A/N: With a title like this, I'm sure you all know what's going to be happening in this chapter. The only question is.....who will it be happening to? SwanFire, WoodenDragon, FrozenJewel, RubySlippers, Millian, CharmingColeman, someone else.....???
~
Storybrooke
~
"I'm going live!" Belle announced.
Gold peeked around the corner. "Why?"
"To celebrate! Don't you know what's happening today?"
"Yes. But what if one of them joins you?"
"They're gonna be busy with all the build up to the proposal, don't worry. I'm not going to spoil the surprise for anyone. I promise."
"You'd better not." Gold sat down next to his wife on the couch. "Has anyone joined yet?"
"Merida just joined. Hello!"
BraveMerida
Hello, Belle ✌🏼️
BraveMerida
And hello, Rumple Bumple
ReginaOfLocksley joined.
"Hi, Regina!"
ReginaOfLocksley
Hello
ReginaOfLocksley
Is this a celebratory live video, or are you just randomly going live?
"It's celebratory. This is so exciting! I just hope I'm right and neither of them joins."
BraveMerida
I'm sure they're busy
ReginaOfLocksley
^^^
HenryMills joined.
HenryMills
TODAY'S THE DAY
"I know! I'm so happy for them!"
ReginaOfLocksley
I think we all are
BraveMerida
^^^
HenryMills
^^^
Belle nodded in agreement. "I think we can all agree that they both deserve there happy ending, and I'm pretty sure this is it."
~
New York
~
"Where are we going?" Emma asked as she looked at the skyscrapers outside of her window. The New York City traffic had stopped them from moving, but Neal had factored in the traffic, so he wasn't worried about being late.
"Isn't that, like, the fifth time you've asked that in the past three minutes?" Lily rolled her eyes in the backseat.
"Sorry," the blonde apologized, "I just get antsy when I'm not driving my own car. Neal's the only other one I can stand driving it while I'm inside, but this traffic isn't helping my nerves."
"You're way too overprotective of a metal coffin on wheels."
Emma turned around to face Lily. "Have you been talking to Regina lately?" Lily shrugged and leaned her head on August's shoulder.
~
two weeks earlier
~
Direct Message from NealCassidy to PrinceCharming, SnowWhite, HenryMills
NealCassidy: Okay, so, um, I have a question for you all and if any of you turn me down, I won't follow through, because I value all of your opinions equally
SnowWhite: Ooooh this sounds like some juicy gossip
HenryMills: You better not be asking us to keep this a secret, because we all know Grandma Snow will fail miserably
NealCassidy: Yikes
NealCassidy: I've got a solution
[NealCassidy added ReginaOfLocksley]
NealCassidy: Regina, I need you to set Snow on fire if she breathes a word of my request to literally anyone who is not in this DM right now
ReginaOfLocksley: Deal
SnowWhite: Hey!
ReginaOfLocksley: I know you need some pretty strong incentives to not spill secrets
SnowWhite: My lips are sealed, I promise
PrinceCharming: So, Neal, what is it you would like to ask us?
NealCassidy: I would like all of you (including Regina) to give me your blessing to propose to Emma
NealCassidy: Like I said, if even one of you doesn't approve, I won't, because I value all of your opinions
HenryMills: Duh! I've wanted my parents to actually be together ever since I first went after Mom! I was hoping you would still be together when I found Mom in New York
PrinceCharming: Of course
SnowWhite: As much as I still ship Captain Swan, I know you make Emma happy and I want her to be happy, so yes
ReginaOfLocksley: No
NealCassidy: What?
ReginaOfLocksley: UNLESS you agree to never hurt her or leave her ever again
NealCassidy: I swear it on the River Styx
ReginaOfLocksley: Alright, you're good
ReginaOfLocksley: Now go make Emma happy
~
one week later
(i'm writing a letter nightly
now my life gets better every letter that you write me)
~
Direct Message from NealCassidy to KingArthur, LilyPage, RobinOfLocksley
NealCassidy: I need help
LilyPage: WHAT DID YOU DO TO EMMA
RobinOfLocksley: Why do you immediately assume the worst?
LilyPage: Probably a darkness thing
NealCassidy: I'm going to propose to Emma but I don't know how
RobinOfLocksley: I don't understand why everyone goes to me for proposal advice
RobinOfLocksley: I literally waited until the very last night before I was supposed to die and proposed to Regina in her vault and we got to be engaged for about twenty-three hours before Hades destroyed me, and for an hour of that, we couldn't even remember we were engaged because it was during the episode
LilyPage: Just a guess, but it might be because every living soul in this universe ships Outlaw Queen because you would have to be more than blind to not see how in love you two are
LilyPage: Not to mention the fact that you're one of two pairs of soulmates in existence, and the one that everyone knows the names of
NealCassidy: I need advice, not Outlaw Queen shipping!
LilyPage: Talk less, smile more
KingArthur: Think about what she likes
LilyPage: TALK LESS, SMILE MORE
RobinOfLocksley: Like onion rings and grilled cheese and Pokemon GO
LilyPage: LOOK AROUND, LOOK AROUND
KingArthur: Or a restaurant she likes, besides Granny's probably
LilyPage: TELL THE STORY OF TONIGHT
NealCassidy: Any ideas, Lily?
LilyPage: You're all helpless
LilyPage: What music does Emma listen to 24/7?
NealCassidy: Hamil
NealCassidy: OHHHH
KingArthur: What?
LilyPage: IT'S ONLY THE BEST MUSICAL EVER
RobinOfLocksley: You know, the Hamilcult?
KingArthur: Ah, that
LilyPage: So, do you have an idea now, Neal?
NealCassidy: Yes!
NealCassidy: I'll take her to Broadway!
LilyPage: Yeah, and how are you gonna get tickets?
[NealCassidy added ReginaOfLocksley]
NealCassidy: Hello, Regina, my best friend in the entire world
ReginaOfLocksley: What do you want?
NealCassidy: Two tickets to see Hamilton on Broadway?
ReginaOfLocksley: I CAN'T JUST MAKE YOU HAMILTON TICKETS
NealCassidy: Hmmmmm.....
[NealCassidy added MrGold]
NealCassidy: Hello, Papa, my favorite dad in the entire world
MrGold: What do you want
NealCassidy: To take Emma to see Hamilton on Broadway
MrGold: Yeah, it's be easier to hire the original cast and get them to perform the musical in Storybrooke than it would be to get tickets
NealCassidy: Then can you do that?
MrGold: No.
MrGold: This is like convincing Belle we don't need a kitten!
ReginaOfLocksley: What if you take her to Chicago?
NealCassidy: But I want to take her to Broadway! Come on, you have to know how much she would love that!
ReginaOfLocksley: It's true....
ReginaOfLocksley: I guess I can see if I can somehow get tickets for you two
LilyPage: Wait but I want to see Hamilton too!
ReginaOfLocksley: We have to see if I can get two tickets before I look for tickets for you and August as well
LilyPage: and August?
ReginaOfLocksley: Well I was assuming he was coming so you wouldn't be thirdwheeling the entire time
LilyPage: I mean, only if Neal is okay with this
NealCassidy: Sure
NealCassidy: I'm fairly certain Emma would want to see Hamilton with Lily
ReginaOfLocksley: Alright, so I'll see what I can do
ReginaOfLocksley: Oh, and Robin
RobinOfLocksley: Yes, Milady?
ReginaOfLocksley: Can I look for tickets to Finding Neverland too?
RobinOfLocksley: I guess
ReginaOfLocksley: THANK YOU
ReginaOfLocksley: I love you
RobinOfLocksley: I love you too
~
New York, present day
~
Broadway was only a short walk from the parking garage where Emma's yellow bug was parked, and when Emma realized where they were going, she began jumping up and down with excitement. "Oh my gods! Neal!"
"I've picked up on your not-so-subtle hints about wanting to see Hamilton on Broadway, so I figured, why not?" Neal smirked. Emma threw her arms around him.
"You are literally the best boyfriend ever!"
'Soon to be fiancé,' Lily mouth so only Neal could see it. Neal rolled his eyes as Lily burst into a fit of silent laughter.
Emma was literally shaking with anticipation, holding her playbill tightly, as the four made their way to to their seats. When the lights went dark, Emma's breath caught in her throat. The first scene began, and Emma couldn't tear her eyes from the stage. She could hardly even blink.
At intermission, it took Emma a few minutes to even stand up.
"It's so good so far!" She exclaimed. "And the songs are so much more beautiful in person!" Lily had gone to walk around a bit with August, so it was only Emma and Neal still at the seats. "But I'm still wondering...why did you really decide to take me to see this? Am I forgetting about some anniversary from sixteen years ago?"
"Nope. Just thought it was about time you got to see it instead of just listening to the soundtrack on repeat. And what better place than Broadway itself?"
Emma looked at Neal suspiciously. "Really? You just...out of the blue decided to take me to Broadway to see Hamilton? Are you sure this isn't a special occasion?"
"You tell me." Neal leaned in closer and brought Emma into a kiss. "Does it feel like a special occasion?"
"Kind of."
"Then it is. I declare today National Emma Gets To See Hamilton On Broadway Day."
Emma giggled. "If your goal was to make up a national holiday, you could have just bought me a new jacket and called today National Get Emma A New Jacket Day."
"Go big or go home, I guess," Neal replied. The lights began flickering on and off, warning everyone that the intermission was almost over. Emma sat back down in her seat and watched people trickle back into the theatre, finding their seats again. The musical began once again, and Emma fell in love with it more and more after every song, which should have been impossible given how much she already loved it.
After the musical ended, Neal, August, and Lily had to practically drag Emma out of the theater so she and Neal didn't miss their dinner reservation.
~
It was nearly the end of dinner when Neal made the move. He lowered himself onto one knee and pulled a velvet box from his pocket. "Emma. I don't have a dollar to my name, an acre of land, a troop to command, or a dollop of fame. All I have's my honor, a tolerance for pain, a couple of college credits, and my top-notch brain. Insane, your family brings out a different side of me. Henry confides in me, Regina tried to take a bite of me--" Emma let out a snicker. "--No stress, my love for you is never in doubt. We'll get a little place in Storybrooke and we'll figure it out. I've been livin' without a family since I was a child. My father left, my mother died, I grew up buckwild. But I'll never forget my mother's face, that was real. And as long as I'm alive, Emma, I swear to gods, you'll never feel so helpless." Neal lowered himself onto one knee, and Emma's hands shot up, covering her mouth. Tears had begun to gather in the corners of her eyes.
"If there's a reason I'm by your side when so many have tried, I'm willing to fight for it. With you. Emma Swan...will you marry me?"
"I do!" Emma said, not caring that it didn't really make sense as an answer to the question Neal had asked. Her thoughts were a jumble of Neal and Hamilton. "Yes! Neal, I would love to marry you!" Neal slipped the engagement ring onto Emma's finger before pulling her into a kiss.