A/N: Hello again everyone! This chapter of 'Wedded Bliss' is (as you can probably guess) focused on cuteness and fluff and all good things. It centers both on CS moving in together and Emma's first time trying on her wedding dress after having designed it way back in the first chapter of the story. As such it's very touching and totally meant to make your day brighter. I hope you enjoy and thank you so much for reading!
Killian had always found that there were no limits to what he could achieve when he was really and truly motivated. That had been the case with his career and building his business, but it was even more so on display in his relationship with Emma.
Many people would consider this a rather high-speed situation, and Killian couldn't argue the fact that all of this had developed at a staggering pace, but he failed to see any negatives in that. He was irrevocably in love with Emma Swan and he'd known almost from the start that she was it for him. So yes, in his mind it made complete and total sense for them to pursue the future they wanted sooner rather than later.
Part of that future was what they were working towards today, for this was the morning when Emma and Killian would at last be moving in together. It had taken a little longer than he wanted to make the move official (which was to say that it took a full week to organize everything in its entirety) but finally they were here and Killian was glad for it, because anything that enabled Killian to be closer to this woman he so dearly loved was a blessing indeed.
At first the two of them considered living in one of their current apartments. There were obvious advantages to that idea thanks to the familiarity of both places, and yet each of their apartments had a list of pros and cons. Emma and Killian mapped them all out (since both of them were the kind of people to take such strategized measures), but in the end they decided that neither would totally suit their needs. Instead what would be best would be finding a new home together, and as soon as that decision had been made Killian threw himself into the process, attempting to secure such a place to call their own through any means necessary.
Taking a few directions from Liam, Killian was put in touch with a realtor and narrowed down listings in a matter of days, and after a few nights of searching when the two of them were out of work, Emma and Killian found the perfect place. It was well situated for both their jobs, close to all the things they wanted, and also a fair bit larger than their other places before. With three bedrooms, the apartment boasted a substantial amount of room for 'guests' but Killian had thought all the while that they were looking that it was a place to grow into and to some day fill with more members of their family when they were given the chance to do so.
"You've got that look about you again, brother," Liam said, dropping a box labeled 'Guest Room #1' on the floor of the living room where Killian was currently standing.
"And what look is that?" Killian asked, not surprised in the least by Liam's commentary. It was fast becoming a regular thing for his brother to state his opinion about each and every little thing in Killian's life, especially when it came to his love life.
"The one that tells me I won't have long to wait before I get to meet a future niece or nephew."
Even though Killian had just been thinking along those lines a second ago, the mention of it out loud like this was enough to have Killian's hope rising again. It was as if his brother's teasing made the dream more real and more tangible, and all Killian could think was that he was absolutely right. Killian did want the chance for all that happiness as soon as it could be had, and he knew Emma felt the same way, for ever since his proposal they'd been far more open in their discussions of what the future could hold and what their hopes were for their lives together.
"Is there an actual established expression that conveys that?" Killian asked, knowing his brother was right and that he'd gauged Killian's thoughts in a rather spot on manner, but still not wanting to just admit defeat so easily. Call it habit or instinct or what have you, but Killian just couldn't help but rise to any challenge from his brother with a little bit of pushback.
"No. There's some nuance of course, but yours is a look I've seen in the mirror a few times myself. I can recognize a man who feels like he's at the verge of having everything he wants."
That was something that Killian could readily believe, for in all their years together Killian had never seen his brother as happy or as bright as he was now. Being with Elsa had drastically improved Liam's outlook on the world, and though Killian would never declare that it had mellowed out his meticulous, determined, opinionated brother, he would say that it had smoothed away some of Liam's edges and had opened Liam's eyes to another segment of what made life worth living. Finally Liam had more in his sights than work and success. He had a love of his own, and seeing his brother come to terms with that had been a real treat for Killian so far.
"You think you'll do it soon then?" Killian asked, shifting the conversation to Liam's own life but not denying that his brother had been correct about his. "You'll ask Elsa to marry you?"
"You're damn right I will. I'm not waiting around and risking David or Graham beating me to it. It's bad enough giving you and Emma a grace period. I don't think I could stand to wait much longer. To be honest I'm not even planning to wait until the wedding. I've got maybe a month, at most, before I break."
Killian laughed heartily at that because it was just such a typical response from his elder brother. Patience had never been one of Liam's great strengths. If he could justify it as a strategy that would win in the end Liam would abide by a timeline and wait things out, but usually he went for what he wanted right when the inclination struck. That instinct and determination was what made him a fierce opponent for other people in his line of work, but in a romantic setting it wasn't always ideal. Nevertheless Elsa, as far as Killian could tell, had never disliked that part of Liam's personality, and though he wouldn't betray Emma's confidence and tell Liam directly, he knew for a fact that Elsa was ready for that next step too. Much as she might be labeled as the saner one of the two of them, Emma's friend was just as gone over Liam as he was over her and just as interested in taking next steps as well.
"What are you two gossiping about?" David asked as he appeared at the doorway and Killian and Liam both spun around facing their new friend. The brothers shared a quick look that agreed they'd keep this conversation a secret so as not to give away Liam's plan before responding.
"Oh nothing much. Just my good fortune in general," Killian replied as Liam slapped a hand on Killian's shoulder and threw out a whole new line of conversation as a means of diversion.
"I think it's high time we discuss a more serious matter – like what kind of stag party to throw my little brother. Any ideas Nolan?"
Oh bloody hell, Killian thought to himself. Not this again.
Liam had been pushing the idea of a bachelor party for Killian since he first heard of Emma and Killian's engagement and it was somewhat of a shock to Killian that Liam should care so much. He wasn't normally the kind of fellow who sided on the part of excessive celebration, but Killian chalked this up as another side effect of knowing and loving Elsa. He also highly suspected that it was Elsa who had planted the seed in Liam's head at all, for she probably thought that since Emma was having a bachelorette party Killian would most certainly need a party of his own.
"You really think he's going to go for that?" David asked, acting as if Killian wasn't even needed for deliberation on this. "I mean it doesn't really seem like his sort of deal."
"What's not whose sort of deal?" Graham asked as he came in carrying his own box, officially making this a party and pulling a groan from Killian in the process.
"Liam wants to throw Killian a bachelor party," David filled in.
"You really think he's gonna go for that?" Graham said, directly mirroring David's statements from only a moment ago and requiring that Killian finally attempt to speak his peace.
"You all realize I'm standing right here, correct?" But no one gave that point a reply, instead moving right past it to continue their own conversation.
"I think we'll have an uprising on our hands from our women if we don't take him out," Liam stated bluntly. "And I'm not prepared to face the fall out so Killian can have another quiet night in." David and Graham readily agreed, muttering about what they could do to convince Killian or if the best route was just straight up kidnapping.
"Oh hell, I'll go to the bloody stag party!" Killian said, fed up at this point with the assumption that he was some sad, pathetic shut in just because he preferred to spend time with his future bride than without her.
"You will?" All three of them asked and Killian expelled a breath in half-frustration.
"Aye. Just make sure it's not anything ridiculous and that it's the same night as whatever they've got Emma doing."
Killian bit back the part about how he didn't want for him and Emma to spend two nights apart if he could avoid it because he knew the others would poke fun at that without any form of mercy, but apparently he hadn't been as guarded in his acceptance as he wanted, and one by one his brother and friends started grinning at his reply.
"What?" Killian asked, not liking the looks he was getting from all three of them.
"Emma said something didn't she?" David asked and Killian scratched behind his ear, feeling a bit put on the spot.
"It might have come up at some point."
"Oh it 'might have come up.' Right sure," Liam said with a laugh and Killian shoved his brother's arm, praying for some kind of reprieve from the blatant teasing at his expense.
At that moment Emma walked through the doorway carrying boxes with her three best friends fast on her trail, laughing at something one of them had said, and Killian's reaction was the normal one that manifested when his Swan was near. That feeling in his soul that this was right and that he'd finally found something truly worth having seeped through him, flooding his system and leaving him utterly content into the process. How he'd managed to get this lucky he didn't know, but even now, in a moment many would consider small or unimportant, Killian felt the need to take Emma in and trace every tiny detail he could.
Even after the largely strenuous work of moving today (though Killian and his mates had insisted on doing most of the heavy lifting with furniture and what not), Emma looked vibrant and happy and carefree. Her hair was pulled back for the effort of the morning, but a few strands had fallen loose from the tie that held them back. Her cheeks were flushed both from the warmth of the day outside and from the exercise, but the thing that struck Killian most was that sweet, genuine smile that graced her lips and the light in her green eyes. There was simply no denying that today was a good day, and the truth of the matter was that Killian had a vastly greater amount of good days with Emma in his life than he ever had before.
As if his fiancé could feel Killian's eyes on hers, Emma flicked her glance from where it had been aimed at Mary Margaret and caught his gaze, sending that shock of awareness through him all over again. To see the mix of love and joy and a little bit of lust there was everything to Killian, and it took a large amount of effort to stay rooted to his place instead of immediately moving towards her. But he'd made a promise to Emma this morning before their friends came to aid them in this move that he would be on his best behavior. He just hadn't known Emma would have such a strong reserve of will power and it had been too damn long since he'd had his hands on Emma or held her in his arms. He kept hoping – or rather praying really – that she would give in and let them steal some kind of moment together, but so far she'd been the picture of total control.
"Here brother, why don't you take my box?" Liam prompted, tearing Killian's attention away and then nodding towards Emma's labeled parcel. Her things were bound for the guest room as well while her friends all had kitchen items for the moment. This would be the perfect opportunity to have some time with his love and convince her that sneaking a little interlude together wouldn't be the worst thing. In fact, it would probably be the crowning joy of his whole day.
"I'd tell you you're brilliant but I hate to think what it would do to your already massive ego, brother," Killian quipped as Liam and the others laughed and then he followed Emma into the guest room down the hall and far enough away from the others to have a moment of peace and quiet.
"Alone at last, love," Killian said as he closed the door behind them and the sultry laugh that floated through the air to his ears only made Killian need her more. He hastily dropped his box on the bed that had been ordered and delivered earlier as Emma did the same and then he stepped to her, pulling her close.
"I was worried you wouldn't see what I did there," Emma said as she arched closer to him, her hands coming around his neck and fingers running through his hair lightly.
"I almost didn't, but Liam of all people was looking out for my way in."
"Remind me to thank him later because this wasn't easy to swing. I had to steal this box from Ruby when she wasn't looking and I almost got caught, but I figured you're worth the risk."
"Well let's bloody hope so," Killian joked and in reply Emma pulled him down, closing the space between them and giving him that kiss he'd been craving all day long.
There would never be words to describe this kind of intimacy between them, and though Killian had tried to sum it up somehow many a time, he was always at a loss for what turn of phrase could accurately capture this. Every kiss that he and Emma shared was just as charged as the first one. Every time they came together felt like a physical promise that there was so much more still to come for them. But there was so much more underneath, so much left unsaid that didn't need saying, because when their lips pulled apart, and Killian looked into those jade colored eyes of the woman he loved, he knew she felt all of it too. Love had infiltrated both of their hearts in the exact same way, and it was a miraculous twist of fate that they'd managed to find a connection like this in so big a world.
"Can you believe that in a little more than a month we'll be married?" Emma asked, the words a whisper between them that brought a huge grin to Killian's face. He could hardly wait for that day to come, truth be told he was actually failing rather miserably at being patient, but knowing that Emma was just as desirous for that day to arrive eased the ache in his chest to already call her his wife.
"It can't get here soon enough as far as I'm concerned, but in the meantime, I suppose I have your nearness to ease my burden."
Emma laughed at the joke and her laughter filled Killian with that same sense of bliss that came every time he got to see her this free and unrestrained. What a difference love could make, and though he'd dreamed Emma might be this way all those months ago when they'd met on the train, it had all been a mystery. Back then they were both guarded, but all those walls had been down so long, that Killian could barely remember a time when they weren't like this.
"I can think of few things that could bring me more pleasure than seeing you so happy in our home, Swan," Killian whispered as one of his hands came to cup her cheek and Emma smiled, her expression soft even as that fire of mirth and humor burned bright in her eyes behind the look of pure contentment.
"But there are some things?" Emma countered wittily and Killian had a sudden need to get her as revved up as he was feeling with her so gorgeous and close. He moved his lips a fraction of an inch closer to hers and dipped his voice to a lower, more gravely place, hoping to ignite more of that brilliant fire that made Emma the passionate, amazing woman she was.
"Aye, like you in our bed with nothing on but my ring. That's a state of heaven unlike any other."
Emma's eyes heated at his murmured compliments and he felt the shiver of anticipation that went through her vibrate through him since their bodies were flush against each other, but Emma didn't cave to his assertive flirtation. Instead she rose to the occasion, challenging him in the way only Emma ever could.
"Mmm I love it when you talk dirty," Emma replied, pulling him down so he was only a whisper away from her lips. Damn if she wasn't the most tantalizing thing imaginable, but currently they had a whole flat filled with people just a room away and there was no way Killian could deliver on the actions Emma was not so subtly asking for. So instead he offered her another bit of truth that she deserved to have and to know deep down to her soul.
"I changed my mind," Killian said as Emma's brow quirked up in silent question while her smile still remained. "I love you most just like this, with a smile at your lips, totally at peace, and looking at me like somehow you want me just as much as I want you."
"I do," Emma promised instantly, filling Killian with great pleasure both because of her affirmation, and because those were the two words she'd be saying soon enough to seal her place in his life forever. "I love you, Killian."
"And thank God for that," Killian replied before kissing Emma again and losing himself and his resolution to resist her just a little bit more with every passing second. Truth be told, Killian didn't even know if he would have been strong enough to walk away, but when Emma stepped back and took his hand in hers, he followed her willingly back out to the friends who awaited them.
"Well that was quick," Ruby said when they appeared again, and Killian chuckled as Emma rolled her eyes at the insinuation that things would have gone further. Only after that did either of them realize the strange display before them with eight coffee mugs on the counter being filled with champagne.
"What's this about?" Killian asked skeptically as Liam replied jovially with Elsa was tucked right by his side.
"A toast to your new home. The only problem is no one could find the stemware..."
"So we're improvising," Elsa said just as cheerily as Mary Margaret and David offered Emma and Killian a mug of their own.
"You guys didn't have to do that," Emma said and Killian could hear the emotion and the gratefulness in her tone. He squeezed her hand a little tighter and she looked up at him with a smile and some new unshed tears in her eyes.
"Well if you're feeling this, you're going to love the cake Elsa made. And Graham even ordered pizza so really we might just be the most thoughtful people on the planet," Ruby quipped, making Emma laugh heartily and removing much of her choked up feelings as she did.
"So I've never done this before…" Emma said when everyone had their mug in hand and was looking for some kind of toast, and Killian hummed out a happy sound at the fact that Emma had never lived with anyone other than him before. Then he moved his mouth just by her ear to give her his two cents as privately as he could in a room full of people.
"It's an honor to be your first and only, love," he whispered and Emma grinned at that before shaking her head and looking back to her friends.
"But before we toast anything I just want to thank you guys. I know you all had way better potential plans for a Saturday than hauling things up to a third floor apartment, but your being here… it means a lot."
"Aye it does," Killian agreed as Emma stepped closer and into his arms. "I think I can speak for both of us when I say you'll all be frequent guests here in our home, and we're looking forward to having you all with us on this new adventure. Cheers."
Everyone else clinked their mugs together before tasting the champagne (that was still rather good despite its odd container), and after they had taken their first sips Killian stole one last kiss from Emma, knowing that though it was all they could have for now, this was just the start of the memories that they'd be building in this new home together.
….
One of Emma's absolute favorite parts of designing for so many years wasn't just the drafting of what a dress could look like, but the actual physical labor of bringing a garment to life. When she was younger and not established in any way with a reputation in this fiercely competitive industry, Emma was her own seamstress as well as the visionary behind every piece. It was her hands that facilitated each bit of crafting and stitching, and she was the one who turned yards of fabric or lace or beading into something all together different.
But as of late there had been far less need in Emma's life to get her hands dirty so to speak. Part of climbing the ladder of success required that Emma focus more on the imaginings of new and stunning dresses while she delegated creation of the one of a kind pieces and the show dresses alike to people and teams that she trusted. There was simply no way that she could take on every facet of the process, but for one dress Emma was determined to make an exception and it was that garment that Emma was currently tinkering with right now.
Months ago she had designed this admittedly special piece, and in the moment that she'd dreamed it up she knew it was different than the ones she'd made before. But it wasn't until actually meeting Killian and giving into the chemistry between them that Emma knew for certain that this dress was for her. Yes, she'd loved it from the instant her pencil traced those delicate lines across the page, and it had been inspired by her encounters with Killian on the train, but it took actually meeting the right man and recognizing the possibility that this love between them could go all the way for Emma to admit that this was what she wanted at all.
"I keep expecting to get used to this dress, but every time I see it I'm just as awed as I was by your sketch," Tiana said as she walked into the room with her portfolio in hand. Emma nodded, casting a quick glance to her employee and friend before looking back to the gown before them.
"I didn't think I could do it," Emma admitted for the first time aloud. "I saw it so clearly in my mind but it seemed almost too good to ever be true if that makes sense."
"Totally," Tiana agreed. "But that's what makes it all the more miraculous. You've made something so rare in its intricacies but also so personal. It has to be yours, you know? There's no one else who could ever wear it."
Emma had to admit that she loved hearing that because that was exactly how she felt. When she first drew this dress she'd known from the start that this would be a gown for someone truly in love. It's excess demanded that, but even in its grandeur it felt like a part of her. This dress with its capped sleeves and delicate merging of lace and pearls and other materials was a labor of love done in a romantic styling that was at once classic and totally new. It merged so many elements into something undeniably unique and that, in many ways, was what Emma's love with Killian felt like. It seeped into so many areas of her life, into all of them really, and it made everything better.
"Did you ever see me as the big white wedding dress kind of person?" Emma teased and Tiana laughed before surprising Emma with her answer.
"Actually I did," her right hand woman confessed.
"Really?" Emma asked and Tiana nodded.
"There was no way someone without a truly romantic heart could design the way you do, Emma. It was just about finding a partner worth putting your trust in, and with Killian you found that."
"Yeah I did," Emma agreed quietly, smiling at the thought all over again and feeling that same lightness and ease that came every time she thought about how after so many years of looking, she had finally found her forever.
"Is that it?!" someone asked from the doorway and immediately Emma knew it was Ruby. She closed her eyes and muttered to herself about how she should have been more careful but it was too late now. The cat was out of the bag, and her friends would now know that the dress was done and actually ready to be revealed to the world.
"Um… maybe?" Emma replied.
"How long?" Ruby asked and Emma was about to reply when her energetic friend shook her head and continued on. "Never mind, doesn't matter. Bianca, can you clear everyone's hour before lunch and get us set up in section one straight away?" Ruby asked her assistant. "We are doing Emma's fitting."
"Right now?!" Emma asked, totally shocked at Ruby's decision given how busy everyone was at the current moment. The summer wedding season was still in full swing after all, and there was so much on everyone's plate that an hour felt like a small eternity.
"Hell yes right now! Come on, Ems, you can't tell me it isn't finished yet. I'm staring right at it and I can see that it's absolutely perfect. So you are going to get your ass in that dressing room and put on that gown so we can all have our sappy, teary eyed, 'Emma found love' moment. Got it?"
Despite the demand in Ruby's voice Emma knew she had the option to say no to this, but the reality was she didn't want to. Even if it had never been her style before, Emma wanted to try this dress on and discover if the magic she felt in creating it carried over into wearing it too. It was still a little daunting, however. This was, after all, her first time ever trying on a wedding dress and if it didn't end up being just what she wanted… oh who was she kidding? It totally would be. Her gut was never wrong and right now it was saying that this was, in every way, the only dress Emma Swan could ever truly want.
Without further ado, Emma moved across the way with Tiana and Ruby and into the dressing room, taking great care with the garment as she tried it on and when she needed it one of the attendants came in to help Emma tie up the back. There were no mirrors in this room, however, and though Emma could look down and see the stunning details and the beautiful way that the fabrics fell together, she wouldn't know the full effect until she'd stepped outside and faced the music.
"Well, here goes nothing," Emma muttered to herself before opening the door and walking out.
Moving in this dress was like a dream, and though it had taken so many parts to make it whole, the gown wasn't heavy. It glided with total ease, retaining its flattering shape and flare and making Emma feel almost like a princess without the hassle of a huge shirt and so much taken up space. Basically if it looked even half as pleasant as it felt to wear, then Emma would consider it a raging success and be as proud as could be to call this dress her own.
Once she came around the corner, Emma noticed that Mary Margaret and Elsa had been properly summoned and the second she met the eyes of all of her friends Emma knew that her instincts had been right. Their looks of shock and wonder and deep appreciation spoke to the impact of this gown, and Emma's body practically hummed with anticipation and excitement in the face of this moment.
"Oh Emma, it's gorgeous," Elsa said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue before her tears could fall, though Mary Margaret didn't manage to be so calm about it. She was well on her way to those hiccupped sobs of hers just half a second after Emma walked out.
"It's breathtaking," she said before her voice broke a little on the end giving away all her emotion. It was a lot as far as reactions went, and in another situation the friends would have teased Mary Margaret for that, but even Ruby was stunned into a quiet kind of awe, and though it was a rare sight, Emma could tell her eyes were growing misty too.
"This is easily your best work, Emma. Hands down, no competition," Ruby agreed and Emma smiled, finally feeling brave enough to step up to the circular stage and face the mirrors.
When Emma saw the woman staring back at her, it was hard to imagine that this was her. This dress was just as amazing as all of her friends had attested, and yet Emma felt even more overwhelmed than they did. It was hard to explain, but there was just something about all of this that had Emma so energized and hopeful. She never believed this would ever come to pass, and yet here she was, knowing that they were right and that come her wedding day she'd walk down to Killian feeling and looking the best she ever had as she took the next step towards the future she so earnestly desired.
Her reflection in this moment was a gateway to imaginings about what her perfect day would look like, and though the wedding planning was well on its way already, Emma saw so much more of what she wanted. She swore she could feel that crisp autumn breeze and feel the sunshine of her perfect mild September morning, and see the flower lined path that would lead her down the aisle to the man she would one day call husband. She could see her hair just so, and envision the veil that would accompany a dress like this. But the most important part of her little sojourn into fantasy was Killian, the guy she'd be moving towards. Because it wasn't the dress, or the day, or the setting that would make her moment – it was the man she'd be vowing to love for now and always, and in that Emma could not have made a better choice.
"This makes it feel so real," Emma finally said, her eyes moving from her reflection back to her friends who were all in varying states of disarray.
"Because it is real, Emma. This is happening," Elsa promised and Emma grinned loving that her friend was right.
"But it's not happening yet," Mary Margaret said, pulling herself together a little more than any of them probably thought possible. "I've still got three weeks to plan the perfect wedding and I will not be rushed, especially with a dress like this to compete with."
"No one said anything about it happening right now," Emma said with a laugh as her friends all gave her a look and Ruby countered back.
"You might not have said it, but Ems your face has 'sudden elopement' written all over it. Honestly you're just as bad as Killian."
Emma blushed at the words, but they weren't wrong. She was eagerly anticipating her wedding day, and yes, maybe once or twice she'd thought about doing something smaller and more intimate just so she could get there faster, but she would wait. Even if it was slowly killing her, she would wait so that she and her friends could all create a day unlike any other in Emma's life so far.
"Will it make you all feel better if I promise not to run off and get married without you?" Emma asked and Elsa and Ruby nodded as Mary Margaret shrugged.
"Maybe if I get in writing. Until then I've got my eyes on you girl. So no funny business."
This had all of the friends laughing heartily, and in that moment Mary Margaret and Elsa and Ruby all came up to stand with Emma, turning their gaze back to the mirror to take it all in. The picture staring back at her made Emma's eyes fill with such happy tears, because it meant so much that they were with her in this too. Having her family support her like this meant everything to her, and knowing that all of them were destined for their own versions of a happily ever after filled Emma's heart with even that much more love and hope.
"Now, this is the moment where we tell you we love you forever, Emma, and that even when you go off and marry the dream guy you'll always have us," Ruby said and Emma sniffled a little, leaning into her friend.
"I better," Emma whispered.
"You will," Elsa affirmed as Mary Margaret chorused her own promise.
"Always."
"God Ruby, you weren't kidding about this being sappy," Emma claimed, but before her friend could supply a witty retort, a familiar voice sounded out from further in the store talking about stealing Emma away for lunch to one of the associates.
"Is that…?" Elsa asked, trailing off, clearly catching up a little late but Emma was already in motion, trying her best not to run in the dress as she hopped down from the stage and moved into the closest accessible alcove that wouldn't be visible to the center of the shop, which just so happened to be her office, before Killian could see her in this dress she was intent on keeping a surprise.
"Killian!" Ruby said from the other side of the door. "We weren't expecting you. Like very much so not expecting you."
"That's usually the central aspect of a surprise, love," Killian stated with his always present easiness of manner. "What's the matter? Have I interrupted something?"
"Oh nothing," Elsa said casually. "Just Emma's dress fitting. No biggie."
Emma heard Killian curse at that and her heart clenched in her chest. God did she love this man, and she didn't want him to think he wasn't welcome because he was. Actually lunch out of the office sounded like a great idea to her. She just had to figure out how to get out of this dress when her clothes were still in the dressing room across the way.
"I'll just wait in her office then," Killian said and Emma's heart rate picked up as she heard all her friends yell "No!" at the same time.
"She's in there now," Mary Margaret said. "In her dress."
"Is that right, Swan?" Killian asked, this time his voice far closer as if he was right outside the door.
"Yes," Emma replied. "You really do have impeccable timing."
She could hear the deep timbre of his laugh even through the wood and Emma rested her forehead against the hard surface, closing her eyes and picturing him right now on the other side probably doing something similar. And maybe that was kind of corny, but hell if she cared. Emma loved knowing that they were in this together and she smiled just thinking about how flustered he must feel at having stumbled upon her in such a moment even if he still had that easy swagger of his so clearly on display.
"Part of me wants to break down this door and take you in in all your splendor, love. I've thought of you in that gown a thousand times and I want to know how close I was in those fantasies," Killian said as the door opened slightly causing Emma's heart to still. But then she just saw his hand reaching out to her with a single flower in his grasp and she smiled, taking the rose and then placing her hand in his without delay so the connection wouldn't end. "But the rational side of me knows the wait will be well worth it."
"It will be," Emma promised.
"You've never once let me down in any capacity, Emma. I hardly think this will be any different," he said as his thumb grazed gently across her skin. "I fully anticipate that you'll blow me away as you so often do."
When he said sweet things like this it was so hard not to cave and open the door and kiss him the way she wanted to, but Emma held firm, knowing that in the end this was the right choice for them. Because even if instant gratification was tempting, it would never compare to seeing that look of love and wonder on his face come their actual wedding day.
"Can you give me like ten minutes?" Emma asked, thinking that she could get changed out of this in half that time when Killian's reply surprised her.
"No, love. I can do better than that. I'll leave you and your friends to finish your moment and come back when they've given me the all clear. I hate to think you've sacrificed anything when there's no need to rush."
"Close your eyes," Emma said firmly and she heard him laugh but she trusted he was doing it. "Are they closed?"
"Aye, love."
With that all clear, Emma opened the door a bit more, finding his eyes definitely closed and she kissed his lips lightly. It was brief but heart achingly perfect, and made all the better when Killian's lips turned up in a smile as Emma moved back again.
"Thank you," she whispered and Killian shook his head, his eyes remaining closed.
"There's no thanks needed, love. Everything I have to give is yours, as you well know."
With that lovely vow between them, Emma closed the door again and remained in her office until she was certain that Killian had left. When he was gone, Emma returned to her fitting with her friends finding that the magic of the moment before was still there. She still had all the same excitement about everything to come, but this time she had something else too – the knowledge that she never had to choose between her family or her love. And though she had known that for some time already, it was still an amazing feeling for Emma to be so sure that she could have everything she wanted in her life and that it would all work out in the end exactly as it was supposed to.
Post-Note: So there we have it! Next chapter I am writing the bachelor and bachelorette parties and then, if you can believe it, the following chapter is the wedding. As you can all probably tell then, this story is beginning to come to a close. It's been so fun to write though, and I am really looking forward to crafting the end of this fluffy AU. I hope you guys enjoy and thank you as always for reading and supporting me as I do this. You are all very much appreciated and I thank you very very much!
