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countrymusiclover · 4 months ago

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6 - Directions of Truth

Princess Red Thief

Part 7

Tag list - just ask to be added @mystrey101 @melvia-ito @kmc1989 @tallrock35

Leaning against the bench outside the bus stop that picks up and drops the kids off from the school I patiently waited for Henry. I wore the red cloak this morning, feeling somewhat safe wearing it. The bus pulled up and a few kids got off before I saw the young boy who smiled coming over to me. "Hey Eve, are you walking me home?"

"Oh no. Emma still is. I just need to talk with you." I shrugged my shoulders with him sitting his backpack on the bench.

Henry looked up at me. "Talk about what?"

"You're storybook....I heard something between Mr. Gold and the mayor that didn't add up. I am hoping that you could clear something up for me." I explained to the ten year old boy.

He sat down on the bench and I sat beside him. "What did you hear?"

"Mr. Gold said his name was...Rumplestilskin. And he called the mayor, her majesty. Those names and titles can only be mentioned in your book and not in this world." Running my fingers through my hair I unclipped the red cloak laying it in my lap.

He reached inside his bag taking the book out. "Well if he's calling her that means he's awake and remembers everything."

"And if he wakes up does that look good or bad in favor of this supposed curse being broken?" I asked the kid.

He answered my question. "Yeah the more people that wake up. The better chance my birth mom will be able to break the curse. Are you starting to believe since you're asking me?"

"I don't know exactly. I just feel that something is changing in this town." My phone vibrates in my pocket reading a text from Ashley to meet her at the hospital for some reason. "Uh kid I gotta go. I'll find you to finish this conversation."

Henry called my name, making me halt in my tracks. "Eve hang on! Don't forget this." He held up the red cloak that I had dropped on the bench not thinking about it.

"Thanks, kid." I take it from his hand making my walk in the direction of the hospital. The atomic doors slid open and I saw Ashley holding her baby girl at the front desk waiting on me. "Why did you want to talk with me?"

She bounced the baby. "Shawn is at work and I don't want to go to my appointment alone."

"I understand." Nodding my head in agreement.

A nurse came around the corner waving us back to the room. "Ashley, we're ready." We walked down a hall and were left alone to talk for a little while. She sat down holding her daughter in her lap smiling at me.

"Can I ask you something, Ashley. Do you believe in fairytales?" I asked her, thinking back to my conversation with Henry.

She smiled down at her young baby. "Before I got back together with Shawn I'd say no. But thanks to Emma we can be together."

"What would you say if I told you that we might be from another land. That we might be more in this town than we think. Especially considering none of us can remember our lives before we came here."

Ashley raised a brow. "What do you mean, Eve?"

"I'm trying to say that I - that we might be fairytale characters."

The blonde still gave me a confused look before the doctor came in the room eyeing me more than my friend who was here for her checkup. "Ms. Royal, you have some visitors outside that want to see you immediately." The doctor responded where I slowly rose to my feet leaving my friend in the room.

Going back into the lobby I halted in my tracks seeing Regina standing there with some nurses that were from the Psych department downstairs in the hospital. "Ms. Royal, I was hoping to find you here."

"What is going on, Madem Mayor?" I questioned feeling uneasy where I reached for the clasp keeping the cloak on around my neck.

She clasped her hands in front of her. "I've seen you talking with my son and I think you're the one filling his head with this idea that fairy tales are real. So I think it's safer for everyone if you are mentally evaluated."

"I'm not going insane. He's ten. He should be able to believe that fairy tales can happen. We were all kids once in our lives." I snapped at the woman in front of me.

Regina sent me a glare. "It's better that he grows up like the rest of us. Now you can either go willingly or put up a fight. It's your choice."

"I choose....fight." I growled under my breath spinning on my feet bolting into a run away from the other nurses and the woman herself.

"Get her signed in downstairs." She instructed one of the nurses having them come running at me.

Running through the hospital hallways I drew out my phone typing a quick message to Gold asking for help not knowing anyone else I'd call. "Gold, I need your help. Regina is putting me in the Pysch ward for no good reason. Please help me." I hung up the phone when one of the guy nurses cornered me.

"It's best to not fight us." The guy said to me,

I attempted to get out of his grasp by baring my teeth at him. "You can't do this to me - Incendia!"

"You see my point. Now she's speaking a foreign language. I'll be back later to make sure she's settled." Regina put a hand on her hip nodding to the two men holding me before they led me away from her.

Charming and I had been riding on horseback for a few days now in search of any information on where his beloved Snow White had run off to after she told him that she didn't love him. Dismounting my horse I stretched my legs needing to rest with him grumbling under his breath. "How does no one in this place know where she is?"

"Because she didn't get close to anyone. She thought being on her own was the best option." I responded to him.

Charming ran a hand through his hair. "Do you have anyone who could help us, Red Thief?"

"Everly." I corrected him with a half smile.

Charming apologized. "Sorry. I'm not used to knowing the woman I was arranged to marry already had a daughter."

"Maybe one day it won't be a big deal." Tucking some hair behind my ear I lowered the hood down from my head. "There's this man I have been seeing who has been giving me lessons."

The prince tilted his head. "Lessons in what exactly?"

"Would you freak out if I said magic?"

He blinked his eyes a couple of times. "Depends on what you use it for. Good or evil?"

"Let me try something. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae." I backed away from the prince, closing my eyes, picturing his castle in my mind. Waving my hand a cloud of red smoke swirled around the two of us. Once it disappeared and we looked around seeing his large castle in front of us. I nearly jumped up into the air so excited. "Hell yes. It worked!"

"That's impressive, Everly." Charming complimented before storming up to the main doors bursting his way through them. "Rumpelstiltskin! Show yourself."

Rumpelstiltskin appears behind us. "Still dressing like a prince, I see. Even though you ran away from the life I gave you. How's that for gratitude?"

"You gave me a prison sentence." He responded.

Rumpelstiltskin warned him. "Yeah, one that you've now skirted. Careful, dearie – King George is a vengeful man."

"I'm here about Snow. Rumour has it, she's after the Queen and she came to you for help." The prince drew his sword to my teacher when he smiled. "What did you do to her?"

Rumpelstiltskin laughed. "What did I do to her? You mean, what did you do to her. You caused her pain. Without that pain, she would never have drank my potion to forget about you. That's what changed her."

"Undo the potion. All magic can be broken." Charming spoke up.

Rumpelstiltskin teased him. "Oh, yes. With twoo wuv."

"So, that's it then? True love's kiss will awaken her?" Charming asked, looking towards me.

"He's told me it's the most powerful thing ever." I answered him.

"But, it's going to be hard to kiss her when you don't know where she is." Rumpelstiltskin swats Prince Charming's sword.

Charming put his sword away in his sword belt. "Name your price."

Rumple gave him a head nod to the cloak he wore and so Prince Charming takes off his cloak and places it on the table. "Where is she?"

"On her way to the Queen's Highway." He created a map sending the prince off focusing his attention to me once he had left us alone. "I saw what you did out there, Red Thief."

Whipping my head around I gave him a confused expression. "Saw what?"

"You're learning your powers quite well." Rumplestilskin responded with a smirk on his face.

I was taken back by his words. "Wow. I never thought you'd say that."

"Don't get cocky, dearie. Just know that I am beginning to think that you might be almost as powerful as me one day." My teacher declared turning on his heels leaving me stunned by what he just said to me. I wouldn't know that he was right until years later.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

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pirateswhore · 1 year ago

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In the aftermath, I'll hold you

in the aftermath of Emma taking on the darkness, Killian is the only one to comfort Henry.

Aka, these two just want their family back together

+ a little post s5 finale comfort to finish it off

Read on ao3 || Read below the line:

"What do you mean she's gone?" Henry grit his teeth, eyes darting across the adults standing in a circle around him.

He was told to go back to the apartment. That they would sort everything out and be home for hot cocoa.

The group did come home, his mum noticeably missing, everyone's heads hung low. Everyone avoided looking him in the eyes, even Hook. Eventually, his other mother had explained what happened.

"Henry..." his grandmother pleaded, reaching for his hand. Henry flinched, taking a step away from her.

"Answer me! What do you mean she's gone!"

"We told you, Henry, the darkness took her," his mother repeated her earlier words.

"Took her where!?" he snapped at her, eyes blown wide with tears stinging at the corners.

A moment of silence fell upon the apartment as everyone, once again, averted their eyes from Henry.

"Why won't no one tell me what happened to my mum?" he choked out, turning to Killian. The man was standing slightly behind Henry, off to David's side. His hook was dropped to the side, arm holding loosely to his belt. He lifted his head and looked at Henry. Brown locked with blue, and Henry saw his emotions reflected on Killian's face - fear, trepidation, agony.

Regina walked towards him, extending her arms out, to hug or otherwise hold him, but Henry slapped them away and cried out at her.

"Don't touch me right now!"

"Henry! Do not talk to your mother like that!" David cut in, fist slamming on the counter. Everyone in the room jumped, and Henry choked up a sob.

"Aye! Stop it, everyone!" Killian laid his hand on the prince's shoulder, trying to ease the storm currently brewing in the room. "We're all stressed and yelling won't help anyone." He turned to Henry, eyes weighed with unshed tears. He took a step towards Henry and the boy didn't move back.

"Lad, your mother took on the darkness, and it engulfed her. When the smoke subsided, she was gone, and all that was left was the dagger with her name on it. That's all we know."

Henry sniffled.

"Have you tried using the dagger to call her?" he asked, ashamed that he even thought of controlling his mother like that.

"Hook tried. She's not in this realm, as it didn't work." Regina stated. A muscle in Henry's jaw clenched.

"So he's the only one that even tried looking for her?"

"Henry!" his grandmother jumped, clearly offended at his statement.

"Don't Henry me! You should be out there looking for her! She's probably scared and alone, but none of you care!"

Mary Margaret glanced over at Regina, but said nothing.

"You never cared about her! You sent her away and I had to find her! When Pan's curse separated us, you didn't come looking, you went about your lives as if we didn't exist. It was Hook who came for us, and it wasn't even you who sent him!"

"I don't think Hook is a role-model for good behaviour." David sneered, shaking the pirate's hand off of his shoulder. Henry grit his teeth at the statement.

"At least he cares about her. You named your second kid after the man that hurt her! Do you even know what he did to her? And now she has to hear his name every day?"

His chest was heaving, angry tears rolling down his cheeks. He took a deep breath to steady himself.

"You never cared. She keeps breaking her back to help everyone else, but no one has ever tried to help her. She was left alone."

Regina shot him a glare. "Need I remind you that she left you as well?"

"She was a kid! Did you forget she was almost my age when she had me? She didn't have her mother there for comfort." Henry sniffed again, the words burning his throat. "And now neither do I."

He turned and buried himself in Hook's arms, head pressed into his chest as he let the sobs break from his own.

"Henry Daniel Mills!" Regina moved towards the two of them, brows furrowed in rage, but Hook shook his head and extended his namesake to stop her.

He turned him and Henry around, his back to the rest of the group. His arms came around the boy, hand stroking his soft brown hair. He held him for several long moments, until Henry's breathing evened out and his shaking sobs subsided. His arms were still gripping tightly to the lapels of Hook's jacket. Hook kissed the top of his head and whispered slowly.

"I know you miss your mother. I do too. But we won't do her any good if we run around town until we drop from exhaustion. We need rest," he tipped the lad's head up with his hook, "you need rest. We can make a plan in the morning and set right on finding her. Alright?"

Henry nodded, sighed, and rested his head back against his chest.

After a few more moments of silence, Regina spoke again.

"Well. The pirate's right with one thing, we should go to sleep now." She picked up her coat from the rack and looked over at Henry. "Coming?"

He shook his head. "I'm staying here."

Regina whispered "Suit yourself," and bid the others goodnight before leaving with Robin.

Henry stayed in Hook's arms for a little while longer, holding onto him as the rest of the world fell apart around him. His head was spinning, his legs and arms felt heavy, and there was a growing pit in his stomach. Eventually, Hook took a step back, arm and hook braced on Henry's shoulders.

"Let's get you to bed, lad. You're tired."

Henry just nodded, not wanting to fight back, and made his way upstairs. He changed into his pyjamas and crawled into the twin bed that was shoved into the corner of the room. He knew he wouldn't get much sleep, as tired as he was. He heard hushed whispers coming from below, but could only make out a few words.

"Let the boy be," Hook said, "he just lost his mother."

"That doesn't give him the right to speak to us like that." David pushed back, annoyance clear in his voice.

A moment passed.

"He was right, you know. About everything." Mary Margaret finally joined in. "Emma was alone all her life. We never made an effort to make up for that, we thought it was clear we were sorry, but now I know she needed more from us."

They continued their conversation, but Henry couldn't make out anything coherent past that. Eventually, someone stood up and made their way to the front door.

"I best be on my way," Hook said, "it's getting rather late."

"You should stay. Emma wouldn't want you alone on your ship"

Another moment of silence passed. Henry heard movement down stairs, and soon Hook was making his way up the stairs.

"Lad?" he whispered out once he reached the landing.

"I'm awake."

Hook sighed, and made his way to the main bed. He didn't say anything else, but Henry could tell he wasn't asleep. His breathing was too quick and shallow, uneven at times.

Hook taught him how to tell the difference between awake and asleep breathing. "Useful for checking if an enemy is open to a sneak attack," he'd said.

Henry stood and made his way to the corner of his mum's bed.

"Killian?" he called. Killian turned his head, eyebrow quirked up. Henry shuffled his feet. "Can I sleep with you tonight? While in New York, whenever I was upset, she'd let me cuddle with her."

Killian said nothing, simply pulled back the comforter and patted the bed next to him. Henry crawled in, laying face to face with him. They stayed like that for some time, neither speaking.

He liked Killian. He liked how relaxed he was around him, and often it seemed he was the only one that didn't baby Henry. And he tried to build a relationship with him, even outside his relationship with his mum. Killian was fun, he made his mum happy and he was always kind to Henry. The trio's weekly lunches at Granny's were one of the things Henry looked forward to the most. It felt right, the three of them together.

Henry didn't understand why everyone was so dismissive of Killian all the time. Yes, he'd done some bad things, but so did his other mother? And everyone seemed to forgive her easily. He was trying, but no-one except Emma ever supported him.

"We'll find her," Killian said eventually, "I promise you, lad.

Henry shifted, closer to Killian. He rolled onto his back and Henry set his head on his chest, knees tucked up to his chest. Killian's arm came around Henry, resting on the back of his head.

"I know, I know, I'm just..." Henry took a breath to steady himself. "I'm sorry about earlier, a lot of what I said was uncalled for."

"It's okay, lad. It's a stressful situation. I don't think anyone will hold it over you," Killian comforted.

"Thank you for being here. I know you and I can find her. We found her once already, in the alternate storybook. We can do it again."

"Aye. The three of us make quite the team, you know." He threaded his fingers through Henry's hair, in the same soothing motion his mother often used.

"Like a real family does." Henry couldn't see Killian's face, but he knew that the word had prompted a wide smile on it. Family. The three of them, together, against the world. He wasn't opposed to Killian being his step-dad. He's been acting like one already, picking him up from school when neither of his mums could, helping with homework, taking care of him. Henry has never had a father figure before, and Killian was as close as he'd ever get.

"Henry?" he whispered after a while. Henry hummed in response.

"I've been thinking. Well, your mother and I had been talking. We want to find a place for us." He looked down at Henry. "All three of us."

"Like an apartment?"

"Like a house. Maybe we could... Maybe we could find one she'd like? So we can surprise her when this mess is sorted?"

Henry propped himself up on his elbows. His face lit up. "Yes! It could be an operation!" He thought about a name for a moment. "Operation: Light Swan?"

Killian chuckled. "Sounds perfect."

They laid back down, snuggled more closely together now. They listed the features they would look for in their future home. It had to be near the ocean, have a big yard, and an open floor plan.

"How many bedrooms?" Killian's cheek and ear tips burned at the question.

"We, uh. Your mother and I never discussed that topic."

"I'm sure she'd be open to the idea."

"Aye?"

"Mhm. I can see how she looks at you when you're around me or baby Neal."

Killian smiled at that. "Well I'm sure that a few extra bedrooms wouldn't hurt."

The conversation continued, the excitement over the future easing the pain they both felt. Henry soon felt his eyelids drop, the drum of Killian's heart a low, steady rhythm under his ear. He was stroking his shoulder, drawing nonsense shapes into it with his fingers. Henry drifted off to sleep in Killian's arms, certain that the two of them would take the Darkness out of Emma.

And then they could finally be a family.

ccccccccc

"It's rather late," Emma yawned out, "we should go to bed.

They were sitting on the couch, all next to one another. The couch had more than enough room for them to sprawl out, but they all snuggled into the corner, Emma's back to Killian's chest, arms wrapped around Henry.

They came home from Granny's hours ago, having bid goodbye to the rest of the group. There was so much to be said between them, so much had happened, and none of them wanted to move on without addressing it properly.

Emma's Darkness. What she did to Henry and Killian. Why she pushed them away. Killian's Darkness. The betrayal he felt when no one believed he could fight it. His sacrifice. The race to get him back. The heartbreak Emma and Henry felt when he couldn't come with them. Henry's trip to New York and why he wanted to destroy magic.

They talked for hours, breaking down each and every wall that was still standing between them. Lots of emotions followed with tears, apologies, and hugs.

Henry stretched out, yawning. "Uh-huh. I'm sleepy."

They made their way upstairs, staying close together. They were reluctant to take their eyes off of each other, after being separated so many times already.

The master bedroom was the first bedroom to the left of the stair landing, and Henry's was across the hallway. He stopped, halfway in between the two bedroom doors, and turned to his mum and Killian.

"Hey," he said before they could even open the door. "Can I, can I sleep with you two?"

The two adults shared a confused look between them.

"I know, I'm 13 now, and I should sleep on my own, but..." he shook his head as memories of the past couple of months came flooding back once again. "Mum, I almost lost you to the darkness. And we just barely managed to drag Killian back from the dead. Surely I should be allowed to be a little clingy?"

Emma smiled at him. "After what we've been through, we're allowed to be as clingy as we want to be."

They went about their regular sleep time routine. Changing into pyjamas, brushing their teeth, the usual. Emma went to fetch an extra pillow for Henry, and Killian fiddled nervously with the brace in his arm.

"You can take it off. I don't mind." Henry had never actually seen Killian's scar, and a part of him was curious as to what it looked like. The one time they shared a bed before, after mum was taken, it was dark and Killian had kept the arm tucked under the pillow. He didn't see Killian any differently because of it - the teenager in him saw the hook as completely badass - but he knew that was a sensitive topic for him, so he never pressed him on it.

Killian looked at him, and his features softened. He undid the straps keeping the brace tight, and slid it off of his forearm.

Henry didn't stare much, not wanting to make Killian uncomfortable. The scar was mostly faded, and apart from it, his lower arm was devoid of any other distinguishing markings, including tattoos. A stark contrast compared to the rest of his body. Henry wanted to ask about the tattoos and the scars, the stories behind them, what they meant, and how he got them. Another time, he thought, there's no rush now.

Emma came back with the pillow, and the three of them climbed into bed. Killian was on the right side of the bed, leaning partially on his side. Henry cuddled into him, head tucked into the crook of his neck. Emma threw her arm around him, pulling herself close. Killian's scarred arm was wound beneath the two of them, the fingers of his other arm tangled with Emma's.

"Everyone comfy?" she asked.

"What if I told you I need to relieve myself, love?" Killian teased.

"Then I would send you right back to Hell."

"Underworld, technically." Henry and Killian corrected in unison, and the three of them burst out laughing.

This is good. This is how it was always meant to be. The three of them, together, happy, with their whole future in front of them. Henry sighed.

"You good, kiddo?"

"I'm happy."

Sleep took them swiftly, the last few weeks (months, really) having left their bodies desperate for rest.

Nothing would separate the Saviour, her pirate, and their son ever again.

#killian jones #emma swan #henry mills #ouat #captain swan #captain cobra #mostly caprain cobra #these 3 need an hour long hug and i gave it to them #this fic is more for me than anyone else tbf #chantecler writing #ouat fic #killian jones - protective dad mode activated 🔓

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mizusswordtip · 4 months ago

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Down The Rabbit Hole ⚝ Killian Jones x Reader (26)

find the story on wattpad

summary: Alice's plan to overthrow the Queen of Hearts is thwarted by a dashing pirate with a hook. Years later, after the curse is broken, they reunite once again.

masterlist

After Emma and Henry's tearful reunion, we ran straight to Gold's shop. We followed behind a frantic Snow, antsy to wake up her husband. When we got there there's already a group formed around David. I recognize some of them from the day the curse is broken. Leroy and the other dwarves that I never learned the names of along with Ruby.

Snow sits by David's side and leans down while everyone holds their breath in anticipation. Her lips press into his and a bright light fills the room almost instantly. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when David's eyes open, filled with love at the sight of his wife. I feel a pang in my chest that I've grown used to over the years. Loneliness. It's especially alive in this room, filled with old friends and family. Myself being the only odd one out. Well, not exactly.

I look over to see Regina standing to the side and I can't help but sympathize with her. She's an outcast due to her own actions but the look in her eye is all too familiar. I had lumped Cora and Regina together without a second thought when I had discovered she's Cora's daughter. But I've never seen Cora show any emotion before. Just cruelty.

"How about dinner at Granny's? On me." Ruby's words break me out of my thoughts as she looks around the room.

"As long as it's not Chimera, I'm in." Emma jokes and I clench my jaw. I shift uncomfortably, unsure if the invite even extends to me. Me and Emma have become pretty close over the past couple of days along with Snow but everyone else doesn't know me.

"Alice, are you coming?" Emma's voice calls out and I look up in surprise, immediately feeling stupid for feeling the way I did.

"Oh, yeah, sure. I'll be there in a bit." I stutter out and she gives me a nod before putting her arm around Henry's shoulder and walking out. The rest follow after her joyfully catching up. I turn around once I can no longer hear the chatter to face Regina who looks as though she's barely holding it together.

"Let me guess, this is the part where you get your revenge." She spits out tearfully and I sigh heavily. I don't say anything for a good minute, considering.

"No. This is the part where I offer you forgiveness." I say softly. Her gaze shoots up so fast it was almost comical. She looks almost horrified, causing me to laugh a little.

"Why?" She asks suspiciously.

"I know your mother. She's hated me since I was a little girl. Before I could even manage to pick up a sword, let alone use one." I begin to explain. I trail off for a moment, lost in memories of Wonderland.

"Where are you going with this?" She asks lowly.

"Your mother would have closed that portal and never looked back." I say simply and she looks at me, starting to understand. "You're trying. I'm not going to treat someone who's trying like a villain. Especially when I now know you learned it all from her." I explain. I mean every word too, which is probably more shocking to me than it is to her.

"I..." She trails off, looking as though I had just stuck her. Still though, beneath it all, I can see she's truly affected by my words.

"You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know that I'm wiping the slate clean." I tell her with a nod. She takes a moment to compose herself, wiping her eyes discreetly.

"Thank you, Alice." She mutters under her breath but I hear her none the less.

"You wanna come to Granny's?" I ask awkwardly, extending another olive branch. She looks even more shocked but she hides it well with a faux smile.

"No, thank you. I don't think I'm welcome." She says, looking down at the ground with a rueful smile.

"I understand." Is all I say with an apologetic smile before turning to catch up with the others.

"Alice!" I stop dead in my tracks and turn around with furrowed brows. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out... a set of keys? She holds them out to me, urging me to grab them. I reach out hesitantly before doing so.

"What's this?" I ask dumbly.

"A key. To an apartment here in Storybrooke." Comes her simple reply. My eyes widen and I look up to see she has an apologetic look on her face.

"You're giving me an apartment?" I ask, dumbfounded.

"Consider it an apology." She says as an explanation and I feel tears start to form in my own eyes. Maybe she really has changed after all.

"I've never had a place of my own... I've always shared it with either my mother or husband...." I say to myself before grinning at her. "Thank you Regina. This is a good start."

#killian jones #killian jones fic #killian jones smut #killian jones ouat #killian jones imagine #killian jones x oc #killian jones x reader #once upon a time #ouat #captain hook

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wicked-storybrooke · 2 years ago

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Looks like we're going to have to sail our ship pretty much on our own because so far we're the only ones with the Regina x Kathryn agenda. But do you have any specific thoughts on what you would've liked to see explored with the two of them?

I thought as much D’:. I hope there’s some fic out there for them. It’s on my list of ships to search for.

I would have loved if the show explored a tumultuous friendship post-curse break with Kathryn and Regina. After their feelings for each other would slip out during an intense argument, I’d have liked to have seen the relationship blossom into a passionate love/hate, rocky romance.

I’d have liked to see what Regina wanted to do to Kathryn and the traumatising results of that desire explored, with Kathryn being righteously very angry at first, and Regina taking a while to admit she was wrong. She’d eventually admit that part of the reason she wanted to hurt Kathryn was that that’s just her reaction to loving someone and not knowing what to do with that love. (Lol)

I think Kathryn would ultimately forgive Regina but she’d need some sessions with Archie and an explanation and sincere apology from Regina to get to that point.

I’d have loved to have seen Kathryn trying to help Regina fight her darkness, if only for Henry’s sake. But she’d really want Regina to be better for Regina’s sake as well, and so that they could all be happy together, without hurting anyone else.

An s1 au where Kathryn and Regina were a thing would have been awesome too. I feel like every season would be improved if they were romantic interests. Regina could have benefitted from genuine love and support from an adult with her best interests at heart in earlier seasons. A conscience, if you will.

And I’d have loved to have seen how Kathryn would’ve reacted to Cora, and for Cora to have tried to manipulate or hurt Kathryn in order to break Regina. So yeah, all the nice things xD.

#asks #ask #darkpoisonouslove #regina x kathryn au #au #kathryn nolan au #regina mills au

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lenific · 2 years ago

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OUAT. Rumbelle + Baelfire. Impossible Things

@lotus0kid

Hello! It’s Santa finally arriving with her calendar made a mess, but hey. The story is here!

A bit of intro to this one with three questions: What if Rumpelstiltskin didn’t offer Belle a way out before she realized she was in love? What if, together, they thought of the realms that were available to search for Bae, and rescued him from Neverland? What if it was too late to change Regina’s mind? IMPOSSIBLE THINGS (for @rumbellesecretsanta)

In the Enchanted Forest

The light steps outside made him snap his eyes open. He had gotten used to the heavy thread of armed guards, whenever they decided he needed to be fed.

These steps, Rumpelstiltskin had learned after years together.

“Belle,” he whispered, even as he slipped out of the dark corner at the back of his cell, careful not to touch the spelled bars. After his second attempt to escape, Blue had finally landed on a spell capable of containing him.

It would fade eventually.

It would be too late.

“Darling, I told you not to come.”

Belle smiled back.

His first sight of her in weeks, and she was smiling. He really didn’t deserve her.

“Did you, really?” she said as she came close. “Your meaning must have gotten lost among the yelling.”

Had they been at home, he would already have made some huge gesture to get back in her good graces. Baelfire would either giggle or roll his eyes, depending on how silly it was, and Belle would laugh and forgive him.

Here, he gave a small shrug. “I’m sorry, Belle.”

“I know.” She stood before him, her hands against the invisible barrier. “What do we do now?”

That was easy.

The die had been cast from the moment Regina guessed at the last ingredient for the Dark Curse. And despite Blue’s suspicions, she had guessed. Because even though that smug fairy was right, and Rumpelstiltskin could have made a deal in exchange for a clue, he hadn’t.

Punishment enough to doubt his choice, and then doubt again.

He reminded himself that there was no choice. Not really. He had once chosen the easy path, and it had led him to lose his son.

Never again.

Where Belle would one day understand why he had needed to break her trust in order to keep his family safe, he couldn’t gamble on Bae’s willingness to forgive him again.

“We wait,” he said quietly.

Belle swallowed, blinking the fear away. Brave woman, his Belle. “Regina might not—”

She broke herself off at his headshake.

“Don’t kid yourself, sweetheart.”

Belle couldn’t think of anyone harming their family. She still loved her own father, despite everything. She would protect Maurice even though the man wouldn’t as much as open one of her letters.

To kill a father who had followed their child down the darkest paths?

No, Belle would never understand.

Even the Charmings, who knew intimately the depths Regina would go to, had decided to be optimistic. Bright-eyed and confident that love was the ultimate power, they couldn’t believe that even the Evil Queen would kill the last person who loved her.

Rumpelstilskin knew better.

Curses were meant to be cast.

Henry could be spirited away, tucked behind as many barriers as the fairies could hold, but Regina needed a happy ending more than a father’s love.

When the moment came, the old man would open up his own chest, if it made his little girl smile.

Fathers were foolish like that.

“We will be alright,” he reminded Belle, faking a smile. “It won’t be forever.”

Belle’s own smile said she was trying to believe him. She searched her pocket, bringing out the small talisman he had given her. “And we will be together.” She clutched the teacup to her chest. “I’m not letting go of this, so we will be together.”

Not even his power could twine more than two fates together. Bae and Belle were as safe as he could make them.

How Regina’s curse would entangle him was a worry for when the Savior arrived.

“Of course, sweetheart,” he lied.

He refused to place another burden on her, when it was all so hopeless. After the Savior had done her work, after he admitted that there had never been a choice, Belle would forgive him.

“In the meanwhile, you are coming back with us,” Belle told him, tucking the teacup out of sight, and bringing up a book instead. He let out an impressed whistle when he recognized the title.

“I thought there was only one copy.”

Blue had bragged about that, as she cast the barrier over his cell.

Belle’s eyes danced with mischief. “There is.”

Rumpelstiltskin laughed, wishing he could kiss her smile. “I trust you, love.”

Belle blushed. “I will find the counterspell,” she promised. “Then you’re coming home with us.”

As Regina was taking her time finding her father, Rumpelstiltskin let himself hope. Waiting out the Dark Curse in his castle would be infinitely better. “I’d love that.”

---

When the curse swept into the dungeons three weeks later, Rumpelstiltskin refused to be afraid.

Baelfire was safe with Belle.

Anything else, he could survive.

28 years later.

Over the threshold of the sheriff’s office, freedom started with a panicked gulp.

Lacey tugged at his arm, her usual determination overshadowed by dread. “Why tonight?” she muttered, visibly shaken. “Of all nights for this shit to happen….”

His first thought was to reassure her, but practicality dragged him forward. Away from trouble and toward -

“Papa!”

After so many weeks apart, Gold felt the world realign. “Neal,” he breathed.

Why was his boy behind the wheel?

Lacey noticed at the same time. “Forget about it, shrimp. Backseat, now.”

Neal stuck his tongue out, but he squeezed between the front seats and waved at them from his new position.

Gold forgot the chaos of the moment, and let himself laugh. He walked faster to the car despite the dubious balance of the cane Lacey had just brought for him.

Beside him, she kept glancing around them, her smile nervous.

Despite the situation, Gold only had eyes for the fifteen-year-old in the car.

“I found him at my doorstep,” Lacey said, following his line of sight. “I know you wanted to keep him safe to the last minute, but when has the kid ever listened to you?” Her voice was less peeved than she probably meant. She wasn’t one to follow instructions either. “He said the nuns won’t check until morning, and after so many times he’s snuck out, I’m hoping they haven’t decided to wise up tonight. I wouldn’t count on Astrid giving me the heads-up. Not for this.”

Gold grunted. That Lacey had found a nun willing to give him the benefit of the doubt was miracle enough.

She must have taken the sound as a complaint, because she scowled back. “I told him to stay put. I swear I did.”

His boy could out-stubborn anyone.

“It’s all right, Lace,” he said, reaching for the passenger door.

“Best that he’s here, anyway. We can leave right away.”

Once inside the car, he pulled Neal into a tight hug.

Both chuckled when they realized neither would loosen their grasp.

“Missed you too, Papa,” Neal said, still holding on.

Gold laughed, surprised by the easy affection. Neal had once been a sweet kid, but high school had changed him. The moodiness of his early teens had grown into a wave of anger and disappointment that had driven them apart.

He had hit his lowest point the day Neal had run away.

The months spent looking for his son had been bleak. An endless ocean of darkness. He hated to remember the measures he’d taken in his search. The only bright spot had been crossing paths with Lacey, and even their relationship had taken a few bitter twists before Neal had finally resurfaced.

For a little while afterward, life had been bright for the three of them.

Until Spencer called for his arrest.

(Or rather, someone placed above Spencer did, as the district attorney wasn’t fool enough to bite the hand that had hidden so many of his sins.)

Gold bristled at the thought of this unseen enemy, but at the moment he chose to focus on Neal.

“I missed you too, son.”

“Yeah, yeah. We love you and you love us,” Lacey grumbled with a pronounced eyeroll as she dangled her keychain over their heads. “Can we hurry it up?”

Neal made a half-hearted attempt to reach the car key. “Am I driving this time?”

“No!” chorused Lacey and Gold.

Neal gave an impressive eyeroll of his own, and with a shrug, he settled back as Lacey started the car.

Gold was glad to see the ease between them.

His son and his girlfriend had little in common, but they had stuck together in the weeks since Gold had been brought up on charges. They had even shared an inside joke or two the last time they had come in together. After that, once Neal had been forbidden to come, Lacey had sounded fond of the boy. There had been no reluctance to recount stories about Neal, and she’d stopped being upset when he redirected the conversation to his boy.

Neal raised his hand for a high-five when they reached the main road. “Next stop: New York!”

Neal’s enthusiasm made Gold smile.

He glanced at Lacey, ready to share in the moment, but her expression revealed that her nerves had caught up with her.

“Lace?”

“It’s okay,” she said too quickly. “I’m okay, really.”

Gold tried for a reassuring smile. He would move to the front seat at their first stop. Maybe take over the driving when they were far enough. Lacey had taken a nasty shock in the sheriff’s office, but she would be back to normal after a nap.

(Hopefully. He had no idea how to help her otherwise.)

Neal didn’t know to wait. “Are you, really?” he pressed.

“Sure! Ready to get out of here yesterday. That’s all.”

Neal looked between the two of them. “What happened?” He frowned, then peered at Lacey’s reflection on the rearway mirror. “You are more stressed now than in the afternoon. Which makes no sense, because you didn’t really think this would work.”

“Of course I’m sure,” Lacey insisted, with the tone of a well-rehearsed phrase. “Always was.”

She was a poor liar, when faced with people that mattered to her.

Neal huffed with pointed disbelief. “And you,” he continued, turning to point at his father. “You should be grumbling at us for altering your plan. Drive back to the convent and pick me up there, wasn’t it?”

“There was a chance we’d get caught,” Gold explained quickly.

Neal pressed his lips together. “So why aren’t getting grounded for risking being caught along, and why does Lacey look about to cry?”

Lacey shook her head. “Am not.”

Gold had promised not to lie ever again, so he volleyed with another question. “Do you want to get grounded, son?”

An unimpressed look said Neal wasn’t distracted. “What happened in there, then?”

His boy was smart, Gold consoled himself.

“There was a hiccup,” he started, figuring out the balance between the truth Neal deserved and the innocence he was owed.

At the same time, Lacey laid it out without hesitation: “The sheriff decided to get murdered just before we left.”

The hard part over with, Gold made a helpless gesture at Neal’s shocked look. “It wasn’t me.”

Neal buried his head in his hands. “This is bad,” he muttered.

“It really wasn’t me, son,” Gold insisted.

“I know! But everyone else will think—”

“Neal, we’re leaving. Stop worrying about what they think.”

Storybrooke had been supposed to be a new start for them.

A new business for him, a new school for Neal, and a new home for Lacey. He had even toyed with the idea of presenting Lacey with a huge diamond ring, making their relationship as concrete in strangers’ eyes as in their own.

His reputation, however, had followed him.

He wasn’t ashamed of the monster he’d been. Tracing Neal’s flight had been more expensive than his modest business could be expected to afford. Gold had tried. He had. But money flowed more easily among darker waters, and he had plunged in as deep as he’d needed until he had recovered his son.

Gold had also been willing to leave it behind.

A promise he couldn’t keep.

In hindsight, it had been naive to think he had a chance.

He never lived up to his son’s expectations.

His past caught up with him, had him dragged him away from their house and stuck in jail.

Spencer had been hypocritical enough to deny him bail, and the judge had folded as if Gold didn’t hold secrets over both their heads.

Both attempts to call the fools to heel had failed, and somehow that had called the attention of the church. The Mother Superior’s decision to meddle into his affairs still surprised him.

When he had been notified of Neal’s placement under the nuns’ supervision last week, Gold had despaired that he’d lose touch with his son.

Even phone calls had been taken off the list.

In hindsight, threatening the nun hadn’t been his best idea. Taking the convent from under her feet would be easier without warning her beforehand.

With his bag of tricks out of reach, Lacey had stepped forward.

From what the Sheriff had told him, Lacey had badgered the head nun into allowing Neal’s visits. When Mother Superior had sneered even at the idea that father and son should at least exchange notes, Lacey had decided to bribe one of the younger nuns.

How that conversation had turned into friendship, Gold couldn’t explain.

Lacey had shrugged off his questions, saying only that she had more in common with Sister Astrid than she’d have expected.

Knowing what he did about Lacey’s past, he hadn’t delved further.

Then Sister Astrid had come forward and admitted that Neal had been scheduled to leave for a foster house outside town.

That had been the last straw.

Within a few days, Gold had set this plan in motion.

A new life.

Modest, in comparison to their old one; but after months of his case being dragged into nowhere, Gold wasn’t ready to bet on the justice system being inclined to be bent to his satisfaction before Neal was lost to him.

There was someone stalling his more subtle attempts to throw off those tax fraud charges, even before they added that idiotic murder.

As if a school teacher could have been a threat.

Soon he would discover their identity and make sure they understood who kept the upper hand across town. He knew too many secrets and had made too many deals with the foremost people in town, to stay behind bars. But right now… Right now he was a desperate father with a single goal in mind.

Said goal had a determined scowl on his face. “We are going back, Papa.”

“Neal….”

“If we don’t prove you’re innocent, we’ll never stop running.”

“The shrimp has a point,” Lacey muttered.

Gold glanced between the two of them. “A fine sentiment, thank you. But considering that I’m guilty, we might not count on that.”

“I don’t care about the money,” Neal said.

“I like that part, actually,” Lacey piped up, always unashamed of what had first drawn her to him. She was attracted to power, and Gold sometimes had to remind himself that she’d stayed even after he’d lost a chunk of it.

“Ew, stop looking at her like that.” Neal clicked his fingers in front of his father’s nose. “And Lacey, please keep your eyes on the road.”

Lacey winked before she focused back on the driving.

“As I was saying,” Neal continued, “I can understand that. But if we run from a murder charge, they’ll never even look for the real killer.”

“Oh, son. If I’m there, they won’t look further either.”

“It looks bad,” Lacey added. “I was there, and I would blame your father if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes.”

Gold closed his own, trying to repress a full body shudder.

The sheriff had been a decent man, when he remembered to crawl from under Madam Mayor’s thumb.

Usually, they would be playing their usual charade where Graham reminded Lacey that visiting hours were over, and Lacey tried to tempt him into giving her the keyring…

But tonight Lacey already had a copy of the key.

Instead the sheriff’s office had been dark, as Graham prepared to leave.

Gold’s first clue that something was wrong was the thud of a body against the floor. One moment, he was breaking up with his girlfriend over the phone, and a minute later he was dead.

Lacey had looked for a pulse.

They had hesitated for so long that they should have heard the ambulance coming. If the girlfriend had called emergency services.

Which she hadn’t done.

“Papa, please,” Neal said. “Graham was okay.”

Gold never could live to his son’s expectations.

He still tried.

“Lace?”

Lacey wore a troubled look. “I just want us to be together,” she said, her longing almost tangible. Then she shrugged, and halted the car. “But good men deserve justice.��

Gold glanced out at the welcome sign by the road, thinking of the few yards that separated them from freedom.

He didn’t owe Graham any favors.

Dead sheriffs were even less useful.

“Fine,” he heard himself say, working out the details as fast as he could. “We stay.”

Neal’s proud eyes cemented that choice.

Lacey reached out for him, entangling their fingers together. “Okay. This still isn’t the worst decision I’ve made.”

Gold laughed, then set down a plan. “We go to the cabin and regroup there. You two will need to return to town, act surprised when I’m not at the sheriff’s office.” Lacey nodded, and though hesitant, Neal did too. “Graham had a girlfriend, so if whoever comes to investigate doesn’t pay attention to Graham’s love life, make sure to point them that way.”

It was Lacey’s turn to hesitate. “I thought they’d just started dating. Poison as a second date doesn’t seem likely.”

Gold shook his head. “No. This has been going on longer than that.” After a while, the sheriff had more or less considered him as part of the furniture. “I’ve overheard enough phone calls to know that.”

Lacey raised an eyebrow. “Give me a bastard anyway,” she said, bringing their joined hands up for a quick kiss. “It’s the quiet ones who are trouble.”

Neal grimaced. “Ew. Again.” He made a show of rolling his eyes toward the roof, away from them. “And what do you mean?”

“That good, sweet Sheriff Graham had two girlfriends. Because that first date I was talking about? She arrived in town only a couple weeks ago.”

“Still a suspect.”

Lacey shrugged. “Maybe. But poison isn’t like her.”

“Too innocent?”

“Too tough,” Lacey said. “She is upfront about everything. She would have kicked the cheating prick where it hurt, and then maybe set a bullet through his heart. Wouldn’t blame her for it, too. If I found out—”

“A real charmer,” Gold cut in before Lacey could go into details. He preferred to admire her bloodthirsty ways without his son’s attentive ears taking every word. “But if you know this woman, that’s great. She’ll need a shoulder to cry on if she doesn’t know.”

“Or a free round of drinks when she finds out.”

Gold glanced at her. First Sister Astrid and now this newcomer. He’d forgotten how easily Lacey made friends. “Just make sure she doesn’t add anything to your drink.”

Lacey scoffed, turning the car around. “Nah. Don’t worry. Emma is okay, really.”

Gold blinked.

Rumpelstiltskin took a moment to consider the situation. His son was here. His true love was here.

The Savior was in town.

“Yes, sweetheart,” he said, throwing an arm around Baelfire despite the boy’s half-hearted protest. “I’m sure your new friend won’t disappoint.” The End 31/12/22

#fandom: ouat #2: belle/rumpelstiltskin #ch: Belle #ch: rumpelstiltskin #ch: baelfire

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justanoutlawfic · 1 year ago

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For Captain Snowing HC!

I believe Killian be the cool pirate grandfather to Henry, telling stories of a life at sea, his transition from pirate to knight and stories about his dad. Telling embarrassing stories about his spouses and his Aunt Alice.

I think Killian during the curse was the town grump BUT he’s a total sweetheart with Henry finding the kid to be kind, charming, and full of wonder. Always greeting the young boy when he sees him or something.

And when the curse breaks, he finds out that he’s a grandfather and is totally surprised but accepts it quickly. Taking his grandson to Granny’s for lunch, babysitting him when the others can’t, teaching him start sword fights with David (because it’s never too young to learn good sportsmanship according to him) and etc.

Possibly him and David making it a little fun competition on who can impress their grandson more. Snow is the darling sweet grandmother who is watching all this go down and joking around with her grandson.

-> Sidenote: I think Killian and Snow are a slightly chaotic together. Maybe rolling their eyes being so done with everyone, Killian buying her flowers when he knows he accidentally screwed up and she accepts them jokingly and always trying to make a big deal out of everything they find could be a bonding moment.

I believe when Killian LOVES to compliment Snow every damn time he gets a chance. Sometimes he does it when he knows he’s in trouble, teasing his wife more than anything or trying to lighten the good mood but fails horribly. And i bet when Snow fell pregnant with their children, Killian secretly loves his wife’s cravings because it meant he can always try to indulge in treats and snacks.

David and Killian definitely argue over who's the cooler grandparent! We see David competing for Henry's affection in S3 with the truck. I definitely see that happening here, as Killian tries to teach him to drive a ship. And then Regina has to be held back from killing them both haha.

I see David and Killian being the chaotic ones, with Snow constantly wondering why she married 2 obnoxious, silly, danger loving men. Then they do something sweet like make her tea and run her a bath and she's good.

Another example of them driving Regina crazy is giving Henry tips on "picking up women" when he meets Violet. Regina is constantly telling Snow to control her husbands.

Killian definitely teases Snow, but I believe she is the only one who can shut him up. With just a single look. But she'll smile so he also knows he's not in too much trouble.

#captain snowing #snow white #killian jones #david charming #ouat #once upon a time

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ao3feed-supercorp · 2 years ago

Text

Kindred

by GaybeTheEnnboy

Kara feels trapped in National City and leaves. Barry and Iris try to put her back together again. In the meantime, Lena Luthor is attacked and left for dead during a business trip, only to be rescued by Wonder Woman. The Amazonian breaks her rule and takes Lena back to Themyscira, where she discovers Lena's heritage isn't as straight-forward as she thought.

With the curse broken, Regina's alone and unemployed, and after a few too many drinks, she finds herself falling through the air and being rescued by Supergirl. Back in Storybrooke, Emma's secrets are starting to weigh on her, so she calls for help, inadvertently causing a chain reaction that will forever change all four of their lives.

Words: 1342, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Supergirl (TV 2015), Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F

Relationships: Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor, Evil Queen | Regina Mills/Emma Swan, Kara Danvers & Emma Swan, Evil Queen | Regina Mills & Lena Luthor, Barry Allen/Iris West, Barry Allen & Kara Danvers, Lena Luthor & Iris West, Diana (Wonder Woman) & Lena Luthor

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Kara Danvers Needs a Hug, Lena Luthor Has Powers, Protective Barry Allen, Protective Oliver Queen, Protective Iris West, Kara Danvers Has PTSD, Kara Danvers Has Abandonment Issues, Lena Luthor Knows Kara Danvers Is Supergirl, Baelfire | Neal Cassidy is Not Henry Mills's Parent, Found Family, Parental Diana (Wonder Woman)

from AO3 works tagged 'Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor' https://ift.tt/zO2kPpd via IFTTT https://ift.tt/zO2kPpd

#supercorp #Kara x Lena #Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor #karlena

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arickaandherfictionalothers · 1 year ago

Text

Don't you ever grow up…Just stay this little..

Aricka Hatter and Henry Swan-Mills

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight…

Adriana Mills holds her baby nephew carefully, knowing this was good practice for her firstborn when he finally made his appearance. “Shh… it’s okay Henry. Auntie Adri is here. I’ll never let anyone hurt you. Ever.”

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming

So I tuck you in, turn on your favourite nightlight…

She set him down in his bassinet, ran a fingertip over his eyebrow. “Sweet Henry… I’ll do anything to show you how much I love you.”

To you, everything's funny

You got nothing to regret…

Adrianna watches her two year old nephew run away from Regina in just his diaper, giggling as he evades her sister’s attempt to wrangle him.

Swiftly, for a pregnant woman, she stepped in the baby’s path and swooped him up, kissing his chubby baby cheek. “Stop giving your mama a hard time, my Henry,” she chided softly.

I'd give all I have, honey

If you could stay like that…

Adrianna watches Henry go to his first day of kindergarten, tears in her eyes as he wraps his arms around her leg and presses his face against her hip as he says goodbye. “Have an amazing first day; my little Henry,” she says. “Mama and auntie will meet you here after school, okay?”

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little…

Just stay little; Adrianna thinks. Just be little a little bit longer. I’d give anything for you to be little and happy forever.

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple…

Henry runs to his aunt, tears falling down his face as he tries to explain how mean the kids are in his class. Adrianna holds him close, doing her best to soothe her nephew.

I won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart…

Adri went to the principal the next day to complain about the treatment her nephew was facing. Henry was able to tell them what happened and the bully was properly punished.

And no one will desert you

Just try to never grow up…

““I’ll never grow up-!”” Adri read to Henry that night, telling him the tale of Peter Pan. “As you never will; either, will you my brave Henry?” She asks.

“I’ll be your lost boy forever auntie Adri,” he promises, snuggling up to her, putting a hand on her stomach. “I’ll protect my cousin too someday.”

“Of course you will,” Adrianna assured him.

You're in the car, on the way to the movies

And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off…

“Auntie A; why does my mom have to take me to the movies?” Henry complained. “The curse is broken. She can just poof me to the movies.”

“Henry; she enjoys doing mundane things like that with you, you’re her son,” Aricka says, rocking baby Maverick in her arms.

The curse had been broke, and she remembered her true identity. She had also given birth to her son, and had been reunited with her husband and daughter, Jefferson and Grace.

At fourteen, there's just so much you can't do

And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots…

“But she’s the Queen- I don’t understand.”

“Henry; all of this was to keep our family together. Safe from Cora. Away from her. We’re in a land without magic where Magic suddenly exists.”

But don't make her drop you off around the block

Remember that she's gettin' older, too…

“And she knows you’re growing older; and so is she. Regina just wants to experience everything she can with you- give you the childhood she always wanted.”

And don't lose the way that you dance around

In your PJs getting ready for school…

“And she wants to cherish all these memories and experiences she gets with you. She loves you Henry. She never meant to deceive you.”

No one's ever burned you

Nothing's ever left you scarred…

Henry cries in Regina and Aricka’s arms when he finds out his mother became the new dark one. “I don’t recognize her,” he says. “I know she’s in there and she’s good but I don’t recognize her.”

“Oh. My Henry…” Aricka whispered, running a hand through sandy brown hair.

“We will fix this, my dear. Don’t worry.”

And even though you want to

Just try to never grow up…

“I don’t wanna grow up,” Henry whispered, hugging the book containing the story of his family to his chest. Aricka hugs him and kisses his temple like she would when he was littler.

“Henry.. you have to get older. You don’t have to grow up.”

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room

Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said…

Henry listened as his family prepped for thanksgiving that year. His cousins running around the living room of Aricka and Jefferson’s mansion, his mother and mom laughing at something his stepdad Robin was saying.

The mundanity of a holiday after once again saving Storybrooke.

And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have is, someday, gonna be gone…

His little brother Roland runs in and collided with his stomach, crawling on top of Henry as they watched the thanksgiving day parade. “Snoopy-!” He exclaimed.

“Yeah, it’s Snoopy,” Henry says with a smile.

Aricka watched from the kitchen as her nephew interacted with his littler brother.

Don’t you ever grow up, Henry Daniel Mills-Locksley, she thinks.

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Oh, darlin', don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple…

————

@astralshipper @rosieshipper @hyperionshipping @yeehawselfshipping @letsgofoletsgo @tsundere-selfship

#Aricka and Henry mills #Aricka and Regina #Aricka x Jefferson

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ao3feed-westallen · 2 years ago

Text

Kindred

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/Zf2yFNr

by GaybeTheEnnboy

Words: 1342, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Supergirl (TV 2015), Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/Zf2yFNr

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #WestAllen #westallen

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thebetterluthor · 2 years ago

Text

Additions:

Why didn't Regina track baby Emma down? How hard would it have been to find a baby found abandoned somewhere around Storybrooke, especially when she knew the specific date they'd sent her through the portal?

If nobody but Regina could move in or out of Storybrooke, how did she manage to adopt Henry through legal channels? No seriously, how did they just let her walk out with a baby, without vetting her through references, without seeing the environment where the child would grow up, without visits from a social worker for the first year at least???

How did Henry end up from Phoenix, Arizona, to Boston, Massachusetts??? Were there 0 people in the entirety of Arizona, and the neighboring states, who wanted to adopt a baby??? This one specifically is extra annoying because why not write that Emma had been arrested in Boston, to make things even marginally logical -_______-

When David and Snow woke up during the Curse, why didn't at least 1 of them go through the portal to Emma? They let their child grow up alone, because they were worried she might not be able to come back and break the curse if they both went with her? It's asinine as far as thought processes go but for fucks sake, at least David could have gone to her! He was in a coma anyway, what better life was there for him in Storybrooke????

Why was everyone else in human form in the land without magic, but Maleficent was stuck in dragon form? Since she and Regina were friends, wouldn't Regina have preferred to have her friend in human form and nearby so they could at least mock the general populace together??

Speaking of Maleficent - since she knew Snow and Charming had sent her baby to the land without magic, why the fuck wouldn't she help Regina with her plan, in order to arrive to that world un-cursed (like Regina) and go outside to look for her daughter????

Here's another question: since Henry was 10 when he went out into the world to look for Emma, how did they manage to get back to Storybrooke? I'm not asking how they got through the barrier, I'm literally asking how they found the place. It's a magical town that doesn't exist on any maps. Henry was 10 and got to Emma via various means of public transport. How the fuck did they navigate back to a town that's not on any maps???

Since Rumple was awake during the curse, was there a specific reason why he didn't try to leave town before the curse broke? He found a way around the barrier later on the show, why not at least make an attempt, and not wait for 28 years to go look for his son???

List of things that didn't make sense during the First Dark Curse

I'll be adding to this list as more questions come to me, but for now:

Why didn't Regina leave Storybrooke after she adopted Henry? Obviously he was growing when everyone else wasn't so eventually he'd figure it out. Regina didn't really have magic in Storybrooke so it wouldn't make much of a difference to leave. She had a ton of money. Why not move to a regular small town, where she'd never be found and the curse would never break? Or move to Europe or anywhere else really?? If Henry hadn't been stuck reliving the same day, he'd never have felt like the odd one out, would have no reason to believe in a curse, and good luck to Emma finding a reason to go to Storybrooke.

While everyone was stuck reliving the same day, were they able to watch TV/listen to the radio? Was that taken into account from the curse and the radio was just replaying the same day in the 80s for 28 years?

If everyone was reliving the same day, why did Regina bother going to work? Couldn't she take that day as a holiday, or as a sick day, or straight up pretend to be out of town and just... never show up to work?

Did 21st century technology completely freak everyone out once they could get it? Imagine going from brick phones to iphone 6 in 1 day...

How did they get their stuff fixed? How did they get car parts, or new fridges, etc, if nobody could get in or out?

If someone got sick, did the sickness restart or reset at the end of the day?

If someone got an injury, how was it explained the next day, if it didn't magically heal itself?

What was the punishment, really, of Snow White during the curse? Sure her husband was in a coma, but that wasn't a result of the curse. Neither was the fact that she'd sent her daughter away via magical tree. All the curse did to Snow White was turn her into a teacher, who could afford to live by herself, and was stuck with an unfortunate wardrobe.

Given that Hansel and Gretel's dad *had* abandoned them in the woods, willingly or unwillingly, was it really a punishment that they weren't reunited during the curse? I mean, in the real world social services *would* have taken those kids away, so...

Also, since the curse kept them all frozen in time reliving the same day, was it really that Regina took away the happy endings, or just paused everybody's lives? I mean, it's not like they were wasting away for 28 years only to find out then that they'd spent their entire lives without realizing it. Everybody literally woke up to exactly how they were before, except now they had electricity and running water.

If Henry really thought Regina was the fairytale Evil Queen, how did he go up against her, and at the same time live with her in the same house, at the age of 10? Can you imagine a 10 year old finding out they're living in the same house with the thing that goes bump in the night, and what they decide to do with that information is to give her lip and break her house rules???? Like, he either didn't really believe Regina to be evil, or he was just so certain in her love for him that he wasn't afraid of her. Either way, are those really the signs of a broken relationship/an evil character?

#ffs #were the writers conscious when they were writing this stuff?#OUAT rewatch #the First Curse

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lamiaward · 8 years ago

Text

Operation out , part 2

I don’t own OUAT Summary: AU after 1x02: when Henry does not show up in Regina's office, a new plan is needed. A new plan that leads to a burgeoning friendship with Emma Swan and the relationship with her son improving. However, it also indirectly leads to the unravelling of her curse and a new operation: operation out. Will son and mother manage to break the curse together? I will add warnings later( it has nothing graphic or anything, but maybe there is something small) , my brain is not working. I am just too tired.

I have yet to properly reread and edit so sorry for any mistakes or whatever. It is just too late and I am really tired, so I will do that tomorrow.

Enjoy!

For a moment, his bottom lip trembles in a way it has not since that time he accidentally took something from a store and thought that meant he was a criminal facing jail. He stares at her, shakes his head. Is he angry at her for lying, sad because it is actually true, happy that he is right and – no, her little boy would not think like that. He is too good for that.

He opens his mouth several times, she knows him well enough that he is going over sentences in his head, thinking carefully what is the best thing to say (she used to help him with it, when his mind was running with too many thoughts to properly articulate) “ It is a trap” he finally settles on, that distrustful look that had slowly been fading returning with a vengeance. “ As soon as you know whether I still believe, you will sent me back to Archie”

(he only meets Archie now to walk Pongo or just to ask how he is doing)

She is attempting to not sob her heart out, pull her son into her arms, break down like she has not for – gods, she doesn’t even know. “I wish it was like that, that I had not the slightest idea of who I was or the curse was all a fabrication by a very ingenious boy” she swallows, shakes her head. “ But it i-isn’t” .

The silence between them makes it so easy to think about what she stands to lose – him, Emma, any semblance of control or autonomy, her life- if this curse breaks. It makes those impulses return, like a really bad itch and it is so difficult not to scratch. She has to remind herself- Henry and Emma won’t forgive her ( she shuts down the voice that whispers ‘even if you do not darken your heart any further, what makes you think they will accept the parts that are already dark’)

Henry finally speaks again, voice choked. “ So you don’t love me”.

She grabs his hands when angrily swipes at his tears, rubbing hard enough that his skin turns slightly red. “ Henry “ is all she gets out at first, thinking of how to tell him that he is the only thing that could ever fill the part of her heart that was ripped out when she cast the curse, that holding him in her arms was the first time in decades that everything in her just shut up and she felt truly happy. He is named after two people she tortured, killed and crossed realms for and how fitting that is.

He is staring down at the blanket, so she slowly reaches for his chin ( slowly, because these months she has learned that holding on to something too tightly does not make them love you more. Slowly, so he can tell her whether it’s okay or not). She can feel a few tears slip as he lets her. She makes him look into her eyes, smiles tearfully at him. “ Henry, why would I have fought so hard to keep you if I did not love you?”.

“ Because I am – “ he hesitates and she just knows he is – well not lying exactly, but definitely keeping information to himself. She knows how to recognize half-truths and omissions in her son. “ The villains never love”.

She thinks of Maleficent’s eyes when she started darkening her heart more and more- her face was always devoid of emotion, but she never could extend that same indifference to her eyes. She could tell him how wrong he is.

“ I do love you” is all she stresses instead, fighting against every impulse that tells her to hide her tears (she and Henry have actually talked, talks that were like time bombs or mines but that made her understand how bad it is to hide her feeling from him)

He shakes his head. “ Evil does not love”.

Part of her wants to lash out again. “I have committed e- acts that were wrong , but I have also done things right”.

“ You have hurt and k-killed people” he accuses

It is so difficult to not deny it, but then she thinks of the look in Emma’s eyes when she told about her birthparents and presses on. “ I was hurting. I was hurting for a long time and- “.

“ But I don’t understand” he interrupts her, that lip still trembling. He inhales shakily. “ I don’t understand you- the evil queen. Why would she hurt Snow white when Snow is valiant and kind and good? “.

He is looking at her like this is a question as life-changing as ‘what is the purpose of my life’, like it an break or make something, but-

She doesn’t know how to explain. How do you tell a ten-year-old boy of a shadow of a father, a life that is owned by someone else and things done to you that still make you flinch decades and temporarily memory loss later? How do you describe that you kept seeing and hearing things- a necklace cutting into Snow’s neck, her gasps as it strangles her- without losing him forever? How do you describe being so hopeless that you might as well have ripped your own heart out along with your father’s, or the desperate desire for any kind of happy ending. How do you understand both loathing and loving people?

(she fears Henry might know exactly what it feels like to love and loathe someone, if she is even fortunate enough to still have his love).

“Henry, I am not certain whether I should tell you- “.

“ I knew it! You already taking it back- “ she is not sure but it seems like he is hyperventilating. “You do not care that what we have with Emma works and you are going to force me to talk to Archie again and you are going take Emma f-from me”.

It is remarkable how it almost does not hurt anymore that he loves Emma this much ( perhaps it is because she has grown fond of the idiot herself) . It actually hurts more that he looks panicked and in a lot of pain – and she is sure he would be begging her to not take Emma away if he had not inherited her stubbornness.

“No! I would not take miss Swan away from you-“

“ You are calling her miss Swan again! I knew it, you a-are going back to being mean to Emma and you a-are going to send me back to Archie and- we are going to lose our family!”.

He used to crawl into her arms after a nightmare and she hopes she can offer the same comfort now. He is tense for a moment in her arms. She whispers “ Henry, I swear that that is not going to happen” and he slowly relaxes.

He pulls back a little, sniffs and swallows. “ R-really?”.

“ Really. You know, miss- Emma has grown on me. She has become a .. confidante these past months, no matter how far-fetched the idea of it would have been all those months ago”.

“ P-please don’t break her heart. Don’t pull away or start the snide remarks again or call her miss Swan – it hurts her when you distance yourself”.

(she knows. Emma had actually punched a wall once - in reply to the ‘miss Swan’s’ and ice caused by Regina’s panic over the realization that protecting Emma would feel as natural as protecting Henry by now)

There is just one thing that puzzles her.

“Henry.. why do you think I am capable of breaking her heart?” Hearts do not break, they only turn into dust when you are too rough with them.

He pulls back completely, her hands automatically reaching for him before she forces them to drop. He swallows, shrugs. “ You take hearts”.

But that is definitely a lie- not that she takes heart, but that it is what he meant by it. She knows it. Still, she is terrified of the anger returning so she steers the conversation away from something as riddled with mines like that.

“ I do not wish any harm to come to Emma, my darling, I promise”.

He hesitates, stares at her for a long moment. “I don’t think you are lying, but- hurting people is all you do in the book”.

She hesitates, then says “ I read your book”.

“ I know, you asked for the missing pa- “ he suddenly tenses and scoots away from her. “ You want the pages. That is why you are telling me this and have pretended to be – “.

She cuts him off. She cannot bear hearing more of this. “ Henry, it not about the missing pages. It is about how that books only shows me as a one-dimension villain “.

He blinks. “But that is- “

“ Henry, it not like I loathed .. her from the moment I was born. I had dreams and hopes before I ever was as unfortunate as to meet her”.

He stares at her with a thoughtful expression. There is silence for a while, slightly less tense than before.

“ Will you tell me?”.

Regina is already opening her mouth to tell him ‘absolutely not’ when she hesitates. She knows Henry is the kind of person who loves easily, who is kind to nearly everyone, who likes to help people. But he is also an angry ten-year-old who can only see her as a villain right now. And if there is even the slightest chance that hearing her story- without giving too much details, because she would die before ever telling him how exactly her mother forced her to obey- might change this, then it is something she wants to do.

So she does. She tells him of being a young girl and growing up with a mother that constantly told her what and who she had to be, about being forced (how? My mother was a cruel woman , Henry. There was no price high enough to pay to get me on the throne. Please do not ask me to elaborate), about being so very lonely until she met Daniel (she glosses over this part, remembering how bright he used to smile at her makes her want to knock down ‘Mary Margaret’ s door and- well) , about being the bride of a man she did not love, of having to raise the girl that cost her so much, about the empty happiness of those eighteen years, about him and how she almost gave him away but knew she finally had her own happy ending.

“You forgot.. for me?” he whispers. He has moved closer during the story until he leaning against her.

“Yes” she forces the admission out: “ I did not think I could be a mother if I did not”.

“ Why not?”

“ I- “ she thinks about that moment. “I would have seen Mar- “ she is so used to never actually using Snow’s name by now, her curse name leaving a slightly less bitter taste in her mouth. “ Snow regularly and I would have been preoccupied with that familiar anger. If she had smiled, I would have spent time on discovering why and making sure it did not happen again. I would not have been able to completely dedicate myself to being your mother with an even-more-than- usual oblivious Snow constantly thrown into my face”.

It is perhaps too honest, but she all these times the past months, even small lies have made Henry immediately distance himself again.

“”Why did you even curse yourself along with them?”.

“ I did not curse myself”.

“You technically did. I mean, the curse did not take your memories but it did bring you here. Where you had to be with your enemies, for like forever”. He shrugs. “ It is kind of a mediocre plot, really. I mean, could you not have cursed yourself to like Disneyland and left the rest of them here?”.

“ It was the dark curse to end all curses, sweetheart, not a golden ticket hidden in a chocolate bar”.

“ Uh that is Charlie and the chocolate factory. That has nothing to do with Disneyland”.

He yawns. “You still have to finish your story”.

She stares at him; he is not accusing her, telling her she is not ‘his mom’ or even looking especially angry. She could almost fool herself into believing it is just another night-time story, like they used to have.

“And she lived happily ever after with her son… until the day a blonde nuisance crashed her pile of rust into the town sign” she says the last few words with fondness that surprises herself. Henry glares for half a moment, then realizes it is just like when Emma trailed mud over his mother’s floors and Regina kept calling her a “ bad-mannered Neanderthal” as she made her scrub the floors. His mom does not really mean it when she uses insults and Emma seems to get that (mostly; there are some words she reacts to with slammed doors)

Still, he mutters a sleepy “ She is not a nuisance. She does chores and makes both of us laugh and she is really good at getting rid of tension”.

“ I suppose that is true” .

“ You don’t have to pretend you only tolerate her, you are smiling”.

She honestly did not notice. “ I admit I more than tolerate her. Her presence is- .. surprisingly acceptable”.

He gives her that look, the one that makes her feel like a live frog about to be dissected, but surprisingly just nods and says “okay”. He bites his lip nervously , the sound of him inhaling sharply startling in the quiet. “Are you going to try to strengthen the curse again?”.

He is tense now, obviously getting ready to pull (and probably run) away. He is talking faster. “ I know it is breaking. Miss Mary Margaret actually stepped away when Delilah offered her an apple. Sheriff Graham said you had done ‘something’ to him, that it was your fault he felt ‘nothing’. There are suddenly crickets and rain and people are getting a cold. I know. “.

“ My smart boy” .

“ I won’t stop trying to break it” his voice is really small and he subtly moves away a little.

She stares at the comics he has strewn around the room despite her order to clean it. That has not changed. “ No, darling, we are going to ensure it breaks”.

“ Wha- I don’t believe you, you are playing me!” he accuses, leaping away from her. His hand is on the doorknob when she says “ I will lose. But I will lose more if I attempt to keep the curse intact while I know I will only prolong it a little”.

He turns around, very slowly. His hand is still on the doorknob. “ That is why I came to you Henry. Partly because I needed to be honest- but also because you are the only one who can break this curse”.

He grips the doorknob a little tighter. “ Only the saviour can break the curse”.

“and according to the book, everything can only end well if I perish”.

He stumbles, turns deathly pale. “ W-what?”.

“ the saviour will return… the curse will break… and the final battle will begin…” she quotes. She had immediately known what that meant. She had assumed Henry knew as well. “ Henry- do you mean, all this time- “.

“ I thought they would just take your magic and lock you up, no- they’re good! Good guys do not kill” he insists, trembling.

She slowly stands. “ Henry- I know you think of these people as “ she curls her lips and nearly spits out the word “heroes, but that means very little. There have been benevolent monarchs that still murdered, especially if it were threats to their kingdom and their security that were in front of them”.

“ They c-can’t, you c-can’t – “

He struggles to pull himself together, clenches his fists, grits his teeth. “ No. They’re heroes. Heroes don’t – heroes don’t do that”.

She takes a slow step towards him, hyper-aware of how terribly wrong this all can go. “ Henry-“.

“ No! “he half-shouts. He stumbles over his words- “ you- they, it isn’t “ then accuses ‘you’re lying. You must be. You are attempting to make me take your side”.

“ Henry, I promise-“ she starts to say, reaches for him. It is easy to believe there’s magic in this world when her heart feels like it is being crushed: he pulls away, throws open the door and slips downstairs.

She starts to go after him, then is caught off guard by sobs. She takes a moment to compose herself, pressing her face into Henry’s pillow as she cannot stop the tears from sleeping. She wants to start the Mercedes and make another forgetting potion- but the ingredients are gone and whatever care Henry has left for her would forever perish.

When she has managed to make it seem less like she had been helplessly crying , she walks downstairs- only to find him under the blanket she threw over Emma after she fell asleep on the couch. He watches her move with distrustful eyes- thankfully the anger has faded- and approaches the two of them.

She ignores- no, that is not right. This thing she has been doing is not ignoring, not at all. It is recognizing a catastrophe, a mistake of the worst kind. It is pushing down, pushing down that feeling she used to get at the idea of her life with Daniel, how she would plan and think and dream.

She pushes it so deep down she can almost convince herself that it was never there in the first place.

“ Henry- we still need to finish our talk” she says.

He throws his arm protectively over Emma, shakes his head. “I am not going to listen to your lies” .

Six months ago, she would have scolded him and tried to do things her ways anyways. Now, she sighs and says “ they are not lies Henry. I am not manipulating you into anything”.

He wavers. She almost wishes Emma believed, so she could talk about this with her ( but then again, would anything positive exist between them if Emma believed) . “ You are the qu- the evil queen” he whispers.

Next to him, Emma stirs like she does have another superpower that consists of knowing when Regina is hurt.

Henry and she both look at Emma for a while, both of them silent and still until she stops wriggling around and mumbling. Regina looks at Henry. “ I should not have spoken so freely- I” it seems ridiculous now, that her sweet boy could have ever been capable of letting anyone be murdered.

“ You thought I knew?”.

“ I assumed you got to the same conclusion as anyone who reads ‘and then the final battle will become’ “ she smiles before he can speak any of the things that are obviously on the tip of his tongue. “ I should have known you would never consent to murder. You are too good for that”.

“Snow white and prince Charming wouldn’t do something like that” he insists. She notes but chooses not to comment on the tiniest note of doubt in his voice.

“ There are more than heroes or characters in a book, Henry” is all she says, even though she could say so much more. She could talk about executions and the need for self-preservation( how easy it is to hurt others to save or help yourself, even accidentally).

“ they are not the ones who are wrong here” he stubbornly insists, voice rising before he glances at Emma and lowers it again.

She has been starting to wonder about that too lately. But really, when something continues for as long as the feud between her and Snow.. both sides will make mistakes. (and she has always wondered how good Snow white can truly be when she continues running and fighting while she knows that as long as she is alive, entire towns suffer)

“ Even if that is the case, it does not mean that they are the virtuous, heroic leaders they present themselves as. They are not without flaws Henry”.

“ that is what Emma says too. That it is bullshit to –“

“Henry!” she admonishes.

“That is how Emma phrased it. And you have to be angry at me quietly because she is still sleeping”.

Regina narrows her eyes. It could be just Emma forgetting she is not supposed to swear- maybe she was too impassioned, which is possible as the whole hero-villain-white-black thing annoys her to no end but- “ She still claims.. that word is not an expletive… does she?”

“ I am not a tattletale “

“ Anyways, Emma says that it is kind of misleading to see people as fairy characters because they’re one-dimensional according to her. And people are never one-dimensional, there is always more going on. Things are not that simple or all the bad people would be locked up and all the good people would be treated well”.

Emma Swan is truly full of surprises. And of course Regina has heard Emma talk about things like this and of course she knows Emma is actually quite intelligent but still. It sometimes baffles her how – even if Emma is not the most articulate person- she gets a point across quite effectively. And how she is constantly making sure Henry knows that ‘he is a lucky little shit, that is sure’ ( Emma had justified calling Henry a little shit by saying “Regina he threatened to call the police like two minutes after I had met him. He is a great kid- but only a little shit would steal someone’s credit card so he can threaten someone into bringing him into a crazy town”)

She did not let the woman get away unscathed after calling her son a ‘little shit’, of course, but it does not change the fact that Regina gets all these annoying feelings whenever Emma ‘comes to her rescue’.

In fact, she gets the same feelings now; it starts at her stomach, where she can practically feel the butterfly wings, to her heart that reacts like she has suddenly burst into a sprint, to her disobedient mouth that starts to smile and finally there is this incredible glowing feeling like her body is filling with fireflies.

It is really quite bothersome.

“ Why are you smiling like that?” Henry suddenly asks, vaguely suspicious. If she did not know Emma lacked the discipline for it, she might have accused her of researching potions and slipping it into Regina’s drinks: she never spaces out like this.

“ Miss Swan is quite right “.

“ It’s really odd when you revert to calling her miss Swan”.

“Emma is quite right”.

“ Is that truly Regina Mills admitting I am right?” an amused voice says, causing both Henry and Regina to glance at a now- barely- awake Emma Swan.

Regina rolls her eyes. “ I am going to prepare breakfast”

“ NO REALLY WERE YOU ADMITTING THAT I AM RIGHT? “.

She smiles as she can hear Henry say “ You just insulted your own intelligence”. He is using the exact tone she frequently uses when dealing with complaining townsfolk.

“ How did I insult my own intelligence kid? It is pretty normal for me to think I am still dreaming when such a special thing as your mom admitting I am right happens”.

“ Like, you needed validation that you were right. So you are insinuating that you are almost never right”.

“ I am right often enough, your mother just never admits I am”.

The sounds slowly fade away as she enters the kitchen and turns on the stereo she keeps there. Listening to classical music makes cooking easier somehow, she is more focused and enjoys every small act more. Besides, music like ‘Carmina Burana’ has always been one of the closest things this world has to offer to magic (it can prompt feelings as intense as magic would cause, with less of the heart-darkening consequences)

She is sliding the third pancake on a plate when Emma enters the kitchen and tries to take a piece of it. She slaps the hand away with the first item she can get her hands on. Emma glares at the spoon, then tries to reach for the golden-brown pancake again. Thuk!

“ Regina, will you stop that already jeez”.

She brandishes the spoon threateningly “ You will wait until we are seated”.

“ I am a grown woman, I think I will decide for my- ouch! Regina”.

“ It is a spoon , my dear, not a Taser. As soon as I deliver 1200 volts to your body, you are allowed to whine this much”.

Emma throws her a look . “ Your sass is not appreciated this early”.

She smirks. “ So it is appreciated at other times”.

“Lady, do you think I would still be here if I got really annoyed by sass? You and the kid are- Regina stop the hitting seriously”.

She is getting ready to softly hit Emma on her shoulder when she is suddenly grabbed and pulled against a very warm, nice-smelling body. There is a muscular arm keeping her in this position and another grabbing for the spoon. There is a moment of – not this again – as she can immediately feel her heart- the appropriate word might be flutter, how mortifying. Then she realizes what Emma is doing. Oh no, you don’t.

“Miss-“ she wriggles, uselessly. “ Swan- “ she stands on her toes and tries to push/pull herself free” If you not release me this instant- “.

“ Give me the weapon first” Emma laughs.

The laugh changes into stunned silence when Regina changes tactics after another minute of altogether too distracting wriggling- she leans forward and grabs the spoon with her teeth then yanks. She is quite certain that it is only surprise that has Emma yield, the spoon now clutched between her teeth.

She recovers admirably quickly. She is wildly reaching for the one spoon with her only free hand, which is when Regina lurches and pulls herself free. She is thinking she has won when her pulse jumps beneath Emma’s hand on her wrist and she is pulled back to that body.

She can see Emma’s eyes now, feel it every times she breathes (and possibly when her heart flutters like those long eyelashes, or is she imagining that?). She is startled by this , just long enough that she doesn’t react as quickly as usually when Emma lets her go and snatches the spoon from her.

She grimaces as Emma grins before racing away.

Regina glares at the spoon next to Emma’s plate. After placing the towering pile of pancakes on the table- and refusing Emma’s help- she holds up her hand. “ Spoon, now” she orders.

Emma gives a mischievous smile and holds up the spoon. “ I earned this fair and square, so you are not getting it back”.

Regina arches an eyebrow. “ I will give you a choice , Emma” she slowly starts to smirk, which makes Emma narrow her eyes and clutch her spoon tighter. “ The spoon or the pancakes. Which do you want most?”.

Emma rolls her eyes. “You are not going to starve me just because I took one of your spoons”.

“ Starve would imply a long period without eating, my dear, and I am quite certain that you are capable of ordering greasy food at Granny’s”.

Emma stares her down for a moment, then offers her the spoon and sighs “ Just give me the pancakes” she grumbles

She accepts the reluctantly offered spoon, then saunters towards the kitchen. By the time she returns with the rest of the food, Emma and Henry have put pancakes on their plates and drowned them in syrup but aren’t eating yet. It took forever before Emma learned that particular trick.

As soon as she sits down, they are gobbling on their pancakes. She grimaces a little- Emma’s eating habits have improved, but she still has a tendency to say things like ‘it is so good’ with her mouth full- but focuses on her own food. By the time she has actually finished her small waffle, Henry and Emma have moved on to waffles as well.

As soon as she has eaten the fruit and yoghurt that is the rest of her meal, she dabs at her mouth with the napkin and sits back. Emma and Henry are still attacking their food like it will walk away if they wait for too long.

She tries to engage Henry in conversation, but he keeps rebuking it, asking Emma questions instead or just stuffing his face. Her thoughts are only kept away from dangerous territory- like whether Snow would completely snap if she just started hiding apples around town for Snow to stumble on- when there is a silver objects with a golden-brown mashup on it.

Regina glares at it, then at the smiling woman offering it to her. “ I am not polluting my body by eating that’.

Emma rolls her eyes. “ I know you actually do like greasy food Regina, just open your mouth”.

“ Fine, I am opening my mouth- “

“ To eat. Not to scold or give me all these facts about the health dangerous of ‘copious amounts of salt, carbs and sugars’. Honestly, I have seen you eat greasy food so it is also hypocritical”.

“ I occasionally enjoy greasy food. While you seemed to have turned bearclaws into a new food group”.

“ I am only offering you one bite, so you can definitely eat that”.

Regina rolls her eyes, but starts to lean forward. On an impulse , she suddenly gently reaches for Emma’s wrists and pulls the hand towards her. She keeps holding on to it even after she is already chewing on the bits of syrup-and-pancake. She licks her lips, then remarks “ Thank you for offering me some of my own cooking, along with too much syrup that ruins it”.

“ There is no such thing as too much syrup”.

Henry, his mouth full of pancake, nods enthusiastically. She sighs. “ I do not remember my son having a habit of drowning his pancakes in syrup before your arrival”.

Emma offers Regina another bite. She stares at it with contempt for a moment before accepting it. “ I have done a good thing, then” she remarks, smiling.

“ That is debatable. If he gets heart issues, I will know what caused it”.

Regina only realizes what she has said when Emma’s easy smile disappears. A little more than a month after Emma’s arrival, Regina had a weak moment and came very close to crushing Graham’s heart. Somehow, she found it in herself not to but he was still rushed to the hospital for inspection. Emma had already become somewhat friends with him by then, so she had been understandably distressed when the sheriff had suddenly stumbled and started to sweat mid-conversation.

“ My apologies” she stiffly offers.

Emma smiles. It doesn’t reach her eyes. “ It is okay” she quickly eats the last bite, then stands. “ I probably should go anyways, I can hardly let my deputy do all the work” .

Regina stands as well. “ Yes indeed. Playing darts is obviously something that requires two people” she teases.

“ You caught me playing darts one time”.

“ One time too many. That is not what the town pays you for”.

“ I don’t think the town pays you to threaten newcomers either”.

“ I was protecting the town”.

Emma snorts. “ Bullshit”.

“ Do not curse in front-“.

“ It is hardly a curse word. It is literally- I don’t have time for this. Are we still on for tonight?”.

“ As long as you do not suddenly have plans with your snivel-“.

“ Hey, I told you. You don’t need to like MM, but you can’t say shitty things about her”.

“ Fine. If you do not have plans with that.. woman , then yes we are still ‘on’ for tonight”

“ Cool” she walsk over to Henry to ruffle his hair, then squeezes Regina’s arm briefly. “ Don’t terrorize the townspeople, I have to deal with their complains”.

“ Has anyone ever actually complained about me?”.

Emma just throws her jacket on and smiles. Regina has no idea what that smile means. She can already hear the door shut before she can ask however, so instead she turns back to Henry.

Like usually, he is cleaning the table. It is one of the chores he has been doing again and she is relieved to see he is not immediately starting his rebellious behaviour again. This is going better than I expected. She doesn’t know what she expected, although she knows what she feared. Silence or angry words, coming home to find her son gone again, hearing him plead to live at Emma’s… Loathing, basically. And it doesn’t even bear to think on what Henry might do after the curse breaks, even when her mind seems to take great delight in torturing her with the possibilities.

Now, however, her son might not be smiling at her or laughing as he was with Emma but at least he is not glaring at her with outright suspicion and loathing. It gives her just enough hope to follow him to the kitchen and call his name.

“ I have to go to school” he immediately says as he rinses the plates before pushing them in the dishwasher. “ And don’t you have work?”.

“ I- “ she does, but this is far more important. “ do, but we need to discuss this Henry”.

“ Maybe. I have a lot to think about”

It is difficult not to push. “ Fine. But at least promise me we will talk about- “ she does not endorse skipping school, but these are special circumstances. “ Are you certain that you do not want me to call your school?”.

“ I am certain” he looks at her before she can push. “ It’s weird that you admitted it, but I have known about the c- “he hesitates, then steels his resolve. “ the curse forever. I will be fine”.

“ All right, sweetheart” she automatically bends to kiss him on his head. He cringes, but does not pull away. “ I am going to brush my teeth and will walk you to the school bus afterwards”.

“ That is really not necessary” he says.

“Do you not want me to?”.

He shrugs. “ I guess it is okay.” He opens his mouth looking like he wants to ask something, then closes it again. “ Are you going to change again?”.

She stops at the kitchen door. “ What are you talking about , darling?”.

“ After Emma came to town, you changed. Are you going to again now that the curse is breaking”

She knows what he is really asking. Are you going to hurt anyone. “ I am changing Henry. I am trying very hard to be the person you need me to be”.

There is a short hesitation, then a nod. “ I like it. How things have been these past months I mean”.

She doesn’t hesitate at all. “Me too”.

She is just reading a report that is only extraordinary because of how tedious it is – why is it necessary to document every piteous crime in this town again? Perhaps I should craft a law that prohibits the sheriff department to write a report on anything that is too ridiculous or dull – when he pushes in.

“ Henry!” she exclaims.

“ Hi … mom. Do you have some time?”.

She glances at the report, that really is of no consequence, then nods. She opens the drawer and lays the report in it with a little vindictive glee, then gestures at the chair in front of her desk. “ I can ring my secretary if you want anything, dar-“.

He grins as he shows her the kale salad. “ Granny’s” he shoves the kale salad towards her, then places something else on the desk. “ I got myself a chicken wrap. That’s okay, right?”.

“It is fine dear. How long does your break last?”.

He tears off a bit of wrap first, then says “forty minutes. But miss Blanchard did not feel well, so she is going to see the doctor. She thinks it will take about an hour, so almost everyone went home”.

They eat in silence for a while, before Henry places three more things on the table. A cup of coffee for her, a coke for him and …

“ You brought your book” she says, staring down at the familiar ‘once upon a time’ written down on it. Inwardly, her heart is pouncing. Outwardly, she looks mildly curious. “ Why?”.

He places his hands on the book. “ You said you were going to help break the curse, right?”.

She hesitates – is she truly ready to destroy a lifetime of work? Then nods after thinking of comic books and horrid table manners and laughter during movie nights. “ Yes- “ she clears her throat. “ Yes, that is true”.

He beams. “ Perfect. So- “.

He opens the book; there are pages attached to the first ones with paperclips. “ I have identified several stages, with their own purpose. Operation name is red, code names are black and the stages are blue”.

He turns the book towards her, so she can read the bold, red letters:

Operation Out

I actually wrote the last part of chapter one (so the part after Regina/Emma talked in the diner) in a hurry and I am not really satisfied with it. So I thought of rewriting that part, possibly turning them in slightly longer (but not very long) moments such as tiny signs of the unravelling of the curse, Henry/Regina learning how to deal with each other better and Emma/Regina slowly mending their differences. Good idea? Bad idea?

I don’t want to use whole chapters to describe the six months, because the general plot is Regina admitting the curse is real (after six months where she/ Emma slowly became friends & her relationship with Henry improved) and Henry starting a new operation …. (I don’t want to give too many spoilers, but he is not just trying to break the curse, he has more plans than that)

#operation out #season 1 au #swan queen #henry & his operations #Regina/Henry try to break the curse together #I am too tired to improve the summary #will probably do that all tomorrow

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