A/N: Oh friends. What to say about this new story… Well first of all I am so excited to write it and incredibly thankful to the awesome reader who suggested I make an AU like this. As soon as I got the request for a married in Vegas AU, my mind was racing and though it's been a few weeks, this story has never been far from my thoughts. Clearly it's been pretty bad since I'm publishing the first chapter when I currently have 4 other multichapters going, but hey, the muses want what they want right? At least I'm writing something! Anyway, hope you guys like this fun, fluffy, eventually smutty story and thanks so much for reading!

Emma Swan was not the kind of girl to go to Vegas, and it wasn't because she didn't like to have fun or savor a little adventure on vacation every now and then. No, Emma was not a fan of this city for one key reason – the whole mentality perplexed her.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. If she'd heard it once, she'd heard it a million times between her friends and the thousands of people milling around this strip of clubs and casinos in the middle of the dessert. People came here to escape, to be someone else and Emma couldn't really understand the draw. Why would you abandon who you were for the sake of mindless escapades?

Tonight alone, she'd witnessed a group of drunk frat boys trying to climb into a fountain, a wedding party comprised of all people dressed like French maids, and a group of elderly bingo lovers 'stealing' hundreds of dollars worth of shrimp from a free casino buffet. They'd been out for half an hour and this was the tone of the evening. Vegas, in short, was a mad house and Emma liked at least a semblance of reason.

Though Emma often considered herself more than capable of hiding away her feelings and putting on a good face, she must have been lacking tonight, because her best friend and the woman who this trip was being held for, Ruby Lucas, was looking at her with a little bit of pity and a lot of humor. Ruby was very much a Vegas kind of person, and was having the time of her life here, not because she got the chance to act any differently than she normally would, but because she was surrounded by people who now had inhibitions as free as hers.

Ruby walked through life one hundred percent honest about what she wanted – a whirlwind existence filled with memories that mattered instead of mundane normalcies. Now usually, in their small hometown of Storybrooke Maine, those moments were hard to come by, but here in Vegas, they were free for the taking.

"Cheer up, Ems. We're in Vegas. Because I'm getting married!"

Ruby's excitement made Emma smile and even if she wasn't in love with the setting of this little adventure, she was thrilled for her friend. After years of circling each other, Ruby was finally marrying the guy she'd loved forever – Graham Huntsman. He was perfect for Ruby, loving every bit of her wilder, more free-spirited nature even though he himself was a bit calmer.

"Drink up!" Emma's friend Belle said giggling as all of the friends took a sip of the drinks before them.

This was their game for the weekend, which had started last night, and though it was rather predictable it had a profound effect. After a night of scoping out the strip (finding themselves in multiple clubs, a male strip tease, and then a diner at 3 AM), the friends had needed a full day of sleeping. It was only Emma who'd managed to crawl out of bed to get everyone breakfast and not until the sun was already sinking down in the sky did her friends truly rally.

Now no one would never know they'd been bemoaning their hangovers and cursing the folly of their excessive drinking. Seemed tonight was heading for the same place as the last. Emma only hoped she'd be able to get them all to the airport in one piece for their flight in the morning.

There were five of them on this trip and these five ladies had been through so much together. They'd all been friends since childhood and they'd faced their biggest challenges and successes side by side. Her friends were Emma's family, and she valued having them more than anything in her life especially Ruby, who was the first person to even think of reaching out to Emma, the new foster kid in town, when they'd all been little. While Emma might always consider Ruby her best best friend, appreciating her bartending wild child ways more than she could say, she loved the others nearly as much.

Belle of course was the sweet one, torn between the life she lived in books and as a school librarian and the one her friends always dragged her into. Emma and Belle worked together at the Storybrooke elementary school as did Mary Margaret. Mary Margaret was loyal and kind and opinionated, always planning each and every detail down to the last bit, but mostly she was a good person with a big heart. That left Elsa, their resident artist and shy but sincere friend. Elsa had a sister Anna, who was also a part of this close-knit group, but she was too busy gallivanting around the world studying human cultures to be here tonight. Whenever she did come home, though, Anna would fit right back into place as she always did.

"I am so happy I won't be the only married one now," Mary Margaret said, genuinely cheerful. She'd been married since the summer they'd all graduated college to the boy she'd fallen in love with in high school, David Nolan. They were the quintessential fairytale couple, that all too rare breed that was actually meant for each other when meeting that young. For a long time they'd been the only example of love that worked in Emma's life, though she suspected Ruby and Graham would join that ultra selective group too.

"Well it's not like we're actively pushing away love. We're open to it, and it will happen when it happens," Belle said as Emma smothered a laugh.

That was actually exactly the way Emma would put her own experience with love. She was pushing it away, keeping it firmly at a distance to avoid all of the unnecessary drama and eventual heartbreak. No one seemed to notice how closely Belle's words had sketched out Emma though aside from Ruby who simply smiled, tossing out her reply as she held Emma's gaze.

"Well, consider this one last hurrah. A weekend of no regrets. One night of total abandon before we go on the hunt to find you all husbands." Emma raised her hands up as if to fend off the proposition physically.

"Oh no you don't. No one's 'finding me a husband.' I'm great without one." Ruby grinned at Emma's refusal.

"One day you're going to meet someone, Emma and you're going to eat those words." Emma highly doubted that. They lived in the middle of nowhere and Emma had known every guy in their town since she was a kid. If no one caught her eye by now, she doubted they ever would.

"Pass." Belle snorted into her drink at the blatant disgust in Emma's tone.

"Alright so you don't want a husband. Would it kill you to go get laid though? I mean honey there's dry spells and then there's whatever the heck you're in now." Emma groaned putting her head in her hands and trying to figure out when this had become the judge Emma's life choices show.

"Vegas isn't exactly filled with the kinds of guys I want to let into my bed." Emma nodded towards the guys at the table beside them who were leering at the friends like they were pieces of meat. It was infuriating, and the farthest thing from what she'd ever be interested in, but the whole town seemed filled with likeminded Neanderthals.

"Technically it's the hotel's bed," Mary Margaret quipped. Emma rolled her eyes, bringing her drink back to her lips. She was far too sober to be having this conversation right now.

"Oh come on, Emma, at least go and talk to someone tonight. Just pick a guy in the bar. Any guy and go say hi," Elsa said, really seeming so hopeful that Emma would do that as Mary Margaret shook her head.

"No no no. We should be the one's to find him." Emma raised an eyebrow.

"And why would I ever go along with this?" Emma asked.

"Because if you do none of us will try to set you up back in Storybrooke for a whole year." Emma shouldn't be considering this proposition, but at the same time the stakes were pretty phenomenal. She'd been guilted into more blind dates than anyone should ever have to suffer through and the thought of a year away from that was so desireable.

"Just talking?" Emma asked. Ruby shook her head.

"Flirting, Emma. Definite flirting. If you flirt with a guy for ten minutes you win the bet." Ten minutes for a whole year, that was a damn good deal if Emma ever heard one. She'd just bat her eyelashes, accentuate her hair and put her hand on some poor unsuspecting guys arm for a spell and then walk away a free woman. It was perfect.

"Okay deal. Ten minutes." Emma could handle that, and besides, she'd already scoped out this place when they'd gotten here. She'd be fine with anyone they sent her way. "Let's do this."

"Not so fast. We have the whole night to make our choices. The night is young." Emma huffed out a breath. This was not ideal. If they were waiting then this would be their topic of conversation all night. She'd get no reprieve from guy watch.

"Yeah, Ems. Your prince may not be here yet," Belle said, giggling like crazy after the words were passed her lips.

Emma was about to retort that she didn't need a prince when the hair on the back of her neck went up. She couldn't be entirely sure what was happening, but she felt like someone was watching her and Emma glanced away from her friends only to find the single best looking man she'd ever seen in her life across the place.

Hot did not do this man justice. Gorgeous, god-like, all-consuming. Those were better words that still didn't fully capture this stranger. He was dressed in a suit for one thing, and the image he made, totally put together and in control as he appeared, made Emma's mouth water. That the suit was blue to match those striking blue eyes of his only made the effect worse, and Emma took one look at his dark hair and that slight shadow of a beard on his face and knew he was entirely too sexy for her to get anywhere near.

A thousand dirty thoughts ran through Emma's mind in the face of this man, like how that beard would feel along her skin, or what those eyes would look like as he claimed her, making her his. She wanted to taste him and feel his hands on hers. She wanted to see if he was as magnetic up close as he was from afar.

Holy shit, how much have I had to drink? Emma thought, remembering she'd had one single cocktail all day. Then why did she feel like her whole body was on fire, like the room was spinning but time was also standing still?

In self-preservation, Emma ripped her eyes away from the stranger and back to her friends, but they'd all followed her gaze. They were sizing up the guy across the bar and when they looked back to Emma they were all grinning like mad.

"Well he's positively yummy isn't he?" Ruby whispered and Emma knew they were about to choose him. She shifted anxiously in her seat thinking about it.

Crap, was she happy about this? It was hard to tell. Emma's heart felt like it was about to pound straight out her chest and end up on the floor, but she also felt this sizzling want, this tingle of awareness that she hadn't felt in her whole damn life. She simultaneously wanted to fuck this guy against a wall and run for the hills.

"He seems more pirate than prince, but hey that's not a problem," Belle said, glancing back to Emma hopefully.

"Not at all. I think Emma would love herself a sexy, professional looking pirate," Elsa's words would have been hilarious in any other moment. The choice in description was actually funny, but Emma was too riled up to make note of that.

"All in favor of Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome for Emma?" Mary Margaret asked to a resounding chorus of agreement and awkward hand raising on the part of her friends.

"The votes are in. That right there is your man, Ems." Ruby looked back over, her smile only widening. "And if the way he's still staring at you is any indication, he'll have absolutely no problem with that at all."

Emma glanced back to see that the man was still looking at her, and that his gaze still felt so raw and personal, as if he could see her, the real her. It made the butterflies in her stomach flap around wildly, and if Emma were any less fierce she'd back down right now taking a hundred blind dates over jumping into the deep end with this guy. But as it was Emma stood up from her seat thinking maybe, just maybe, this mysterious stranger might be the best thing to happen to her in a really long time.

…..

Killian Jones had been in Vegas roughly ten hours, and it was ten hours too long as far as he was concerned. The only reason he was here at all was because business demanded it, but even that fact couldn't help the restlessness Killian felt. He should have insisted that his brother come. They were business partners after all, and Liam was just as capable of attending these ridiculous meetings as he was. If anything he was better equipped for it, because his brother was all business all the time. Liam still got a thrill when closing the deal and Killian... well he just didn't give a damn anymore.

Back when they'd been two lowly brothers picking themselves up by the bootstraps and out of their hard life in England, Killian had been hungry too. He'd wanted to prove himself and more than anything to make Liam proud. They'd been meticulous, giving so much of themselves to this business in the hopes that it would pay off and in the end it had, not through any sort of luck, but through sheer force of will.

Jones Shipping was a success – more than that it had become an industry standard, making an obscene amount of money as it made a name for itself around the world. So Killian had to wonder why he was being dragged into these negotiations. Then he remembered – the man who ran this entire strip in Vegas was too full of ego to allow Killian's executives to handle this.

This business associate, who went merely by Pan because he thought it added some kind of intrigue no doubt, wanted 'face time with the founders.' Where Killian originally thought that would be in order to actually talk business, he'd soon learned it was an excuse to show off Pan's luxurious spread here in the city of sin. All day long Killian had been carted from site to site and expected to fawn over the man's money and status. It was exhausting.

Pan's crowning jewel was his newest hotel bar, aptly called Neverland. It's entire business model revolved around folly and vice and 'child like wonder.' The only problem was there was nothing child like happening here. As Killian looked through the two way glass separating them from the crowd below, he tried to conceal his distaste for the whole scene. This was debauchery pure and simple, and once upon a time wild nights might have called to Killian. Now they only aggravated him.

Given the chance he'd hop on the company's plane back home right now, but they were so close to the negotiations being final. The documents were to be signed over drinks and then Killian could get off this hellish 'island of imagination' in the middle of the dessert.

"Anyone ever tell you that you need to loosen up, Jones?" Pan's words grated on Killian, but he knew better than to sink to actual rudeness with the man. He couldn't afford to have wasted a whole day and months of work on the part of his company just to have Pan back out because he disliked him.

"Maybe once or twice," Pan grinned, sitting back in his seat as he accepted a glass of champagne from the server. He didn't spare the poor girl a glance, never mind a thank you and Killian made sure not to be so callous. It was bad enough she was dressed up like a blasted fairy to go with the hotel bar's theme. She should at least get some sort of appreciation.

"Well now that we're doing business together you are welcome back any time. Vegas has more than a few ways to get that stick out of your ass." Killian felt his jaw tick at that. This man was a bloody fool if he thought Killian had any interest in being here passed this evening. Nothing could possibly entice him to stay here.

"I'll keep that in mind." With that both men took a sip of the overly expensive drink and Pan waved over his second, who held the contracts. After one last slightly malicious grin, Pan signed and Killian felt himself breathe easy for the first time in hours. At least he wasn't coming home empty handed. That was something at least.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Cap."

Killian bit back another retort at the annoying title he'd been given from the man on first meeting, but thought the better of it. If Pan got a kick out of calling Killian 'Captain Jones' because he owned a shipping empire so be it. Killian got a kick out of the money he'd just made off of this deal, and at the end of the day, bringing the win home for Liam and the others mattered more than Pan's ridiculous behavior.

"If that will be all, then. I'm sure we'll be in touch."

Killian stood, buttoning up his jacket once more and heading towards the door with a posse of people behind him. Killian tried not to openly scowl at the thought that he now had a team of companions on trips like this, and it wasn't just assistants and seconds in command, but security. What he wouldn't give to just be alone, to get away from the maddening crowds and just be. But at the same time, he was fortunate, far more fortunate than most. If a lack of privacy was his lot in life, he'd take it. There were certainly worse fates to abide by.

Killian took one last look through the two-way mirrors and out into the club, and in that moment something unexpected happened. Within the throngs of people he saw someone, a woman, who stood out amongst the rest.

Bloody hell she's beautiful, Killian's head was filled instantly with the strangest rush of wanting to talk to her and claim her right here. With her golden hair and knowing smile that was aimed at the women in her party and not at him, she was breathtaking, a siren calling to him from across a sea of people.

Killian had the perfect view of the way her red dress hugged her perfect figure and watched her finger tracing along the rim of the glass before her. He wanted more, to see her closer, to know what color those sparkling eyes were and to see if she felt as soft as she looked. He'd run his fingers through that gorgeous hair and pull her close, tasting her to see if the spark he felt on sight would be matched when they came together.

Killian was so lost in looking at the mysterious woman that he hadn't realized he was stopped, standing there in front of everyone just gawking. When he heard someone clear their throat next to him, Killian looked over to see it was his second, one John Smee.

"Everything all right, sir?" Killian looked back through the window.

"Change of plan, Smee. I'll be staying the night."

"Yes, sir." Killian looked over to the head of his security, Jefferson Hatter.

"You and your team are dismissed," Jefferson shook his head.

"Can't do that boss," Killian nearly groaned at the man's stubbornness.

"What's the point of being the boss if I can't actually get what I want?" Jefferson grinned, clearly not taking Killian's frustration seriously. "Fine, but discretion."

"You won't even know we're there." Killian nodded and then changed routes from out of the space, down to the bar below.

As Killian made his way, the pulsing electricity moving through him only amplified. Knowing he was moving towards this woman, alluring and intriguing as she was, Killian could barely breathe, and by the time he'd gotten down to the bar, he was no clearer on how he'd go about introducing himself. He hadn't needed to actively pick up a woman in years, and for the first time in his life he was doubting himself. Why did it feel like if this woman turned him down it would mean the end of every good thing in his life? How did she have that sort of power when he didn't even have her name?

Right at that moment, the woman in question flicked her eyes up towards him, and in the instant that their gazes locked, and Killian saw the flecks of green in those eyes of hers, he knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that she was his. He had no rational explanation for it, but his very being was crying out that she was the one he'd been searching for, and he hadn't even realized he was looking.

In her eyes he saw his own desire mirrored, and when she took him in appreciatively, Killian felt himself hum in approval. She liked what she saw and the pride he felt in the face of her want for him was not insignificant. Killian was just about to move towards her when she looked away, and though Killian could feel the weight of the stares of her companions on him now, his eyes never waivered, taking in the blush that had crept across her cheeks. Her face was slightly obscured by her waves of golden hair and he wanted to push it away, to make her look at him so he could get that feeling back that came when they'd just been admiring each other. It was the single keenest pleasure he'd ever known.

"Can I get you a drink, sir?" The bartender asked and without so much as turning Killian replied.

"Rum. The best you have." The bartender made the drink appear quickly and by the time it was in hand, the woman was looking at him again, only this time she was moving and he knew without a doubt that she was coming his way.

"Hi." The simplest of greetings, one single syllable and Killian was hooked. Too late he realized that he hadn't responded only to see the woman before him smiling. "So you just going to stare at me all night, or were you planning to introduce yourself."

"I'm sorry, love. Bad form on my part. The name is Killian." He extended his hand to her and the woman smirked at the gesture.

"Emma," she said breezily but any of that easygoing tone was lost on both of them when they touched.

It was electric, a sensation Killian had never before known. He'd known many attractive women in his day, but never had one sparked a need like this before. He was half hard just from looking at her, and fully gone with the feel of her soft hand in his. Without a second thought, Killian raised her hand to his lips and watched as Emma's emerald eyes widened. He smiled against her skin, liking how many subtle clues she gave, how many reactions and tells he could already pinpoint.

Her blush was one thing, highlighting her already incredible features, but her lips also curved into the shadow of a smile, her breathing staggered slightly and he watched her move just half a step closer to him. Yes, Emma was feeling this just as much as he was, and Killian was going to make sure she didn't run from it.

"Can I buy you a drink, Emma?" She nodded, sparing a glance to his still untouched glass.

"Rum?" She asked, clearly amused by his libation of choice and Killian ran a hand through his hair. For a man who typically gave very little weight to what strangers thought, Killian was struggling with the idea that Emma might ever find him lacking.

"Aye, love." Emma laughed and it moved from her straight to his heart. He felt awakened in her presence, as if he'd been in the dark for the longest time only finally seeing light once more.

"Okay, I'll have what he's having," Emma said cheerfully to the bartender, and though there was nothing but friendly politeness in her tone, Killian felt a slight stab of jealousy that another man had gotten that smile. Then Emma's eyes returned to him and it was immediately soothed away.

"So what brings you to Vegas?" Killian asked, immediately regretting how cliché it sounded.

"My best friend is getting married."

"And I'm assuming she's one of the gaggle of women looking our way as we speak." Emma bit her lip and Killian felt his gut tighten. Didn't she have any idea how hard it was to hold back when she did things like that?

"Full disclosure, this is kind of a bet." Killian didn't know how exactly to reply to the words.

"I'm sorry?" Emma looked down for a second.

"My friends and I made a deal. I flirt with someone that they choose for ten minutes and I don't have to go on any of their blind dates for the rest of the year." Killian felt his heart fall at that. She hadn't even wanted to be here in the first place.

"Ah, so I'm a cover then. A pawn in the game of your love life." Emma looked stricken as her eyes came back up to him.

"No! I mean – I kind of wanted them to pick you." There it was, the bubbling of truth that revived him after a moment of panic. Emma did want him, and he was going to see that she got him, all of him. His finger came to trace a line on the inside of her arm, and he felt her shiver at the motion without pulling away.

"Well I'm glad they did, love. It means I can get to know you better. I can ask you questions, like are you from when not in Vegas and making wagers to pick up random men?"

Instead of replying, Emma moved towards him, pressing a kiss to Killian's lips that he hadn't expected but would never shy away from. All it took was a second for him to meet her, pulling her closer. It was the single best kiss of his life, fueling the hunger he was feeling for Emma all the more. Only before he could get the more he was craving, Emma put her hand on his chest and pulled away.

"Do you want me?" Emma asked. She seemed sincere in her question, as if there could possibly be any sort of doubt.

"More than anything," Emma smiled at that.

"Okay then I propose one night. No personal details, no expectations for more, just one perfect night before you go your way and I go back to a world where men like you don't give girls like me the time of day."

It's not enough! Killian thought to himself, but he bit back the response, knowing that he couldn't push Emma. She had a look about her now, with outward confidence but an inner struggle he didn't know yet. He wouldn't turn her down, but he also knew that if she made him promise he wouldn't agree to these terms outright. Killian had no intentions of this ending or walking away from Emma. That was never going to happen.

"You're asking for one night?" Killian said and Emma nodded. He knew she meant this was a one-time thing, but the difference meant something to him. One night could turn to more, one time held a different understanding, one he would never adhere to.

"Killian?" Hearing Emma say his name, calling him back from his internal thoughts, felt like coming home in the most confusing way, but he smiled all the same.

"Alright love. One night, but I think we should make it one to remember, don't you?" Emma nodded and with that he took her hand and led her out of this bar and out into their promised night of glory.

…..

After what had easily been the best sleep of her life, Emma found herself coming awake in a room she didn't recognize. Early morning light streamed into the massive suite where she was but the most notable element of her surroundings was the set of warm arms that currently surrounded her.

Killian, Emma thought to herself smiling automatically. As carefully as she could she turned around in his embrace so she could look at him. Even in sleep he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. She remembered meeting him at the bar and feeling that crazy bolt of recognition, like she knew him from somewhere even though they'd never met. That feeling never seemed to fade even in the light of a new day.

When Emma propositioned him, she'd had little idea of him doing anything but bringing her back to his room and having his way with her, but he hadn't. Instead they'd gone out, enjoying the night and finding moments in this city she wasn't particularly fond of. Killian had single handedly changed her assessment on Vegas and had delivered on that perfect night he promised.

It was all a whirlwind, and honestly some of the memories were a little hazy, not because she'd been drinking, but because he'd riled her up so fully with his sexiness and constant attention, but one part Emma definitely remembered. At the end of the night when they'd come back here and he'd made love to her over and over. She'd never forget how right it felt, and how incredible they were together. It was far and away the best sex of her life, but it was also, thanks to her own rules, a one-time thing.

Emma frowned at the thought, wishing she hadn't been so hasty, only to rationalize with herself. She still knew next to nothing about him, hell thinking back she didn't even know his last name. Everything that happened last night was borderline reckless, but it didn't feel that way. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to take his hand and follow where he went.

Oh boy, she'd developed feels for her one-night stand. This was terrible. Emma closed her eyes wishing she hadn't just done this. Feelings were something she avoided for a reason. Keeping herself and her heart safe was supposed to be her top priority. But last night, with Killian, she hadn't felt that gentle tug of loneliness that seemed to follow her half the time. The way he made her feel, safe and wanted and like she was somehow the catch, it was intoxicating.

"Emma," Killian's whisper of her name made Emma's eyes pop back open, but he was still asleep.

He's dreaming of me, Emma thought happily, wondering if maybe that meant something. Her hand came up to his naked chest, over his heart, but then a bit of gold caught her eye. A ring – no a wedding band!

What the - ?! And it all came rushing back. Part of that whirlwind night had involved going to one of those Vegas wedding chapels. It started as a joke, but Emma remembered how Killian had his arms around her, whispering sweet nothings and compliments in her ear. She had felt so gloriously happy there and the next thing she knew she was playing along with him about this being their wedding.

There'd been a turn of course, when the vows had come, and Emma started to feel that live wire of wanting him flare up. He'd looked at her, dead in the eyes and said he promised to love her and cherish her all the days of his life. He'd looked so serious and somehow she knew he meant it, or at least she'd wished that he had. She'd had words too, about hope and following good feelings and choosing to be happy. Oh god, she had gotten sappy. Emma Swan had gotten sappy and emotional and then completely forgotten about it once distracted by sex.

Run. I have to run. I have to go. The nagging voice that always manifested when she was feeling too much and too vulnerable came rearing its ugly head, and this time Emma couldn't tamp it down.

Slowly and oh so carefully she pulled out of the bed, feeling the loss of Killian's warmth as she did. She hastily put her dress back on and grabbed her heels and clutch, but when she got to the bedroom door, she couldn't help but take one last look at this incredible man who she kind of sort of, definitely didn't really marry.

Emma wondered if he'd miss her, if she would matter to him as much as he would matter to her, because she knew he would. She'd remember Killian always, but this couldn't happen. They couldn't happen. One night with him had been the proof of that. Whatever he did, whoever he was, he was in another world from her. A glamorous one with money and swanky digs like this, and Emma… Emma was a teacher and part time guidance counselor in a small town in Maine. No this couldn't happen, so it was better to cut her losses now, even if she felt a stab of pain in her heart as she closed the door and then left the suite as a whole.

At least she was in the same hotel where she was staying with her friends. That meant Emma's walk of shame consisted mostly of an elevator ride and then very brief movements down a hallway. She stole into her room, closing the door behind her and leaned against the hard, cold wood. Tears were welling in her eyes, and though Emma willed them to go away, they wouldn't. She felt them spill onto her cheeks, and she gave herself this moment, just one minute to fall apart before she had to get it together.

But before Emma could have that minute to let the feelings be, her phone began chirping, the alarm she'd set for this morning blaring a cold reminder that it was time to go home. She raced around the room packing up her things and changing out of the dress, and when she'd washed her face and gotten ready, she stared in her reflection and saw the sense of hurt in her eyes, hurt that she'd created for herself.

Emma worked to hide it, to make herself at least appear to be all right and somewhat normal, and by the time she left the hotel room to find the others she thought she'd managed to do just that. She should have known that the person she'd stumble upon was Ruby, and if anyone was going to see through her act it was her best friend.

"So how was your night?" Ruby asked, looking Emma over though still smiling. There was curiosity in her gaze, but not flat out concern.

"It was…" magical, terrifying, too much, not enough. "A once in a lifetime kind of thing."

"Maybe not. You never know. The world works in mysterious ways and all that," Emma smiled at that, feeling some of the tension in her chest loosen up a bit.

"Mysterious is one way to describe it, now let's go. We have our real lives to get back to."

….

Where is she? Where's my Swan? Killian's still sleep-raddled brain was trying to make heads or tails of the cold sheets beside him. Emma had clearly been gone for quite some time, and that frustrated him. He wanted to remind his lovely wife of all the pleasures he could give her this morning, and in order to do that, he'd need her here in this bed.

Last night had been the single best night of his life. There was no comparison to be made. Emma and her laugh and smile and wit had blown every other moment out of the water, and all the while Killian had been thanking the Gods that he had the chance to hold her, to be with her, to make her his.

People like Emma didn't exist in the world he knew. Kind, funny, smart as a whip and easily the sexiest woman he'd ever met, Emma was every good thing in one person. More than that though they understood each other. Wary by nature, but giving when it came to others. Because that was what Emma had been, giving. She'd bestowed upon Killian happy memories of being with her, gentle touches and subtle words, and then she'd gone so much further, giving her body to him when they'd gotten back to this bed after giving her future and forever when becoming his wife.

Killian felt the metal of his new wedding band and grinned. They'd married last night, and while to anyone else that might seem insane, it made perfect sense to Killian. So in the midst of all their other adventures, Killian had made a stop to the chapel. He knew Emma had thought it humorous at first, but with time and patience she'd been accepting. They had witnesses and a license and they were married. Killian had never been more joyous over an event in his life.

His instincts had never failed him before, and they were telling Killian that Emma was the one person who would make life all that it could be. He wanted to give her everything and be everything for her too, and he didn't have any of the particulars figured out, but they'd discuss them. She could come to New York and live with him. She didn't have to work ever again if she didn't want to, but he knew she was passionate about what she did. They'd have another wedding, a big one to invite friends and family to and they'd be happy, Killian was certain of it.

"I can't believe I married a teacher," Killian said aloud, smiling as he ran a hand through his hair and moved into the bathroom. There was no Emma in here, which was a bit of a shame. He'd have liked to try out this shower with her, but there was time still. He brushed his teeth and washed off his face only to move into the rest of the suite and find out she wasn't there either. Not only that, she'd left no note, no trace of where she was going. Only now did Killian begin to panic. Emma was gone. She'd run from him.

It didn't make any bloody sense! He knew that she'd felt this too. All night long he'd watched her, taking in everything about her and she was just as much his as he was hers.

When she'd said 'I do' standing there in the dimly lit chapel, Killian had seen the truth in her eyes. She had made him a promise and she'd done it with love, even if she hadn't said the words. The little warble in her words had told him that all of the swirling emotions he felt were plaguing her too, but she'd made the vow, given her word that she was his. Nothing was going to change that.

Killian moved to grab his phone, speedily calling Jefferson up who picked up on the first ring.

"Yeah boss?"

"Where is she?" Jefferson had the audacity to chuckle through the phone and if Killian had been with him in person he'd have gotten a swift punch to the face.

"Finally realized you're missing the missus, huh? She's boarding her flight now back to Portland." She was going home, but didn't she know that home was wherever they were together?

Killian had to pause, pressing his fingers to his temple, trying to work the stress out of his head. He needed to go about this the right way, for clearly Emma had an instinct to run even with him. He needed to get passed that, to tear down the walls as he had last night but ensure they never came back up. To do that, Killian needed a plan.

"Should I tell the pilot to change our course?" Killian shook his head, not that Jefferson could see that.

"No. We'll go back to New York for today, leave for Maine tomorrow. I have some things I should get ready anyways."

Without saying any more, Killian hung up the phone and locked the screen, only to see the picture Emma had taken of the two of them last night saved as his background.

His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her beautiful face, happy and smiling as she had been. She looked like she'd caught herself at the tail end of a laugh, and his eyes were on her instead of the camera, the smile on his face more real than the ones he gave to any other person in the world. He'd looked that way because he was happy, because he had Emma.

Now all he had to do was get her back. It was the only thing in the world that meant anything, the only next step he could even think to take. Killian was going to find Emma and prove to her that the two of them were real no matter what it took, even if it required trekking up to Maine and making her see that he was in this for the long haul. And when he did he was going to see to it that they'd both be as happy as they were in this picture every day for the rest of their lives.

Post-Note: Okay, so in case there was any doubt, I am going to be including tropes and cuteness and excessive levels of fluff in this story. I mean love at first sight, supper rich Killian and schoolteacher Emma. Married in Vegas. It's a lot of fluff, but that's just how I do business. This chapter was really double what the normal installment will look like if my current plan holds (I'd only have one POV for each of them), but I will say that I am still working through where this story is heading. As of now I have a few chapters outlined, but I'm always interested in hearing thoughts on the parts of my readers. Because I have such a full load of stories already, I'm not entirely sure how often this will be getting updated, but since the story is hot right now, I'm sure it will be pretty consistent. Anyway, thanks for reading and hopefully see you next time!