So I had not planned on the wedding taking up this much space. Since it did (sorry, not sorry), it got its own chapter. I don't think you will complain. Thanks for reading and keeping with me while my writing has been more academic lately.
Killian could remember the first girl he had kissed. Her name was Shannon, and she was a slight little thing who had been in his primary class. Adorable with her red haired and freckles, he had not thought that he was in love with her. She, on the other hand, had proclaimed their betrothal to the entire class during recess one day. From then on she was at his side, including making him play house and care for the dolls she had decided were their children. His brother had teased him mercilessly about it. As the rest of the young boys in his grade were playing football or racing each other around a dirt path through some nearby woods, Killian was pretending to burp a baby doll and pushing a plastic pram about while his faux wife baked invisible pies. His reward had been a quick kiss behind a mulberry that ended rather abruptly when she hauled back and smacked him. The next day he joined a few of the other lads in pretending they were on a pirate ship rather than a rusty old jungle gym.
It was Liam who reminded him of his first foray into the idea of marriage as they stood together on the damp sand of the beach and waited for the bride to walk toward them. "I think Emma is a better choice of a wife, brother," he teased, nudging the middle brother in the ribs. "She's more amiable about you having interests of your own."
"Prat," Killian groused, tugging at his collar. The wind was still sharp despite the slightly clearing skies and lack of rain. He'd already noticed that Mary Margaret was now wearing her own coat and had the sheriff's parka over her shoulders when Graham had felt sorry for her. Anna was probably cold too, but her chattering about how romantic it all was kept her from expressing too much discomfort.
"I am happy for you, you know?"
"You're amused," Killian countered, still not making eye contact. "You're planning to use this against me. You thought I would be a bachelor for the rest of my days."
"No, I haven't had that thought in a while. Emma's a good woman and you are a lucky…"
"Aye, I'm aware of my run of luck," Killian said rather proudly. He was glad at the moment they weren't having the huge ceremony with tons of people and all the tradition. He could see his Emma standing a few yards away with her newly acquired bouquet in her hands and her arm looped through her son who was doubling at giving her away and serving as Killian's best man. She did not seem as nervous as he feared, but there were some twinges that indicated her excitement. Her teeth ran over her bottom lip and she would dig one heel into the sand and then the other.
"Mum would have been happy too." Liam respected that his brother had fewer memories of the woman who had raised them. Most of the stories he told were repeats of things that Liam had informed him about over the years. Still he knew that her acceptance would have been important to Killian. "She would have enjoyed seeing us both settle down with women who know how to stand up to us and make us test our worth every way we can."
Killian huffed, his breath not quite condensing in the almost too cold air. "Knowing her, she would have been sitting with Henry and soaking up her chance at being a grandmother." He imagined it sometimes, the vision of her included in their daily lives something that comforted him most of the time.
"Aye, and most likely encouraging you and Emma to get to work on increasing that responsibility." Liam's warm hand clung to his brother's shoulder. Where Liam had some of their mother's features with his curly hair and lighter eyes, Killian looked more like Brennan. Perhaps that was why his mother had looked so lovingly at her baby boy, remembering a time when Brennan had been innocent and untouched by bad choices and decisions. "Not a bad idea if you're up to the challenge."
Killian laughed, shaking his head. "Not any time soon, brother. Not any time soon." He knew that Emma wanted to seek out more information about adoption, but they had stalled after reading a few websites and downloading an information packet. Perhaps, if he went through with the surgery, he'd have time to read more on the subject during his convalescence.
"I can't find it," Ruby interrupted, shoving her phone toward the two brothers. "Unless you want your bride to walk down the aisle to Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga, I'm thinking we have to download a wedding march. But I don't seem to be able to connect to wifi out here."
Out here was a sandy little cove that Elsa suggested when they had somehow procured a wedding license from a grouchy yet eventually willing Cora. There had been a brief panic when Emma had to call Regina to ask for the favor. Not really a fan of love stories, Regina had balked at first and then agreed, even suggesting that Emma take a few extra days off for a honeymoon. They hadn't explained that such a trip was going to be short and sweet based on the hospital schedule for Killian's surgery. Emma's boss even threw her work aside and joined with Robin at Roland to make it to the ceremony just in time. The cove was quiet except for the crash of waves on some rocks nearby. The rain had prevented even the most ardent of sea gulls. Low hanging clouds left very little in the way of crystalline skies and reflections on the water though it was better than before. However, Elsa, who was doubling as their photographer with her new camera had said it would all come out well in Photoshop.
"Can't be having that," Liam said, grabbing the phone from the leggy brunette and punching in a few numbers and letters. "Just use my account. It's faster and I'm not about to feel like bait out here in the mist waiting on the right song."
"You could just play the guitar," Ruby teased, grabbing the phone back and nodding approvingly at what he had selected. "Elsa and Anna could sing…"
"We're not having a musical wedding, lass," Killian said with a smirk at the woman he knew would find a way to make her mark on the nuptials. "I don't intend to sing my vows."
***AAA***
Emma raised her eyebrows in Ruby's direction, hoping that her friend would start the music soon or at least start humming something so they could hurry up. The brisk breeze was cutting through the not so thick material of the dress and chilling the bride to the bone. If it would have gone over well with Mary Margaret and Anna, the two most recent brides, she might have plucked Killian's soft leather jacket from the pile and worn it over her dress to simply keep her teeth from chattering. Elsa pulled her from her thoughts and snapped a posed photo of mother and son before dashing off like a not so stealth member of the paparazzi.
"Nervous?" Henry asked, smiling at the way Will seemed to have had his clothes thrown at him as he arrived with Anastasia. Clearly a bit hung over or even still intoxicated, Will stumbled in the sand to jump up behind David and Mary Margaret to photobomb the picture that Elsa was taking. Later they would find him nearly horizontal in the picture, as he had nearly fallen in his attempt.
"No, I'm just excited," Emma told him, catching Killian's eye and smiling at the man she was about to marry. She managed to realize that and not throw up, which was a feat into itself.
"You're shaking," Henry accused, cringing as Roland caught sight of him and began to chant his name.
"That's cold wind not nerves," Emma responded. "And what about you? First wedding of the weekend."
Turning his head to miss a blast of wind and some of the sand it kicked up, Henry scrunched his face and squinted his eyes. "At least I'm not the one getting married. And what happened to simple and uncomplicated?"
"Our friends happened," Emma laughed, shaking her head to force some of her loose hair into place. "And it's okay. It's kind of nice to know this many people care about us."
"Yeah," Henry agreed. "We kind of do have a big family, even if they aren't related to us."
She tilted her head until her cheek was on her son's head, something she would not be able to do much longer at the rate he was growing. It was easier in her heels. "Who would have thought it?"
The music from Ruby's phone blared loudly and without warning, making the guests jump and laugh as they turned their attention to the bride. Without seats, they stood in sort of a semi-circle and left room in the middle for Emma and Henry to walk. David and Kristoff were already handing tissues to their wives and Granny ripped her glasses off to wipe them from what she said was a bit of dust. Drawing in a deep breath, Emma gave a smile toward her son. "Ready?"
Henry nodded and walked alongside her toward Killian. She had scoffed at the idea of someone giving her away, but then changed her mind when David made the suggestion. It was more about she and Henry walking together toward a future they both would share. They were walking toward the man who was joining their little family. Nobody was giving anyone to anyone. They weren't like that.
When she finally arrived at Killian, she laughed slightly and joined hands with him after he and Henry shared a sort of side hug. Her heart was thumping a bit heavier than normal and her eyes misted over as he not only held her hand but caressed it as if to assure her that this was still their moment and not just a spectacle for all their friends.
Whatever nerves she had left disappeared as she watched Liam struggle to form the words for a traditional ceremony. He could have said anything at all, but he had said it would be easier to go with tradition. She giggled when he closed his eyes tightly to remember the word matrimony. And Killian shook with unheard laughter as his brother fist pumped a recovered line. However, soon enough Liam sounded professional and proud. Then it was time for their vows.
"I wasn't sure that I could ever be the man you would want to marry," Killian told her, swallowing thickly and pressing his lips together before continuing. "I was scared you would reject me for being less than you wanted, a bad choice, someone who could never live up to your expectations. But you didn't. And you haven't. So I take that as a sign that I must continue to fight to be the man who deserves to be loved by you. Because no matter what, that's a man I want to be." His eyes briefly left hers for Henry and he gave the boy a smile. "I have been lucky to have a brother and know what it is to have family. But I am blessed beyond measure to be invited to be a part of yours. I won't take that for granted, my love. Henry's approval and care mean more to me than you both could know. Vows are supposed to be sacred and so I will make these to you with the utmost sincerity and promise that I will always be true and faithful, always love and respect, forever cherish and honor you. And while it is perhaps old fashioned to say that I will protect you, I vow to protect our family and our love, fighting each day to be with you and for the honor of being loved by you."
Though Killian's voice had been strong, his accent thicker than it normally was, it was Emma's voice shook as she took a series of breaths and began to speak. "I didn't want to love you and I'm not sure I've forgiven you for making it impossible not to love you." That earned a few titters from the gathered group. "But I suppose it is too late to place the blame now. See I didn't know love or understand it. In books and movies, the story usually ends with the couple declaring their love or getting married. I guess I didn't know what comes next. But now I'm going to find out with you." She expelled air through her nose and rolled her lip under her teeth before locking eyes with him again. While she hated the process of speaking to him in front of others, she saw the love in his eyes and knew that they shared that. "Like you, I wasn't sure if I was or am enough for you or deserve this happy beginning for our lives. So like you I vow to love you, be faithful, respect you, cherish, and honor you. And with everything in me, I will fight for our love and future."
She might have said more or even let a tear loose from her green eyes. However, Anna's loud sob made the couple laugh, adding levity to the pictures that Elsa was surreptitiously taking with her camera. In the years to come people would notice a large print of one of the pictures of the couple with both their heads thrown back in laughter and their hands clasped together between them.
Liam hurried through the rest of the formalities, including allowing them both to place rings on each other's fingers. Killian was to wear his on his right, something that made everyone smile as Emma kissed his palm before sliding the ring into place. It wasn't much longer until Liam was declaring them husband and wife and they were nearly blinded by the flash of the camera and deafened by cheers from their friends.
His kiss was firm and passionate, but not overly so in the conditions and with the audience. He dipped her back slightly just to make her squeal and arouse awwws from Anna and Mary Margaret. Standing her up right again, he motioned toward Elsa. "Take the bloody picture of the lot of us before we freeze."
That was why the group photo, which was recreated with Elsa standing in when Kristoff volunteered to snap another, was filled with laughter and silliness. Granny broke into line to congratulate them before anyone else, instructing everyone to, "Haul it back to the diner for the reception."
***AAA***
"You make a beautiful bride," Killian said when they had a moment alone – or as alone as they could manage in the diner that was closed to customers for a short time only. He pushed back a bit of her hair and leaned in to softly touch his lips to hers. "I'm sorry that we didn't have your dream wedding."
Her head tilted to the right slightly, studying the way his eyes looked downward like he was truly regretting not offering her something. Her left hand cupped his face and she waited for his eyes to meet hers again. "None of that. I wanted to marry you. And I don't regret the way we did it at all."
"Even the damp sand that is surely in your shoes as it is in mine?" he teased, inwardly cringing as the approaching footsteps of some of the celebrants got closer. It had felt like they were in a fish bowl earlier as everyone watched and commented on their first dance as a married couple, and laughed as they fed each other cake. "I was thinking after today that a warm bath might be just what we need."
"And just where might that bath take place? You haven't given me any clues about our honeymoon." She leaned in to kiss him quickly; obviously aware of the limited time they had before another toast or heartfelt congratulations. Mary Margaret had already hugged her numerous times as though each moment of the reception and ceremony were some monumental feat. "Not that I'm complaining. You're quite good at surprises."
"My brother always was at that," Liam announced after clearing his throat. "Though I don't believe I need the details you might provide on the subject." He had left his suit jacket and overcoat on the one the tables, leaving his shirt sleeves pushed up and his tie dangling. After years in the navy, he had a hard time with uniforms and starched wardrobes now.
"Please don't tell me that Elsa wants to take more pictures. We've don't every traditional pose that there can possibly be out there. For God's sake, my arm still hurts from posing with the cake for more than 10 minutes while she fiddled with the lighting." Emma's left hand dropped to Killian's chest, the wedding band and engagement ring both sparkling against his black shirt. "I will never again use the phrase, 'take a picture it will last longer.'"
Liam chuckled, taking in a gulp of the cider that Granny was serving since it was far too early for her to serve people to excess with alcohol. "I haven't asked, but I believe you're safe for the moment. Though I do think she may have a few ideas for your departure." He glanced over his shoulder toward Graham, who was pretending to listen to Anna. "The good sheriff asked that I…well, here's the deal. I am not allowed within so many feet of our younger brother. And I understand you may have use of the boat this weekend…"
"And our younger brother will be housed here," Killian said, catching onto the dilemma. "So you may need to make yourself scarce."
"Aye," Liam agreed rather sheepishly. "I was hoping to hurl a bit of bird seed at you both, but I have used too many favors with law enforcement already."
"We understand," Killian assured him, beckoning over Elsa. "One more picture of us with my beautiful bride."
"It would be a pleasure," he agreed, sliding next to Emma so that the bride was in the center of the frame. Elsa snapped four shots before Mary Margaret tapped her shoulder and invited her to join in the next shot. Liam happily threw his arm around his girlfriend and grinned widely for the camera. As Elsa had been the photographer, the shot was one of the few with her in it. Just a few days after the wedding it was framed and on display at the condo.
Liam ended up staying a little while longer, but discretely exited when the younger brother arrived. While he had no intentions of starting another altercation, the protective orders against each other were still in place and there was no recourse otherwise. Anna took her sister's camera and followed up on duties while the two slipped away from the waning festivities. Everyone was still in good spirits, even Henry who audibly groaned in protest at the number of times someone insisted that the couple kiss or affectionately pose for another picture. Ruby joined in a few of those protests just to make her friend's son smile.
"Welcome to the family," Henry said to his stepfather after David had insisted on a dance with Emma – declaring himself her father for the day at least in spirit. She had protested the idea at first, but agreed after Mary Margaret reminded her that David needed the practice. He was twirling her in an embarrassingly flamboyant move as Mary Margaret, Kristoff, Ruby, and Granny all cheered. Roland was trying to get his father to imitate the same move with Regina.
"I appreciate that welcome," Killian confided, leaning his elbows on the counter. "You know it won't be all that much different than the past few months?"
"I guess not," Henry said, spinning on his stool a little. "But it feels a little more permanent. I think Mom will like that." He threw out his foot, kicking the metal strip around the bar and then started again. "She's always…"
"Your mother is very important to me. I would not wish to ever hurt her or you." He swallowed hard and then looked in the direction of Emma's laugh. She was wobbling from the latest spin as David threw in a few disco poses. For a second his heart hurt that she wasn't actually getting the opportunity of a father daughter dance, a traditional rite of passage that was being glossed over. But he knew she was happy, as happy as he was at the small but significant way they had pledged their love to each other.
"I know," Henry said, looking away from the dancing. "I know."
"And she still needs you too," Killian said, making the assumption that he was perhaps feeling left out with both parents getting married.
"That's nice of you to say, but it's not true. I mean, she's my mom. I love her and need her. She doesn't need me."
Killian shook his head as one of Granny's staff began to approach to refill drinks. "No, lad, you're wrong there. Your mother needs you and loves you. I don't know for certain, but even if you weren't her son, she'd love and adore you just the same. You're a good kid. And I'd say you've done a fine job being there for her and her there for you all these years. You're the first to notice when she's working so hard that she's not eating or sleeping properly. You're the one who runs in after we've all been out all day and turns on the heat and gets her that blanket she loves. You even let her pick the movie when she's had a rough day. And don't pretend you haven't let her win a few rounds on that blasted video game of yours."
The crooked little smile that split Henry's face was one that reminded Killian of Emma. The two guys touched shoulders in their brief sway. "She's got you now too," Henry said thoughtfully. "You do stuff for her too."
"Aye, but I'll never tire of seeing her smile so brightly when you're on stage performing or when you win one of your awards. You may not notice it, but she is proud of you. And so am I, even if I've had very little responsibility with it."
There was probably something that Henry could have said, but he didn't quite have the words he was looking for right then. Instead, he launched himself into Killian's arms and held on tight until his mother tapped his shoulder. "So here's the thing," she announced to both her boys, her face flushed and breathing a little uneven. "We are getting out of here soon and you're staying the night with Mary Margaret and David. Unless you'd rather stay here with Granny and Ruby."
"My choice?" Henry asked, cocking his head to the side.
"You're a popular kid," Emma announced. "Anyway, dancing or whatever that was with David made me realize I haven't had a dance with my son. So I want that. Now I should warn you that Anna's going to go crazy with that stupid camera."
She wasn't wrong about Anna, who must have taken 60 shots before they even got the first chorus of the song. Emma and Henry did a good job of ignoring the glare as they swayed and joked about who should lead. She did roll her eyes when Killian pulled out his phone to snap a few photos of his own, hissing about the "damn paparazzi."
As the last stanzas of the song faded and Emma hugged her son and then husband who joined them, she wiped at what she swore were not tears. "Where did Granny go?" she asked, looking around as everyone was lazily smiling over smaller conversations.
"She went to make a few adjustments on the boat," Ruby said, gathering the fabric of the impromptu wedding dress and relaying it in the right direction. "It may not be a suite at the fanciest hotel in town, but she wanted you to have something nice. And it probably needed a touch up after a bachelor's been spending all this time on it."
"She was a bachelor's boat for a while," Killian noted, pulling Emma into his side. "She's still afloat."
"Not a bachelor's boat now," Emma reminded him, keeping one hand linked with Henry as she rested her head on Killian's shoulder. She had noted earlier that if they didn't leave soon she might just slumber through their wedding night.
"No, she's not. She is yours just as much…"
Emma laughed softly. "I meant you're not a bachelor anymore," she interrupted. "Someone went and married you."
"And who could that lucky lass be?"
Ruby threw her hand over Henry's eyes and groaned loudly. "I don't usually tell people this at parties I throw, but seriously…you need to leave."