an: well, here it is! The very last chapter! I know I've said it so many times, but I am so thankful for all of you who have read and left me the sweetest reviews and messages!

As for the future of this universe, I have started writing a sequel and so far, it's making my beta cry daily, so I think that's a good thing? Anyway, I'm excited about it and I hope you'll keep an eye out for it in the near future!

epilogue

day 365. emma and killian's apartment, storybrooke, maine.

She wakes up to the smell of coffee, pancakes, and bacon. Her toes curl happily and she stretches her arms over her head as she takes a deep breath, opening her eyes slowly.

To no real surprise, the bed beside her is empty.

She isn't very surprised when a little brown paw settles on the bed and then a little brown pup joins her. She smiles softly, reaching out to scratch under the puppy's chin.

"Hi, Buddy," she murmurs, giggling when her puppy comes to lick her face. "Where's Daddy? Did he go make breakfast?"

Buddy yips at her and she laughs, sliding upright. She grabs Killian's shirt from the floor and slides it on before she gets out of bed, heading out toward the kitchen. She runs her fingers through her hair and ties it up above her head just as she stands behind her husband.

Her arms wrap around him as he flips a pancake and she smiles as she kisses his neck. "Happy anniversary."

Killian hums. He reaches around with his free hand and pinches her side, causing her to laugh as she moves to his side. He grins, awarding her with a kiss.

"Happy anniversary," he replies against her lips before he gives her another kiss.

Emma smiles at him and he at her as he turns back toward breakfast.

"I was going to deliver this to you in bed, but if you're already up…" Killian grabs a plate from the counter and hands it to her. "We can share breakfast at the table."

Emma takes the plate from him, feeling a light and happy, as she probably should on such a day as this. "Okay."

She goes to the table and curls a leg up under her as she sits down. Buddy comes scampering out of the bedroom and up to her, yipping at the sight of her.

Emma laughs. "What do you want?"

"He probably wants a walk." Killian says. "I'll take him after breakfast. Try giving him that bone we brought back last night."

She glances back over her shoulder and grabs it from the counter, smirking as she waves it at the puppy. He immediately pants at her, clearly excited about the item in her hands.

Emma tosses it lightly into the living room and it lands. Buddy takes off running and she watches him as he attacks the bone eagerly. It's huge for how small he is, and it's almost comical.

Turning back to her plate, she settles into her seat just as Killian approaches the table with her coffee and his own plate. He places it beside her and then goes back for his mug, returning moments later.

They eat in a pleasant silence for a few moments.

"So what do you have planned for today?" Killian finally asks.

Emma looks at him and shrugs. "I don't know. I was going to do laundry and Mary Margaret asked me if I wanted to watch Leo this morning during their appointment."

Killian hums. "I'd love to watch him with you."

She laughs. "Yeah. I think he'll be more interested in Buddy than in either of us this time."

Killian chuckles. "Aye. He's a bit of an attention-grabber now, isn't he?" He glances over into the living room and shakes his head. "What a scoundrel. I can't believe we're calling him Buddy. He's certainly more of a Blackbeard than any pup I've ever seen."

Emma shrugs. "You told me I could name him."

Her husband sighs. "You're lucky I love you, Swan."

/

As Emma watches Leo play with Buddy, she folds she and Killian's laundry on the couch. Killian is sitting in the chair next to her and he's plucking notes on his guitar, but other than that, he's quiet.

She bites a little on her lower lip, because she had thought he'd have more surprises for her today. Maybe it's a little romantic for her to think that he'd give her the world today, because he's been travelling all week and she's been here in Storybrooke waiting for him only because of some local emergencies involving a certain pregnant Mary Margaret and a long list of things to do.

Emma glances over at him as the little boy and the puppy continue to play and she folds her last pair of socks together. "So I was thinking about dinner. I could make something. I know it's been awhile since you've had anything at home."

Killian smiles at her and nods. "That sounds fine."

She swallows her disappointment and smiles instead. "Okay. I'll make alfredo or something. And maybe we can go for ice cream after."

"Okay. Sounds good to me, love."

Emma turns to settle the socks into the laundry basket, then stands up to carry it into the bedroom. She exhales sharply as soon as she settles it down onto the bed and swallows the lump in her throat.

She tells herself it's fine, because her husband is a busy man. And anyway, she has never needed anything from him before. She doesn't need anything just because they've made it an entire year.

She reconciles his behavior and tucks all of their clothes into their respective places, then stands in the doorway out to the living room, staring out at the boys. She finds Killian laughing as he tickles Leo on the couch, and it makes her heart weak.

"Emma, Emma, tell Killian to stop tickling me!" Leo begs.

Killian stops tickling the boy and stands upright, a wide grin on his face still from all of the tickling.

She laughs, stepping into the room. "Don't have so much fun without me!"

Killian chuckles. "Sorry, love. It was his fault for being such a rascal."

Leo giggles. "No I'm not!"

Emma drops down to sit on the couch beside him and he immediately curls up into her lap, making her smile. His arms go around her neck and she wraps her arm around his middle, holding him snugly.

"Emmie, Mama says I'm going to have a baby soon."

She nods. "Yeah. You're going to have a little sister in a few months. Are you excited?"

Leo scrunches up his face. "Sister? Ew!"

Emma laughs. "I'm your sister! Am I icky?"

Leo shakes his head. "No you're not. Because you're big."

She laughs again and nods. "I guess that makes sense."

She meets Killian's eyes and he stares at them with so much adoration that she thinks he might start crying.

"Emmie, can you and Killian please keep the baby so I don't have to?"

Emma can't help but laugh and Killian does too, dropping down to his knees beside them.

"You'll like having a baby, Leo." Killian says. "I don't think your mum would like it very much if we took your sister from you."

Leo sighs heavily. "Yeah. I guess."

Emma chuckles and pulls the little boy close, pressing her hand to the side of his head. "You can always come over and play with us when we're home."

"Yeah. That's good." Leo says on a yawn. He starts playing with Emma's shirt and she watches as he falls asleep very easily, within ten minutes.

Killian helps her settle him down on the couch for a nap and he grabs a blanket to drape it over his small figure.

"He's not much for naps lately," Killian says lowly as they stand in the kitchen.

"You tired him out," Emma says, laughing. She nudges him in the side.

Killian shrugs. "I suppose."

She studies him and presses her fingers against his chest. "You okay? You're kind of… distant."

He shakes his head and spreads a smile wide for her. "I'm fine, love." He lifts her hand and kisses her palm. "I promise."

/

Killian listens to Emma as she works in the kitchen. He stands in their bedroom, fidgeting with the box he'd kept hidden in his guitar case for well over a month.

He flips it open and stares down at the ring inside, a shiver running through him as he takes a steadying breath.

For some reason, he is incredibly nervous. He wants to say the right thing, wants her to know how much he loves her, and he hasn't been able to think of anything else all day long.

And perhaps it's for that reason that his plans for the evening have yet to begin.

Swallowing, Killian settles the box into his guitar case again and closes it up. He carries it out into the living area where his wife stands by the sink filling a pot with water.

He clears his throat and she looks at him, immediately quirking an eyebrow at him. "You're dressed up."

Killian smirks. "Aye. And you should be too. We're going out."

Emma opens and closes her mouth and then settles the pot in the sink. "Okay." She narrows her eyes a little in confusion and then heads for the bedroom.

Killian reaches for his phone and texts Robin quickly.

Killian: Okay. Ready.

Robin: It's all set up. Just a heads up: the rose petals were not my idea.

/

day 365. the jewel of the realm, storybrooke, maine.

Emma holds Killian's hand as they walk toward the docks. She's started to become quite suspicious instead of disappointed as she had been earlier, and Killian keeps sneaking glances at her that have her heart racing.

He grins as they approach his boat and she holds her mouth open at the sight of it. There are paper lanterns hanging and illuminating the whole ship and on it, there's a table with a meal on it. There are rose petals on the gangplank leading up to the table and all around it, something a bit fanciful but sweet regardless.

"How-?" Emma manages to ask as she turns to her husband.

He smiles wider and shrugs. "The band owes me a hundred favors and this counts as one."

She laughs and Killian leads her up onto the ship easily. Emma can't stop looking around at the lights and Killian does too, until he sets his guitar case down and pulls out the chair for her at the table.

On the table, there is a lantern with a candle inside, flickering light between them. There are plates with coverings and there are flutes of champagne and a bottle stuck in a bucket on the deck beside the table.

He sits across from her and she smiles at him as he adjusts himself in his chair. "Well, happy anniversary, Emma."

"Happy anniversary," she replies softly.

They eat and the time is laced with expectancy, though they manage to talk a little bit while they enjoy some grilled cheese and onion rings courtesy of the diner in town. She laughs when she pulls the covering to find it waiting for her and Killian grins because of it.

By the time they're finished eating, Killian has a little nervous look on his face, and he licks his lips after having a sip of champagne.

"Well, I have a surprise for you, Swan," he says, then he gets up to open his guitar case.

She watches him pull it into his lap as he sits down at the table and he takes a steadying breath as he starts to pluck the strings.

"A year ago, we met for the very first time," he tells her, smiling softly. "And when we met, I hadn't ever thought I was worth loving. It changed when we were married. I saw in you hope and I saw a future." He pauses and focuses on changing chords. "So I want you to know that I love you and I look forward to many more years together."

He starts to play his song in honest and she listens with her head tilted, a tiny smile on her lips.

It's a new song she has never heard before, and she knows he had prepared it especially for tonight, because it has her name in it and he keeps telling her that he loves her in every verse and chorus.

When he finishes playing, she claps for him.

"I love you," she says in response to his words. It's all she can think to say, and she's about to get up to kiss him, but he moves first, setting his guitar into the case.

He grabs something, and then returns to her, falling to his knees on the deck of his ship. He stares up at her with tears in his eyes and Emma's mouth falls open when she realizes exactly what he's doing.

"Emma," he says, a hint of a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "In all of my life I never thought I'd marry someone I met at the altar, but it happened, and I've never been happier that it has. You are beautiful and you inspire me every single day with your heart and your strength. And I find it impossible that someone like you could love me, but you do." He pauses and plays with the box in his hand for a moment before he pops it open. "I want to ask you to marry me again. This time, the way we want to do it without any cameras or pre-made vows. So, Emma, will you marry me?"

She has tears in her eyes at his words, already halfway there because of another song devoted to her. Emma nods. "Yes. Of course."

Killian smiles, out of relief, and he reaches for her hand, but she gets to it first. She takes the ring she's worn for so long and slides it off, setting it down on the table. Then, she extends her hand to him.

At first, Killian raises his eyebrows, but they both laugh, and he slides the new ring over her finger.

He pulls himself upright and she yanks him by his tie to her, kissing him soundly. Their tongues tangle for a moment before he pulls back just so, their foreheads touching as their eyes meet.

"Good. I was so nervous."

Emma laughs. Her fingers go into his hair and she gives it a tug. "Why? I'm already married to you."

Killian shakes his head. "I don't know." He laughs.

He kisses her instead of speaking, which is perfectly fine with her, and when he pulls away, he licks his lips.

"Okay. One last surprise."

Emma furrows her eyebrows. "I don't know how much more I could take."

Killian laughs. "It's a good one. I promise. Follow me."

/

day 365. house, storybrooke, maine.

As Killian walks her up through the streets of Storybrooke, she starts to get suspicious of what his next surprise might be.

He squeezes her hand, newly endowed with an engagement ring, as they come to a stop before a rather large gray and white house.

She turns to him, shaking her head in confusion. "Why are we here?"

Killian bites down on his lip. He turns back to the house and gestures to it. "I wanted to show you our new house."

Her heart skips a beat and her eyes widen. "What?"

Her husband smiles at her. "Come, love, a loft isn't very big. If we're going to expand our family… I think we should have more space."

Emma turns to the house and back again. She releases his hand and shakes her head in confusion. "You got us a house."

He nods, his smile falling uneasily. "Aye. I know it's… it's soon. I know. But I just thought- since everything with the band has been taking off- we could afford it and-"

She charges him and wraps her arms around his neck as she drags his head down to hers. She kisses him until she can't breathe and then takes a breath, swaying into him.

"I don't even have a card or something for you." Emma sighs.

Killian chuckles and she leans back to meet his eyes. "I don't need anything, Emma."

She tilts her head to the side and shakes it slowly. "I love you." She runs her fingers down his arm until she finds his hand and takes it. "So much. I didn't think I could love someone as much as I love you."

He squeezes her hand. "I love you too."

Emma turns back to look at the house and takes a deep, happy breath. A year ago, she could never have pictured this life. A year ago, she was just a lost little girl who didn't matter to anyone- unlovable and never enough.

But now, she has so much more than she ever thought she could ever have, and it's all thanks to Killian Jones and his open and willing heart.