Epilogue: A Year Later

"Emma…" Killian groaned, tightening his grip on the sleeping woman in his arms. They were lying in an enormous bed and yet they were pressed together as though there was no room. It was how they preferred it, even when their bed was as soft as swan feathers and today was the day they were to be married.

"What are you doing in here?" Emma murmured, opening one eyes to peek at him. "You aren't supposed to see the bride before the wedding."

"I think that only applies when the bride doesn't tease her fiancé into bed on the eve of her wedding," Killian answered, his teeth nipping at her jaw. "I should leave before your mother comes in and bites my head off."

"They agreed to the wedding," Emma reminded him. "You don't have to worry."

"About that," he rolled his eyes, "But I don't think they'll love me for ravishing you night after night. After all, aren't Princesses supposed to be virtuous for their wedding nights?"

"I have a son," she answered, with a kiss, "No one's expecting that. You're lucky this isn't a marriage based on an alliance. I for one, don't want people watching while I'm fucking you."

"Oh?" Killian raised a brow. "You do enjoy being in control."

"I just want to go home, Killian," she replied with a soft sigh. "I just want to go home."

"And we will, darling," he grinned. "When we're man and wife."

"I like the sound of that," Emma answered, nuzzling his nose before she basically pushed him out of the bed. "Now go, before my mother does come."

"See you at the altar, Swan," he grinned, leaning back to place a tender kiss on her forehead.

"Wouldn't miss it," she farewelled with a happy smile as he slipped from the room, the large timber door snapping closed behind him.

When Emma finally rolled out of bed, it was to let in her temporary maid, Rachel, to draw her a bath.

"Are you excited?!" Rachel enquired with a wide grin. The girl was so excited for the wedding, despite not even knowing Emma that well. After all, since both her and Killian had been pardoned and commissioned with free reign against Regina, they split their time equally between the castle and their ship. But for the last month, they'd been stuck on land, hence their needing to feel the sea beneath them.

"I suppose," Emma answered with a sigh, sliding into the warm water, "I never really expected that I'd be back here, getting married and doing Princess things again…"

"But isn't it fun?"

"It is, a little. I'm quite glad that my mother has given me freedom. Now that Regina has been incapacitated and her magic stripped, Killian and I can just enjoy our honeymoon."

"But you're taking the children aren't you?" Rachel's brow furrowed and Emma laughed.

"Neal arrived yesterday," Emma grinned, "He's going to take Henry and Scarlet. As long as he's got Tink with him, Scarlet won't complain too much. She adores the fairy even if she hates Neal."

Rachel laughed, "The castle will be boisterous when you all finally return for good."

"It'll be quite a few years," Emma reminded her. "Only once Snow and David resign the throne."

"Indeed," Rachel agreed with a nod as she started to brush out Emma's hair. "Now, your mother has said that she won't intrude on your morning, but she will be here at three o'clock with your dress. Before then, I am to do your nails, your hair and makeup. We will have brunch before I start all this, but I want you to relax. Everything is ready and I am getting you beautified. Not that you aren't always beautiful, Princess," she added, hesitantly,

"It's Emma, Rachel," she corrected with a smile. "And thank you."

"You're welcome."

As Killian was on his way up from the kitchen with an apple in his hand, he almost ran straight into Neal. The man was running his hands through his hair in frustration; pacing.

"You alright, mate?" Killian enquired.

"I was…" Neal made a face, "I was going to go and see my father."

"You saw him a few weeks ago, didn't you?" Killian posed, "Why is it such a big deal now?"

"Because," Neal hesitated, looking up at Killian, "Belle said that he's been getting better. Less crazy. More like how he used to be. And I'm not sure if I'm going to be disappointed; if I see him and he's not all I remember him to be…"

"All you can do it see," Killian suggested, uneasy with discussing the Dark One. The fact that Snow White and Prince Charming had captured the Dark One before they found him and Emma still wore at him. It felt like he hadn't satisfied his need sometimes, but those moments were fleeting. Because then he remembered what he had instead of revenge, and it was that much better than anything he could have hoped for.

"I guess so," Neal finally breathed. "Thanks, Killian. Are you excited for today?"

"Definitely," he grinned, "You're still okay to take Henry and Scarlet?"

"Tink's looking forward to it," he answered with a grin, and a wistful look as he mentioned the woman he loved. "I'll see you at the wedding."

"Good luck, Neal," Killian bade. Neal smiled. And left.

"What's that?"

"It's called a tiara, Scarlet," Mary Margaret said, lifting the bejewelled silver off her vanity. With a soft smile, she leant down beside the five-year-old and offered it to you, "Since you're a princess, you can wear it if you'd like."

Scarlet grinned and took it gently, "Thank you Grandma."

"You're welcome," Snow answered in satisfaction, "Now. Where is your brother?"

"Grandpa said something about training…"

"On your mother's wedding day!" Snow seemed outraged and Scarlet merely shrugged.

"I think Grandpa was nervous."

"Of course he was," Snow sighed, rolling her eyes. "Okay, let's go and find your brother and grandpa so we can get them ready for the wedding."

"Because they're hopeless on their own," Scarlet replied matter-of-factly as she took her grandmother's hand. Snow merely laughed.

"Exactly."

When Emma stood in front of the mirror, dressed in her wedding gown with her hair falling over her shoulders, pinned with soft diamonds, her servant, her mother and her daughter all collectively sighed. Some wistfully, some in awe, but either way, Emma felt beautiful.

And when she walked down that aisle, following her daughter's trail of rose petals with her arm hooked through her son's, she saw Killian adoring face, and she blushed. Even after all this time, his gaze contained all the love and desire she ever could have hoped for.

When Henry gave her away, he gave them both the biggest grin, and when Scarlet handed them the rings, she almost jumped for joy. And when they kissed, all those seated, rose to their feet in applause and cheers for the happy ending of the lost princess and her pirate.

And when they danced in the aftermath until they were giddy with happiness, when Emma had thrown her bouquet into a surprised Tink's arms, and they had taken all the well wishing they possibly could, Killian Jones swept Emma Swan away to his ship where he carried her across the threshold murmuring, "Home, sweet, home."

He kissed her tenderly when he put her down on the deck, but she practically ran to his cabin, climbing down the ladder before trapping him there, the minute Killian entered.

"You certainly are in control tonight, love."

"I like that," Emma grinned, trapping his lips in a searing kiss, of lips and teeth and tongues as he tried to undo her wedding dress. But struck by an idea, Emma pulled away, watching as he tried to follow her and ended up unsteady on his feet.

"Can you lie down on the bed?" Emma asked with a smirk.

"As you wish," he grinned, knowing exactly what the words meant.

"Can you restrain yourself from touching?" Emma grinned as she began to undo the back of the dress.

"With great difficulty, yes," Killian responded, his eyes already darkening with lust as he reached over to light a candle.

"Then get ready for a wedding night you will not soon forget," Emma challenged, the white dress falling to the floor to reveal the sheerest of underclothes that brought him to awareness in a split second.

Killian didn't forget that night. Ever.

In the glowing aftermath of their consummation, Emma was the happiest she had ever been in her life. She reached up to kiss him, only to see him smiling down at her in contentment.

"You know I lied, " Emma whispered as he nuzzled his nose against hers, lying in their comfortable bed, moulded around him. "When we met. I never would have harmed your pretty face."

"I prefer devilishly handsome, love," he chuckled, blue eyes sparkling in mirth.

"Aye," she finished, snuggling up against his chest. "My devilishly handsome pirate."

"Always yours, Swan," he answered kissing her hair. "My Swan."

And in that blissful moment, they gave into their exhaustion, and held each other into sleep. Killian was just on the edge of oblivion when Emma murmured:

"It's Jones, now actually."

With those words they were both suddenly very awake. And they made love once more before sinking back down into the pillows, boneless and completely sated. For now.

"If we keep going like this we'll have another Jones to deal with," Emma joked and Killian answered with a sly grin, "You aren't giving me much incentive to stop."

Reminded of the dream she'd had so wistfully a year ago, Emma grinned hopefully, "So, you want more kids?"

"To have you bear my child would be the greatest gift of all, Emma," Killian whispered, tenderly stroking her side as they fell instantaneously into a sleep filled with beautiful dreams of the future.

Nerina Jones came along nine months later. Liam Jones, a year and half after that. And it wasn't for another fifteen years that Snow and David asked Emma to take the throne, and she did so gladly with a supportive Killian by her side. Henry was married to a lovely, fiery, Princess from the East, and Scarlet was currently in an on and off relationship with Graham's son, Nate, but they were going to stay together eventually. Emma and Killian simply knew these things.

As for Nerina? She was a heartbreaker with her mother's personality, hair and face, but her father's eyes and flirtations. Every boy, royal or non-royal, pined for her. But she had eyes only for one man.

"Oh, mom, he's gorgeous," she breathed hurriedly as they walked the halls. "A real gentlemen. And he's asked me to dinner before his ship leaves for Arendelle in the morning and I really want to go –"

"Ship?" Emma halted her questioningly.

"He's a naval officer," Nerina said with a blush. She knew her parents story… minus the adult parts.

"Well I don't suppose I can stop you then," Emma sighed and Nerina threw her arms around her mother in excitement. "Don't forget your sword!"

"Mom…" she dragged out.

"Dagger at least," Emma warned and Nerina brightened.

"Thank you!" she said quickly, giving her a kiss on the cheek before running off. Emma found Killian in their room and stood in the doorway watching him work on his model ship with both of his hands (Rumplestiltskin as a partial apology had returned it years ago), before musing. "They grow up so fast."

"Aye," Killian answered, putting down his work and getting up to meet her, wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace in the doorway. "They do."

"I love you, Captain Hook," Emma said with a soft smile, her hand tangling in the necklace that even after all these years, he didn't take off.

"I love you, Captain Swan," he grinned, leaning down to kiss her just as Liam poked his head out of his doorway.

"I heard Neri's going out on a date," he said, his mop of black hair falling into his eyes, "Does this mean I can go on a date with –"

"No," Emma and Killian chorused. Liam eyes them in annoyance before shutting his door.

"He's too much like you," Emma sighed.

"Even I wasn't that into girls at thirteen," Killian seemed offended, tugging Emma back to him. "Besides, I love you, my Queen. Always yours, Swan."

"Always yours," Emma agreed, sealing their fates with one more kiss.

fin.

A/N: Thank you all so much! I cannot tell you how amazing all your support has been whilst writing this. I'm so happy it got done and for the response I've gotten for it. :)

I don't have anything else planned for the next few weeks, but after then, I may get started on a hiatus fic post S3. So, if you'd like to read that, please follow me either here or, as some of you may have noticed, Tumblr, which I've become more active on since AU week started. :)

Once again, thank you!

Hugs and butterfly kisses to each and every one of you! xoxo

YouSaid.