A/N: So here we are and yes, it's that time already – proposal day for TSYTW is here! I do want to give you all a heads up that this chapter has a slight differentiation in style and Killian's writing is actually interwoven with Emma's 'real time' perspective. It should make sense when you get there, but know that the italicized paragraphs are the words from his written chapter. That being said… this story will likely not be getting an update next week, as my schedule will be shifting to accommodate another story. But rest assured, this story is too dear to my heart to put it aside completely. I'll be back soon enough with wedding cuteness and every other good thing. Anyway, hope you enjoy and thanks so much for reading!

Today was the day. Finally, after what felt like a whole lifetime of waiting, Killian was going to do it, he was going to ask Emma Swan to marry him.

Now, to be fair, when he'd originally planned out the means of making his way back into Emma's heart and her life, he never dreamed that they'd be this far along already, but regardless of first expectations, Killian knew in his heart that this next step was coming. He'd been wishing for a day when he could say 'I do' to his lovely Swan and make her his as much as he was already hers, and asking for that chance today would get them closer.

The undertaking to ask that question though, was one requiring far more work and effort than Killian alone could provide, and it necessitated a level of neighborly trust that should have been impossible, but with the right people behind him, Killian thought they just might pull this off. He had the sheriff and shop owners alike on his side, helping him to essentially shut down the center of town for a few hours of prep and then the reveal, and Mother Nature had shown up on his side too.

Without a sunny day, this proposal couldn't happen as it was nearly entirely outside, and Killian was eternally grateful for the cloudless blue sky and mild coastal climate today. It seemed like a Universal stamp of approval for him and Emma. If all went well, he'd have his answer in just another hour or so. He could hardly wait to see what Emma thought of all of this, for surely it was a much larger gesture then she might expect.

The past few months Killian had set out on a mission, to walk Emma through the journey of their love, to unravel their past story so that they could set out on making a new one, and that was the central theme of this proposal. It would start at their home, wandering through town passed places that had become staples in their story and ending up back at the beach where it all began.

To get her there, Killian decided words were still his surest tool, but this time they were painted, either onto sidewalks or the street or onto storefronts themselves. The idea of asking in that way came to him before he was even back in Storybrooke at all, when he'd still been in California and had seen a street art festival. It was impossible not to notice the color and beauty the creations could present and he wanted Emma to have something unique and stunning when he asked for her hand in marriage.

The process had taken weeks to research and investigate, but when he finally had a plan he made it known to the people who loved Emma the most, and every single one of them was just as dedicated to giving her this perfect moment too. They were all out here with him writing portions of the message and adding the other decorations in different sectors of town. Most of them were just finishing up now, and with only a little time left to spare, Killian was grateful that it was all coming together.

"You realize that you are ruining all the rest of us unmarried women in Storybrooke for proposals forever now right?" Tiana asked as Killian looked up from his final spot of decoration in the center of town. The woman smiled despite her inference and Killian laughed.

"That would be a completely unintended consequence, love. I simply want to see Emma happy."

"She will be, and she deserves this." Belle chimed in from her station, holding her paints close to her with a dreamy look in her eyes. Most of the morning Belle had been reaffirming the romantic element of this proposal and claiming she had a uniquely qualified to say that given her owning a bookstore and all.

"I just can't believe David and the rest of the force have actually managed to keep people away," Tiana added and Killian knew what she meant. Basically the only thing that could entice people to keep away for the morning was a promise that the words would still be there for a while. It would take at least a week or one good rainstorm to wash away the paint from these surfaces, and he could just imagine people's reaction to it all. It wouldn't matter though, the only person whose opinion he needed to be positive was Emma.

"Hey is that your phone?" Killian shook his head coming out of the daydream to realize it was his phone and that Dave was calling.

"Hello?"

"You told me to call you if and when my wife started to get carried away. Well she and the kids have been here almost an hour, so you do the math." Killian grinned at David's words. He'd given the Nolan clan a very special part of the decorating mostly because the little ones wanted a chance to help but couldn't be trusted with the paints. They were helping with the final part on the beach, and though he'd given pretty clear instructions, he could just imagine how out of hand things had gotten.

"I'm on my way." With that, Killian took his leave of the others, taking one last quick look around and seeing things were just as he'd imagined. Now all he had to do was wait and hope that Emma loved this as much as he hoped she would.

…

Leisurely stretching as she came awake from a glorious night's sleep, Emma noticed something right away. Killian was missing, and his side of the bed was cold, meaning he'd been gone for some time. It was hard not to pout at such an occurrence, seeing as Emma had been spoiled for a while now with waking up in his arms, but then she remembered he told her he was working on something important this morning before they'd fallen asleep. Emma trusted that whatever it was must be big because Killian had made it clear time and time again that he liked to start the morning with her always.

In a matter of months, Killian managed to change her life and completely rearrange it so that the slightly boring, barely content parts that once existed were turned into something beautiful. She had closure on old wounds, and hope for the future. Every day was a day she cherished, and after years of just trying to get through school, or a workweek, having that feeling that she was happy to be present and part of her life was a blessing. She owed a lot of that to Killian and his return.

Looking at the clock, Emma saw it was nearly time for her to be up anyway. She'd promised her friends that they could all get breakfast together at Granny's and she had to get moving if she wanted to make it on time.

Emma went through her morning ritual, moving through this home and smiling all the way. This was fast becoming her safe haven, the place where she and Killian could be together and build their life and she loved every part of it. Emma knew that Killian was her forever, he'd said it and showed her over and over since coming back, and now she was growing more and more comfortable with imagining that future.

She could see kids running down the corridor from their bedrooms and through the house with happy laughter, and family movie nights in the den. She wanted nightly dinners were they talked about school and friends, and where she and Killian talked about work. Maybe they'd even build a tree house in the backyard, because that was something she'd always wanted for herself as a child. She could picture a whole world here, one so much brighter than the one she thought was coming a few months back.

Emma also thought about more moments with Killian here. She remembered their first night in this house together, and wondered if they'd be here on their wedding night. She pictured finding out she was pregnant someday and planning out a nursery, and every image was so vivid and so real, Emma felt she could wade through them for hours. Instead though, she was pulled back by a text from Ruby, reminding her about breakfast.

Ruby: We're still on for 10 right?

Emma: Yup, just leaving now.

With the reminder of the day still in front of her, Emma headed out, anxious to talk to her friends about how good things were going and then to see when she could make her way back to Killian. She had a few ideas of how they could make up for their lost morning, and the idea of showing him the way her thoughts were moving brought a grin to her face.

But as soon as Emma left through the front door, locking it behind her, she noticed something on the sidewalk, a splash of color that normally didn't reside there. She moved closer to see that it was words, written in some sort of paint, and saw the finesse in the handwriting meant it wasn't a child. In fact, she recognized the way that script moved across the pavement and knew instinctively without even reading the content that it was Killian's doing. Emma was sure of it even before she read the note taped to the front porch with a single rose attached. She quickly opened it to read whatever her thoughtful boyfriend had come up with today.

Emma,

I can think of no better way to give you this last piece of our story. It was long the pinnacle of love for us, the most brilliant part of what we were, but now we've made new memories, and there are many more to come. The story of us is more than words on the page, Emma. It's this place, our home, and the inescapable truth that I belong to you. I will never have a way to say all that I feel, but maybe this will show you just a fraction of what you mean to me.

Yours, Killian

Emma clutched the note to her chest, already feeling the tears in her eyes. Just when she thought she'd seen him at his most considerate, he gave her things like this, moments she could never even imagine in her wildest fantasies. Killian had been holding back on giving her the final two chapters of the book, claiming they needed more time, but something had apparently changed and Emma was glad for it. Eager to set out and get her story, she moved down the road, following the beautifully written words as she barely took in the rest of her surroundings.

Trying to uncover the truth of love is something that everyone must face. It's a journey to discover what lies beneath the surface of our strongest feelings and our deepest bonds. For me, I first knew love in the warm embrace of my mother's arms when I was young, or in the proud pat on the shoulder that my brother would bestow for years after she passed away. It was a quiet love, but strong, fiercely loyal for we were family, born together tied by blood and set in stone.

Still I didn't know love in its entirety, I never felt unbridled passion, I never sensed what it means when two hearts beat as one until I had her. Stunning and enchanting and too good to be true, Emma Swan walked into my life and changed the whole world around her for the better. She made me better too, and in doing so she ruined me for anyone else. The only person who I could ever love like this, who I could ever be myself with, was Emma. I would love her for this day and for every day.

Emma was the guiding light in each and every part of my world, the best part of me, and the hope that my life could be superior to the stories of old with princesses and pirates and lands of magic. Because life with Emma was real, loving her was realness in its truest form and the last summer we had together, the brief window where we were honest about every piece of our love, was the most glorious thing that ever was.

At this point, Emma was truly fighting back tears as she turned the corner to Main Street. Killian hadn't just painted out his lovely words, but included flowers amongst them all for Emma to gather at equal intervals. She had a quickly growing bouquet of them in her arms and it was too beautiful to describe.

The time it must have taken him to write all of this and get all of this together was not lost on Emma, and it was impossible not to notice how quiet this place was, given that it was a beautiful Saturday with better weather than they often got this late in fall. But the only people Emma could see were her friends, Ruby, Belle, Mary Margaret, and Tiana who all stood there smiling at her.

"Guys I'm sorry, I don't think I can do this right now. Killian, he -," Emma's voice broke from the overwhelming emotion as Mary Margaret came to take Emma's hand and smile warmly.

"We know, Emma."

"We all helped!" Belle said brightly from behind them though Emma could see happy tears in her friend's eyes too.

"This isn't just a chapter, is it?" Emma asked, suddenly realizing that a gesture this big meant something was coming, something she'd wanted for so long. Her friends all shook their heads.

"Where is he?" Emma asked, tempted just to bypass his words and find him. She knew what was coming now, and she wanted it right this second too.

"Emma, this man spent weeks planning this proposal, you are not skipping any single second of it, do you hear me?" Ruby's words were stern, but one rang out the loudest – proposal. Ruby was right; this was the moment and Emma would honor everything Killian had made for her. Without another word she hugged her friends close and then set back down the road

I had her, every part of her, securely in my heart and one night in that fading summer magic, I knew what it was to finally have Emma in every way I wanted. Emma was mine, and she loved me. I held her in my arms, keeping her close after the moment we'd both been waiting for. We were one, and we were so happy I thought nothing could ever break it apart. Surely nothing could ever undermine the very thing that kept my heart beating.

But one thing had the power to do just that – doubt in myself and in the strength of our love ripped away the chance I had at perfection, the chance we had at holding each other's hand through each and every first that came our way. I was the weak one, the boy too scared to face a moment of confusion head on, and my poor, sweet, Emma, she still looked at me like I hung the stars.

I was cold to her, I turned my back on the sun and watched as she broke in front of me, but didn't shatter. My love was the strongest person I'd ever known, surely stronger than me, the child who thought himself a man. How I hate the boy I was then, because he didn't deserve her, and he damned us to a life of regret and wondering why and how.

It doesn't matter what I thought happened, it doesn't even matter what did, what matters is I was wrong. I let myself be governed by fear and because I couldn't trust, because I wouldn't fight for the best thing in the world I lost her. The angel that I couldn't live without was gone by my hand. I'd pushed her away, shunning the light and thinking I could somehow still breathe the same, be the same.

I was a fool, and I knew it each and every day. Almost ten years of days passed, and every one I woke up knowing it wouldn't ever be my best, for I'd had that already and I'd given up the chance at every other best day left. Three thousand, four hundred and eighty four days and I never would have known had it not been for the same brother who brought me to the house beside my savior in the first place.

As Emma now stood in front of her childhood home, and just beside Killian's, she was fully wiping away tears. She knew he regretted leaving, he'd told her over and over and she believed him, but this last part took her by surprise. Liam was the one to bring him home?

"It's been years, I should be over it, I should just forget him but I don't think I ever will. My heart just won't let me."

"Oh my God," Emma whispered the words aloud, and realized she recognized them. She'd been on the phone with Elsa months before Killian came back and it all clicked then, why they'd started this journey back to each other in the first place. She'd stopped even wondering when things started going so well again. She just assumed things always worked out, but now she knew, now she saw how this all almost didn't happen. It made her feel somehow even more grateful.

And so it was that my savior saved me again. I have to believe Emma reached me as she did not just through brotherly interference, but through fate. Part of her must have known that the life I led was empty. She must have known that all these years later I still lay awake some nights cursing the way we'd ended, wishing she was in my arms again even if I didn't know the truth. She was the truth, and her words gave me cause again, gave me hope again.

I have to believe miracles happen and that they happen even for those of us who don't deserve them, because Emma is my miracle, and whatever happens, whether she ever sees me the same way again or not, she will always be the best thing in the world to me.

The words ended there, just before the beach and Emma felt her heart squeezing in her chest. This was so much more than she could even wrap her brain around, but she knew one thing – she had to find Killian right now and tell him that he was her miracle too.

…..

All along her way through town, Killian was getting updates from Emma's and his friends. He knew at every step what she was reading and seeing, but with each new beat of progress in the journey, Killian grew more and more agitated. He felt like pacing. Sure as he was in them and their forever, he was still restless from all that he was giving away. Killian wanted her here and in his arms, but he also wanted her to have a perfect moment. Only that thought kept his feet planted on the ground here at the end of the beach.

Eventually she did come though, and Killian saw her flash of blonde hair before anything else as she made it to the top of the beach. When she saw him there, surrounded as he was by the last bit of the surprise, he watched her freeze to take him in. It felt like months ago when he'd seen her for the first time again, and Killian couldn't help the hammering of his heart at the sight.

With sure and steady steps she walked towards him, only now daring to break her gaze from him to take in their surroundings. The decorating had two essential elements: hundreds of sand dollars and red roses all around the sands.

"Killian." Just his name said that way with all the emotion in her voice was enough to pull him forward. Damn his plan, he was going to hold her, and to make her see that this was the only thing he ever wanted. He could see the tears in her eyes, now slipping down her cheeks and he needed to be sure they were happy.

"Emma, I love you." He almost groaned at how blunt that was. He'd been going for finesse, and what he got instead was desperation. Emma smiled and laughed, despite the continued stream of tears.

"Yeah, I kind of got that." Her little bit of teasing made his heart practically burst into song.

"Aye love, I thought you might. Did you also get the part where I want to be with you forever? Where I want to make you Doctor Emma Jones and fill that house of ours with all the kids we could ever want? Where we live each and every day together until we're old and gray, and where we're deliriously happy?" Emma nodded.

"That was somewhat implied." Killian laughed this time and then he took a step back to get down on one knee. From his pocket he pulled out a special sand dollar that he had found himself on the sands since coming back to Storybrooke. He had decided when he found it that he would present it with her ring, since to them they symbolized forever too.

Emma barely looked at the ring, but Killian saw her take in the sand dollar and smile. Then her green eyes stayed trained on him, and in them he could see her love and excitement. Passed the mistiness of tears there was hope and belief and trust, and Gods if that wasn't the best thing he'd ever seen.

"Emma Swan. I have loved you from the very first moment I met you, and I swear here and now that I will always love you, in this life and beyond. You are it, Emma, you are everything, and I could wax poetic about it for hours, but frankly I think we've had enough words for one day. I just want you, Emma, and if you'll have me I promise to make you happy. Whatever it takes I'll do it." Emma's smile grew wider.

"Kiss me."

Killian wasn't expecting that but instantly he rose to his feet and did as she asked, reveling in her eagerness to join him in passion and demand. The kiss was a promise and an answer, but he still pulled back, needing to hear just one more word from her. Before he could ask her for it though, she gave it freely.

"Yes." Emma said, her hand running over his chest and Killian wondered if she could feel his heart bursting with joy. If she did she didn't say anything. With deft fingers he slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her again, his mind without thoughts on anything but his lovely Swan.

When Emma pulled back a few minutes later, Killian wasn't near ready to let her get away but she insisted, and he yielded. He'd promised after all, and Emma held all the power here.

"I know you said we didn't need any more words, but I just wanted to tell you one thing. It took our whole lives to get here, it took my whole life to see you exactly this way, Killian, but it was worth it. I believe in us and in our future, and I'm willing to fight every day for it if it means we can be together. So no more regrets, no more living in the past, let's just be together. Okay?"

"As you wish, love." Emma gave a happy sigh and pulled him closer to her again, whispering against his mouth.

"Good. Now take me home." Killian was only too happy to oblige.

….

Waking up before the sun the next morning, Emma couldn't keep the smile from her face. She should probably be sleeping, but real rest just wouldn't come. She was too giddy from everything that had happened, and honestly too happy to think of sleeping. Emma glanced at her nightstand to see her two sand dollars, the one she'd given Killian years ago and the one he'd found for her. They sent her spiraling into memories of everything that happened all over again.

In the moment it had all been so big and there were so many intricate parts she couldn't even recall, but what she did know was that it was all so Killian. She never would have expected something like that, but in retrospect she should of. Her fiancé was a romantic through and through.

Just thinking of him as her fiancé had a thrill coursing through Emma. She looked at the ring he'd given her now firmly residing on her finger and saw its beauty and flawlessness, but the best part was what it meant and what it symbolized. It meant some day, some day very soon according to Killian, she was going to marry her first and only love. That day couldn't come soon enough in her opinion.

Emma pulled the ring off for just a moment to inspect it, because until now she hadn't had much time to do so. She was so wrapped up in her soon to be husband to do it, but she had a niggling thought that with Killian nothing was ever just its surface. Then she saw it, the inscription – 'My Life and My Love.'

Emma's whole body warmed at the words just as he started to stir beside her and his arms wrapped tighter around her waist. Killian placed a kiss to her bare shoulder and then started speaking with that gravel of sleep clinging to his tone.

"Up again I see, love." Emma turned to face him and kissed him immediately, and despite his sleeping Killian was with her in an instant. God this man was so good to her, so loving and so wonderful, and right now she just wanted to feel it and all that they were together.

"Can't sleep." She said, breathless from the kiss as Killian moved his hands across her body underneath the sheet covering them. Emma could feel the lightening-like intensity of his touch as his fingers grazed passed her breasts over her curves and then moved to her waiting heat, which Emma couldn't help but crave. He knew what she wanted because he knew her better than she knew herself half the time.

"I think I have just the thing for that, my love." Emma practically purred at his words and then she actually whimpered just from the feel of his finger against her clit moving in slow circles. Slow and sweet with Killian was the surest way to drive her mad, but she wanted it so badly.

At the sound of her enjoyment, Killian growled low and switched their positions so he was above her, taking her mouth in another passionate kiss. Emma arched upwards wanting to forego the slow perusal, and just get lost in each other, but Killian had other ideas. He trailed a series of nips and sucks down her body in slow, agonizing, bliss before bringing her sex to his mouth. Only once he was there was his exploration fast and rough and perfectly enacted. Every lick, every suck at her clit, coupled with the eventual joining of his fingers within her had Emma's body shaking and her mind unable to think of anything but him and this and how they could have this every day.

"Fuck, Killian, right there!" He hummed against her and the vibration alone pushed her into a glorious orgasm. He didn't let her back off of the high though, staying right there and working her further until the lingering sensitivity sparked into an even stronger desire.

Emma understood Killian's intentions now, and didn't know if she could handle it. If he was going to exhaust her this way she might die of pleasure. She did have one tool in her wheelhouse though, and she was going to use it to get what she really wanted most of all.

"Killian I need -,"

"Anything, love." Emma met his eyes and smiled.

"You. I need you, Killian." In seconds he'd abandoned his unofficial post and was back with her exactly as she'd known he would be. Emma grinned at that and pushed him back down on the bed.

"Why do I have the sense I've been duped?" Emma came above him and took him all in. Her fiancé was gorgeous and she was a lucky girl.

"Because you have. Besides, it wasn't fair for you to have all of the fun." Killian's responding cocky grin shot straight to her sex.

"I believe you were having a fair bit of fun." Emma blushed at his words, because it didn't matter that they were this intimate all the time, Killian always made her feel everything so much more acutely. Like when his eyes wandered over her as his hands came up to hold her hips.

"You take my breath away, Swan." And just like that he'd gone from dirty flirting to incredible sweetness. That was her man, her Killian.

"I love you, Killian." He positively beamed at that.

"I love you too, Emma." With that, Emma lowered herself onto his hardness and brought them both to the release they were aching for. When he could feel her starting to crest, and tighten around him, Killian brushed his fingers against her clit and that was all it took for Emma to succumb to sensation and come again with him following just behind her.

At last Emma lay spent in Killian's arms, and felt a slight pull of fatigue as he wrapped his arms around her once more. This was her home, right here in Killian's arms, and it was the only place she ever wanted to be.

"Will you sleep now, my love?" Emma nodded into his chest, before placing a light kiss there and in just a few moments they'd both given over to sleep. Luckily for Emma, the dreams she found there were almost as amazing as the one she got to live while awake.

Post-Note: So… what did you think?! I personally am still picturing such a huge grand gesture proposal and luxuriating in the fluff and feels that could only happen in an AU. I mean imagine Emma getting a proposal like that on the show, it would be incredibly problematic. The fandom would probably just die right then and there. That being said, this had to be over the top and I always intended that it would be since so much of this AU feels that way anyway. I hope that you all enjoyed though, and I thank you for reading. Like I said more to come in future, though it will be a little while before it's posted. Thanks again and happy Sunday!