True Love Waits

by CaptainSwanLuver

The Evil Queen interrupts Emma and Killian's wedding and casts a sleeping curse on Killian that mimics death. Six years later, the curse is broken and Killian returns to reclaim his life, only to find that Emma is married to August and together they are raising the daughter he never got to meet.

8. Part 8

Note: Thanks for the responses to the last part. Hope you enjoy the end! ~Steph

...True Love Waits: Part 8/8…

~Killian's POV~

We stay out there on Granny's patio for what seems like hours. Staring into each other's eyes, fingers interlaced, stealing kiss after kiss.

It doesn't feel real. It feels like I am still trapped in that bloody case and dreaming of this moment. After all, I did spend six years dreaming of being with Emma again. I fear that I will wake up tomorrow and she'll be gone. I have to convince myself that this is truly happening. She's mine again. We are going to have the future we deserve. We're going to be a family. This is real.

My hearts beats so hard in my chest at the thought that I feel like it might burst.

I bring my hand to her face and whisper, "I don't want to say goodnight to you."

"Then don't," she replies softly. "Lia is spending the night at my parents."

I see the desire in her eyes, knowing it mirrors my own, but shake my head. "Love, I wouldn't feel comfortable being with you in the house you were a family with August in, in the bed you shared with him."

Emma nods. "I understand."

"Come back to my ship with me," I say.

She smiles and stands in response, linking our hands together again. She leads the way off the patio and down the walk. It takes us twice as long to get to the docks than it should because we keep stopping along the way to kiss. It feels incredible to have her in my arms again, to feels her lips against mine.

I kiss below her ear and she giggles as we finally board the ship and head below deck to the captain's quarters. Our clothes disappear in a jumble of clumsy, desperate fingers. And then her bare body is pressed against mine. She's so beautiful. Just as beautiful as I remember. Maybe even more, if that's even possible.

We fall into bed and our first time making love again is hurried. The passion and desire has been denied for six long years and it explodes at the first chance it gets. Our hands and mouths are everywhere. My hook skims across her skin. We're a tangle of limbs. But it's heaven right here on Earth.

Our second time together again occurs an hour later and this time we take things slow. In some ways, it feels like our very first time again. We rediscover each other's bodies, the spots that drive the other to moan and writhe in pleasure.

It's even better than I remember. And I never want to let her go.

When Emma finally collapses on top of me, I wrap my arms tightly around her bare waist.

"I've missed you so much, love. I've missed us," I whisper.

She smiles and kisses my chest. "So have I."

I press a kiss to her forehead. "We have a lifetime of memories just like this to look forward to."

...

~Emma's POV~

I feel the sun on my face and his heart beating against my skin. I smile, as I nuzzle into his warmth.

He drops a kiss onto my hair. "Good morning, love."

I prop my chin up on his chest and meet his gaze. "Good morning." I pause and swallow roughly as I feel emotion overtaking me. "I've missed waking up in your arms."

"I've missed waking up to your gorgeous smile," he replies.

I run my hand across his scruff, reveling in the feel of him beneath my fingers. My expression grows serious.

"I want to tell Lia," I say.

He arches a brow as his fingertips trail down the bare skin of my back.

"Are you certain it's not too soon? I don't wish to cause our daughter any more distress."

Emma shakes her head. "We've been waiting six years to be a family, Killian. I refuse to wait one more moment."

He grins and kisses me. We lay like that for another hour and then make love again. The third time feels familiar, like we never stopped, and I never want it to end. But I know my parents will be dropping Lia off at home soon, so I force myself off of Killian and begin to get dressed.

This is no easy feat as he trails kisses up my spine and then my neck while I attempt to put on my bra and top. I laugh and cup his head, dragging his lips back to mine.

"You're not making this easy," I breathe.

"That's the idea, love," he replies, his voice muffled against my skin.

It takes three times as long as it should, but I finally dress and so does he. We exit hand-in-hand and head to my house. We arrive about five minutes before my parents do. Lia waves to them as she bounds up the porch. She stops short, surprised to see Killian sitting beside me on the swing.

"What are you doing here? Are we going somewhere today?" she asks him.

I pat the spot between us. "Lia, come here. We have something to tell you."

She walks over and climbs onto the swing. She looks up at me with her big, blue eyes and I swear it's as if Killian's looking at me.

"What is it?" she asks.

I bite at my lip nervously. "Well, Killian - your father - and I are back together. We're going to be a family. The family we were always meant to be."

She stares at me for a long moment. I try to gauge her reaction, try to prepare myself for whatever may come. Tears, screaming, the cold shoulder. I exchange a glance with Killian as we wait for some sort of reaction.

She finally shrugs her shoulders. "Okay."

Killian arches an eyebrow. "Okay? Is that all you have to say, lass?"

"Well, I knew this was going to happen. It was just a matter of time."

I chuckle. She seems so much older than her six years. "Are you okay with it?"

"Do we get to have more fun days together like we did on the Jolly Roger?"

We both nod. Killian offers her a grin. "We have many days just like that ahead of us."

"Great," she says with a smile.

I breathe a sigh of relief, as does Killian. But then her smile fades.

"Do I still get to see Daddy?"

I see Killian flinch when she refers to August in that way. I bob my head. "Of course."

She nods her head. "Then I'm good."

She then jumps off the swing and heads inside. Killian inches close to me, draping his arm around my shoulder.

"Well, I must say that went better than I expected," he says.

I nod as I look up at him with a smile. "I think things are finally going our way."

…

-Six Months Later-

~Killian's POV~

"No peeking," I scold, as I spy both Lia and Emma trying to look beneath their blindfolds.

"Killian, we can't even see where we're going," Emma says, my hand on the small of her back guiding her along. My hook is doing the same for Lia.

"Patience, love. We're almost there," I say.

We walk a few more feet and then I stop. "You may remove your blindfolds now," I say.

They tear them off. I watch as their eyes widen and their mouths drop open at the sight of the house we were always meant to share.

"Our old house!" Lia screams and runs up the porch.

Emma turns to me, unable to control her smile. "You bought our old house?" she asks.

"Aye, that I did."

She loops her arms around my neck. "You are amazing."

"We planned to raise our family here, Emma. When I chose that house for you back in Camelot it was to give you something to look forward to. It gave us both hope for the future. And now here we are. We may have taken the long road, but we're here."

"I love you so much," she says, as she presses a kiss to my lips.

"And I love you with all my heart and soul," I say.

We pull back at the sound of our daughter's voice.

"I want a treehouse," she says. "No, I want a tree ship!"

Emma and I exchange a confused look.

"What's a tree ship?" Emma asks.

Lia rolls her eyes like she just asked the most ridiculous question. "It's a treehouse shaped like a ship."

I raise my brow, a grin upon my lips. "As fantastic as that sounds, I'm not sure I possess the skills necessary to create such a structure."

"Google it," she says, then runs to the backyard.

Emma and I exchange a laugh, before she places her head on my shoulder and I wrap my arm around her waist.

…

-Two Months Later-

~Emma's POV~

We walk along the dock hand-in-hand, as the sun sets before us. Killian stops and sits down on the edge, pulling me down beside him.

"I'm glad I don't have to come here alone anymore," I say, my eyes flitting across his face.

"As am I," he says.

We turn our gazes to the water. My brow furrows as I see something floating in the water below me.

"What's that?" I ask.

His eyes follow mine. "A bottle I believe."

Killian reaches down and scoops it up. It's a clear glass bottle with a cork stopper.

I peer at it closely. "There's a piece of paper inside."

I feel his eyes on me as I pull the cork out and squeeze my fingers inside. I manage to pull the paper out. I unroll the paper, my mouth dropping open in shock at what is written on it.

On the sheet, written in his familiar scrawl, are the words "EMMA SWAN, WILL YOU MARRY ME?"

I feel tears fill my eyes as I move my gaze to him. It's then that I realize he's moved to his knee and is holding a box up with the engagement ring he used to propose the first time.

I reach for the chain around my neck and look at the rings, surprised to find there are only three.

"How did you get the ring?" I ask. "I haven't taken it off in eight months, since that night at Granny's when we got back together."

His lips slide into a grin. "I am quite stealthy and you are a rather sound sleeper."

I shake my head. "You never cease to amaze me."

He cocks an eyebrow, as he nods at the paper and then the ring. "So, love, what do you say? Will you marry me?"

I nod so hard I'm afraid I'll hurt my neck. "Yes, I'll marry you, Killian!"

His grin widens, as he removes the ring and slips it onto my finger. I cup his face in my hands and pulls his lips to mine.

This time, nothing is going to stop us.

…

-Four Months Later-

~Killian's POV~

We chose the same date and place to wed as our original wedding day. People thought we were mad to tempt fate, but we wanted to replace the terrible memories of that day with ones we would always treasure.

"Ready?" David asks me, as we stand at the end of the aisle created on the Jolly Roger.

I bob my head. "I feel as if I've been waiting an eternity."

"Only a few more minutes," he says and then heads down the aisle to Emma.

Lia appears at the end of the aisle a moment later, a basket of Middlemist flowers in her hand. The music begins and she makes her way toward me, scattering the flowers along the deck as she goes. When she reaches the end, I bend down to place a kiss to her cheek. She offers me a gap-toothed smile before coming to stand beside Mary Margaret.

Emma appears a moment later, her arm linked in her father's. She looks stunning. Her eyes meet mine and she offers me a smile that makes my heart race. The music begins and our gazes do not falter as she makes her way to me. David kisses Emma's cheek and then takes his place beside me, as Emma and I turn to each other.

The Justice of the Peace begins. "It's been seven years since we were gathered right here to join this man and this woman in matrimony. That day ended tragically, but this one will have a very different ending. In fact, today is a not an ending, but a beginning. Emma and Killian have overcome many obstacles to stand before you today and begin their life together with their daughter as a family. They have chosen to write their own vows. Killian, you may begin."

I lift my hand and hook to Emma. She slips her hand in mine and curls her fingers around my hook, as our eyes meet.

"Seven years ago, I stood here ready to make you my wife. I had no way of knowing that we would be torn apart from each other. I spent six years wishing that one day I would get a second chance to become your husband and that wish has finally come true. Emma, I love you and our daughter with all of my heart. You are strong and brave and you have instilled those qualities in our daughter. I missed so many moments with you and her, but I know that we have a lifetime of wonderful memories to make together."

She smiles through her tears as she begins. "Seven years ago, my world came crashing down. I didn't know if I would ever recover. I didn't know if I had the strength to raise our daughter without you. But I knew you would have wanted the best for us, Killian. I wanted to give our daughter a happy, stable life, so I moved on as best I could. But my heart remained with you. And then a miracle happened and you came back to me. It wasn't easy, but we found our way back to each other. I love you and our little girl so much. You are my dream come true. You always support me and believe in me and give me the space I need to do things in my own time. I can't wait to see what adventures await us as a family."

I squeeze her hand in mine, as I battle my own tears. I suck in a breath as I recall that moment seven years ago when the Evil Queen appeared in a cloud of purple smoke and my world came crashing down. It was right at this part, the part where we say our vows.

"Killian, please repeat after me. I, Killian Jones, take thee, Emma Swan, to be my lawfully wedded wife."

I meet her eyes. "I, Killian Jones, take thee, Emma Swan, to be my lawfully wedded wife."

"Place the ring on her finger."

David hands me the same ring from seven years earlier that I never got the chance to place on her finger. Her hand trembles with anticipation as I slide the ring upon her finger. I see her chest deflate in relief.

"Emma, please repeat after me. I, Emma Swan, take thee, Killian Jones, to be my lawfully wedded husband."

She offers me a sweet smile. "I, Emma Swan, take thee, Killian Jones, to be my lawfully wedded husband."

"Place the ring on his finger."

She slips the ring on my finger and I feel my own chest deflate too. This is farther than we got the first time.

"By the power invested in me by the state of Maine, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

I feel my lips slip into a wide grin, as I step forward and cup her face, before placing my mouth upon my new wife's.

When we part, she smiles and says, "We finally did it."

"Aye, love, that we did," I reply.

And then I kiss her again.

…

~Emma's POV~

I can't stop staring at him. My husband. I think there's a part of me that is scared I will wake up tomorrow and this will have all been a wonderful dream.

My mother appears before us and embraces us both. "Congratulations. I am so happy for you both."

I squeeze my mother's hand in mine. "Thank you, Mom. And thank you for helping me realize what I would have been missing out on if I didn't face my fears and make the right choice."

She smiles gently as she nods at Lia, who is spinning around in her flower girl dress, a huge smile on her face. "Look at that little girl. Look how happy she is and this is just the beginning. You were afraid of hurting her, but she came out on the other side stronger than ever and she is going to have the happiest childhood now that she can be a family with her father and mother."

I slip my hand into my husband's and stare up at him. "We are going to have a wonderful life together."

He places a kiss to my forehead and nods. "Aye, that we are."

I place my head on his shoulder, as he wraps his arm around my waist.

My father appears a moment later. He hugs me and shakes Killian's hand. "Congratulations. Looks like another win for true love."

Killian smiles as he looks at me. "I never doubted it for a moment."

My father wags a finger at him. "Your husband is nothing if not patient and persistent, Emma."

I smile up at him. "Just two of the many reasons I love him."

Regina and Henry appear next.

Henry hugs me. "I'm so happy for you, Mom." He looks over at Killian. "You too, Killian."

"Thank you, lad. And thank you for making time to come from the university to be here."

"I wouldn't have missed it," Henry says.

Regina looks from me to Killian, "Congratulations to you both. I am glad you finally got your happy ending. It was a long time coming."

Killian and I exchange a smile. That is the understatement of the century.

…

-One Week Later-

~Killian's POV~

"Watch me! Watch me!" Lia screams as she spins the ship's wheel around.

Emma and I are lounging on the deck of the Jolly Roger as we sail the ocean. My arm is wrapped around her, as we stare up at each other, stealing kiss after kiss.

"You're not watching!" Lia says.

She's right. We're not.

"Mommy! Daddy! Pay attention!"

I smile, never tiring of hearing her call me that. It took her about six months, but she grew accustomed to it. She still calls August daddy, too. It bothered me at first, but I've adjusted the best I can. I can't expect her to stop calling him that. At least not anytime soon. She still thinks of him as her father. How can I blame her? That's what he was for two years and nothing can change that. Truth is, I could think of far worse things than two men loving and protecting that amazing little girl.

They still see each other often. Lia sleeps over his house some weekends and he takes her to the park or the library on some days during the week. August and I have formed a tentative friendship for Emma and Lia's sake. Tink recently returned to town and she and August have begun to date. I think they are a good match. I truly hope he finds the kind of love and happiness that I have with Emma.

I lean down and kiss my wife again.

Lia notices and wrinkles her nose. "Eww! Stop doing that!"

Emma and I laugh, as we stand and walk over to her. I pick Lia up. "Daddy loves Mommy. That's what you do when you love somebody." I then proceed to kiss Lia's cheek until she giggles.

Emma brings her hand up and runs her fingers through my hair and down my neck, her smiling eyes meeting mine. She gives Lia a kiss on the nose.

"Daddy's right," she says. "Kisses show love."

She crinkles her nose. "You do know human mouths are filled with bacteria, right?"

I shake my head at Emma and grin. "Perhaps we shouldn't have placed her in that Gifted and Talented class, love."

Lia wriggles free of my grip and slides back down to the deck. She grabs the wheel and starts spinning it again.

I raise an eyebrow at Emma. "You've become quite the sailor, lass. Perhaps you and I should go on a treasure hunt together soon."

Emma shakes her head. "Oh no. No way."

"Why not? She's a natural. Like her father."

Emma smiles. "Because I don't plan on letting either one of you out of my sight ever again."

"I like the sound of that. Perhaps you can join us then."

She wraps hers arms around my neck and then kisses me. "Sounds like a plan." She pauses and then arches an eyebrow. "I think I'll need to keep an eye on you during this treasure hunt though, my dear husband."

"Whatever for?" I ask, batting my eyelashes at my wife innocently.

"You have a tendency to be a little greedy at times. The pirate in you tends to rear its ugly head when treasure is at stake."

"I do enjoy a challenge," I say, as I stare into her eyes. "I always believed that you were rather fond of that about me, love."

She grins seductively and whispers into my lips, "You, Captain, have a number of, shall we say, appealing qualities." My heart beats faster as I ready for her lips to meet mine. Instead, she gently pushes me away and laughs. "And that isn't one of them."

I raise my eyebrows at that and watch as she walks away from me. I take a step forward and place my hook gently around her arm, spinning her back around to face me. I wrap my arm around her waist and and pull her flush against my body. I bring my face close to hers, as I allow my breath to tickle her skin.

"How about we drop anchor and go back to the captain's quarters, so you can pay a bit of attention to those appealing qualities?"

She giggles and kisses my neck. She then nods at our daughter who is still busy spinning the wheel.

"We've got company, remember?"

I arch an eyebrow. "Refresh my memory, love. Whose idea was it exactly to bring her along on our honeymoon?"

She smiles, looping her arms around my neck. I can feel her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck. "That would be you."

"I must have been mad," I say.

"You were perfectly sane. You said and I quote, 'I finally have my family and I don't intend on letting them go. Why not bring the lass along on our honeymoon as we sail the seas?"

I tilt my head and offer her a grin. "Ah, that does sound an awful lot like me. I'm not certain I thought this plan entirely through though."

She shrugs. "Well, at least the crew's quarters where she's sleeping is far enough away from the captain's quarters."

My eyes scan her face and I'm about to kiss her again, when we hear our daughter.

"Mommy?"

"What, sweetie?"

"Did you have a nightmare last night?"

Her brow furrows. "A nightmare? Why?"

"I heard you screaming, so I figured you must have been having a nightmare."

I watch my wife's face turn beet red, as my lips curl into a cocky grin.

"I can't believe she heard us," she says.

I twirl a piece of her hair between my fingers. "Well, love, I did warn that you were being rather loud."

She licks at her lips nervously as she looks at Lia. "No, I didn't have a nightmare. I just saw a...um...spider and I got scared."

Lia shrugs. "Were you and Daddy playing a game or something then?"

"A game?" I ask.

She nods at us. "Yeah, I heard Mommy yelling, 'Yes! Yes!', so I figured you must have been playing a game and Mommy was winning."

I can't hide the huge grin that appears on my lips and the laugh that flows from my mouth. Emma's face grows even redder, as she drops her forehead onto my shoulder.

"Oh my God," she mutters.

I manage to reply. "Aye, love, we were playing a game for grown-ups. But I'd say it was a draw."

She bobs her head. "Mommy always says it doesn't matter who wins, as long as you have fun."

Emma lifts her head and meets my eyes, as my tongue darts out and slides across my lips. "Oh, I'd say we had a great deal of fun. Wouldn't you, love?"

Emma chuckles in defeat and nods her head. "Definitely."

"Then that's all that matters," Lia says matter-of-factly with a shrug of her shoulders.

Emma's gaze meets mine again and it quickly turns heated. I suck in a breath.

I stare into my wife's eyes, but address our daughter. "Time to drop anchor, Lia. It's time for bed."

Lia lets out a little whine, as I pull myself away from my wife and quickly move to the anchor. I drop it into the water.

I then move to Lia and pick her up in my arms. "Off to bed, lass."

Emma comes to stand by our side and places a kiss upon her cheek. "Sweet dreams, honey."

She looks up at us with wide eyes. "Can I sleep in your bed with you guys tonight? I was scared all alone in the dark in the crew's quarters."

Emma and I exchange a look, but then I slowly nod, placing a kiss to her temple. "Of course you can, love."

…

~Emma's POV~

Killian carries our daughter down the ladder and I follow behind them. I watch as he gently lays her down on the bed. He brushes her hair off of her forehead and presses a kiss to it.

"Sweet dreams, Lia," he whispers.

I smile. These are the moments I thought could only occur in my dreams. And Killian is the amazing father I always knew he would be.

Lia's out before we can even crawl in on either side of her. Killian and I stare at each other over our daughter's peaceful figure. He reaches his hand out and we link our fingers together, coming to rest across her body.

"Not exactly what you had in mind for tonight, huh?" I say.

He smiles and shakes his head. "I can't imagine a better night. These are the moments I dreamt of while trapped in that glass case. Nights like these spent with you and our little girl. I couldn't ask for anything more."

I feel tears spring to my eyes. This is the future that was stolen from us. We finally get to experience it and it's even better than I imagined it could be.

"I love you," I whisper.

"And I love you," he says, as he leans over our daughter and presses a kiss to my lips.

"Gross!" We hear come from below us.

We pull apart and move our gazes downward. Lia is staring up at us, her nose wrinkled in disgust.

We laugh and then drop kisses onto her cheeks, before snuggling up close to our daughter, our hands remaining linked.

And as we slowly drift off to sleep, we are certain that nothing will ever tear our family apart again.

…..THE END….

Thanks for reading! I hope you liked the ending. I'd love to know what you thought. ~Steph