A/N: Well, it is that time. This story has come to an end. I hope everyone has enjoyed it. If you follow True North, bear with me, I have a lot going on and I plan on continuing the story. Thank you to everyone who had decided to read this story and I hope that you have enjoyed it. Another thank you to my beta, aimeeloren, who has taken loads of time to make sure I gave you the best story possible. And a thank you to Stephanie, Just4FunVids925 on YouTube, for allowing me to follow through on my vision of a story from her wonderful video.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to the franchise of Once Upon A Time.

Epilogue – Please Don't Try So Hard To Say Goodbye:

"That's it. I'm leaving," Emma called out to Killian, tapping her foot, her arms crossed over her chest. Enough was enough.

Killian straightened his tie for what seemed like the hundredth time in front of the mirror. He turned toward her and gave her a devilish grin. "Sorry, love."

Emma had no choice but to forgive him as he kissed her lightly on the cheek so he wouldn't smear her makeup. "I refuse to be late, Killian. I may have turned down the maid of honor job but I'm still a bridesmaid."

His eyes raked over her. "And what a ravishing bridesmaid you are." He checked his watch. "If you didn't have to be there in twenty minutes, I'd happily peel you right out of that fabric you call a dress."

"I just wish I could breathe in this thing."

Killian's eyes glittered and a devilish smile spread across his face. "Your discomfort is a cross I'm willing to bear."

Even more self-conscious, Emma tugged at the low neckline of the dress. The rose red dress didn't leave much to the imagination, being skin-tight, low cut at the top and ending mid-thigh. Only Ruby would have chosen these dresses for her attendants. Every other bride in the world would have avoided something so sexually eye-catching. No, Ruby was quite secure in herself and on Graham's love. There was no need to worry about his eyes turning away from Ruby.

Of course, Ruby's gown was equally spectacular. It had a white satin sweetheart strapless neckline, with faux rubies sewn around the edges. The skirt was full and layered in white tulle over a blood red satin slip. When Ruby had modeled it for Emma a few days ago, Emma had been shocked and awed by its magnificence. No one would be able to show up Ruby, no matter what their own dress looked like.

Killian escorted Emma down to the lobby of their hotel. Outside a town car waited to escort them over to the church where Ruby was getting ready. They arrived with only a minute to spare from the time Emma was expected to arrive. Though with Killian's hand drawing circles on her practically bare leg on the drive over, She had been tempted to be late. Very late.

"Someone looks sexually frustrated."

Emma came up short as she entered the room after leaving Killian behind in the vestibule. "Shut up, Ruby."

"Testy, too." Ruby laughed but was quickly shushed by the woman putting finishing touches on her makeup.

"Don't you have a wedding to go to?" Emma teased.

"If we can stop her from jumping all over the place checking on everything she might actually be ready on time," the blonde girl, Ella told her. Ruby had chosen her to be the maid of honor when Emma had reluctantly turned down the job. If Emma's last case hadn't taken her across the country for the last four weeks, things might have been different, but Emma hadn't wanted to leave Ruby in the lurch should something happen and she was unable to get to the wedding.

"I just want this to be over with. If I hadn't wanted all of our friends to celebrate with us, Graham and I would have happily consented to run away to Vegas."

"No, you wouldn't," Emma told her. "That is the only place that might have showed you up." Glancing in the mirror in front of Ruby, Emma pulled at the neckline of her dress to make sure it was definitely staying put. She should have used tape. "Though I'm not completely sure about that."

"Hush," Ruby told her, as she finally stood up, her makeup and hair complete. "You look great." Ruby gave Emma a wink. "I bet Killian loves the dress."

"He wants to take it off, which is not the same thing," Emma told her with some exasperation and a blush.

Emma, Ella and the woman assisting with Ruby's hair and makeup, all helped Ruby into her dress. Ruby nudged Emma. "You planning to catch the bouquet tonight?"

Narrowing her eyes, Emma asked her, "What are you planning, Ruby?"

Ruby tried to look innocent, but being Ruby the look only cried guilty. "Nothing."

"Uh-huh."

Ruby held up her hands. "Really nothing is up my sleeves. In fact, I'm not wearing any."

"How come I don't trust you?" Emma zipped her friend into her wedding dress.

"Probably because you've known me for too many years," Ruby quipped.

"Probably," Emma agreed with a laugh.

CSCSCSCSCSCS

The ceremony had been beautiful. There had hardly been a dry eye in the church when Ruby and Graham made their pledges to each other before reciting their vows. Emma had even seen Killian swipe away a stray tear from across the church.

Emma had almost laughed at the end of the ceremony when she spotted Killian's face. The groomsman who escorted her out of the church held her a little too closely for his taste. It was nice to see Killian jealous. She knew she felt that way several times in the last few days during some of Ruby's pre-wedding parties, when women threw themselves in Killian's direction. Emma watched Killian's jaw tick as he took in the groomsman's measure. Emma knew once they reached the reception hall, after taking the required pictures, she'd have to unruffle some feathers.

However, by the time they had arrived, Killian seemed to have already calmed down. A glass of rum sat before him on the table he'd been assigned to. Emma quietly approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his ear. "Hi, handsome."

Leaning his head down, he kissed one of her arms. "Took you long enough to admit it. I've been trying to tell you for a while now."

"Shut up," she whispered with a smile into his ear, her fingers trying to get leverage to tickle him before his hands captured hers to his chest. "I need to get over to the main table. Save me a dance?"

He turned slightly so he was facing her. "Every one."

"Good," Emma told him with a smile.

His lips caressed hers gently before she slipped away. Her chair was almost directly facing his own. Killian's eyes sparkled as he lifted his glass in salute. Emma's heart leapt in her chest when he mouthed the words I love you before he lowered the glass to the table.

Ella nudged Emma. "What do I have to do to get a guy like that?"

Emma smiled at her, breaking eye contact with Killian. "Your guy is pretty great."

They both looked over at Sean who bounced their baby girl on his knees. "Yes, he's not so bad," Ella said with a shy smile. "Not once I got him to stop running. He was so scared about becoming a father but he's a great dad. No matter what his own father says about us being so young."

"I heard from Ruby he left work last Valentine's Day just to take you out during his lunch break."

Ella blushed. "Yeah. I didn't think we'd even be able to spend the day together at all. It was a nice surprise after taking care of the baby all day." Ella leaned in and whispered. "He actually proposed that night too, but it's still a secret until we can afford to get our own house."

"You're lucky," Emma said as she glanced over at Killian. "I've got the house. But the guy… it's been a while since he's even hinted at something more."

Time went by with dinner being served and toasts being made. Emma's eyes were constantly drawn to the man sitting across the way. His eyes flirting with her across the space. All Emma wanted was for the dancing to start so she could wrap herself in Killian's arms. And once she found herself there, she would refuse to let him go.

Obligations, however, stood between her and her goal. First she had to dance with the groomsman that had escorted her down the aisle. Then, Emma danced with the best man before Graham claimed her for a dance.

"You look like you're finally happy, Emma," Graham noted with a smile. "I couldn't be happier for you."

Emma smiled up at him. "Thank you. I am. You don't look like you're doing so badly yourself," she teased.

Graham shrugged. "What can I say? I finally got her to stop long enough to slip a ring on her finger." He winked at Emma. "Needed that so I could legally beat back all the men lining up to check her out."

Laughing, Emma spun out and back in on his direction. "Yes, because we all know it is her magnetic… personality… that draws them in."

Graham playfully growled and tipped Emma backwards over his arm. "Doesn't matter anymore. She's mine. I'm sure Killian understands the feeling."

Glancing over, Emma found Killian and Ruby dancing. Their heads were pressed together in a very conspiratorial manner. Oh hell no! Lord knew what the Ruby was telling Killian. Whatever it was, Emma was sure it couldn't be good.

The music ended and Graham made a small gallant bow over Emma's hand. "I better go claim my bride. It's time to toss the garter."

Emma moved off the dance floor, the same as all the other women and married men. In doing so, she bumped into Killian who seemed to be trying to get center stage. Instead he smiled and winked at her, bringing her to his chair to wait out the garter toss.

"Stay here," he told her with a devilish grin, his tongue popping out to the side of his mouth when he was planning something. "I've treasure to catch."

"Killian," Emma reprimanded softly but he was already gone.

Just as promised, Killian caught the garter, vaulting over a teenager's back to catch it. His smile was salacious when he returned with the red satin and white lace strip twirling around on his finger. "I did my part, love. Your turn. Unless you'd rather see me reach up another lass's skirts."

Emma glanced down at her own lack of skirting. "There isn't much fabric to move with this."

Killian knelt down next to her chair, effectively shielding her from view of the crowd around them. His fingers started at her knee and slowly made a fiery path up her leg until they trailed under the hem of her red satin dress. Emma's breath hitched.

He leaned forward and whispered, "No, what's under here is for my eyes alone and I prefer to keep it that way." Pulling his fingers out, he held out his hand. "Your turn, love."

No sooner had Killian made his announcement than the disk jockey made his own, inviting all the single women to the dance floor. Taking Killian's hand, Emma let him pull her up, tugging down her skirt with her other hand in the process. Kicking her shoes off of her swollen feet, Emma followed the other women out to the center of the dance floor. She wasn't sure if she really wanted to do this, but she knew she definitely didn't want Killian's hands wandering up another woman's skirts in front of her.

It seemed to take Ruby some time to set up. Graham was tying something around the bundle of flowers but Emma couldn't tell what it was. Holding the bouquet finally, Ruby faced the women. "Are you ready?"

Many of the women cheered. There was one woman next to Emma who was jostling everyone, her anxiety to get to the bouquet first palpable.

"I'm making him put that garter on with his teeth," the woman said to another one next to her.

Emma almost had to laugh. It would serve Killian right if she helped that woman catch the bouquet.

Ruby turned her back and she announced, "Don't mess this up."

That threw Emma for a second. Then at the last second Ruby pivoted and the bouquet sailed in a direct line to Killian's waiting arms. Women screamed and wailed about it being unfair. Killian, however, seemed unfazed. No, instead, a shit-eating grin spread over his face as he examined the bouquet and walked onto the dance floor.

Women parted as he walked. Before Emma could even process what he was doing Killian stood before her. He untied whatever Graham had put there and lowered himself to one knee.

"Emma Swan, will you do the greatest of honors and marry me?"

Despite being stunned, Emma tried to usher him up off the floor. "Killian, it's Ruby's wedding," she whispered to him. "What are you doing?"

"She told me she refused to go on her honeymoon until she knew that her best friend found her own happy ending." He held out his hand and opened his fist to reveal a diamond ring. That must have been what Graham had tied to the flowers.

Emma glanced over at her two friends. They were both nodding and smiling, holding hands. Turning back to Killian, Emma held out her own hand. "Yes, Killian Jones. I would be more than happy to marry you. You're more than my happy ending. You're my home."

Killian whooped. Gathering her into his arms, he stood and swung her around, as the crowd around them cheered and clapped. Though to be honest there were a few grumbles as well by the single women surrounding them, but Emma tried her best to block them out. This was a happy moment and she wasn't about to let that slip through her fingers.

When her feet finally touched the ground, Killian slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her. Emma couldn't be any happier if she tried. Her best friend was married to a man who loved her. And her new friend, Mary-Margaret, was at home with her new baby. And Emma was sure she would find herself quickly following in both of their footsteps.

Emma would love for them to plan a small wedding. She didn't want to wait forever to get married to Killian. They had already had years of waiting. And though Emma knew Killian would wait forever if she asked him too, she knew she didn't want to wait much more time to announce to everyone that they were indeed together. And in love, forever. He held on to her heart and she held onto his. They found home and love in each other.