A/N: Sorry for the delay in getting this up. All I can say is just- life happened. Anyways, I've got three more chapters coming after this one. The next one (titled The Mudroom) is already half way written so I'll try to finish it this weekend. There are also two and a half chapters already written for my next AU (that I'm super excited about) titled In The Key of G but it won't go up until this story is finished. I hope you all like this one. I appreciate all the support I've recieved for this story! It means so much to me. Let me know what you think of this one! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.
Emma hadn't exactly been waiting her whole life for this day. She'd spent her first few years of life dreaming for a prince to come and rescue her from the system. The next ten or so years had been jaded and closed off so she had no plans for a future other than where she would find her next meal or bed. After that came Neal. Emma had thought they'd settle down from the Bonny and Clyde lifestyle and get married, start a family down in Tallahassee but she'd never been more wrong in her life in thinking that. All plans for a marriage, all plans for a man after that had been washed down the drain. If she couldn't even have handled her little boy she certainly had no place in her life for a full grown one. Emma Swan didn't need a man. Sure there where blips, Graham, Walsh and her one night stands when the itch got too strong to handle on her own but Emma knew she'd never wear a white dress down the aisle or settle down beyond having her own place with a bedroom for Henry. That was until she met Killian Jones.
Emma shook her head, sitting down on her bed. The house was fairly quiet for all the people on the property. Mary Margaret had everyone in the backyard putting on the final touches for the wedding that was to occur in a little under two hours. All the dwarves had arrived earlier, driving over piles of white chairs, and were now setting up rows and rows of them in the backyard. Granny would be arriving soon with food for the guests. Emma didn't know why she'd pushed so hard for the onion rings for the reception now. There was no way she could eat with all the butterflies claiming her stomach as their new home.
Emma was supposed to be getting ready so her mother could help her put on her dress once she was finished playing wedding planner. It was why she'd been sent upstairs to the bedroom she'd occupied alone the previous night. Killian had spent the night on the Jolly, as per tradition, and was still there now getting ready with David and Henry. But she wasn't getting ready. Not yet. That white garment bag hanging from the closet door was overwhelming her. Emma didn't have cold feet but that didn't mean she wasn't panicking. Everything about this wedding was so overwhelming. Killian had always calmed her, reminding her that Mary Margaret was doing this because she had missed Emma growing up, and as royals that meant missing many large parties. She wanted Killian with her now, not in two hours and separated by a flower covered aisle.
It wasn't easy for Emma to open up and let herself love. But she loved Killian. More than she ever thought possible. And lucky for her, he felt the same. She still couldn't understand it. She was still sometimes scared that if she thought too hard it would all come to pieces. But then she'd remind herself that she and Killian had fought too hard to get where they were to give it all up.
Feet pattered up the stairs. Emma glanced at the clock on Killian's side of the bed. Shit, she'd been musing for over a half an hour and this was Mary Margaret come to murder her for not starting her makeup.
The familiar black haired head of her mother came into view and Emma hopped up, feeling like a kid who'd forgotten to take the chicken out to thaw. Mary Margaret propped her hands on her hops and regarded Emma.
"Oh, Emma."
Emma cringed, unprepared for the soft tone her mother used. She'd been ready to hear a lecture like Mary Margaret had given when the chairs in the backyard were organized wrong. "Sorry," Emma said hurriedly.
Mary Margaret shook her head. "It's fine, don't worry. We can get ready in time. What's been on your mind?"
Emma shrugged. Normally she would say nothing and hurry out of the room after flinging some flimsy excuse at her mother. But Emma wasn't that person, especially today. Today her father- her father- was going to walk her down the aisle and she was going to marry Captain Hook. Today she could tell the truth.
"It's just a little surreal, that's all. Actually," Emma replied with a dry laugh, "it's a whole lot surreal."
"It's alright to be afraid," Mary Margaret replied, taking her hand and pulling her into the bathroom where all Emma's makeup had been spread across the vanity, supplemented by Mary Margaret's own collection.
"But I'm not afraid of getting married. I think I'm afraid that I'm not afraid?" Emma let Mary Margaret sit her on the closed toilet seat.
Her mother nodded as she spread some foundation on the back of her head. "You've let Killian in. After the life you've had it's alright to be scared about that. I'm so proud of you Emma, for pushing past no matter what. You may not have the happy ending I predicted when I decorated your nursery but I'm so happy you found what you did." Mary Margaret blinked away tears. Emma glanced down at her own hands, suddenly overcome with emotion herself.
"Don't cry already," Emma murmured, volume stolen by the lump in her throat.
"What would make you feel better?" Mary Margaret asked after a moment, voice once again clear of emotion.
There was only one thing, one person, which could make her feel better. And that was the one person who was potentially more excited than Mary Margaret for the wedding.
"Talking to Killian?"
Mary Margaret produced her phone from the back pocket of her jeans and handed it over. "You have ten minutes before I come back in and make you the blushing bride I know is inside of you." With that she swept out of the room, shutting the bathroom door behind her.
Emma immediately dialed the familiar number, fingers shaking in her haste. The previous night had been the only one they'd spent apart since their stint as dark ones so she was anxious to hear his voice. She held the phone up to her ear and waited.
Killian picked up on the first ring. "I promise I'll be there on time, milady. And your husband has the ring to give to Henry so don't worry."
"It's me," Emma replied, a bit breathless at the sound of her soon to be husband's voice.
"Emma." Killian sounded equally as affected. "To what do I owe the pleasure, my darling?"
"I'm a little overwhelmed."
Killian gave a soft chuckle. "Aye, as am I. But it's a good overwhelmed, right?"
Emma nodded to herself. "If you would have told five year old Emma she'd be marrying Captain Hook she would have had a coronary."
"If I knew five year old you she would never have been left in such a place."
Tears once again sprang to Emma's eyes at the sound of the conviction in his voice. She blinked them back, breathing in. If this was how she was at a simple phone call she'd be a wreak when Killian read the vows he insisted he write.
"You still with me, love?" Killian asked after a long moment of silence.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"Good. Everything's going to be fine, Swan. In a little while I'm going to see you, the loveliest bride in all the realms and I'm going to make sure everyone knows just how lucky a bastard I am to be marrying you. I can't wait to see your dress."
"I can't wait to see whatever you've been hiding in the closet."
"You knew?" Killian asked, momentarily caught off guard.
"Of course. Where do you think I wanted to hide my wedding dress?" Emma laughed, thinking of the day she'd brought it home from Mary Margaret's house, only to find a large garment bag in the place she wanted to leave hers. "And don't worry," she quickly added, answering his question before it could be asked. "I didn't look."
"Good," Killian replied again with a relieved breath. "So are you feeling better?"
"Yeah. I'll see you soon?"
"Without a doubt. I love you."
"Love you too," Emma whispered back, the butterflies finally settling into an excitement. She was going to marry Killian Jones- the sailor, the soon-to-be-stepfather, the pirate, the lover, the kind, gentle, hardened and handsome soul. Soon she was going to be Mrs. Jones. Emma felt like she had right before her first date with Killian, only magnified by about one thousand.
Emma set the phone on the counter, after ending the call. "I'm done," Emma called. Mary Margaret immediately entered the room.
"Feeling better?" she asked though from the tone she could already see the answer on her face.
"Much."
"I guess that means we need to get you ready." Mary Margaret dipped a brush into the foundation that was still sitting on the back of her hand and started brushing it onto Emma's skin.
Emma sat still as her mother buzzed around, painting her face into the type of glowing bride one would find in a magazine. Emma let her have her moment. To Emma the dress mattered more and Killian would hardly care which shade of gloss was covering her lips so long as he got to kiss her.
It wasn't as if Emma didn't care what she looked like because she did. But when Emma packed on the makeup it was because she'd been working as a bail bonds person and going on a honey trap. And what person would deny Snow White doing her wedding makeup? It made Emma smile when she thought of her mother like that. The fairest of them all was currently putting mascara on her.
"Now what should we do about your hair?" Mary Margaret asked after putting down a tube of pinky-nude liquid lipstick.
"Maybe up to hold the tiara?" Emma suggested, running her fingers through the blonde locks. They'd agreed Emma would wear her crown, no matter what her chosen dress looked like. "But loose," she added quickly, fearing for a moment a harsh bun. Emma had spent her whole life being harsh. Nothing about this day should be hard and severe.
"I can do that." Mary Margaret motioned for Emma to turn around, face the wall and straddle the toilet seat so she could get to the back of her hair. From Mary Margaret's own makeup bag she produced a new pack of bobby pins.
"Will you still have time to do your own makeup now that I've held you up?" Emma asked after glancing at the mirror. They were under an hour to the wedding.
"Doesn't matter. I didn't think I'd ever get this chance. Thank you for humouring me with this wedding."
"You humoured me too."
"You're the bride," Mary Margaret answered with a laugh. "That's the rule."
"Well," Emma started, playing with a bobby pin that had fallen, "to be fair, I didn't think I'd ever get this either. And not just the wedding. You too." It was why Emma was so anxious to let her mother have this as well. There was still a bit of the lost girl inside of her that was scared her mother would think she was selfish if she didn't, that she wouldn't want Emma anymore. It was irrational but that was Lost Girl Emma.
"Emma," Mary Margaret breathed, leaning down to kiss the crown of her head. It was still an odd feeling but one she'd gotten more used to in the last few months. Mary Margaret had been trying harder to be a better mother and Emma had been trying just as hard to be a good daughter.
"Where's the tiara?"
"The little box on the top shelf of the closet," Emma answered, running a gentle hand across the twist that Mary Margaret had created. Mary Margaret swatted her hand away before dousing her with hair spray. Emma coughed at the scent while her mother disappeared to get the jewellery.
"Sure, leave me in here with the poisonous cloud," she grumbled.
"You've survived being the dark one. I think you'll be fine," her mother answered, coming back in the room.
Mary Margaret fixed the tiara to her head, tucking the ends into the twisted hair behind her ears. To Emma it felt like a long chignon, twisted like one you did with a headband but instead held up by a thousand bobby pins, hairspray and Snow White's conviction.
"Dress first, then you can see," her mother answered, dragging her into the bedroom. "Undress."
Emma snorted at that but did as she was bid, reminding herself that people rarely got into wedding dresses unaided. She allowed Mary Margaret to grab the dress and bring it over, undoing the row of thirty buttons down the back. Part of Emma delighted in the slow torture they would cause Killian later. Killian was good at buttons, just not very fast.
Emma stepped into the dress and pulled it up, slipping her arms into the straps. To save her mother time, feeling a bit guilty that Mary Margaret would be short on time getting ready, she flicked her wrist and the buttons did themselves up.
"Well that was easy," Mary Margaret answered with a laugh, stepping back. Emma stepped into her heels and turned to the floor length mirror Mary Margaret had set up.
The dress was a cream silk shift. The square neckline showed off her toned arms and the straight skirt emphasized her thin frame. There was a slight nipping in at the waist but it was plain other than that. The hem of the front of the dress dusted the floor when she had her heels on but the back flared outwards in a small train. It was the sleekness and casualness of the dress that had drawn Emma to it and when she'd put it on she'd immediately understood all those corny wedding shows. Her hair was pulled back as Emma had predicted, her silver and lavender tiara nestled on top, shining after David had polished it several nights previous. She'd opted for no veil, thinking it would be overkill with the tiara. Nothing about the makeup was off, all perfect. Emma felt her eyes well up to which Mary Margaret immediately smacked her arm.
"No ruining the makeup until the vows," she ordered, crying herself.
"Then stop making me," Emma retorted, blinking back the tears and drawing in a deep, calming breath. Emma Swan didn't cry like this and here was her wedding, turning her into a veritable waterfall. "Go get ready!"
Mary Margaret gave a nod and moved to the bathroom, where her own garment bag hung off the shower rod, leaving Emma in front of the mirror. Emma examined herself, running her palms lightly down her skirt. She looked like a bride. And it was weird. But also filled her with pride. All those people who'd tried to bring her down all her life, all the people who'd tried to kill her since assuming the role of Saviour- she'd proved them all wrong. She was worth it and she was strong. And she was getting married. A shot of giddy excitement bolted through her.
Heavy footsteps came up the stairs. Emma peeked out the door and watched her father make her way towards her. Emma stepped back from the doorway so David could get a good look at her. When he reached the door he stopped.
"Oh, Emma. You look beautiful sweetheart." Emma blushed at her father's compliment.
"Not too shabby yourself," she replied, motioning to David's formal attire. In it David looked nothing less than Prince Charming in his blue silken jacket and light trousers, leather boots up to his knees. David came closer and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I've just come to make sure you were both going to be ready to walk down the aisle in twenty minutes?"
Emma nodded. "What about you? Ready to take me?"
"An entire realm couldn't hold me back," David answered, emotion breaking through. Emma looked at the ceiling to stop her own emotions from flaring again. What about this wedding was making everybody turn into a bunch of saps?
"I've got something for you, Emma." Emma cocked her head, watching, curious. "So you have something new in your dress and old in your tiara-"
"Are you calling me old?" Mary Margaret demanded from the bathroom. David balked.
"Of course not, Snow. Just going through the traditions." He gave an awkward cringe to Emma before clearing his throat. "So you needed two more things- something borrowed and something blue. I've got those now, if you don't mind?"
Emma nodded, waiting to see what her father had brought. David produced a hair comb first, the silver of it inlaid with blue stones. Emma took it, turning it over in her hands with wonder. It was beautiful, heavy with the weight of real gems.
"Where did you get it?" Emma asked, handing it back to David so he could tuck it into the back of her bun.
"I have my sources. It's a gift, so you have something beautiful to remember the day I walked you down the aisle."
"Thank you. And what else?" she added on, eager to keep going before she was hit with another wave of tears.
"This is from your fiancé. Something borrowed." David produced the leather sigil Emma had seen Killian carrying around before tied to a silk ribbon, the colour of the lavender jewels in her tiara. It was Liam's. "Killian said if you wouldn't mind, he'd really like you to tie it to your bouquet for the night. Killian said if you didn't want to that was fine because you already wear Liam's ring but he'd heard of the tradition and thought borrowing and carrying a piece of his brother's memory with you wouldn't be so bad."
Emma nodded, running her fingers across the soft leather. "Of course. I'll tie it on when we get downstairs." Now she had something new that was hers in her chosen dress, something old that had been her mothers, a blue comb from her father and something borrowed from her fiancé (which was also very old but she liked the idea of everyone having a part). Everyone in that quartet had pulled Emma out of her shell and now she would carry everyone on the day to mark her transformation from scared of love to revelling in it.
"How is my fiancé?" Emma asked, wishing she could see the backyard from her bedroom.
"Anxious to see you," David answered. "He's already at the altar. Didn't want to be late. Good form and all." Emma snorted out a laugh at that just as Mary Margaret came out of the bathroom, wearing a light blue silk ball gown and her own tiara. She was epitome of the Snow White of lore and it stunned Emma. David immediately crossed the room to her, kissing her. Emma had to shake her head, watching her parents, Snow White and Prince Charming together. "You look beautiful," David whispered. Longing crept through Emma. She couldn't wait to have that herself, even though the thought of a relationship lasting as long as her parents had scared her a bit. Her parents broke apart and turned back to her.
"Ready Emma?" Mary Margaret asked, reaching out to take her hand.
"Yeah, let's go. I've got a groom to see."
David led the way down the stairs and into the kitchen. The counters were covered in food to be put out after the reception. Emma fought the urge to look out the window to see Killian. She wanted to wait until she was at the end of the aisle, a true first look. Mary Margaret grabbed Emma's bouquet, an arrangement of wildflowers, ones she couldn't understand but enjoyed the smell of. Her mother held the flowers while Emma secured the sigil.
Emma took the bouquet, arranging it in her hands so the sigil hung over her fingers. She stood up straight and looked towards her parents. "Do I look like a bride?" They both just nodded, David pulling Mary Margaret to his side. Outside the music started.
"Oh, um, I guess that's my cue." The marriage dirge, a traditional element selected by her parents, made it feel real. This was the moment that started it all. Killian and Henry would be up at alter waiting for her. All the guests would stand and watch her come down the grassy aisle on her father's arm.
"No panicking," Mary Margaret said quickly, breaking her from her thoughts. Emma drew in a deep breath. "I'll talk to you later." She kissed Emma's cheek then hurried outside to get her seat.
David offered his arm and Emma slipped her hand through. "Ready?"
"Ready."
David led Emma through the mudroom and out the back door. They stopped just outside, watching everyone stand when they realized Emma had appeared. Emma took a moment to watch the movement. The backyard had been manicured, the grass cut the day before and pots with wildflowers set around the space. Half the town was there, all standing in front of white chairs with lavender ribbon tied across the back. Most were dressed in Enchanted Forest garb, large dresses and rich fabric. The aisle had been covered in more petals, sickeningly sweet but lovingly done by her mother. At the end of the aisle was an arbour, decorated in the purple ribbon and chosen flowers, Regina standing in the center. They're chosen to have her conduct the ceremony as a royal because her parents wanted to watch instead of do it herself.
Just off to the side, next to her dapperly dressed son, stood the man she was waiting to see. Killian Jones was dressed as a naval officer but was wearing his leather pants. Where had he gotten that outfit? It wasn't a usual uniform, but it was perfect. His hair was well groomed, slicked back and clean. The beard Emma so loved was still there though, despite his classically groomed appearance. Emma felt her jaw drop. That man was so handsome. Watching him, it made her wonder how she'd been able to look at the yard first. Everything centered in on him when she spotted him and it was only her father's arm on her own that stopped her from sprinting down the aisle towards her soon-to-be husband.
But her reaction seemed to match Killian's. That well shaped jaw had dropped and his tongue was peeking out over his lips, running a sinful path across the flesh seemingly unconsciously. His eyes had widened but even from the back door Emma could see the red in them. His hand crept up to scratch behind his ear before using it to clear his through into. The sight of her Killian crying busted through her emotional control and the tears started welling. She didn't even attempt to hold them back as David started down the aisle with her.
That walk down the thirty foot long aisle was longer than any she'd done before. She tried to enjoy it, relish in the fact that her father was walking her down the aisle. It was everything she'd ever wanted but all she wanted now was to reach Killian. Cameras flashed as they walked, but she never blinked from her staring contest with Killian. She probably looked possessed in any pictures the guests took but she couldn't find it in herself to care.
Finally they reached the end of the aisle and they stopped. David's grip on Emma's arm seemed to tighten, as if he didn't want to let her go. It swept through her for the thousandth time then that she had someone to give her away, someone who didn't want to because she was his little girl. Killian was waiting though, having stepped forward to the place they were to meet to say their vows.
"Dad, I need to get on with this," Emma whispered, leaning into his ear.
"You look after her Killian," David growled, hesitating once more before releasing Emma's arm. Emma kissed his cheek before hurrying the last few steps to Killian and passing off her bouquet to Henry, the person they'd chosen to stand for them both.
They reached for each other at the same time. Emma caught Killian's hand and hook in her hands. His hand was sweaty. That made her grin. She must be looking pretty good if she could make Captain Hook sweat. Killian leaned forward, looking to kiss her.
"Killian. Keep it in your pants," Regina snapped good-naturedly. Killian immediately pulled back pouting.
"Soon," Emma whispered, giving his hand a squeeze. They would have plenty of time to make out after the service. Regina cleared her throat to catch their attention.
"People of Storybrooke, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Emma Swan, Crown Princess of the Enchanted Forest, and Killian Jones, Captain of Prince James's Navy." Emma raised her eyebrow at that, making a show of looking Killian up and down. That explained the uniform, and why Killian glowed with pride when his title was announced. She'd have to thank her father for that later.
"These two have chosen to spend the rest of their lives together and today marks that start. They will say the vows they have chosen to write themselves and then we will proceed with a fisherman's knot tying ceremony to honour Killian's history. Emma, Killian, are you ready?" Both nodded.
"We will start with the vows because you two would be far better able to explain this love you have than I do. It is a love that I hope everyone here can experience and I will only say this once, but it is one that I myself have been envious of. Killian, would you like to recite yours first?"
"Yes, milady," he answered before turning back to Emma. Nothing could make her look away from those ocean deep eyes, not even if all the villains in the world showed up at once. Killian gave her hand a squeeze.
"Emma, my love, I was a terrible man for many years. After the loss of my brother and my first love I sailed the seas for hundreds of years, murdering and pillaging and drinking. But never once did I feel like I was whole, or that I found a place. I was desperate for an impossible revenge. Beyond anything I just knew I had to keep surviving. I realize now why I had to. Because there was a plan for me and that plan involved a glowing goddess pulling me from a pile of bodies in the Enchanted Forest. If you're wondering, that was you, love. It may not have been love at first sight for you but I'd never been more enamoured by a person. And then when we kissed in Neverland? Well I knew then that there would never be anyone else for me. You fought and you ran and we were torn apart by curses and the darkness and fear. But you also allowed me to fight for you and become a hero. You fighting for me in turn, after everything in your past, was so very brave and I still don't know what I did to deserve you, but I am oh, so, thankful. I promise to love you until my dying breath and even after that, since I think we both know I don't stay dead easily." Emma gave a wet laugh.
"Thank you for that."
"No interrupting. You'll get your turn," he answered, cheekily, despite his own tears. "As I was saying, I promise to love you. You will never be more cherished than in the time you spend with me. I've been a pirate for hundreds of years but never have I felt more protective of treasure than I feel of you. You've pulled me back from the darkness, multiple times, and I promise to show you how thankful I am of that. You've given me half of your own heart and I will protect it with everything I have. Should you ever struggle, my love, I will struggle with you. I will fight for you. I will win. I love you."
"I love you too," Emma answered, tears tracking down her cheeks.
"Emma? Would you like to say your vows now?" Regina asked, trying very hard to maintain her cool exterior.
Emma nodded, taking a moment to breathe and find her voice. "Killian. Never have I met a more stubborn person and you've met my family so that's saying something."
"I've also met you."
Emma rolled her eyes. "No interrupting," she returned with a grin. "Yes, you've also met me. I'm a terribly fast runner. But you're faster. I'm an amazing wall builder but you're an even better demolisher. I'm great at getting scared. But you're the most comforting presence I've ever met. I thought when the curse broke, that getting my family was all I ever needed. I had my son and my parents and for a girl who grew up thinking she was an orphan that was huge. So huge I even ran from them a hundred times. But then I went back to the past with you and realized that it was okay to let someone else in. And now I know I have more than I'll ever need. We fought the darkness together and won. So, I'll make you some promises now too. I promise that if I ever run I'll come right back. I promise to never build walls higher than you can step over. I promise that when I wake scared at night I'll wake you too. I promise to protect you and trust you both with the heart that beats in my own chest and in yours. I promise to love you, more and more each day."
"I love you too."
"Excellent." Regina gave a nod. "Now time for the rest of the vows. Killian, do you take Emma to be your wife?"
"I do," he answered, voice breaking, nodding furiously.
"Emma, do you take Killian to be your husband?"
"I do," she whispered back, the lump in her throat stealing her volume once again.
"Killian, can you please get the ring and repeat after me?" Henry hurried over and slipped a wedding band into Killian's hand. It was gold with small hooks engraved across it. He also slid one into Emma's, a larger matching one, though engraved with swans instead of hooks. Regina nodded with a smile at her son who was trying valiantly not to cry. "Emma, with this ring, I the wed."
"Emma, with this ring, I the wed." Killian slid the ring onto her finger. She couldn't tell which one of them was shaking harder.
"Now it's your time, Emma." Emma nodded. "Killian, with this ring, I the wed."
"Killian, with this ring, I the wed." Emma slid the ring onto Killian's hand, noticing then that he wore no other rings. It shone in the sun, glinting up at her. It didn't matter what hand Killian wore it on, as Emma had told him at the jewellery store when he was agonizing over the tradition. All that mattered to Emma was that he had one.
"Now, traditionally they would kiss now but I'm afraid if they start now we'll never finish the ceremony." Emma snorted at Regina's quip because the way Killian was now staring at her lips meant that was probably true. "We will now do a short hand fasting ceremony to tie this family together. Henry, can you now please bring the rope forward?"
Henry hurried over between them after setting down Emma's flowers and produced a length of rope from The Jolly Roger. Henry held the rope up, waiting for instructions. Regina gazed fondly at her son for a moment before starting again.
"Henry, you belong to two families. You have brought us all together as the Heart of the Truest Believer and now the Author. We all thank you for it. This ceremony will now be a representation of your connection to Emma and Killian, shown through their love for you and Killian's seafaring history.
"Emma, please drape the rope over your son's wrist." Emma grabbed the rope and hung an end over Henry's outstretched hand then kissed Henry's cheek. "Killian, please drape the rope over your stepson's wrist." Killian followed Emma's movements before using his skills to finish the knot with a few select tucks. Both of them now held parts of the rope, looping it through their wrists, while the ends were woven into a knot around Henry's hand. "This knot represents the joining of this family. May it be successful and loving. This knot, thanks to Killian, is the kind that only tightens when pressure is put on it. Let it remind you that when you fight your love for each other will not come undone. It will only make you stronger." Regina gave them a moment to sit with the knot. Killian was no longer staring at Emma but at Henry with this awe in his eyes. It warmed Emma. She knew she'd made the right decision for herself in marrying Killian but this showed her that it was the right decision for her son as well.
"Henry, you may want to let go for this part," she added quickly before concentrating again on the couple. Henry dropped the rope, knowing what was coming and hurried away with that little disgusted look the teenager had perfected when watching any of his parents kissing. Emma once again found herself laughing. "Killian, you may now kiss your bride."
Killian's kiss cut Emma's laughs of. The force of it pushed her backwards but he caught her, like he always would. What followed was a meeting of lips and tongues and teeth and tears. Emma's own hands went up to his face, running her fingers through his gelled hair and messing it up just the way she liked it. Killian moaned in response, a hint of what was to come for them that night.
A cheer went up from the audience, broken only by David's pointed coughing, finally breaking them apart. Emma and Killian turned to their guests.
"Storybrooke, it is my great honour to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Killian Jones."