interjected, "She is right, Killian. We did start planning right away, and planned our wedding in three months."
She then added, "I'm not sure you could win an argument with her, anyway. She argues the same way that Liam always did, and he was right most of the time. Even if he could be annoyingly self-righteous at times," cutting a look toward her daughter.
It was Anna Elizabeth this time who rolled her eyes before she told her parents, "Alright, you guys, I'll see you both later. I have a date with my boyfr…fiancé," finishing with a wide smile. She hugged both of her parents before she heading out of the garage and to her car.
When Killian and Emma were back inside, she planted her hands on her hips and told him, "Killian, I really do have to agree with Anna Elizabeth. She needs you to support her with this wedding – not fight her on everything she and Calin want. Can you please do that?"
Killian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as answered, "I won't make any promises, Emma. But I can promise you that I will try, love."
Emma nodded satisfactorily before she responded, "Good." She then kissed him softly before she went into the kitchen to start lunch.
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"Okay, first things first, we should set a date," Anna Elizabeth told her fiancé as she pulled out a notebook.
Calin grinned as he motioned to it and teased, "Someone wants to be organized."
Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes before she pointed out, "I have to be organized for everything to go perfectly."
Calin took her free hand in one of his and told her, "Hey, we're each marrying the love of our life – nothing could be more perfect than that."
Anna Elizabeth smiled at him before she brought her lips to his for a sweet kiss. As she pulled away, she told him, "I still can't believe we're getting married. It's so surreal."
Calin returned her smile as he told her, "I know. I'm still pinching myself that you said yes."
"Like I would say no? Come on, Calin. You know better than that," Anna Elizabeth responded.
"Well, I mean, it's not that exactly. It's just that I wanted everything to be perfect and romantic because that's what you deserve," Calin admitted.
Anna Elizabeth lifted her hand from his to caress his cheek. She then assured him, "It was perfect. It was romantic. I couldn't have asked for a better proposal, and I know that our wedding will be every bit as magical."
Calin smiled at her before he kissed her sweetly. As they pulled apart and rested their foreheads against each other's, he told her, "And that is one of the many reasons why I love you."
Anna Elizabeth pulled back to look in his eyes before she smiled and told him, "I love you, too." After a quick kiss to his cheek, she continued, "Okay, we really do need to think about a date. You would think that I since I barely slept from excitement last night, I would have thought of something for our wedding, but I just kept replaying the proposal over and over again."
"I kept thinking about it, too, but I was able to think of a possible date," Calin began, as he bit his lip.
"You did?" Anna Elizabeth gasped in excitement.
"Well, I mean it's just a suggestion. And you might not like the idea, and you may think that's it's too soon…" Calin started rambling, and Anna Elizabeth cut him off by putting her hand over his mouth.
"Calin, you know that I love you – even the part of you that tends to second-guess himself and who becomes a nervous basket case. Which I know probably sounds a little hypercritical coming from me. Anyways, you know that you can tell me anything – don't worry about it."
Calin nodded, and Anna Elizabeth removed her hand from his mouth. He took a deep breath and told her, "Well, I was thinking that this fall will be a new start for you. You graduated college, and now you're going to start a new career. It'll be a big change, and you know I'll be there to support you. But I was thinking… maybe…perhaps, I could support you as your husband. I thought that your new start could also be the start of our lives together as husband and wife."
Anna Elizabeth's expression was unreadable for a moment. Calin knew that she was just thinking, but it still made him nervous. A moment later, her face broke into a wide smile. She then wrapped him in a fierce hug, nearly pushing him backwards on the couch.
As they pulled away, she gasped, "Oh, Calin – I love that idea. It's so incredibly sweet! It is the absolute best way to start our new lives."
Calin smiled brightly at her in response. He then told her, "I know it isn't much time to plan a wedding, but I can't wait for you to be my wife, Anna Elizabeth."
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly as well as she replied, "And I can't wait to be married to you, Calin James." She then continued, "And if my parents, not to mention Aunt Regina and Uncle Robin, can plan a wedding in a few months, then so can we."
Calin grinned as he said, "I was kind of hoping you would say that."
Anna Elizabeth returned his grin in response before she turned to grab the notebook that had fallen on the floor.
She stuck the pen behind her ear as she flipped to the calendar in the back. She scrunched up her nose and furrowed her brows as she turned to August and September. She studied it for a moment before she spoke, "Let's see. School starts in the second week of September. If the wedding is in the second week of August, that'll give us a month to, you know, adjust to being married and living together." She then looked up at him.
Calin took the pen, which had gotten tangled in Anna Elizabeth's hair, and twirled it in his fingers as he pointed out, "You know, I think you may have missed something in your calculations."
Anna Elizabeth furrowed her brows again as she asked, "What?"
"I wanted us to have a week-long honeymoon," Calin began. He then bit his lip and continued, "If that's okay with you."
The blonde couldn't help but shake her head at him before she told him, "I would love to spend a week somewhere with just the two of us. Where were you thinking?"
"Uh, well, I hadn't quite gotten that far yet," Calin admitted, and Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but chuckle.
When she had sobered, he continued, "I also wanted us to pick the place together."
She genuinely smiled at him before she teased, "Well, before we pick where to spend our honeymoon, we should pick a place to get married during the first week of August."
Calin smiled back at her before he told her, "Well, maybe, we could…" but he was cut off by Anna Elizabeth's squeal.
"The beach!"
"The beach?" Calin repeated.
Anna Elizabeth nodded furiously before she continued, "Yes. At the spot where you proposed. It's special for both of us."
Calin smiled as he added, "The weather will also be beautiful in August. A perfect way to celebrate us getting married while we're surrounded by our family and friends."
Anna Elizabeth returned his smile before she observed, "Speaking of family and friends, I think we should talk about who will be the bridesmaids and groomsmen."
"Hmm, let me think. For you, it'll be Evie, Alexandra, Jane, and Gia," Calin responded with a grin.
"Obviously," Anna Elizabeth responded. She then continued, "I think I want Evie to be my maid of honor. We've always been like sisters."
Calin nodded and offered his fiancée a smile before she asked him, "Are you going to ask your brother to be your best man?"
Calin furrowed his brows before he questioned, "Ethan?"
Anna Elizabeth had to refrain from rolling her eyes as she pointed out, "He's the only brother you have, Calin."
He took a deep breath before he told her, "I know. Even though he's only my half-brother, and we've only known each other for a few months, he is my family. I'd like to have him standing next to me, but I'm not sure it'd be his thing."
Anna Elizabeth furrowed her brows and scrunched up her nose as she asked, "What do you mean?"
"Come on, Anna Elizabeth. You've met him – he's still a total goofball who is barely capable of a serious conservation."
Anna Elizabeth giggled before she pointed out, "He isn't quite that bad, Calin. I think you're exaggerating a bit."
"Maybe. But I'm still not sure he's the best option for my best man," Calin responded.
Anna Elizabeth sighed before she agreed, "I guess I can see your point." She then assured him, "You don't have to decide now."
Calin smiled at her before he kissed her forehead. He then told her, "Thank you, Anna Elizabeth."
The blonde returned her fiancé's smile as she told him, "Of course, Calin." She then leaned in, and he met her halfway for a tender kiss.
As they pulled back, Anna Elizabeth heard her phone beep from a text message. She picked up and grinned when she read it. She then turned her attention to Calin and asked, "You up for a Pirates of the Caribbean marathon with my parents and Liam?"
Calin grinned at her as he responded, "If I had to guess, I'd say that was probably your brother's idea."
Anna Elizabeth giggled in response as she nodded in agreement. She then asked, "So, what do you say?"
"I think it'd be great," Calin began. He then ran one of his hands up and down her arm as he told her, "It'd also be a good opportunity to tell your parents that our wedding will be in August."
Anna Elizabeth smiled and nodded once again before she sent her mother a response.
Twenty minutes later, Anna Elizabeth and Calin were walking through the front door of Emma and Killian's house.
"Hey, Mom and Dad," Anna Elizabeth greeted with a smile.
"Hey, kid," Emma greeted with a smile.
"Where's Liam?" Anna Elizabeth then asked.
"In his room trying to locate the movies," Killian answered with a grin.
Anna Elizabeth shook her head and grinned in response.
Emma then addressed her daughter and future son-in-law, "How did the wedding planning go?"
"Well, we have a date," Anna Elizabeth answered with a bright smile.
Emma smiled brightly and discreetly elbowed Killian to do the same as she asked, "When?"
"The first week of August," Calin answered as he squeezed Anna Elizabeth's hand.
"I think you two can plan a lovely wedding in a year," Killian observed.
Calin bit his lip and looked at Anna Elizabeth, who then squeezed his hand in reassurance.
She then addressed her father, "Dad, he didn't mean next August." Killian's brows furrowed before Anna Elizabeth told both of her parents, "We're getting married this August."
Emma immediately wrapped Anna Elizabeth in a hug before doing the same to Calin. As she pulled away, she told them, "This is great news. I'm so happy for both of you."
Anna Elizabeth and Calin smiled brightly at her, but Killian's reaction wasn't quite so pleasant.
"Three bloody months? You're getting married in three bloody months?"
"Killian, it's not a big deal," Emma told him.
Killian ignored his wife and continued, "That's far too soon for you two to get married."
"You and Mom did the same thing," Anna Elizabeth pointed out.
Killian paused at her words for a moment before he refuted, "That's rather different."
"How the bloody hell is it different?" Anna Elizabeth asked, trying desperately to keep her temper at bay.
"Your mother and I had known each other longer..." Killian began but he was cut off by his daughter.
"And let me guess, you guys were older and more mature?"
"That isn't where I was going," Killian tried to defend, but he knew that his efforts were futile.
"Dad, I thought you were okay with us getting married," Anna Elizabeth told him, and Killian's heart broke at the emotion in her voice.
Before he could attempt to reply, Anna Elizabeth was walking away in order to clear her head.
Killian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair before he did the same.
Emma groaned as she ran her hand over her face and through her blonde locks. She then looked over at Calin, who was simply staring at the floor. He was biting his lip so hard that she was afraid he would draw blood.
Emma then walked over to him and called his name, making him look up at her. She then apologized, "I'm sorry that Killian overreacted and that you had to see it."
"It's alright, Emma. I really wasn't expecting it, since he gave us his blessing, but I guess maybe it is too soon. It was my suggestion, and I suppose I should have considered that," Calin responded in a dejected and disappointed tone.
"Oh, Calin, this has absolutely nothing to do with you. I think it's wonderful that you can't wait to marry Anna Elizabeth," Emma assured him.
"I don't think Killian would agree with you," Calin told her.
Emma sighed once again before she explained, "Listen, Calin. I can promise you that Killian doesn't have a problem with you, and that he does care about you. It's just hard for him to accept that Anna Elizabeth is an adult. He still sees her as that little girl who wanted to be a Disney princess and who was scared of thunderstorms. He doesn't want to let her go. This might be hard for you to get now, but one day you'll understand."
Calin took a few minutes to take in Emma's words before he told her, "I've always known that Anna Elizabeth was a daddy's girl, and I can see how it would be hard on Killian."
Emma smiled gratefully at him before she hugged him. As they pulled away, she told him, "I'm glad that you can see it. I can promise you that he will come around - it just may take a little while."
Calin nodded in understanding before he told her, "I think I'll go check on Anna Elizabeth."
Emma nodded before she replied, "And I'll go check on Liam before I go talk to Killian."
Calin then headed toward the direction of the backyard, but he was stopped by Emma's voice.
"I know that you and Anna Elizabeth talked through this wedding date, and that it makes both of you happy. Don't you dare change it on Killian's account."
Calin grinned and nodded in response before he continued toward the backyard, while Emma headed to her son's room.
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"Hey, Dad," Anna Elizabeth greeted as she came to sit beside Killian on the tailgate of his truck.
"Hello, love," Killian responded before he kissed her temple.
He then scratched his ear as he continued, "I'm sorry that I overreacted, Anna Elizabeth. It wasn't one of my best moments."
"It's okay, Dad. I've seen you overreact plenty of times, especially if it concerns me and a guy," Anna Elizabeth assured him.
Killian grinned slightly as he told her, "I suppose that I do, but you have to admit that I wasn't out of line with that whole Ricky fiasco."
Anna Elizabeth chuckled lightly before she admitted, "He was a jerk."
She then became serious and continued, "Dad, if you think Calin will break my heart, you don't have to worry."
"I know I needn't worry about that, and that's what makes this so hard," Killian told her.
"Why?" Anna Elizabeth asked curiously.
"It means that you're really ready to spend your life with someone, and you'll be leaving, love," Killian answered.
"Dad, I moved out of the house two years ago, and it's not like Calin and I are leaving Storybrooke. We both love it here," Anna Elizabeth pointed out.
Killian offered a small smile as he responded, "I know, Anna Elizabeth. But it's different, love. You may not live here, but you share an apartment with Evie. When you're married, you'll…uh… you know, live, with, um, Calin. It's just another step toward independence that I'm not sure I'm ready for."
"But I'm ready to take this step, and that means that you and Mom did your job," Anna Elizabeth pointed out to him.
"Aye, love, I think maybe that we did too good of a job," Killian replied.
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but shake her head and roll her eyes in response. She then asked him, "Are you worried that we can't pull off this wedding in three months?"
"Are you?" Killian honestly asked her.
She didn't skip a beat as she responded, "Nope." She then took a breath and continued, "I know it isn't a lot of time, but you and Mom did it. And we actually thought about why we wanted it this soon."
"You did?" Killian asked with a raised eyebrow.
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she elaborated, "My new job starts in the fall, and it's going to be a big change for me. Calin wanted to support me as my husband. We'll have a month after we get back from our honeymoon to adjust to… life."
"Nice save," Kilian commented. He then took a moment to consider his daughter's words before he simply observed, "He put you first."
"He always does – and always has. I have to remind him that his happiness is just as important as mine," Anna Elizabeth told her father.
Killian couldn't help but smile at his daughter's words before he surmised, "That sounds familiar."
"You and Mom," Anna Elizabeth observed.
Killian nodded before he added, "And Liam and Elsa. Your father was always so concerned about Belle and I, and then your mother when they began dating, that his own happiness often wasn't deemed as important. That is, until Elsa made him see differently. Which wasn't easy because your father was so stubborn."
"That sounds familiar," Anna Elizabeth repeated her father's words with a grin. Killian couldn't help but grin back at her in response.
He then took a deep breath and spoke, "This may feel redundant, love, but I have to know. I know that two years feels like a long time to be with someone, but are you absolutely positive that this – marrying Calin – is what you want?"
Anna Elizabeth considered her words before she responded, "Calin is my best friend. He knows that I sing entirely too much, that I stress to the point of making myself sick at times, and that I never think I'm good enough. But he still loves me, and he makes me believe in myself – you know what a feat that is.
Yes, it's true that he can be a basket case at times, he can be a bit of a slob, and he remembers everything – which is sweet at times, but annoying at others. But I'm still absolutely crazy about him. I want to spend the rest of my life with him, and I can't picture my life any other way. I want a future with him – a house with a big backyard and kids running around, but most of all, just a life with him. An amazing life that we build together. Don't you want that for me?"
"Maybe not the little ones running around," Killian responded.
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but roll her eyes before she stated, "Dad."
Killian grinned at her as he told her, "I'm joking, love." He then became serious and continued, "Of course I want you to have all of that, love. I'd have to be a bloody idiot not to see that Calin is the man who can do that for you. And it truly does make me happy to know that you found someone who is deserving of you. But it still doesn't make it any easier for me. You're still my little girl, Anna Elizabeth."
Anna Elizabeth threw her arms around his neck in response. Killian hugged her back tightly, and they stayed like that for several minutes.
When they pulled away, Anna Elizabeth told him, "I'll always be your Anna Elizabeth, Dad. But I'm not little anymore. I live on my own, I've graduated college, and I'm getting married. And it all makes me so incredibly happy, and Calin is a big part of that happiness. This is what I've always dreamed about - don't you think I need to give those dreams a shot?"
Killian stared at his daughter for a long moment. She really could argue like her father. He knew that she was right, and that Emma had been right earlier when she told him something similar. He knew what he had to do, even though it would take every bit of strength he had to do so.
He took a deep breath before he told Anna Elizabeth, "I want you to be happy, love. No matter how much I want to, I won't stand in the way of you and your dreams."
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly at him as she replied, "Thank you, Dad." She then wrapped her arms around him for another hug.
As they were locked in their embrace, she continued, "I know how hard this is for you, Dad, but you have to learn to let me go."
"I know I have to, love," Killian responded, but in his heart, he was saying, "Please, don't go."
Y'all see what I did there? ;) I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
I also wanted to tell y'all that I'm officially on summer vacation! So, I will have a lot more time to write, and y'all won't have to wait a week or more for an update :)