A/N: Hey everyone. This chapter is a bit longer than the usual installment for one very good reason – I was too wrapped up in wedding fluff to walk away at the usual mark. As you guys know by now, 'In Your Light' as an AU is all about two things – finding family and finding home. Those two themes are big parts of this chapter and full disclosure I actually got a bit teary eyed writing the end of this. No worries though, because there is cute wedding stuff and a little wedding night smut, because really what is a wedding without that? Hope you guys enjoy and thanks so much for reading!
Waking up on the morning of her wedding, Emma let herself feel the gentle kiss of sunlight coming through the window before she opened her eyes and took in everything around her. The day was new still, but the quiet was charged with that ambient hum of life in Storybrooke. Birds chirped outside, the leaves of the big oak tree outside brushed the window lightly from the wind, and just beside her, Killian's steady breaths told Emma he was still sound asleep.
This spot right here was the best place she'd ever known, and though she couldn't let herself linger here too much longer, Emma took a moment to feel it all. Killian's strong arms still held her close, and the safety they provided wasn't lost on her. She carefully turned around in his embrace to look at him, balling her hands into fists so she wouldn't brush back the hair that had fallen in front of his face.
He's going to be mine. Really mine.
The thought didn't just excite Emma but healed her. She had found him, the one person she was supposed to be with, the only one who could make her believe that love like this was even possible. Killian had proved time and time again that he was eager to see her happy and to see a life they both wanted come to fruition. He worked day in and day out to see that it was done, and Emma knew with everything in her that he was her perfect match.
Today the fairytale began, or perhaps it just continued, for their story so far had been something to be forever grateful for. They were different now, stronger, surer, and more open because they loved each. Emma wasn't carrying the troubled times of her youth in the same burdensome way, just as Killian wasn't still caught up in the fighting he'd seen in battle. Both of them had faced demons and ameliorated old wounds by standing hand in hand and choosing the other. But today, that choice would be made official. Promises would be made not just for now, but for forever.
"I love you, Killian."
Emma whispered the words, watching the shadow of a smile appear on his face as he moved a little bit, holding her closer. He was still asleep though, thank goodness, and with a lot of care and patience, Emma eventually slipped out of his hold. She knew that if she didn't put the space between them now, he'd manage to convince her that none was needed at all. Not that it would take very much to do so. Emma was about to marry one of the most persuasive, charming men that had probably ever lived.
Emma managed to get herself out of the house and through the streets of Storybrooke rather quickly, heading to her sister's house where she would remain until they were one hundred percent certain that Killian left. Emma smiled, thinking that he would likely linger in their house, resenting the need to stay away a full day. Heck, she didn't really love the need for it either, but it would be worth it in the end. Besides she'd promised her sisters and there was no breaking a promise like that. There had been pinky swears involved.
As she climbed up the steps to Elsa's house, Emma tried to anticipate what today was going to bring. There would definitely be tears, a lot of reminiscing, probably some cute well wishes from her sisters and friends. Oh right and a wedding on the beach to a man so good she'd never even thought to dream him up before they met. All in all it sounded like a fantastic day and Emma was eager to greet it, raising her hand to open Elsa's front door only for it to whip open before she could.
"Oh thank God you're here! I was certain I was going to have to send Liam after you." Emma smothered a laugh.
"You thought Killian was just going to hold me hostage?" Elsa gave Emma a look before maneuvering her inside.
"He's a man in love. No – he's a Jones brother in love – and as someone who married the other in the matching set, I am more than aware of what they're capable of." Emma smirked as she looked into the kitchen finding Liam smiling happily.
"Oh good. You got out. Going to make my day a lot easier, even if I have to deal with my bitter brother much of the morning." Emma rolled her eyes.
"He's not that bad." In fact, Killian was the opposite of bad. He was every good thing, and she was marrying him because he was her favorite person in the world. Emma smiled just thinking of it, not caring that Elsa and Liam were watching her get sentimental.
"With you maybe. But since I am not his lovely Swan, there'll be no talking him into anything."
Emma felt the buzz of her phone in her pocket, and knew without even looking that it would be Killian. She was proven correct when she finally checked the text.
K: You snuck out before I could give you one last reason to marry me, Swan.
"That's him isn't it?" Elsa asked and Emma nodded, not even bothering to look up. She could hear the slight dreaminess coming into her sister's voice at the words as it was.
E: You've already given me every reason to walk down that aisle today.
K: I don't think I can wait, love.
E: It's just a few more hours. Be patient.
K: As you wish.
Emma clutched her phone to her chest, loving the way he always managed to bring these big feelings with him. She felt so wanted and happy. The old her would have found this ridiculous, but love had a funny way of changing people.
"Oh, Emma." And there were the tears. She could hear them in Elsa's voice and Emma groaned, knowing she needed to stop this before it started. It was way to early to be sinking into all this emotion. They had too much to do in the meantime.
With enough coaxing, Emma got Elsa to hold back on the water works and sent Liam to get Killian out of the house. While all of that was happening, the others started showing up one by one. Anna arrived, as did Mary Margaret, Ruby, and Belle and they were all of them just as excited for Emma as Elsa was, if in their own ways. These were her people, the ones Emma wanted standing beside her today, and aside from their significant others and Lena and Garrett, no one else would be coming, at least not to the ceremony itself.
Emma had stressed small for this wedding, and as with most things in her life, there was some negotiation needed with her sisters. Emma got her most important wish though: her actual marriage on the beach would be quiet and peaceful and intimate. Whatever came after that, she didn't care about, but when she said 'I do' and finally made her vows to Killian she wanted as much privacy as could be had.
By no means did Emma want to hide what existed between her and Killian, but since the start she'd valued their space, liking the special feeling that came when they held things close to the vest. Emma would never break every habit that she carried from her old life, and going it alone had long been the way she did things. She was private by nature as a means of protecting her heart.
Anna and Elsa had been the first to shatter part of that instinct with their kindness and love, but it wasn't until Killian that Emma found a real partner to let in. But just because she'd let some people past her walls didn't mean she wanted the whole world there in her most precious moments. Emma preferred realness to appearance, and big crowds would never feel as genuine to her as the few people who really knew her and loved her most.
Eventually Emma and the others all got the chance to return to Emma's house, and from there, things moved rather quickly. There were all of these steps between her and Killian still (hair, makeup, a slew of pictures with her sisters and friends), but with each step's completion, Emma felt her excitement grow. Slowly but surely she was making her way, until finally the only thing really left to do was to get into the dress she'd chosen for today.
Without Emma's needing to say anything, Belle, Mary Margaret, and Ruby all drifted away, going to get some of the final things done with whatever reception lay in store for Emma after the beach. This left the three sisters together as Emma took this last step to getting ready. She stood behind the makeshift curtain they'd brought in for the day, putting on the dress she found on a recent trip into Portland when Anna spoke.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" Emma felt her chest tighten at the question.
"Of course I remember. You two had gotten yourselves lost by that run down motel on Center Street. You were walking into the worst part of Phoenix without even realizing it."
Emma recalled how out of place Elsa and Anna seemed all those years ago, not even just for the area, but in general. They were walking through the street together hand in hand looking utterly lost while not even taking in where they were. They had absolutely no care for their safety, preoccupied as they were by the loss of their parents.
Emma had no idea then what they'd gone through, but in their eyes Emma saw something she understood on a fundamental level – despair. Even though she'd been on the run herself, trying to keep a low profile, she couldn't keep running when she saw them. They were searching for a life post pain, and she'd wanted to help them find it for some reason.
"And boy did you give us an earful on that. But after we got out of there and we found that coffee shop, do you remember what you said?"
Emma thought about Anna's question. They'd said a lot of things that day. It had been the first time in what felt like forever that Emma found people she even wanted to talk to.
"Remind me."
"You said we didn't have to know why life was the way it was. We just had to keep going. I'd spent three months crying myself to sleep, three months wondering why our parents were in that car on that highway on that night. And here was this girl, who never had anyone in her whole life consoling me, making me see that even if everything wasn't okay it could be, if I just moved forward."
"She sounds kind of insensitive," Emma said, trying to tease a little bit through the intensity of the emotions she felt.
"She was brilliant, and the only reason Anna and I found anything close to happiness," Elsa said resolutely. "You got us here, Emma. You kept us going and then when we found more things that made us happy, you never did anything but try to help. You have been the best sister, and the best friend to both of us."
Emma felt her tears spilling a little bit and definitely heard sniffling from behind the curtain as she stepped out to see her sisters.
"Oh Emma, you look so beautiful," Elsa said, wiping away her tears hastily. Emma smiled.
"You guys got me here too. You got me to this." Both Anna and Elsa came over and took one of Emma's hands in theirs.
"We got each other exactly where we need to be, and today… well today is one of my best days ever because I get to see you find your happy ending Emma. I love you, sis." Anna's words made Emma shed a few more tears. Thank god for waterproof make up.
"I love you too. I love you both of you so much." Her sister's smiled at Emma's words.
"And we love you Emma. To the moon and back a billion times." Emma hiccupped a bit at their words. It was something they'd started back when they were kids, all having just found each other. In only a few short months their bond was formed, Emma had been inducted into their sisterhood and she'd gotten to know what it meant to really be loved and wanted.
"Now, I know I'm usually the biggest crier, but we have a wedding to get to and despite your protests there will be more pictures. We can't show up with splotchy red faces." Emma laughed at Elsa as her sister seemed to take in Emma's dress for the first time. "You look so beautiful, Ems."
Emma looked over into the mirror and saw that she did, in fact, look good. The dress she'd chosen was a flowing ivory gown, with a v style neck and some wrap around elements. The natural waist and easy moving parts felt light and the sleeves gave way to a slightly more open back that led to a delicate train. It wasn't the traditional fair perhaps, but it was perfect for a beach wedding, and it made Emma feel beautiful.
"We're just missing one thing," Anna insisted as she grabbed an extra yellow flower from one of the bouquets and put it in Emma's hair. Anna tucked it just by Emma's ear and Emma smiled, thinking it a nice last touch. "There. Now it's perfect."
"Ready to go?" Elsa asked and Emma nodded, taking one last look in the mirror before heading towards the door.
"Crap. I forgot something." Emma pulled out a sealed letter from the bedside table and a knowing look crossed Elsa's features.
"You didn't read yours yet?" Elsa asked and Emma shook her head. She hadn't asked Elsa directly, but did assume that since she'd married Killian's brother she received a similar letter to this one.
"What is it?" Anna asked and Emma told her. It was a letter from Killian's Mom for the woman he chose to marry. Killian gave it to her the night that he proposed and she'd been putting off this moment to read it until the wedding day itself. With all the emotion between her and her sisters, she'd nearly forgotten it.
"We'll give you a moment, then," Elsa said gently, taking Anna's hand and heading out. As Emma heard the door to her bedroom close, she looked back to the unmarked envelope and with shaky fingers opened it.
The words that flowed over the page in the same delicate cursive script from the back of the picture Emma saved for Killian's birthday, touched Emma like very few words ever had. With the letter also came another gift, a picture of Killian's mother and him when he was just a newborn. She was sitting in a rocking chair, holding him as Emma always imagined parents should. The love in her eyes could not be denied, and that love was just as prevalent in the letter she'd given Emma.
In the face of such tender emotion, Emma felt a swirl of every feeling one could have. Sadness at Killian's loss and her own for never getting to meet this lovely woman who played such a big part in making Killian who he was today, anger at the fact that fate had taken her too soon, gladness at the fact that his mother even thought to write to her at all, but mostly there was gratitude that Emma did get this forever with Killian. Someday she and Killian would have moments like this with their children.
The image sent a pang of longing through Emma and suddenly her feet were restless. She needed to get to Killian and say 'I do' so they could get to such a moment. Quickly, but with great care, Emma put the letter and the picture back in the bedside table before turning towards her future.
Moments began to blend together, the minutes passed by in a haze, and Emma knew she'd forget much of these last minute things. There was simply too much feeling inside of her to see clearly, but when she stepped onto the beach, and she finally saw Killian after a day away, her vision cleared. Now every breath, every second, was this brilliant spot in the web of her life.
Emma moved forward, never lagging as she walked towards Killian until she was finally there beside him, his hand taking hers with conviction. Emma's whole body warmed, and though she felt the kiss of a coastal wind, she'd never felt such comfort. In his eyes, Emma saw all the love and hope in the world. He brought her hands up to kiss gently and whispered that he loved her and Emma responded in kind.
Their eyes never strayed from each other, not in the whole time Liam (who they'd asked to officiate the wedding) spoke. Emma heard every word and felt them in her heart, but when it came time for the vows, Emma knew she was in for the realest part of all of this. She took a steadying breath as Liam instructed Killian to say his vows.
"Emma – I hardly know where to begin because it almost feels like there's too much. I've been trying to find the words to say you're everything to me. I want something to make you smile, and make your heart skip as mine does every time you say you love me. I've been searching for the means to make you see what you mean to me when truth is there is nothing I can say that will ever be as strong as this love. You are a part of me, the best part, and the one most worth protecting."
Emma brought her hand up to rest over his heart and smiled, feeling it hammering away under her fingertips. Killian's eyes shone so bright at the action and Emma could tell she'd distracted him a bit. Emma pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before telling him to go on. He nodded, finding his way back again.
"All I can say, love, is that you are the saving grace I needed and that I will need every day. You put me back together when I had no idea it could even be done. With you I've found what it means to live, where before all I did was survive. You pour life into every part of me, Emma, and I have never known a joy like the one I do when I hold you in my arms and when I know you're mine, just as I am yours.
"I love you with everything I am, and each day that love grows more and more. My world is filled with you and the belief that this story is nowhere near finished. I promise to build the life you want, the one you so heartily deserve - a life to make you happy all the days of your life. I promise to fight for you and for us and to never let you wonder where I stand. I am by your side for now and always and I will love you forever more."
Now Emma took his hand in hers again and kissed it lightly, steadying herself before speaking her words. She wanted Killian to feel the same joy that he'd managed to give her just now.
"I love you, Killian, and I have been falling more and more for you since the first time we met. You scared me to death, but more than that you called to me. I knew you were different, I knew that you mattered in that first moment, and you keep showing me just how right that instinct was every day. You like to joke that you fell first, and that might be true. You had the advantage of lurking outside the park and spying on me after all." Everyone, including Killian, laughed at Emma's words.
"But the truth is, this was never supposed to happen. I was never supposed to find someone who looks at me the way you do, who loves me so fiercely and with such certainty. I was never supposed to need someone so much, to love someone with everything I have. I was ready for a life without that, and I thought that would be enough. Now I know better, because you, Killian Jones, are the missing piece. You give me everything I need every day, and you do so with no expectations. You make me brave and happy and I am better for having you here with me."
Emma paused, thinking back to her earlier conversation with her sisters and added a bit more to her vows.
"I don't know why life works the way it does, but I know that I am the luckiest person in the world. No matter what my past may hold, it was all worth it, and I would gladly relive every pain and heart break a thousand times for one more day with you. Instead I get a lifetime and I promise not to take that for granted."
"I would do the same, love." Liam huffed a bit at Killian's reply.
"Alright, brother, you've had your turn." Everyone laughed again including Emma as Liam went through the rest of the rights.
They each uttered those two beautiful words, and the next thing Emma knew they were man and wife, and falling into the single best kiss that they'd ever shared. The wait was over and their next chapter had begun, and when Emma and Killian pulled away and she saw that same look of endless love in his blue eyes, Emma knew it was going to be the most magnificent one yet.
…..
She's finally mine, Killian thought to himself hours after Emma first walked down the beach to take his hand. After a day spent half in misery and half in agonizing hope, Emma made all that hurting fade away by walking towards him.
Killian would remember every piece of it all for the rest of his life. The way her hair fell, curled but hanging low across her shoulders, and how her lips curved into that knowing smile that she so often sent his way. The feel of her emerald eyes that touched him to his very core, and the way her words sounded out above the gently lapping waves along the shore.
Emma had been beautiful and eloquent as she made her vows and he'd been so in awe of her, he'd forgotten how to breathe, how to think even. That he'd managed to string a single word together or give her even a taste of what she meant to him was a miracle, and if he hadn't spoken first he doubted he ever could. As soon as she'd spoken her truth there was very little in his mind aside from holding her, kissing her and dragging her away from everyone else and shuttering themselves away for at least a year. That last part unfortunately hadn't been possible but it would be, at least in part, given just a bit more time.
There weren't words for the love that Killian had for Emma. It was the kind of love that stories spoke of but life so rarely made true. All these months later, Killian still didn't know how it had all come to be, yet here he was, holding the one woman in the world who could ever make him truly happy in his arms. Now she was Emma Jones, his wife in every way, and Killian felt lighter than air knowing what they'd done. Nothing could touch him here, not while he had Emma.
Now they were dancing in the center of Main Street, and as ridiculous as that sounded, it was perfect. After their actual wedding, they'd been led here, to a town wide celebration in their honor. The whole street was done up with lights and flowers, completely transformed from it's ordinary appearance for them.
Seeing Emma's response, and the excitement on her features despite how over the top it all was made Killian happy too. He had some idea of what her sisters were planning, and was glad Emma liked it despite her want for something small. She deserved these grand gestures and big surprises forever, and he'd see that she had more of them.
Nearly every one who lived in Storybrooke was here, as were so many of the friends Killian left back home. There were more than a dozen men and women he'd served with here thanks to Will. They all of them made the journey to honor his second chance at life, genuinely happy for him. Some had brought their own families, while others Killian could see still bore the scars of their time fighting as keenly as he once had. He hoped they would all of them have the luck to find someone as right for them as Emma was for him, or at least something that gave them the same peace.
Emma was a vision and the picture of kind openness as he introduced her to all of them, the family he'd formed a world away from the normal he knew now. Emma spent quite a while talking to his fellow soldiers and their families, laughing at their stories and mourning their losses as Killian held her in his arms, but finally Killian pulled her away insisting that they dance together. Maybe then they could be alone even if they were still surrounded by other people.
As they danced, Killian's mind filled with musings about where they were now. Emma was the light and the joy in a life that for so long was dark. She outshone every good thing and she did it in the most honest of ways. There were no airs about his Swan, no illusions or deceit. Emma was who she was, and Killian would spend every day showing her just how remarkable a person that made her.
"You look happy Captain Jones," Emma said, voice teasing and light in a way that spoke to her own happiness.
"That's because I have you, Mrs. Jones. There is nothing more I could ever want as long as I live." Emma smiled at that, her fingers tracing lightly down his neck, sending a pulse of desire through him.
"I don't know. I think there are a few things left, or am I misremembering our discussion last night?" Killian knew she was talking of their conversation on starting a family and he brought her more firmly against him as Emma giggled, filling him with the most gorgeous sensation as she did.
"Aye, love. Perhaps there are a few things. But they'll all be with you, so I think my claim stands." Emma looked at him thoughtfully, biting her lip as she did.
"I realized something today." Killian brought his hand to cup her cheek, running his thumb along her smooth skin.
"What did you realize, my love?"
"I don't want to wait to add to this family and to our home. We're ready for this, Killian. We're ready right now."
There was no escaping Emma's intentions with the words. She was ready to depart from the festivities and Killian was all too willing to oblige. He just needed one last kiss to hold him off until they could make it home, but when he took what he wanted, the crowd around them took note.
"Atta boy, Captain!" Will's shout from across the way started a chorus of similar agreements from the friends and Killian groaned, taking Emma's hand and leading her off the dance floor.
"And just where do you two think you're going?" Elsa asked, her arms crossing over her chest with a raised brow.
"Home, love. Thank you for a pleasant evening, but I think we've reached our breaking point. Emma?"
"Yup, definitely there," Emma said looking to her sister with a sincere smile.
"But we haven't even cut the cake, or thrown the bouquet -,"
"Don't care. I'm taking my wife home now, and we'll see you when we see you." Emma laughed at her sister's face and kissed both Anna and Elsa on the cheek before taking Killian's hand again and smiling up at him.
"Well lead the way then, Captain."
Emma didn't have to tell him twice and though the path home seemed too long, they were there soon enough, with Killian sweeping Emma up in his arms to abide by at least one more tradition of carrying her over the threshold.
"I love when you do this," Emma said as Killian carried her up the stairs.
"Carry you away like the love crazed man I am?" Emma shook her head only to consider.
"Well yeah, kind of. But I meant when you bring me home. You're always bringing me home."
Killian kissed her gently as he let her down to her feet in their bedroom once more, but where he'd intended sweet sincerity, Emma had other ideas in mind. She flung herself into Killian's arms. Her lips crashed against his in a fervent kiss, as if Emma could hardly control herself. Killian had no wish to pull back from this glorious frenzy, but he did, trying to catch his breath in the meantime.
"There's no need to rush tonight, love. We have forever now." Emma closed her eyes and Killian moved one of his hands from her hip up to cup her cheek. The smile she graced him with, even as her eyes were still closed felt like the greatest treasure, but when her eyes opened up and Killian saw her need burning clearly, he was lost to her.
"Maybe we have forever, but right now all I want to take advantage of the fact that all of our neighbors are still at our wedding." Killian felt his body tense up as Emma's hand moved to undo each button on his shirt. The picture she painted was a desirable one. Hard and fast pleasure designed to have her screaming his name. They could have that at first, on one condition.
"Only if you understand Emma that after you get your wish, I'll have mine." Emma's eyes widened as his hand traced the shape of her body through her dress and pulled her close enough for her to feel his arousal.
"And what is your wish?" Killian watched Emma lick her lips and he bit back a curse at the sight.
"Once you have your turn, we take things slow. Very, very slow." Emma shivered a bit against him.
"Deal. But mine first."
Killian sealed their agreement with a kiss, knowing that she needed all of him in this moment. Emma knew of his love, could feel it no doubt as it vibrated between them constantly, but she wanted release. They'd been apart too long, experienced too much over this past day to hold off any longer, and Killian moved to get them there, to the state Emma so desperately wanted.
While he had no care for his own clothes as he stripped them away, Emma's dress was a work of art. The way it conformed to every curve even as it flowed so effortlessly was like a dream. He took great care with undoing the hidden zipper, but when it pooled to her feet, and he saw the very little bit of lace she had on underneath, Killian nearly forgot to breathe.
"I've never seen anything as stunning as you are, love." Emma smiled, moving towards the bed with a gleam in her eyes.
"Good thing I'm yours for the taking then." Killian growled out a reply about her being exactly right as he shed the rest of his clothes. When he had in her their bed, he traced the delicate fabric separating him from her breasts, watching as Emma's breath hitched with the light contact.
"I have so many ideas of how this is going to go, Emma. I'm going to spend a lifetime loving you as you deserve." Emma groaned as his mouth came to nip at her pulse point.
"Later. Right now it's my turn, remember?" Killian grinned against her neck. As if he could forget the words his wife had just given him. She was essentially begging him to fuck her, to claim her, and he was damn well going to do so. Emma ran her hands over him, trying to push him over the edge, but Killian shook his head.
"Hands to the headboard, love." Emma looked surprised by the request so he continued on. "I'll give you exactly what you want, but I'll do it my way. Marriage is all negotiation, Swan." Emma sighed at that but complied.
Killian started by kissing her mouth then moving along her jaw, down her neck again and then low enough until he'd reached her breasts. He would have liked to spend a bit more time there, reveling in the cries of passion that came from Emma when he gave her such attentions, but he knew she'd start to cave soon and so he began to kiss lower, until he'd opened her legs to him, pulling her up so he could take her with his mouth.
"You're so ready for me, love." Emma's only reply was a moan as he let out a breath against her sex. He knew she loved this, despite the slightly sarcastic reply, and when his mouth touched her slick flesh, she lost it, giving over completely as Killian sought out her pleasure. It took very little to bring her to climax, for his Swan was just as pent up as he was it seemed.
He kissed his way back up her body, seeing the way her first release had calmed her slightly, but the fire still burned in those eyes of hers, the light too pure to ever go out.
"I love you, Emma, more than anything."
"Good."
The next thing Killian knew, Emma was hooking her leg around his waist and flipping their positions so she was on top. The view from where he was, despite his surprise was too impossibly perfect to be offended by.
"I'm going to love you forever, Killian Jones." Killian tried to reply, but the words flew out of his mind, as Emma moved above him, lining herself up only to come down again on his aching cock and moan out how good he made her feel. Killian couldn't keep back all his own words of affirmation as she threw her head back to enjoy it.
"Fuck, Emma, there's never going to be anything else that feels like my love for you."
Emma grinned only to start twisting and lifting and moving back down the two of them found their rhythm and chased that all too desirable state of bliss. They found it, and it didn't come slow and steady, but exactly as his Emma had wanted. In the end, they were in fact lucky that the neighbors were all otherwise occupied.
Killian held Emma close in his arms for a long while after that, letting himself enjoy the quiet contentment they had together. Emma's fingers ran across his skin and his did the same on hers, and they stayed there, intertwined and connected in the best possible way. Eventually though, just as Killian was about to try and convince Emma to let him start his own perusals, her stomach growled and both of them laughed, agreeing to grab some sustenance so they might come back for a few more hours to the peace they'd found.
Killian began to argue when Emma moved to put on his shirt from the wedding, but she distracted him with a kiss and the argument that eating could get messy. Killian ended up taking a page from her book and throwing on something as well, liking the thought that he'd get to tear his shirt off of her later.
"I meant to tell you earlier, but I finally read the letter," Emma said as they both enjoyed some of the wedding cake that had been left for them on the front porch.
Killian knew which one she meant. It was the letter his mother had left to Killian for the woman he one day married. He'd so long thought that letter would never find a recipient, but meeting Emma changed all that.
"What did it say?" Killian asked, genuinely curious to know what his mother might have written.
"You should see for yourself." Emma insisted he wait while she grabbed the letter from back up stairs but in a moment she was back and Killian decided to take her into his arms instead of taking hold of the letter she offered.
"Perhaps you could read it to me, love." Emma nodded, settling back into his arms as she read the words aloud.
To My Future Daughter,
By the time you get this letter I will be gone, a rather distant memory in the hearts of both of my sons. I might not have gotten to know them for long, but every moment I had was one I would never trade away. The good, the bad; it was all beautiful and all so incredibly worth it.
But there is more to grieve than leaving them so soon and some of that comes in you, my dear. You and I will never even get the chance to meet. I do not know your name or you story, but I do know one thing: you are my family, because you have the heart of my youngest son. He has chosen you and so I will do the same. Truth is I always wanted a daughter.
I've battled with myself a while now about writing this letter, but in the end it gives me comfort to think that I can be even the smallest part of this special day. I wish I'd had a million days with my little Killian, but I am not that lucky. But you, you are walking towards forever with him. I hope you have the chance to know it even if I never did.
When I look into Killian's eyes even now, I see the shape of who he will grow to be. He has the biggest heart and the wisest counsel even if he is so small. He looks at Liam as if his elder brother hangs the stars, but Killian also knows his own mind and he speaks it if just given the chance. Killian can be shy, but he is also brave and I know he will be okay even when I'm not there to protect him.
I see a whole life ahead of him in his blue eyes. Call it a mother's intuition, but I know down to my bones that Killian is destined for amazing things. In the life I see, he leaves a mark in any way he can, making the world better as he does. But the most important part of his world is you, and there's so much happiness and love in the life you both find that he never doubts how much he means or how wonderful he truly is.
In this future, Killian gets to know what it means to be a father and he never lets the sins of his own Dad keep him from being the man I know he will one day become. There is not a shred of likeness in my boy and the man who gave him to me. Killian is kind and good and strong. He will protect his family, never failing to honor and cherish and love them. My youngest son was born to love, and if you let him, he will give you everything he has always and forever.
All I ask of you, daughter, is that you let him in and that you love him. Walk the world beside him, face every trial and heartbreak and blessing hand in hand and know that I will try to be with you too, in the whistle of the wind, in the subtle quiet that comes with peace, I'll be there, wishing you both all the happiness and joy that life can offer.
All my love,
Meara Jones
By the time Emma finished reading the letter, there were tears running down her cheeks. Killian wiped them away gently, even as he felt his own emotions roiling from the words. He might not have an enormous amount of memories of his mother, but they all aligned with the woman who had written these words. He knew she would have loved Emma, and now Emma had the proof. That was the best part of the note to Killian.
"I promise to grant her wish, Killian. It'll be the easiest thing I ever do." Killian kissed Emma's forehead, pulling her into his arms again and breathing her in as he did.
"And I promise to always be here, my love. No matter what happens. I will remain right here, loving you."
Post-Note: So there we have it. Side note – while I know that the name is Meara is close to Milah, it was definitely the best name I could think to include. It means calm sea in Gaelic and I thought that was rather fitting for the mother of Liam and Killian. Anyway, hope that you guys liked the chapter and thanks so much for reading. I'm going to go drink a bunch of wine to deal with the feels I gave myself.