6 months later…
Tonight people from miles around would attend the wedding reception. There would be music and dancing all evening, and the food and drink would flow freely. It was going to be everything she had ever dreamed of, elegant, regal, and epic. She being Snow.
Emma, on the other hand, could do without all of these things, it was overboard in her opinion. She also had no desire to mingle with pretentious and pompous people from around the realm. Maybe she was being selfish, but she just wanted it to be her and Killian.
The vow ceremony itself would be a small affair, with only very close family and friends. Emma took comfort in knowing that she wouldn't have to speak in front of hundreds of people.
She looked in the mirror once more, Snow standing behind her grinning from ear to ear. Her wedding gown was a solid white A-line princess v-neck, there was no hint of lace, only satin and chiffon, per Emma's request. It was floor length with a very short train, also Emma's doing. She didn't want anything too over the top.
"Emma you look gorgeous," Snow said, wiping a tear from her eye. "I wish Rosalind could be here to see this. You know it was our greatest hope that you and Killian would grow up being each other's friend and confidant. Who knew it would blossom so beautifully into the relationship you have."
"Thanks, mom," Emma replied through the lump in her throat. She turned from the mirror and embraced her mom in a loving hug. "Thank you for loving me, and taking care of me, and for letting me be with Killian."
Snow laughed, "As if we could have stopped you! You two have been thick as thieves since the beginning. As for being with Killian, you always had a choice, your father and I had the choice, and we would never have taken that away from you."
Emma squeezed her mom a little tighter and then let go, "Okay, let's get this show on the road."
"You certainly are eager," her mother smiled knowingly.
Emma blushed from her cheeks to her ears, choosing to keep her mouth shut.
Snow rolled her eyes, "I know what it's like Emma, your father and I were young once too, it was fun sneaking around, but so much more freeing once we were married."
"Wh- What?" Emma stuttered, her blush turning beet red she was sure.
"Oh, you and Killian are not as stealthy as you like to think," Snow chuckled.
Emma gasped audibly, feeling slightly dizzy, "Does Dad know?"
Snow couldn't help but laugh at her daughters's wide eyes and hands thrown over her mouth, "No, sweetie, that man sleeps like the dead. Your secret is safe with me."
Emma felt such a sense of relief, she let go of the breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thank you, mom," the gratefulness clear in her tone.
There was a knock on her door then, "What secret?" David asked, entering the room.
"Nothing my dear, just girl stuff," Snow answered.
David promptly turned on his heel to exit the room, "Tell me when you're ready for me."
"Oh stop it, David, we are ready for you now," she laughed at her husband's antics.
He turned back around arms raised in surrender, "Okay, but just to be clear there are some things I don't want to know."
Both his girls laughed at him.
Snow gave Emma a quick peck on the cheek, "I will see you in a few minutes."
"I love you, mom."
"I love you too," Snow replied, tears welling up again, then she left the room.
"So… are you ready to do this thing?" David asked.
"I am more than ready, Dad. I feel like I've been waiting for this moment for years," she confessed.
"I guess in a way, I have too. Not so much waiting for this moment, but ready for this moment. I've known for a long time that you and Killian were meant to be," the king said with finality in his timbre.
"Then why did you give us a hard time when you found us in the garden on our birthday?" she asked.
"Well, I am still your father," he chuckled, "I couldn't just let him off the hook. I had to make sure you two would do things properly."
Emma felt massively guilty that her father was in the dark, but also entirely grateful. "I love you, Daddy," she whispered, stepping to him and hugging him.
"I love you too, Emma, you'll always be my little girl," he spoke tightly, a sudden wave of emotion rolling through him.
When they broke apart, David held his arm out to his daughter, and she looped her arm through his.
He waited at the altar for his girl. The door in the back opened up and his eyes immediately shot to the entryway. It was only his future mother-in-law, not in a bad way, he just couldn't wait for Emma. He'd wanted to be tied to her since he could remember.
Snow walked the aisle, but instead of taking her seat she walked to the base of the stairs and beckoned him down.
"Yes, milady," he greeted.
"Killian, I just wanted to say a few things to you.
He nodded silently to let her speak.
"I know your mother would be so proud of you, and she would be overjoyed that you and Emma are to be married. As I told Emma minutes ago, it was our dream that you and Emma would bond and be as close and your mother and I were. I wish she was here to see how much more you've become to each other."
"Me too," he spoke quietly, "but I know that she knows. I can feel it."
Snow beamed at him, "You're right, she knows."
She pulled him into a hug, "I am proud of the man you have become too, Killian. That said, if you hurt her I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth, bow and arrow at the ready." Her tone while not threatening, brokered no arguments.
Killian wanted to laugh at the preposterous idea that he would ever willingly hurt Emma, instead he respectfully told her, "Understood, milady."
Satisfied that her messages had been delivered, Snow went to her seat.
The doors opened again, and this time his love stood in the entryway. He'd seen Emma in many dresses over the years, but she was absolutely breathtaking in this one. It hugged her lithe frame as she walked down the aisle escorted by her father. She had a brilliant smile upon her face, telling him that she was as ready for this as he was.
David walked her up to Killian. He unlaced Emma's arm and placed it through Killian's, "Take care of my little girl," David said softly, a waver in his voice.
"Aye, forever," was his response.
David made his way back down to his seat beside Snow, trying to wipe at his eyes inconspicuously.
Pastor Hopper began the service, "We are gathered here…"
As the pair stood there, prepared to tell each other their vows of love in front of their close family and friends, they were each lost in their own thoughts as the pastor droned on about the responsibilities and seriousness of marriage.
Killian thought about their story, how they'd grown together over the years. He reminisced on all they'd shared and the few things they'd lost, and how it all wove a path for them to come to this point.
Emma thought about the future, would they be good parents? How many children would they have? Would she be able to run a household like she wanted to? She was so ready to start their perfect life and find out all the answers to all her questions.
"Killian, "Pastor Hopper said, jarring them both from their thoughts, "you may say your vows to Emma."
"Emma, I have known you since before my first memories, and I have loved you from the beginning. Though that love started as the kind between two friends, it quickly developed into devotion, my main ambition to make you happy at any cost. Before I knew it, I was in love with you. Your laugh, your spirit, and your kindness are just a few of the things I fell in love with. You hold my heart, it's always been yours," he had to pause a moment and compose himself, the emotions this woman made him feel knew no depth. "I would go to the ends of the world and time for you. This ring symbolizes my promise to love, respect, honor, and cherish you forever," he finished, slipping the band onto her finger.
Emma wiped at the tears threatening to pour down her face. He was better at words than her, he always had been. She hoped she could convey to him, the same things she felt just now as he spoke.
"Emma, you may now say your vows to Killian."
"I'm not," she started, but her voice was absent, she cleared the tightness in her throat and began again. "I'm not always great with words, but I'm going to try for you, Killian. You've been here for me, from the beginning. I knew from a very young age that we were special, and that what we shared was magic. You were and are my best friend, my confidant, and you are my swan, my partner for life. I've known you were the only one for me since we were twelve and you dashingly rescued me when my horse threw me," she smiled at the memory. "I knew no one could ever take care of me, and love me the way you do. My promise to you is that I will take care of you and love you, until forever. This ring symbolizes my promise to love, respect, honor, and cherish you forever."
"You may now kiss."
Killian looked into her eyes, he saw all her love reflecting the same things he felt. They hadn't discussed what type of kiss it would be, but he longed to kiss her passionately, pick her up and carry her away from prying eyes. He decided to let her lead, it had always worked in the past.
Emma leaned forward to meet Killian half way. She gave him a chaste kiss to the lips, then lost all semblance of propriety. Stepping into him, she threw her arms around his neck, her hand cradling his head and placed open mouth kisses on his lips.
Killian wrapped his arms around her waist, surrounding her with in his powerful embrace. He reciprocated her arduous lip lock, returning her kisses to her upper lip, then her bottom one.
"Ahem," the familiar interruption causing both bride and groom to chuckle into their kiss. Foreheads pressed together they both looked to David who was sitting with his arms crossed.
"Really?" he admonished the young lovers.
Snow just giggled next to her husband.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," Pastor Hopper announced joyously.
The reception had been a long affair, the new couple was announced when they entered the reception hall. Emma and her father had shared a dance, and then she and Killian had danced until the feast was served. After the meal, toasts were made to the new couple. Then, David and Snow presented Emma and Killian with two skeleton keys, each one adorned with a swan, symbolic of the first adventure that brought the two of them together her father had explained. The keys belonged to the actual gift, which was a cottage her parents had had built upon the couple's engagement. Killian and Emma had departed once the dancing resumed, her mother and father glued to the dance floor, likely for the rest of the night.
Upon arriving to their new home there was a package at the door. It was wrapped beautifully,and the card on top read: 'Here's to years of fun loving adventure, open tonight!'
It wasn't signed but Emma recognized the graceful handwriting as her cousin Elsa's. She picked it up as Killian unlocked the door.
Being the traditional gentleman Killian picked her up easily and walked her across the threshold.
"Welcome home, love," he murmured, then kissed her soundly.
"Welcome home, lover," she purred between kisses.
Breaking the kiss he walked her over to the Grecian couch in the corner of the common room. Killian set her down on her feet, then he sat against the armrest, feet extended, legs apart, and patted the space left for Emma to sit with him.
"Shoes off the furniture, Jones!" she exclaimed.
"So the honeymoon phase is over just like that?" he jested. Properly chastised he leaned down and removed his shoes. Looking up to her with his eyebrow raised, as if seeking her approval, he patted the area between his legs again inviting her to join him.
Emma nodded her head, and removed her heels then sat down and leaned her back to his front. "And no, the honeymoon phase is nowhere near over," she spoke lasciviously, the she added, "but I do have to clean this place."
Killian laughed leaning his head around her to kiss her cheek, "Duly noted, Swan."
Snuggling into him she relaxed and enjoyed just being held. He circled his arms around her waist, and she brought her arms over his to hold his hands.
"May I show you something," Killian asked after a few moments of quiet.
"Oooh, yes please," she said in a sexy tone.
He rolled his eyes, smiling at her antics, "Is that all you think about, Emma?" he whispered against the shell of her ear, a sensitive spot for her.
Shivering, Emma thought about the last six months. They had practiced many times since that first night, in fact she had gone to him the very next night. With time they had learned every facet of the other's desires, they knew what every moan and whimper meant. They came together like the evening sun meeting the mountain peaks.
"Not always," she said breathily, "but right now it is front and center. We are here, alone, Mr. Jones. Do you know what that means?"
"Why don't you enlighten me, Mrs. Jones," he said, kissing along her neck.
"It means- it means, wait what was I talking about?" she sat forward, realizing she'd completely lost what she was saying.
Killian laughed loudly, "I love that I can make you lose your train of thought with a simple kiss."
Emma blushed but laughed with him. "Okay really though, where was I?" she asked, standing up.
"You were about to reveal the benefits of being here, alone," he answered.
"Oh, yes, it means we can choose anywhere we want," she started, gesturing to different areas of the home. "We can be as loud as we want," she yelled, "And we can sleep and wake up in the same bed," she finished.
Killian stood up and stepped into her space. He put a hand at each of her hips, kneading them, enjoying the feel of satin covering her skin. "So to recap," he started, kissing her briefly, "you wish to make love in various places in our home," kiss, "yell and scream my name while doing so," kiss, "then fall asleep together," kiss, "to wake up in each other's arms and do it all over again?" he clarified.
Her hands had wrapped their way into his hair as he spoke. Her body was pressed to his in all the right places. "Yes," she moaned against his mouth, "it sounds so much more provocative when you say it."
"I think that can be arranged, love," the promise of passion clear from his deep timbre, to the thrust of his hips to punctuating his statement. "But first, I do really want to show you something."
Emma whined as he pulled back slightly.
He took her left hand from around his neck and brought it in front of them, he removed the band he'd given her earlier that day. "I wanted to show you the inscription on your ring, darling."
Taking the ring from his hand, Emma turned it so she could see the tiny script. 'For my Emmaswan, I love you always'. A radiant smile broke over her face, "Look at your ring."
Killian cocked an eyebrow, "Here I thought I had made some grand romantic gesture." He removed his ring to see what she had written to him. ' Killian & Emma I love you forever'. His answering smile was beaming, both dimples showing.
"You did, I just happened to make the same grand romantic gesture," she replied.
He laughed and pulled her into a hug, "We are quite the team," he remarked.
"Oooh, I almost forgot, let's open the package from Elsa!" she exclaimed.
"How do you know it's from Elsa?" he asked, "and why didn't she bring it to the reception like everyone else?"
"I recognize her handwriting, and I'm not sure why, but it did say open tonight," she said with glee in her voice.
"You are quite excited, love. I imagine when the gifts from the reception are brought over, you'll be like a child on Christmas," he chuckled.
She broke from his embrace and grabbed the package from the couch, then sat down, Killian by her side. Emma tore the gift open unceremoniously.
"Easy, love, you're going to break it," he jokingly scolded her.
"I am not," she said as she pulled a book from the box, "a book?"
"What kind of book?" Killian perked up at the mention of a book.
"You always were the studious one," she deadpanned, handing it over to him.
He silently perused the book, uttering an 'ah' or 'mmhmm', every now and then.
"Are you going to spend all night reading?" she asked incredulously, "or are you going to make good on you promise from earlier?"
"Well, darling," he began, licking along his lower lip. "This is a book we should read together, and I suggest we start right away," he suggested, putting the open book in Emma's lap.
She went from giving him the evil eye to mouth agape, and eyes wide. Picking up the book she flipped through the pages, "Just what kind of book is this?" she asked, closing it to see the front cover. "Kama Sutra," she read out loud.
"A very good book, Swan," he proclaimed as he took it back. "Here, look at this page, darling, I would quite like to try that," he growled.
"I don't know if I'm that bendy, but I so want to try. Take me to bed. Right. Now," she demanded.
"Aye, love."
Emma woke the next morning, the first thing she noticed was Killian's arm around her middle. She rolled over slowly, so as not to wake him. Now facing him, she took in his tousled hair, standing in all directions, no doubt from her running her fingers through it last night. Next she came to his ears, those perfectly imperfect ears, that she loved. Gazing at his face, she couldn't help but to bring her hand to cup his cheek, and run her thumb back and forth against his scruff. She had waited for this morning, the morning where she could wake with him, and she was not disappointed.
Killian woke to his wife lovingly caressing his face. Opening his piercing blue eyes, he was met with her lovely green eyes. He pulled her into him more, snuggling against her. "Good morning, Mrs. Jones," he greeted her, his voice raspy with sleep.
"Lovely morning indeed, Mr. Jones," she murmured affectionately. She would never tire of waking up with him each morning.
"Are you ready to start this adventure?" he questioned softly.
"What adventure?" Emma asked.
"The rest of our lives, darling," he whispered.
"Yes."
Then they greeted each other with a proper good morning kiss. With every fiber of their beings he was hers, and she was his, forever.
The End
Just the epilogue left!
