My darlings, we are at the end. I can't believe I finished an MC hahahaha. Thank you, captainswanbigbang and esp, wellhellotragic for your wonderful captions for each chapter. I love your small comments on the fic 3
sambethe, what a soul. What a star. The artwork for Chapter 2 was such a sweet moment, for chapter 5 was PERFECT and for this chapter - well, you will see for yourself how ICONIC it is. This banner was a perfect balance of darkness and mystery that I wanted to convey through the title and she's done such a great job. PLEASE check out her orignal artworks, like, reblog, comment, send her lovely asks and gifts and love.
downeystarkjr - when I heard that she WANTED to work on my fic specifically, it blew my mind. I was in awe - that awe just quadrupled when I saw the trailer and basically just exploded to infinity when I saw the OTHER FULL LENGTH VIDEO. They are both so beautiful. Go check out the work by this talented young person and LIKE COMMENT SUBSCRIBE (I've always wanted to say that) to her YouTube. JUST GO DO IT.
accio-ambition - I can't. I don't have words enough to thank you. Just- don't. DON'T EVER STOP BEING THIS GREAT, AWESOME, SWEET, MEAN, MAMA-BEAR and the best beta a girl could ask for - in fandom and real life. I don't know what I would do without your constant support and encouragement to "DO THE THING" even if you then hate having to edit the angst-shit. Ily and appreciate you so GD much.
and FINALLY - to you all, who have read this fic, who have favorited it, and who have followed or who have even just read it and thought "oh, this is okay" - THANK YOU. This fic will mean a lot to me - I went through moments of great happiness, moments of great grief and pain and moments of great change throughout the conception, writing and publishing of this fic. thank you and let's move on
One month later
It had been roughly three weeks since Alice had left home, ventured out on her own. She had been reluctant to leave her father alone at first, knowing how difficult a time it was for him. But after what happened with Emma…. it just did not seem right, not when Emma was-
She cut her train of thought short, knowing that going there would only make her guilt rear its ugly head again. But three weeks had passed and she realised she had been selfish, and bull-headed. No matter what was said in the heat of the moment, her father needed her. And she needed him. Which was how she found herself standing outside the cottage that had served as home for Emma and herself for all those years.
Alice hesitated, shuffling her feet, unsure about knocking on the door. She still could not forget the fight that had taken place before she'd left home. She was not certain she would be welcomed back. She blew out a long breath, steeling herself, and knocked sharply - thrice.
It took long enough for her father to open the door that she almost contemplated leaving. But when he did pull the door open, she was shocked by his appearance. His eyes looked bloodshot, like he hadn't slept properly in days. His usually trimmed stubble was now a fully grown beard and his hair was long enough to reach past his neck. He was still wearing his garb from the Land without Magic in what he called jeans and a long sleeved shirt, a prosthetic hand in place of his hook. He looked surprised to see her, which she couldn't blame him for, not after how they had left things.
"Starfish!" he exclaimed, quick to embrace her. "I'm so glad you're home, love," he whispered against her ear.
Alice melted in her father's arms, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, hugging him back tight. "I'm sorry for leaving like that, Papa," she apologised, closing her eyes, revelling in his warmth. It did feel good to be home.
"You're home now, love. That's all that matters."
-/-
"You don't seem like you're doing so well, Papa," Alice commented as she took a seat on a chair, her cloak thrown over the back of it.
He smiled tightly at his daughter, nodding in agreement. "It's just been difficult, darling. I haven't really had a good night's sleep in a long time."
Alice hummed, staring at her hands. "I guess we are all still shaken by what happened that night."
Killian remained quiet for so long that Alice had taken his silence for agreement. "I was just about to go see her, if you wanted to join me?" Killian asked finally, startling Alice.
"Are you certain-"
"Of course, of course," he answered before she could finish the sentence, dismissing her worry with a wave of his hand.
-/-
Killian had bought some fresh flowers that morning, intending to give Emma some company. He hadn't been sure about going by himself, so he was glad for Alice's presence. As surprised as he had been to see his daughter, he was just glad she was home again. They needed each other right now, and while he understood why she wanted to leave, he was glad she was back now. He wasn't a fool to think that she would stay for much longer after the argument that had made her run in the first place. But there hadn't been a day where he didn't worry about her.
As if she could read his thoughts, Alice spoke up. "I didn't do it."
"What's that now, love?" he asked, unsure if he heard her right. Surely, she didn't mean-
"I didn't get rid of my magic," Alice clarified. Killian struggled to hide his smile on hearing that. He had been completely against the idea of her wanting to get rid of her magic, had not understood why she would blame herself for what happened with Emma.
Just thinking about Emma made his heart constrict in his chest. Which was why he was glad when they finally reached their destination. He spotted Charles' gravestone through the gap between the trees. He stopped short: even now, after coming here numerous times in the past month, it still left him feeling as helpless and breathless as he had the very first day. It was only Alice's insistent tug on his arm that made him keep walking.
Killian spotted Emma as soon as he entered the clearing. She was sat a ways away from Charles' gravestone, right in front of Merlin's memorial, staring grimly at it, just like she had every time she had slipped out here.
4 weeks ago: Camelot
Alice had been the first to notice Emma falling, shouting for her father as she ran to her mother, skidding to her knees and cradling Emma's head in her lap. "Mama! Mama, are you alright?"
Killian turned around, the triumphant grin slipping into a horror as he saw his love crumpled on the ground. Excalibur fell from his grip as he rushed to Emma, falling to his knees at her side. He felt for a pulse, his heart dropping to his gut when he realised she did not have one. "No, no, no, no. Swan, no," he whimpered, his fingers trembling as he pressed his hand to her chest, trying desperately to find a beat. But there was nothing.
He pulled her off Alice's lap, quickly starting CPR. He remembered his training from the Land without Magic. He knew it would be futile, though. There was only one reason her heart stopped beating - it must have been the magic. He shouldn't have asked her to do this. He was the reason she was dead.
He ignored everything around him, keeping his compressions steady.
"Papa, she's gone," Alice whispered, openly sobbing. When he did not respond her to, she grabbed his hand, making him growl at her, snatching his hand and hook away, resuming the compressions.
"No, she is not!" he protested, words spit out through gritted teeth, continuing with his compressions, ignoring how truly lifeless Emma seemed. "It was just the magic. She let it all go, and her heart is failing her. But she is not dead. She can't be. We have our whole future ahead of us. She can't be dead. She's not dead. Dammit, come on, Swan! Fight it, come back to me!"
He pressed his ear to her chest again, waiting for a moment, then two, and then three. A whole minute passed, and only as he felt ready to give up, his tears blurring his vision and his chest tight with tears, did he hear it. The faint, slow beating of her heart. He gasped, pressing his ear harder to her chest, praying that he had not imagined it. A moment later, he heard it again. Her heart was beating!
"Her-her heart's beating!" he exclaimed, and Alice let out a relieved breath, which cut off into a broken sob. "It's beating. I just- I need a little something….Alice!" She snapped her head up to meet her father's eyes. "You have magic. You need to use it, you need to- I don't know, give her heart a boost? It doesn't matter. Just do something! She needs magic to get her heart beating again!"
Alice seemed to hesitate, making him want to pull his hair out. "Alice, this is your mother! Please use your bloody magic!" he pleaded, his tone despondent but his words harsh.
Alice nodded shakily, crawling over and pressing her hands over Emma's chest.
-/-
Alice focused on her emotions, blocking everything else out. Magic was emotion, magic was emotion, she whispered to herself. She needed to stop thinking, and just feel. She felt the pain in her chest, knowing she could not lose her mother. Just the thought of it was threatening to overwhelm her, despite her best efforts. So she channeled that fear and pain, the anger she felt at having her family in constant danger - she used it all to lead her to her core. Emma had always told her she had to embrace who she was, and right now she was a scared young girl who needed her Mama back, and her family whole. She has had enough tragedy in her life.
It took a couple of moments to notice the warmth of the magic pouring from her hands and into Emma. It was only her father's sharp intake of breath that alerted her to any change. But once she noticed it, she focused harder, trying to remember and implement everything her mother had taught her about magic. When she felt like she was done, Alice pulled her hands back, resting them on her lap.
Killian and Alice waited with their breaths held, praying to all the Gods that it worked.
Emma woke up with a sharp gasp, and they let out a relieved sigh. She blinked up at them, Alice and Killian grinning down at her.
Killian helped her sit up, embracing her quickly, drawing Alice into the hug. "Gods, Swan! I thought-" he cut himself off, unable to even think it, Alice assumed.
Emma was stiff in their embrace, not reacting at all. When they drew away from her, Killian cupping her cheek in worry, she breathed out, "My magic is gone."
-/-
Present: Enchanted Forest
Killian approached Emma tentatively, sitting down next to her, his arm snaking around her waist. She did not say a word, simply leaning against him. She hadn't said much for three weeks, not since before Alice had left. It was getting harder and harder for him to reach her with every passing day, when she kept retreating into herself. The very first time she had gone missing, he had been terrified that she had left him without a word. He had waited for almost half a day, pacing impatiently, unsure if he should go out looking for her. It had been a couple hours before she had turned up, her eyes red clearly from crying, but refused to address his concern, simply shuffling past him and into bed.
It had taken him a couple of days to realise where she had been going - visiting the site where they had set up a memorial stone for Merlin, right next to Charles' gravestone. She would spend an hour or so simply sat there, not saying a word most of the time, not reacting to his presence at all, staring at her hands with a haunted look in her eyes.
"Hey, sweetheart," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the side of her head.
Emma hummed noncommittally, her arms wrapped around her chest tightly. Killian sighed, chancing a glance at Alice, who remained at the edge of the clearing, hesitant to approach her mother after the altercation they had had three weeks ago.
-/-
3 weeks ago: Camelot
Emma had spent the week since her revival in a state of unconsciousness. Killian and Alice had been overjoyed when she had opened her eyes again, but she had swiftly fainted with the parting words "My magic is gone". Both of them were understandably upset, panicked even. It had taken some time. But once they had returned to Camelot and informed Queen Guinevere of Merlin's unfortunate demise and that he had helped them destroy the Darkness, the Queen was kind enough to provide them with quarters and arrange for Merlin's funeral.
It was Merlin's apprentice who had finally explained Emma's state. He had told them that Alice's magic had essentially provided Emma's heart with enough power to pull her back from the brink of death. It would take a while before Emma would wake up, and even longer for her to come to terms with her new reality.
("Emma was born with her magic, and the more she fostered it the more it became a part of her soul. Losing it would be like losing a large part of who she is. You need to be patient with her," the apprentice advised Killian and Alice.
"But she will be alright, won't she?" Alice asked, taking one of Emma's hands in her own, concern etched across her features.
"Physically? Absolutely, with time. As for the rest…" the apprentice turned to look at Emma, a contemplative look on his face. "It's up to her.")
Nothing could have prepared father and daughter for Emma's reaction upon waking up. It had been a little over a week, and they had started to grow worried and restless. At least one of them remained by her side at all times, taking turns sleeping; even when they did, it was right by her bedside.
Emma regained consciousness in stages. Alice had been the first to notice her fingers moving, and next were her eyes, shifting rapidly under her eyelids. It was over an hour past that, both of them waiting with their heart's in their throats, pacing tirelessly, when Emma's eyes started fluttering and she began mumbling under her breath.
Killian was by her side in an instant, fingers brushing her hair from her face and eyes never straying from her face. "Emma, darling, it's me. Killian."
Emma turned toward his voice, her fingers twitching at her side. "Aye, love," he chuckled tearily. "I'm here. Please wake up. Open those beautiful eyes, and look at me." He was unable to stop tears from slipping down his face. Alice watched from a distance, knowing that her father needed this time.
-/-
It took Emma a couple of tries before she could open her eyes completely, a soft, lilting voice guiding her to the realm of consciousness. She squinted against the brightness of the room, before they focused on Killian's face. Her dazed expression cleared, and Killian's relief was the first thing she saw, his eyes bright and grin wide.
She couldn't help but smile. "Killian," she murmured, reaching for his cheek, fingers brushing against his overgrown scruff.
He closed his eyes for a moment, pressing his cheek against her questing hand. "Hello, beautiful," he said on a watery chuckle.
But Emma's happiness was momentary, as all the events from last week came back to her, slowly. Her brows pulled together, feeling suddenly uneasy, her chest too tight and her gut twisted in knots. She felt queasy, her hand falling from Killian's cheek to her chest, rubbing at it in an effort to relieve the discomfort.
She sat up with Killian's help, the uneasiness turning into pain. "Oh!" She clutched at her stomach, feeling a sharp pain near her abdomen.
"Swan!" Killian had his arm around her, supporting her back. "What's wrong? What do you need?"
Emma was too confused and in far too much distress to answer him. Something just felt wrong, something was- And then it dawned on her.
Her magic. She no longer had her magic.
Emma looked up, still clutching her stomach, tears in her eyes, and right in front of her was Alice. "Mama?" she whispered, fear evident in her tone.
For the very first time in her life, Emma was not happy to see her daughter. She turned away from Alice, burying her face in Killian's shoulders, unable to contain her whimpers of pain. She didn't notice Alice's crestfallen expression.
"It hurts," she finally said, breathing through the pain.
"What does, darling?"
"Everything. My- my magic is-" Emma cut herself off, unable to say it out loud, to make it a reality. Her heart felt like it was caved in, and the pain in her stomach had no reprieve. She was too weak to hold back her tears; she dissolved into sobs, burrowing herself against Killian, drawing comfort from him.
"Mama," Alice approached her, but Emma ignored her. She couldn't bring herself to look at Alice, not without feeling the ugly taste of disdain on her tongue.
"Go away." Emma's words were sharp and edgy. She did not have to look at Alice for it to be evident who it was directed at.
-/-
The apprentice had come to Emma's aid, giving her a potion for her pain and uneasiness. At Emma's request, Killian and Alice left the room, leaving her alone with the older man. Neither Killian nor Alice had an idea what else he spoke to her in private, but once he had left, Emma had declared that she wanted to leave Camelot. She simply stated that the Apprentice had offered to transport them magically to the cottage that had been her and Alice's home. That was that. By the end of the day, they were back home, and Emma had retreated to her room, leaving Alice and Killian alone.
Alice had tried multiple times to talk to Emma, but she refused to even acknowledge her presence. Killian was stuck in the middle, between his love and his daughter, both of them at odds. He tried getting Emma to talk to him, coaxing her, sweet-talking her, but she would not budge. She spent all of her days in bed, burrowed under her blanket. It was a task just convincing her to eat something.
It had all come to a head their third day back from Camelot. Alice had stormed past Killian, despite his protests and his insistence that they Emma her space, and into Emma's room. He opted to stay out of the room, but the yelling had made it easy for him to know what they were speaking of. Alice demanded Emma to look at her, to speak to her. There was more yelling than Killian cared for, but he knew as much as it pained him, that this was between mother and daughter. They were both grown adults and they needed to figure this out for themselves.
But Emma's last words left him stunned.
"You never should have saved me, Alice! You're the reason I have to learn to live without my magic!" Emma shouted, her voice breaking. "You should have just let me die in that clearing."
Killian went to open the door, knowing it was time to step in. But Alice stomped out of Emma's room and heading to hers, clearly in tears. He could hear Emma crying in her room. He knew that she would want some time to herself, that she would refuse his comfort out of some twisted sense of guilt, and opted to go after his daughter.
"Alice, love, I'm sorry-" he started, walking into her room. He stopped short, as he saw what she was doing. "Why are you packing a bag?"
"I should leave, Papa. She clearly doesn't want me here," Alice said, her voice firm despite the tears.
"That's bollocks! Of course she wants you here. She's your mother." He grabbed her bag from her, earning a glare from her. "Stop this right now."
"No," Alice snapped, somewhat petulantly. "I'm going to go for a while and give Mama some time to herself. Besides, my magic is to blame for this, and I'm going to find out a way to get rid of it once and for all." She snatched the bag back, continuing to stuff her things in it.
"Love, don't be hasty." He tried reasoning with her, tried asserting his authority; but nothing worked. Alice was just as stubborn as Emma, if not more so. And once her mind was made up, there was no changing it. He couldn't make her stay, she was an adult. She had to choose to stay.
"Alice, at least tell her goodbye," Killian implored, following her out the door. "You can't just leave."
"Watch me." And with a slam of a door, his daughter was gone.
-/-
Present day: Enchanted Forest
The days went by unnoticed for Emma. She felt so untethered all the time, like she was floating out of her body, unable to function. She felt lost, empty. She wasn't able to bring herself to talk to Killian about it, despite how amazing he was being. It pained her to see how much he was hurting, and she tried to convince herself that she could be happy without her magic. She had a man who loved her, and a daughter who, despite their current non-speaking state, she would give the world for.
But she couldn't let go of the deep sense of loss. She remembered the time she had overexerted her magic and had to refrain from using it for a week. The helplessness that she felt then could not come close to how utterly despondent she felt now. It was eating her alive, and she often found herself venturing farther and farther from reality. She could see Killian struggling to reach her, to help her; she just could not bring herself to grab his hand and allow him to pull her to safety.
She had lost count the number of times she had woken up in a cold sweat, her body hurting so terribly that it was impossible not to cry out. Killian would rush to her side and hold her, whispering that he was there for her. She had cried herself to sleep more nights than not.
She had even tried to seduce Killian to come to bed with her, hoping that being with him would help her forget her sorrow for a moment. That she could lose herself in the throes of passion and forget about how she wanted to die on the inside.
His rejection had stung, even if she knew that he had done the right thing.
It was only after that day that she had taken to come visit Charles, and she had the idea to erect a memorial for Merlin. Killian had readily obliged her request. She found a sense of peace, as if a part of the wise wizard was with her. It was easier to talk to the spirits of her son and Merlin about her struggle than it was to Killian.
That, too, made her feel worse than dirt.
Here was a man, so hopelessly in love with her that he was willing to do anything she wanted. He understood her pain and was so unbelievably patient and tender with her. And she could not bring herself to confide in him. But how could she tell him that she did not want to live without her magic, how could she make him understand that it physically pained her to exist? She felt like only half of her had come back from the brink of death, and the other half perished. How could she bring herself to be grateful to be alive, when she hardly felt alive?
She couldn't bring herself to speak to him, or give him much. But she tried to show him as much as she could. So, when he found her in the clearing yet again, slid his arm around her, it was easy to lean into him. It was getting easier to be with him, to remind herself that she had someone waiting for her. No matter how long it might take her, she knew Killian would still be there for her.
Her heart still felt heavy, though. She had made a lot of mistakes the past month, that she wished she could take back. On top of that list was the way she had spoken to her Alice. She had unfairly blamed her daughter, when all she had done was save her mother. She had yelled at her child that she should have let her mother die. And Alice had left. She made her leave, after Alice had just been reunited with her father.
How could Killian still be at her side through all of this? How could he love her, when she had chased his daughter away?
Killian whispered a soft greeting to which she hummed absently, because what else could she do? What could she do to be worthy of this man?
Emma was so lost in her own head, but one word was enough to bring her out of her daze.
"Mama?"
-/-
"Mama?" Alice called out, walking into to clearing.
Alice heard Emma gasp, her back to her still. But the next moment, Emma was off the ground and practically sprinting toward Alice, her arms pulling the young woman to her in a crushing hug.
"Oh, you're back," Emma cried, pressing Alice closer to her, one arm wrapped around her shoulder while the hand of the other arm was cradling the back of her head, just as she had done ever since Alice was a child. "I'm so sorry, darling. I'm sorry I said those things. I'm sorry I made you leave."
"It's alright, Mama," Alice replied softly, her own eyes tearing up. She caught her father's eye, as he was watching them with a heartbreaking smile.
Emma shook her head, holding Alice to her still. "No, it was not. I'm sorry I couldn't be a better mother to you, love."
Alice was quick to shush her, sick to her stomach that her callousness and stubbornness had caused her mother such guilt, especially at such a trying time. "You're the best mother. You're my Mama. You never have to apologise. I'm sorry I didn't understand."
"Perhaps, it's time for you ladies to stop with the apologies," her father said with a chuckle. "We're family. No matter what, we migrate back to each other."
Alice liked to believe that this one good day meant that the subsequent days would be easier. But that was not how life worked. Her mother was still struggling with having to re-learn how to live her life without magic.
But eventually, it got better.
Alice happened to enjoy the time she had spent travelling alone, and after a month or so of living with her parents, she became stir crazy. This time, it was father who asked her to go. Go and explore the realms like she had in the past, have some adventures of her own. And that was exactly what she did. She found exciting new places to visit, and made wonderful friends everywhere she went. Perhaps the greatest adventure of all was finding love herself.
But that was a story for another day.
-/-
Emma slowly started opening up to Killian again, talking to him about all of her fears and insecurities. They both decided that the first time around they never prioritised their relationship, and it was so interconnected with raising Alice. It felt like they were getting to know each other again, and they enjoyed it. They rediscovered their love, and along the way talked about what they wanted from each other, what they expected.
There were still plenty of bad days for both of them. Emma still woke up from a dream that she had her magic back, and was reminded by the harsh reality of life, sending her back two paces in her recovery. Killian continued to be haunted by nightmares about the Darkness, waking up in a cold sweat. They both had days were they fought with each other, but they made sure that they never went to bed angry.
It took Emma a long time to accept her new reality instead of mourning for her past. It took Killian months to relieve himself of the guilt he felt for abandoning his family. They spoke about Charles, and whether they wanted to try again for a child. But that discussion was shelved for the future, both of them content with each other and Alice.
It had been a difficult year for her, what with the loss of her magic and the challenges that put on her body and her relationships. But she was glad that it happened; in way, it forced them to confront their reality and their problems. They talked about it this time, instead of apologising through grand gestures. They rebuilt their relationships, because no matter how much they loved each other, neither them nor their relationship had been perfect.
They had never stopped being in love, but they slowly fixed the broken parts of their relationship on a much more healthier foundation. They rekindled their passion for each other as well, taking advantage of having the cottage all to themselves. They really enjoyed rediscovering that side of each other, too.
Killian and Emma slowly and surely fell even more in love with each other. It took them a lot of time and patience to get there, but it had been absolutely worth it.
Time flew by so quickly, with everything they had going on. The first year anniversary of their defeat of the Darkness had crept up on them without them even realising it.
-/-
Emma woke up to light kisses being place on her back, arousal spiking in her blood and rousing her from a deep slumber. She felt Killian's beard scratch her back, and she purred in contentment. It had been a long road to recovery and she was finally starting to feel good, to feel free.
Killian had even broached the topic of them returning to the Land without Magic. It had chaffed Emma in the beginning, and had led one of the biggest quarrel they had ever had, but his arguments were solid. He had had a life there, and they had nothing but reminders of their past and their pain, of every mistake they ever made and all their regrets. They needed a fresh start. Perhaps, they could make a home there.
Emma was slowly coming around to the idea, but she wasn't ready to tell Killian yet. She wanted to enjoy just being in his arms for now, with no looming emergency or rescue mission. Just their mortal lives stretched ahead of them.
"Morning," Killian whispered against her back, his voice deeper than usual. It sent a shiver down her spine, her gut clenching in arousal.
"Hmm, good morning, Captain," she drawled, flipping on her back and stretched lazily across their bed. The blankets slipped lower, giving Killian a glimpse of her upper body, making him lick his lips lewdly, wiggling his eyebrows at her, making her chuckle and swat at his shoulder.
"Love, you make it mighty difficult for a man to get out of bed," Killian groaned, laying down and nuzzling her neck.
"So, don't get out of bed. It's just us. We could spend the whole day in bed," Emma suggested, threading her fingers through his too long hair, pressing her neck more firmly against his questing lips.
"Would that I could, my Princess." He pressed a series of quick kisses to her lips, before pulling away completely, leaving her pouting.
"Why're you leaving?" Emma whined, pulling the blankets up and cuddling underneath them for warmth. Winter was starting to settle in, and early mornings without her pirate to keep her warm were unusual, and perhaps,even frustrating.
"I'm leaving because we need to get ready. I'm taking you someplace special today. So, hurry up and get your arse off the bed," he commanded, standing over her with his arms crossed in mock-seriousness.
"I'm a Princess, I'll have you know. You can't order me about, ser!" Emma huffed playfully. Her indignation soon turned into a screech as Killian bodily dragged her out of the bed, blankets and all, and threw her over his shoulder, marching her toward their dressing room. "Unhand me, you wretched pirate!" she said in a laugh, slapping his arse.
"Oi, keep your hands off me goods."
-/-
It took them a couple of hours, but they finally managed to extricate themselves away from each other enough to get dressed and ready for whatever surprise Killian had planned for them. They rode on their newly purchased steed, Maximus II, as he set a lazy pace. Emma was draped over Killian's back, her arms wrapped around his waist, both of them happy to enjoy the silence that stretched between them.
It took them over half the morning to reach their destination. Emma stared in wide-eyed wonder as Killian helped her down.
"Oh, Killian. This is beautiful." Emma looked around her, every inch as far as the eye could see was covered in beautiful pink blooms. She walked around, taking in the beauty of the meadow. She bent down to smell them, the fragrance intoxicating. It reminded her of a similar meadow that Alice and her had stumbled upon when Alice was still a young girl. "We should bring Alice and Ro- Oh!"
Emma stopped short when she saw him, her breath caught in her throat, her trembling hands covering her mouth. "What is this?" Her voice was faint and shaky.
Killian was down on one knee, her mother's peridot ring held out to her, tears in his eyes as he grinned widely at her. "Swan, this past year has been hell for us, and somehow we came out of it stronger. The last time I did this, it was for all the wrong reasons. But I've come to know you, the new you, and I just- I have loved every version of you, from the bottom of my heart. I simply cannot imagine my life without you in it. So, Princess Emma, will you marry me?"
She knelt down as well, words stuck in her throat. She gaped at the ring, unable to take her eyes off of his earnest expression. Her heart was racing, tears stinging her eyes. She let out a shuddering breath, swallowing past the lump in her throat. "Yes, Captain Jones. I will marry you," she whispered finally. He let out a relieved laugh, sliding the ring on to her finger, tracing it with his thumb for a moment before he looked up, pulling her in for a kiss.
Emma melted against him, their lips sliding against each other softly. They had all the time in the world now. This was just their happy beginning.