A/N: The grand gesture chapter is finally here, been looking forward to sharing this with you. Moving forward to their Happily Ever After moment. The next chapter will be the final, wrapping it up with an epilogue.
Thanks to all who still reads this, makes me very happy to see all the hits, kudos and comments. They all mean the world to me. Thank you.
Enjoy.
Chapter 15Killian shook the nervous tension from his body as he waited in the backstage area; it was only ten minutes until he and the band were due to perform at the Academy Awards. It was crazy to think about, and he tried to block out everything else but focus on the song he was about to sing.
Everyone else seemed as restless as him, Kristoff had his arms wrapped around his pregnant fiance, aye the bastard had proposed at Christmas. The couple were expecting a summer baby. Anna was barely showing, but her dress hid the baby bump. Her sister Elsa had opted to dress in a tight-fitted dress that would definitely show the world that she in no way or form was pregnant, not with Killian's or any other bloke's baby. The rumours had gradually died down, but he'd been so reclusive to the press that they had gotten little to play around with new pictures of him.
Graham gazed at the monitors with a watchful eye, as the next category was Best Adapted Screenplay, the one Ruby was nominated in. Her adaptation of Emma's story was credited highly amongst her peers.
Killian kept pacing back and forth, keeping half an eye on the monitors. When everyone around him started to cheer, he realized Ruby had won. He vaguely paid attention to Ruby's speech but his ears picked up on her mentioning Emma, thanking her for writing an amazing story she was able to adapt for the big screen and Ruby finished with, "I know you have so much more in store for you. Girl, go get him!"
Was Emma here?" Kilian peered out as best he could from backstage but the sea of face gave him no indication where Emma might be. He was one of the nominees and had been entering the venue at a different time than the guest party of Mills Movies.
"Alright there mate?" Will clasped Killian's shoulder, shaking him slightly.
"Aye, just a little jittery." He looked up at the screens, Ruby was exiting the stage and was met by Graham who hugged his girlfriend in a tight hug, giving the backstage photographers enough material to fill a whole page on the love story between the bass player and scriptwriter.
A backstage personnel ushered the band to get ready and Graham had to pull away from Ruby who waved at them all, giving Killian a wink. Whatever that meant Killian had no idea but brushed it off and turned his focus on the song he'd be singing.
When they walked on stage the crowd applauded and whistled, Killian gave them his usual swaggery grin and adjusted the guitar around his shoulders. Kristoff set the beat with his drumsticks and soon Killain was pulled into the song, the song he'd written for Emma, his heart cried knowing that he'd most likely blown it all, ignoring her texts. Halfway into the song, he was so overwhelmed that he had to close his eyes and focus on giving each word that extra heartfelt meaning as they rolled over his lips.
As the final notes faded out into the grand theatre there was an unusual hush over the crowd and Killian panicked, what had gone wrong? But that was when he heard the distinct clicking of heels against the polished stage behind him.
Gripping the neck of his guitar he slowly turned around and his eyes landed on a vision clad in a pale lilac princess-style dress.
"Emma?" His voice sounded breathless in the monitor behind him.
Emma rubbed her arm and shrugged and swept out her hands. "I want to be your forever girl." She bit her lips looking at him with a nervousness that had his heart hammer in his chest.
"Uh?"
Emma took another step closer. "I want to be your forever girl. I… I know you wrote that song for me all those years ago. I'm sorry I threw it all away because of the press and social media craziness." Emma took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, can you forgive me?" Her lips wobbled as she said once again, "Let me be your forever girl, forever."
Killian unplugged his guitar and pushed it behind his back before he stepped closer to her, close enough for her perfume to reach him. "Emma, I'm the bloody fool who ignored my forever girl, I'm the one who should apologize. I'm sorry." He reached out his hand and when she placed her hand delicately in his he pulled her into his arms and wrapped his arm around her cradling her against his shoulder. "You'll forever be my forever girl, Emma."
Emma hiccuped in his arms and when she finally looked up at him her eyes welled with tears. "Yeah?"
"Aye, forever." Cupping her face in his hands he bowed over her and captured her lips in a deep kiss. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he registered the roar of the audience behind him, but it was nothing compared to the drumming of his heart.
When they finally pulled away he kept gazing at her, her eyes sparkled with tears, happy ones. "Hi."
"Hi." He swiped over her cheek with his thumb.
Whistles and cheers were heard from the theatre, and Killian stole a glance over his shoulder. Several waved and hollered when they noticed him looking, and he tentatively waved back.
Emma snuggled closer to him, hiding her face from the crowd. "Can we get out of here?"
"Aye." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and scanned the stage, his band had already helped the stage crew to disassemble their simple setup. He looked down at the woman in his arms. "I can't believe you did this here."
Emma looked up at him, her eyes twinkling in the stage lights. "I can't believe it either," she said, chuckling.
"Oh?"
"It was Ruby's crazy idea to call Mrs. Mills and ask her to help me get backstage."
"Well, I'm not complaining one bit." He kissed her temple as they walked off the stage, crossing paths with the next presenter who grinned and gave them both thumbs up.
"Was that…?" Emma glanced over her shoulder
"Aye." Killian chuckled while Emma kept glancing over her shoulder as the elderly gentleman took the stage. "Did you know he played Captain Hook 32 years ago?"
"I know." Emma rolled her eyes and waved her hand toward the stage. "I love that movie." She turned around to peer back on stage. "He did the best version of Hook."
Killian cleared his throat and when she looked up at him he huffed in feigned indignation. "What about me?"
Emma laughed and patted his chest. "You'll always be my very own private Captain Hook." Her eyes roamed over his form. "Oh, should they ever need a Captain Hook in a new live production you should go to the audition for the role."
"You want me to keep acting?"
Emma shrugged, "Only if you want to, I've already experienced how crazy life in the spotlight can be."
"Should the offer come my way I'll think about it." Killian scanned the backstage area and noticed that his band had gathered nearby. Everyone seemed eager to speak with him and Emma. "Come."
His band crowded around them and congratulated their reunion, and while the main teasing came from Will, Killian grinned and threw his own retorts back at his mouthy agent.
Emma was by his side, smiling and took the attention in stride as the women started asking her how she'd managed to get backstage. The whole Oscar show set-up was a tight ship with strict rules on who should come backstage or not.
One of the backstage ushers came up and tapped Killian's shoulder. "Pardon, Mr. Jones we need you and your band to be on your seats in less than ten," the man told them, as he tapped his wristwatch.
Everyone started to head for the corridor leading to the doors where they could enter the seating area.
Emma's grip tightened around his hand and he looked at her. "What's the matter, love?"
"I should probably go to find my own seat." Emma pointed further down the corridor. "I sit up on the balcony."
"Ah, aye." Killian said with regret, "I suppose…"
"Mr. Jones, Miss. Swan." The usher from before followed them and gave them a huge smile. "My crew inside have rearranged some seats so there will be a seat for Miss. Swan next to you."
"Really?" Emma blinked in surprise.
"Oh, the producers want to have you next to one another after the stunt you just pulled," the man said with a grin. "I had heard the rumours about what would happen, I just never imagined you'd go through with it. You're a brave woman." He motioned for the door next to them. "Please follow Mr. Jones to your seat."
"You're my brave woman," Killian whispered before giving the man a polite nod and turning to follow his band out to find their seats.
The show went on and Emma barely managed to keep track of who won what. All she waited for was when the category Best Original Song would come up. She ignored whenever the camera crew panned over their row, halfway up into the large theatre room. It seemed as if her little stunt had pulled some new attention to Killian's band.
When Best Original Song flashed over the large background screen Emma grabbed Killian's hand as the presenters walked on stage and announced the nominees. A short montage from each movie flashed over the screen. When 'His Forever Girl' was presented, the movie clip was followed by images of Killian and his band flashed over the screen at the very end.
"The winner is…"
The rip of the envelope echoed in Emma's ears, she held her breath.
"... the winner is Killian Jones with the song His Forever Girl, scoring the movie The mob princess and her singer."
The applause from the audience was muffled by the roar of her blood rushing in her ears as she turned to Killian. "You won!" She grabbed the lapels of his fancy dress jacket and pulled him in for a kiss. He grunted in surprise but cradled her neck pulling her closer.
Graham clapped Killian on his shoulder and shouted, "You better go on stage, the ushers are looking a little panicked."
Emma pushed Killian away, "Go…" She smoothed her hand over his cheek. "I love you." She mouthed and grinned through happy tears as Killian pushed out of the row and joined his band in the aisle. Their walk to the stage was followed with applause and cheers, and Emma clapped and cheered along with everyone around her. Someone behind her patted her shoulder and shouted, "Congratulations."
Once the band had received the statuette, Killian walked to the microphone, clearing his throat he began, "This night is the best night ever!" He lifted the golden Oscar above his head "I never dreamed that I one day would be on this stage, I'm honored to have been nominated and be among such talent."
Emma's heart thumped in her chest as she took in the scene, the man she loved was up there receiving praise for his talent.
"Emma, my forever girl, I can't express how happy you made me half an hour ago." Killian's eyes found her in the sea of people, and Emma gave a tentative smile to the camera panning to her seat. "You stole my heart twelve years ago…" His voice cracked but he continued, "I'm sorry for my lack of backbone then. When you came back into my life I couldn't believe my luck. Things have not been easy, but I know you'll be my forever girl, and you're my muse and keeper of my heart." Killian blinked as if he was about to cry, but he was too far away for Emma to see him clearly.
Someone in the audience whistled sharply and shouted, "Girl you need to marry that guy." The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers, making Emma blush and shrink back in her seat. She still kept her focus on Killian on stage.
Killian chuckled nervously. "That question won't be asked from up here. But I do know that I want forever with you Emma." He shifted the statuette between his hands. "This is an honour and I've got several people whom I want to share this with." He flipped his thumb to the band behind them. "Most of all the band, who ended up becoming my family, thank you guys." He turned to lift the Oscar towards them, and the band members cheered and hugged each other again.
"Thank you." Killian lifted the golden statue in the air and blew a kiss towards Emma before he stepped back and joined his band in celebration.
The audience clapped and the stage changed for the next category, but Emma didn't pay any notice to what happened, all she wanted was to be with Killian. It seemed to take forever before they all slipped into their seats and Emma could give him another quick kiss. Both of them ignored the jibes from someone behind them.
Emma had no idea what happened next in the Oscar show, all she focused on was Killian's hand wrapped around hers. The award clasped in his other hand, it was strange seeing it up close, having only seen one on TV.
Once the last category was presented, Emma paid more attention as the movie Killian had starred in was up for Best Motion Picture. The collective sigh of disappointment shifted down the row when it was announced that the movie had lost to a big blockbuster fantasy movie.
"Sucks," Emma mumbled.
"I loved our movie better." Killian soothed and kissed her temple, then chuckled and when she glared at him he added, "That fantasy story of yours can be the next Oscar winner." He tried to wink but he failed miserably as always.
"Ha ha, well the damn thing needs to be finished first," Emma grumbled with a pout.
"I believe in you, love."
"Thanks." Emma gave him a weak smile, and she knew deep down that she would finish the story and should some movie company want to make it into a movie she would definitely not think too long about saying yes.
The Oscar show ended and they were ushered out in groups. While they waited Killian wrapped his arms around her waist, giving her a sweet kiss behind her ear. "Have I mentioned how I absolutely love your princess dress?" He trailed a finger over her naked shoulder. "You look divine, like a true princess." His arm around her waist tightened. "My princess."
"Yours." Emma husked, pressing back against his form. "Forever."
"Aye, forever."
When they were ushered forward she felt a slither of nervousness shift over her.
"What's the matter, love?"
"I used to watch this show on TV back home and know there will be a heavy press lineup after this?"
"Aye, I'm afraid we can't avoid the vultures tonight, love."
"I know." Emma sighed and turned around in his arms,
Killian lifted a smug eyebrow. "But they can't be as bad as walking on a stage in front of a huge audience and god knows how many viewers around the world."
Emma blinked in surprise. "I just wanted to make my grand gesture."
"Grand gesture?"
"Oh you know in the romance books I write the main character who finally realizes how stupid they'd been, does this grand gesture thing to declare their undying love for their love interest."
"Aye, that certainly did qualify as a grand gesture." He smiled. "One that will be the headlines of tomorrow's gossip pages."
"I'm sure it will be everywhere online."
"When you do something big at the Oscars it's always blown up in the media, anything good or bad, they will exploit it."
"Should I not have…"
Killian placed a finger on her lips. "I loved how you did your grand gesture, nothing made me happier than seeing you walk out on the stage in this beautiful princess gown. It's very fitting for our story."
Neither Killian nor Emma had noticed that his band had stood close enough for them to hear their conversation but when Will barked out. "Oh dear, you're in a load of trouble now Mr. Jones."
Killian glared at his agent and Emma also sent the mouthy man a hard stare. Will lifted his hands. "Look she did this grand gesture, declaring her love for you, man. Now you have to come up with something even grander when you want to pop that big question someone suggested earlier." Will laughed loudly and clapped Killian's shoulder.
"Shut up," Killian growled.
Emma placed her hand on his chest. "I don't need a grand gesture."
"No?"
Emma shook her head. "Nope, all I need is you."
"You have me." He leaned closer and kissed her briefly, clearly mindful of the audience of his band and the throng of people still heading for the exits.
"Forever," Emma whispered and moved around when someone ushered them forward. She slipped her fingers between his and they walked together out to meet the press. And sure enough, the majority of questions were on Emma's grand gesture and how she'd managed to get that sorted out. She was a bit vague on the details as she didn't want to involve the press in how she'd asked help from Mrs. Mills having her pull some strings to allow Emma backstage.
Every reporter they spoke with congratulated them on their newfound love and wished them good luck in the future. The whole experience had Emma reimagine her own life in the spotlight. She knew that it was a given, with how famous Killian and his band had become. She too could also rise to fame now that one of her books had already been made into a movie. The next step would be to finish writing her fantasy novel and figure out what would happen next in her life. All she needed was to have Killian in her life, and whatever came their way they would face it together.