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CHAPTER 24

PROPOSE – (verb) Make an offer of marriage to someone.

"You're drunk," Emma commented, stating the obvious as she eyed a slightly swaying Killian with amusement.

"I am not," he refuted with a shake of his head that quite clearly messed with his balance as he stumbled to his left slightly. Emma reached out to grab his arm and once he righted himself he conceded, "Very well, love, a little tipsy perhaps, but certainly not inebriated."

"Well, if you can still say inebriated then I guess you're not as drunk as I thought," the blonde agreed wryly, her smile widening.

He merely gave her a toothy grin in response and lurched forward to give her a swift, hard kiss that despite his intoxicated state still managed to leave her wanting more.

She smoothed a hand down the silken bodice of her pale blue dress as she caught her breath then glanced around the near empty room. Her parents had held a ball in the hopes of generating new alliances with some of the realms further away and now the party was over with the last of the guests just having left.

Spying her father deep in conversation with Robin a few feet away, she called out to him. When he looked up, she gestured for him and the archer to come to over.

"Everything okay?" Charming asked when he joined them, giving Killian a double take when he saw how glassy his eyes were.

"It's fine, he's just had a bit too much to drink and I think I going to need some help to get him back to his room," Emma replied, holding the pirate steady as he swayed again.

"Let's take him out that way," the Prince suggested, nodding towards nearby doors as he went to grab the pirate's left arm.

"I'm perfectly capable of walking by myself," Killian announced looking affronted as he pulled his arm just out of Charming's reach and swayed alarmingly again before quickly steadying himself. He turned and caught sight of Robin then suddenly frowned unhappily, muttering a grim, "Saboteur," before brushing rudely past him.

Emma shot the archer a puzzled look then hurried after Killian.

"Oh boy," Charming murmured as he watched the pirate's unsteady path out of the ballroom.

He knew what Killian had had planned for that evening so could understand his less than friendly attitude towards the thief.

"What the deuce was that about?" the archer asked completely baffled.

"Nothing; just the drink talking," Charming dismissed on a sigh as he started after his daughter and the pirate. Robin walked with him but the Prince stopped suddenly then turned to him and suggested, "Look, I can handle this, why don't you and your new fiancée go and enjoy some alone time? Roland's asleep in Neal's room and we're more than happy to have him tomorrow."

"If you're sure," he said reluctantly, "I wouldn't want to impose…"

"No, no imposition," Charming assured him with a smile. "You go."

The archer still looked perplexed but managed a brief smile and nod of gratitude before turning around and seeking out Regina.

The Prince quickly jogged after Emma who by now had Killian's arm around her shoulder and was almost taking all his weight. Arm about his waist, she tried to steady him while leading him towards the stairs.

"I named my ship after you!" Charming heard him exclaim brightly as he caught up with them just in time to see the pirate tap Emma's nose on the word, 'you'.

"Yes you did," the blonde replied with a laugh. "And it was very sweet."

"I thought so, love," Killian agreed amiably with a proud smile.

The Prince shared an amused glance with his daughter as he grabbed the pirate's other arm and hooked it around his neck. At least he was a happy drunk…more or less.

"Ah, Your Highness," Killian began as he turned his head to look at the other man with a grin. "It was a wonderful party, was it not?"

"Yeah, really great," the Prince replied a little breathlessly as he half supported, half dragged the pirate up the flight of stairs that would take him to his bedchamber.

"If only that scoundrel Robin hadn't spoiled everything," he continued, his happy mood switching to morose so quickly the other two barely had time to register it, "Bad form on his part. Very bad form."

"What's his problem with Robin?" Emma asked in bewilderment as they got to his room and she opened the door. With a quick wave of her hand, she lit all the candles and a small fire popped up in the fireplace.

"I have no idea," Charming lied, practically carrying the pirate to his bed and letting him fall back onto the middle of it.

Killian seemed to settle then, relaxing back into the mattress with a soft sigh and a murmur of something on his lips.

"It's okay, I can take it from here," she told her father, looking down at the pirate with an indulgent smile.

"You're sure?" he checked.

Off her nod, her gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and bade her goodnight. Emma didn't even hear the door closing as she continued to stare down at Killian's peaceful face. He truly was a handsome man and she doubted she'd tire of just simply looking at him but right at this moment she was more concerned at the state he was in. She'd never seen him so drunk that he'd passed out before. He knew when to stop and for some reason tonight he'd chosen not to.

She wondered if it had something to do with her. He'd been acting a little out of sorts for the past week and it had briefly entered her head that maybe he was getting tired of her. As quickly as she'd thought it though, she'd determinedly dismissed it. She trusted him enough now that if there was a problem, he'd tell her when he was ready.

Letting out a sigh, she started to undress him. She pulled his boots off first, then his trousers. Crawling onto the bed, she knelt by his side then detached his fake hand and placed on the bedside table. Rolling him first onto one side then his other, she managed to divest him of his dark blue formal coat before easing it out from underneath him. She lay it down on the bed then unbuttoned his black waistcoat. Pulling it apart, she relieved him of the garment much the same way she did for his coat and put it aside.

After removing his brace she decided to leave his crisp white shirt on and flipped the top blanket back to cover him over. He murmured her name in his sleep then let out a sigh and smiled. Her heart did a crazy little flip and she reached out to gently push some hair back off his face. Getting off the bed, she picked up his discarded clothing then turned and placed them over the back of a nearby chair.

A soft clinking sound like metal hitting the stone floor drew her attention and she looked down with a frown. Something shiny caught her eye and when she bent down for closer look she was shocked to see that it was a ring. Picking it up, she held it aloft and stared at it in open-mouthed wonder. It was a very simple golden band with a single square cut emerald stone set in the middle with a smaller diamond either side.

The firelight danced over the beautiful stones, making them sparkle in various shades as she slowly dragged her enthralled gaze away to stare down at Killian again.

She'd be stupid not to realise what the ring was, what it meant and suddenly she closed her eyes with a groan as everything suddenly made sense. This was why he'd been acting the way he had recently. This was why he'd drunk himself into a stupor. This was why he'd been rude to Robin.

He'd been ready to ask her to marry him but he'd obviously decided to forfeit his plans when the archer had made his own surprise marriage proposal to Regina instead. She knew he wouldn't want to take any attention away from his friends.

Opening her eyes again, her gaze fell upon the ring she still held and unable to stop herself, she slid it onto her finger. It fit her perfectly. She never doubted that it would. It just looked so right sitting there that a little bubble of excitement welled within her as she grinned happily.

Glancing back at the pirate's sleeping form, she stripped off her clothes down to her chemise then got into bed next to him. Snuggling the best she could, seeing that he was still on top of the covers, she ended up resting her head and hand on his chest where she could stare at the ring. She'd take it off in a minute she decided as his steady breathing and warm body began to pull her gently towards slumber.

Just one more minute…

Killian awoke to a thumping headache and a mouth that felt like sawdust. Tasted like it too. He grimaced slightly as he pried his eyes opened and tried to take in his surroundings. He half expected to be slumped on the floor in the ballroom but was quite relieved to find he was in his room. He rarely used it now but obviously Emma wouldn't want a drunken sod lying with her, especially considering the state he must have been in.

It was still early judging by the amount of dim sunlight that was filtering in through windows and he licked his lips trying to work any kind of moisture into his mouth.

Now he remembered why he never consciously went past his limit.

Still, circumstances were such the previous night that he'd decided to drown his sorrows, or more accurately his crushing disappointment, and the hell with the consequences.

While he didn't begrudge Robin and Regina their happiness, it didn't stop him despising their dreadful timing. Hearing the archer asking for everyone's attention at the very moment he'd literally been about to call for the very same thing would make anyone want to over imbibe.

The drinking had started shortly after that.

Letting out a groan he suddenly remembered that he'd have to let Henry know before the boy said anything to Emma. He'd thought it only right to ask him for his blessing as he had Charming lest the young man had some misgivings. Thankfully he hadn't and Killian had made all the arrangements with Charming thereafter.

At least the lad would be getting one future stepfather this morning, just not the one the pirate had planned on.

His body protested as he tried to sit up and it was only when his elbow nudged against something soft and warm that he became aware that Emma was lying next to him. She was on her front, hair splayed across her face and hands shoved underneath the pillow.

Despite the dryness of his lips, he managed a smile, feeling ridiculously pleased that she had stayed with him even though he'd been inebriated. Lying back down again, he turned on his side and reached over to gently brush the hair from her face. His touch must have disturbed her because she started to stir. Seconds later sleepy green eyes blinked back at him.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" she asked tiredly.

"Well, apart from the storm raging in my head and the fact that my mouth feels like the floor of the local tavern, I'm fine," he rasped out wryly.

"Let me get you some water," she offered and before he could object she was out of bed then back again with a large cup of the cool liquid.

"Thank you," he murmured gratefully then quickly drained the lot and added, "And I apologise for my behaviour last night."

"What behaviour?" Emma asked with a smile. "You're actually a very sweet drunk."

"Hmmm, I still should not have over indulged like that, it was wrong of me," he commented as he handed the empty cup back to her with a wry smile then did a double take as he suddenly glanced a flash of green on her finger.

As soon as she'd put the cup down and joined him back in bed he reached out and grabbed her hand then felt a wave of dread rise up and stick in his throat as he eyed the piece of jewellery sitting prettily on her finger.

"What's wrong?" she asked, then let out a small gasp of mortification as she realised she'd forgotten to take off his ring.

"Where did you get this?" he asked worriedly, hoping against hope that she didn't say that he'd drunkenly rambled his way through a marriage proposal.

"It dropped out of one of your pockets when I was undressing you," Emma confessed a little sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to try it on and then I wanted to leave it on, so…oh!"

Her little cry of surprise came when Killian suddenly rolled her onto her back and came to a rest on top of her. Pushing himself up onto his elbows he then looked down at her in amusement.

"Trust you to deprive me of what I can assure you would've been a most dashing proposal, Swan," he accused affectionately in a low tone.

"Actually, I think that was Robin," she reminded him a little breathlessly.

"Aye, you're right," he conceded lightly, "but he's not here and you're the one wearing my ring without me even offering it to you yet."

Emma's eyes widened then she immediately brought her hands up between them and began to tug on the jewellery. Killian smiled then gently laid his hand over hers, stilling the movement.

"I know last night didn't go as I'd planned but let's see if I can give you a reason to keep it there, eh, love?" he suggested with a quirk of his eyebrow.

He waited for her to nod then let go of her hands and leaned down to nuzzle at her neck.

"Will you," he began then paused to place a gentle kiss on her jaw.

"Emma Swan," he continued, another soft kiss to her cheek.

"Do me," a kiss to her forehead this time.

"The very great honour..."

He paused again then placed a tender kiss to her other cheek before moving his lips until they hovered a hair's breadth away over hers. Slowly raising his gaze, adoring blue locked with devoted green and held.

"Of becoming my wife?" he finally concluded, his breath skating warmly over her mouth with every word.

"Yes," she whispered back immediately.

They waited a beat just allowing the enormity of what that meant to them both sink in then they smiled at each other before Killian closed the distance between them and sealed their betrothal with a searing kiss.

END CHAPTER 24

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