Emma shared a look with Ruby, her eyebrow raising slightly and trying really hard to keep from rolling her eyes. Ruby had more of a smirk going on. Definitely more amused than the boredom that was coming over Emma herself.

What do you think? Ruby mouthed the question.

Emma stood right behind Killian, as his attention was focused on the playing cards in his hand. If she tilted just so…

She shook her head and glanced back at her friend.

Maybe? What about Victor?

Emma let her gaze slip down to where Victor sat right across from Killian. Her smile was small as Ruby made her move to get a better look at his hand.

Ruby crossed her arms over her chest as she looked back up at Emma.

He looks good.

Emma held in her sigh as best as possible.

What started out as a fun and lighthearted game of seven-card stud between the four of them- even a learning lesson for the girls themselves- eventually turned into this: the two men turning it into something more serious and important as the game dwindled down to the two of them.

The four of them. It was a newer concept, that was for sure. Looking around Ruby and Victor's living room, the thought came to Emma suddenly.

Ruby and Victor were more of Emma's friends. She was the one that bridged the group together. How many times had it been the five of them together? How many times were their foursome been the other match-up?

Emma hadn't expected the ease in which they had accepted the change in her relationship status. She didn't know why. Really shouldn't have thought that they would have judged her. Ruby and Victor? Of course not.

Watching the intensity in which Killian threw out a pair of cards, Emma smiled. She had a way of putting stress on herself. It was understandable, but…. When her days and nights were like this, it was a hell of a lot better than all the drama.

The night began with a homemade dinner. Ruby had outdone herself with everything and had every right to be proud. It was followed by the card game (where the men said it would be fun to show the girls how to play) and shots.

There was an easiness that she enjoyed. There was an easiness that she had needed. Perhaps it was something that they both needed. And for all the empathy and support that her friends gave her- Emma turned her gaze at Ruby, who stood directly in front of her- she appreciated that from the bottom of her heart.

"How about another shot, Emma?" Ruby began to move then, coming around to the table and at Victor's side. "I don't know how much longer this is going to take."

"Don't get any tipsier on the alcohol." Victor's arm came out to wrap itself around Ruby's waist.

The bottle sat off to the side on the table. Emma's glass, sitting right in front of her seat, was empty. Another shot of tequila? It would only be her third…

"I say let's go for it," she told Ruby with another shrug. "You guys go ahead and finish playing."

"Oh, but we are done, love." It came from Killian, grinning wide as his eyes narrowed on Victor. "Let's do what the ladies both are angling at. Show your cards, Victor. Let's get this over with."

It was pure confidence radiating in him.

Emma watched how the round came to a close. She watched as they each took a turn, exposing their hand of cards, each confident in the outcome.

And as Killian tilted his head in expectation, Emma looked at the bottle of tequila being raised into Ruby's hand.

The burst of both victory and defeat shadowed her thoughts on taking the offered bottle.

Emma turned back to the spectacle in front of her, watching Victor beam with pride as he collected his winning pot, and seeing Killian place his hands firmly against the table and leaning back in his seat.

"That puts me up by one," Victor murmured triumphantly.

"Aye, that it does."

Killian looked up at her suddenly, only a small smile tugging on his lips. He opened his arm out to her, an invitation to come closer.

She returned the smile, feeling more than capable to ease the bruise of conceding to another loss. Moving into his arm, letting it close around her waist and pull her even closer, Emma dropped a kiss down on his forehead.

It felt good to be normal. And this was normal…

There was a smile in his eyes as he looked up at her. His arm tightened around her waist, and she knew that he was close to pulling her right down into his lap.

"No more shots."

Emma turned to see Victor standing up from his seat, a smile on his face as well.

"They have a way of getting you drunk." He was looking at Ruby, but Emma had a distinct faded memory of what tequila could do. "I need you sober for this. Anyway, I have something better in the kitchen."

Emma saw the curiosity running over Ruby's face at the same moment Victor moved to leave for the kitchen.

"Killian, I beat you."

Killian's arm tightened even more around her waist, but he smiled Victor's way.

"Come give me a hand with this stuff, okay?"

"Was lackey apart of the deal, hm?" He stood up with a huff, letting Emma go in the process. But he didn't leave until he placed a quick kiss on her cheek.

"Be right back."

"Come on, Emma."

She turned to see the smirk on Ruby's face. Her arms folded over her chest and she began to move for the couch.

"Do you know what is better than tequila?" Emma asked as she followed her.

It was with a quick glance over her shoulder that Ruby responded.

"I would think that your answer was nothing at all." She said it with a smirk. A loving and knowing smirk.

"I had similar thoughts, too." Emma smiled, taking a seat next to Ruby.

Joking about her situation. She didn't do that a lot. Not even with Killian. And…

Neal came to mind so quickly. The happy times. Which were only replaced just as suddenly as the day he walked in on her phone conversation with Ruby.

Emma shook her head, hoping to rid herself of those thoughts. Because… she was where she was supposed to be. She was with who she was supposed to be with. It came with a lot of pain and personal growth though. It came with a lot of things.

"You two seem to have figured this thing out," Ruby sighed, leaning into her seat.

Emma took in a deep breath, her eyes only slanting over at her friend.

"Seems like it, doesn't it?"

"So…" She sat up then, turning fully towards Emma. "Does that mean… you're not?"

"No." And how quick her thoughts turned to the probable perfection that was her relationship with Killian. "Everything's really great. Amazing."

She turned her head towards Ruby, and was greeted with wide and wondrous eyes.

"I think he's the best thing for you, Emma." She whispered her confession. "You're just going to have to let go of all the bad stuff."

"And…" Her friend's mention of the obvious made her blink her eyes. "That's what I'm trying to do."

"Being successful?"

Emma loved him. Wanted him. He made her happy.

"We are a success," she whispered softly. Because…

Even though it was still new, even though they were feeling their way through what had brought them together, it was never difficult to realize why there were feelings there from the beginning.

"No regrets?"

"No regrets."

And there weren't any regrets. Not really. None of those issues stemmed from him anyway.

Ruby smiled again. "Good, because there in nothing that you should regret."

There it was. Another voice telling her that everything in her life was the way it was supposed to be. Another confirmation. Maybe those shouldn't matter, when it was her life and her decision to be made. But… they didn't hurt either…

Emma didn't know if it was better than tequila, but the ice cold champagne did have a wonderful taste.

"I feel like we're supposed to be celebrating something." Ruby's murmur came with sparkling eyes as she looked around the room. "Should we raise our glasses in toast to the new couple?"

It didn't make her feel awkward. It made her roll her eyes and take a sip of the champagne, not waiting on a response from either of the men.

"It does bring with it the feeling of celebration, doesn't it?"

Killian leaned back against the couch beside her as Victor asked the question. His shoulder bumped against hers.

When Emma turned her attention on him, she saw the smirk and the slight lift of his chin to the couple who sat opposite of them.

Was she missing something? She felt like she was missing something.

"I think we need something to celebrate," Victor continued.

Maybe she wasn't the only one missing out… Ruby lifted an eyebrow as she watched Victor begin to move.

"What are we going to celebrate?" she asked, confusion lacing her voice. She turned just slightly, her eyes searching for and finding Emma, then going back again.

He was on the edge of his seat, his hand already drifting towards him pants pocket.

"I could have made this a private affair." His eyes were on her, looking at her in a way that maybe should have made it a private affair. "Because that isn't us. This is us."

Emma turned from the smiling and overwhelmed-looking Ruby, looking back at Killian,

He only raised his chin a fraction more, sensing her watching him, but not looking away from the sight before them.

"Victor, what are you…"

Emma looked back. She watched him slide down from his seat. She watched as his hand came out of his pocket, keeping the contents to himself. She watched as his slow slip to the floor before Ruby lead him to one knee.

Three years…

"Ruby, you've been a part of my life for so long that I have no clue on how I could ever live without you." His words were firm and only had the tiniest bit of tremor to them. He was staring up into her eyes, watching her closely.

"I don't want to know a day where you aren't a part of my life. You have been my partner, my best friend, and the love of my life."

It was then that he revealed the box in his hand. It was then that he lifted the top from the box, revealing the ring for all to see. It was then that he took her hand in his own.

"Ruby, I love you. I love you with all of my heart. And… I want you to marry me."

Emma had never seen her friend look so stunned in her life.

"Will you marry me?"

She could also make out the shimmering eyes as she watched Victor remove the ring from it's box.

"I…" Stunned. "Yes!"

"Yes?"

"Oh my God, yes!"

They were a mess of shaky hands. A small issue when trying to fit a new ring to a finger.

"Oh my God." Emma whispered it to herself. She never thought…

Killian's shoulder bumped into hers again.

"I guess congratulations is in order after all."

Not that the pair before them were paying attention.

Emma looked up at him, her smile too much to conceal.

"They're getting married!" she squealed softly.

His eyes found hers. His smile was only slightly smaller than her own.

And for a moment…

No.

No…

Emma turned back to find the newly engaged couple in an embrace, faces hidden in shoulders and the crook of necks.

Still, it left her…

She knew it was what Ruby had wanted for a while now.

"Congratulations."

Killian raised his glass to hers, tipping it just so. And Emma smiled, touching her glass to his.

"Congratulations."

"Are you drunk?" It was an amused murmur, deep and thick.

Well…

Emma blinked her eyes up at the bedroom ceiling. Her fingers tightened around Killian's, holding onto his hand firmly. Besides that touch, it was only the lock of their ankles that linked them together. Lying flat on her back, she found such comfort in the little things. Like the way they were just then.

Sometimes it could be just as simple and easy as this…

"Tipsy," she conceded with a sigh. Her head turned in his direction to find him staring up at the ceiling. "And just a little bit. But… it's not really my fault. We were witness to something tonight!"

And maybe Ruby had been a bit tipsy as well by that time, because she really didn't have to announce right then and there that Emma would be her maid of honor…

"Yes, maybe she was a bit tipsy as well." Killian glanced over at her then, a smile on his face.

"It was magical," Emma told him, her eyes growing wide at just the thought. "This is just a euphoric high we're experiencing."

"Yeah?" His eyebrows shot up in question with that.

"Yeah." Her ankle locked tighter around him. "Can you imagine how much bliss she is experiencing right now?"

"Oh, I can imagine," Killian drawled, his eyes finding the ceiling again.

Emma let herself do the same. There could not be even the hint of pretense about staying there that night. Ruby and Victor had just gotten engaged!

"This isn't all about being tipsy," she murmured softly. "I'm happy for them."

She felt the removal of his foot from under hers. She felt the way his body dipped closer to hers and the way he lifted himself up on his elbow.

He was peering down into her face, watching her.

Her lips curled into another smile, looking him over just as he did her.

"I want to ask you something."

Killian's soft words didn't exactly break the magic of the night. But… She was curious…

It was the way that he was looking at her. As if whatever was about to come out of his mouth was going to be something important.

"You're not going to ask me to marry you, are you?" Emma asked with only a hint of humor.

"No." His lips tremored into a smile. "It's important though."

Well, that's what she figured…

Emma rolled over to her side so that she could see more of him. Matching his position, propping herself up on an elbow, she reached for his foot again, entwining them together.

"What's up?" It was soft, because she didn't know.

Killian only watched her, silently, for another moment. And then he leaned in and kissed her. A soft little quick kiss.

"Should that make me more nervous?" she asked when he pulled back.

"Our company made some expansions- branching out to other cities," he started slowly. "Other states, really."

"Yeah?" Because…

"I was thinking about… being transferred." His eyes pinpointed different areas of her face- maybe cheek, chin, nose, cheek- before finally settling back on her eyes.

"Transferred?" Emma blinked at his words. Thinking about being transferred. "To?"

"Portland." It was soft and quiet.

"Oregon?" Emma tilted her head as her eyes widened. "You want to-"

"Maine." His hand reached up for hers and the frown on his face was small. "Portland, Maine."

That made her go a limp. Blinking her eyes again, she let herself slip back down to the bed. But… she pulled herself even closer to him.

"It's about two hours away," he continued to inform her.

"You want to leave?" Emma couldn't help but let her eyes fly up to his.

Killian shrugged. "I've been giving it a lot of thought. With everything… I just… thought that… maybe..." He shrugged again as he looked her over. "A move would be good for us. To get away from all the baggage that is here. To have a fresh start."

"Us?"

He had added her into this equation…

Emma slipped back onto her back, her eyes finding the ceiling again.

He wanted to move. To Portland. He wanted…

"Emma." Her name was a murmur as he pulled her back up. Rolling her back into the position that had been in.

"That's a mighty big step."

And it was. Didn't he realize what he was saying?

"I know." His fingers massaged over hers. "Hey, I'm the one who has been trying to convince you to commit to this apartment."

"Killian-"

"It's always going to be in the back of our heads here, Ems," he cut in. "Everything we've been through to be together? It's all concentrated here."

"But-"

"There is no escaping Neal here."

"Is this about Neal?" she asked, her eyes wide again.

Killian's answer came with a frown. "It has a lot to do with Neal." He shook his head. "It's not only him though. It's not only the fact that our circles are still tied together, and that at any point of our time out- together or alone- we run the chance of seeing him. It's not only that. Because you're the one who said it: not one of us came out of this unscathed. But it doesn't change the fact that we are all on edge here."

Emma listened, but… He was asking for something that…

"I love you, Emma." It was soft, but with a fierceness. "I want us to have a real chance at this thing. I don't want everything that we've been through to be in vain."

Looking into those eyes… she loved him, too.

"What about…"

His eyebrows raised in anticipation of what she was going to say.

"What about my job, Killian?" Emma shook her head. "You want me to quit my job and have nothing to fall back on but you?"

"The move won't be instant," he said softly. "It'll be at least a month before they start transplanting us up there." His hand grabbed at hers. "In the meantime, we can be on the search for jobs in Portland. Or at least close by. Until then, there's the option of the train."

"A two-hour train ride to get to work?" she asked, trying very hard not to be incredulous about the whole thing.

His hand slipped away from hers. He was slow to roll over and lie down on his back.

"I just…"

She didn't mean to hurt him. Apparently, it had been something he'd thought out for a while.

"Emma. I just… I want us. I… wanted you for so long. And now…" Killian shook his head. "I don't mind if we're not perfect. I don't expect to never have arguments or expect us to agree on everything." A small laugh escaped him. "I look forward to being able to have all the good and the bad with you. Because I love you."

He looked back at her then, his blue eyes somber.

"But I don't want this one thing to keep us from being what we can be to each other and with each other. I don't want it to be over our heads. And here, it's always going to be over our heads."

It was everything. It was the way they had come together. It was the internal struggle that he'd fought the entire time of their secret relationship. It was the way he'd conducted himself with Neal after it all came to light. It was the way he had tried really hard to look past all the hurt they'd all been through, with just the hopes of living out their lives the way they thought they wanted.

Emma… For Emma…

He was right. It wasn't all about Neal. But Neal was the source of so much hurt. He was a main reason to why she had let herself become this somber person in life now. With Killian as well.

She wanted her life back. She wanted him. Always had. Always would. And they…

They deserved happiness.

They did!

"Killian."

She let herself slip back down in the bed again. This time, she laid her head against his shoulder and let her arm drape across his stomach.

"Yeah?"

"Would you do it- would you take the job- if I asked you not to?"

"If you asked me to stay here, Emma?"

"Yeah."

"I would stay here if you asked me to stay here." Killian wrapped him arm around her, pulling her even closer to him.

And she believed him. She believed that he loved her that much.

So… when was it her turn to give? When he had given up a ten-year friendship. When he was willing to sacrifice his wants and needs for her. When was it her turn?

Emma held on tighter to him, her hand spanning wide over his chest.

"Okay."

"You want me to-"

"Take the job, Killian," Emma whispered. "You're right."

"Emma?" He said it as he tried to sit up. Her lying against him had hindered in the ability.

She looked at him, meeting wary eyes.

"It'll be good- for us?"

"Emma, you'll-"

"I'll move to Portland with you."

Killian pushed her off of him, sitting straight up in the bed.

"Why?" he asked with a firmness that sounded of how much he needed to know. "Why… now?"

Emma was slow to sit up herself.

Why?

"Because I love you, Killian. And a fresh start is exactly what we need."

"Are you sure?" Still…. He was still searching…

And… she was.

Her eyes traveled over the length of him, looking at the man who meant the world to her. Looking at the man that she loved.

"I'm one hundred percent sure, Killian."

He returned that stare. And then… a shake of his head and a smile appeared on his face.

"You know what this means, right, Emma?" His arms moved to encircle her, hugging and holding her close.

Emma wrapped her arms around his shoulders, loving the feel of the man that she loved. Her eyes closed as she held him even tighter.

"What does this mean?"

"It means…" He turned his face into her neck, his lips pressed right there. "That you're finally agreeing to move in with me."

It made her smile. It made a lightness come over her completely. It made her hug him even tighter.

"Mm… I concede."

Emma's smile grew. Thoughts of their future…

It was instant, the knowledge of Killian being right. Because…

Already, the deep and buried pain and guilt of loving him and hurting Neal… was dissipating.