"I really can fix it myself Emma." Killian sighed and craned his neck up to where the young blonde sat perched atop the crate he was sitting up against. Her brow was furrowed in concentration from spending her entire focus to align a needle through a small rip made in one of his shirts. "Really, any sea faring man is more than capable of handling a thread and needle himself."
Even though he was happy at the thought of having Emma want to help him fix his clothes, he still felt the need to defend his own capabilities. She spared him a skeptic look, with a perfectly arched brow before returning her focus to her task.
"It isn't because of my sex I'm doing this." She quipped, tightening the thread before making another stitch.
"I know that." He sighed, turning away again, and twiddling his thumbs. "I just don't want you spending our quality time together sewing my shirt."
"Hmmm do you have any better suggestions that can be done with our quality time?" She giggled.
He paused and pretended to think over the question before turning to her with what could only be described as a sinful look. A quirked brow and a sly smile that answered enough exactly what he would prefer to be doing.
"That can wait until after I'm done practicing. Matthews has been teaching me how to use a thread and needle, and I wanted to practice on something I didn't purposefully rip."
"If Matthews taught you than you've no doubt mastered the art already, love." Killian sighed and craned his head back, so it bumped against her thigh. "They say no one sews better than a surgeon."
She smiled down at him, dropping the shirt in her lap to run a hand across his bangs lovingly.
"Thank god for that." Emma smiled down at him. "How many wounds did he have to patch you up for?"
"One, maybe two, I think. Nothing serious."
"You're lucky then." He smiled at her and rested his hand atop hers. Her needle froze and she eyed him carefully, meeting his blue eyes that sparkled playfully and full of such devotional love for her.
"Luckier than most for sure." He whispered, raising the hand to press a feather light kiss to it. Emma felt her cheeks flush, no matter how many times he kissed her hand it always set her heart racing. Playfully she poked him on the nose to shove him away.
"I'm almost done you flirt. Can't you wait a single minute?"
"A single minute yes, but twenty is a different story." He pouted earning her heartfelt laugh.
"I promise, and now you have a fixed shirt." Her grin dazzled him as she leapt off the crate and proudly held it up for his inspection. "Go on and check it, tell me if you could have done any better."
He took the proffered garment and ran a quizzical eye over it, knowing Emma would not be pleased if he was less than sincere. He fingered over where he knew the rip was. Once. Twice. Then looked to her with a truly proud smile.
"I don't think I could ever have done better." He beamed to her, happy to see the same smile reflected on her face.
"It seems I'm getting the hang of life here then." She grinned and waggled the needle threateningly at him. "I think I'm ready for the next challenge then!"
His smile slowly began to fade, as his eyes raced over her face. Her own smile dropped, and she thought over what she said, trying to find something wrong with her statement.
"What is it?" She whispered, her own emerald eyes filling with concern. He just chuckled, albeit hoarsely and took hold of her face in his hands.
"Marry me, Emma Swan." He whispered. Looking at her with all the hope in the world. She blinked, confused at the sudden arise of the statement.
"What?" She asked dumbly, blinking up at him in confusion. He seemed to take a shuddering breath in, his hands drifting away from her face and running along the sides of her arms before taking a gentle hold of her hands. She worried for a moment that he would play it off as a joke, ignore it and move on, like several other boys had done when asking her a serious question in the past, when he slowly sank to one knee before her. One hand released hers to dig into his jacket pocket and finally he fished out a small ring that he held up for her to see. With a silent gasp, she was in awe at the beautiful sapphire ring. Though it was small, it held the same color of his eyes wrapped between two smaller diamonds that contrasted the deep blue. It was the prettiest ring she had ever set eyes on.
"I love you Emma Swan." He declared to her, his voice quaking a little. His tongue darted out to wet his lips before he continued. "I love spending everyday with you. I love waking up and watching you discover and learn and teach me with you. I am a better man because I have you in my life. And because of that, I never want to be parted from you. Please…please do me the highest honor and accept my hand in marriage." His eyes never left hers, and Emma could only gape at the confession.
She never knew what to expect when she and Killian started having a relationship. She didn't think to wonder what would ever come of it or the soul bond for that matter. But here he was, her best friend, her soul mate, on one knee before her asking her to marry him. To stay with him forever, in every sense of the word. Across the bond she could feel the hesitation and anxiety flooding through.
Fear. Hope. Love. Cycling through repeatedly until she herself felt sick from the wait. She knew she wanted to stay with him, had told him weeks ago when she had counted her eighteenth birthday and opened about the anger, she felt towards her birth parents. She gave up hope to ever return to her own world, of ever really finding her birth family and accepted the life she had with Killian. She was happy with it. And now he was offering her more, offering her a chance to have a real family, with him.
She already knew her answer, before he even officially asked her. Emma smiled to him, tears filtering her eyes as she nodded happily.
"Yes." She grinned to him. Eagerly trying to pull Killian up so to properly hug and kiss him. "Yes, yes."
Killian just starred at her a moment, disbelieving what his ears were hearing before he fumbled onto his feet. Her smile, so wide and happy began to rise on his own face.
She had said yes.
He swept a hand to the back of her head, digging his fingers into that luscious soft hair and pulled her forward into a kiss. She eagerly clutched hold of the lapels on his jacket, standing on raised toes to be even with him as their kiss led on. Her lips bruising against his as they attacked each other. Happily. Lovingly. It was only when they parted for breath that Killian realized he was still clenching the ring tightly between his fingers.
"May I?" He asked, holding it up for her. Emma smiled and nodded eagerly, extending her left hand. He delicately caught it and slipped the ring onto her third finger. "A perfect fit."
She looked at it, raising it up to look at it curiously.
"It's beautiful." She whispered. "But where did you get it?"
"From Liam, it was our mother's."
She blinked up at him, shock and awe alight in her eyes.
"Your mother's?"
"Aye, it was…one of the few things we were able to keep from her." He blinked, cupping her face in his hands once again. "I…I don't remember much about her. But I remember she was kind, and beautiful, and I remember her wearing this ring."
"Are…are you sure you want me to wear it then?" Emma asked, already lowering a hand to the ring. She felt self-conscious having such a treasured heirloom on her finger, scared that one day he would ask for it back. She learned early on in her childhood to not get attached to things that could possibly be taken away. People or otherwise.
Reading the thoughts on her face, Killian lifted her gaze back to her and smiled kindly to her.
"Don't you dare try to take that off tonight." He teased, raising her hands and pressing kisses to both. "It was my mother's, and now…now it's yours."
She smiled to him, moving one of her hands to cup his cheek.
"I promise to treasure it then…always."
"I know love." He smiled, leaning closer so his breath hovered along her pink lips. "That's why Liam gave it to me."
She was leaning up to capture his lips once again when he surprised her by taking two steps back. His blue eyes wide with surprise.
"Liam! Bloody hell we need to tell him!"
"Yeah, but…right now?" She asked with a coy shrug. "I was wanting to…celebrate ourselves first."
His smile grew at that suggestion before pulling her forward in a searing kiss.
"As much as I agree with the sentiment." He parted away from her with his own sly smirk. "I think it would be better to do that with a bit more…privacy."
Emma grinned at the adorable English way he said the word.
"And I want to make sure my brother hears the news from me. No doubt everyone will be talking about it now."
"Really?" She whispered. She knew they were never truly alone, but she thought at least sea faring men wouldn't take to gossiping.
"Afraid so." He chuckled and pressed one more kiss to her hand, before clenching it tightly in his. "Come, let's go and tell him now, and then find somewhere more private to be together."
Giggling she nodded and followed after him down to the captain's quarters. Standing outside, Killian raised a hand to rap on the door lightly and waited at her side with an eager boyish grin.
"Yes, yes, come in." Liam's voice sighed and the two stumbled in with each other. Liam was sitting at his desk, looking over maps with Matthews sitting beside him. The captain looked up at the two, and blinked at them confusedly.
"Well, why are you two grinning like fools?"
Emma couldn't help but snort at that and Killian's grin grew wider, even though the hold on her left hand tightened.
"You would be too brother, if Miss Swan agreed to marry you."
Liam looked from Killian to Emma and then an elated smile grew across his face.
"Many congratulations to you both then!" He beamed, his jovial side shinning through over whatever concern he had with the maps. "Emma, welcome to the family!"
"Thank you." She smiled and looked up to Killian with the same happy grin.
"Well, when do you plan to get married?"
His immediate question was shocking, but paired with Matthew's choked gulp on his drink, made Emma curious. Killian just blinked, a little stunned by the sudden question.
"Oh, well…we didn't think that far yet." He supplied helpfully. "It would probably be best to wait until we make it to our home port."
He looked to Emma and held her hand so gently in his, as if concerned it would disappoint her.
"It's only a few weeks away."
Emma opened her mouth to assure him waiting a few weeks would be no trouble when Liam clapped his hand together eagerly.
"But why wait when we get home? We should do it sooner?"
"Sooner?" The loving couple echoed.
"Liam, are you suggesting we get married on the ship?" Emma asked, glancing to Killian she no doubt saw that the idea of getting married on the beloved Jewel would be a dream come true for him.
"Of course, not Emma, you are a lady and deserve a chance to be married inside a church with some…privacy on your wedding night. I was just suggesting that we…make land once more. We are right along the coast, it won't take more than a few days to dock in another village."
"Are you sure brother? Will that be acceptable?"
"It will be, I'm sure no sailor aboard this ship will object for a day or two on land, especially if it means partaking in an officer's wedding." He grinned and glanced back to Matthews who seemed to be hiding his own smile. "Besides Matthews was just saying how much he needed more…"
"Arrowroot." The surgeon drawled out, looking annoyed to the captain before offering a kind smile to Emma. "Helps with circulation and digestion you know."
She nodded, aware of the benefits from their lesson. Rising from his seat he walked over to the two and pressed a hand to Emma's shoulder.
"Congratulations Emma." He smiled and extended a hand to Killian. "You both will be happy together. Congratulations to you all."
He sourly said the last statement with a cold look to Liam before excusing himself and leaving them to their celebrations.
"What was that about?" Killian asked his brother with a skeptic brow. Liam's grin was amused as he steered the two over to his desk table.
"He just lost a bet with the men, no worries." Liam announced and walked over to his cabinet, pulling out the secret stash of whiskey he had. "Let's forget about that and toast to your engagement and find a suitable port for you both to be made man and wife."
Emma and Killian just exchanged a small shrug, unwilling to question the matter any deeper, overcome with the drinks and happy celebration of their engagement.
.
.
.
The seaside town that Liam and Killian settled on was tiny in comparison to where they last stopped in Misthaven. Once again, Emma stood near the bow of the ship to watch as she glided across the waves up to the harbor. Unlike the last port, it wasn't secure stone docks but long rickety wooden docks that extended out to meet the ship. In her opinion just one minor miscalculation from steering the ship in could send the whole wooden maze crumbling into the shallows. But Killian was masterful at guiding the ship exactly where she needed to go, giving her and the other men enough time to tie The Jewel to the docks. She was just finishing securing one of the knots when Killian walked up to her, his hat under his arm and extended an arm to her. With a shy smile she accepted it, a little self-conscious now that they were in port and she didn't think to put on one of her dresses.
But the twinkle in Killian's eyes paired with his disarming grin, made the worries disappear. No, Killian saw her like this all the time, even if the townsfolk would get a rise over seeing a woman wearing leggings and a tunic after sailing with men, it didn't matter a bit. She was here with him. And she would have a chance to dazzle him on their wedding day, for that she was certain.
Looping her arm through his, she pressed up to kiss his cheek with a wide smile of her own.
"Are we ready to depart?" She grinned, ready to stretch her legs and explore the area with Killian again.
He smiled, pulling her closer to him as they descended the gangplank. Ever the gentleman he helped her down first onto the dock.
"Depart yes, but I have an errand first before I am free to escort you about."
"And what would that be?" She whispered, running a hand along his chest under the guise of straightening his jacket. His shuddering breath had her giggling as she angled her head to look up at him. Coy enough to bat her eyelashes in the process.
"I need to go and clear a few matters with the harbor master." Killian paused and took hold of her hands in his. Placing a quick kiss at her fingers he leaned closer to her. "It will just take a few minutes, then we can go and find something to eat that doesn't include hard tack, gruel, or lemons."
Emma hummed in agreement and with a sultry smile leaned closer to steal a kiss from his lips.
"Sounds amazing. I'm going to go wait on hard land then."
"Land dweller."
"Sea dog."
This time he stole a kiss, taking hold of her chin in his fingers to deepen it. She let out a small moan when his tongue entered her mouth, dancing along with hers and sparking the bond to life.
Love. Love. Love. Love. It was consuming.
She pulled away and smiled to him.
"Let's save this for later when we aren't surrounded by sailors." She whispered and giggled when he prickled at the presence of unknown men who were watching their display. It made for the perfect getaway for her as she walked away down the dock way. The moment her feet made on dirt land she let out a small sigh of relief. She did like traveling around and didn't know what she would do on shore without Killian and Liam, but she was glad to be back on dry land.
Finding a small alcove of shade, she leaned against a post and watched everyone around her. It was a smaller village than Misthaven, but there was still plenty of action to be seen in the worn paths and vendors with their stalls. Even if everything seemed a dull brown shade, it was different than what she saw at sea every day.
The sound of a child's laugh caught her attention and she turned about to catch sight of a small little boy tossing a ball up and down before him. She smiled, watching the child play with himself, he looked about six or maybe seven, with a large mop of untimely brown curls. She wondered if he was an orphan just playing in the streets or if he was waiting on his parents.
The little boy tossed his ball again and it rolled into the road. Right in the direct path of a fast-approaching cart of heavy good no doubt for a cargo ship. Emma wasted no time in bolting for the boy, hoping to make for him in time.
"Watch it!" She shouted, and with no time at all did the only thing she could think of and tackled him. She barely caught sight of a horse hoof ready to come down and crush her before her body finally rolled away with the child tucked inside her. They rolled a few feet away until her back slammed into large crates from the harbor making her let out a curse under her breath.
People swarmed around her then.
"Oh, my word!"
"Miss!"
"Are you alright!"
Several voices crowded around her asking for her wellbeing. Emma couldn't make out what to respond to with the throbbing of her head, and feeling dizzy, but she sat up with the child sniffling in her lap.
"Are you alright?" She asked the boy, scanning him for any injury. The child just looked at her, shocked and slowly nodded before sniffling again.
"Bae! Bae!" A voice shouted from the crowd. "Please! Please let me pass! That's my boy!"
A man, well past middle age pushed his way through the crowd with much difficulty, not that the crowd made it any easier for him.
"Papa!" The child cried and fumbled out of Emma's lap to skirt across to the man. He finally pushed himself to the front of the gathered crowd and lowered himself to the ground to catch the boy. The fear across his face told Emma enough about how he cared for the boy. The way only a parent can care for their child.
"Son what happened? What did you do?" He gripped the boy making him face his fearful gaze. The child just sniffled in response and seemed to glance over his shoulder to Emma. Smiling to the boy, she hoisted herself up and dusted herself off as best she could before walking over to the two. The man noticed her, and raised up, stumbling on his feet with the majority of his weight resting against a wooden staff. She could tell from looking at his one foot it was broken badly from something and never set to heal properly.
"Hi! It's not his fault, he was just trying to get his ball and didn't notice a cart coming his way."
"A cart!" The man squeaked in surprise, running a hand over the boy to check for injury before glancing back to Emma. "And you…saved him?"
"Uhhh yeah?" She shrugged. He looked up at her with teary grateful eyes, his lip quivering as he hugged the child closer to him.
"Thank you." He croaked. "I don't know how to thank you. He means more to me than anything."
"I can see that." She tried to smile to him. "Really, its fine. I'm glad he's okay."
Looking at them, she was glad that she spared the boy any pain. But more than anything, she was glad that he had such a concerned father for his wellbeing.
"Goodbye Bae." She smiled to him with a wave and looked to his father. "Goodbye Mr.-"
"Rumpelstiltskin." He offered, catching her hand delicately in both of his to shake. Emma's mouth hung agape at the name, unsure of where she heard it before. "It was a pleasure to meet you my dear."
By his curious look and pause she knew he was expecting to hear hers.
"Miss Swan." She supplied, airing on the side of caution. She didn't know if he was going to be a creepy gratuitous stranger that would try to hunt her down to repay her, and in two days it wouldn't be her name anymore.
"Miss Swan." He repeated with a kind smile. "A beautiful name for such a kind and beautiful lady."
"Thank you, that's too kind." She felt a familiar tug across the bond, from Killian trying to find her. "I need to be getting back to my fiancé."
"Of course, Miss Swan." He nodded, placing a hand to his son's back and steering him away. "And bless you."
Emma just smiled kindly to him and turned just in time to make out Killian looking around trying to find her. When he finally saw her his face lit up in a happy smile until he noticed the scratches and dirt on her.
"Emma!" He gasped at her in shock, gently reaching out a hand and taking hold of her arm. "What in bloody hell happened to you? I left you alone for a few minutes. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine Killian." She tried to appease him, gently pushing aside his hands that were running over her body to inspect that no bones were broken. Liam and Matthews both joined them, both looking over her with shock. It made herself consciously tuck a few loose pieces of her hair behind her ear.
Surely, I don't look that shocking.
"Emma, what happened to you?" Liam echoed his brother's question.
"The boy, he was running in front of a cart and would have been trampled if I didn't get him out of the way. I just…reacted and tackled him across the road."
"Bravo Miss Swan." Matthews smiled, earning two displeasured looks from the Jones brothers. "Although, I believe perhaps I should take a look at those cuts just to be on the safe side."
"Aye, let's get to the inn love." Killian agreed, wrapping an arm around the small of her back to push her after his brother and Matthews towards the inn.
The Rosehen wasn't a beautiful inn, but the friendly inn keeper and his wife happily welcomed them. Of course by their shocked expressions to her state, Emma didn't refuse the inn keeper's wife when she asked if she would like to see to herself in their living quarters. Emma looked at her reflection in the looking glass and understood the shock on everyone's face. Her blonde hair was covered in dirt from the path, same with her face and all along her clothes. With soap and water she managed to clean the dust from her hair and scrub the dirt that caked on her skin, hissing as it burned through a few of the open scratches. She would have to wash her clothes that night.
Returning to her friends, she took a seat at their table, and happily took the mug that Killian offered up to her.
"Thank you." She smiled at him and tilted back the bitter ale.
"My pleasure." He smiled, it was a bit tense and she could feel across the bond.
Worry. Fear. Love. Raising a brow in question she leaned closer to whisper into his ear.
"I'm fine Killian, a few scratches is nothing to worry about."
He sighed heavily and raised his own ale to his mouth, taking a large gulp.
"I know love. You did well in wanting to save a child. I'm just selfish in never wanting anything to happen to you."
She smiled, brushing a hand through his hair and trailing her hand to the back of his neck.
"Please, you would have done the same. We're both equal that way. Half your stories start with you jumping into trouble."
"Starting with how I rescued you if I recall." He beamed, his mood lightening. "I hope you at least advised the boy to be more careful. He might not be as fortunate next time to have such a beautiful savior to keep him out of harm's way."
"You don't need to worry about that." She let out a breathy laugh. "His father was right there and gave him a scolding."
"His father?" He blinked at her with surprise. "Why didn't he try to stop the boy then?"
Emma pondered it a moment, breaking off a piece of bread and cheese that was served for their table and glanced to see Liam and Matthews were listening as well.
"I guess…I think…he had an old injury?"
"An injury?" Matthews repeated, a bit skeptically. It seemed the three men were intrigued the most about this minor detail.
"Yes, I think his foot was broken…badly." She added, though it seemed to do nothing between the three of them. "What is it?"
"No man, let alone no father," Liam started, his voice taking a cold tone she was unused to hearing. "Should step aside to let someone else protect his family."
"But he didn't step aside Liam, he might not have known the boy got into trouble."
"Perhaps, perhaps not. If he did know though, and allowed someone else, to let a young woman as yourself, jump into harm's way to save his own child, its abysmal."
"I think you're jumping to conclusions Liam, the man was…tearful and…weepy to know his son was in danger. I don't think he was being purposefully neglectful."
"Then I hope he teaches his son better awareness." He sighed. "Before the child can really hurt himself."
Emma shrugged in agreement, she knew why Liam turned so cross over it. Why he had such a harsh conception of father's, considering how he was older than Killian when their father left, it would make sense he had a harsh opinion towards them. One she wasn't going to try to change today at least.
"It was odd, the boy's father had a very funny name." She offered a smile, hoping this would lighten the mood. "Rumplstein, no Rumpelstiltskin."
"Rumpelstiltskin." Killian made a funny face. "That's an unfortunate name."
"It is, but the odd thing is," She propped her elbows up on the table and propped her chin on one of her hands. "In my land there some story with someone like that. I forget the details about it all, something about spinning straw into gold and wanting a princess's first-born baby."
"Really?" Killian's blue eyes sparkled with interest.
"Yeah, I was shocked for a moment. If this is a realm with magic…, do you think other stories from my land could be true here? Other…fairytales? Have you heard of a Princess Aurora?" Killian and Liam exchanged glances before looking at her in disbelief.
"Princess Belle? Ariel? King Arthur?"
"Never heard of them." Emma bit her lip, looking at him with a raised teasing brow.
"What about Snow White?" She whispered with an impish grin.
"Snow what?" He chuckled, taking a hold of his drink.
"Snow White. You know, fairest in the land, greatest beauty in the realm. Poisoned and woken by true love's kiss."
"The only greatest beauty in the realm I see is you." He winked at her. "And you'll be woken every day by your true love's kiss, that I can assure you."
"Oh god," Liam rolled his eyes and got up from the table. "Don't you have something else to be doing today brother?"
Emma giggled at the embarrassed look that came across Killian's face.
"He's right that was just, horribly mushy even for you to Killian."
"Is that so?" He raised a brow and shrugged. "Then I guess you don't want to learn about the surprise I had in order for you today."
"What? Surprise? What is it?"
"No, no. It's probably too mushy and romantic for you. But I thought it would be nice seeing as we are getting married." He sighed dramatically and tilted back the remnants of his drink. "Besides I'm sure after your…ordeal, what I had in store would definitely not suit you then."
"Oh, come on. Please?" She crooned. "I want to see it."
He raised a brow at her and sighed dramatically before sweeping an arm around her, drawing her close to smack a kiss to her cheek.
"Well, since you insist!" He pulled her up to her feet and after laying a few coins to the table, took hold of her hand and led the way to the front door. Emma smiled and followed along with him around the side of the inn to what appeared to be a stable full of horses. Killian raised a hand to wave over a young boy with the reins of a brown horse in hand.
"What is that?" Emma asked watching Killian as he walked over to take the reins from the rider. Giving the boy a nod in thanks, he brought the animal closer to her.
"Do they not have horses where you are from too Swan?" He teased with a playful glint in his eyes.
"They do. But I mean, if the surprise is a horse, I hate to tell you we can't keep him as a pet. He's a little too big for traveling."
"Of course, we aren't going to keep him. We're going to ride him that's the surprise!"
"Ride? You mean both of us? On that!"
He laughed and leaned closer to her, so his mouth hovered along the shell of her ear.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say you're scared."
There was a silent beat when he pulled away and studied her face with a small gasp that lead into a sly smile. Her stomach flipped.
Anxious. Fear. Unease.
"You are!"
"Killian-"
"You're afraid of riding the animal."
"Killian!" Her tone both a plea and an order to halt his teasing. His laughter died as he took a few steps closer to her.
"Alright, it's only a joke Emma. But there's nothing to fear. She won't hurt you. Honestly, are you to say people do not ride in your world?"
"Not normal people."
"I'm starting to question this society you live in. You don't use swords, you don't dance, don't sail, don't ride. Is there anything you do have?"
"Indoor plumbing?" She guessed after a moment and then laughing at his confused expression before shaking her head at him muttering that it was something too hard for her to explain.
"Well, that changes today. Like the other things you are going to ride a horse. It's one of the best things in life, to do on land anyways. Now the first thing you must do, is establish trust with the animal. Let her see you and know that you aren't going to hurt her. And the best way to do that is to give her a good few strokes, as to get used to you. So, go ahead love, introduce yourself!" He turned to her with the goofiest excited grin she had seen on his face since accepting the proposal. A smile that declared he was loving life.
Rolling her eyes at him playfully she turned to the animal that was calm despite the surrounding noises and hesitantly raised a hand and approached. When it contacted the nose of the horse, she gave it a few light rubs as she had seen in movies. She smiled at the horse, and dared a few steps closer, hushing it with a whispered cooed.
"Alright…Horse. I'm Emma, and this idiot right here is Killian, my stupid fiancé who thinks it's a good idea to ride you today. So, please don't kill us."
She felt one of his arms wrap around her shoulders before bringing her closer to his chest, pressing a wet sloppy kiss to her cheek.
"I love it when you call me your fiancé. Make sure to keep mentioning it today while you still can."
Emma turned her head to look up at him and smiled.
"I'll try to keep that in mind." She pressed a sweet chaste kiss to his lips before pulling back. "If I can that is."
She slipped away from his hold before he could pull her in for another kiss and walked around the side to look at the saddle.
"So, what do we do now?"
"Now, just put your leg in the stir up, and swing atop it. Or I can get on and pull you up."
Emma raised a brow before putting a boot in the stirs and with Killian's guided assistance on her waist, swung herself on with ease. It was cute that he always offered to do things for her, but she wasn't going to fall completely dependent on him for everything. Though looking down she felt her breath give a little at the height of being on another living animal. One wrong move and it could charge or throw her, do anything really. She wondered how people would try to ride elephants like this.
"Alright, now scoot up just a little and I'll swing up behind you." She did as instructed and with far more ease and grace Killian swung up behind her, pulling her back so she was flush up against him. His arms wrapped around her, embracing her from behind so he could take the reins, while his mouth lowered down over her ear. "And now my lovely fiancé. We fly."
With a click of his tongue and a flick of the reins the horse started trotting off. Jostling them both atop it as they left the village and once, they were clear of pedestrians around them he flicked the reins again and they were truly riding. Trees and farms flew past them, with the wind attacking her hair, it was probably the same as driving fast with an open window but doing so astride a horse felt totally different. Emma couldn't fight the smile from her face as she cast a glance back at Killian.
"This is amazing!" She grinned earning a smirk in return before he urged the horse faster. They were truly flying over the terrain, every gallop sending her a thrill of adrenaline. They rode for a quarter of an hour before Killian brought the horse to a slow trot. Leading the way through trees until they passed through a clearing and Emma's mouth dropped.
It was a beautiful meadow, surrounded by hundreds of wildflowers. All of them beautiful soft pink buds that looked like roses sprouting from the earth. She had never seen a field like this.
Sensing her delight, Killian halted the horse and leapt down behind her, extending a hand up to her that she graciously took and came down with him.
"They're all so beautiful." She smiled. With a grin he bent over and plucked one up, a knife handy to break off the threatening thorns before offering it to her.
"For you, my love." He winked. With a teasing grin she accepted it.
"Do you think…" She bit her lip, shyly, lowering her gaze to the flower she twirled in her hands.
"What love?" He whispered, taking hold of her hand to give it a reassuring squeeze. "We're going to be married tomorrow, there's nothing you can't tell me Emma."
"I know that." She huffed, still blushing a little. "It's just…embarrassing for me to ask."
"Ask it anyways." He whispered softly, brushing a hand against the apple of her cheek. "I will never judge you."
"I was just wondering if you think it would be alright for me to pick some, I figured…since we're getting married and all-"
He silenced her with a sweet kiss.
"Pick as many as you want Emma. We have all afternoon here, and I couldn't think of a better place to spend the day with you."
Her response was to wrap her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him closer for a kiss. He fell into it with little complaint, his mouth parting open for her tongue to intermingle with his. She stepped up, moving closer to him as he adjusted back a step, but with a root or something on the ground he ended up losing his balance. With her leaning against him, they fell into the grass as a clumsy tumble of limbs.
Emma giggled as he managed to hold her to his chest, rolling protectively to catch most of the blow onto his back.
"It seems today we're both finding ourselves on the ground."
"Aye, must be the curse we face for getting married on land as opposed to out of sea."
"It really would have been romantic though." She smiled, leaning closer, her lips a breath from his. "Getting married at sunset, where it all began."
His hand came up, disappearing beneath the curtain of golden curls to dig gently into her scalp, angling her head for better access. His teeth brushing against her plump bottom lip in a teasing nibble before parting them to deepen the kiss. With a small roll of his hips to flip them both into the grass, Emma giggling as the flowers brushed against her fair skin. She ran a finger up, petting one of the buds gently as he watched her, fascinated to see her amongst the bed of flowers.
"What are weddings like in your world then?" He whispered, taking a lock of her unbound hair to play with between his fingers. Emma looked up at him with wide green eyes then diverted her gaze.
"Oh." She blinked, shocked at the sudden curiosity. "That's…kind of hard to talk about."
"Does it bring up bad memories for you?" His eyes scanned over her, and she could feel his presence over the bond trying to detect a loose memory from her thoughts. She swatted the feeling away as she pulled herself to rest on her arms.
"No. That's kind of the problem. I've never been to a real wedding before. So, I don't know what they are really like." She thought it over. "But from what I hear, they seem to be really big in my world. People spend a lot of time and money on them. The brides get very special dresses that take a while to be made up. They get large cakes and special food made, because they invite everyone they know. Sometimes I hear they even go somewhere far off to get married. Like on a beach or in a different country."
"Oh." He replied looking away. She frowned at the emotions she felt across the bond. Remorse. Shame. Hurt. "Are you upset it won't be like that?"
"Killian." She whispered, rolling herself over so she was halfway sprawled across his chest. Aligning her head with his so she could gaze into the crystal blue eyes. "I honestly didn't think I would get married let alone have a wedding. Besides, I don't think it would be as fun to do all that anyways. People are always stressed about them, and they seem like a complete waste of money to me."
Her gaze wandered up to the clouds until she felt his hand on her cheek turning her back to him.
"No, that's not the real reason." He read her perfectly. She felt a prickle of a tear in the corner of her eye that he wiped away with the pad of his thumb.
"It's just…weddings are usual a big thing for family." She trailed off, becoming more interested in a nearby blade of grass. "And I don't have one of those."
There was a moment of silence between them before she felt him move closer.
"Well…. tomorrow you will."
"Yes, I will." She leaned closer, allowing her breath to brush against his pink lips. "Tomorrow I get to be a part of a family."
"You officially become a Jones." He whispered back rewarded with her smile.
"That's better than any stupid wedding anyways."
Their lips pressed together, igniting the passion that burned between them, that continued to thrum everyday in their passing. Parting briefly, her eyes roamed over his face. The perfectly handsome face she had come to love so much, had spent so many nights dreaming of. His eyes slowly opened, confused at why she stopped. Biting her lip, she raised one leg and straddled herself across his lap. The way his eyes widened at the sudden position made her want to laugh, but instead she ran a hand down the side of his face.
Her eyes settled on his pink lips, drifting closer to them once again to capture their attention. She parted them with ease, fervently entering his mouth with her tongue with an aggressive fervor. Killian blinked at the sudden approach, before returning the same. All day. He waited all day just for the chance to kiss her as she properly should. In public it was always sweet kisses, chaste kisses, kisses to express how he truly felt for her. And how he knew she too felt for him.
But in private, alone in a solitary field with only the beautiful flowers surrounding them.
That was where the passion ruled. The passion that had him pulling, albeit gently, her hair back for her to gasp in shock as he took control of the kiss. The momentary breath that had him trailing kisses down the side of her throat, gentle caresses over the points of her pulse. His nose brushed against the corner of her jaw, inhaling the sweet lilac and citrus scent she left in her wake. God how he loved that scent. Daringly, he nipped at her jaw, thrilled at the sudden gasp she elicited before replacing it with a gentle kiss.
"Killian." Emma breathily moaned, leaning forward and nipping at his ear. Pulling away again to capture his lips. He moaned into her kiss, gripping her shoulder then to pull her away briefly.
"Lass," he whispered, closing his eyes to her face. Knowing if he looked up those emerald eyes he loved so much, so full of want he would lose himself. "Lass, we must stop."
"Why?" She whispered, occupying herself with his neck, kissing along his well-groomed facial hair.
"Because" he hissed as she fixated on a particular spot. "I want to respect you."
She pulled away then, blinking at him as he finally looked into her eyes. The admiration and care for her shining through.
"I want to lay with you…as man and wife." He whispered honestly.
Emma blinked, taking a moment to collect herself as she nodded. She knew if the roles were reversed, he would honor that wish, and she felt a little scandalized with how eager she was ready to have sex in a field. Even if it was a beautiful field with the most perfect man, she had ever kissed in it. He smiled to her, brushing his fingers through her curls so gently.
"I want to more than anything, Emma. I just want to wait until we are officially married.
Her green eyes ran over his face than seemed to glint with delight as another smile glowed across her face.
"Then marry me now." She whispered. He blinked at her in confusion before raising one brow in question. "Marry me as I am right here, right in this field."
She leaned closer, her eyelashes fluttering closed as her whisper caressed his cheek.
"Just us. You're all I'll ever need." Killian looked at her a moment as if she was insane before capturing her face in his hands and dragging her forward into a welcoming kiss.
"You have no idea how happy you make me feel when you say that." He grinned.
"Actually, I do." She huffed a laugh. And it was true, across the bond both of their emotions were flaring. Feeding into each other as a continual spiral that knew no end.
Happy. Love. Happy. Love. Happy.
"How shall I marry you then?" He whispered, standing up and then taking her hand to help her to her feet. "What shall I do?"
Blushing, Emma truthfully didn't know, looking around she smiled and pointed to a willow tree on the edge of the field. The two walked over there, hand in hand in the shade, Emma still clutching the flower he gave her to her stomach as a bridal bouquet. They halted underneath the tree then, he turned to her expectantly and Emma couldn't help but laugh.
"I don't know what to do honestly." She admitted. "I just…thought I was being…romantic."
He smiled to her, lovingly squeezing her wrist.
"I like when you are romantic." He assured her. "I…I want to make a vow to you Emma, with just you and this tree as my witness."
He looked down, taking her hands in both of his, so the pink flower rose up between them.
"Emma Swan, I vow to always love you. To my dying day will I love you. I will always protect you, until my dying breath. I will never willingly abandon you and will fight to be worthy at your side." His words rung with such sincerity she found herself blinking back tears. She knew he didn't give these vows lightly; knew he understood the weight they would carry for her. "I will always fight for you Emma…for us. I won't give up on ever making you feel loved, and ever doing the best I can for you. I know…you seemed to have an…amazing world where you are from, but I will do my best to make your life with me amazing. I will try to give you a home, an adventure, and a family. Every day, for as long as I may live."
She blinked away tears, smiling at him before catching her breath.
"Killian Jones, I vow to always love you. From now until my dying day. I will protect you, with everything I have, until my dying breath. After a life of searching for belonging, I finally found it with you." She paused, squeezing his hand for strength and assurance. "I will never give up on you Killian, and I will fight for you with everything I have, because you are my home now. I will never abandon you and will support you in any way I can. I will sail with you and see the world with you and be there for you. Because you are the family I've been searching for, and…and one day we will have a family of our own. No matter what happens, I will always love and fight for you too. And I will never give up on you. Never."
And only two souls who felt absolute abandonment understood the gravity and finality of that promise. And the beauty it promised for a loving future. The two kissed, accepting themselves and their own vows as the vows as man and wife.