A/N: Sorry this took me forever to complete. The last quarter of this story was just really hard to write. But... I've finally done it. Yes, this is the final chapter. Thanks for sticking with me through this thing. I really appreciate you guys. And... I would love to know how you feel about the ending and the story overall. So, please share!:)

Eight months later…

He picked up after the second ring.

"Hello, love."

"You sound calm, cool, and collected," Emma said with a smile. "That's a good sign."

"I have the suitcases ready at the door, just waiting for the signal," Killian assured her smoothly. "And I'm tidying up the apartment to fill the rest of the time. So…"

"The cab will be pulling up in two minutes," she said brightly. "Do you need me to come up and grab anything?"

"Ah, no. I've got it. I'm heading down now. See you in a minute, Ems."

"Okay. Love you, Killian."

"Love you, too."

Emma smiled as she placed the phone in her pocket. It was going to be a great weekend, headlined by the wedding of her best friend.

"He's going to need to put some luggage into the trunk," Emma informed the driver.

When she saw Killian walking over towards the cab, she instantly began to roll the window down. Practically gushing, she grabbed her hands over the glass, offering him a big smile as he made his way over to car.

"Hey!"

"Hey to you, too." His eyebrows raised and his smile was dazzling.

Killian disappeared behind the cab. The cabbie had already popped the trunk open.

Emma listened to the way the hinges creaked as the lid widened. She could feel the drop of the suitcases going in, making the entire care dip just a bit. And then the lid was slammed shut.

It was only a matter of seconds later before he was opening the back door of the cab and dropping himself in beside her.

"Hi."

The smile was still plastered on his face and he launched towards her. His lips found hers, kissing her quickly with a loud smooch.

"He knows where we're headed?" he asked as he pulled away, his eyes twinkling on her.

Emma nodded as she turned towards the driver. The cab already began its slow creep, pulling away from the parking spot.

"We're going to the train station. Downeaster."

His answered came by way of a simple nod.

"There you go!" Emma said with a smile. She turned her attention back to Killian.
He was pressing himself into his seat and making himself comfortable. But his eyes were still on her.

"How was your day at work?" he asked softly.

Emma smiled as her eyes fell over him. "I had a great day."

She hadn't seen him since very early that morning… Her hands went to cover his as she dragged herself closer to his side.

"There are some surprisingly energetic patients early in the morning. I think I now have a preferred shift to work on." Her eyes blinked up at him. "How was your day off from work?"

"I spent it cleaning up and preparing for our trip," he said with an easy shrug. "Everything is taken care of, and it's going to be a great weekend."

A great weekend! The thought made her a little bit giddy.

It wasn't that she missed Boston so much. It was more about what she'd left behind. Or, rather, who. It was one of the reasons why, besides the fact that Ruby was getting married, she was excited about an entire weekend filled with wedding preparations. Because other than that…

She'd missed him like crazy those first two months he had left without her. Killian had been correct about the month's timeline. And when he was ready to leave for the new job, Emma hadn't been quite ready. Her job hunt had been a little bit slower. So…

The back and forth of a more than two hour distant relationship had been an interesting one. It had only made her realize that every single choice and decision she had made- they had made- were all right.

Two more months. A total of three that Killian had been away in Portland. Finally, everything lined up and she was able to make the move herself. They were able to begin on this journey of something that was not only new and exciting, but what they ultimately wanted.

Now… Now Portland was home. Killian was home.

"Mm… thoughts?" He whispered it into her hair before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

Maybe she had let herself get lost in thoughts for a moment. A moment where she had reminded herself to be thankful for everything that she now had.

Emma shook her head. "I'm just looking forward to everything."

"Mm, so am I," Killian murmured, pressing himself once again in his seat.

She watched as his eyebrows knitted together and how the smile remained on his face.
"What?"

The smile grew. "It's been a long time coming, this wedding. I just can't believe that it's actually here."

That made Emma shrug. "Almost here. We have a weekend of hard partying to get through first."

"Why do I get the feeling that the bachelor party will be far tamer than its bachelorette counterpart?"

"Maybe… because you know Ruby?"

"Maybe."

Emma smiled back at him. But the thought that popped into her head was one that she couldn't stop.

It was a possibility that… Well, he had been invited. So there was a chance that…

She didn't ask Killian. She didn't want to sully their nearly three hour trip with thoughts of things going wrong.

But maybe… maybe he had thought about it, too. Maybe…

The room looked as if a bomb had been let off, leaving only a pre-wedding massacre in its wake. Emma sat up from the bed that she shared with… it looked to be three other women still fast sleep (or passed out, whatever). She didn't want to sleep anymore. She wanted to find her phone. She wanted to check in.

The weekend could not have been going any better. Of course it had been filled with a lot of drinking, dancing, and overall partying. Emma also had to agree with Killian. Although she didn't have the visible proof to compare it to, she was sure that the bachelorette party had inched out over the bachelor party when it came to wildness. But… what was a true bachelorette party without the token male stripper? Or two?

Emma had almost lost herself in all the fun. Almost.

It was the thought of her last conversation with Killian, when he had left for his own party, that kept entering her mind…

Neal was going to be in the same vicinity as Killian. For the first time in… months. Although things had calmed down on their end, it wasn't a for sure deal when it came to Neal. She didn't know, they didn't know, if he was over it.

Wasn't that just a tad self-absorbed on her part? He was over her. But it wasn't about being over her. Not really. It was about being able to accept what pain they had both caused him. There had been so much pain.

So, she worried about Killian being put in that predicament again. She wondered if he was worried as well. He had denied to her to being worried about being in the situation. It hadn't stopped him from wanting to be there for Victor.

So they had done separate parties that had lasted well into the night. It didn't help to know that he was unavailable to her for check-ins. She didn't know how well things had gone throughout the night, for obvious maid of honor duties. She had let the fact that there hadn't been any calls to either her or Ruby as a good sign. Nothing major couldn't have happened. Or so she had made herself believe.

It was a good thing that there was a day in between parties and the wedding, for more obvious reasons. Still…

Emma found her phone on the table amongst a handful of others. Other than the fact that they were all probably at a various degree of being charged, she would guess that it was a good spot to converge on.

She needed to know. She needed to be sure that everything had went smoothly.

The clock read 7:22a.m. The first question she had for herself was how in the hell was she even away? It was followed by a small smile gracing her lips. She was sure that her always ever Boy Scout was awake.

"How are you even awake?"

"Mmm…" Her voice was full of teasing, even in that one syllable.

Killian was quick at switching ears, his eyes simultaneously scanning the room full of resting men. His feet took firm yet quick steps over the mess that had been made in attempts at keeping the bachelor partying going into the wee hours of the morning.

"How did everything go?" Emma's voice was barely above a whisper.

"It was… a very successful bachelor party." It sounded like the safest thing to report. "How about everything on your end?"

"Well. I'm the only one who is currently awake… What does that tell you?"

"It tells me… that you had an eventful night yourself." Killian smiled as he made his way closer to the bathroom door.

"And?"

She sounded… as if she was ready to hear the story.

"Nothing eventful on that end of things, Emma," he murmured in answer. His eyes tracked the span of the room and locating Neal cozied up on the couch. "We did well, Emma."

There was a pause on her end.

"Did you talk?"

Killian turned away from Neal then, heading instead for the bathroom once again.

"We talked a bit, yes." He shook his head to himself. "It's all in the past, Emma. I think we've all come to an understanding?"

"An understanding?" There was a tinge of disbelief in her voice.

"He's moved on. So have we."

"So…" Another telling pause. "Tomorrow?"

"The wedding will be fine. You'll see."

He wanted to see her then. She was still a bit wary, even with his encouraging words. That made him want to be able to hold her. To assure her that he wasn't trying to downplay the entire scenario.

"Okay."

He could tell that she wanted to be sure. She wanted to take him at face value. He also understood why that was a difficult thing to do.

"I miss you, Emma," Killian murmured into the phone, finding himself leaning against the door frame. "It's been a goddamn day and I miss you so much."

"I miss you, too, Killian." Her voice was soft, and he could hear the genuine sentiment from across the line.

"I'm sure you had a lot of fun though."

"Ah, probably even more than you," she teased. But wasn't that the overall conclusion that they had already made?

"I should get going, love."

It was the stirrings from across the room that was the deciding factor. Killian's eyes narrowed on the couch as the stirrings became a full-fledge move.

"I think I need to do the same thing anyway," Emma muttered quietly. Her sigh came through clearly. "So another day without you."

"And when I do set my eyes on you, it'll be worth it. I can't wait to see you all dolled up on the wedding day."

Neal's head came up from its resting spot on the arm of the couch. If there was ever a signal to end this call it was that. Or maybe it was the way his head turned in the direction of Killian.

"I'm thinking that you'll look damn good yourself."

He held in the smile as his eyes connected with the blurry ones from across the room.

"We'll make quite the pair, once you're done with maid of honor duty," he whispered quietly.

"Can't wait."

"Emma?"

Neal lifted his chin in acknowledgment, a slow movement that was only measured a few inches.

"Gotta go." She already knew.

Neal's eyes shut once more, his head sinking and finding a new position to lie on the couch.

"Call me later, at a decent hour?"

"Since all is well," Emma sighed, "I will do that. And I will get back to bed and try to sleep off some of the alcohol."

"And everything else you got into last night."

"You don't want to know the half of it."

Mm, perhaps he didn't….

"I love you."

"I love you, too. Talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered quietly. "Bye."

"Goodbye."

Killian listened to her disconnect the call. Pulling the phone away from his ear, he palmed it firmly in his hand. He didn't know where his eyes should have went. He didn't know if he should continue on to the bathroom or find his resting spot again on the other side of the room.

"Emma?"

Neal's voice was groggy. When Killian turned swiftly back to look at the man, only one eye was open and already on him.

Killian took in a deep breath and held it for just a moment.

"Yeah."

"Mm…." Neal was slow to nod. And then… that one eye closed. His head turned back in the opposite direction of Killian. And maybe, just maybe, he was already on his way to sleep.

Killian felt the purse of his lips. With his own nod, and with a satisfaction that the scene before him was just fine, he turned back towards the bathroom.

Hm, what a difference a year makes...

She looked gorgeous walking down the aisle. Killian would have to remember to thank both Ruby and Victor for allowing this day to take place, and allowing Emma to grace this wedding in that dress.

He wouldn't have thought classic when he imagined what this day would look like. He was very happy that Ruby had went classic. Because this classic wedding allowed Killian to watch the love of his life stroll down the aisle in a soft and silky-looking lilac-colored bridesmaid gown.

There were a total of four bridesmaids. Each had a dress that was unique unto themselves. Emma's dress allowed for her beautiful curvy legs to be present from the knee on down. Hers was the only one in that halter style, giving ample glimpses of bare and smooth white skin. Her hair was swept up in a way that only accented her neck. And she held her head up high as she walked her way down that aisle.

Beautiful. She was nothing less than that.

The woman he loved.

She had made him a very lucky man.

Aye, that she did….

"You look tired."

Watching Killian as he slumped into his seat put a smile on Emma's face.

"Long day," he conceded, raising an eyebrow. "Long weekend."

"You're ready to go back home?"

He began to sit up straight then, even leaning over in his seat and closer to hers.
"I'd be happy to get a hotel room of our own and be done with it for the night."

Killian was right. It had been an awfully long weekend. But it had been a lot of fun. She had watched her friends get married. So it was worth being a little tuckered out.

"My feet hurt," she confided in him conspiratorially, her voice just a whisper.

Those eyebrows went up again. "Ah, you're not the only one." He moved even close again. This time, his hands slipped under the table.

Emma felt the way both hands found their way to slide down her knee, to calf, to ankle. She smirked at him as she felt those fingers slip off her dress shoe.

"Nice."

She left her foot go willingly to lay atop his lap, their eyes meeting easily.

"How about a full-body massage?" Killian whispered, his fingers already kneading into the heel of her foot.

"Sounds like… the most perfect plan." She felt herself slipping, felt the ache being rubbed away. Her eyes closed at that feeling, a sigh leaving her lips. "How long before we get to leave?"

"I'm ready whenever you are."

Of course. Emma opened her eyes to find that his gaze had been stolen away.

"Emma?"

"What?"

He turned back to her.

"Did you want to…" His tongue poked out just this, licking at his lips. "Did you want to see him? Talk to him." And then his eyes were gone again.

Emma turned her head to look in the same direction.

Neal.

Their tables were as far apart as possible, without looking conspicuous. He'd brought a date. A beautiful blonde who seemed to be holding his attention quite nicely.

"He seems happy." Emma turned back to look at Killian. "Right?"

His nodded his head. "I think he's in a good place, Emma. It seemed that way over the entire weekend."

Emma couldn't help the way her eyes darted across his face.

"You talked to him."

Their eyes locked.

"We talked." Killian tilted his head. "Did you want to talk to him, Emma?"

It was a thought. It was something that she could have done. But…

She was slow to turn back, again. To look at Neal from afar.

He looked like he was in a good place. He looked like he was happy with his date. How long they had been a couple, if they were a couple, she had no clue. And it really wasn't her business.

Killian had spent parts of his weekend with him. They had spent hours in the same room. And she trusted him when he told her that things had went smoothly. That no drama had come of it.

Neal looked… happy.

Emma was happy.

Killian was happy.

Was there a need to rock the boat? Even after nearly a year had passed.

Emma shook her head. "No, I don't need to talk to him. Not now." She shook her head again. "Not today."

Killian's smile was small. His hands, which had stilled a moment, went back to the task of massaging her foot.

"Then is it almost time to get out of here, love?" He looked hopeful.

It made her smile. "I think we need to say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Victor Whale. Then, we can be on our way."

"Sounds like the best plan I've heard in a long time." His hand was on the move, caressing her calf. "I would love to spend the rest of this weekend at home with you."

"Preferably," Emma sighed heavily, "in our bedroom."

"You know me so well." Killian's teeth clamped down over his lip, keeping the grin to a minimum.

"Ok. Throw my shoe back on. We'll go find the happy bride and groom. Then we can go make ourselves happy."

Life. It was simple as that. Just Emma and Killian.

Life, right? Or was it love that was that simple?

Either way, whatever it was, Emma Swan had that particular magic. That's what life and love added up to, what she and Killian added up to: magic.