Sorry for the wait, but I still hope you enjoy this last chapter of Smiles in June.
"Beautiful." Killian whispered as he came up behind Swan who was watching the sunset.
"It really is. You were right when you said the horizon was calming." His wife sighed happily as she leaned into him.
"Aye, but I wasn't talking about the sunset." He replied and gave her a passionate kiss to give all other newlyweds a run for their money.
"Killian, you're terrible!" Emma scolded, ineffectively due to her laughter.
"What? I'm not allowed to kiss my wife, whom I'm so happy to have, on our honeymoon?" He asked and kissed her again to prove a point. "I'm not sure how we got here but I'm sure that I'm lucky to have you as mine."
"Well, you ran after and noticed me which made me smile. My mother always said find someone who makes you smile and laugh because they're a keeper." She told him with a smile and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"So love at first sight then?" He asked as he put his arm around her waist.
"I don't think so, but pretty close. We were only kids at the time." She shook her head. "Plus, I smiled because it was funny seeing you trip over your own feet when you tried to bow and dust got all over your pants."
"Granny gave me hell for that later." He commented and laughed at the memory. He did his own laundry for the first time after that because Granny was tired of doing it with how dirty he managed to get as a lad.
"I bet." Swan stated knowingly then turned the conversation to something more serious. "What about when you gave up your reward?"
"She said true love was more important than rank or money and was proud that I realized that." He replied and gave her yet another kiss. She would always mean more to him than anything. "But some of the crew didn't see it that way and thought I was crazy. But after seeing us together more they understood."
"You were right you know." She began after a minute of silence. "It was better to return home, be with my family again, meet my little brother, and not travel alone. I didn't know what we were when we set out but all that time really helped me see that I loved you. And when I found the ring, I knew without a doubt I'd say yes."
"You're absolutely right. Those voyages were exactly what both of us needed in many ways. We had lots of memorable journeys but I know this one will always be my favorite by far. And I still can't believe you found the bloody ring." He agreed and then shook his head. Never tell your brother where you put the ring because he will send your lass on an errand so she'll find it.
"Even if I messed with your plans, you still managed to make it the third most memorable day of my life." She told him after they stopped laughing.
"Third!?" He questioned, feeling offended.
"Well, there's today. Marrying you is the best thing I've ever done. And getting married on parade day takes the cake." She began. "Then there was the day when we were kids that started it all."
"I suppose I can't fault that logic. And regardless you made me the happiest man on each of those occasions." He conceded.
Like any groom he had been a bit nervous but not for the typical reason. He was sure of his love for Emma, his desire to marry her, and knew she felt the same. It was because the parade was moved to after the wedding, which was private, so the kingdom could celebrate and they were escorted to their ship in the royal carriage. All those years of watching the parade and he never dreamed of sitting beside Emma during it. He was terrified but also thrilled to be with his bride. But it was all worth it for her.
"Me too." She smiled and gave him a kiss. "You make me smile because you surprise me. No one had ever chased after the carriage before, and I'm surprised in general to have found someone I wanted to marry. Just because you learn you come from true love, doesn't mean you believe you'll ever find it."
"I know exactly what you mean, love." He nodded. He knew Liam, Granny, and his mother loved him but they were family so it was different. He thought true love wasn't in the cards for him until his first kiss with Emma three and a half years ago.
"But tell me how you were surprised with my proposing?" He questioned out of curiosity and wanting to know what she'd say.
"Just because I knew about the ring and your intention doesn't mean I knew everything." She told him and placed her hand on his cheek. "I think we surprised each other that day. And the flower crown you made on the spot out of Middlemist buds definitely was a surprise that made me smile."
"Well, it was my intention to give you a Middlemist flower just like I tried to when I went after the carriage. Perhaps I would've placed the ring on the stem, but you couldn't wait one more week until they were in full bloom." He stated and shook his head at her impulsiveness, which he loved. "Since you already had the ring, I wanted to give you another of a different kind just to be on the safe side. And as a princess you always deserve a crown."
"I have a lot of different crowns for different occasions. But yours will always be my favorite." She assured him and then got a curious look of her own. "What's something about me that's surprised you? And don't say that I love you or agreed to marry you. We were meant to find each other."
"Aye, those are a given, love. And on that note, it surprised me when you admitted you actually didn't mind me calling you that. I mean the first time you pointed a knife even further at my throat. Then you started to ignore it. But I never expected you to admit such a thing with how stubborn you are. I'm glad though, because that's exactly what you are. My home, my family, my life, and my love."
He meant every word but felt that they fell short of his true feelings. But Swan knew even without words at all. Still, when words failed he was confident in his actions and took every opportunity to show his wife that he loved her.
"Stealing my lines?" She asked teasingly after they kissed, referring to what she said during her vows.
"Well, it's not my fault you perfectly put into words what we both feel. Leaving me at an utter to loss to adequately return the sentiment." He argued, keeping with the teasing.
"You're just flattering me." She stated and crossed her arms defiantly. "We both know you're the more gifted of the two of us when it comes to words."
"Aye, usually. But when you become passionate about something, you manage to put everyone else to shame." He told her and he hoped she could see the love and pride shining in his eyes.
There were times when Emma hated some of her royal duties, especially public speeches or meetings with ambassadors, and would mutter about them for days. But when the time came she went above and beyond and it was impossible to doubt her vision for the people and making sure the kingdom had a bright future.
And he would never forget how she completely blew him away during their vows when she didn't hold back or hid behind her walls.
"See, you know how to say things perfectly and you know me better than anyone." She pointed out with teasing accusation. But then she smiled softly and continued. "It's true though. Before you, I had a home and my family. I always knew that my parents loved me and I had the love of the people as well. But with you, I still have all that but I also have it in new ways. You're my family now, and so is Liam, and the crew. We're starting a new home and life together that I know will be a happy one. And most of all I know that you're my true love and always will be. Nothing will tear us apart because you'll always find me, even in a crowd of thousands. And we're willing to go the ends of the earth for each other."
Just when Killian thought he couldn't love Emma any more than he already did, he found that he could. He agreed with every word she said as she put into words what they both felt. He could've echoed those words or said something else but it still would've been redundant. So instead of needlessly saying he felt the same he showed her.
They slipped away with the sun and into each other's arms. Their wedding day drew to an end but everything else was just beginning for them. They had already shared so many adventures together in their travels to explore, aid other kingdoms, and work and do their share as Emma wished. Many memories had been made that Killian would always treasure, but he this would by far be his favorite journey. And not just because it was their honeymoon, but the start of the journey they'd go through together for the rest of their lives.
Whether they continued to sail the seas or settled down in the seaside cottage he and his mother dreamed of to raise their little ones, who were destined to be little pirates given his love for the sea and both of their personalities. He knew he'd be happy because the part of him that was still ten had found his princess and that was all he could ask for. Emma Swan was his wife and that was truly everything to Killian Jones.
Again, I apologize for the wait. Things got away from me for a bit. And I had it almost finished but struggled with the right wording for some things. I hope you agree that it was better to wait and get it just right than to post something mediocre. I'm proud of this little and thank you for taking time to read and review. It's meant a lot and I hope you enjoyed. I have a couple other CS stories finished if you want to check them out and I hope to write more soon. Thanks again and enjoy the new season of OUAT, so excited!