#............i'm sorry neal i love you i swear

[maya-caffrey]

hi hi hi writing request if you're up for it: can i get a neal caffrey x reader where they're undercover posing as a couple and things get too real too quick? fluffy angsty whatever, full creative liberty. thank you x -🌻

anon i would love to

This ain't the Chelsea hotel

pairing: neal caffrey x fem!reader words: 4.3k song: I'm writing this inspired by ttpd as you can tell, specifically the lyric "At dinner, you take my ring off my middle finger And put it on the one people put wedding rings on And that's the closest I've come to my heart exploding" summary: an undercover mission brings up some unresolved feelings a/n: this is sorta inspired by johnny and dora from Brooklyn 99, and there's sort of an angst ending i am sorry but it will get better soon i promise

"Neal and (Y/n), you’re going in as a couple.”

Peter’s voice was calm, authoritative, as if he’d just assigned them to file paperwork instead of infiltrating a high-society gala crawling with millionaires, con artists, and, somewhere in the crowd, an international art thief.

(Y/n) froze, mid-sip of her coffee. “I'm sorry, what now?”

Neal, of course, leaned back in his chair, smirk firmly in place. “I mean, it makes sense. Look at us—irresistible charm, devastating good looks—who wouldn’t buy it?”

“You forgot insufferable ego,” she shot back, slamming her cup on the table. It was aggravating to be around Neal Caffrey, and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t love every second of it.

Peter held up a hand, cutting off the argument before it could spiral. “Enough. You’re the best fit for this assignment. The mark likes power couples, people who look like they’ve got secrets. Neal’s the smooth-talking art expert, and (Y/n)—you’ll play his fiancée, a curator from an old-money family.”

(Y/n) groaned, glaring at Peter. “You know this is going to go to his head.”

“Oh, absolutely,” Peter said dryly. “But you’ll manage. You always do.”

Neal turned to her, his smirk widening. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll go easy on you.”

"That's okay baby, I can handle you." No, she can't. This could end badly.

"Oooh, competition? you're gonna lose, you, know?"

"Hey, if I'm going down, I'm taking you down with me, Caffrey."

"Right, and one last thing. (Y/n), try not to fall in love with me."

"Won't be a problem."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And you're promising, that this is strictly work?"

"I swear, Moz! It's not like that," Neal replied, pacing the length of his apartment, the small box in his hand feeling heavier than it had any right to.

"It's hard to believe that when you're holding a real diamond ring in your hand," Mozzie argued, incredulous about Neal's intentions in this case.

"It's for authenticity"

"Right, because the suspect would definitely notice if she wore a cheap American zirconia."

"Mozzie. It's not like that."

"I believe you"

"I don't think you do."

Mozzie didn’t respond, simply giving Neal a pointed look before taking a long sip of his wine.

Neal let out a sigh, his grip on the box tightening. He was done trying to convince Mozzie, who always had a knack for cutting to the heart of things Neal would rather not think about. Because as much as he repeated the words it was just for the case, a nagging voice in the back of his mind whispered that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t.

His gaze dropped to the ring, the glint of the diamond catching the light. It was just for authenticity. No ulterior motives.

Right?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Alright. The moment we enter that room we're on high alert. Peter and the team are in the surveillance van two blacks away to remain inconspicuous. He's usually after wealthy power couple types so we need to be really convincing. Got it?"

“Uh-huh. Yes,” Neal replied, nodding a little too quickly. His words were automatic, half-hearted at best, because his attention was decidedly elsewhere.

She looked stunning—more than stunning, really, though he would never admit it outright. The soft glint in her eyes caught the streetlights at just the right angle, making them sparkle for a fleeting moment before fading again. The dress she wore was elegant, understated, but perfectly fitted to the role they were about to play. Neal found himself momentarily mesmerized, the lines between the act and reality blurring just a bit more than they should have.

(Y/n) shot him a suspicious glance. “Neal. Focus.”

“Totally focused,” he said, his trademark grin sliding into place to cover the fact that he had absolutely not been paying attention to anything she’d just said.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but after a beat, she turned back toward the building looming ahead. “You’d better be. The second we step into that gala, we’re in character, and I’m not carrying this assignment on my own.”

“Of course not,” Neal quipped, following her lead, his voice taking on the smooth confidence he wore so well. “I’ll be the perfect fiancé. You’ll swoon. Just wait.”

She shook her head in surrender and walked towards the door before she felt a delicate hand pull at her wrist.

"Wait, I almost forgot," he said, taking out the velvet box that made his pocket weigh heavier than it should have.

"What?" she asked, completely oblivious.

"This," he said, flipping it open to reveal the princess-cut diamond ring inside. The sharp sparkle caught the light between them, but it was nothing compared to the flash of surprise in her eyes.

Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.

He swallowed, his heartbeat thrumming loudly in his ears as he took her left hand in his, the warmth of her skin making him falter for just a moment. His fingers brushed hers, gentle but deliberate, as he slid the ring onto her finger.

No break in eye contact.

Her gaze locked with his, questioning, searching, unsteady. The seconds stretched long, heavy with something unspoken, as his thumb brushed against the band, settling it into place.

Still no break.

The moment lingered, charged, as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them under the streetlight. His breath hitched, his confidence—usually so bulletproof—wavering under the weight of how utterly real this felt.

Neal shifted, suddenly nervous, but he didn’t step back. His eyes flicked to her lips, then back up to meet hers again, the line between fiction and reality blurring with dizzying speed.

Finally, he broke the silence with a soft, almost uncertain laugh, a hint of tension bleeding into his words. “For authenticity, right?”

(Y/n) blinked, the spell broken. Her lips curved into a small smile, but her voice was quieter than usual when she replied. “Right. Authenticity.”

But neither of them moved for a moment longer, caught in the fallout of something they couldn’t quite name. If this was just pretend, why did it feel so real?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They entered the grand ballroom arm-in-arm, the weight of their roles pressing against them. Neal’s hand rested lightly at the small of (Y/n)’s back, his touch electric even through the layers of fabric.

“You’re tense,” he whispered, lips brushing her ear, sending shivers down her spine. She instinctively closed her eyes and let it linger before remembering she had to respond.

“You try wearing a dress and pretending to be in love with you all evening,” she shot back, her voice sweetened by a practiced smile for the benefit of their audience.

Neal leaned closer, the humor in his tone giving way to something deeper. “You’d be surprised how easy that could be.”

"The dress or-"

"The last part. Obviously the last part."

"Just making sure," she responded, stifling a laugh. Remembering why they were here in the first place, she quickly scanned the room, she found their mark in the middle of the dance floor.

"Neal, 2'o clock, dance floor."

"Yeah, I see him. You ready?"

"Do, I have an option?"

Neal extended his hand, a devilish glint in his eyes as he slipped seamlessly into his role. “In that case, (Y/n), may I have this dance?”

(Y/n) smirked just for a moment, his outstretched hand a reminder of the precarious game they were playing. She placed her hand in his, his fingers warm and steady as they led her toward the dance floor. “Let’s get ourselves a criminal,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

The music swelled, slow and haunting, wrapping around them as Neal’s hand slid to her waist. His fingers pressed against the fabric of her dress, firm but careful, like he was afraid to break something fragile. His other hand cradled hers, his thumb brushing the back of her hand with maddening lightness.

“You’re holding on a little tight there, don’t you think?” she teased softly, her voice catching when his eyes locked on hers, warm and unflinching.

“Just making sure you don’t get away,” he replied, his words playful, but his tone laced with something heavier.

They moved in sync, the world around them dimming until it felt like the music existed just for them. Each step brought her closer, the space between them dissolving until her chest almost brushed against his. His breath was warm against her temple, and her head tilted slightly, just enough for her to catch the faint, intoxicating scent of his cologne.

“You’re good at this,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

“It’s just part of the job,” she whispered back, though her words wavered under the intensity of his gaze.

“Right,” he said, his hand slipping a fraction lower on her waist. “Just the job.”

Her pulse quickened as his fingers tightened slightly, drawing her closer still. Their faces were mere inches apart now, his eyes flicking to her lips for the briefest of moments before returning to hers. The tension between them was almost unbearable, charged and unspoken.

(Y/n) swore he was about to say something—something real, something that would tip this balance they always stalled on—but his gaze shifted over her shoulder.

“(Y/n),” he said abruptly, his tone cooling as his eyes fixed on something behind her.

(Y/n) blinked, the spell breaking as she followed his line of sight. Their mark stood on the edge of the dance floor, watching them with quiet intensity.

“He’s noticed us,” Neal said, his hand loosening its hold on her waist.

“Good,” she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. “That’s the idea.”

And just like that, they were back in the game, palpable tension vanishing into thin air.

As the song came to an end, the mark stepped toward them with his date, a woman dripping in diamonds and disdain.

“Charming performance,” the mark said smoothly, offering a practiced smile. “You two must be new faces around here.”

“Guilty as charged,” Neal said with a grin, slipping effortlessly into his persona. “We’ve just been admiring the company.”

“Why don’t you join us on the rooftop?” the mark offered, gesturing toward the glass doors that led to a private terrace. “It’s quieter. Easier to talk.”

Neal and (Y/n) exchanged a quick glance before following. On the way, Neal caught her glancing at her hand, her thumb brushing lightly over the diamond ring he had slipped on earlier.

“Admiring your fiancé’s taste, sweetheart?” he teased under his breath, his voice tinged with both humor and something sharper.

(Y/n) jerked her gaze away, her cheeks warming. “Just making sure it looks convincing,” she muttered, but the way her hand lingered over the ring betrayed her words.

Neal leaned closer, his smirk softening. “It looks perfect. You look perfect.”

The heat in her cheeks deepened, but before she could respond, the doors opened, and the crisp night air swept over them. They stepped onto the terrace, the stakes of their mission suddenly more palpable than ever.

The mark led them to a table on the edge of the terrace, a private spot where the city lights shimmered below. He took a seat, his date following suit, and Neal and (Y/n) joined them. The air was cool, and the tension in the space was almost tangible. The mark’s eyes flicked between them, his gaze assessing, calculating.

“So,” he began, his voice smooth, “tell me, how did you two meet? I’m always curious about these stories."

Neal leaned back in his chair, putting on his best charming smile. “It was one of those chance encounters, really,” he began. “I was at an auction, looking at some early Renaissance pieces when she walked in—just like that.” He snapped his fingers, his eyes glinting. “She had this aura about her—class, confidence, and this fire in her eyes that made me want to get to know her. I knew the moment I saw her, I’d never let her slip through my fingers.

Y/n) raised an eyebrow, a little taken aback by how smooth he was. “Not exactly how I remember it,” she replied, her tone light but sharp. “He was chasing after a piece of art that had already been sold. I caught him, and after some back-and-forth, we ended up negotiating a deal. And well, the rest, as they say, is history.”

The mark chuckled, intrigued. “So, love at first sight then?”

Neal and (Y/n) exchanged a glance, both knowing that this was the moment they had to sell it. Neal leaned forward, his voice dropping a notch as he spoke to the mark.

“There’s something about her. Something that keeps me coming back, you know?” he said, his eyes never leaving (Y/n)'s face. “She’s strong, sharp—doesn’t take crap from anyone. And that’s something you don’t find every day.”

(Y/n) turned toward him, her heart beating a little faster at the raw honesty in his words. She wasn’t sure if it was part of the act or something real underneath it, but the heat between them flickered for a second.

“And what do you see in him?” the mark asked, his tone now laced with genuine curiosity.

(Y/n) hesitated for a moment, unsure how to answer without giving away too much of her own feelings, but when she looked into Neal’s eyes, something clicked. They were here together, playing a part in a dangerous game, but the way he was looking at her made her forget that for a second. She could feel the weight of his gaze, the vulnerability he was letting slip, just for her.

“I see someone who challenges me,” she replied, her voice softer than usual. “Someone who pushes me to be better. And, you know, someone who’s got this charm that… well, it works on me. I’m not proud of it.”

Neal’s grin spread, his eyes flashing with something unreadable. “Works on me too,” he said, his voice lower now, as if the words were meant for her alone. “We balance each other out. When I'm with her, I feel complete, you know?”

The mark seemed satisfied with their answers, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You two really are a convincing pair. Almost makes me believe in the whole ‘love at first sight’ thing," he laughed. His date, lost in her phone, barely seemed to notice, leaving the moment to hang between them.

Neal glanced at (Y/n), an almost imperceptible shift in his expression as he studied her. There was something different in the way she held herself tonight. She was usually the composed one, but now… he couldn’t quite read the look in her eyes.

“So, what happens next?” the mark asked, his voice smooth, as he leaned back in his chair.

Neal tilted his head, his smile never faltering. “Now? Now we enjoy the view.” He gestured out toward the city lights that sparkled beneath them, a million possibilities flashing in the distance. “What’s a good evening without a little bit of beauty to go with it?”

(Y/n) nodded, her fingers tracing the edge of her wine glass absently. “And a little danger, I’d say,” she added, her voice laced with a quiet challenge.

The mark raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Danger, huh? What’s dangerous about a couple like you two?”

Neal chuckled, but it was a touch colder this time, more calculated. He turned his eyes on (Y/n), watching the way she tilted her head, as if she was on the edge of saying something important. Then, with a glance that felt almost too intimate, he spoke again. “We’ve got a history, you know? We don’t talk about it much, but we both know... some things you don’t just walk away from.”

(Y/n) blinked, her breath catching at his words. She hadn’t expected him to go that far with the act. The sincerity behind it—whether it was all for the mission or something more—hit her unexpectedly. But she kept her face neutral, answering with equal weight. “Yeah. Some things... they follow you.”

The air between them thickened, the words hanging heavy in the space. The mark watched them, an unreadable expression on his face as he exchanged glances with his date. It wasn’t quite suspicion, but something deeper. Curiosity, maybe. Or recognition. But before anything could be said, the mark stood, taking a step toward the edge of the terrace.

“You two are something else,” he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m going to grab another drink. You stay here.”

Neal and (Y/n) exchanged a glance, one that said everything without needing words. As soon as the mark and his date were distracted by the bar, they slipped away. It wasn’t much—just enough of a gap for them to make their move. They walked quickly, low and quiet, blending into the flow of people.

They passed a row of velvet curtains and slipped behind them, into a hallway that led to the back stairwell. The sound of voices echoed from the main room, but it was the sound of a briefcase being handed over that caught Neal’s attention.

There he was—the mark, shaking hands with someone in a dark suit. The transaction was swift, almost too clean. Neal’s eyes narrowed.

“Something’s off,” he whispered to (Y/n), barely audible.

But before they could pull back into the shadows, a shift in the mark’s posture had him looking their way. Neal froze, his gaze locking with the mark’s. There was a flicker of recognition in the man’s eyes, followed by a narrowing of his gaze.

In that moment, they both knew they had been spotted.

Neal didn’t hesitate. He grabbed (Y/n)’s wrist, pulling her in close. “Trust me on this,” he muttered, his breath warm against her ear.

Before she could even respond, his lips found hers in a kiss that was far from gentle. It was urgent—desperate, even, and as their bodies pressed closer, the danger of being caught only made it more intense. Their kiss was a cover, an act. But damn, it felt real. The mark was approaching them now, too close for comfort, but Neal barely registered the thought. He pushed her against the nearest wall and "got carried away" as he traveled towards her neck. Her hands found his hair, gently playing with them, for the act, of course.

(Y/n)’s heart raced as the world around them seemed to blur. They were acting, but in that moment, there was a sense of something more—something raw beneath the surface. He left her neck and locked her yes in a gaze, before returning back to her lips. Her pulse thudded in her ears, and when Neal pulled away, her lips felt like they were still burning from the kiss.

The mark was now standing just a few feet away, his brow furrowed in confusion but not yet suspicious enough to call them out. Neal, ever the charmer, quickly recovered, a half-smile spreading across his face.

“Sorry,” he said, voice low and teasing. “Got carried away. But you know how it is, right?” He gestured to (Y/n), his hand slipping possessively around her waist as he spoke directly to the mark, hoping his calm demeanor would sell the story.

The mark studied them for a beat, a silent assessment passing between them. Finally, he shook his head, smirking. “You two really are something else, huh.”

Neal’s grin stretched wider, eyes flicking to (Y/n) for just a moment, as if to say: We’re good.

They turned, following the mark back into the chaos of the night, but the weight of what just happened settled between them—unspoken, but palpable.

The sound of pounding footsteps echoed through the terrace as the FBI moved in, swarming around them with practiced efficiency. Neal felt the brief rush of adrenaline still pumping in his veins, but now it was mixed with something else. He and (Y/n) had done their job, the mark had fallen into their trap, and the briefcase—the one they’d been waiting for—was in his hands, a key piece of evidence that sealed the deal.

But then, there was that kiss.

It had been... unexpected. Real. No longer just an act.

The team moved quickly, surrounding the mark, taking him into custody. Peter gave Neal a brief, knowing nod before he led the mark away. He didn’t say anything; the job was done. The mission was complete. But Neal’s mind wasn’t on the bust. He was focused on (Y/n), the way her breath had caught when their lips met, the look in her eyes that he couldn’t quite place.

Once the area had cleared and the sound of distant voices faded, he turned to her. (Y/n) was leaning against the railing, her arms crossed tightly as she stared out over the city, the glow of the streetlights flickering in the distance. There was a cold distance in her posture that wasn’t there before, a wall he hadn’t seen her put up.

Neal swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “(Y/n)...”

She didn’t look at him right away. When she did, her gaze was unreadable. “We did our job, Neal. That’s what matters.”

There was a tightness in her voice, the way she was shutting down again, retreating behind the walls she always kept so perfectly in place. It made his chest tighten.

“I know,” Neal replied, his voice softer. “But that kiss…” He trailed off, unsure of how to continue. He was a conman, a man who lived in deception. But that kiss—that had felt different.

(Y/n) sighed, pushing herself off the railing and turning to face him fully. “It’s part of the job, Neal. You know that. It’s always part of the job.”

Her words were clipped, but her eyes betrayed her. They were too wide, too vulnerable, like she was trying to convince herself as much as she was convincing him. Neal didn’t buy it. Not this time.

“Is it?” he asked quietly, his voice low, almost hesitant. “Because that didn’t feel like part of the job to me. It felt like—” He stopped himself, trying to find the right words. “Like something real.”

Her expression flickered, just for a moment, like she was considering telling him something—something more than what she was letting on. But she quickly masked it, her gaze hardening again.

“It wasn’t real, Neal,” she said, her voice sharp, like the edge of a blade. “It was a job. You know that.”

Neal’s breath hitched. “But what if it was? What if it wasn’t just the mission? What if we’re both—” He cut himself off, staring at her, his chest suddenly tight with a feeling he couldn’t quite shake. “Look, I don’t want to make this more complicated than it has to be. But I can’t just act like that kiss was nothing. I can’t pretend it didn’t mean something.”

(Y/n) took a step back, her jaw clenched, clearly struggling with something she wasn’t ready to face. “You’re just confused, Neal,” she said, her words laced with frustration. “We’re good at what we do. We can sell this. We can sell anything. But that kiss? It doesn’t mean what you think it does.”

Neal shook his head, his frustration matching hers. “Why do I feel like you’re trying so hard to convince me of that?”

She stepped forward, her eyes locking onto his. There was no hiding now. “Because I don’t need you to start thinking that this is something more than it is,” she said, her voice shaking just a little. “I don’t need to feel like I’m... I’m letting you in. I don’t want that. We can’t have that.”

“Why not?” Neal asked, his voice quieter now, softer. “Why can’t we have that?”

For a moment, (Y/n) didn’t say anything. She just looked at him, as if trying to find the words to explain something she couldn’t. She wanted to��he could see it in her eyes—but something held her back, something she was afraid to admit.

“Because I can’t,” she finally said, her voice trembling with something raw, something real. “Because I can’t let you in, Neal. I can’t let myself... care. I’ve spent too long keeping everything at arm's length. It’s easier that way. It’s safer that way.”

Neal felt his heart twist. He had no answers, no solutions. He couldn’t fix this. He wasn’t sure if he even wanted to.

But as the silence stretched between them, he couldn’t just let it go. “So, what happens now?” he asked quietly. “Do we just go back to being... partners? Nothing more, nothing less?”

(Y/n) looked away, biting her lip as she thought it over. “I don’t know,” she said finally. “I don’t know if we can just go back to what we were before. But we have to try.”

Neal didn’t argue. He couldn’t. There was too much at stake. Too much left unsaid.

“I don’t think either of us can walk away from this without something changing,” he said, the words coming out as more of a confession than a statement.

Her eyes flickered to his again, softer now. “Maybe that’s true,” she murmured. “But that doesn’t mean we can act on it.”

Neal took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I don’t know what’s happening between us, (Y/n). But I don’t think I can just pretend it’s nothing anymore.”

She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before meeting his eyes one last time. “Neither can I,” she said quietly, as she took off her ring and placed it in his hand.

And then, before either of them could say more, Peter’s voice echoed from behind them, sharp and thunder-like.

“Jesus Christ, what happened in this mission?” Peter inquired, leaning against the doorframe, clearly amused.

Neal shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. Peter was just being Peter. But as the moment lingered, both Neal and (Y/n) knew the truth. They had crossed a line. They’d let the job get too close. And now, whatever happened next… they couldn’t go back to pretending it was just a mission anymore.

a/n: I hope you liked it, this was my first request so I got carried away T_T, I'll make a part 2 for closure if this does well <3

[jrob64]

Drummer Boys, Reindeer and Romance

My Secret Santa gift for @mie779

Merry Christmas @mie779 - I'm your Secret Santa this year! I was very excited to get your name and I hope you like the story and pic set I created for you. I tried to work in some of your favorite things. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Many thanks to @hookedmom who took time out from a busy holiday season to beta for me.

With this story, I can cross off one square on my Winter Bingo Board. Stories in that collection can be found here

Story Summary: An empty seat at an elementary school Christmas pageant creates an opportunity for Killian Jones to meet Emma Swan. As they chat between songs, they feel drawn to each other, but Killian has to be brave enough to ask Emma out…and she has to be brave enough to accept. 

Rating: G

Words (Chapter 1/1): 5899

Can also be found on Ao3 and ffn

Stories in the CS Secret Santa 2024 collection can be found here

Story begins under the cut

*********

“Pardon me, lass. Is that seat taken?”

Emma Swan looked up from the program she had been scanning, to see a man standing in the aisle of the auditorium, looking at her expectantly.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“I was wondering if you were saving the seat beside you for someone.”

She glanced at the empty seat to her left. “Uh, no. I’m not saving it for anyone.”

After an awkward pause, he asked, “In that case, would you mind if I sit there?”

“Oh, sorry.” She stood up, letting him pass in front of her.

When they were settled in their seats, he said, “Thanks very much.” Holding out his hand, he added, “Killian Jones.”

“Emma Swan,” she responded, shaking his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I don’t think I’ve seen you around Storybrooke before.”

“I live in Portland. I visit from time to time, and stay at my brother Liam’s house when I do. I’m here to watch his and Elsa’s daughters. They’re the two cutest reindeer.”

“Missy and Alice are your nieces? They’re in my son Henry’s class. In fact, I think he has a crush on one of them.”

“Which one?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. They both look alike to me.”

“Well,” he chuckled, “that’s quite common with identical twins.”

She laughed. “You have a point there.”

“Is your son also a reindeer?”

“I wish,” she sighed. “Reindeer are quiet. My son is the little drummer boy. My friend is the music teacher and I’m pretty sure she cast him in that role intentionallly. Her husband has been dying to buy Henry a drum set ever since he was a toddler, but I keep telling him absolutely not. Of course, once my son got the part, he had to practice, so Mary Margaret sent a snare drum home with him. I can hardly wait until this program is over, so I can get that freaking thing out of my house. I love my kid, but he’s driving me crazy with it!”

Killian’s grin stretched wider across his handsome face. “Well, I can assure you that reindeer are not quiet. At least, not in Alice and Missy’s case.”

“I’m sure having two ten-year-olds in the house can be very loud. I only have one and sometimes I swear he’s trying to split my eardrums.”

“With his drum,” Killian smirked.

“You’re hilarious,” Emma groaned sarcastically, rolling her eyes. However, she couldn’t help grinning a little at his attempt to make a joke.

“Are you, uh, are you sure I’m not taking…anyone’s seat?” he asked tentatively.

“If you’re talking about Henry’s father, he won’t be coming. He lives in New York City with his other family. Henry only gets to see him a couple of times a year.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. The less time Henry spends with his dad, the smaller the chance Henry will act like him. After six years, he’s used to taking a back seat to Neal’s other kids.”

She opened the paper she was holding again, scanning the information typed inside. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Killian leaning in slightly to have a look at it, too.

“Didn’t they give you a program at the door?” she asked.

“They were out by the time I got here. I left work as soon as I could, but barely made it. Liam and Elsa weren’t expecting me to come tonight, so they didn’t save a seat for me.”

Emma swiped across her phone to look at the time. “They’re getting started a few minutes late. That’s typical for Mary Margaret because she wants everything to be perfect. She’s probably still gluing cotton balls onto Santa’s beard.” Scooting over in her seat a couple of inches, she held the program between them. “I’ll share with you. Looks like Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the next-to-last song.”

Killian perused the offered page. “Your drummer boy looks to be the star of the third song.”

“Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,” she intoned. He chuckled.

The lights dimmed and Mary Margaret hurried onto the stage as the crowd applauded.

“Show time,” Emma commented, then straightened in her seat to listen as her friend welcomed everyone.

*********

Killian shifted in the cushioned chair and tried to focus on what the lovely, pixie-haired teacher was saying. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to pay attention; rather, it was the distraction of the beautiful woman to his right which was occupying his mind. Through no fault of her own, she was making it very difficult for him to concentrate on the acknowledgements of all of the people responsible for helping with the elementary school Christmas pageant.

When she looked up at him after he inquired about the empty seat beside her, he was instantly struck by her beauty. It had been a long time since he gave any woman a second glance. Having his heart broken three years before caused him to swear off of women for good, and he stuck to it.

He may have to rethink that.

Being intrigued by her looks was one thing, but when she began conversing with him, he was struck by how easy it was to talk to her. She was witty and sarcastic, and put him at ease immediately.

When he verified that he wasn’t taking anyone’s seat, it was also his subtle way of asking if she was in a relationship. He had discreetly checked her ring finger and saw it was bare, but wanted further assurance. He was probably assuming too much by thinking her answer about her ex was proof she was indeed single, because she could be dating someone else. But if she was, that man would surely show up to her son’s Christmas pageant, wouldn’t he?

As crazy as it sounded, after knowing her for all of five minutes, Killian was seriously thinking of asking her out.

*********

Emma could feel the nearness of the man beside her and, shockingly enough, she didn’t mind at all. In fact, she actually found herself leaning toward him.

Her friend Elsa mentioned her brother-in-law to Emma several times, but she had never met him or seen a picture of him. If she had, she definitely would have remembered, because the man was ridiculously handsome. She probably seemed like an idiot when he asked about the empty seat beside her and she didn’t tell him he could sit there right away. She was simply gobsmacked when she looked up at him and had trouble getting her mind to work.

Fortunately, once he sat down, words were easier and the conversation she had with him was very enjoyable. She found herself wishing he had gotten there sooner, so they could have had more time to chat before the pageant began. It had been quite a while since she actually wanted more time to talk to a man. Usually, she wanted them to shut up and leave her alone.

Finding someone to date in Storybrooke was not an easy feat. Not that she put much effort into it. After what she went through with Neal, she swore off dating altogether. He not only broke her heart by leaving her for another woman, he told her he never loved her in the first place and the only reason he stayed with her as long as he did was because she was careless enough to get pregnant. He didn’t seem to realize that he had a little something to do with her ending up in that condition, too. She didn’t regret it, though. Henry was the best thing that ever happened to her. She had been telling herself for years that she loved her kid and he was the only male she needed in her life.

How absurd was it for her to want a chance to get better acquainted with Killian Jones so soon after meeting him?

*********

Killian’s whirlpool of thoughts was interrupted when music began playing and the third and fourth grade students trooped onto the stage to stand on the risers, all of them dressed in homemade costumes for their various roles.

Leaning over, he quietly asked, “Which one is Henry?”

Emma pointed. “The one with the jeans chopped off at the knees, white shirt and a vest made out of a cut up paper bag. Real professional, huh? He reminded me last night that he needed a costume, so it’s the best I could do.”

“I think it’s very effective. He’s supposed to be a poor boy, right?”

They fell silent when a little girl dressed as Mrs. Claus stepped to the microphone to introduce the first song. As Killian tried to lay his elbow on the arm rest, he bumped Emma’s, which was already there.

“Sorry, Love,” he whispered, tucking his arm against his side.

“We can share,” she whispered back, scooting her arm over to give him some room. Under normal circumstances, he would have passed on the offer, but he quite liked how it felt to touch her. Once their elbows were both on the arm rest, he turned his attention back to the stage, where the students dressed as elves were lining up to lead the song Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas, while Mary Margaret was taking her seat behind the piano.

“You were right,” Emma muttered. “Your nieces are the cutest reindeer.”

“Of course they are. They take after their uncle,” he cheeked.

Mary Margaret launched into the accompaniment before Emma could reply.

Frosty the Snowman followed, with students dressed as snow people spinning and dancing on the stage. One snowman twirled himself dizzy and almost fell off of the stage. Luckily, David was quick on his feet, catching the little boy and preventing disaster.

“I can guarantee I’ll hear about what a hero he was for days from Mary Margaret,” Emma remarked as they clapped at the end of the song.

“Your boy is up next,” Killian reminded her.

“Oh, yeah,” she said, scrambling to pull her phone out of her purse.

“Would you like me to take the video so you can sit back and enjoy his performance?”

She looked at him. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all. It would be my pleasure.”

Emma quickly unlocked her phone, pulled up the camera app and set it to video. “You know how to do this, right?”

He chuckled as he took it from her hands. “Don’t worry, Swan. I’m a twenty-first century man, so I do know a fair amount about technology.”

Henry took his place behind the snare drum and smiled widely at his mom. However, once the song started, he was all business, taking his drum solo very seriously. After filming the entire group of students during the first verse, Killian zoomed in on Henry for the rest of the song, capturing his solemn expression as he struck the drum in perfect rhythm.

At the conclusion of the song, Killian turned the phone toward Emma, who was clapping loudly and shouting, “Way to go, kid!” Through the lens, Killian could see the sheen of proud tears in her eyes. He didn’t stop filming until she turned to him to get her device back.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad I could enjoy it without having to watch him through my phone screen.”

“No problem,” he assured her. “He did a wonderful job. He just might have a future as a drummer in a band.”

“I hope he’s out on his own by then if he does. I don’t think I could handle all of the practicing.”

Killian chuckled and settled back in his seat to enjoy the next two songs. When it was time for the reindeer to take their place at the front of the stage, he dug his own phone out of the front pocket of his jeans.

“Here, I’ll return the favor,” Emma said, reaching for the phone. “Enjoy your nieces’ performance.”

“Thanks, Love,” he said gratefully.

The song went well until one of the twins accidentally stepped on the other one’s foot, who then pushed the unwitting culprit. A short shoving match ensued between the two of them, until Mary Margaret snapped her fingers at them with one hand, while continuing to play the piano with the other.

Killian scanned the crowd to find his brother and sister-in-law. Liam was trying, and failing, to keep a grin off of his face, while Elsa scowled ferociously at her rowdy daughters.

The rest of the song went on without further incident. When Emma handed his phone back, Killian remarked, “I think the girls might be in for it after this is over.”

“Yeah, Elsa looks pretty peeved.”

“Do you know her?”

“We got to know each other through the PTO, and we’ve become pretty good friends.”

“PTO?” he questioned.

“Parent-teacher organization. We do fundraisers to give the school and staff extra things the district doesn’t provide. We also sponsor fun events for students and their parents, like skating parties and bingo nights.”

“It sounds very beneficial,” Killian commented.

Mary Margaret announced that the final song was Silent Night and after the students sang it through once, the audience was encouraged to join in.

The children, who had just sung Rudolph loudly and exuberantly, now sang the beloved carol with great reverence. A hush fell over the crowd as they listened to the sweet voices. Killian turned his eyes toward Emma and saw her swallow hard, clearly trying to keep her emotions in check. He was a little emotional himself and he didn’t even have a child on the stage.

Killian added his rich baritone the second time through. He could hear Emma’s voice and wasn’t at all surprised that it was as lovely as the lady herself.

As the final notes faded away, she turned to look at him. He smiled and winked, beginning to clap with the rest of the audience. When the ovation was over, she quickly collected her coat and purse. “I have to go get Henry from his classroom. I…it was nice meeting you, Killian. Maybe we’ll see each other the next time you come to town.”

He looked stunned. “Aye, Swan, perhaps we will.”

With a final wave, she was gone, swallowed up by the crowd.

*********

As he watched her walk away, Killian felt like kicking himself. He just let her go, without asking her out or even requesting her phone number. He was sure he wasn’t the only one who felt the connection between the two of them, but now it was too late to act on it.

She did say she was Elsa’s friend, so perhaps he could get Emma’s information from his sister-in-law. That was less than ideal, but it might be his only option.

He sighed, grabbed his coat from the chair and set off to locate his family.

*********

Emma hated leaving the way she did, but she knew Henry would be waiting for her. Telling her son how proud she was of him, trumped hanging around to talk to Killian some more. She truly hoped she would run into him again, sometime.

She wished she would have been bold enough to ask him for his phone number. Of course, she could always get it from Elsa, but that would mean telling her friend she was interested in her brother-in-law. Emma didn’t really want to open that can of worms.

So as she fought her way through the crowd, disappointment rose up within her because she knew she was leaving behind the first guy who drew her interest in a very long time.

*********

“Where’s Elsa?” Killian asked, once he found Liam still occupying the seat he sat in during the performance.

“She went to get the girls. I offered, but she insisted. She may knock their heads together after their antics on stage.”

Killian laughed. “Never a dull moment with those two, is there?”

“Not a single one. Thanks for coming, brother,” Liam said, standing up to clap Killian on the shoulder.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I told Missy and Alice I would try to make it and I didn’t want to let them down.”

“You’re a good uncle.”

“The best,” Killian smirked. Then his face took on a serious expression. “May I ask you something?”

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“Uh…how well do you know…Emma Swan?”

Liam’s brows raised. “She and Elsa are good friends, so I know her pretty well. Why do you ask?”

Killian scratched behind his ear. “I, um…I sat beside her this evening. I never met her before, but I…she…she seems very nice.”

Liam studied his brother for several moments. “Are you interested in her?” he queried.

His brother shrugged. “I just��we had a good conversation and I thought about…”

When he didn’t continue, Liam supplied, “Asking her out?”

Killian shrugged again. “I know. It’s a stupid idea. I mean, I just met her and we only talked for a few minutes, but…”

Liam stepped in front of him, placing both hands on his brother’s shoulders. “Killian, I know you had a rough go of it with Milah, but you can’t go through life never taking a chance again.”

“Emma probably wouldn’t accept…”

“You won’t know unless you try.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. She went to collect her son and then they’ll leave.”

“Then we’ll go find her before they do.”

“Liam…”

“Killian, a man unwilling to fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets.”

Killian considered his brother’s words for a few seconds. “You’re right. Let’s go see if she’s still here.”

The pair took off through the nearly empty auditorium. Liam led Killian down one hallway, then nearly ran into Elsa and the girls when they turned the corner.

“There are my lovely ladies,” Liam said, kissing first one of his daughters on the head, then the other. “Good job, my little reindeer.” Seeing the stern look Elsa was giving him, he added, “But perhaps next time you shouldn’t stand right next to each other.”

“It was Missy’s fault,” Alice began, before being cut off by her mother.

“I’ve already talked to you about this,” Elsa reprimanded. “You were both at fault and tomorrow, you will both apologize to Mrs. Nolan.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they chorused. Then they rushed to get a hug from their uncle.

“You came!” Alice cried.

“Told you he would,” Missy said. “Uncle Killy would never let us down, would you?”

“I can’t promise that I never will, but I’ll try my very best not to,” he assured them, one arm wrapped around each twin.

Liam pulled Elsa aside. “Did you see Emma?” he asked.

“Yes, she was picking up Henry at the same time I was getting the girls,” his wife answered. “Why?”

Lowering his voice so their daughters wouldn’t hear, he said, “Killian sat beside her during the performance and they seemed to hit it off. He was hoping to catch her before she left and ask her out.”

Elsa’s expression went from very excited to downcast. “I’m afraid they’re gone already.”

Killian caught what she said and his heart sank. He knew he missed his chance when he let her walk away.

Elsa saw the look on her brother-in-law’s face. “Girls, hug your uncle and tell him goodbye. I’m sure he needs to start back to Portland soon.”

Missy and Alice took turns getting big bear hugs from Killian, then Liam bid him goodbye and took the girls to the car, clearly aware that his wife wanted to talk to his brother alone.

Killian gave Elsa a questioning look. “What do you have up your sleeve?”

“Do you think Emma was attracted to you?”

He shrugged slightly. “I can’t say for sure, but we talked quite a bit and she seemed to like me.”

“The fact that she enjoyed talking to you leads me to believe she does. I love Emma, but she can be a bit prickly. I think you should ask her out.”

“Did you miss the part when you said she already left?”

“I’m going to give you her address, smart guy. Then you can go to her house.”

“Perhaps you should just give me her phone number instead.”

“You will not ask her out over the phone,” Elsa commanded. “That’s too impersonal.”

Killian nodded. “I see your point.” Pulling out his phone, he brought up Google Maps and typed in the address Elsa read from her contacts list. “It’s only a five minute drive.”

“Yes it is, which gives you less time to change your mind.” She gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. “Now get going. Call us when you’re on the way home and let us know what happened.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, saluting smartly. When she rolled her eyes at him, he grew serious. “Thank you, Elsa.”

“You’re welcome. Now go turn on your charm.”

*********

Ten minutes later, Killian pulled up in front of the small, unassuming house where the GPS led him. After cutting the engine, he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, contemplating whether or not he should go through with his plan.

His phone buzzed with an incoming text.

Liam: Remember what I told you. Don’t lose your nerve.

Killian shook his head and snorted out a laugh. Sometimes it was almost scary how well his brother knew him.

“The worst that can happen is she turns me down. I can survive that, right?” he muttered to himself. “Well, I guess we’ll find out.”

He unbuckled his seatbelt, threw open his car door and climbed out. Then he walked up the short sidewalk, lined with lighted plastic candy canes. After knocking on the front door, he nervously brushed one hand through his hair, then tugged at the bottom of his black leather jacket.

The door swung open and he found himself looking down at the little drummer boy, still dressed in his cut off jeans and white shirt, sans the paper bag vest. They looked at each other for a couple of seconds, then Henry turned and yelled, “Mom! Some guy is here!”

“Henry, what have I told you about answering the…” Emma’s words cut off suddenly when she came into view. “Killian?” she questioned disbelievingly.

“Uh, hi. I, um…I hope you don’t mind me stopping by,” he stammered.

She looked flabbergasted. “How did you know where I live?”

“Elsa gave me your address. I hope that was okay.”

Henry looked back and forth between the two adults. “Do you mean Mrs. Jones? Alice’s mom?”

“And Missy’s,” Emma added distractedly.

“How do you know Mrs. Jones?” Henry asked.

“Killian’s brother Liam is Elsa’s husband,” Emma explained. “Henry, please go turn the burner off under the hot cocoa so it won’t burn.”

“If it’s ready, can I pour some…”

“Absolutely not. Do not touch the pan or anything else; just the knob for the burner.”

“But I…”

She put her arm around his shoulders. “After you turn off the stove, why don’t you go ahead and put your pajamas on. Just give me a couple of minutes to speak to Mr. Jones, okay?”

“You did a fine job on your drum solo tonight, lad,” Killian said.

Henry’s face brightened. “Do ya really think so?”

“Aye. You were the star of the show.”

A wide grin split the boy’s face. “Thanks! I practiced a lot!”

“Your mother told me you did. Practice makes perfect, they say.”

“I guess so. We can be in band next year and I want to play percussion.”

Killian snuck a glance at Emma, who closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. With difficulty, he kept from laughing, before answering, “I’m sure you’ll enjoy that.”

“At least one of us will,” Emma mumbled, before reminding Henry about turning off the stove.

“Bye, Mr. Jones. Merry Christmas!” Henry shouted on his way out of the room.

“Merry Christmas to you, lad.”

“So, um, not to sound rude, but why are you here?” Emma asked as soon as they were alone.

He tried not to fidget as he thought of what to say. “I…I really enjoyed talking to you this evening.”

“I enjoyed talking to you, too.”

Encouraged, the corner of his mouth quirked up. “That’s good to hear. So, I was wondering if…if you would consider going out with me.”

“On a date?” she asked, brows shooting up.

“Aye, that’s the idea.”

“I can’t…”

Killian felt his stomach drop.

“...even remember the last time I went on a date.”

“Perhaps we should remedy that,” he suggested hopefully.

Emma pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing on it in contemplation. “I don’t know…”

“Go out with him, Mom!” Henry yelled from the kitchen.

“Really, kid?” Emma said, clearly exasperated.

Henry poked his head around the door frame. “I like him.”

“Weren’t you told to put your pajamas on?”

“I will. I just accidentally heard what Mr. Jones said.”

Emma crossed her arms and gave him a patented ‘mom look’. “Accidentally, huh?”

He shrugged. “I have good hearing.”

“Only when you want to have it,” she stated. “Now, go do as you were told.”

“Okay,” he sighed, trudging down the hallway to his room.

She turned back to Killian, dropping her arms to her sides. “Looks like you have my kid’s approval.”

He studied her for a few seconds. “What about you, Emma? Do I have your approval, too? Elsa said she would be happy to watch Henry for you if we go out.”

She hesitated, then lifted her chin decisively. “Yes, Killian. I would love to go out with you.”

*********

One year later…

Killian followed Emma down the aisle of the auditorium and grinned when he realized what seats she chose. After sitting down, he draped his arm around her shoulders and leaned over to murmur in her ear, “These seats seem familiar, Love.”

She snuggled against his side. “They’re very special, because this is where I met the love of my life.”

“What a coincidence,” he teased. “This is where I met mine, too.”

Elsa and Liam slid into the seats in front of them. “Hello, lovebirds,” Elsa grinned.

“Don’t encourage them,” Liam cautioned. “I already have to witness far too much PDA from those two.”

“You don’t have to watch, you know,” Killian said, lightly whacking the back of Liam’s head.

“Both of you behave,” Elsa said, as Emma giggled.

“Speaking of behaving,” Killian began, “do you think your daughters will make it through the concert without assaulting each other this year?”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Liam said. “I caught Missy trying to hit her sister over the head with her flute the other day.”

“Be happy it wasn’t the other way around,” Emma commented. “Alice could do some serious damage with her saxophone.”

They were still laughing when the fifth grade band shuffled onto the stage in all their Christmas finery, instruments held proudly in front of them. Emma and Killian immediately spotted Henry taking his place behind the snare drum. He smiled and gave them a quick wave before picking up his drumsticks.

“He looks so grown up,” Emma said quietly.

“Your little drummer boy isn’t very little anymore,” Killian observed fondly. He and Henry had a very close relationship and he loved the boy as his own.

“A lot has changed in the past year,” she sighed happily.

“Aye, Love. It’s been phenomenal in every way.”

Mary Margaret, who also instructed the fifth grade band along with teaching elementary music, walked out onto the stage, preparing to introduce their first song.

Emma settled against Killian’s side to enjoy the concert. A year ago, sitting in these very seats, neither of them could ever have imagined what that first meeting would mean to them.

As the band began playing Jingle Bells, Killian pulled Emma a little closer. His chest swelled with pride watching Henry concentrating on his music, as he beat out the rhythm on the drum. This year, Emma hadn’t had to endure his incessant practicing alone, since Killian moved in with them just before Thanksgiving.

Emma saw Killian glancing at his watch once the third and final song ended. “Are you anxious to leave? You know we still have to sit through the sixth grade and junior high bands, don’t you?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m aware. I was just trying to gauge what time it will be over.”

“I’d say the concert will last about an hour,” Liam threw over his shoulder.

Killian slumped a bit in his chair. Then he caught sight of Henry, who was sitting in a reserved section to their right with the rest of the fifth grade band. The boy beamed at him and gave him a thumbs up. Killian winked and returned his smile.

Last year, the evening of Henry’s concert ended with Killian asking Emma out on their first date. This year, he had a different question to ask when they got home, one for which Henry had already given his approval.

He hoped her answer would be the same as last year. If so, they would be sitting in these seats next year as husband and wife.

Kissing her temple, Killian impatiently waited for the sixth grade band to begin playing. He intertwined their fingers, imagining how her hand would look with the diamond engagement ring on it. When she turned her face up to look at him, love shining in her eyes, he knew the beauty of the diamond would pale in comparison to the lady wearing it.

*********

Liam’s estimate for the length of the concert was right on the nose. When they finally walked out of the auditorium, light snow was falling. The conversation in the car on the way home was warm and playful. Henry laughed about the sixth grade percussionist who dropped one of the cymbals in the middle of a song, and expressed his hope that when he got older, he would be the one to make the whip sound for Sleigh Ride.

“Lord, help us through seven more years of band,” Emma murmured under her breath, causing Killian to laugh, despite the nerves that were knotting his stomach.

As soon as they got home, Henry went into the kitchen to get the ingredients out for hot cocoa, dubbing it a tradition after the Christmas concert.

“Is it a tradition if this is only the second time we did it?” Emma asked.

“I don’t know,” Killian answered, “but I do know of another tradition that’s been around much longer.” He pointed at the top of the doorway between the living room and kitchen.

“When did you put mistletoe up there?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“This evening while you were getting dressed for the concert.”

“You’re very sneaky,” she said, leaning in until her lips were just a fraction of an inch away from his.

“And you love me for it,” he grinned.

“Mmhmm,” she hummed before kissing him.

“Pre-teen boy coming through,” Henry announced, squeezing past them. “I’m going to put my pajamas on. Please be done making out by the time I get back.”

Emma and Killian laughed into their kiss. “I think we’re scarring him for life,” he quipped.

“That’s what parents are for,” she replied.

Killian pulled back to look at her. “You consider me to be his parent?”

“You’re more of a father to him than Neal has ever been.”

He surged forward to kiss her again. When it finally ended, he asked, “Do you think Henry regards me that way, too?”

“I’m sure he does.”

“Does what?” Henry asked, re-entering the room, now dressed in plaid Christmas pajamas.

“Do you think of Killian as one of your parents?” Emma asked.

“Well, duh,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Can we make hot chocolate now?”

Emma tried to give Killian a look that said I told you so, but he was gazing at Henry with a sense of wonder over the boy’s declaration.

Once the cocoa was gone and Henry was off to bed, Killian and Emma lay together on the sofa. The living room was lit only by the gas fireplace and the lights from the Christmas tree, while Christmas music played softly.

“This is nice,” she sighed.

He hummed in agreement, stroking his hand up and down her back. His thoughts were preoccupied with the perfect way to propose, so he almost missed what she said next.

“Marry me, Killian.”

His hand on her back stilled as his mind registered what she just said. “Wh-what?”

She pushed up on her elbows to look into his face. “Marry me.”

“Swan, you’re depriving me of a dashing proposal!” he protested.

She cocked her head, studying him. “Are you serious?”

He slid out from under her to kneel on the floor in front of the couch, reaching into the pocket of his sleep pants to retrieve the ring and holding it up for her to see.

Her eyes widened as she swung her feet down to the floor. “Oh. My. God. You really were going to propose, weren’t you?”

“Aye.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“Mad? Why would I be mad? Since you asked me first, I’m pretty sure I know what your answer is going to be,” he chuckled.

“You still have to ask. That’s the rule.”

“Whose rule?”

“Mine. Now, let’s hear that dashing proposal.”

He grinned, then cleared his throat. “Emma, you and Henry have changed my life in every way possible. I never knew happiness like this even existed, let alone that it would happen to me. There aren’t enough words in this world to express how much I love you, but right now, there’s only one word I need to hear in response to this question - Emma Swan, will you marry me?”

Tears filled her eyes when she opened her mouth to answer, but emotion clogged her throat, so she nodded emphatically and threw her arms around him. As he held her tight, kissing her and murmuring words of love, she finally found her voice. “Yes, Killian, I will marry you! I love you so much!”

She pulled away, wiping at her eyes. “Henry and I are very lucky to have you in our lives. I know I’m speaking for him too when I say we want you to be part of our family forever.” Framing his face with her hands, she leaned in to kiss him again.

“Do you want the ring?” he asked against her lips.

She giggled and sat back, extending her left hand to him. He slid the ring into place and kissed her knuckle above it.

“It’s perfect,” she breathed.

“You are perfect, my love.”

“Says the man who complains when I leave wet towels on the floor,” she teased.

“Well…nearly perfect,” he grinned.

She held her hand up to admire the ring, the lights of the Christmas tree making the diamond glitter. “We’re engaged,” she said, awestruck.

“Mmhmm. Who would have thought that a little drummer boy and two feuding reindeer would bring us together and give us a happy ending?”

Her eyes met his, laughter and love dancing in them. “Best night of my life, hands down. Until today,” she amended.

Kissing the tip of her nose, he whispered, “Happy Christmas, wife-to-be.”

“Merry Christmas, husband-to-be.”

He stood up and took her hand to help her to her feet. Then they went to their bedroom to share the best gift of all - the love they had for each other.

*********

My heartfelt wishes for all of you to have a blessed and memorable Christmas!

Tagging:

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[thesirencove]

𐙚. ݁₊⋆❀˖° (neal caffrey x reader) WIP soon!

hi y'all !! it's been a while , i'm sorry for that ! classes has been insane and i swear my professors love torturing me . i do , however, have a wip that i've been working on recently that i will be finishing up and posting soon !! i decided to share a little blurb from it (unedited !!!) beforehand to give y'all a little piece of what's to come <3

i hope everyone is doing well , and thank you for your patience !! :)

my requests are still open by the way ! so be sure send in any y'all have :)

upcoming neal caffrey x fem!reader wip :)

sneak peak word count: 222

thirty minutes passed. she tried to text him, but the text never went through. the wifi here never worked, the officiant told her. she nodded, staying silent.

an hour passed, and she tried again. the officiant was getting a little restless. so was she. he felt bad for her, she could tell considering how his eyes shone with pity whenever he looked at her. she sat on the bench, anxious, thinking maybe something happened to him on the case. she felt her nails splitting at she picked and scratched at the stone bench, attempting to calm herself.

more time passed, and it only got darker and darker. it had been hours since their agreed upon time, and neal never came. once eight o’clock hit, she accepted he wasn’t coming.

“i’m sorry for wasting your time,” she said, getting up from her spot on the bench. “it seems my fiancé is occupied by another matter.” it took everything in her for her voice not to break. 

“i’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said. 

“it’s alright. nothing i can do, right?” she responded, a grave smile adorning her face. the man nodded. 

“please let me know if you need anything.” her head fell at the words, and she hear his footsteps in the grass as he walked away. 

her smile wasn’t as bright as this morning.

[inkwell-intrigues]

TSTS Annoucement

I was hoping this wouldn't happen. Like, I always knew it could happen -I remember seeing this happen to a bunch of fanfiction writers when I was a kid- but it really sucks.

So, I'm crazy burnt out from writing AND Cuphead has stopped being my current hyperfixation. (I'm also on different medications now- which probably doesn't help.)

Even the thought of Cuphead right now gives me pretty bad stress, because of how far behind I've fallen in writing The Strength and The Sight.

I know I made a post literally a few weeks ago saying that I was back and all that stuff, but... After I sat down and started trying to write I began to realize that not only was I badly burnt out, but also The Strength and The Sight's plot/focus/etc has changed multiple times during the process of me writing it. This has led to a LOT of inconsistencies in terms of the plot, character arcs, and in general, the pacing ended up being all over the place because of it. 

For instance, Chalice is supposed to be one of the main characters, but her role in the story has changed a bunch AND I ended up focusing on her a lot less than characters who were supposed to be side characters- like Ginette. (I love Gin, I swear, but she wasn't supposed to be as big of a focus as she ended up being. -That mainly came about from me getting super obsessed with her character and forgetting my other characters- In multiple chapters, she even overshadows the brothers. Oops. xD)

This all has led me to realize: Even if I wasn't burnt out- I simply cannot continue writing a story that I know has inconsistencies. 

So, does this mean that The Strength and The Sight is over? No. No, it does not.

This post is me announcing that I will NOT be taking a break or canceling the story in the traditional "burnt-out fanfic writer" sense. Instead, I will be REWRITING the entire story- starting with outlining the plot from the beginning in lots of detail and sticking to the plot I set.

This rewritten version will be filled with full-color illustrations, more focused, and A LOT shorter. While mulling over the idea of a rewrite, I realized just how needlessly long TSTS has become. Like, the book which I use as a reference and inspiration, Scythe by Neal Shusterman, is only 102k words, while mine- which is not even halfway done- is 114K. (There are a lot more examples of my word count v.s. other books, but I won't bore you all with those numbers.)

BUT, I don't want to leave you guys in the dark while I begin this intense process of rewriting TSTS. So, instead, I want to continue posting on this current fic as a sort of "journal" of my progress. I know a lot of you guys are writers yourselves, so this could be a super cool opportunity for you guys to see my process and learn some tips and tricks along the way.

My long-term goal is to post a probably 100% finished redone version of The Strength and The Sight when The Cuphead Show is renewed and the new season releases on Netflix. (I'm manifesting so hard, IT WILL BE RENEWED I KNOW IT) Or I'll try and release it if/when Studio MDHR releases another Cuphead thing/game. Whatever comes first.

Until then, I'll be using this as my progress journal. I'll be posting rough sketches (because I'll also be doing updated illustrations!), rough outlines (with redacted spoilers, lol), and more! 

I know this is probably really disappointing. I'm kicking myself quite a bit here and wishing I'd been able to finish TSTS before I got burnt out, but I believe that everything happens for a reason. My hope is that TSTS will be a much better and higher-quality novel because of this rewrite.

Thank you for your patience and I'm truly sorry for all the delays. I promise that I'll do everything I can to make The Strength and The Sight worth the wait.

-- Your Friend, Inkwell Intrigues

[heytheredeann]

“Hiding an Injury” fill for the Bad Things Happen Bingo, Swanfire (+ a little bit of platonic Hookfire), 3x07 AU. 

@badthingshappenbingo

“Hey, Emma,” Neal catches her attention, reaching for her arm to stop her. She was kind of expecting it, after the earful she gave them, but she swears, if he wants to argue— “Take this,” he says, though, placing the coconut in her hands with a weird expression on his face.

“Why?” she frowns. Does it make a difference who’s carrying it? And he’s the one who knows what to do with it anyway.

“Don’t wanna drop it,” he mutters, then he reaches for the tree next to him as if to lean on it, his knees buckle, and next thing she knows he’s on the ground and she has almost dropped the coconut trying to reflexively catch him.

“Neal!” she calls, quickly dropping on her knees to see what the hell has gotten into him, while Hook promptly runs back towards them and joins her. “Neal, what the hell?”

He’s kinda looking like shit, his face twisted in a pained grimace and looking paler than normal. Was he that pale before? There isn’t the best lighting, it’s possible that she didn’t notice. He’s reaching for his chest, and Emma’s first thought is something along the lines of Tell me you are not having a heart attack here of all places, because about 90% of her medical knowledge comes from TV and she doesn’t even know what the hell she’s supposed to do besides maybe CPR and—

“Is that blood?!” she asks, her tone edging pretty evidently towards hysterics. She quickly removes his hand, her brain only then registering that he’s clutching the right side of his chest and that that’s where he was shot.

It feels like a lifetime ago, but it isn’t, and he reasonably shouldn’t be standing right now, let alone running around organizing escapes from hellish islands and helping in a rescue mission.

He said he was fine and she sort of assumed that he had been magically cured, he said he met Aurora and Mulan and that they helped—

There’s a bandage under his shirt, and it’s soaked in blood. That’s just great. Just great.

“I thought you said you were okay!” she accuses, and maybe she shouldn’t be yelling at the dying man, but he should have said something.

“I was,” he protests, and she doesn’t like how he keeps blinking as in an attempt at clearing his vision. He looks dazed, that’s not good. She needs something to press on that wound.

“You aren’t,” she hisses, angrily. “You should have said something.”

“Thought it was fine.”

“You thought wrong!”

[More on Ao3]

[dbnightingale24]

Patience

Chapter 10

~~

It took me forever to post this because I kept changing what the hell I wanted to happen in this chapter, but SO MUCH HAPPENS. This part strays away from Andy and Neal’s history, but just hold on tight. Once again, I'm sorry for another long ass chapter, but this story just gets away from me! I hope you all enjoy it though!!

Warnings: Smut (so much smut), angst, daddy kink, degrading, swearing, drinking, angst, drama, fingering, 18+, minors DNI (seriously), fluff, stress, heavy dialogue...I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot

Word Count:  8074 (I honestly don’t know what's wrong with me)

Songs That Inspired This Chapter:

Nasty - Ariana Grande

No Ordinary Love - Sade

Baby Girl, I’m A Blur - Say Anything

I Get Off - Halestorm

I do not give consent for and of my stories/works to be posted elsewhere.

~~

Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 ,  Chapter 6 , Chapter 7 , Chapter 8, Chapter 9

~~

‘You’re STILL at the office?’

‘There’s nothing I can do about it. If Neal says I have to stay, then that’s what I have to do.’

‘Babe, this is bullshit and you know it.’

‘I didn’t say it wasn’t but he’s my boss, Andy. What do you want me to do?’

Julia sighed as she put her phone down on desk and resumed typing up transcripts for Neal. After their night at the bar, and her calling out of work with Andy the following day, Neal started keeping her later and later. The only time she could really spend with Andy was on the weekend and even that was hard, because she did actually have to make time for her sister and everything that had been going on with her. She was trying to split time between work and her personal life and it was becoming exhausting. 

“Hey, I’m gonna order some dinner, do you want anything?” Neal asked, leaning against the door frame to his office.

“Um, I was actually gonna ask how much longer we’ll be? It’s getting late and I have an early day.”

“I know and I’m sorry, but we’ve got a lot of work left to do especially with all of the new evidence that just came in. Since you’re not here on the weekends, it’s hard for me to squeeze time in.”

“I’m not here on the weekends cause I’m here so late during the week,” Julia laughed awkwardly, trying to hide her irritation.

“That’s a fair point,” Neal sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck “how’s she doing? Your sister.”

“I mean...she’s dealing, I guess. She goes back and forth about what she wants, so that doesn’t help anything. But that’s love. It’s never simple. Andy’s been really good with her helping decide on her next move. It’s apparent to all of us that they still love each other, but they have to work through their shit. Her husband needs to do better,” Julia sighed, running her hand through her hair. “So yeah, weekends are a little long and complicated,” she smiled at him before shaking her head.

“Go home,” he sighed softly.

“What? No, if there’s more work-”

“You’ve got a lot going on and you’re young. I forget sometimes...go home and get some rest,” he smiled softly before going back into his office.

Julia looked at the empty entry way for a moment, before saving all the work she had done for the day and logging off. She quickly gathered her things and bid Neal a goodnight, before dashing out the door.

Sending Andy a text on her way to her car, she took a deep breath once she finally was inside. Enjoying the small sense of relief that washed over her. She was about to start when her car when her phone went off.

“I know I know, I’m heading home now, babe,” she sighed, rubbing her temples.

“Awh! Are you going home to him?!” Meg squealed, and Julia had to laugh and roll her eyes.

“What do you want, trouble maker?”

“I resent that! I’ve been on my best behavior as of late!”

“Bullshit,” Julia laughed, starting her car. “How are you?”

“I’m okay, I guess. Raoul just left.”

“How’d that go?”

“Lots of tears, lots of begging, no resolution. Same as always. Pain as always.”

“Meg, I’m so sorry.”

“It is what it is, ya know? We’re trying in our own way and sometimes love just isn’t enough. We’ll see what happens. How about you and Mr. Perfect? I need something positive right now.”

“We’re fine,” Julia sighed.

“But?”

“Something is going on between him and Neal. I’m staying out of it, but I have a feeling it has something to do with all of these long hours I’m working.”

“Probably cause Neal has a hard on for you.”

“Please don’t start, it’s been a long day and I’m tired.”

“Jules, how can you not see it? The man is one step away from proposing!”

“Please stop, it’s just not possible. Neal is....well, he’s Neal. It’s just how he is.”

“Whatever. New subject, am I seeing you two this Saturday?”

“Yeah, but is it okay if we make it an early day? I kinda just wanna spend some time with Andy. I’ve been working overtime so much and I feel like I’m barely ever alone with him.”

“Don’t worry, I get it. I just wanna get away from these people for a while. At this point, everyone knows and everyone is gossiping. Raoul wants to take Luis for the day, and as much as I hate it, I know Luis needs it.”

“What’s the problem? Why don’t you think you two can get past this? He’s trying now and he really wants to make it work.”

“Because I’m angry. Yeah, now he’s trying to do better, but look at all that had to happen for him to put us first! I shouldn’t have to reach my breaking point for him to finally realize that he needs to do better,” Meg sighed, her voice breaking a bit.

“Do you want me to come over? I can come right now and I’ll call out tomorrow-”

“Stop. I’m the big sister here and you’ve done more than you know. I’ll be alright, I just...I have to make a choice. This back and forth shit isn’t good for anyone involved.”

“It’s a lot to handle, take your time. You’ll choose what’s best for you and Luis in the end,” Julia sighed as she pulled up to her apartment. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come over?”

“No, spend time with Andy. Be happy, I love you and I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Will do. I love you so much, night,” Julia responded as cheerfully as she could before hanging up.

She took a deep breath and rested her head against the steering wheel. She didn’t see Andy’s car and she couldn’t bring herself to be irritated with him for leaving. She was supposed to be home hours ago. Slowly getting herself out of her car, she dug her keys out of her purse and slowly made her way inside her complex. She was starting to feel drained and she hated it. She was beginning to think Andy was getting to sick of her, because she was either with family or moody. She hated it, but she couldn’t help it. Whatever the hell was going on between him and Neal was starting to take a toll on her. She couldn’t help but think that whatever...thing she walked in on almost a month ago is what led Neal to find any reason to keep her late.

She had asked Andy a few weeks ago, but he kept saying it was nothing. When she’d press him on the issue, he’d just change the subject. She knew that he was entitled to his secrets and his own life, but it was really starting to eat at her.

As she shoved her key into the keyhole to the door of her apartment, her irritation quickly faded when the scent of her favorite dish filled her nostrils.

Andy quickly got off the sofa and made his way over to her, wrapping her in a tight hug. “I thought I’d make dinner tonight,” he mumbled into her hair before kissing it softly.

“You are so sweet, did you know that?”

“I do my best,” he chuckled before closing her apartment door. “Any clue when this case will be over?”

“No,” Julia sighed, as she kicked her shoes off and hung up her purse on her coat rack “it has to end soon though, right? He can’t drag this out forever.”

“No, he can’t,” Andy sighed, taking her hand and leading her into the small kitchen. “What would you like to drink?”

“Wine,” she responded, rubbing her temples and taking a seat at her little kitchen table. “It’s like he thinks he’s in a competition with you? Like...he’s trying to prove what a great lawyer he is. Which, I’ve never doubted, but this is overkill.”

“Maybe he’s trying to prove something else to you,” Andy shrugged, placing a glass of wine in front of her before returning to the kitchen and taking out two plates from one of the cabinets.

“Like what?”

“How great he is.”

“Why would he...oh for fucks sake, Andy. Can we not do this tonight? My day was long enough already. I swear to God, if you two are fighting over me-”

“We’re not fighting,” Andy quickly interjected.

“You two aren’t getting along.”

“We’re not speaking,” Andy said simply. “Do you want any sauce to go with your salmon?”

“Not speaking is not getting along,” she snapped matter-of-factly “I’ll take the lemon dijon dressing, please.”

“Not talking is not talking,” he quipped back, grabbing the dressing before closing the fridge door. Andy made up their plates and poured himself a drink, before making his way back over to her and putting everything down.

“Not talking is not getting along,” she snapped back before reaching up for a small kiss “thank you for making dinner.”

“Don’t thank me until you eat it,” Andy smirked, sitting back down.

“I’m thanking you either way because you went out of your way to do it,” she smiled. “You didn’t have to stay, it’s late.”

“I wanted to see and spend time with you. I’ll never mind waiting for you.”

“How’d I get so lucky?” she questioned before taking a bite of her linguine and salmon. “Someone’s been practicing!”

“It’s okay?”

“It’s perfect, thank you so much,” she smiled at him.

That’s how most of their nights went. One of them made dinner, they’d have a minor disagreement about Neal, but then they’d flow back into regular conversation about work or whatever they wanted to do on the weekend. Julia liked that. She enjoyed the fact that their relationship was so easy and honest. She would’ve been lying if she said it didn’t make nervous that something terrible was on their horizon, but she was doing her best to just live in the moment and accept everything as it came. For the time being, they were happy and they were in love. She wanted nothing else. She needed nothing else.

“Do you wanna ride into work with me tomorrow?” Andy asked once they both finished dinner and he started cleaning up the dishes.

“You know we can’t,” she sighed. “Leave those, I’ll do them tomorrow. I just wanna lay with you right now. I miss being alone with you.”

“You’re not gonna wanna do them tomorrow,” Andy scoffed, putting a plate back into the sink.

“No one ever wants to do dishes,” she chuckled “lets just lay down and watch TV.”

“As you wish,” Andy smiled before leading her to the sofa.

He laid down first and Julia let herself get comfortable, back on his chest and her head on his arm. She was full, tired, and ready to fall asleep right there until “Oh,” she giggled softly.

“I can’t control it around you,” Andy chuckled lowly.

As bad as she wanted him, even more once she felt him hard against her ass, she was determined to resist. She didn’t want them to become a couple that needed sex all the time. She wanted to make sure that they stayed more than just sex crazed. However, that was hard for her seeing as Andy Barber was her fucking boyfriend.

“It’s...it’s fine,” she stuttered as his finger softly started to stroke her bare arm “I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“You walk around in these fucking skirts,” Andy sighed. “What am I supposed to do? I’m trying to be good and make you happy, but you don’t make it easy.”

“You’re one to talk,” she scoffed.

Julia held on to her resolve to not give in for as long as she could, but as he continued to stroke her arm, she soon found herself grinding against him.

“You know all you have to do is ask,” he whispered hotly into her ear.

“No,” she moaned, pressing her thighs together and forcing herself to stop. She refused to give in.

“Tell Daddy what you need,” he mumbled against her neck before pressing a soft kiss into it.

‘Fuck!’ she thought to herself. “Andy...” she breathed out, her eyes fluttering shut as she slowly started grinding against him again.

“Tell me, Sweetheart,” he cooed, letting his tongue trace lightly over her neck. “Want Daddy to guess? Is that it pretty girl?”

He softly pulled her skirt up and let his fingers softly trace over the thin material that was now damp. “You need Daddy there, baby?” When she whimpered in response, he softly let his hand travel up and her shirt, stopping to message her bra covered breast “Or here?”

“Please,” she whimpered softly, not sure what exactly she was begging for.

“Or do you need Daddy here?” he questioned, his hand traveling down again, but this time grabbing her ass.

She bit her lip to a suppress a moan, deciding to just give in. “Anywhere you want, Daddy. Just please,” she pathetically whimpered.

She hated how easy it was for him to make her so desperate for him. While she knew that he wanted much more than just sex from her, it still made her worry that they were spending too much time in the bedroom. Granted, with how her schedule had been lately, that’s all they really had time to do.

But still.

On the other hand, how was she ever supposed to say no to Andy? Her body always melted at the sound of his voice, and the minute they made any kind of contact, she needed him. That’s what she found so odd about him apologizing to her for needing her so much. She always needed him. In every way that a person could need someone. She wanted to believe that she’d be fine without him. That if he ever decided to walk away from her, her entire life wouldn’t fall apart. She wanted to believe that, but by the way her body was responding to him, she knew that was total bullshit.

In a short amount of time, he had become everything to her.  

Andy quickly sat up and practically tore off his clothes before tearing off hers. Growling as he took in the sight of her, only making her more desperate for him.

“Fuck, my perfect girl is wet for me,” he growled, placing her now bare ass on his bare lap, rubbing two fingers over her soaked folds.

“Daddy...please,” she whimpered, pressing her back against his chest.

“My sweet girl had a long day, didn’t she?” he whispered, slowly pushing his two fingers inside of her.

“Fuck...y-yes!”

“That’s okay, baby. Daddy’s gotcha and I’m gonna make you feel so much better,” he smirked against her neck, before biting down on it.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” she mewled, eyes clenched shut. “I need you to fill me up,”

“I know you do, but I’m gonna tear you apart first.”

He quickened his pace, fucking her faster with his fingers, and she was doing all she could to hold on. When he used the thumb of his free hand to apply pressure and start making circles on her clit, it she was did her best to not cum all over him right then and there, clawing at his thighs because she wasn’t able to think of anything else to do with her hands.

“Need you to stand up for me, princess,” he cooed, smacking her thigh and removing his fingers before she reach the blissed out state she was longing for. “Need to taste you. Always need to fucking taste you,” he growled.

Almost as soon as she stood up, Andy had her bent over before getting on his knees and starting to eat her out like he hadn’t had her in months. “Fucking shit!” she moaned as she clawed at her coffee table.

His tongue was relentless as it went back and forth between her clit and between soaked folds. “Fucking....needed you so much, need you love me in the way that only you can,” she moaned.

That made him desperate, because he had two fingers inside her again almost instantly after she said that. She almost came completely undone for him, but he removed his fingers after only a few pumps. Before she could protest, those two fingers forced their way into her ass, and she let out a pleasurable scream.

She made a mental note to apologize to her neighbors for the long night she was bound to put them through.

Andy wasn’t holding back, which meant Julia was barely able to keep her keep herself up right. When her right leg did buckle, Andy was quick to slap it and she knew she needed to quickly regain composure. She needed to make him proud and be a good girl for him. She wanted to show him just how obedient she could be for him.

“Please,” she begged, sobbing a little from all the pleasure “I n-need to cum, Daddy! Please let me, I’ve been so good for you!”

Andy placed his free hand in her hair, grabbed a fist full of it, and yanked roughly. Almost instantly, Julia came undone all over his tongue. She couldn’t feel any humiliation as he removed his fingers from her ass and lapped up her mess. The loud and lewd sound that was coming from between her legs, caused by Andy, was only turning her on more.

“One of these days, Daddy is gonna bend you over his desk at work and eat this perfect little pussy. Would you like that?” he growled, taking himself in his hand stroking it.

“I want that so bad, Daddy. I think about it all the time.”

She wasn’t lying.

“Think I might want you to send me some videos from the bathroom tomorrow. I wanna see two fingers buried deep in that pussy, while you moan about how much you want me to fuck you on my desk. Think you can do that, baby?”

“Mhm,” she pathetically nodded, her core throbbing again. “I can do anything you want me to.”

“I know baby, you’re such a good little slut for me,” he praised before thrusting into her, which was met by a loud cry from her. “You’re such a perfect little whore for Daddy. Taking every thing I give you and never whining about it!” he grunted, pounding into her from behind.

“I just...I just wanna be the perfect girl for you, Daddy. I wanna p-please you all the time,” she moaned, loving everything she was feeling. Loving every thing he was kind enough to give her.

Without warning, Andy wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her down with him as he sat on the sofa, pushing himself as deep as he could go. “You are so perfect for me, kitten,” he moaned into her hair, using his hands to open her legs. “You are every thing and more to me.”

“Fuck!”

Andy started making little circles with his thumb on her clit again and Julia tried to close them almost instantly. It was too much too fast.

But Andy wasn’t having that.

“Did Daddy tell you to close these legs?” he questioned in a deep growl, slapping her clit twice.

“No!” she cried out from the pleasurable sting. “I-I’m sorry, Daddy!”

“Don’t start disobeying me, sweetheart. You want me to start being mean?”

Part of Julia wanted him to be mean, because it had been so long since he had been rough with her. But she needed a release. She needed to get her frustration out, “N-no, I’ll be so good for you, I promise!”

“Yeah? Show me. Show Daddy what a good little whore you can be and start bouncing up and down on my cock,” he commanded before leaning back and letting his hands wander up and down her back.

This time she looked back at Andy and silently asked for permission, which he nodded yes, before closing her legs and placing her hands on each one of his thighs. She started fucking him in reverse, hard and fast, just like he loved. Each time coming down harder on his lap.

“Fuck yes, just like that sweet girl,” Andy grunted, gripping her hip tight. “Fuck, I love watching you take this cock.” That had her clenching around him. “Better not fucking cum, honey. You know what happens when you cum before I tell you to.”

“But it feels too good, Daddy! Your cock fills me up so good!”

“I don’t care. Wait until I tell you or you’ll be sorry,” he warned, slapping her ass.

Those words alone had her salivating. “Please!”

“What did I say?” he growled, pulling her hair, hard.

She clenched her eyes shut and gripped his thighs tighter, “fuck,” she moaned, biting her bottom lip.

“Just trust me, baby. You trust me, don’t you?”

“With everything,” she replied breathlessly.

Though she paid little attention to the thought in the back of her mind, she hated that. She hated that she truly did trust him with everything. Even with the situation with Neal. As much as it bothered her not knowing what was going on with that whole thing, she still trusted him to not get her into any serious trouble. She trusted him to let her know if she truly needed to know. She knew that he would always take care of her no matte what.

“Fuck! Daddy!”

“There it is, baby,” he groaned, his grip getting impossibly tighter. “Knew you could get yourself there. You wanna cum on my cock?”

“Y-yes! Yes please!” she whimpered, the knot in her core becoming too hard to keep a hold.

“Do it babygirl, cum for Daddy,” he grunted, tossing his head back trying to hold off his own release.

“Shit!” she screamed in a pathetic cry, finally feeling the knot come undone.

Her legs gave out but Andy was quick to catch her before she fell forward, pulling her as close to him as possible as he sat up, chasing his own release deep within her.

They both sat there for a moment, nothing but their labored breathing providing sound. Andy his other arm around Julia, pulling her close to him and pressing soft kisses to her back.

“You okay baby?” Andy asked softly.

All Julia could do was nod.

“Do you feel better?”

“Almost,” she answered shyly, hating how much she still needed him.

“Tell me,” he commanded softly, still giving her soft kisses. “Tell me what you need and I’ll do it, Sweetheart.”

“I need you more. I just...I need the world to not exist right now. Just us...just right now.”

“Honey...are you sure you’ll be able to get to work on time tomorrow?”

Julia slowly got up, groaning when they were no longer one, and turned to face him. She slowly straddled him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t care, I just...we are all that matters right now. Out there...I can’t have you. I can’t have us and that’s where I need you most. It’s all too heavy, but then when it’s just us...none of that matters. None of it exists. Not my sister, my parents and their bullshit, not whatever the hell is going on with Neal, no therapy...it’s just us. Tonight, I just want to get lost in you until I can’t take anymore.”

Julia could feel him getting excited beneath her and started to grind against him, her clit rubbing against his pelvis.

“Love me, Andy. I just need you to love me tonight,” she pleaded with a soft moan.

Andy’s lips were on hers instantly, pulling her as close to him as possible. A silent gasp left her mouth when she felt him push himself inside of her again,

“I will always love you,” Andy groaned breathlessly, hands roaming all over her body as he thrust up into her. “I will always do my best... to bring you the peace you bring me daily. ‘M gonna take such good care of you, baby. Always.”

Julia pushed him back, placing each hand on either side of him, and start grinding down against, as Andy held a steady pace upthrusting. They said nothing and just kept their eyes on each other, knowing exactly what the other needed.  

When Julia bit her bottom lip and thew her head back, Andy knew she was close. “There’s my good girl, give it to me. Give me all of it,” he groaned, placing his hands on her hip, beginning to to guide her.

“Fuck, I don’t-”

“We have all night, baby. Just let go, I promise to take care of you,” he moaned, fighting his own release, again.

Andy took one of her nipples into his mouth and started to message it with his tongue before biting and sucking on it. “Shit!” Julia mewled, coming undone for him, almost completely lost in the pleasure. “You’re so fucking good to me!”

That night Andy made her feel like never before. Only stopping when she was begging. Julia almost instantly fell asleep after Andy cleaned her up and held her close. She felt so full and loved.

Content.

Everything was going to workout as it should and she just needed to give it time. Everything and everyone needed time, and for once, she felt like she could handle that. She felt like she could handle anything, as long as Andy was by her side.

**

The next day, Julia was reminded of another reason as to why she hated sleeping with Andy during the week.

She hated waking up to an empty bed.

While they had both agreed that they can’t show up to work together, she at least wanted to leave with him, but Andy said that was too hard on him. He’d rather leave while she was asleep then have to leave without her. She’d asked so much of him already, she thought it only fair to agree to that.

However, that meant she woke up alone and feeling alone. She was prepared to lay around and mope for a bit, until she saw that she only had an 40 minutes before she needed to be at work.

‘You changed my alarm?!’

‘You needed your rest. Plus, it gives you less time lay around and be sad.’

‘Andy!’

‘Hush and get your cute ass to work. I miss seeing you, I love you.’

‘I love you too...asshole.’

‘Keep it up and I’ll be in yours tonight.’

‘Mr. Barber!’

‘See you soon, sweetheart.’

Julia couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face and she didn’t want to. She took a quick shower and threw an outfit on before rushing out.

She was about to rush into Neal’s office and apologize for cutting it so close, when she was stopped by the bouquet of roses and red irises on her desk.

“Looks like someone has an admirer,” Neal scoffed, leaning against his door frame.

“I guess so,” she smiled, putting her purse in her lower drawer and taking a seat at her desk.

“You’re cutting it pretty close today. You’re usually here before me.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I was more tired than I thought and slept through my alarm.”

“No, I’m sorry. That’s my fault, I’ve been asking a lot of you and it isn’t fair,” Neal sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I promise next week will be better.” “I’m not complaining,” she quickly interjected. “I can handle the work load and if there’s work to be done-”

“No no, I’ve been pushing way too hard. It’s not fair to you that I’m an overachiever,” he chuckled. “Next week will be better.”

“Thank you, Neal,” Julia smiled sincerely before turning her attention to her computer and logging in.

‘You got me flowers?!’ she text Andy.

‘Do you like them? Did I do okay?’

‘You did perfect! I love them!’

‘I got it right, right? Red iris is your favorite flower, right?’

‘Andy, you are amazing. So fucking amazing, I love you so much.’

‘I just...I know this isn’t picture perfect and things are stressful, but whenever you are ready, this can go further. It doesn’t have to be a secret. I will take this at whatever pace you want, and I love you. I love you so much. I know that this is still new and I understand your hesitation. Whenever you’re ready, I am too. Until then, don’t feel alone because you’re not. Never. I will always do my best to love and be there for you.’

Julia put her phone away before she burst into tears of joy. She spent the first half of her morning trying to think of a subtle way to thank him, when the perfect idea finally came to mind.

Andy’s P.O.V.

Andy couldn’t even be annoyed with himself. He had done almost no work all day, but work could wait because Julia was his top priority at that moment. He had been looking up restaurants and places to stay in Salem. He wanted to surprise her after they left her sister’s place, but nothing he saw felt right. He knew that Julia be happy with whatever, but he wanted to give her everything. He had to stop himself the other night when he was looking at wedding rings, because he knew she was nowhere near ready, but he was. He’d do it in a heartbeat if he thought she was on the same page as him.

It didn’t make him upset though.

He knew that she loved him and was just scared. All of this was new for her and she just needed time, and he’d give her as much as she needed. He was about to look at another restaurant when he got a text. He rolled his eyes thinking it was Lynne, reminding him about their lunch meeting, but instantly smiled when he saw it was Julia. The smile was soon replaced by a groan when he saw the text.

‘To Daddy, as commanded’

Andy checked the time to make sure he could watch it the video before his meeting.

30 minutes.

‘That’s more than enough time to watch it and get myself together...right?’ Andy thought to himself.

He didn’t care and he didn’t want to wait. He quickly got up and closed the door before practically running back to his desk. As soon as he pressed play, he knew he was fucked.

Julia rubbed herself over her panties and moaned ‘Daddy please’ softly, before temporarily putting the phone. When she picked the phone back up, her panties were in her mouth and her breasts were out. Andy groaned in pure frustration, balling his hand into a fist as he did his best control himself.

‘There are rules for a reason. Control yourself’ he thought to himself.

Rules that he had put in place. Whenever either of them sent videos, the other wasn’t allowed to touch themselves. They could only watch and wait until they were alone, but the more he watched, the less control he had. When she finally started fingering herself, Andy almost bit a hole into into his bottom lip.

“Need you to bend me over your desk and fuck my pussy, Daddy,” she whimpered, fucking herself faster. “Fuck my pussy then my ass, please...I need it so much!”

As if the view itself wasn’t enough to make him cum instantly, when he heard someone come in, in the background he got even more turned on. Julia didn’t miss a beat, but she was quiet while she continued, biting her lip to be quiet. When she did let an accidental moan slip out, she was quick to cover it up.

“Are you okay in there?” the woman asked from the other side of the stall.

“Yeah, just feeling a bit overwhelmed,” Julia smirked after removing her panties from her mouth, winking at the camera.

That had Andy ready to break all the rules.

When she finally did coat her fingers with her release, she rubbed her fingers on one of her tits, before bringing up to her mouth to lick and suck on it. Only stopping when she felt she had completely cleaned off her tit.

“Please fill me up soon, Daddy,” she panted in the voice she knew Andy loved.

She stood up and slowly put her panties back on before stopping the video, breasts still out.

Andy felt like he was going to lose his mind.

‘Fuck, how the hell am I supposed to keep my hands off of her now?! Jesus, she knows how to break me!’ he thought, doing his best to keep his hands away from his cock.

To make matters worse, he kept watching the video until it was time for his meeting. How could he not? She had to know. The licking of her panties and shoving them into her mouth? She had to know that would set him off. Just like she knew that her sucking and licking all over her tit would drive him crazy.

All through his meeting with Lynne, he barely paid attention. He tried his best, but all he could do was think about his upcoming night and weekend. He needed to be buried deep inside her.

“Andy, did you hear me? We need to release a statement about this. People are looking to us-”

“No, I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought,” Andy smiled, adjusting himself in his seat before leaning closer. “How about this?” he questioned, handing her a statement he had worked on with Julia.

He did his best to stay focused and gave the best advice he could, but as soon as they were done, Andy was out the door. He was quickly on his way back to his office when he heard a voice.

Her voice.

He waited in a vacated office and listened. Listened for her voice and heels to get closer to where he was. When she was right in front of the door, he grabbed her arm and pulled her in before closing the office door.

“What-”

He cut her off with a deep and passionate, sloppy kiss on the lips. “You knew exactly what you were doing, babygirl,” he growled as he pressed her against the door. “Didn’t you?”

“Andy-”

“Tell me how you taste, sweetheart.”

“I taste amazing, Daddy”

“You want me to destroy you right now, don’t you?”

“Of course I do, but you can’t,” she whimpered “you know we can’t.”

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait now, you outdid yourself, Kitten,” he growled as he started grinding against her.

“Fuck,” she breathed leaning her head back against the door “you liked the video, Daddy?”

“I loved the video. You’re coming to my house tonight and I’m going to show you just how much I loved it. In every room,” he whispered hotly.

“Daddy, we have to be up early tomorrow-”

“No baby, we’re gonna be a little late. Gotta reward you for being such a good little slut for me.”

“Oh my God,” she mewled, losing her resolve.

Andy smirked. “Give me your panties.”

“Daddy-”

“Give them to me, sweetheart,” he repeated in a firmer tone.

He stood back a little and flashed a wicked grin at the desperate mess she had become for him. She slowly bent down, keeping her eyes on him, and slowly pulled down and stepped out of her panties, before standing up straight and holding them out to him.

“You’ll get these back tonight. You’re to come straight to my house after work,” he firmly commanded, before bringing her panties up to his face and deeply inhaling the scent of her.

“But my dishes-”

“Will be waiting. As soon as you’re done, you come to my house. Do I make myself clear?” Andy growled, using his free hand to roughly grab her face.

“Yes Daddy,” she whimpered.

She was so desperate for him and he needed to do something to hold him over until that night. “Daddy needs a little taste, honey,” he whispered before dropping to his knees. He liked the way she instantly froze at that.

“Andy-”

“What’s my name?”

“No, Andy this is too-”

“What’s my name?” he questioned again, slapping her thigh.

“Shit,” Julia moaned, biting her lip.

“Say it,” he demanded.

“Daddy,” she breathlessly replied.

“Good girl,” he praised before lifting up her skirt.

“Daddy, we can’t to do this here. We could get-fuck!” she groaned at the feel of his tongue on her clit.

Andy smirked against her pussy, sucking and licking her clit relentlessly. He knew she was right, but she was too perfect to him. For him. He pushed two fingers deep inside and nearly came at the sound of the silent gasp that left her mouth as she arched her back. He was so tempted to make her cum, but he knew that there would be no stopping either of them.

He forced himself to stop, giving her pussy a sloppy kiss, before removing his fingers and standing up. “Open,” he demanded.

Julia did as she was told, too aroused to do anything else and moaning at the taste of herself on his fingers. Once she started swirling her tongue around his fingers, he instantly pulled them out. He was barely containing himself as it was.

“Fix yourself, you look wrecked,” he smirked, shoving her panties into his pocket.

“I am wrecked,” she scoffed, smoothing out of her outfit before doing best to fix her hair.

She was about to leave when Andy grabbed wrist. “Kiss.”

“Sorry Daddy,” she smirked, before standing on her tiptoes and giving him a kiss.

“Good girl. I love you.”

“I love you, go get some work done,” she winked before turning, opening the door, and walking out.

She had only walked out a few steps when Andy heard Neal’s voice. “Hey, I’ve been looking for you! Where have you been?”

“That’s my fault,” Andy quickly interrupted, exiting the office and shutting the door behind him. “I wanted to discuss a text her sister sent me and I was unable to speak with her during lunch.”

“I hope everything is okay,” Neal smiled, but Andy could see the hate and anger burning in his eyes.

He loved that.

“We don’t know,” Julia responded, because Andy guessed she probably felt the change in Neal’s mood. “She’s not sure if she wants to get the divorce again. She wants to be sure of all her options.”

“Yeah, I know this can’t be easy for her. I’m sorry she has to go through this, and that you have to deal with her being so back and forth about it.”

“It’s fine. She needs me and I’ll always be happy to be there for her,” Julia smiled.

“And you,” Neal smiled, turning towards Andy “it’s good of you to be so patient throughout the whole thing.”

“Well, I’m always happy to help a friend,” he smiled sarcastically.

“Well, we need to get going,” Julia smiled awkwardly, desperately wanting to break up the scene. “Andy, I’ll see you later,” she waived before walking off with Neal.

Andy wasn’t a fan of how close Neal was standing to Julia, but what could he do?

Absolutely nothing.

Julia still believed that Neal only wanted friendship from her, and he didn’t have any actual proof to give her. All he had was his gut instinct and he knew Julia would just say it’s just because he didn’t like Neal, and he honestly couldn’t blame her for that.

He really fucking hated Neal.

When he got back to his office, he sat back in his chair and sighed. Trying to calm his nerves and sink back into the feeling of overwhelming love and adoration he felt for Julia. That was all he’d ever need.

He unlocked his computer and went back to searching for the best places to take her to in Salem. He was determined to give her the best weekend.

Neal’s P.O.V.

He knew he had no one to blame for his anger except himself, but Neal still wanted to punch Andy in the face.

He knew the minute that he saw Andy walk out of that empty office, the two of them had been doing something. Julia’s hair wasn’t in the same style it was in before and Andy smelled like sex. For the rest of the day, Julia was in a particularly good mood and when it was time to leave, she practically ran out the door.

He knew he should’ve just gone home, but he couldn’t stop himself. When he went by Julia’s place and she wasn’t there, it was as if his body was in control and he ended up across the street from Andy’s house before he knew it.

Then he just couldn’t take his eyes off the damn house.

Andy was fucking her in every place in the house that he could. Not bothering to close the blinds or turn off the lights. He couldn’t turn away as saw Andy holding Julia by throat while he fucked her from behind against an upstairs window, his other hand gripping her hair tight, while her panties were in her mouth.

Part of him couldn’t stop watching because he couldn’t take his eyes off Julia and how she made his cock twitch. The other part of him couldn’t stop watching out of pure anger and jealousy. She was supposed to be with him, not Andy. After all the time, effort, and energy he put forth, how had it ended with her ending up with someone else? She was his. She had been since the day she started working for him. Why did Andy have to take something else from him?

Watching Julia get railed from behind and loving every minute of it just made hate burn and boil in his stomach.

That’s when his idea hit.

He took his phone out and zoomed in on the upstairs window. He took a few pictures before starting to record their actions. It wasn’t hard for him to get evidence of them doing things they had no business doing.

Andy had taken Laurie and the future he could’ve had with her from him. He had taken his dream job from him. He’d taken his dream case from him. As he watched over the footage that he had captured, he felt secure in the fact that Andy would never take anything from him again.

~~

@whxre4cevans, @sweetflowerdreams, @itsbrittany425, @spookyparadisesheep, @flowerjewels

[closetedotaku01]

i rlly hope youll keep writing after Kinktober, bc as a writer myself i see so much potential in your writing. it's already great, but it really reminds me of my own writing from a year or two back. i was the one who asked how long you've been writing & i've been writing fanfic for 7 years so its cool to see how good you already are. youre going to improve so much over time & i'm really excited to see it, you do so many things in your stories well & theyre only going to get better! (1/2)

THIS GOT SO LONG IM SORRY!!!

This.... I—. WARMED MY HEART!! Pick a name or emoji or whatever you want and you are an official anon!! Also this got long so.. READ MORE IF YA WANNA!!

Thank you so much for saying you see potential. Sometimes I’m really.... unhappy with my work and feel like I can’t improve and this just... MADE ME SO HAPPY!! Like... hearing it from someone who does write💜💜💜💜💜 makes my whole life.

I’m so excited to keep growing and I hope you stay for the journey because this is so sweet. Maybe casually come off anon way down the road (so I can’t guess) just so I can read some of your work too 👉👈. And no worries there will be more after Kinktober. I am really enjoying this and have no plans to stop writing any time soon.

~~~~

Okay so my favorite published authors are Jandy Nelson (I’ll Give You The Sun is a book I reread constantly. It’s my comfort book. I swear if my soul was anywhere besides my body, there’s a piece of it trapped in that book.), Fredrick Backman (specifically And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer), Brigid Kemmerer (literally all of the books she’s published with Bloomsbury I’ve read and adored), and Neal Schusterman (Specifically the Arc of a Scythe Trilogy). They all write in ways that affect me deeply and they mean a lot to me. I don’t necessarily try to emulate them, but they definitely are the authors I consult (by reading and rereading their works) to get ideas and to learn how to write.

~~~~

Fanfic authors. I think I’ve made it pretty damn clear on here that I am hopelessly in love with @imaginethathaikyuu (I’m still too scared to tag her I’m sorry) and her writing. She means the whole world to me in every way. Her writing always hits me in a MAGICAL way. Especially her newer pieces. Works of hers that hit hard for me are: (please note this list is not comprehensive. These are just the FIRST ONES that came to mind. All her work is objectively great.) 

-Tsukishima accidentally teases his s/o’s insecurity - this one holds my heart.

-Heated argument with Tsukishima - this is the angst I adore. Honestly, this might be one of my TOP TOP favorites, because it feels so real. 

-Morning sex with Tsukishima -just the line “theyre your tits!” That’s all. Brings me serotonin beyond words. And it feels so genuine and lovely. Again... she makes the world so real. Also in my TOP TOP favs. (Is my Tsukki love showing too much?)

-Helping you when you can’t sleep - This is beyond words beautiful

-Helping you study - PLEASE I NEED THIS NOW

-Tanaka finding out his s/o is pregnant - YES! SHE DOES TANAKA SO WELL

-Tanka asks Kiyoko to dance.... but she says no - SO WELL 

-Riding Headcanons -🙈

-S/O is nervous about him going down on her  -because who ISNT the first time?

-Learning about your self-harm scars -hits close to home and Iwa’s makes me cry every time.

-Akaashi making it up to you after a fight -my favorite color is literally purple 💜

-Bokuto’s s/o has a nightmare - I literally revisit this one whenever I have a nightmare

- Kinktober 2019 - ALL .... but the ones I revisit the most are Tsukishima’s, Oikawa’s, Futakuchi’s, Yaku’s, Iwa’s, Yamaguchi’s, and Matsukawa’s.

-Kinktober 2020 - please GOD read Kuroo’s, Mattsun’s, Iwa’s, Suna’s, and Atsumu’s. They’re all immaculate but those in PARTICULAR were MASTERPIECES.

-Having an angsty fight - particularly Kuroo’s GETS TO ME. Like... damn. Makes me... melt. Idek why. It’s just, again, how real she makes it feel. From the atmosphere and setting to the way the characters behave. A lot of times in “argument angst” (is that a term?) the arguments feel so shallow and stupid. And I’m like “on my moodiest days I wouldn’t react like that” or “Kuroo WOULD NEVER”. But these feel so real. Ughhhh.

-You give Kenma a gift mid-stream 

-Kenma gets turned on during a stream - can you tell I love the way she writes streamer Kenma 😌 also this is my fav nsfw-esque Kenma piece solely because it feels accurate to his character in a beautiful way despite me headcanoning that he’s ace.

-Oikawa’s s/o wakes up without him there

-Iwaizumi getting.... caught.... by Makki and Mattsun... with you  -Give Iwa More Love 2020

-Tendo teasing his s/o by ... taking care of himself - One of the first Em pieces I ever read. I don’t think it was THE first. But it was definitely the first one I read like... RIGHT AFTER she posted it.

-Tendo comforting s/o who’s parents yell - hits very close to home for me, and I just wanted him to come whisk me away the first time I read this

-7MIH with Tendo  -hehe I love this more than anything. Also Ushijima’s ONE line makes me CACKLE. I’m in love with this one

-This two part series with Atsumu (1) (2) -haha I reread these too often

-Kneel to Pray  (Sakusa) -I have not even one criticism or negative thought. Not one. And I’ve read this TOO many times.

-Tough boys are soft for you - two of the best boys

- Countdown to Christmas - Days 6,7,11, and 12 are the ones I reread the most

THIS IS SO BAD!! I WENT STRAIGHT TO THESE AND DIDN’T THINK IT WAS THAT MANY COS I REREAD THESE ONES REGULARLY. (And there’s a lot more theatre good. Please explore her blog! It’s WONDERFUL) Sorry for spending too much time on Em’s blog, but also.... not sorry cos she’s amazing and all of these pieces inspire me.  I’ll try to be fast for the rest of these ahfihfadsfsjfh.

 @star-puff (catch a theme of me being scared of talented authors)’s piece La Lune and her Fleur d’Amour event (search #fleur d’amour on her blog) are so creative and beautiful and truly show how talented she is. She’s amazing. EDIT: I’m adding this as soon as I’ve read it because it just made me cry. Omg. Read this. Tsukishima royalty AU it is angst though so 👀 read at your own risk. EDIT: On GOD Meg could murder me and I’d say thanks. Please read this beautiful time stamp shit it makes me HAPPY. 

UPDATE: And Meg is now responsible for the most canon Tsukki piece I’ve ever read. 

There’s a cute SMAU called Sunshine by @pudding-head-kenma and idk how she does it. It’s so good. I could never tell a story this complex, THIS WELL, using only text messages and tweets and such. She also does mini headcanons that are REALLY cute.

Anything and everything by @haik-choo is gold. Literal gold. The way she writes Tsukishima is IMMACULATE. Toxic headcanons, mischaracterizations all of its gold. And she’s a beautiful shitposter. She drops shit that makes me CACKLE at the most random times. All of it is a big yes for me.

UPDATE: this is gold.

Of course I’ve read In Another Life and OF COURSE I sobbed. Took me AN HOUR to read because I kept having to take breaks to just.... sob. VERY MUCH A HEAVY DUTY ANGST. Not for the weak of heart. BokuAka. This is probably the oldest piece I’ve read that still HITS for me. 

There are other pieces but I can’t remember them.... probably will come back and add to this post later.

Thank you for this ask. Thank you for being so kind and inspiring. I was kinda worried about releasing anything I’ve ever written and still get nervous sometimes so this ask makes me feel a hell of a lot better and makes me feel like I’m joining a WONDERFUL community like... Look at all that talent ^^^^.

[sweetmusingss]

"That would be perfect. I have never run with anyone before but it might be fun to start now. Although, I don't know if you'd be able to keep up with me," I say, locking eyes with you as I teased you, loving how easy and natural our friendship was. There was no denying that we definitely had some chemistry. "Do you know what I have always loved to do? Dancing. I love dancing and it's definitely helped keep me in shape," I smirk slightly, purposefully wanting your mind to wander as you could possibly be thinking about what kind of dancing I did. I continue to lock eyes with you as one of my makeup artists came over and gave me a touch-up and I remove my robe that was protecting my costume, it just being a casual outfit of a white tank top and cut-off shorts.

"Oh, you're a competitive one, huh? I hate to remind you that I am a man and therefore, I have longer and stronger legs and I can run quite fast. I guess we'll just have to race each other. See who the ultimate runner is here." He smirks at you, his mouth going dry suddenly when you mention being a dancer, unable to imagine you just doing casual ballet, his mind immediately going to pole dancing or some sort of twerking, his jeans feeling a few sizes too small now. "Oh yeah? I'm not really a dancer... you could show me some pointers, I'm sure." He couldn't stop himself from checking you out, his eyes roaming your body, from your long toned legs to your chest.

__

Emma continued to stand in the rain with you, not caring how wet that she got. She was just as stubborn as you were and the two of you might be here all night but she wasn't going to just leave you alone. Not anymore. "I can't deny how bad I have messed up, Renee. I regret it every single damn day. If I hadn't gotten in my own head, we probably would be together right now. That honestly kills me. I don't want to be like all the other people who hurt you. I was a fucking idiot and I truly am so sorry. And maybe if I was a better person, I would be able to stay away from you but I can't. I know what's right and it's not you being with Neal and me being with Megan. And you know what's right too and that's us, together. And I swear to god if you marry Neal, I am going to crash that wedding and remind you of that," she says, staring in your direction. She sighs softly, hating that she caused you any kind of pain. She wanted to be the one to make you happy and maybe at the end of the day, she was no better than your exes.

Regina smiled softly at Megan, nodding at her and ordering her cranberry vodka. She paid for it using Emma's money, smirking a bit to herself before looking back at the brunette. The girl seemed sweet enough and she was trying to figure her out, curious if she even saw a future with Emma. "So, what do you do for a living, Megan? Those two have just been going back and forth at each other and you're dragged into it now too but yet, I don't know anything about you," she says to her. The girl was ridiculously attractive and she intrigued Regina. She was way more beautiful than anyone else in Storybrooke and Regina was curious to learn more about her.

"I put so much faith in you, Emma, and that's my own fault... I set myself up to be disappointed because I thought you were so perfect and I thought I was worth more than 14 days... I told you my biggest fear about leaving Neal was being left alone and you made that fear a reality when I showed up here and saw you making out with someone." I couldn't deny that the thought of her crashing my wedding and objecting to me marrying Neal was so romantic, trying to push those thoughts away but it was hard. I turn to look at her, shrugging my shoulders. "Come and crash my engagement party, my wedding... it won't change anything. Sure, Neal might not be right for me, but he loves me endlessly and I know he'd wait forever for me. I thought you could be that person but, well, we all know how that turned out, don't we?"

Megan giggled as she noticed Regina pay with Emma's money, thanking her quietly for the drink. "I'm a waitress but I take night classes a few times a week. And honestly, it's my fault that those two are fighting... I came onto Emma that night. I'm the one who got her drunk and dragged her outside to make out... if I didn't talk to her, she would've been there for Renee and they wouldn't be feuding like a divorced couple right now." Megan did feel horrible about how everything turned out. She liked Emma, they had a lot of fun together, but she knew that it wasn't serious. No one ever took her seriously. "I know you're the mayor." She looks up at Regina with big eyes, feeling the need to please the older woman.

[kiki-ciara-blog]

CS Storybook - 5x23 The Way Back Home

This is my little contribution to the Once Upon a Captain Swan Storybook Vol2. A canon divergent story starting in New York after Regina has split from the Evil Queen.

Rating: M

AO3

Word Count: 6000ish words

Read this story and many many others in the Once Upon a Captain Swan Storybook, Vol 2 which can be found here.  

I also created an illustration to go with the story.

“Well, much as I’d like to keep indulging in this touching family adventure, I’d actually like to get back to my daughter. Snow, I’m surprised that you aren’t equally keen to get back to your son. You haven’t forgotten the infants that we left in Granny’s arms just before we were pulled into a portal yesterday have you?” Zelena snarked from her spot on the couch in Neal’s apartment.

At the mention of baby Neal, Mary Margaret’s face crumpled with sorrow.

“Of course we haven’t forgotten him,” David replied, a comforting hand on his wife’s shoulder. “You’re right Zelena, we should get going, but as we didn’t all arrive by conventional methods, we should maybe work out how we are all getting back to Storybrooke. Any suggestions?”

“We have Gold’s Mercedes, that can take five of us,” Regina said, “and then there’s that yellow monstrosity you insist on driving, Emma. We can all fit into those two. But I have already been in that death trap once this week so I will be taking the Benz.”

Emma glanced up at Killian and squeezed his hand before speaking. “Actually, I was thinking that Hook and I could take a little road trip on the way home. It’s been an eventful 48 hours, and I would really like us to have some time together before the next disaster strikes.”

She looked over at David and continued, “Dad if you want to drive the bug back, we can either get a hire car, or take a bus. We’ll figure it out.”

Testing a theory Regina conjured a small flame in the palm of her hand. “Of course there’s always this,” she said.

“Hang on a minute. Our magic works out here?” Zelena asked standing up, “In that case, I’m out of here. Do you two want a ride?”

No sooner had Mary Margaret and David looked at each other and nodded, Zelena grabbed David by the arm and the three of them disappeared in a cloud of green smoke.

“Well, I guess that’s settled then,” Killian said wryly.

Having finally waved Regina, Dr Jekyll, Henry and Violet off on their journey home, and stopped by a store for essentials, Emma and Killian checked into a nearby hotel.

Emma kicked off her boots and sank down onto the queen size bed with a sigh. Looking over at Killian as he shucked his leather jacket and unbuttoned his vest, she patted the mattress and encouraged him to join her.

“Come sit with me,” she said, “we should talk.”

“Are you okay love?”

“Yes. No. Probably.“

Killian sat beside her, and took her hand in his. He gazed adoringly into her eyes, concern etched all over his face.

"Whatever it is love, you can tell me”.

Emma returned his gaze, and caressed his cheek with her free hand.

“Killian, only yesterday morning I was trying to come to terms with my grief. To deal with the fact that I’d found my true love and already lost you before I’d had a chance to tell you properly how I felt. How I feel. The emptiness that filled my heart, I didn’t think it would ever fade.

“But then, you came back. And don’t get me wrong, I'm…well…happy doesn’t even come close to explaining how I feel.” Reliving her delight at seeing him in the graveyard, she leaned in and peppered his face with kisses, just as she had then. “I still can’t believe you came back to me, and we have another chance at happiness”

Gently cradling her head with his hook, Killian kissed Emma reverently on either side of her mouth. Resting his forehead against hers he assured her, “It will take a lot more than two deaths, the Darkness and Hades to keep me away from you, Swan,” and tenderly kissed her again.

Emma returned the kiss briefly, not finished with what she needed to say.

“But then, less than 24 hours after you get back, Henry runs away to destroy magic, and naturally I followed, he is my son. But it meant I was separated from you again. And all the time I thought you were safely back in Storybrooke with everyone else, I was fine. Well not fine exactly,” she paused scanning his eyes for understanding.

“It was fine because you believed I was safe, I get it.” Killian smiled at her tracing her jaw with his fingers.

“Except you weren’t safe,” Emma replied, tears starting to pool in her eyes. She took a ragged breath trying to get her emotions under control enough to finish. “When I got that message from Granny to say that you had been pulled through a portal into yet another realm, I felt my whole world crumble beneath me. Except this time it wasn’t just you that I would lose but my parents too.”

“Oh Emma,” Killian whispered, as he brushed a tear from her cheek. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that, my love. I swear I have no intention of ever leaving your side again. I’m here with you for as long as you want me.”

“Good.”

Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and moved to sit astride Killian’s lap as she kissed him passionately, her tears falling more freely now. He returned the kiss with equal fervour, his arms tight around her back, pulling her further onto his lap, chest to chest their skin separated only by the thin material of his shirt and Emma’s black jumper.

A low moan escaped Emma’s throat as she felt him harden against her. Days of pain and longing since she left him in the Underworld turned to desperate desire. Without breaking the kiss she leant back enough to start pulling at the buttons of Killian’s shirt, anxious to feel his skin. Sensing the urgency in her movements, Killian in turn started pulling Emma’s jumper up above her stomach and over her breasts.

She broke the kiss momentarily to switch and pull her own jumper off, whilst he in turn threw his shirt to the floor. They stood and quickly removed their remaining clothes before resuming the kiss and Emma pulled Killian back onto the bed beside her. Their kisses became a clash of teeth and tongues as Emma’s tears continued to fall freely. Her fingers tentatively explored the network of newer scars upon his back as their bodies moved against each other in a tight embrace.

“Need you. Now,” Emma urged between kisses, “can’t wait any longer.”

“Are you sure, love? I don’t want to hurt you, if you’re not ready for me.”

“Please Killian, I need this.”

He pulled back to look into her eyes, still shimmering with the last of her tears, and seeing the love and desperation and want reflected back at him, he positioned himself and closed the one remaining gap between their bodies.

Afterwards, they lay together sweaty and sated, legs tangled and arms entwined. Emma tracing the curve of Killian’s hook whilst he drew lazy patterns on her thigh with his fingertips.

“I’m glad you’re back,” she whispered into his chest.

“Me too love, me too.”

Emma woke early the next morning still wrapped in Killian’s arms. She spent several minutes taking in the peaceful expression on his face, committing it to memory and giving silent thanks to Zeus for returning him to her.

“I can feel you watching me love,” Killian murmured, opening his eyes a fraction and then squinting against the sunlight streaming in through the window.

After saying a proper good morning that explored every inch of each other’s flesh and then getting slightly distracted again in the shower, Emma and Killian finally made it out of their room for breakfast.

“Ok Swan, what’s the plan for today then?” Killian asked as he piled his fork high with pancake and scrambled eggs.

“Well, I thought we could take a slow drive towards Providence as there’s something nearby that I think you might appreciate. We can grab lunch on the way, spend the afternoon there, and then head on to Boston to stay overnight. Do you think you could find us somewhere to stay on your phone, if I scope out our daytime activities for the next couple of days?”

“Well I’m still not particularly sure how to use all aspects of this device, but I’m sure if you show me the basics love, I’ll figure it out.”

Emma spent a few minutes taking Killian step by step through installing the Hotwire app onto his phone and then showing him how to search for and book a hotel. Once he was set she searched through reviews on Trip Advisor whilst sipping her coffee, and within the hour they were all booked up, checked out of their room and on the road with their route plotted.

Aside from the anticipated congestion in and around New York, the traffic was fairly steady once they got out of the sprawling metropolis and onto Route 15. They made easy conversation, chatting about anything and nothing; reminiscing about their previous journey from New York to Maine; complaining about their fellow road users inability to signal before changing lanes and laughing over the humorous bumper stickers they spotted. At other times they sat in companionable silence, Killian’s hook resting on Emma’s thigh, tracing lazy patterns across her jeans as she drove.

“I remember last time being terrified that Henry would think I was crazy if we told him that magic and different realms and fairytale characters were real,” Emma said, glancing over at Killian briefly. “I never once imagined I’d be making a similar trip home after he had gone on a gungho mission to rid the world of magic and then have him open up a portal in a fountain with the help of hundreds of bemused bystanders.”

Killian chuckled in the seat beside her. “Aye love, but maybe the truest believer needed to find his belief again, he’s been through a lot, and has been given huge responsibility for someone so young.”

Emma sighed. “That’s true, and I’ve been so caught up in my own grief that I didn’t see how much everything has affected him. I doubt many teenagers can include a trip to the Underworld in their ‘What I did on Vacation’ report for school.”

"Look at it this way Swan, in addition to giving the lad more family than he ever expected, you’re giving him a broad range of character building adventures.” Killian gave Emma his brightest grin and raised an eyebrow at her as she momentarily took her eyes off the road again to look at him in disbelief.

“The lad is a credit to you love, and whilst his latest actions were misguided, and admittedly could have been disastrous for your parents and myself, his intentions were pure and that’s what matters.”  

Emma’s brow remained furrowed at the thought of how Henry’s actions could have turned out, and so Killian gently rubbed the curve of his hook along her thigh in an attempt to ease her worries.

After a couple of hours driving, they had passed New Haven and took a turn off the interstate through the leafy town of Guilford, which Killian remarked looked quite similar to Storybrooke at first glance. Emma navigated through the streets and eventually pulled up behind a seafood shack overlooking the marina.

“I’ve heard they do amazing clams and lobster rolls,” she said, opening her door and climbing out of the bug. Killian followed suit, taking stock of the various fishing boats and pleasure crafts moored in the harbour as they walked around the side of the building to the entrance.

Inside they were welcomed and shown to a table outside overlooking the water. A sense of calm washed over Killian as he stretched back in his seat and took in the view of the ocean reaching all the way to the horizon.

“Even if the food is abysmal here, I think you made an excellent choice in eating establishment Swan.”

Emma reached across the table and took his hand, rubbing her thumb along his knuckle. “I thought you might appreciate being close to the water again. That’s kind of the theme for today.”

His eyes softened as he gripped her fingers in return. “I do appreciate it Swan, very much. Whilst I was able to wander along the docks during my time in the Underworld, the stench of death that rose from the water and the sight of so many lost souls beneath the surface made me reluctant to venture there often.”

After the waitress took their order, they sat back and watched a small red and white lobster boat putter into the harbour, a flock of gulls circling above, hopeful for an opportunistic feast. Lunch arrived shortly after, the groan Killian made as he bit into his hot lobster roll verged on obscene and Emma had to stifle a giggle. That was until he offered her a bite to try. When the sherry butter flooded her mouth, her own moan of delight was so loud it drew attention from a family seated at a table nearby.

“Oh my God, that’s amazing,” she mumbled, still chewing.

“Indeed it is love, as are you. Especially when you make exquisite noises like that,” Killian replied, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Emma grinned and returned to her own lunch, deliberately choosing not to encourage him further just yet. Whilst the prospect of teasing Killian with suggestive looks and sounds all day was appealing, they had many hours left in the day before they would reach Boston, and she wanted him to able to focus on their tourist adventures first.

After their meal Emma cruised the bug along the I95 towards Providence and eventually Fall River.  As they drove Killian tried to find a radio station that they could both enjoy. Although he had grown accustomed to much of the music in this realm, there were still many aspects that he found discordant and unpleasant.

“Bloody hell! How can people subject themselves to this noise voluntarily?” he grumped having twiddled with the dial until it picked up a station playing rap music. “And I know that I quite literally swear like a sailor, but I hardly think that type of language is appropriate, what if we had children in the car with us?”

“Although I’d like to think that Henry is still quite innocent I’m sure he’s probably heard worse in the playground at school,” Emma laughed. “Still, point taken, try again. Maybe the next station will be more to your taste. If not I’ve probably got a couple of cassettes in the glove compartment.“

Killian turned the dial some more, found another station, listened for a couple of seconds, frowned and moved on. He repeated this same process three more times disapproving of each tune that blasted out of the tinny speakers in the bug.

"No! Wait, go back, I love that one!” Emma interrupted, as he skipped yet another station.

“As you wish love.”

He turned the dial back to the last station as the final verse of Whitesnake’s ‘Here I Go Again’ played out and sat with his arms crossed, as yet unconvinced at Emma’s choice of station. As the song came to an end and merged into Peter Cetera’s ‘Glory of Love’, he glanced across to see if Emma still approved of the station.

“You can’t beat 80s power ballads, trust me,” she said, “especially on a road trip.”

“Hmm, perhaps.”

Sure enough, Killian relaxed as the verse moved into the chorus and by the second refrain he was humming along.

“Well?” Emma asked, as the song came to an end.

“Admittedly that was rather enjoyable, some of the lyrics were quite apt, especially the part about how his love keeps him standing tall. Good form, a song about fighting for honour and love.”

“Told you so.” Emma grinned smugly and by the time they had reached the outskirts of Fall River, both of them were singing along at the top of their voices, whether they knew the words or not.

Emma pulled the bug to a stop in a parking lot under the Memorial Bridge across from the docks.

“You have me intrigued love,” Killian said, climbing out of the car.

“You’ll see,” she replied, grabbing his hand and pulling him across the tarmac towards the entrance. “I thought you might be interested in discovering what naval history was like in this world, and so I’ve brought you here to Battleship Cove. We can have a tour of a couple of battleships and they have a pretty cool museum with maritime history through the ages.”

Killian’s eyes lit up as they lingered on the fleet of massive steel vessels docked on the river. “Belle directed me to some books that explored these feats of engineering a while back, but to see them with my own eyes, is certainly a treat.”

They spent nearly four hours wandering through the USS Massachusetts and the exhibits in the maritime museum, and could have spent even longer exploring other ships if they hadn’t needed to get to Boston. As they went, Killian pointed out similarities between these ships and his beloved Jolly, and had many questions for the veterans posted around the attraction, listening enraptured to anecdotes of naval battles in their youth.

“I have seen a fair few adventures with my own vessel” he began whilst conversing with an elderly veteran who had served in Korea.

Sensing how rapidly the conversation could spiral out of control, Emma leaned in and whispered in his ear, “He won’t understand that you’re a 300 year old pirate, keep it believable.”

Killian nodded his understanding almost imperceptibly. “I spent my formative years in the Royal Navy before being discharged due to my injury.” He waved his gloved prosthetic in illustration. While on deployment in the Indian Ocean we encountered Somalian pirates, although I must admit the modern incarnations were nothing like the ones you see in the movies.“

Emma looked at him in amazement, and when the conversation came to an end and they moved on with their tour she admitted, "I didn’t know you had so much knowledge about pirates in the 21st Century, Killian. I’m impressed.”

He puffed out his chest in pride and his stride took on a distinct swagger. “Well love, the lady Belle keeps me supplied in books, and I had quite a number of lonely nights to read them after the Dark One was banished from our little town and we had no villain to defeat. I learned a lot about a great many subjects including the history of piracy in this realm.”

They continued their tour hand in hand until it became clear that the museum was closing and they made their way to the exit.

“How long from here to Boston, love?”

“Um an hour I guess? Probably a bit more given the time of day.”

Back in the car again, Killian gave Emma the details of the hotel he had booked for them and they set off. It was located in the Waterfront area and as they drove through the city from the outskirts Emma pointed out her old haunts, and also some of the places she’d had misadventures whilst chasing skips. They made a quick stop in Downtown Crossing to purchase some fresh clothes for the next day, and Emma added a blue chiffon Bardot dress and a pair of silver heels to her purchases whilst Killian was browsing the menswear department.

The hotel Killian had chosen was unexpectedly lavish. The huge lobby was the epitome of chic with with polished cherry and chrome, and the room he had booked took Emma’s breath away. He had splurged on an executive suite with separate sitting room and a bathroom boasting a spa bath and monsoon shower. It also had a magnificent harbour view, naturally. When she asked how he could possibly afford it, he just smirked and replied, “Pirate, love, remember?”

Back on her home turf, Emma knew just the restaurant for them to dine in and booked a table while Killian freshened up, she then took a few minutes to get changed herself.

They enjoyed a relaxed meal with a couple of glasses of wine in a little Italian a few blocks from their hotel. As they both tucked into a shared dessert of an indulgent ice cream sundae topped with brownie chunks, whipped cream and a decadent fudge sauce, Emma drew Killian’s attention to the building on the street corner opposite.

“That’s where I used to live,” she pointed to a window several floors up, “Apartment 205. Until Henry knocked on my door, and changed my life forever.”

“I’m eternally grateful that he did love. Had he not, the curse would never have been broken, your family would not have been reunited, and I would still be frozen in time on an island with Cora.”

“Is that the only reason you’re thankful that I broke the curse?” she asked playfully, looking up at him through her eyelashes as she licked ice cream off the end of the spoon seductively, making Killian’s jeans feel instantly tighter.  

“Minx,” he replied, holding her gaze, his eyes two shades darker than they had been a moment before, “I’ll gladly tell you all the reasons I am grateful, or if you’d rather,” he paused reaching his hand under the table to trace patterns along her thigh, his eyes never leaving hers, “I can always show you. What do you say, Swan?”

Emma gulped and caught a passing waiter’s attention. “Check please!”

Killian pulled Emma up from the armchair in their suite, where she had perched to remove her shoes, and into his embrace.

Killian placed a featherlight kiss on her earlobe. “Let me,” he murmured ghosting his lips along her jawline as he kissed her again.  “Show you,” a flick of his tongue as he trailed his mouth down the curve of her neck.   “Just,” another caress of his lips on her throat.  “How thankful,” Emma gasped as his scruff grazed her collarbone with another delicately placed kiss. “I am,” he continued with a touch of his lips to one exposed shoulder.  “That you,” breathed in a whisper as he slowly moved behind her, lifting her hair up gently and nuzzling into the back of her neck, whilst he unzipped her dress. “Broke,” a lingering kiss on the other shoulder as her dress pooled on the floor at her ankles, leaving her naked but for her lacy cream thong.  Returning to cradle her face with his palm and his hook, Killian brought his nose to hers and stared into her eyes for what felt like an eternity. “The curse,” he finished pressing his lips to hers tenderly.  

Emma wrapped her arms around him and sighed into the kiss, opening her mouth to welcome him as his tongue traced the contours of her lips.

Using every ounce of restraint Killian had, he broke the kiss before it could become too heated, and led Emma over towards the bed. Kneeling before her he placed a delicate kiss to each of her hip bones then gently pulled her underwear down her legs, following their journey with his lips. Rising to his feet he kissed her briefly once more and encouraged her to lie back in the centre of the bed. As Emma made herself comfortable he quickly shed his own clothing and brace, removing the hook and bringing it with him as he lay down beside her, propped up on one elbow.

Emma could feel could feel the heat starting to build between her thighs as Killian’s gaze travelled over her body, seemingly committing every inch of her skin to memory once again.

“You are simply divine, love.”

Placing the tip of his hook at the base of her throat he trailed it very lightly down her chest, pausing momentarily before skimming up over one breast to trace the shape of her pebbled nipple and then repeating the action on the other side. Emma moaned at the sensation and licked her lips, trying to stay as still as possible under the sharp tip of the cold steel. He dragged the hook down lower until it rested in her belly button briefly before turning it over to run the curve along the glistening skin of her sex, wet with arousal. The contact with that most delicate area made Emma gasp as her hips flexed up towards the hook involuntarily.

Killian shook his head and tutted, gently pushing her hips back down. “All in good time,” he said, “I promise it will be worth the wait.”  Emma rolled her eyes in frustration, but didn’t protest knowing he would deliver on that promise.

Setting the hook aside and moving to straddle her, he returned his attention to her breasts, rolling the left nipple between his thumb and forefinger whilst gently suckling on the right. Alternating the pressure and the tempo between featherlight touches and small twists and nibbles he could sense Emma’s increasing arousal as her breathing turned to gasps, and the fingers laced through his hair pulled his mouth in closer. In a practiced move that he knew she loved, he simultaneously twisted one nipple vigorously whilst biting down hard on the other.

“Fuck! Killiaaan,” Emma moaned as her hips bucked and sought friction that wasn’t to be found. As he maintained the pressure on her nipples, she felt her arousal flood her core as the first flutters of an orgasm took hold.

Killian beamed from ear to ear to see Emma fall apart for him so quickly. He delighted in giving her pleasure and knew how sensitive her nipples could be. He hoped to coax her to at least two more orgasms before seeking his own relief, his hard cock bobbing against his stomach at the vision of his Emma writhing between his thighs.

He moved further down the bed, trailing kisses down her stomach, until he reached the apex of her thighs. Emma eagerly spread her legs for him, as he pulled one over his shoulder, resting his blunted wrist on her flat stomach. Using his fingers to carefully separate her folds he traced his tongue around her labia, lapping at her abundant juices and moaning as her exquisite tang hit his tastebuds.

Hearing Killian’s moans between her thighs made Emma even wetter. She angled her hips to give him better access, whispering rambled words of encouragement. He switched his attention to her swollen clit, flicking his tongue against it and she moaned in relief at him finally providing the friction that she had been so desperate to receive. For what seemed like an eternity, Killian attentively kissed, licked and suckled her to ecstasy, alternating his movements building her towards another peak but then directing his attention to another highly sensitive area never quite bringing her over the edge.

Finally, when Emma thought she could take no more, he looked up at her through his eyelashes, and although she couldn’t see his mouth, she could tell he was grinning wolfishly.

“Come for me, Emma,” he growled before returning to his ministrations. As he sucked on her clit she felt the heat building in the soles of her feet and her orgasm finally took hold, her hips jerking as her walls flexed and clenched, wave upon wave of bliss washing over her.  

Killian wiped his mouth along the back of his arm and moved back up the bed to lie alongside Emma and drew her into a deep and passionate kiss.

“Thank you,” she whispered, as they broke apart. “That was amazing.”

“I’m not done yet,” he replied, “think you can handle more, when you’ve got your breath back?”

“Well if you insist on showing your gratitude some more, then who am I to refuse?” she giggled pulling him back in for another kiss. The kiss was long and slow, their tongues tangling with each other, Killian’s hand caressing Emma’s side in languid patterns as she ran her fingers through his chest hair and across his back. She closed the distance between their bodies, wrapping her leg over Killian’s hip and then rolled him above her so that he lay between her thighs. Killian positioned himself at her entrance and pushed into her slowly, both of them groaning into the kiss at the sensation.  He tilted his hips and pushed as Emma stretched deliciously around his length until he was fully seated. He stilled waiting for her to clench around him, encouraging him to move, as he knew she would.

Just as slowly Killian pulled back, all the way out, Emma whimpering at the loss of him and wrapping her legs tighter around his waist to pull him back in again. Surrendering to her desires he snapped his hips and plunged back in hard and fast.

“God! Yes Killian! Just like that,” Emma cried, her nails digging into his back.

Having found the perfect angle Killian started thrusting, building into a frantic rhythm that soon had Emma crying out and had him gritting his teeth to hold on long enough to bring her to completion one last time.

Emma moved her hands from Killian’s back and grabbed her breasts, tweaking her nipples in time with his thrusts. The familiar sensation started building and with one last twist and tug her orgasm started coursing through her. Her muscles began to clench around his shaft, and that was enough to break Killian’s remaining sliver of control. His hips sputtered, once then twice and Emma felt his seed release deep within her. He slowed until he lay still above her, panting into the crook of her neck before rolling to the side and collapsing into her open arms.

“That was…” he panted running his hand over his face.

“Long overdue,” she replied blissfully.

They lay together entangled and catching their breath for a long while before Emma dragged herself into the bathroom to clean up, and returned with a glass of water for them both.

Climbing back into bed, Killian pulled her into his embrace and they whispered sweet nothings to each other until sleep took them.

They had brunch delivered to their room, neither in any hurry to leave the comfort of their sumptuous bed, unless it was to take advantage of the spa bath in their suite. Eventually, having enjoyed each other on every available surface, Emma and Killian checked out and set off to their next destination. She initially planned to spend the morning in Salem giving Killian an insight into how witchcraft had been viewed in years gone by. Their lazy morning put paid to that idea, and instead they headed north towards Portland.

As Emma drove, Killian took charge of the radio again, fiddling with the dial until he found something satisfactory.  

When ‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen came on, Emma reached over and turned up the volume. As he listened a strange sensation came over him, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He didn’t believe he had heard this song before, yet something about it resonated within him. Perhaps Emma would be able to explain it. He settled back and let the music with Emma’s enthusiastic supporting vocals and steering wheel drumming wash over him.

“In case you couldn’t tell, I love that song,” Emma enthused afterwards.

“Aye, that was apparent. So tell me, why do you love it so much?”

“It’s hard to put my finger on. Some songs, the words just get to me, you know? But this one, it’s more about the tune. I’ve always loved it, even when I little kid. I always get a sense of deja-vu when I hear it, and it always makes me feel safe. I dunno, I just really like it.”

“It’s funny you should mention deja-vu, Emma. For I also had the strangest sensation when it played. I’m certain I haven’t heard it before, and yet as you say there’s something about it. It stirred a memory in me that is just out of reach, and I felt an urge to stand on a table and pump my fist in the air.”

“Well, an involuntary fist pump is a sign of a good rock song Killian,” Emma laughed. “I’ll have to take you and Henry to a gig sometime.”

“A gig?” Killian’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“A concert, Killian. Where the band performs their songs live,” Emma replied gently, reaching across to squeeze his knee. Whilst his knowledge of American terminology improved daily, his occasional confusion over unknown phrases was still endearing.

Arriving in Old Orchard Beach, Emma drove straight to the beachfront motel she had booked. It was simple accommodation, but it was clean and functional and unexpectedly had sliding glass doors opening out onto the pool terrace and the footpath leading to the beach.

“As this is our last afternoon, let’s have some seaside fun Killian,” Emma suggested, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the glass doors.

Killian grinned and followed willingly down to the beach. Miles of sand stretched out in both directions. They strolled along the shoreline hand in hand, towards the distant pier and fairground and soon they encountered signs for Pirates Cove Adventure Golf.

“Can we?” Emma bubbled, practically bouncing with excitement. It had been years since she last played crazy golf.  

“I have no idea what Adventure Golf is, but how can I resist somewhere with pirates in the name? It would be terribly bad form,” Killian replied, with a flourish and an exaggerated bow. “Lead on Swan”

Although he had agreed to the activity willingly, never imagined that it would involve chasing a little ball around a ridiculous obstacle course with a metal stick. Once he had found a way to support the club with his hook, he found himself to be quite skilful and to Emma’s chagrin was beating her fair and square.

Emma was thrilled to be spending time being silly with her Captain, and his frequent grousing at the inaccuracies of the model pirates around the course had her in fits of giggles.

“They’ve given me a hook, a peg-leg and a parrot on the shoulder! That’s overkill on the pirate clichés isn’t it?”

“It’s a pirate themed fun park Hook, cliché is pretty much guaranteed!”

Eventually Emma and Killian finished the 18-hole course, not sure who had won after losing count halfway round. They returned their clubs to the booth and walked back out onto the beach heading towards the pier and the fairground.  

They bought corn dogs and beers from a booth on the pier and found a bench to sit and eat watching the waves. Then they pottered around the fairground and amusement arcades until dusk. Killian tried to win Emma a stuffed toy at various stalls without success. She managed to win a tiger for him in a shooting gallery, and not to be outdone when they came across a coconut shy he was finally victorious, presenting her with a giant bear that would take up most of the bug’s back seat in the morning.

They shared candy floss, and rode the carousel and the big wheel. As it stopped at the top to let on new fairgoers, Emma squeezed Killian’s hand and cupped his cheek.

���Killian, there’s something I need to tell you, that I haven’t said before now,” Emma began.

“What’s that, Swan?”

“I…love you Killian.”

In reply Killian leaned in for a passionate kiss, as the ride began to move again.

As night fell they walked back, hook in hand along the beach, the moon high in the sky above them. Hearts bursting with love for one another. And whilst the painful recollections of their separation in the Underworld remained, for the time being they were buried beneath joyful memories of quiet moments, of passion and of laughter.  

@csstorybook @flslp87 @whimsicallyenchantedrose