A/N: Alright all, leave your worries, troubles, and angst at the door because this chapter of 'Wedded Bliss and Asterisks' is going to be nothing but light and airy. While I am planning to have the proposal be next chapter, I thought this week it might be fun to include the whole group of meddling friends and make the central activity a group date. It's all fluff and fun, and some moments of real cuteness that will hint at the upcoming proposal next chapter. Hope you enjoy and thanks for reading!
"Still with me, Swan?" Killian asked as they strolled hand in hand through the north corner of Central Park.
Emma had no choice but to smile at his earnest question. Killian had been checking in with her every two minutes since he announced his desire for a slight change in their once anticipated route and Emma feigned a tiny bit of resistance, but the truth was there was nowhere else she would rather be than right here. Wherever he was intent on leading her she'd follow, trusting it would prove worth while in the end.
"Yes Captain, I'm still with you."
The sound of Killian's chuckle at Emma's teasing endearment, which she used from time to time in his bossier moments, filled her with warmth that rivaled the lingering sun on this warm day. She had spent much of her Saturday cooped up inside at Bliss, and all the flurry of work-related issues and extra time in the office had been draining, but right now Emma wasn't tired and any ideas she might have had of fatigue earlier were easily done away with when she heard Killian's laugh. She just thanked her foresight in wearing flats when she'd changed for their evening plans, because this would have been slightly torturous in hells.
"I'm thrilled to hear it, love. You know I've no interest in being anywhere without you."
Emma did know that, and instead of professing a similar statement with her words, she pressed a kiss to Killian's cheek as they walked, bringing a bit of red to his complexion and another wide grin. Okay, so maybe they were still in that sappy honeymoon stage, but Emma didn't care. This felt too good to shy away from, and even if they were totally obvious in their mutual infatuation as they strolled by all the other passing people on their walk, Emma was fine with that. This was what people in love did, and after years of never having that, Emma didn't want to deny herself anything when it came to her and Killian.
Finally Emma had discovered exactly what it was people were constantly searching for, and what it meant to really find the one person you wanted to spend your life with. The movies made it seem like all hearts and rainbows, and there was a fair amount of that to be honest, especially in their cheesier, more romantic moments. But the most important thing for Emma was that her relationship with Killian was honest and equal. Both of them were so giving of themselves and ready to take on the other's troubles however they could. That made for a system of support Emma had always imagined love would bring but that she never quite managed to have.
Her friends of course were always there for her, but there was something different about having Killian in her circle now too. He was this rock that Emma could always count on to pull her from the depths of stress at work or frustrations with a client or employee. He knew when to listen and when she genuinely wanted advice, and even in the moments when the tension was between the two of them, Killian's natural responses worked for Emma because they were truthful, and because he never let a moment come, even if they were arguing or temperamental, where she doubted that he loved her. In good and in bad he was there. He wasn't a runner, and his faith had made it possible for Emma not to run either.
Truth was it was impossible for Emma to linger in any kind of bad feelings when she had Killian, and eventually every ugly sentiment gave way to hope at the end of the day. Tonight was a living embodiment of that. Emma had had a strenuous week, one where she was working nonstop and had felt crankier than usual. She knew she was a lot to handle, and she'd been testy at certain moments, but he'd spent all week trying to find ways to be there for her, and tonight he'd insisted on something special – dinner at her favorite place and now a walk through the park on the way to the rest of their plans for the evening.
"If I ever make the mistake of questioning your route choices again, remind of this moment," Emma said, leaning against him as they meandered through the pretty greens that were somehow less congested and hectic than they often felt whenever Emma made her way over here.
"A healthy dose of skepticism is a solid thing to have Swan, but I hope you know I'd never willingly choose any path that caused you harm."
God he was so sweet, and Emma felt this pang in her chest of raw appreciation. These were totally common place words for Killian, and though she'd grown a little more used to them as time went by, it was still amazing how sure he felt and how unafraid he was to express himself to her. Emma doubted he could ever really understand just how much that vulnerability meant to her, but she loved him so much for it and she did know he was aware of that at least.
"I know. It's just someone says 'let's take a walk through Central Park' and my thoughts fly to old Law and Order episodes and the sketchy people who sometimes hang out here."
"Really? I worried a little too, but the object of my hesitations was slightly different," Killian confessed. When he didn't immediately elaborate Emma elbowed him a bit and asked him what could have given him pause. "Hipsters, love. They flock to this park like seagulls to the shore."
The delivery of his censure and the way he gave this tiny shudder of disdain made Emma laugh unabashedly. It wasn't something she could contain, and eventually Killian gave in too, laughing at his own joke. Emma didn't for one second think that Killian was walking around New York avoiding people with hacky sacks and non-prescription glasses. He just wanted a way to lighten an already great moment and he'd succeeded without a doubt.
"Well luckily they all seem to have gone into hiding," Emma said when they were both finally able to talk again. "It's too bad for them though. Who knew sunset in the park was even possible?"
Even as she said the words, Emma wasn't all that surprised by the new discovery. When it came to unexpected slices of perfection in this city, Killian was uniquely in the know. Sometimes his expertise came from his work at the magazine, and other times from shameless research and searching for events and sights that might make her happy. Whatever his sources though, Emma always enjoyed getting to experience these moments with Killian, and she knew he was weaving this intricate tapestry of memories she'd keep close for years to come.
"It takes a special kind of day," Killian agreed, as they came to stop over one of the bridges that was tourist bait to the extreme, but still quaint and picturesque. "If there are totally clear skies you miss so much, while too many clouds dampens the effect."
Emma could imagine that that would be the case, but as it was, they had front row seats to a sky painted in glowing shades that weren't of everyday make in a city like New York. Killian managed to stake out a perfect spot for them looking over the railing, and though the ambient hum of the park around them was still prevalent, it felt like Killian was largely shielding Emma from the hustle and bustle around them. She leaned into him and sighed happily, taking in every single detail that she could so she could recreate this moment at a later time.
The cityscape around them was colored spectacularly, cast in hues and shades that were undeniable in their attractiveness. Emma knew it was a simple slice of time and that this window of beauty wouldn't last forever. Five minutes from now the scene would be totally different. It would appear darker with blues and violets prevalent in the twilight hour, and then the muted almost gray that came from all the light in the city battling against the night sky would appear for the rest of the evening. But for now there was that vivid splash of orange and pink and the last burning flecks of yellow. The buildings kept them from seeing the sun itself, but the light remained at least for now glistening in windows and washing down around them while the puffy white clouds that had been swimming past the city all day were done up in striking colors that took her breath away.
"I don't know how you keep doing this," Emma said, after enjoying a few minutes in the gentle quiet of Killian's arms, admiring the way the water reflected some of the colors from above.
"Doing what, Swan?"
Emma peered from the gorgeous view before her to Killian once more. As she expected, his eyes weren't trained on the scene in front of them, but squarely on her. If she had to guess, she would assume they'd been focused her way nearly the whole time, and the thought brought a blush to her cheeks that did not go unnoticed by Killian.
"How you keep finding these moments. It's been months. Shouldn't the other shoe be dropping at some point?"
"Not if I have any say in it," Killian said, pulling Emma just the tiniest bit closer so she was fully in his arms. Then he reached up to push a strand of hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek and meeting her eyes in that totally endearing way. "Actually my hope is to spend the rest of my days proving to you that there's nothing stopping us from being just as happily situated as we are right now forever more."
The mention of forever, and the hint that they would be in each other's lives for the rest of their days sparked something in Emma. Suddenly it occurred to her that this was a really romantic setting, with the sunset and the bridge. Maybe Killian was thinking of taking the next step. Maybe tonight would be the night when he got down on one knee and -
"Calm down love, I'm not proposing," Killian whispered to her and Emma didn't know how she reacted, but Killian grinned and ran his thumb across her lips ever so slightly. Only then did she realize her lips had pouted in a way that spoke to disappointment. "Not quite yet anyway. I merely wanted you to know where I stand."
"And where exactly is that?" Emma asked, her voice breathy but her need to know sincere and intense.
"Right at your side, for as long as you'll have me."
There were so many things swirling around in Emma's heart and in her mind. She was still coming off that rush of potential proposal, and the sweetness of this little adventure he'd taken her on, but mostly she just felt this tug of the love in her soul for this man. He might not be perfect, but he was pretty damn perfect for her, and when she brought him down for a kiss out there in the open, Emma's opinions on that fact were only confirmed.
The kiss was exactly what they could have in that moment, bordering on searing passion and incredible want with both of them holding each other close and their hands seeking some kind of purchase. Yet they held off from crossing any lines thanks to their public surroundings and the night they had waiting for them ahead. Emma might have forgotten about both those elements, however, had it not been for Killian. He was the one who pulled back from the kiss, and even when her lips tried to follow, he remained steadfast.
"As much as I want to steal away with you Emma and whisk you back home… we did promise your friends to meet up with them tonight," Killian said, his forehead resting against hers. Emma bit her lip to keep from smiling, and then let out another sigh, this time in resignation. He was right after all. They had plans and neither of them were the kind of people to back out on their commitments.
"Trust me, if I didn't think they'd come banging down the door to drag us out, I'd go with that plan too. But later…"
Emma trailed off, not feeling like she needed to even say the words aloud. It was a given that they'd be going home together and that once they managed to find some privacy again they'd make good on the promises that kiss held. Emma fully anticipated a night spent in his arms and all the satisfaction and gratification that came when she trusted Killian with herself. From the way Killian smiled at her, she knew he understood that and that he was on the exact same page.
"Later you're all mine, love. Just as I'm yours."
With that, Emma and Killian departed from the park, weaving through the paths Killian had already anticipated and making their way to Graham's where they'd agreed to meet up with Emma's friends. It didn't take very long to get there, and they weren't overwhelmingly late or anything like that, but they were the last of the group to show and were thrown into the thick of the festivities right from the get go.
There was barely any window for greeting everyone or catching their breath. One second Emma and Killian were spotted, and the next they were being dragged over to the designated table for the friends and given very little context for an already underway conversation. Emma and Killian managed to hold their own though, and after a while this all felt more than natural and like they'd all been doing it for years.
To be fair, some of them actually had been doing just that. For a long time Graham's had been a staple for Emma and her friends. It wasn't at all unusual for them to find themselves here on a Saturday night like this, unwinding from their weeks and enjoying the surprisingly comfortable and almost homey atmosphere of their favorite bar. This had been their local haunt for a while now, but Emma knew tonight would be different than so many of those nights from their past.
For one thing Ruby was dating the owner and had managed to get a whole lot of perks thanks to that attachment, and for another their usual group had doubled in size. Everyone was here and with their guys, in what was the first group date Emma had been on since college where all four of them were paired up together like this. She only hoped that the end result would be better. Back then she'd usually gotten stuck with the duds in the party, but tonight, as she sat beside Killian, feeling cozy and complete, Emma hardly thought that would be a problem.
"You don't think Graham minds that we chose his place of business for his night off, do you?" Killian asked Emma a while later as she sat beside him in the booth and she shook her head no, even as she admired Killian's concern for his new friend.
"Not at all. If anything he's probably thrilled to show Ruby off some more. He's waited a long time for something to happen, and after years of getting teased by us and the other regulars, I think he could spend the next fifty years just like this."
They looked over to the bar where Graham was personally getting their drinks together and Ruby had finagled her way behind the counter to join him. Technically having a non-employee back there was violating codes five, nine, and eleven according to Graham, but the infractions were forgotten as soon as Ruby pleaded nicely. Now she was a natural back there, walking the perfect line between flirting with her man and getting them their much-needed alcohol.
"I'm hesitant to think what they'll bring back," Liam said from across the table where he had Elsa's hand in his. "Graham seemed rather convincing, but if he comes back with a white wine spritzer, well then I'm sorry love, we're leaving."
Everyone laughed at that and Emma could see Killian's grin was wider than all the others. Emma knew he was truly thrilled to see his brother this way. Apparently they'd gone their whole lives without Liam having any opportunities to really let loose, but Elsa had brought that out in him more and more, and it turned out that Killian's stuffy, driven older brother was made of far more than met the eye.
"Give us a little credit," Emma said, leveraging a look at Liam in a playful kind of defiance. "You really think we'd be coming here every week if that was all they offered?"
"Surely my brother knows you'd never sink to such a level, love," Killian assured her. "But it's clear Ruby is rather taken with Graham, and I fully believe the three of you capable of a great many sacrifices to bring the two of them together as often as you could."
"So you're saying we're meddlers?" Mary Margaret countered and Emma knew Killian could very well walk into a trap with this one, but he played it perfectly.
"I'm saying you're a loyal bunch and that you all would do anything to see each other happy," Killian placated kindly. Then his eyes shifted over to Emma again and his smile heated to something warmer and more intimate.
"That's true enough," Ruby said as she arrived at the table with half the drinks in her possession. "Just look at all the work we've done with you two. You don't think Emma hopped aboard the love train without some prodding do you?"
Emma groaned at the commentary and the tittering of her other two friends as they laughed and agreed. But could she actually be mad at them? Honestly no. The truth was that they had been a force for good in her getting to this point. They'd always supported her and cheered her on, but they'd also asked her to be brave and promised to help pick up the pieces if things hadn't gone as lovely as they had with Killian.
"I think Emma capable of doing anything her heart truly desired… but I don't doubt any of your powers of persuasion."
"To following our hearts!" Mary Margaret said as she raised her glass in a toast. Everyone else followed suit.
"God that's cheesy," Emma said but then put her hand up in a sign of defeat when Mary Margaret looked liable to scold her. "But cheesy works."
"Yes it does," Elsa confirmed with a loving look sent Liam's way and everyone agreed, taking a sip of the drinks that were, as Emma expected, sublime.
"And speaking of persuasion…" Ruby said with a sly smile. "We were thinking that any good group date requires a little competition."
"Oh here we go," David said, pulling everyone's attention his way, but despite his protesting he was smiling and seemed game for whatever Ruby would be proposing. "Sorry, it's just if memory serves the four of you make the term competitive seem too tame."
"What's wrong, Nolan? Can't take the heat?" Mary Margaret asked and David shook his head, clearly smitten with her.
"Now I didn't say that. What did you all have in mind?"
From there Ruby laid out the plan with Mary Margaret and Elsa filling in every now and then but the thought on the evening's activities was simple: a competition would be had between the guys and the girls here at the bar with pool, darts, and (thanks to Ruby's insistence) quarters. It was all planned out, and Ruby had insisted all week long that this would make for the best night for all of them, but Emma was slightly hesitant if only because she knew her friends and she knew that David was right. They were all super competitive, and she was no exception. Could everyone handle that? Or were they walking into a potential pit of trouble that didn't need to be stepped into?
"And what are your thoughts, love?" Killian asked her when all was said and done and her friends had laid it all out there. Emma had stayed mostly quiet during the outlining because she found it kind of silly, but the look in Killian's eyes was one of challenge and determination, and suddenly she was rallying with a want to match her friends and actually lay down the gauntlet.
"I think that if you guys accept you should all be very afraid. We will not hesitate to kick your asses" Emma replied saucily.
"Is that right?" Killian asked, leaning into her and using their proximity to his advantage. Emma couldn't avoid the loud thumping of her heart or the way he filled her senses so completely when this close, but she would not admit defeat, not when they could have so much more fun by dragging out this pseudo rivalry.
"Yes sir," Emma quipped, watching his eyes heat more at the title she'd given him.
"Well we'll just see about that, Swan. I'm in."
With Killian's agreement, everyone else's was quickly obtained, and the table set about to settling the particulars. There was all kinds of strategy involved and planning to be had, but before she could be involved in that, Killian took Emma's hand and whispered low so only she could hear.
"What do you say we make the stakes a bit more interesting than mere bragging rights?" Killian proposed and Emma felt a flush of heat coursing through her at the sensual hint in his voice.
"What did you have in mind?" Emma asked, her eyes meeting Killian's dark blue ones and giving away her interest the second she did.
"Winner's choice. Whoever reigns victorious at the end of the night gets one wish answered, no questions asked."
Emma liked the sound of that for multiple reasons, not the least of which was that every wish Killian ever seemed to have resulted in her being either incredibly happy or totally satisfied. Usually she got both when all was said and done, and since all of her wants would mirror that in mutual gratification, she found this to be a very desirable bet indeed.
"Deal," Emma said, pressing a tauntingly quick kiss to Killian's lips and then smiling when she heard his low growl as she pulled away and joined her friends across the table.
From there the night shifted from the quiet coziness they'd had before to something fun but definitely charged with competitive energy. There had been no exaggeration on the part of Emma or her friends' intensity. They played to win, and they were sure of themselves in every arena, though it didn't hurt to hedge their bets a bit, as Emma did by not so subtly flirting with Killian during their round of pool and Elsa did by taking a similar tactic of distraction with Liam at darts.
By the end of the games in the bar, however, the rankings were dead even. That had largely been thanks to Graham's ability to weather all of Ruby's advances (after years of flirting with her every weekend), and a rally from Killian and from David that marked wins in the guys' tallies. Liam was mostly useless, but it turned out Elsa was just as prone to being dazedly distracted by him so they evened each other out. Faced with a need for a tiebreaker though, the group was at a loss until a solution was presented.
"I think there's really only one answer to this problem…" Elsa said, flashing a smile at Emma and the others before filling in. "Air hockey."
Emma bit back a laugh at Elsa's insistence. It was one of her friend's most interesting quirks: Elsa wasn't a particularly sporty person, and her favorite hobby had always been baking, but back when she was younger Elsa was a big fan of arcades, and she'd actually loved them so much that a few years back she splurged on a fancy (and some would say unnecessary) air hockey machine for her apartment. Emma did have to give her credit though, the game did see a lot of action since her sister Anna and the rest of them were all predisposed to humoring Elsa and playing whenever they came over.
"Last I checked we don't have an air hockey table here," Graham said before looking to Ruby with some actual concern on his face. "Unless you charmed my staff into buying one."
"Ha ha, no. I think Elsa is proposing a change of venue," Ruby said before looking to Elsa for clarification. "Your place?"
"If we want. I can even offer cookies since I made some this afternoon and -," Elsa was interrupted by Liam pulling her to him immediately and almost sweeping her feet off the floor.
"Say no more. We're going," Liam said definitively as Elsa laughed and the others grabbed their things, following Liam and Elsa out the door and towards the short walk to Elsa's apartment.
"Any objections to our new destination?" Emma asked, as she took Killian's hand in hers and looked up at him.
"Not a one," he said easily, running his thumb across her knuckles in a soothing, familiar way. "Besides, Elsa's flat is closer to mine than where we are now, making our eventual exit that much easier."
"Good point," Emma said with a smile, and with one final kiss to his lips she pulled Killian from the bar and to their next stop, hoping time would speed up a bit and get them on the path to home sooner rather than later.
….
"And that, my friends, is how you win a battle of the sexes," Ruby said when the final totals were tallied a while later and all was said and done.
Killian couldn't help but laugh at her and the rest of the girls' continued bragging, for he found it charming despite his team's having lost, especially when Emma was the one of the people moving about with confidence and a self-assured manner that was particularly attractive. Any man claimed he wanted a docile, complacent woman was a fool. Half the thrill of being in love with Emma was that she was full of surprises and that in every situation she was more than capable. She didn't need anyone saving her or holding back. She was a force of nature all on her own, and she'd surrounded herself with similar forces in the form of her dearest friends.
"Well it was hardly a fair fight," Liam countered, though Killian knew it was all in good fun. "The lot of you was rather prone to distracting the enemy."
"Aw Liam, I wouldn't say you were the enemy," Elsa said, putting her hand on his arm. "You guys were just our temporary nemeses."
Killian watched as his brother whispered something in Elsa's ear that made the woman bite her lip and give a nod. He had no doubt it was some sort of promise or other of their making nice again later, but while he was happy for his brother, Killian was more consumed with his own good fortune, and the woman who had just taken a seat beside him on the couch and curled into him.
"I have to admit I'm glad that's over," Emma whispered. "I don't like not being on your team."
Emma's words packed a mighty wallop on his chest, but in the best possible way. Killian loved the fact that though she'd had fun, Emma was glad to be back with him, for there was nothing that Killian wanted more than to be on Emma's team. Honestly his hope was to make that a permanent element of their lives and to do it soon at that.
"Oh no you don't!" Ruby said, coming over to pull Emma back up. "Elsa promised those monster cookies of hers to the winning team and we won. Cookies first, men later."
Emma shot Killian a glance over her shoulder that said the nonverbal equivalent of 'sorry, what can you do?' as Ruby led her away, and Killian found himself shaking his head even as he grinned. He didn't like the look of Emma walking away from him, but she'd be back, and if he knew his Swan she'd be smuggling him some of those contraband cookies as a more tangible apology.
"I'm gonna marry that woman someday."
The announcement from David was a random one, and for a split second Killian didn't know what he was on about until he gave himself sometime to let it sink in. David was speaking of Mary Margaret, and the thought that Emma's friend would soon be getting married was a good one for Killian. Surely Mary Margaret would be happy if she were wed to David and that would make Emma happy too. Killian did have to admit he was slightly selfish in his thinking, however, hoping that he and Emma would be the first one's down the aisle. He didn't fancy the idea of waiting for anyone else at all. As it was he felt like he'd waited long enough for his forever with Emma to begin.
"Come again, mate?" Liam asked gruffly, clearly a little distracted by his own thoughts of Elsa. He was defensive, and Killian sprung in to clarify on David's behalf.
"He means Mary Margaret, brother. Not Elsa."
"Oh right. You think it's time for that now, despite it all being so new still?" Liam asked and David nodded.
"Maybe it sounds crazy but even if on paper it's only been a few weeks, I've been in love with Mary Margaret for years. I'm ready for all of it, and I don't care what it takes to get there," David admitted.
Killian didn't have any form of judgment for David, despite the man's offered justifications for the short time frame. Killian could only imagine what it must be like to find the person you wanted always and have them slip away in the manner that Mary Margaret had. Just the thought of going through something like that with Emma was enough to righteously unsettle him, but then he remembered how vastly different their situation was and he was calmed substantially. No, Emma wasn't going anywhere and neither was he. They were both on the same page, and Killian was just hoping to get to the moment where they could turn to the next one already. Until then though, he'd humor David and try and make the man feel more comfortable and to show him he was in good company when it came to grand gestures and assured love in this group.
"That's nothing compared to Liam. He was on the phone with a realtor to put his place on the market before so much as asking Elsa out merely because he had a hint that she might not find wealth attractive," Killian said and David laughed as Liam glared at Killian only to break into a smile.
"And I suppose popping the question after only a few months is somehow more evolved? If you had your way she'd be Emma Jones tomorrow and the two of you would have five kids, a dog, and a white picket fence," Liam countered. Killian shrugged at his brother's cavalier repeating of the intentions Killian had shared with him some time ago, but David and Graham weren't so easily put off.
"You're going to propose?" Graham asked, his grin more than evident as he did. "Ruby's gonna have a field day with that."
"Aye she will," Killian replied knowingly. "At least that's what she tells me."
"Good man – you passed the first test," Graham said, slapping Killian on the arm in a congratulatory way. "The rookie mistake would have been thinking you could ask just Emma. The four of them are a package deal."
"They're more than that," Killian asserted. "They're a family."
The others agreed with that label for the four of them, but Killian knew that they might struggle to see the intensity of the bond between the women as clearly as he did. The other members of this circle of friends had at least some relatives in their life who one might believe would be closer with them, but Emma hadn't anybody but her friends and perhaps Mrs. Hubbard. As such she'd devoted all corners of her heart to these women, and she'd invested in them in a way that most people couldn't relate to. Her love and care for her friends superseded almost all things, and all of her friends had dedicated themselves just as strongly to her too. She'd become a fixture in their lives too, and there was nothing that could happen that would sever those ties now or ever.
It had been important then to Killian that Emma's friends not only give him a sort of blessing, but that they also share with him their expertise about Emma and her wishes so that he could give her the best possible proposal. Though he knew his love better than he knew himself, Killian believed it would be unwise to overlook the intimacy between Emma and her friends. These women were her family and that meant that if he was lucky and she did in fact say yes to his most important question, they would become his as well.
That wasn't to say that it had been easy to speak to each woman face to face without drawing the suspicions of Emma (who was always so aware and on top of everything), but Killian had succeeded over the past week, and the end results were ones he felt he could work with. He was grateful for the bits of information he'd gleamed from Elsa, Mary Margaret, and Ruby, and he intended to use each woman's words of wisdom when he finally made his move.
"Whatever you do make sure it's beautiful. Emma is an artist, so follow colors and flowers and… you know what totally go all in on the flowers. I've never met anyone who loves flowers more than Emma. Oh and chocolate. One time she told us if a man doesn't supply dessert at a proposal, it never really happened."
Elsa's insistence left Killian laughing heartily, but when he was done she listed all sorts of details about what desserts and blossoms Emma liked best. Much of that information Killian was well aware of, having explored many a park with Emma more than once and being acquainted with her sweet tooth, but he also knew Elsa had a very good point, and he'd secured a way to make sure that the setting of their proposal would be truly singular and would transcend the normal into something completely out of the ordinary.
"Emma's a romantic at heart," Mary Margaret had professed a few days later. "She sometimes likes to think of herself as unflappable and above all that, but if you remind her of the parts of your story that make you two unique, or give her a picture of where you want to go, she'll absolutely love it. Thoughtfulness goes a very long way with Emma."
That was something Killian felt in his heart too, and adequately sharing that vision and those remembrances would be especially important to this proposal because he wasn't planning to have this special moment in a place they were familiar with. Instead of being in the city where they'd both found love or at any of the bright spots that held memories of them within the limits of New York, Killian had settled on a place that required a little adventuring. Their intended destination wasn't terribly far from home, but it would require a full weekend away with his Swan that he hoped they'd both truly enjoy. She'd already agreed to it too, confirming that next weekend would work for her, but Killian was withholding most of the details and particulars and Emma was good enough to allow him some elements of surprise despite her not usually loving them.
Killian knew many people might see it as unexpected for him to choose a new place that neither he nor Emma had ever been to build this moment on, but then he rationalized that everything with Emma was new. She made every experience so extraordinary that even the most mundane of activities felt vibrant and fresh, and when he'd said that to her friends, explaining why it might not be ideal for the three of them to be there in the flesh (as they'd all expressed desire to be at first), they relented and agreed that this would be best. Whatever Killian dreamed up was what Emma would want most, they reasoned, but that didn't stop them from procuring a few 'I owe yous' from Killian or making him promise that they could throw a huge engagement party that he'd have to attend without complaint.
Yet after speaking with Elsa and Mary Margaret, who were both so wrapped up in the details and future wedding planning, it was Ruby's words of wisdom and advice that stuck with Killian most. She'd gone a little deeper than the others, and though her counsel wasn't something he could tangibly procure for the hopefully happy day, it was something he was certain of granting Emma.
"What matters most to Emma isn't the ring, or the place, or the story she'll have to tell everyone else. What matters most to her is you. So as long as you stay – as long as you fight for her and choose her day in and day out without question - you could drop to one knee in front of a hot dog vendor and she'd be thrilled."
Despite the humor she'd wrapped up her sentiment in, Ruby had been resolute in that fact, and of all the friends she was the only one who exhibited the most protectiveness over Emma. Killian knew all three friends would do anything for the woman he loved, but Ruby was extremely blunt about it. It had been said, in no uncertain terms, that they were all thrilled Emma had found him, but if they got even one whiff of his hurting her, he'd be facing a world of pain he couldn't even comprehend.
"So how are you going to do it?" Graham asked and Killian shook his head, clearing his mind of his internal musings and taking another sip of his drink before refuting the request for information.
"That's classified intel, mate." Even Emma's friends didn't know the nitty gritty of his plan, and Killian had no intention of telling anyone so as to preserve the surprise.
"Don't bother trying lads," Liam chastised sitting back in his chair. "He won't even tell his own brother, paranoid as he is."
"You say paranoid, I say wise and merciful. If I told you, you'd have to keep a secret from the woman you love, and something tells me that would not be an appealing prospect to any of you."
Liam, David, and Graham all shook their heads and Killian smiled, knowing he was right. They might be curious, but he was doing more than ensuring that Emma wouldn't find out the plan before it was time; he was also protecting the rest of them from an awkward situation with women they'd sworn to be open with. It was a public service really, and only partially having to do with his bit of 'paranoia' as Liam called it.
"Have you got a ring already?" David asked and Killian nodded, listening carefully and hearing that the women were all still busy in the kitchen handling what he did not know, but he utilized the chance to take the ring he'd taken to carrying with him at all times out of his jacket pocket and opening the box to show the others.
"Wow," Graham said after a low whistle. "That's some rock."
That was one way to describe the ring. Killian knew it was extravagant, and there had been a moment or two when he debated how Emma would react to it. She would have been more than happy with a smaller stone and more classic band, but Killian had taken one look at the clear-cut yellow diamond and knew it belonged to Emma. The circular stone was wreathed in white diamonds, and reminded Killian of sunshine, just as she did, and once the shock wore off, he was confident Emma would love it. All he needed to do was assure her that the cost was more than worth it, and that she needn't have any guilt in accepting a gift that would never even come close to expressing his levels of love and devotion to her.
"You were carrying that on you all night?" David asked in shock.
"Aye, and before you ask, tonight isn't the night. I've no intention of proposing over an air hockey rematch," Killian said and the others laughed. "I just want to be prepared. Should an unanticipated opportunity present itself, I want to be ready. Emma deserves at least that."
There had been a flicker of possibility earlier tonight, and a moment out on that bridge where Killian considered asking Emma for forever, but that thought had faded away as swiftly as it came. For despite the beauty of the moment, it wasn't the right place or time. When he asked Emma to be his wife and for the privilege of being her husband he wanted time to celebrate a potential yes and a bit more privacy than Central Park afforded. Yet he had been appeased by Emma's disappointment earlier when he said he wouldn't be asking tonight, and now his once healthy level of confidence was secured. He would still be taking a risk in asking Emma for her hand, but he was almost completely assured that she'd respond favorably and say yes when the right time did come.
"Ah shit," Graham said shaking his head. "You're gonna set the bar impossibly high aren't you? The rest of us will be totally screwed when our time comes."
"That's the plan." The others groaned at his admission and Killian slid the ring back in his pocket with a grin. His timing in hiding the precious gem was fortunate too, for right at that moment Emma appeared in the doorway, looking at them with a curious gaze and a hand on her hip.
"What's going on with them?" She asked Killian and he stood, moving towards her immediately.
"They're merely disappointed. I mentioned my hope that we'd be leaving on the early side," Killian replied.
It was a little white lie, but not totally false. After all, Killian knew his presence was appreciated and it would change the dynamics of the night once he and Emma left. Killian actually wouldn't be surprised if the others took a hint and made themselves scarce too, wandering back to their corners of the city and enjoying the remaining hours of this evening in the privacy of their own homes.
"Funny, I just said the same thing to Ruby, Elsa, and Mary Margaret, but they had a slightly different reaction."
Killian didn't have to ask Emma what that feedback from her friends might have looked like. He'd been on the receiving end of enough catcalls and cheers for their sake, and had sat through enough inquisitions of the personal variety to know Emma's friends had rather dirty thought processes. It always made him laugh, however, and it was a solid plus on days when Emma went a little pink at their continued taunting as she did right now.
"Great minds think alike," he whispered and Emma smiled before calling over her shoulder to say one last goodbye to everyone and grabbing their things so they could leave. Once they were outside, however, and safely squared away in a cab set for home, Killian asked her the question he'd been curious of for most of the night. "So you won the bet, love. What is your wish?"
"My wish?... My wish is for you and me to be together. Nothing fancy – just us, all weekend long."
"God I love the sound of that," Killian said, and he did. In fact, it was the closest thing to perfect he'd heard all day and he intended to make that wish come true for Emma no matter what it took.
Post-Note: So I realize that this chapter was a bit delayed from my usual weekly update. However, I am anticipating another time stall for the next chapter. This is for two reasons. One, I am in the midst of developing exactly how I want this proposal to go, and two, I have so many lovely readers who have asked for chapters of my oneshot collection, that I want to get some of those banged out next week. No worries though, there will be more of this story and it will be coming as soon as I can get it out (roughly two weeks from now). Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and reviewing or reaching out to me. I love to hear your feedback and I truly appreciate you all taking the time. Hope you all have a great week and thanks again!
