Love & Lies: A Captain Swan Fanfic

Part 9/11

"Emma? Emma?" August said.

Emma looked up from the Blackjack hand that she had been staring blankly at for the last few minutes.

"What?" she asked.

"It's your turn," August said.

"Oh, uh, hit me," she said to the dealer.

August's eyes widened. Her cards added up to 20. She should have stayed. The dealer put down a five and she went bust.

"I'm done," Emma said, as she stood up and walked away from the table.

August followed after her. "Are you feeling okay? You've been preoccupied since we got here."

Emma nodded. "Of course. I just can't wait until our ceremony."

August glanced down at his watch and then took her hand in his. "Only a couple of more hours."

Emma managed a smile.

...

Killian finally arrived in Las Vegas. His flight the night before had been cancelled and then his flight that morning had been delayed. Killian wondered if it was a sign that he was making a mistake. He briefly considered turning back around and getting right back on a flight to L.A.

He looked at his watch. It was noon. In an hour, Emma would be a married woman. He knew he had to try to stop her or he would regret it the rest of his life.

Killian hurried to find a taxi.

...

Emma and August entered The Little Love Chapel. It was the least tacky chapel they could find on the entire Strip. Still, it left a lot to be desired. It basically consisted of one room filled with folding chairs and an archway at the end of the aisle. Fake flowers littered the aisle and adorned the archway.

August looked at Emma's face as she took it all in.

"Are you sure about getting married here, Emma? We can go back to L.A. and plan a nice, small, simple wedding."

Emma shook her head sharply. "No, I need to do this now."

August's brow furrowed at her odd wording, but he didn't say anything. They walked hand in hand down the aisle to where the minister stood. He was dressed all in white with a pink bow tie and matching cummerbund.

"Shall we begin?" he asked.

They both nodded, as they faced each other and joined hands.

Emma took a deep breath. She felt her heart beating faster and her palms grow sweaty. She suddenly felt like she was going to throw up. Her face paled as she looked down at her shoes. She didn't hear a word the minister said.

"Emma, are you okay?" August whispered.

She didn't even hear him. All she could hear were Belle and Killian's voices ringing in her ears that she was making a huge mistake.

She knew she should turn around and run out of there. But she also knew it would break August's heart.

"Emma? Emma?" August repeated.

Emma finally shook her head and took another deep breath.

She met August's eyes and nodded. "I'm fine."

The minister went on. "Emma, do you take August to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

In that moment, Emma went into acting mode. She pretended she was Eva and she was renewing her vows to Tad. She knew it was the only way she was going to make it through this.