I'm back! After a very long break, I am finally coming out with a new story. This one is very different than my others. It is much, much fluffier. I felt that it was needed for the hiatus. I originally planned to publish something else right now and wait on this, but I thought this would be better enjoyed right now.

So, this story is a collection of snapshots (almost like a collection of related one shots) detailed Emma and Killian's relationship from first meeting to their one year wedding anniversary. I always love reading stories where they are already in a relationship, so I thought I would write a collection on it. It's a bit different from my other stories since it lacks some of the angst and drama and will skip from one moment to the next (hence the "snapshots") but I hope you all like it!

Make sure to review, follow and favorite. Love you all!

Chapter 1

Emma rolled over, sunlight peeking into the bedroom through the blinds, hitting the body that lay next to her. Killian, still teetering between the lines of sleep and awake, gave a lazy smile, subconsciously pulling her closer to his chest.

It was a beautiful thing, really, lying here with him, in the quietness of morning, a day shy of their first wedding anniversary. It was something she never thought she would get. Now, even after five years with this man, the love of her life, she still sometimes felt like it was a dream. A good dream she never wanted to wake from.

This was something she never thought she would have. As a child in the foster system, happy endings here only something out of stories, not the final destination for her life. All she knew was that she would struggle and no one would love her. She was not expecting this.

Staring at the sleeping form of her husband, she could not help but smile at the thought of all they had shared together and how life had brought them here. It was quite the story, but still her favorite one.

Five years ago -August 2012

"That the last one?" Mary-Margaret asked in a hesitant voice as Emma set a medium sized box into the empty room.

"Yeah." Emma breathed out. "I travel light.

"Well, at least you won't have a lot to unpack?" Mary-Margaret offered.

The woman seemed like the sweetest person, well, ever. Emma had not met her before today, only arranged things over the phone. Emma had recently moved to town, Storybrooke, Maine, in order to finish up school. It was something she had not seen for herself. After high school, she had little money. She worked her way through a one year of community college, getting a certificate in criminal justice. It wasn't much, but it was something.

She worked for a few years after that before she even considered going back to school. Now, at twenty four, she was staring homework and school bills in the face again. She had been offered a scholarship at Storybrooke University to transfer into the four plus one program. She would go in as a sophomore and finish her undergrad and get her grad all at a reduced cost. And while it did not cover the entire cost, there was no guarantee she would get another gig like this. So, she took it, and moved from her last location, Tallahasse, to Storybrooke.

She was set to stay here for four years. Four years. It would be her longest stay, well, anywhere. She had lived in Boston and Minnesota as a child, but since she grew up in the foster care system, she was constantly booted from one home to the next with no stability. She than went to school in Massachusetts, but in the rural area so she could get out of the city. Than, after her two years of school, she accepted a position in Virginia, only to be offered a better position a two later in Tallahassee. Than, two years into that job, she heard back from Storybrooke U and made the decision to pick up and leave yet again.

It was not a glamorous life, having no roots, but it was her life and she was managing.

"So, I know you're probably tired, so I'll let you get some rest. I can help you unpack tomorrow if you'd like?" Mary Margaret asked.

"It's fine, I think I've got it."

"Okay." Mary-Margaret made her way to the door. "Oh, and I almost forget, a group of us always go to Granny's, this little dinner down the street, on Sundays for brunch. It's kinda like a tradition. You should come tomorrow. I mean, you'll be here for a while, so might as well meet some friends right?"

Emma smiled. "That sounds nice."

Mary-Margaret's face lit up. "Wonderful. Tomorrow at eleven! Have a good night, Emma." She said before she slipped out of the empty room.

Emma sighed, slumping down onto her bleak bed. She barely knew Mary-Margaret, but she knew enough to know that this was going to be an adventure.

It had not even been fifteen seconds into brunch and Emma knew adventure might have been the wrong word to describe the outing. Interrogation was probably better.

The first person who approached her was Ruby, all long legs and long hair and a charisma about her that could be seen from a mile away. "So, you're the new girl?" Was the first thing out of her mouth.

"I suppose." Emma sounded unsure.

Ruby hummed. "I can work with it." She scanned Emma over, even picking up a strand of her blonde hair to inspect it." You'll be a good addition for girls night. I need another single lady because M is no fun anymore."

"I'm sorry I got engaged." Mary-Margaret scoffed.

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint." Emma moved out of Ruby's grasp slightly. "But I'm seeing someone. I'm still up for drinks though."

With a pout, Ruby said. "I guess it's a start." She led them to a booth, where a blonde man was already sitting. Mary-Margaret slid in next to him, greeting him with a kiss.

"Emma, this is my fiance, David. David, this is my new roommate, Emma."

"Nice to meet you," David extended a hand.

"Likewise."

"They're sickening." Ruby muttered to her. "I work her at the dinner and they are basically Snow White and Prince Charming."

"I heard that." Mary-Margaret said.

"I know." Ruby smiled.

"Killian just texted me." David said, breaking the girls from their conversation. "He'll be a few minutes late."

"He with Milah again?" Ruby scoffed.

"Who's Killian?" Emma asked.

"David's best friend. You'll like him. He's really nice." Mary-Margaret explained.

"His girlfriend on the other hand," Ruby leaned back. "Not so nice."

Emma opened her mouth to ask something, but the waiter came up to take their order. No one else gave a second thought to their order, not even glancing at the menu. David ordered two meals and Emma could only assume the second was the mysterious Killian's regular.

"So, how long have you all known each other?" Emma asked when the waiter left.

"Well," Mary-Margaret started. "Ruby and I have known each other since we were kids. We grew up in Storybrooke."

"I moved here in high school," David piped in." And met them then and the rest of the group a little later. I stayed for college and never could bring myself to leave."

"Rest of the group?" Emma questioned his words.

"Well, there's Regina and Robin." Mary-Margaret explained. "They sometimes come to brunch, but Robin has his son, Roland, from his first marriage."

"So, Robin and Regina are married?" Emma tried to connect the dots. She figured it would help if she was going to be thrown into this already tight knit group.

"Dating." Mary-Margaret corrected her. "Robin got married the first time pretty young. Twenty, I think. They had Roland pretty quickly, but his wife, Marian, got cancer and died when he was about three."

"That's awful." Emma whispered.

The waiter came back with their drinks, tea for Mary-Margaret and coffee for everyone else. Mary-Margaret stirred her beverage as she responded. "It was. Robin did not always live here. He moved here with his son after his wife died to try and give them a fresh start. He thought the small town would be better for him than the city."

"There's also Belle." Ruby joined "The librarian. Sweetest thing you'll ever meet. She's got this weird relationship with Mr. Gold, who owns the town pawn shop, but none of us try to understand it. It works for them."

"So, Emma," David changed the subject again. "I hear you're studying criminal justice?"

"Yeah," Emma responded after a sip of her coffee. "I got a certificate back when I was eighteen and I transfered into the five year program."

"So, how many years do you have left than?"

"Four. I'll have to do a few semesters of eighteen credits and some summer classes, but I figured it was time to complete my degree." It was not a complete lie, but it was not complete truth either. She had always wanted to complete her degree, just had never had the chance.

"Maybe I'll be able to convince you to work at the sheriff's station with me." David grinned. "For experience and all that."

"I would love that."

The bell of the dinner rang and Emma leaned over a bit to see a man dressed in all black walking towards them. He was clad in black jeans and a grey vneck tshirt, with dark hair and bright eyes. It took Emma a few seconds to notice that he only had one hand. It was not obvious, but she studied criminal justice and even worked in bail bonds for a while. Catching miniscule details about people was what she did.

"Sorry I'm late." The man sat at the empty chair they had placed at the end of the booth. "Bloody boss decided to call me right as I was walking out the door."

"Man, you need a new job." David laughed.

"I'm well aware of that. But I also like being able to pay the rent for our apartment, so I'll have to deal, now won't I?"

"Anyways-" Mary-Margaret said. "Killian, this is Emma Swan. Emma, Killian Jones."

Killian took her hand, placing a soft kiss on it, before releasing it and nodding to her. "It's a pleasure, Swan."

Emma gave him a soft smile. "Yeah."

"Killian's in a five year program too." David piped in. "He'll graduate this May."

"What are you studying?" Emma asked him.

"Journalism. You, love?"

She was a bit taken back by the 'love" comment, but chalked it up to a flirty personality. One that fit the black leather and British accent. "Criminal justice. I've still got four years until graduation, though."

"Transfer?"

Emma nodded. "I got a one year a few years ago, but never finished."

"Aye. Thought it was time to get back to school, hmm?

Emma couldn't tell if it was interest of judgement in his voice, so she answered casually. "I suppose so."

"Smart lass. I didn't even touch my program until I was twenty-three. All of these blokes were done with homework by that point."

"Well, someone decided to go join the Navy." David teased.

Emma eyed him and while at first glance he did not seem like one to be in the Navy, it was not completely shocking. It might explain the hand, though.

The waitress came back with their food, setting their plates in front of them.

"Aye," Killian said. "And as much as I'd love to go back down memory lane, I'm starved." He glanced over to Emma. "What do you say, lass?"

Another nickname. She filed that away for later. For now, though, she could ignore it. "Let's eat."

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