A/N: Hello everyone! We are back with a Monday installment of 'In Your Light' and it is the final one before the wedding chapter. How that's possible, I have no idea but I am thrilled to say the least! This story is always a joy to write and though this chapter is far shorter than the average installment, the wedding chapter will not be. As always thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!

Standing in the fading light of another beautiful day and feeling the warmth of the big bonfire they had going in their backyard right now, Emma thought how right she'd been in suggesting this. Originally her sisters and her friends had insisted that they should have a bachelorette party for Emma, or at least a final girls' night out to celebrate the wedding tomorrow, but Emma was adamant that all she wanted was time with the people she loved and a chance to relax. This barbecue turned evening hangout was the product of that want.

"Okay I have to admit, this was a good call by you Ems. I've gone a whole summer without getting to watch my husband fight a fire to get me a decent marshmallow and you've given me that." Ruby's joke made Emma laugh aloud, but it also brought her eyes to the fire in question. There, smiling back at her was Killian who was 'fighting' the flames as well to get Emma a melty treat too.

"Well that and now we don't have to face Killian's wrath for hiring a stripper. Can you imagine?" Anna feigned a shudder and Emma tried to picture what that moment might have looked like. Yeah her soon to be husband would not have liked that at all. She looked back to Killian who was still watching her and Emma thought about how the only naked guy she wanted around was him anyway.

"You guys give new meaning to the term heart eyes," Belle said cheerfully from beside Emma and Emma blushed, finally tearing her gaze away from Killian.

"I do not make eyes at him," Emma said, knowing she sounded childish and her friends all gave her a look as if to say she was totally full of it. "Okay maybe."

"Maybe what, love?" Emma jumped a bit hearing Killian's voice so close to her and when she looked at him she could see he'd known exactly what he was doing sneaking up on her like that.

"I will maybe keep you around if that marshmallow is a perfect golden brown." Killian offered the stick to her for inspection, and Emma pretended to be discerning knowing damn well she'd have eaten a fully charred mess since Killian had made it for her. As it was, his showing was pretty phenomenal and the best part of course was that she got all the spoils of his work without putting in any effort of her own.

"Does it pass muster?" Killian asked and Emma nodded, but her breath caught as Killian leaned in closer just a whisper away from her lips. When he smiled, Emma was so tempted to pull him closer or drag him away from the crowd of people here in the yard but somehow she managed to keep herself in check.

"Good, I'm glad to hear it. I'll go make another one to keep you satisfied for a while so I can enjoy my reward." Emma watched him walk away, feeling like she needed to fan herself only for her friends to comment immediately.

"Damn Emma, are you trading sexual favors for s'mores? Because if so bravo." Emma rolled her eyes.

"No Elsa I am not. I told Killian we could share the lounger if his s'more making skills impressed me, that's all."

"Somehow that's almost worse," Ruby said and Emma shook her head, grabbing what she'd need to make her and Killian's s'mores and moving over to the chair in question just as he did. His easy smile made Emma feel that all too common flutter of happiness in her stomach and she let out a breath, fully relaxing once more with him here. He'd been calming her a lot lately, especially over the last few weeks of crazy planning for tomorrow.

Turned out organizing a wedding was stressful, even if you were keeping things small, and though Killian always managed to bring her back to this feeling of peace and love, Emma was still a little greedy. Now that she knew what it was to be truly happy, she wanted it all the time. Killian seemed to have no problem with that though, easily situating them on the chair so she was flush against him. Her back rested against his chest, feeling his firm body through the fabric of their shirts and Emma was torn between a sweet sort of serenity and wanting to turn around and kiss him senseless.

"Is your dessert to your liking, love?" Killian asked, whispering in Emma's ear as she enjoyed the first few bites of the treat she'd been waiting for all day.

"It's pretty good." Killian hugged her closer to him, pulling a laugh from Emma as she offered a bite over her shoulder. Killian shook his head and Emma raised a brow in questioning.

"I much prefer to watch you eat it, love."

"That sounds like the making of a new fetish." Killian growled and Emma laughed again, but the sound faded away as Killian brought his thumb up to graze against the corner of her mouth.

"You have a bit of chocolate right here." He said, heat lacing that enticing voice of his and then he pulled back to lick his thumb clean. "See, Swan, I still got a taste after all."

"Why do I have the feeling that you two will still be just as sickeningly adorable after tomorrow?" Ruby asked from across the fire and Emma blushed a little, having mostly forgotten that anyone was here. Killian always seemed to have a remarkable ability to take up the bulk of her attention.

"Because they will be," Emma nearly groaned at Anna's typical wistful tone. Her sister's enthusiasm for Emma being in love had never dwindled in all the time she'd been with Killian, and Anna always made the biggest fuss about them even now.

Elsa was right there with Anna of course, because despite her very early hesitations, she was even more invested in Killian and Emma being together than the others. If Emma had a dollar for every time Elsa had happily commented on how they were sisters who married brothers she would be a very rich woman.

"Hey we're adorable too," Graham said offering Ruby her slightly more well done marshmallow and Ruby smiled at her husband, kissing him quickly. All thoughts of teasing Emma and Killian were gone and now the friends all gathered in the same place to enjoy more of the laid back night before them.

The party stayed that way for a while, and more than once Emma thanked whatever universal powers were at play for the company and the cool breeze on this warm night. Emma knew how lucky she was to be here, wrapped up in the man she loved while getting to be with her family in this easygoing manner. Life was so much more than good and this moment in time was the proof. They all talked and laughed and watched the sun dip below the trees, consuming more s'mores than any group of people ever should as they went. But eventually, the evening took an unexpected turn.

"Hey is that Will?" Emma asked in the face of a figure walking around the back of the house from the front and Killian nodded. "I thought his flight wasn't getting in until tomorrow morning."

"As did I," Killian replied making to get up to greet his friend, but he paused when Will moved to a now standing Belle and took her into his arms for a very public kiss.

"Well hello to you too, Scarlet," Liam joked from his spot beside the fire and Emma grinned, watching Will and Belle finally pull away from each other. The two of them were lit up by the firelight and the lanterns Killian had placed around the yard in preparation for the party, and Belle in particular looked surprised and thrilled all at once.

"Will, what are you doing here?" The shakiness in Belle's voice was undeniable, but Emma heard hope in that warble and she felt herself being sucked into what should have arguably been a very private moment. Will took Belle's hands in hers.

"Seeing the woman I love before I completely lose my mind from missing her." The audible gasps from every woman watching didn't seem to compute to either Will or Belle, the latter of whom was now gawking at the former.

"You love me?" Will nodded and Emma felt her heart clench at the moment they were all getting to witness.

Emma had been talking to Belle only a few days ago about how excited her friend was to see Will again. After spending much of the week Will was in town together, they'd been talking all the time, with Skype and text and the occasional letter, and Belle seemed really happy, but one problem still remained – they lived a world away from each other. That fact had been concerning Belle for a while now and more than once Emma had been the one to tell her friend that it would all work out if it was meant to. This appeared to be the moment where it would.

"Yes Belle, I love you. And I want to be with you." The certainty in Will's tone pulled a whispered word of approval from Killian and Emma ran her hand along his arm, silently agreeing in his assessment.

"But you live -,"

"Right here, in Storybrooke, love." Well that was a surprise.

"What?!" Emma muffled a laugh at the fact that Mary Margaret was louder in the question than Belle was.

"I convinced Killian and Dave to give me a job so I can be here with you. I even got my own place so I'm not shacking up with the love birds over there." Emma slapped Killian absently on the arm she was just tenderly holding for not telling her about the job and now it was Killian's turn to laugh. Still Emma couldn't tear her gaze away from Belle and Will for long. This was better than a movie.

"But you love London." Belle had a point.

"Clearly not as much as he loves you!" Ruby added and Will groaned.

"Bloody hell, is this what it's like every time a man comes to confess his feelings in front of you people?!"

"Yes," Everyone said at once as Belle laughed.

"Nice that it's not us for a change," Killian whispered in Emma's ear and she nodded.

"So let me get this straight. You love me and you're moving three thousand miles across an ocean to be with me?" Belle asked, smiling as she did.

"That about covers it."

"Well okay then." Without another word Belle pulled Will down to the loud cheers of her friends until Ruby interrupted again.

"Ahem, isn't there something you'd like to say as well, Belle?" Belle blinked for a second before realizing.

"Oh right. I love you too." Will grinned wildly and pulled her with him.

"We'll see you all tomorrow then." Belle laughed as she followed Will, throwing the rest of them a wave goodbye and leaving everyone just a little bit speechless.

"Well that was definitely something. Anyone else have any grand confessions to make?" Graham joked and to Emma's surprise there were a number of people who refrained from laughing. Liam and Elsa and Mary Margaret and David all looked thoughtful.

"Actually… I may kind of be -," Mary Margaret began.

"Don't say pregnant!" Elsa practically yelled and Mary Margaret nodded after jumping slightly. "Oh my god me too!"

"Jesus we went from a casual s'mores fest to… well whatever this is," Kristoff said, but everyone was already in motion, congratulating the happy couples. This was truly awesome news and a happy day indeed coming right before what would be the best day of Emma's life. She celebrated with her sister and her friend over their new beginnings, but eventually the group moved their musings back to Belle and Will and thoughts on everybody's futures.

Everyone was exactly where they wanted to be right now, and Emma couldn't keep the smile off of her face for the rest of the evening. She'd had a good life for a really long time when she found Elsa and Anna and this place to call home. That life of contentment was such a welcome change after the traumas of her childhood, but now Emma could say that her life was truly blessed. It was better than she could even begin to comprehend and so much of that was thanks to the man who kept hold of her all night. Emma had all these people she loved and cared for and they were getting what they wanted just as she was doing the same. She was surprised though when Killian pulled her aside a while later to ask her something.

"Are you okay, love?" Emma tilted her head.

"I'm perfect. Why?" Killian ran a hand through his hair.

"It's just, this was supposed to be your night and suddenly we've got all of this going on too." Emma smiled, seeing that it was just Killian's excessive thoughtfulness and not an actual problem prompting his question. Emma shook her head and ran her hand across his chest lightly.

"Tomorrow's going to be all the better because I know everyone in my life is just as happy as we are. I don't have to feel guilty for marrying the perfect guy anymore." Killian's chest puffed out at her mirthful words in a bit of pride as he kissed her.

"I was never going to feel guilty," Emma laughed as Killian held her close.

"Best party ever," Emma smiled up at Killian who raised a brow and Emma corrected herself, "well at least until tomorrow."

"There you go, love."

….

After a night spent holding Emma in his arms in the company of their family both by blood and by choice, Killian was glad to be alone again with his Swan. The energy swirling between them all night might now have a chance to be acted upon and he had a number of ideas about how to spend the evening with his lovely fiancé.

Thank God she didn't want to leave me, Killian thought as Emma locked the front door after shutting off the porch light. At first he'd worried that Emma might be one of those brides who wanted to wait to see the groom before the wedding, but he'd been wrong and now he wouldn't have to endure the night away from her. He'd sleep easily tonight with Emma by his side in a way he never could if she was gone.

"You've got that look again," Emma said smiling as Killian pulled her to him. He knew what look she meant, and he could tell her as he always did that this look would belong to her all the rest of their days, but it went without saying.

"I've finally got you alone, Swan, you can hardly fault my happiness." Emma smirked.

"Hardly." Emma pulled him down for a kiss right there in the front hall and it took less than a second for Killian to meet her, but before he was ready to let her move away she did, and now it was Emma who had a look in her eyes that Killian couldn't quite identify.

"Emma?"

"I want kids." Killian smiled, liking the way she rushed through the words as if they were some sort of grand confession instead of a beautiful potentiality.

"As do I, love." Emma shook her head.

"Right, but I want like a lot of kids." Killian laughed at that.

"I want the same, Emma." Emma nodded and bit her lip and Killian could see there was something she was still holding back. He tilted her chin up to look at him. "What is it, Swan?"

"I never really thought about trying for kids right now, but tonight it kind of felt like maybe it would be good. I want our kids to have built in friends in their family and with Mary Margaret and Elsa both expecting… But at the same time we are not even married yet. Is it crazy for us to try for kids so soon? Because it's soon, like really soon -,"

Killian raised Emma's hand to kiss it gently by her wrist. He was watching Emma battle with this, working out logistics in her head about a future that they were going to have. He wanted to settle the little crease of worry that resided on her brow and his kiss helped slightly. Her words fell away and he filled the space with the assurances she needed.

"Emma we can take this as fast or as slow as we want. There's no restrictions or limits. We'll trust your instincts, whatever they may be." Emma searched his face for something he didn't know.

"How are you so neutral and calm about this? Usually you're like Captain Future." Killian couldn't keep back the laugh that came at that.

"Tomorrow you will be my wife, Emma. There's no room for anything in my heart but joy at that prospect and I know without a doubt that we will get to that future we want. It's a certainty." Emma smiled finally at that, pressing a kiss to his lips and she moved closer against him.

"Pretty excited to marry me, huh?" Emma asked, the light teasing back once more and Killian nodded.

"That is an understatement of massive proportions, love, but yes. Now, do you trust me?" Emma nodded without hesitation and Killian grinned. With a quickness she hadn't seen coming, he swept her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs. Where she might have expected him to go to their room though, Killian dropped her back to her feet in the hall, just before one of the spare rooms. He took her hand in his and squeezed slightly.

"I intend to see to it that you are happy every single day, Emma. I will love you and cherish you and choose you every time." Emma moved closer by a step.

"I'm choosing you too."

"Aye love. And someday when we decide to take the next step I'll do the same for our children. We'll make this room into a nursery, fill this whole house with the family that you want, and whether they come next year or ten years from now, I will love them just the same, for they'll be a part of you and I together." Killian saw the beginnings of tears building in her eyes.

"I love you, Killian." Emma said and Killian brushed away the few tears that did fall.

"As I love you, Emma." With one last look around the room though, Emma pulled at his hand and offered him a wickedly tempting smile once they were in their bedroom.

"We might not make that decision today, but I think we can definitely get some practice in, don't you?" Killian groaned at that, watching Emma pull her hand away to start stripping off her clothing before him. He hastily followed suit, not wanting to keep his woman waiting, and the sooner he was done with this, the sooner he could have his way with her.

When they'd both gotten rid of the rest of their clothes, Emma's hands were on him and Killian's roamed over her as well, taking her mouth in another impassioned kiss. Emma moved him back with her to the bed, laughing outright when they came crashing down on it with more force than expected, but Killian wanted to hear that beautiful laugh transform into the thready, breathy sounds that always came when her love turned back into raw, unbridled lust.

Killian was rewarded with those exact sounds as he tore his lips from her mouth and trailed down her jaw, along her neck and to her breasts. Without warning, he pulled her nipple into his mouth as one of his hands came up to pull at the other. Emma moaned at the pulls and tugs and sucks which pulled a growl from Killian. He lived for these moments, when Emma just felt and took what she wanted. Her hands came to tangle in his hair, pulling at the roots while still keeping him in place but he had other plans in mind, and heard the subtle cry of frustration when he pulled away from his attentions at her breast.

He wouldn't say she calmed when she understood his intentions, watching him kiss down lower until he's exposed her waiting sex to his hungry eyes, for Emma was still on fire from his touch, but her frustration was gone, replaced by undeniable want.

When his tongue made contact with her slick flesh, Emma bucked towards him, charging Killian's need to see her shatter all the more. She gave herself and her responses to him so easily and all he could think was that he'd have all of these forever with Emma. Eager to see her find her release, Killian pushed her over the edge and then made his way back up her body.

Seeing Emma's face like this, eyes closed, breathing labored, but the tell tale whisper of a smile on her lips, Killian knew he was the luckiest man alive, and he waited for her to open those gorgeous, expressive green eyes back up and see him. When she did, he was there, smiling down at her as he let his fingers weave through her golden hair.

"Lose your way for a second, sailor?" Emma asked, her voice still too gravely to be truly her own, but God if he didn't love the way she teased him. She was too damn smart for him, too good for him really, but still she was his as resolutely as he was hers. He knew it in his heart and let himself feel her gorgeous hands moving across his body.

"Not at all. I only found my way at all because I found you all those months ago." Emma blushed, running a hand across his cheek lightly.

"Keep finding me, okay?" Emma asked and Killian nodded.

"Every moment of every day, love." Emma grinned, pulling him down for more kisses which quickly spiraled into the two of them chasing bliss together.

Killian stilled the first beat that he was inside of her, succumbing to the way she gripped him so tight, but then Emma was begging him to move and he was powerless to resist her. Every thrust into her felt like an affirmation of everything they both wanted, and when the need between the two of them came to a head, Emma clenched around him, pulling Killian into his own sure sense of light.

As glorious as making love to Emma was though, it was arguably this moment, the one where the high began to fade and the calm serenity of just being together returned that Killian loved most.

He'd been haunted before meeting her, never knowing what it meant to close his eyes and not see the horrors of his past, but his ghosts were soothed, calmed, exorcised even by the love of this one woman. Emma had seen him through what should have been a rocky transition, yet here he was, sailing calm seas in his life for the first time ever. He'd only ever had that chance because she'd given it to him.

The yawn that Emma let go as she nestled closer to him made Killian's heart warm and his hand traced up and down her back in a soft, affectionate way. If he could touch her every second of the day he would, but as it was he made the most of the seconds he did have and Emma never shied away from him, not once. He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, and eventually heard her breathing soften, telling him she was asleep.

"I love you, Emma Swan." He whispered, hoping she would hear it in her dreams and think of him. Because as Killian closed his eyes, ready for sleep himself, he knew he would only think of her.

Post-Note: Oh Monday. You were hilariously annoying this week, but still you brought me the chance to write today's cute little update and I am ending the day with a glass of wine and pasta, so in the end I am victorious. I hope that wherever you guys are in your day, and whether it was good or bad or somewhere in between that you liked this shorter update. Remember, wedding fluff next week and as I say at the end of every update – thank you for reading!