Well friends, this is neither the prompt that I owe revanmeetra87 (Though I'm working on it, I promise!), the one I owe whimsicallyenchantedrose (Though the inspiration for it has finally come to me), nor the epilogue to my Liam/Belle MC, but it is a little something to cap off the CS Wedding celebration I was doing last week. I promised a new one shot for the occasion after I posted all those past wedding-related stories, and I didn't quite get it done in time. This one was started before Sunday's episode, and I meant it to be pretty much canon compliant, just a missing scene. Now that it's aired there are some details that make it more canon divergent, but I still don't think it's too far off. I was down enough after Monday's news and what it could mean, that I didn't get this concluded and polished up until today, but I still wanted to post it, so I hope you will enjoy the fluff and family feels found here.

"Father Figure"

By: snowbellewells (TutorGirlml on )

The morning of the wedding had begun in a troubling wet, dreary grey of rain drizzle, but by mid-afternoon the clouds had slowly parted and sunlight was peeking through their wispy, tattered remnants with gaining strength. Killian Jones had stood for some time, uncaring if he got a bit wet, staring over the water from the side of the Jolly, hoping deep in his heart of hearts that they would not have to change the venue for their nuptials. He would of course rather that than see the occasion dampened or have to postpone it even a day longer, but he had truly hoped to pledge his troth to his True Love while standing on the sturdy boards of his previous truest love; the old girl who had been his home and companion for centuries.

Once the day began to dry, Killian had gone below to his cabin and started getting dressed. The dark suit with its soft, well-made material felt transformative against his skin, whispering as it brushed across his flesh that today was infinitely special. Today began the rest of his life – the happiest and best part. And in a town where magic was all around at most given moments, that this day would still have a magic all its own was truly saying something. Emma Swan – the Princess of Misthaven, the Savior – loved him, and today she would promise to spend the rest of her life with him, as he would her. As he shrugged into the waistcoat over the button up dress shirt, and deftly did its fastenings one-handed as well, Killian caught a glimpse of himself looking conspicuously misty-eyed in the reflection of the looking glass in the corner. It was true that is some ways, ever since Neverland – no, perhaps even since Lake Nostos and the beanstalk – he had been pledging himself to Emma every day; still, the culmination of his deepest wish seemed more than he could possibly deserve.

He was interrupted then from his preparations and reverie by a quiet knock on the cabin door. Just as well, Killian thought wryly, eying the bow tie laid out with the suit jacket on his bunk. There had been little chance he would be able to secure said article – he'd never even worn one before – without someone's help, and now such aid was presenting itself.

His heart warmed, smile deepening when the voice that called his name proved to be Henry, asking if he could come in. "Aye," Killian answered Swan's boy affectionately, waving him forward when the teen's face appeared around the edge of the sturdy wood. "Come in. I'm always glad to have you aboard, Lad, you know that."

Henry nodded, but cleared his throat nervously and looked more than a bit uneasy as he shuffled his feet forward into the room.

Killian was momentarily concerned at the young man's bearing – surely if something were wrong, if something had happened to Emma, he would know; he would feel it. There had been nothing from their fae nemesis this day, and he had hoped to have this one occasion without fight or interruption, but he wouldn't put it past the malicious Stiltskin matriarch to make her presence known even now. He was halfway across his cabin to the bracket under the window where he had carefully stowed his sword, ready to take it up again in service of his Swan, when Henry finally spoke.

As he did, and as Killian turned to listen to the young man about to officially become his stepson, Killian noticed for the first time that the Author also carried a book in his hand. It was not his usual storybook, the huge brown leather bound one bearing all their past tales in the Enchanted Forest, but a smaller black one the pirate had never seen before.

"Killian," Henry started again, voice still soft and somewhat hesitant as he moved closer, finally coming to stand face-to-face with the man who had become supporter, confidante and sometime partner-in-crime to him – in some ways, the most constant father figure he'd known. He held his hand out, with the handsome new book in it, offering it to Killian. "In this realm, they sometimes give the guy getting married something. It's called a groom's gift. So… anyway… I just wanted to give you this," he offered, meeting Killian's eyes fleetingly and then dropping his gaze again with a sheepish flush to his cheeks. "It's not much really… but I… I wanted you to have it. It's our story."

The pirate's eyes shot up to Henry's then, awed emotion flowing through him and having to see into the face of this extraordinary young man he loved as his very own to make sure he was really hearing what he thought. "Truly?" he finally choked out, arching an eyebrow despite himself, his voice low and rougher than normal, but struck deeply by the gesture that Henry was making.

Henry chuckled a bit then, as if Killian's sincere gratitude and affection made him more at ease with the gift he had given. "Aye," the youth mocked Hook now in his answer, and they both seemed unable to stop the silly grins spreading across their faces.

"Well then, thank you, m'boy," Killian spoke solemnly, clasping Henry's shoulder warmly and merely drinking in the moment, stunned that his long, tangled lifeline had brought him here with this young man, a chance at a family he would have never imagined coming to him again.

Killian took the gift, holding it in his hand and running his thumb over the smooth cover reverently. Curious, he almost flipped it open to see what Henry had put down, but as if reading his mind, the lad stepped forward, shaking his head. Cheeks flushed again, Henry's grasp on Killian's forearm stilled his motion to open and begin reading. "No! Don't read it now while I'm standing here!" the teen exclaimed in humored exasperation.

Smirking only slightly, Killian conceded, "As you wish," with an affectionate nod of deference to Henry's wishes. Sitting the book on his bunk for the moment, he turned back to the lad seriously before pressing on. "I shall wait until later to peruse your fine gift. But… if I may – perchance you might do one more thing for me?" Reddening a bit himself, Killian gestured to the undone bow tie where he had discarded it atop the desk by his mirror, his awkward all-done-up collar, and gave his stepson a lopsided smile. "If you could be so kind?"

Shaking his head, Henry nodded and stepped forward, releasing a good natured snort of laughter at Killian's expense, but lightly reaching out and putting the ensemble together as best he knew how, much like his Grandpa David had shown him to do his own.

When he had finished, the teen gave his soon-to-be stepdad a once over, smiling once more at the man he had come to look up to, who loved his mom and made her smile, who had taught him sailor's knots and navigation by the stars, and how to manage his algebra homework. This man had always had his back. Even when Henry himself had been too stubborn to see, Killian had wanted the best for him, as any father would. Though he would always miss his birth father and wish they had gotten more time together, Henry was struck suddenly by how his father figure had been there all along; he had never been truly without. Dropping his hands from the slightly crooked but still fastened bow tie, Henry lunged forward to hug Captain Hook – their pirate – tightly in a swell of gratitude and love.

Killian was stunned still for several beats of time, blinking rapidly at the tears which welled up at Henry's tight embrace and obvious acceptance, but he quickly recovered and hugged Swan's boy back just as firmly, clasping him close for several long moments. When they parted, there were conspicuous snuffles and bashful half smiles on both their parts, but also a new understanding of just how gladly and irrevocably they were family now.

A text buzzed through for Henry then, and he pulled out his talking phone as Killian watched. "Grandma needs me for some decoration issue," Henry said. "So, are we all set, Captain?"

"Aye," Killian affirmed with a wide grin and quick nod. "I'll see you again shortly…at the altar."

After Henry had dashed off, Killian moved to his bunk once more, fully ready for the ceremony that was only a little over an hour away. Before he headed above deck though, he was anxious to look at the gift his stepson had brought him.

Taking a seat on the edge of his bed, Killian picked up the book, opened to the first page, and began to read:

"Once there was a little boy with an old soul and a heavy heart. Though he believed in heroes and good and fairy tales, he didn't know if anyone really loved him or where he truly belonged.

There was also, once upon a time, a man who had lived for centuries, but had lost his boyhood much too soon. He was alone in the world with nothing and no one to live for.

In truth, the two should never have met. But meet they did, and the story of how it came to be, brought love and joy back into both of their lives…"

Killian kept reading, through a sheen of happy tears, all the way to the end; the warmth in his heart spreading throughout his whole body until he felt it might escape in beams of light from his fingers and toes. He could hardly wait to thank Henry for this precious gift, and though words would not fully express it, attempt to tell the lad how much it meant to him.

Neither of them had lived through very happy starts, but they were now embarking on their happy ending at last…