Sometimes It Hurts

Prologue

9 years ago.

This was it. Everything he had been through in his life led to this moment. This single moment. Killian's heart was beating rapidly. His hand lightly tapped the box in the pocket of his jeans as they walked down the length of the beach. He needed to do this now or he would lose his nerve.

Looking over, he was rendered speechless at the sight before him. Emma walked slightly ahead of him, sandals in her hand. The wind caught her dress in just the right way, lifting it to reveal her shapely legs. The moonlight reflected off of the water giving her blonde tresses an ethereal glow. She was looking toward the water, a small smile graced her pink lips.

She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Even at the age of nineteen, Killian knew he would love no other like he did her. He had known it from the moment he saw her wandering on campus looking for the right building.

It warmed his heart when he thought about it. Of all of the schools she could have chosen to go to she chose Storybrooke University in California. Located in a small town of the same name, about six hours north of Los Angeles, Killian had chosen the university because the had a top notch music program. Emma had moved all the way from Boston after she was phased out of the system. She needed a new start she had told him once. Someplace where she could stand on her own. Her past was why she had chosen social work as her major.

It really was amazing that they had found each other.

"Killian?" Her voice was light, questioning. It pulled him from his thoughts. "Is everything okay? You stopped walking."

He looked down and realized she was indeed correct. His converse-covered feet were firmly planted in the sand.

"Aye, lass. I was just lost in the view." He reached his hand forward beckoning her to take it.

She didn't disappoint and he pulled her closer the instant her hand was in his, wrapping his arms around her petite frame.

"The view, huh?" A teasing smile crossed her lips as she leaned her forehead against his and he knew he had been caught.

"The most beautiful one in all of the world, Emma." It was the truth, in his heart and his mind.

Emma threw her head back as laughter escaped her mouth. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard - her laughter. He could spend his life listening to nothing but her laugh. Her hair danced in the wind. It was a glorious sight.

"You can be such a romantic sometimes, Killian," her seafoam eyes returned to meet his, "but I like it."

She did that to him. She brought out his romantic side. It was reserved only for her. Letting his arms falls from her back to her hips, he continued to look into her eyes. One of his hands came up to scratch the place behind his ear, head tilting sideways.

"Emma, I have a question I'd like to ask you." She nodded her head.

"You know you can ask me anything." Her hand came up to rest on his stubbled cheek, forcing him to look at her once again.

His hand moved from his ear to the pocket of his jeans, pulling out the box inside. His other hand moved to grab one of hers in his and he kneeled on one knee in the sand. A look of alarm crossed her features.

"I have loved you from the moment I saw you lost on campus. I swear to you that if you let me, I will make it my job to protect your heart. Emma Swan, will you marry me?"

A gasp escaped her mouth before her free hand came to rest over it. Tears began falling from her eyes.

"Oh, Killian. Yes. Just...yes." Her voice shook as she spoke.