#art by wefoundloveunderthelight

[kmomof4]

Self Promo Sunday: Somewhere Out There

Thursday my youngest was walking around the house singing Somewhere Out There from An American Tail and it made me want to go back and read my fic inspired by the song. It made me so happy to bring that fic back to the front of my mind, I decided to share it with all of you again! 

I would be remiss to not mention @hollyethecurious​ @winterbaby89​ and @thisonesatellite​ for their beta services on the two chs of this fic, and the GORGEOUS artwork @wefoundloveunderthelight​ made for this fic! Her artwork is up above. I had some ideas for some artwork of my own, so I made a picset myself and you can find it below the cut. 

Summary: 3a divergence in which Killian’s attempt at True Love’s Kiss works and brings Emma’s memories back.

Rated: M (smut towards the beginning, but it is separated with a double  *~*~* at the beginning and end)

Words: 5280

Tags: 3a Canon Divergence, TLK

On ao3

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you’d like to be added or removed.

@jrob64​ @teamhook​ @winterbaby89​ @hollyethecurious​ @xarandomdreamx​ @undercaffinatednightmare​ @the-darkdragonfly​ @stahlop​ @superchocovian @pirateprincessofpizza​ @tiganasummertree​ @anmylica​ @cosette141​ @motherkatereloyshipper​ @zaharadessert​ @jonesfandomfanatic​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @jennjenn615​ @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713​ @kymbersmith-90​ @booksteaandtoomuchtv​ @wistfulcynic​ @mie779​ @snowbellewells​ @lfh1226-linda​ @aprilqueen84​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ @pirateherokillian​ @elfiola​ @ilovemesomekillianjones​ @justanother-unluckysoul​ @poptart-cat-78​ @myfearless-love​ @goforlaunchcee​ @searchingwardrobes​ @gingerpolyglot​ @gingerchangeling​ @djlbg​ @cocohook38​ @cs-rylie​ @thisonesatellite​ @donteattheappleshook​ @deckerstarblanche​ @veryverynotgoodwrites​ @wefoundloveunderthelight​ @fleurdepetite​ @alexa-fangirl-forever​

Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

Somewhere out there, beneath the pale moonlight,

Someone’s thinking of me, and loving me tonight.

Somewhere out there, someone’s saying a prayer,

That we’ll find one another, in that big somewhere out there.

And even though I know how very far apart we are,

It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star.

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby,

It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky!

Somewhere out there, if love can see us through,

Then we’ll be together, somewhere out there,

Out where dreams

Come true.

~*~*~

Emma woke with a start, breath ragged, chest heaving, desire coiling in her belly. All she could remember from the dream that woke her was a pair of blue eyes, the hue of which were the deepest, most clear blue she’d ever seen, a jungle dripping with humidity, and a kiss that rocked her world.

She swung her feet out of bed and padded over to the sliding glass door to her balcony. She couldn’t help the feeling that washed over her that said it was more than a dream. It had the feeling of memory.

The night wind caressed her arms and raised goosebumps as she looked up at what stars she could see in the New York City predawn darkness. Her eyes landed on a particularly bright star, even with the city lights. She couldn’t understand why the dream felt like a memory, but she also couldn’t suppress the longing she felt. The longing for the mystery man in her dream that felt like a memory. Could he be out there somewhere? Who was he? Could he see the same stars she did? Would he make a wish? As she tried to pull the wisps of the dream into some coherent whole, she remembered a feeling of gratefulness, of excitement, playfulness, anticipation. As if this was something they had been moving towards for some time. She looked back up at the star. She shut her eyes and brought the vision of blue eyes that could somehow see right through her to the front of her memory. Opening her eyes again, she wished that if he was real, he would find her. For some reason, her gut was telling her that there would be no finding him, and her gut rarely steered her wrong. She shook her head at her fanciful musings. If anything about the dream (memory) had been real, perhaps going back to sleep would reveal more of it. She took a deep breath, went back inside, and was asleep again almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

~*~*~

Killian Jones stood at the helm, guiding his beloved Jolly Roger, without conscious thought. It allowed him the time and freedom to think of Emma, the only thing he loved more than his ship. The pain of their separation had lessened over the past year to a near constant dull ache that allowed him to pull out her memory without feeling like he couldn’t breathe with the desire to be by her side again.

Taking a deep breath, he looked up into the endless expanse of stars above him. Finding a particularly bright star slightly to port, he whispered a prayer to any god that would listen that his love and her son was safe and that he would someday be able to find her. As he looked closer at the star he was wishing on, he realized that it was part of Cygnus. Confusion that melted into stunned amazement colored his features. No wonder he had noticed that star first. Cygnus was always the first constellation that he looked for in the night sky. And even though it was in the wrong position, his subconscious must have directed him to it. But why was it pointing to the west instead of north? Suddenly, he heard a voice on the night breeze. Find me.

Looking again at the constellation of his love, he knew that it was pointing to her. He adjusted the heading of the ship. I’m coming, Swan.

~*~*~

The following night the Jolly emerged from the portal into the Land Without Magic. He looked skyward and quickly located Cygnus, still pointing west. Given the position of the rest of the stars in the sky, he estimated it to be about 4am. Hoping against hope that it wouldn’t take him too long to reach shore, he adjusted the headings and sent his thoughts ahead of him. Almost there, Swan.

~*~*~

Emma woke to a pounding on the door.

Grumbling not only at being pulled from a wonderful dream, but also being woken at, she glanced at her phone, 7:30 on a Saturday morning, she was going to give whoever was at her door a sound thrashing before she slammed the door in their face and attempted to get back to the dream she was having. A dream that she remembered this time. The most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on, with eyes blue as the sea, telling her that he would win her heart without trickery.

She opened the door, mouth open ready to give this idiot a piece of her mind, when her jaw dropped even further as she saw the man from her dream standing on her threshold.

His face broke out into a relieved smile as he breathed, “Swan, at last.” He moved toward her before her thoughts could coalesce into anything more than utter astonishment. Cupping the back of her head, his lips descended on hers before she could even blink.

And oh boy, could the man kiss. His lips moved over hers with a sensuality that made her weak in the knees. When his tongue requested entrance, she opened for him without conscious thought. A breeze suddenly swept through them with a kaleidoscope of rainbow color bursting from their joined lips. He released her with a just as stunned expression as she was sure she was sporting. “Killian?”

“Emma?” he echoed, his eyes wide, “You remember?” His shock melted into undisguised joy as she pulled him into her apartment. Her face mirrored his as memory after memory paraded themselves through her brain. Their beginnings on the beanstalk, beating him in a sword fight at Lake Nostos, him coming back for her to go after Henry in Neverland, his constant support and belief in her, his promise to win her heart once she and Henry were home safe, saving him from the shadow in Dark Hollow, Pan’s curse... those last two and their last moments together at the town line compelled her to crash her lips against his again. Tongues tangled and teeth clacked together in their desperation to get as close as physically possible.

Releasing her lips, his cerulean gaze bored into hers. “Answer me, Emma,” he begged. “Do you remember?”

She stroked his cheek tenderly. “Did a day go by that you didn’t think of me, Killian?” she asked in reply.

A groan escaped him as he pulled her into his arms again, “Not a one, darling,” he cooed, just before lowering his lips to hers.

“Bedroom,” she moaned against his lips, walking backwards, drawing him with her deeper into her apartment and turning into her open doorway.

“What about your lad,” he asked, finally completely releasing her lips so that she could answer.

“Henry sleeps like the dead. He won’t be awake before ten on a Saturday,” she assured him, “We have plenty of time.”

“Plenty of time,” he parroted, “for what I have planned. Oh Swan, how I’ve missed you, my love,” he murmured, pressing tender kisses along her neck, making her shiver.

“Even if I didn’t know it, I missed you too.” She leaned her head back, giving him better access. “I dreamt about you. Night before last and this morning.”

He pulled back, amazement covering his features. “Really?” he asked, incredulous.

“Yes,” she answered. “You beating on the door this morning woke me from a dream when you told me you’d win my heart. I was about to let you have it so I could try to get back to it. But then, you were there, and the kiss, and, and…” her voice trailed away as he pulled her to him and began sucking a mark into her collarbone. “Ohhh, Killian,” she moaned, weaving her fingers in his hair and holding him to her.

“Delicious,” he murmured. “Your skin is the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.”

~*~*~

~*~*~

She pressed herself into him until her breasts flattened against his chest and she could feel every muscle of his body. She led him further into the bedroom until her legs hit the bed. She sat down on it and immediately went to work on his laces, while above her, he shrugged out of his duster and started working on the buckles of his vest. Pushing his leathers down enough to free his straining erection, she looked up at him coyly through her eyelashes. “I see something I want,” she purred, before pulling him forward into the ‘v’ between her legs and circling his red and weeping tip with her tongue. She closed her mouth around him and bobbed her head taking him deeper each time until he hit the back of her throat. She moaned around his length before releasing him with a pop. She looked back up at him to see his eyes nearly shut in ecstasy, his face completely wrecked. “You alright there, Captain?” she asked.

“Ohhh, Swan,” he shuddered, “I will be paying you back for that. Up you get,” he commanded before climbing on the bed next to her. A giggle escaped her mouth as she moved to the head of the bed, never taking her eyes off her pirate who pursued her with predatory intent. His eyes nearly glowed with love and lust as he made his way toward her on the bed. Finally reaching her, she started working on the buttons of his shirt as he let out a low growl. “Are you fond of this garment, Swan?”

Too distracted by the skin she was revealing as she unbuttoned his shirt, she was barely aware of his hook catching in the fabric of her plaid pajama top and tearing it asunder. She threw her head back in ecstasy as his lips closed around a rosy nipple. After his ministrations nearly drove her mad, she became aware of the steady direction he was pursuing. He pressed open mouthed kisses with swirls of his tongue down into the valley between her breasts before heading lower to her navel, and finally to the top of her pajama bottoms. He drew them and her panties down in one smooth movement until she was completely bared before him. His quick intake of breath made her acutely conscious of how long it had been since anyone had seen her naked.

“Don’t Swan, please,” he pled, as she made to cover herself, “I want to see all of you.” He took her hand in his own and pressed kisses into her knuckles. “You are so beautiful, my Swan,” he murmured, “You take my breath away.” He shrugged his own shirt off, so she could finally see all of him. He was perfect in her eyes. The scars that criss crossed his torso told her parts of the story that ultimately led him to her. She grabbed his hook and gently kissed the cold metal before she reached around the back of his shoulder to release the buckles that held his brace to his arm. At the widening of his eyes and his sharp inhale, she rushed to reassure him.

“You are beautiful too, Killian,” she confessed, “and I want to see all of you.” Her gentle insistence made the air rush out of his lungs. His eyes swam with wonder and love as he helped her remove the brace from his stunted arm. Once it was removed, she brought his arm up and rubbed her cheek against the gnarled end. She turned into it and placed a lingering kiss to the disfigured limb. “This is a part of you, Killian. And every part of you is beautiful to me.” She looked up into his eyes again to impress upon him the seriousness of her next words. The words that she herself had just realized the truth of. “I love you, Killian Jones. I love every part of you.”

At her declaration, he made one of his own. “And I love you, Emma Swan and I will never again leave your side.” He lowered himself to her then and kissed her within an inch of her life. He drove her higher and higher with his kisses and his hands roaming her body, finding all the little places that made her cry out in pleasure, until he finally lined himself up and pushed into her warmth. She wrapped her legs around his hips as he began slow and measured thrusts into her that made her see stars. Every time their hips met, he ground himself against her clit until she was nearly sobbing with her need to come. With one final thrust and grind, he whispered in her ear, “Come with me, Emma. I want to feel you come all over my cock.” She was helpless to resist him and came just as she felt him throb within her, signaling his own release.

~*~*~

~*~*~

Breathless and sated, she turned to him once he had rolled off of her. “How did you do it? How did you get to me?”

He looked thoughtful as he gazed at her ceiling before turning to look at her. “Night before last, I was at the helm of the Jolly, thinking of you, when I noticed that Cygnus was not where it belonged in the night sky. It was pointing west instead of north. At that moment, I heard your voice on the night wind. Find me it said. I knew in my heart that Cygnus was pointing the way to you. So I adjusted our course and sailed west until we fell through a portal that brought us out about an hour and a half from the shore. I continued following Cygnus until it rested on this building. I got inside and easily saw which one was yours with your name on the rows of boxes just inside the door.”

She stared at him for a moment, stunned, before leaning over him and kissing him with all the love in her heart. They broke apart suddenly when they heard Henry emerge from his room like a herd of wild elephants. “Mom! Mom!” he exclaimed, banging on her door. “I remember! Where are you? What’s happening?”

Emma threw on her robe and quickly crossed the room, hissing at Killian to get dressed and meet them in the kitchen, before opening the door to her breathless, twelve year old son. “Mom! What happened?” he asked, his eyes wide as saucers. She ushered him into the kitchen as he continued to pepper her with questions. “I was asleep and having weird dreams of dying and you kissed me and woke me up, and meeting my father, and being taken to Neverland. Then I woke up and realized they weren’t dreams at all, but I remembered it all! How did it happen? Was it another True Love’s Kiss?”

She sat him down and knelt in front of him as she heard Killian emerge from her bedroom into the hallway. “Yes, Henry,” she began. “It was a True Love’s Kiss.” She turned her head toward Killian now standing at the entrance of the kitchen. He sent her a gentle smile and small nod, encouraging her to continue. “Between me and Killian,” she confessed, giving Henry a small smile. The smile that broke his face rivaled the sun, and she knew she didn’t have to worry about how he was going to feel about having Captain Hook as a part of his family.

“Cool!” he shouted, looking over at Killian. “But what now? Can we go home? Is Storybrooke back? Can we go to the Enchanted Forest if it isn’t?” His enthusiasm was contagious and she couldn’t help but laugh as she looked at Killian again,

“Well, Captain?” she asked, “I think those are better questions for you. But as far as I’m concerned, let’s get packed! We’re going home! One way or the other!”

With a whoop that threatened to break the windows, Henry leaped up and ran past Killian to his bedroom. She sauntered up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He laid a gentle kiss to her lips before he answered Henry’s questions. “I’ve no idea if Storybrooke is back or not, but we can certainly go find out. And if it isn’t, I have every reason to think that the portal back to the Enchanted Forest is still there. It didn’t close after spitting us out. I could still see it as the sun was rising and I could see the harbor in the distance.”

“Mmmm,” she hummed, “Well then, Captain. Let’s go home.”

~*~*~

The Jolly Roger cut smoothly across the crystal clear water, swiftly approaching the castle of Snow White and Prince Charming. Emma felt a thrill of excitement skitter down her spine as she beheld the flawless edifice for the first time. Memories of her first trip to the Enchanted Forest paraded themselves across her mind’s eye, the ruins of the castle she was born in, as well as her mother’s tears when faced with its destruction.

But this morning, with the sun rising over the mountains that surrounded her parents castle, the exterior nearly blinded her. The rays reflected off the white stone and turrets she remembered her mother talking about after they returned home from their Enchanted Forest adventure until her vision was positively dazzled. Her family and the other inhabitants of the place of her birth had obviously worked hard to rebuild in the year that they’d been back here. Or maybe Regina had simply waved her hand to restore the castle to its former glory.

They had left New York forever the next day after spending that Saturday packing up what they wanted to take with them and taking care of all the loose ends that would have been left had they simply disappeared. They arrived two days later at the familiar rocky coast of what had once been Storybrooke to find nothing but unblemished forest and sea birds. Poor Henry looked like he was about to cry, and she had to admit that she was having trouble hiding her own tears as well. She’d been careful, she thought, about getting her hopes up, but seeing with her own eyes no trace of Storybrooke, she realized just how much she had come to think of the small town as home and just how disappointed she was that it wasn’t there. Killian helped dispel the melancholy that had enveloped them by taking them both in his arms and assuring them that he would get them home to their family. They changed course, back toward New York until they found and fell through the portal that would take them home.

A feeling of peace, of home settled over her for the first time in her life. All her life she’d been shuffled from place to place, group home to foster home and back again. And even as an adult, the longest she’d stayed anywhere was Tallahassee. But with her pirate and son behind her, she looked over her shoulder to see Killian leaving Henry at the helm and begin making his way toward her, and the rest of her family ahead of her, living in a fairy tale castle to boot, she had never felt so content.

Strong arms circled around her waist and clasped over her middle. She covered his hands with her own as he nuzzled into her neck, placing a tender kiss right behind her ear. “What are you thinking, Swan?” he murmured.

She turned in his arms and raised up onto her toes to kiss him. “Just how much this feels like home. Neal told me, years ago, that home was the place that when you left, you just missed it. Obviously I never missed the Enchanted Forest. I’d never lived here. And going back to where Storybrooke had been made me realize how very much I missed my family.” She looked up at him through her lashes. “Missed you. Even if I didn’t remember.”

Killian smiled down at her. “Aye, Love. We missed you, too.” He gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly for a few moments before he gave her a chaste kiss and released her, turning back toward the helm. She watched as he took over from Henry and her son started towards her.

“So, what do you think, Mom?” he queried as he leaned against the gunwale.

She smiled at him. “I think we’re home. And I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to see our family again.”

“Agreed,” he said, staring at the castle that was growing ever closer. Just a few minutes later, they were able to make out the dock at the back of the castle. Emma couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that there didn’t appear to be anyone to meet them. Wouldn’t someone have seen them coming from the towers of the palace?

Killian carefully brought the Jolly into berth as Henry secured the ship to the dock. Just as they were making their way down the gangplank, the Blue Fairy appeared before them. She gave a small bow before speaking.

“Thank you, Captain,” she began, “for bringing the Savior home.” Suddenly, the fairy pulled a small vial out of mid-air, uncorked it, and tossed its contents onto Emma.

Emma was frozen in place. Fear gripped her as she heard Killian and Henry shout, Killian drawing his sword in her defense, Henry’s face a mask of shock and dismay. Before Killian could reach the fairy, she waved her wand and a blue cloud of magic enveloped her and the magical being. Moments later, she found herself in a dark cave lit only by torch light. It took a few moments before she could see well enough to realize it was the same cave prison that Killian had left her in before she and her mother had made it back to Storybrooke. Only this time, it was the Blue Fairy on the other side of the bars, not her True Love and Cora. Emma lunged at the bars.

“What are you doing?” she shouted.

Emma stared at the fairy, stunned. She looked sad, apologetic almost, for her actions, at the state Emma found herself in. She rattled the bars in anger. “Answer me! What have you done? Where are my parents?”

“Your parents are fine, Your Highness.” Emma huffed at the fairy’s use of her title.

“Why are you calling me “Your Highness” if you’ve put me in this dungeon?” Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on her captor.

“Because you are still the Princess in this land, and I’m truly sorry to have to do this.” And with that enigmatic statement, the Blue Fairy disappeared. Emma shook the bars before her again and shouted as loudly as she could. There was no response. She turned and looked around, trying to think of anything that she could possibly do to get out. Trying to use magic was useless. She at least remembered that much from her previous imprisonment. The light from the torch just outside the cell reflected off of something lodged into a crevice in the rock wall. Walking over to it, she saw it was a small mirror. Pulling it out, the glass was suddenly filled with a purple smoke before a dark skinned, kindly, ageless face appeared.

“Hello, Savior,” he greeted her.

Emma couldn’t keep the shocked surprise out of her voice. “Who are you? How do you know who I am?”

“Who I am doesn’t matter, Savior, but yes, I know exactly who you are, Emma Swan,” he intoned. “And I also know what the Blue Fairy is doing.”

It took Emma a moment to absorb what he just said. “You do? Why?” she asked, “She is supposed to be one of my parents closest friends and advisors. Why would she do this?”

His bottomless brown eyes grew sad as he answered her. “I have watched the Blue Fairy for many years, since long before you were born. She has forsaken her duty of protecting your family. It is my responsibility to rein her in, to deprive her of the source of her power and now that she is back in a realm with magic, I am able to do so.”

“Are you taking her magic?” Emma queried.

The man smiled enigmatically. “When she realized that her magic was weakening, she sent Killian to bring you home.”

“She gave me the dream so that I would recognize Killian when he got there,” she breathed. “She repositioned Cygnus, both here and in my world, so that he could find me.”

He nodded slowly. “Indeed.”

Emma looked back at the bars. “Can you help me get out of here?”

“I cannot help you escape beyond what I’ve already done. You have the means at your disposal. Good luck, Savior.” Magic began to swirl in the mirror.

“Wait,” Emma cried, “Who are you?”

“I am Merlin. Don’t you know me?” he answered with a smile before he disappeared in a swirl of smoke.

Emma stared at the glass before her, not knowing what to do. She remembered what Rumplestiltskin had told her when they had all returned from New York after she found Neal. That magic was not an intellectual endeavor. She had to feel it. Squaring her shoulders, taking a deep breath, and shutting her eyes, she thought of Killian and Henry and how much she loved them and wanted to be with them again.

She opened her eyes again to see her two favorite people smiling at her. Her own face broke into a grin. “Swan,” Killian cried, “Are you alright? Where are you?”

“I’m below the castle in the dungeon. In Rumple’s cell,” she explained. “Where’s Mom and Dad? And Regina?”

“We’re here, Emma,” her mother called. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re alright,” she exclaimed, pushing her way into the mirror’s glass. Her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t believe you’re really here! And that Blue would do this!”

“Merlin gave me this mirror so we could communicate. She’s trying to steal my magic because he’s been draining hers for her failure in upholding her duty to our family.”

Snow’s face was an “O” of shocked disbelief. Regina appeared in the mirror. “So what do we do?” she asked. “We obviously can’t trust the Blue Fairy anymore.”

“Merlin said that I have the tools at my disposal. I figured out what to do with the mirror. But maybe, my magic too? That’s a tool, isn’t it? Mom, Cora said that even Rumplestiltskin couldn’t escape this prison. Why? What’s so special about it?”

“We had it specially constructed and magically protected so that he could never escape. Only light and dark magic combined can weaken the enchantment.”

They turned their eyes upon Regina. “Two sides of the same coin,” Emma whispered. “Regina, you attack from outside the prison, I attack from inside. That would do it, right?”

Regina’s eyebrows rose. “It should. But what about Blue? Where is she? How do we neutralize her?”

“Regina!” Snow scolded.

Regina rolled her eyes. “I’m not talking about killing her. Just neutralizing her. Taking her magic, making her unable to fight us.”

“She disappeared. I have no idea where she is. But, if she’s wanting my magic, I would assume that she won’t be gone long.”

“Maybe she’s gone to collect some kind of vessel to contain your magic in, Love,” Killian speculated.

“In that case, we need to get Emma out of there.” Emma nearly burst into tears when she heard her father in the background.

Emma wiped at her eyes furiously as Regina, Killian, Henry, and her parents all appeared before her on the other side of the bars. Emma ran for the bars trying to reach and touch all of them at once.

“Okay, okay,” Charming shouted. “The reunion will have to wait until after Emma’s free. On the count of three. One, two, three!”

Emma stepped back and held up her hands sending a stream of magic at the bars that Regina matched on the other side. White and Dark magic met and sparks flew. Emma could see her family shielding their eyes against the clash of magic and, she’d be honest, if she wasn’t one of the magic wielders, she’d be doing the same. The heat and the power that coursed through her was like nothing that she’d ever known and she was suddenly aware of why the people around her had believed in her so much and for so long. Suddenly, Killian was there, at a hole in the bars big enough for her to climb through.

At that moment, Blue appeared. Quick as an adder strike, Regina shot the fairy with a blast of dark magic, knocking her back into the cell where she had imprisoned Emma. She appeared stunned as Regina shouted, “Seal the bars, Miss Swan!”

“Do it, Mom!”

Emma shot another blast of magic at the bars, making them whole again. Regina cast a binding spell both on Blue and the cell as realization dawned on their former friend and ally.

“No!” she cried.

Snow and Charming stepped forward. “Yes. You have betrayed us in the worst possible way, Blue,” Charming said, his face hard as stone. “For that, you deserve banishment and death. However, in gratitude for your part in bringing Emma home to us, your life will not end by our hand. Once your magic is gone, you will age like the rest of us. You will remain behind bars until death sets you free. This is your punishment for the crimes against our family.” He turned to his wife, who nodded in agreement with his sentence.

Blue looked from face to face, hoping to find some glimmer of regret, a sliver of affinity in anyone’s eyes, anything that she could try to manipulate to her advantage. There was none. She bowed her head as the family turned from her in her prison and walked away.

The jubilant group emerged into the sunshine. Henry was immediately gathered in Regina’s arms, where he was overjoyed to hug his adoptive mother just as tightly as she was hugging him. Emma found herself gathered in the arms of her parents, tears flowing freely as she felt her father’s hand on the back of her head. Pulling back, astonished, Emma looked down at her mother’s very pregnant belly. It hadn’t even registered in all the action of the last few minutes until Snow gathered her close in a hug that was a year in the making. More tears spilled as Emma expressed her joy at the impending birth of her brother or sister.

Finally pulling out of her parents embrace, Emma reached out for Killian. “Mom, Dad,” she began, smiling affectionately at her True Love, “Killian brought me, brought us, home.” He took her hand, a gentle smile on his face, as she turned back toward her parents.

“We know, sweetheart,” David told her. “When Killian and Henry appeared, he was just able to tell us what happened and how he got to you. Then you appeared in the mirror.”

“Did he tell you about True Love’s Kiss bringing back my and Henry’s memories?”

David’s grin split his face. “Yes, he did. And I, we, couldn’t be happier,” he said, looking at his wife.

“We will plan an engagement and welcome home ball at once,” she exclaimed, green eyes gleaming with excitement.

Emma turned resigned and amused eyes upon her pirate. “Welcome home, Love,” he said, before leaning down and capturing her lips with his own.

“Yep, I guess I am,” she agreed.

Looking around at the faces of the people who loved her, she knew that she was home. Exactly where she wanted to be.

The End

~*~*~

Thank you for reading and sharing! I’d love to know what you think!

[cs-c-ocktoberfest2023]

CS(C)ocktoberfest2023: Mini-event

Art by @iverna​

CS(C)ocktoberfest2023: Mini-event The one time size doesn't matter

Hello all!!! So here we go again. Years back there was an event called Cocktoberfest led by the lovely @initiala and with her blessing I come to offer this one. A smaller version and I hope it's enjoyable.  

To check out the original click on the link.

I'm hoping for at least one item per day. Art, fic or any submission is welcomed.

More info to follow :)

tagging:

@allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @andiirivera @anothersworld @apiratewhopines @artistic-writer @batana54 @beckettj @bethacaciakay @brooke-to-broch @captainodonoghue @carpedzem @chasedancer17 @cocohook38 @courtorderedcake @darkcolinodonorgasm @deckerstarblanche @demisexualemmaswan @djlbg @donteattheappleshook @dovelyheart @elizabeethan @gingerchangeling @gingerpoliglot @holdingoutforapiratehero @hollyethecurious @hookedonapirate @hookedonaswanprincess @hookedonhiddles @ilovemesomekillianjones @imlaxdris71 @itsfabianadocarmo @jarienn972 @jennjenn615  @jonesfandomfanatic @jrob64 @justanother-unluckysoul @k-leemac @karlyfr13s  @kday426 @killian-will-do @klynn-stormz @kmomof4 @kwistowee @kymbersmith-90 @laschatzi @lassluna @let-it-raines @lfh1226-linda @lonelyspectator12 @mariakov81 @motherkatereloyshipper @officerrogers @ohmakemeahercules @onceratheart18 @pirateherokillian @purplehawkcaptain @resident-of-storybrooke @revanmeetra87 @sailtoafarawayland @sals86 @scribomaniac @searchingwardrobes @seriouslyhooked @shardminds @shireness-says @snowbellewells @sotangledupinit @spacekrulesbians @spartanguard @stahlop @superchocovian @swanslieutenant @tehgreeneyes @the-darkdragonfly @thejollyroger-writer @thepirateandhisson @therealstartraveller776 @thislassishooked @thisonesatellite @tiganasummertree @tomeandflickcorner @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgoodwrites @wefoundloveunderthelight @wellhellotragic @whimsicallyenchantedrose @winterbaby89 @iverna @xarandomdreamx @xsajx @zaharadessert @myfearless-love @grimmswan @fleurdepetite @hookmecaptain @once-upon-a-pirate-ship @undercaffinatednightmare @4getfulimaginator2022 @nachocheese-itsmycheese @booksteaandtoomuchtv @OUATadmire @lifeinahole27

[caught-in-the-filter]

When I Wake

— for CS Angsty August 22

Art by @undercaffinatednightmare 🥰❤️😘

Summary: Killian comforts Emma when she wakes up from a nightmare.

A/N: FINE. I wrote short angst with a happy ending. There, @kmomof4 @cosette141 . Lol 😘😘 And thank you K for betaing. ❤️

Warnings: nightmares, brief mentions of violence/death (but no one is actually harmed)

Rated: T; Words: 485; AO3

——

“Killian!”

Emma awoke with a start, sitting up in a tearful panic, her cheeks wet, scrambling to figure out where she was. Clutching at the sheets, she found herself safe in their bed, Killian sleeping soundly next to her.

The relief of seeing him there calmed her breathing though she couldn’t stop trembling, and she was glad she hadn’t woken him this time. Her sleep had been plagued by nightmares more often than not anymore, which made for countless restless nights for them both.

In her dreams, she’d watched him torn from her arms again and again in the worst ways, her subconscious deciding she didn’t deserve him, didn’t deserve happiness and comfort after a lifetime of being lost and alone. As it drew from their reality and the ways she’d already lost him, she’d had to see him shot, impaled, drowned, tortured.

Tonight, his heart had been ripped from his chest by the man on whom he’d sworn to get revenge. Emma begged for him to let Killian go, even pleading that he take her instead, but he crushed it anyway, laughing while sobs wracked her body as Killian’s collapsed in front of her.

Now she intently watched his chest rise and fall, making sure he was truly alright. Lying back down next to him again, Emma carefully placed her hand there, a light touch she hoped wouldn’t stir him, feeling his heart beating under her palm. Her fingers absently toying with his necklace as she snuggled closer to his side.

Emma gasped softly as his hand moved to rest on hers, his fingers gently clasping it as he lifted her hand to his lips for a kiss before holding it tighter against his chest, knowing how it comforted her.

“I’m alright, love,” he reassured her. “We’re alright.”

“I’m sorry.” Emma’s voice was barely a whisper, apologetic. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I just—it was bad again, and I—I needed to check.”

“You’ve nothing to apologize for.” Killian smiled as he opened his eyes and turned toward her, glancing down between his legs. “I was just having a very different dream.”

“Of course you were,” Emma teased, rolling her eyes before kissing him softly.

What started rather chaste quickly became much more, both of them desperate for each other in the same way for different reasons. Emma kept her hand on his chest while the other anchored in his hair. Killian rolled them both, straddling her waist as he kissed away her tears, his palm cradling her head as he leaned his weight on his blunted wrist planted firmly on the mattress. Soon she bucked up into him, needing to touch more of him, and he ground down against her.

“I’m here, my darling,” Killian rasped, his voice still laced with the last remnants of sleep, though Emma could feel he was very much awake. “Let me show you I’m here.”

——

Tag list ❤️: @anothersworld @batana54 @darkcolinodonorgasm @deckerstarblanche @donteattheappleshook @elizabeethan @holdingoutforapiratehero @hollyethecurious @ilovemesomekillianjones @itsfabianadocarmo @jonesfandomfanatic @jrob64 @justanother-unluckysoul @karlyfr13s @klynn-stormz @kmomof4 @laschatzi @motherkatereloyshipper @qualitycoffeethings @resident-of-storybrooke @sotangledupinit @stahlop @teamhook @the-darkdragonfly @thejollyroger-writer @tiganasummertree @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgoodwrites @wefoundloveunderthelight @whimsicallyenchantedrose @xhookswenchx @xsajx @zaharadessert

[teamhook]

Un-Kissable :|: Never Been Kissed CS AU

Hello all!! Okay, since life has been rough for a while it kinda scared the Muse away and she has been skittish to come back to me. However it seems she is taking some baby steps back to me.

What does that mean? Well, I have a new update ready but let’s just say I’m embarrassed with how long it has been between updates and maybe you guys don’t even remember the story anymore. Sorry. I did say no fic abandoned and I meant that. I just didn’t know so much crap was going to get in the way.

Okay... So I will be posting the original chapters first then add the new one.

I thank @ilovemesomekillianjones for being my beta for the first chapters and then the lovely @ultraluckycatnd took over. Both lovely human beings!

Art by @herhookedhero

 Chapter 1

Killian Jones was the youngest junior copy editor at The Glass Mirror. He should be satisfied with all the success he had accrued in his short life. Sure he had his own office and with it came an unlimited supply of office supplies, not to mention a personal assistant. But he wanted more, so much more.

His dream was to be a reporter, but it still eluded him. Sadly he was too shy and lacked the assertiveness required for the job. Not to mention his total lack of a personal life, how could he expect to report on the lives of others, when he didn't even have his own?

"Killian, do you have the copy of the new library inauguration piece ready?" his boss, Sidney Glass asked.

"It will be ready by the deadline, have I ever failed you before?"

"No, of course not, please just have the piece ready to go to print on time. I know that the computers were down for a long time but the deadline still applies."

Read the rest of CH1 here

Tagging:

@allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @andiirivera @anothersworld @apiratewhopines @artistic-writer @batana54 @beckettj @bethacaciakay @bixisarusher @branlovestowrite @brooke-to-broch @captainodonoghue @carpedzem @chasedancer17 @cocohook38 @courtorderedcake @darkcolinodonorgasm @deckerstarblanche @demisexualemmaswan @djlbg @donteattheappleshook @dovelyheart @elizabeethan @gingerchangeling @gingerpoliglot @holdingoutforapiratehero @hollyethecurious @hookedonapirate @hookedonaswanprincess @hookedonhiddles @ilovemesomekillianjones @imlaxdris71 @itsfabianadocarmo @jarienn972 @jennjenn615 @jonesfandomfanatic @jrob64 @justanother-unluckysoul @k-leemac @karlyfr13s @kday426 @killian-will-do @klynn-stormz @kmomof4 @kwistowee @kymbersmith-90 @laschatzi @lassluna @let-it-raines @lfh1226-linda @lonelyspectator12 @mariakov81 @motherkatereloyshipper @officerrogers @ohmakemeahercules @onceratheart18 @pirateherokillian @purplehawkcaptain @queen-serena88 @resident-of-storybrooke @revanmeetra87 @rumdrum91 @sailtoafarawayland @sals86 @scribomaniac @searchingwardrobes @seriouslyhooked @shardminds @shireness-says @snowbellewells @sotangledupinit @spacekrulesbians @spartanguard @stahlop @superchocovian @swanslieutenant @tehgreeneyes @the-darkdragonfly @thejollyroger-writer @thepirateandhisson @therealstartraveller776 @thislassishooked @thisonesatellite @tiganasummertree @tomeandflickcorner @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgoodwrites @wefoundloveunderthelight @wellhellotragic @whimsicallyenchantedrose @winterbaby89 @winterbythesea @xarandomdreamx @xsajx @zaharadessert @myfearless-love @cosette141 @grimmswan @fleurdepetite @hookmecaptain @once-upon-a-pirate-ship @undercaffinatednightmare @caught-in-the-filter @4getfulimaginator2022 @nachocheese-itsmycheese​  

[the-darkdragonfly]

Coming Soon: Lover - A SilverHook Tale

This started out as a cute little One Shot (as they all do) but it's become something a little bit... more.

(thank you to @k-leemac for the SH art - I love it more than I can say!)

♥♥♥

Emma Nolan was playing a dangerous game. 

He had been telling her that for ages, voice rough in the soft light of morning as she whispered her game into his skin, teeth nipping at his shoulder while she giggled and pressed firmly into him, warning her that something like this would happen. 

But she couldn’t stop herself; the thrill of it rushed through her as she kept the two men entirely separated by a few letters in the contacts of her phone. Even with the near constant threat of mixing up messages that loomed over her, she would smirk and type out a message to her boyfriend- I’m a bit old for that title, love- a mixture of text and emojis which would have him squinting in annoyance at her message, flushing deeply to the tips of his ears as he deciphered the explicit hieroglyphics she had sent him. 

She had teased him, it was so easy to do, laying draped across his back in their Boston apartment before the accident which uprooted both of their lives- as she groaned against the light streaming in through the curtains he insisted on leaving open- years of Royal Navy service, darling- which shone bright across her face, that while he may not be old enough to be her father, he was old enough to be her daddy. He’d grumbled and growled and called her a pervert, but the small secret smile which he tried desperately to hide between his teeth gave him away and she sucked a mark into his shoulder. 

Fine- she smirked as his hand connected solidly with her ass, a loud crack through the quiet room- we do need to move at some point, my love- pushing the quilt off herself, feet curling at the shock of the cold floor under her- you can be my man-friend instead.

He had tackled her, blunted wrist tight against her middle- that sounds like a dog- hauling her back to the nest of blankets before pressing her beneath him, ignoring the chirping of her alarm. 

That had been over three years ago, and while he still grumbled about it every so often, he had stayed that way in her contacts, making her smile each time a message pinged across her screen. 

♥♥♥

Coming Soon!

Read my other stuff here.

Tag List (let me know if you would like to be added!):

@elizabeethan @donteattheappleshook @sailtoafarawayland @teamhook @wefoundloveunderthelight @caught-in-the-filter @batana54 @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgood @veryverynotgoodwrites @snowbellewells @hollyethecurious @jrob64 @kmomof4 @artistic-writer @gingerpolyglot @xarandomdreamx @xhookswenchx @justanother-unluckysoul @itsfabianadocarmo @zaharadessert @jadehowlettthewolf @xsjax @karlyfr13s @tiganasummertree @asluve @wyntereyez @klynn-stormz @onceratheart18 @rkrbirdgirl @ouatdaily @blowmiakisscolin @courtorderedcake @winterbaby89 @pirateprincessofpizza @superchocovian @deckerstarblanche @jlsadphoenix @alexa-fangirl-forever @stahlop @ohmakemeahercules @undercaffinatednightmare @lostintheskyfaraway @anmylica @motherkatereloyshipper @last-tsarina @lfh1226-linda

[cssns]

Captain Swan Supernatural Summer: June Round-Up

Now that we’ve reached the end of our event, it’s time for ROUND UPS, starting with... 

JUNE 2021

“The Good Fight”

We kicked off the event with @justanother-unluckysoul ‘s “The Good Fight” with art by @wefoundloveunderthelight !

Summary: Emma Nolan has hunted a lot of creatures in her life and there are very few things out there that she hasn’t killed at this point. But there’s one thing that isn’t real – angels. At least, that’s what she thought until the day she met Killian, angel of the lord.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

“The Belle Dame Emma”

Next came @snowbellewells “The Belle Dame Emma,” with art by @caught-in-the-filter

Summary: Legend has it that the fae woman in the meadow will ensnare any who dare enter her domain, but the knight who chances a meeting can tell there is more to the story than superstition and gossip has allowed. The path to the truth and redemption may be fraught with dangers - to the both of them - but is it not the sworn duty of a true knight to help any who may be in need?

Start Reading it here! 

“Unmasking the Truth”

@stahlop ‘s “Unmasking the Truth” was a lovely superhero one-shot with art by @kmomof4

Read it here!

“The Descent”

Next came a vampire/werewolf AU by saviorrswan, “The Descent!” Find it on AO3 here! 

Summary: Everything had changed for Emma Swan so incredibly, mind-numbingly fast. Being a werewolf was simple, as simple as being supernatural could be, but now she was more than that. A vampire. A hybrid. A paradox, abomination, and mess all wrapped up in a nice little bow. Killian Jones, a decently old pirate turned vampire, has been asked to tutor a young vampire-werewolf hybrid on how to be a studious, law-abiding vampire.

He didn’t expect her to warm his still-beating heart and move his wretched soul.

She didnt expect him to break down her walls and help her learn to love herself again.

Original art by @carpedzem

Then we had a beautiful sketch by @carpedzem

“Ivory Runs Red”

Then we were all blown away by @searchingwardrobes ‘s ghost story “Ivory Runs Red”! (completed!)

Summary:  When ebony flashes gold, blood runs cold. When ivory runs red, you’ll be dead. Killian Jones had heard the old rhyme his entire life. Every child did in Storybrooke, Maine. They heard it whispered in the dark at sleepovers as children; taunted as a challenge as teenagers. Killian never believed it was actually true. Until that fateful night …

Find it here!

“Most Wanted”

@spartanguard brought us to a new world that brings together the Enchanted Forest and the wild west with “Most Wanted”! (Complete!)

Summary: Killian Jones has been tracking Emma Swan, notorious cat burglar, across the realm as she’s wanted for murder. The sooner he finds her, the faster he gets back to his daughter. But meeting an enchanting lass in a small village—along with Miss Swan’s feline familiar (perhaps too familiar)—definitely affects his plans; this case might not be as open-and-shut as he’d like.

Read it here!

Original art by @wefoundloveunderthelight

To wrap up the first month, we had part one of some incredible art by @wefoundloveunderthelight -- check it out! 

Next week we’ll have the July round-up! 

[kmomof4]

Crash Landings: A New Fic by @kmomof4

Story Summary: From a May 10, 2022 CNN article shared in the CSMM pitch channel: A passenger with no flying experience landed a plane at a Florida airport after the pilot became incapacitated. After a few ideas were batted around, I settled on this one and ran with it. I had a lot of fun writing it and hope y’all enjoy!

All the love and thanks in the world to @jrob64​ for her betaing expertise, help with the art, and all her encouragement. It’s thanks to her that the fic didn’t end with Killian asking Emma out, so if you like the rest of the fic, be sure to thank her!

A/N: In this universe, Emma and Neal have been divorced for five years but have an amicable relationship. Neal is not a complete asshole. Also, I am not a pilot, nor do I play one on TV, so all things that have to do with flying in this fic are the result of Google searches and input from my dad who was a navigator in the Air Force when I was very young. It’s fanfiction, y’all. Just go with it…

Rating: G (although there is major character peril at the beginning of the fic, but everyone is fine.)

Words: 8300

Tags: Major Character Peril

On ao3

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you’d like to be added or removed.

@hollyethecurious​ @winterbaby89​ @snowbellewells​ @stahlop​ @resident-of-storybrooke​ @jennjenn615​ @kingofmyheart14​ @profdanglaisstuff​ @branlovestowrite​ @thisonesatellite​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @flslp87​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ @let-it-raines​ @shireness-says​ @kymbersmith-90​ @darkcolinodonorgasm​ @bethacaciakay​ @searchingwardrobes​ @ilovemesomekillianjones​ @teamhook​ @aprilqueen84​ @qualitycoffeethings​ @superchocovian​ @artistic-writer​ @donteattheappleshook​ @doodlelolly0910​ @seriouslyhooked​ @tiganasummertree​ @lfh1226-linda​ @xsajx​ @klynn-stormz​ @jrob64​ @wefoundloveunderthelight​ @zaharadessert​ @elizabeethan​ @xhookswenchx​ @gingerpolyglot​ @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713​ @sailtoafarawayland​ @justanother-unluckysoul​ @veryverynotgoodwrites​ @jonesfandomfanatic​ @deckerstarblanche​ @the-darkdragonfly​ @batana54​ @purplehawkcaptain​ @k-leemac​ @motherkatereloyshipper​ @apiratewhopines​ @killiansqueenofthejollyroger​ @onceuponahookandswan​ @meat-pie-with-sauce​ @cosette141​ @pirateprincessofpizza​ @xarandomdreamx​ @fleurdepetite​ @hookmecaptain​ @o-wild-west-wind​

Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

 “Ahhh, Ch-Charleston, Cessna 172,” Neal Cassidy groaned, identifying himself and contacting Air Traffic Control at the Charleston International Airport, where he was due to land in about twelve minutes, bringing his son Henry home after his summer visitation.

They’d had a great time for the past three months. Multiple trips to the plethora of museums the city had to offer, The Lion King and Aladdin on Broadway, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour were just some of the adventures they’d had since Neal picked his son up back at the end of May. But school was starting back up next week and he and his ex-wife Emma thought it’d be best for Henry to have a few days to adjust back into his usual routine before school actually started.

“This is Charleston, Cessna. Go ahead,” the voice crackled over the headset.

“Um, I’m not feeling… too great at the moment, Charleston,” he bit out. His chest was tight, his arms ached, and he was having trouble drawing in a deep breath. “My chest hurts and…” He grimaced in pain as the tightening turned into an agonizing pressure that literally took his breath away. His vision darkened at the edges and moments later he lost consciousness, slumping over the controls.

“Dad? Dad! Wake up, Dad!” Henry cried, terrified when his father fell forward into the controls of the small aircraft. He took the headset off of his dad and placed it on his own head. “Charleston?” Henry asked into the headset.

“This is Charleston, Cessna. Is this the pilot?”

“No, no,” Henry rushed to inform the air traffic controller. “My dad just passed out. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He said his chest hurt and then he fell against the controls. I pulled him back and put on the headset, but I don’t know what to do.” Henry couldn’t keep the terror out of his voice nor the tears out of his eyes as he did his best to explain what happened.

“What’s your name, Cessna? And how old are you?”

“My name’s Henry Cassidy and I’m ten.”

Killian Jones took a deep breath and said a quick prayer. “Are you and your dad the only ones on the plane, Henry?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Ok. My name’s Killian, Henry, and I’m going to make sure you land safely and that your dad gets the help he needs, ok?” He injected every ounce of calm he could into his voice as he ordered emergency vehicles to the runway. This wasn’t the first time he’d had to help conduct an emergency landing, but it was the first time he’d ever had to guide a child in doing it.

“Ok,” Henry said, his voice quivering just a bit.

“Alright, Henry,” Killian said, keeping a tight rein on his emotions. “Has your dad ever shown you anything about flying? What any of the controls are or what they do?”

“Yes, sir,” the boy answered. “Sometimes he lets me steer the plane and he’s shown me the altitude and horizon thingie and the fuel gauge.”

“That is great, Henry. Your dad has done a fantastic job getting you prepared…” Killian trailed off for a moment, unsure what to say next. He didn’t want to further alarm the boy by saying out loud that this was an emergency situation, but he needed to encourage Henry that he already had a leg up over someone who’d never been in a cockpit of an aircraft before. A burst of inspiration hit him and before he could overthink it, he continued. “...getting you prepared to be a pilot yourself someday. Ok, Henry, your dad had already begun his descent and was starting to turn toward the airport. Can you tell me what you can see straight ahead?”

“Yeah,” Henry assured him. “I can see the coast on my right, but we’re still out over the ocean. I can see… it looks like an interstate and I can see the bay.”

“Ok, that’s very good, Henry,” Killian praised him. “Turn toward the bay and you should be able to see the airport not far beyond it.”

Henry had been in the cockpit of the Cessna enough times over the years that he remembered how his dad would line up with the bay when they approached the airport. He did what Killian said and it was only a minute or so when he could see the airport straight ahead of him, the air traffic control tower off to the right.

“I can see it! I can see it!” Henry cried. A huge grin split Killian’s face as he listened to the elated little boy.

“Very good, Henry. You’re doing great.” The control tower had gone silent as Killian’s fellow controllers were riveted to the drama playing out. The other planes that were waiting to land or take off had all been put on a different frequency to keep the distractions between Henry and Killian to a minimum, and were in a holding pattern until Henry could, hopefully, safely land. “Ok, we’re going to get the plane ready to land now. I’m going to talk you through lowering the wing flaps, alright, Henry?”

“Oh, I know how to do that!” Henry exclaimed, excitedly. “My dad showed me!”

“Excellent, Henry. Go ahead and lower them then,” Killian urged him. “Slow and steady, but make sure you don’t do it too slowly or it could stall the plane.” He looked up and could see the Cessna in the distance. It was way too high to hit the runway, but at least it was level with neither wing dipping and Killian’s heart rate picked up even more as he took a deep breath and waited for Henry to respond to his instruction.

“Ok, it’s done,” Henry said. “I’m at full flaps.”

“Well done, Henry,” Killian encouraged him. “I can see the plane and you should be able to see the runway and see the emergency vehicles waiting for you.”

“Yes, I can.”

“Very good. Now what I need you to do is to move the power lever out - not too far and not too fast. Right there in the middle. Do you see it, Henry?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very good. Move it down slowly into idle and the nose of the plane should begin to dip. We want your front wheel to hit the runway first. As soon as all the wheels hit the tarmac, you’ll need to apply the brakes. Are you tall enough to reach the pedals and still see through the windshield, Henry?”

Henry stretched his legs out from where he sat and could just touch the rudder pedals for the plane, but when he looked up at the windshield in front of the seat, he could no longer see the runway or even the airport anymore. “No, sir, I can’t. I can touch the pedals, but I can’t see in front of me when I do.”

Killian’s heart rate picked up even more as he realized just how much danger Henry was now in. His eyes cut over to his friend and colleague Robin Locksley who nodded in support. Taking a deep breath and sending up another prayer, Killian turned back to his charge.

“Ok, Henry, it’s more important for you to be able to see than to bring the plane to a stop at this point. Once the plane’s wheels hit the ground, friction will slow it down enough, but we want to make sure you hit the runway and not some other building at the airport,” Killian said. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Henry’s voice quavered as he sat back up in the seat so he could see the runway in front of him.

“Excellent, Henry. Now move the power lever.” It seemed to take forever. The plane was rapidly approaching and still a little too high. Suddenly, the nose of the plane dipped and the plane dropped, now only about fifty feet from the runway and maybe twenty feet above it. Killian watched from his place in the tower, his heart in his throat as he sent up a fervent prayer that Henry would be able to land the plane safely.

The wheels touched down, but the small aircraft bounced back into the air slightly before coming back down and going into a spin across the runway. One of the back wheels broke off and went flying, dipping one wing toward the tarmac, and intensifying the spinning of the plane as it careened toward the infield. Killian felt sick as the plane finally came to a stop about fifty yards from the air traffic control tower.

“Henry, are you there?” Killian asked, anxiously. “Are you alright?”

“I’m here, Killian,” the boy answered. “I’m ok.” As soon as Henry’s voice came across the frequency, a jubilant shout went up from the other controllers. Killian laughed in relieved elation as he removed his headset and started toward the door that would take him down to the infield so he could see for himself that Henry was alright. He wondered who he might have waiting for him and his dad here at the airport and could only hope whoever it was hadn’t realized this particular plane had contained the boy and his father.

As he opened the door of the control room, he could hear Robin reporting to the other waiting aircraft that the ten year old accidental pilot had landed the plane and was ok.

“Are you serious? That was a kid?” another pilot asked. “I’m sure glad he’s ok.” Killian silently agreed as he ran down the stairs to the runway.

“Henry! Henry!” he cried, waving like mad and sprinting toward the plane, where the little boy was just climbing out. The emergency vehicles were already there, a paramedic approaching Henry while two others attended to his father on the other side of the plane. Killian made it to them just as the paramedic was checking Henry over for any injuries.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he insisted, just before he winced as the paramedic ran his hands over Henry’s hips. Henry pulled his pants down just enough for them all to see an already colorful bruise where the seatbelt must have caught him as the airplane landed.

Suddenly Killian heard a new voice from the direction of the terminal. Henry’s head snapped up and Killian turned to see a gorgeous blonde running toward them.

“Mom!” Henry cried, pulling away from them both and running toward the woman. She caught him in her arms, holding him close as Killian and the paramedic approached.

The fear and panic on her face was clear as she looked at the paramedic. “Is he ok?”

“Just some bruising from the seatbelt,” he informed her.

“Oh, thank God,” she breathed, closing her eyes and holding her son even tighter. Her eyes opened again and met Killian’s as she set Henry back down on the ground. He held his hand out to the stunning beauty, feeling a bit bashful as he did.

“Killian… oof,” his introduction was cut off as Henry flung his arms around his waist in a tight hug.

“Killian helped me land the plane, Mom,” he informed her, releasing him and turning toward her again.

The woman let go a breathy exclamation at Henry’s statement. “You landed the plane?” she asked, looking back toward the aircraft. “What happened?” Her countenance was dismayed as she looked past Killian to where the paramedics were getting Henry’s dad on a stretcher and heading toward the ambulance. They all moved toward the medical personnel and Killian could see Henry’s eyes begin to fill with tears as they got closer.

“I don’t know, Mom,” Henry said. “He said his chest hurt and then he fell over on the controls. I took the headset and Killian here helped me land the plane.”

“Oh, God,” she breathed, turning toward Killian. He scratched behind his ear in a nervous gesture as he held out his other hand. She completely ignored his outstretched hand and hugged him tightly instead. Immensely pleased, Killian reciprocated the hug.

“Thank you so much,” she breathed.

“It was my pleasure, milady,” he assured her as he let go. “But Henry is the real hero here, I was just doing my job. Killian Jones,” he finally introduced himself, holding his hand out to her for the third time.

“Emma Swan,” she replied, taking it in her own.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Emma.”

They all turned back to the paramedics who were getting ready to load the patient into the ambulance. The man’s eyes were open and Killian breathed a sigh of relief.

“Is he going to be ok?” Henry asked, tears shining in his eyes.

“They’ll have to run tests at the hospital, but it looks like it was an angina attack. We’re taking him to MUSC,” the paramedic told him. Henry moved closer and rubbed his dad’s arm before he was loaded into the ambulance.

“I’ll be fine, buddy,” the man said. “I’ll see you at the hospital, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Emma affirmed before Henry could speak. “We’ll be right behind you. I’ll call Tink.”

“Thanks, Em.”

As soon as the doors of the ambulance shut, Henry turned and threw his arms around Killian’s waist again.

“Thank you for helping me, Killian,” he choked out.

“Of course, lad.”

“I don’t know how I can ever thank you,” Emma admitted, her own tears close to the surface.

Killian scratched behind his ear again. He didn’t see a ring on Emma’s finger and he also noticed that her last name was different from Henry’s, so he was hoping she might be single.

“Would it be too forward of me to ask you out for a cup of coffee?”

Emma smiled with definite interest in her eyes and Killian felt a wide grin split his face.

“I think that could be arranged,” she replied. She took her phone out of her pocket and handed it to him after unlocking it. “Put your name and number in here. After I’m sure Neal is going to be ok and everything settles down, I’ll give you a call.”

“I will look forward to it,” he assured her, putting his information into her phone.

“Yay!” Henry cried. “I’ll see you later, Killian! Thanks again!”

Killian took Emma’s hand in his own and raised it to his mouth, brushing her knuckles with his lips.

“Until we meet again, Emma.”

“I’ll see you soon, Killian.”

~*~*~

Saturday afternoon, Killian came inside after finishing the lawn work he’d been engaged in most of the day. His grass was cut, lawn edged, hedges trimmed, and weeds pulled from the flower beds ready for the fall mums he’d be planting in the next few weeks.

Using the hem of the t-shirt he wore, he wiped his face as his cell phone began to ring. An unknown number with a local area code showed on the screen and he couldn’t help his anxious inhale and rising heartbeat as he answered, desperately hoping it was Emma.

“Hello?”

“Killian?”

A huge grin crossed his face. “Emma,” he exclaimed. “I’m so glad you called. How’s Henry after his adventure yesterday? How’s Neal?” He hoped he had the name of Henry’s dad correct as he waited for her to speak.

“Henry’s fine,” she assured him. “None the worse for wear after all the excitement yesterday. I was a little concerned that he’d have trouble sleeping last night, after seeing his dad like that and the crash landing, but he didn’t.”

“I’m so glad,” Killian said. “Bless him, I could hear in his voice how frightened he was for his dad. Speaking of, how is he?”

“He’s doing better,” she informed him. “The doctors still need to run some more tests, so he’ll be in the hospital until at least Monday. But so far, they’re thinking it was an angina attack. His wife got in this afternoon and we just got back from taking her to the hospital.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” There was a brief pause and he could hear Emma take a deep breath on the other end of the line. He smiled, hoping he knew what she would say next.

“So, I was wondering if I could take you up on that offer for coffee,” Emma asked, her voice sounding almost shy.

“I would love to take you out for coffee, Emma,” he began, “but I wondered, since it’s the weekend, if perhaps we could make it lunch tomorrow?” Killian knew he was taking a risk, and scratched at the spot behind his ear in his nervousness. His brother, Liam, had recently told him about a wonderful restaurant downtown he and his wife had discovered called Magnolia’s that he thought would be a very nice, but unthreatening, location for a first date. And when he’d gone to the website himself, he saw they were open for Sunday brunch.

“I can do that,” she said, smiling into the phone. She had to admit, her heart beat just a little faster at the thought of a real date with the handsome air traffic controller, rather than just meeting for coffee. “Henry has plans tomorrow to visit his best friend he hasn’t seen all summer. He lives about ten minutes away from us. Would you mind if we dropped him off over there before heading out to lunch?”

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” he assured her. “It would be great to see him again and it’d give me a chance to give him his pilot’s wings for landing the plane. What time can I pick you up and what’s your address?”

“Awwww!” she exclaimed. “You don’t need to do that, but I’m sure he’ll be so excited. How about you pick us up about eleven and I’ll text you my address?”

“That will be fine, Emma. I’ll see you both tomorrow at eleven, then.” He hung up, a wide smile on his lips that he would have been hard pressed to wipe off if his life depended on it. A moment later, he received a text with an address that was only a couple of neighborhoods over from his own home. Opening his phone again, he pulled up Magnolia’s website and made reservations for two at eleven thirty the next day before heading to his bathroom to shower.

~*~*~

Killian stood on the front stoop of the Swan household holding a small bouquet of sunflowers in his hand and trying desperately not to scratch behind his ear in his nervousness. The door opened and Killian grinned down at Henry whose smile completely lit up his face.

“Hi, Killian!”

“Hello, lad,” he replied.

“Are those for my mom?”

Killian looked at the flowers and could feel the heat begin to creep up his neck onto his face.

“Uh, yes,” he stammered. “Yes, they are. Do you think she’ll like them?”

Killian didn’t think Henry’s grin could get any bigger, but he was obviously mistaken. “She’ll love them,” he assured him.

“Hi, Killian.” A new voice joined them and Killian looked up and struggled to keep his jaw from dropping. Emma wore a coral sleeveless blouse tucked into cool white linen pants and strappy coral sandals. Her hair was gathered into a messy braid that rested on her shoulder with soft tendrils framing her face. She was a vision and Killian had to remind himself to breathe.

He thrust his hand holding the flowers toward her and was gratified at the surprised smile on her face. “For you,” he said. “The color reminded me of your hair.” He blushed at his admission and smiled when her own cheeks reddened in response.

Biting her bottom lip through her smile, she took them and brought them to her nose to smell. “They’re beautiful,” she breathed. “Thank you so much. Sunflowers always make me think of fall. It’s my favorite season.”

“Mine as well, Emma,” he replied. “The cooler weather, fall colors, football, all the things autumn brings.” Looking down at Henry, Killian continued, “And come Thanksgiving, we’ll have much to celebrate, won’t we?”

A soft smile graced Emma’s face as she looked at her son. “We will. Let me put these in water, and I’ll be ready to go.” She turned away back into the house, leaving Henry and Killian alone for a moment.

“That reminds me,” Killian said, reaching into the pocket of the suit jacket he wore. Pulling out a small pin, he knelt down in front of the boy. “This is an official Aviator Wing pin that’s often given to student pilots after they solo for the first time. Since you’ve had your first solo flight and brought the plane in safely, I thought it was appropriate for you to have this.” Killian looked up and saw Emma standing at the back of the foyer with tears in her eyes. He smiled gently at her before looking at Henry again.

 The boy's face was a stunned O of surprise as he shook his head. “But I crashed the plane. I’m not a real pilot, Killian.”

“You may not be a real pilot, Henry, but you did fly and land the plane. And in the words of a very famous pilot, any landing you walk away from is a good landing. So, yes, you do deserve these wings.”

Henry smiled and stood up as straight as he could as Killian reached out and pinned it to the t-shirt he wore. “Congratulations, my boy.”

“Thanks, Killian.”

Killian rose to his feet again and smiled at Emma as she moved toward them. Henry turned and puffed out his chest so his mom could see his new ornamentation.

“Look what Killian gave me, Mom!” he exclaimed. “A real aviator pin!”

Emma nodded and smiled. “Yes, I saw,” she said, beaming down at him. “Well done. I’m very proud of you.” She looked back up at Killian, her eyes sparkling.

Killian held his elbow out to her. “Shall we, milady? Sir?”

“Yes!” Henry shouted and ran down the front walk to Killian’s SS Chevelle parked at the curb. Emma looped her arm in Killian’s and he smiled as he escorted her to the passenger side of his car and opened the door for her. Henry was already making himself at home in the back, bouncing on the seat.

“Put your seatbelt on, lad,” Killian admonished him as he settled into the driver’s seat and started the car.

“Yes, sir.” Killian smiled at the manners of the boy. He’d noticed them on Friday during the landing, but with the unfolding crisis and everything literally up in the air, he hadn’t had a chance to really think about it until presented with them again. Henry chattered from the backseat until Killian pulled up in front of Henry’s best friend, Nicholas’s, house.

Emma walked her son to the front door and was back in her seat just a few minutes later.

“He was so proud of that pin you gave him, Killian,” she informed him. “He couldn’t wait to show Nicholas.” She turned more fully toward him on her seat and placed her hand on his upper arm as he drove. “You really didn’t need to do that.”

Killian turned toward her slightly and smiled. “I know I didn’t need to, but I wanted to. What he did Friday was a huge accomplishment and it needed to be commemorated. It could have turned out much worse. For his dad and for him.” He looked at her meaningfully. “It was truly my pleasure, Swan. I wanted to do it.”

Emma tilted her head with a smile. “Swan?”

“Oh,” Killian said, heat moving up his neck. “Uh, I just thought… um… it’s just a lovely name and it suits you. I hope you don’t mind.”

The smile that graced her face was small and shy, but it still made Killian’s heart beat faster as he watched her out of the corner of his eye.

“No, I don’t mind.”

Killian smiled as he turned his attention back to the road. “My brother and his wife told me about this place downtown they discovered called Magnolia’s that they really enjoyed for their anniversary a couple of months ago, so I thought we could try it today. It specializes in Southern comfort food.”

“Sounds great.”

A few minutes later, they arrived at the downtown establishment. Killian hurried around to the other side of the car and opened the door for her, taking her hand and tucking it into his elbow as they walked toward the front door of the restaurant.

“Such a gentleman,” she murmured.

“I’m always a gentleman, Swan.” He opened the door for her and was greeted by the hostess. “Reservations for two under the name Jones.”

“I have you right here, Mr. Jones,” she said, with a bright smile. “Follow me, please.”

She led them further into the restaurant and Killian found himself taking in the somewhat rustic, yet very elegant surroundings. The entire back wall of the restaurant was rough hewn wood and filled with wide and tall windows letting in abundant natural light that gave the entire space a very open and warm feel. The tables were dressed with white tablecloths with a small vase of deep pink flowers in the center. When they arrived at their table, Killian pulled out Emma’s chair and seated her at the table before taking his own.

“I looked over the menu yesterday when I made the reservation and I think I’m going to get the Salmon Cakes Benedict. Poached eggs, wilted spinach, English muffin, dill hollandaise, and hash browns.”

“That sounds delicious,” Emma said, looking over her own menu. “Ooo, I think I’ll have the Banana Pudding Stuffed French Toast.”

“Excellent choice, I’m sure.” After giving their order to the waiter, Killian smiled across the table at Emma.

“So, you have a brother?” Emma asked.

“Yes, one older,” he informed her. He rolled his eyes, but the affection within them was still clear as he continued. “To this day, he insists on calling me his little brother. Drives me crazy. He’s the harbor master. He and Elsa have been married ten years and have two boys, Aiden and Colten, and a daughter due next month.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone, opening his Instagram. “This is them when we celebrated the 4th.”

Emma grinned as she saw the two boys with their uncle. The smiles on all their faces were wide and Emma could see the resemblance between Killian and his nephews in their bright blue eyes and the shape of one of the boy's noses and the other's ears.

“That’s wonderful that your family is so close by,” Emma commented.

“It really is,” he agreed. “My work schedule means I don’t get to see them all as often as I’d like, but I couldn’t imagine how much worse it’d be if they lived out of town, or God forbid, out of state!” His eyes widened a bit in horror, and Emma couldn’t help but giggle a little at the sight. “What about you?” he asked. “Do you have family close by?”

Emma looked down briefly before meeting his gaze again. She wouldn’t normally be sharing this kind of information on a first date, but he had asked, and it wasn’t like he had any way of knowing her comfort level with the topic of conversation.

“No, actually,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “Henry is the only family I have. Although I do have a good relationship with his dad. I was an orphan and raised in foster care.” She shrugged and looked in his eyes. She didn’t know what she expected to see, but she was surprised to find admiration mixed with sorrow at her revelation.

“I’m sorry you had to live through that, Emma. That couldn’t have been easy.”

“It wasn’t. But my upbringing made me the person I am today, setting me on a very fulfilling career path and I can’t regret that.”

“That’s an excellent attitude to have,” he said, nodding.

She took a deep breath before continuing. “I met Neal when I was a senior in high school. He was older, but I didn’t care. We got married by the Justice of the Peace when I was 19 after a pregnancy scare that turned out to be nothing. Henry was born when I was 24 and Neal was 30. By the time Henry was five, we knew our marriage wasn’t working. We weren’t in love anymore, if we’d ever truly been, and so we decided to split instead of essentially lying to ourselves and Henry.”

Killian nodded in understanding and Emma felt a sense of relief so profound that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. Here she was, essentially telling a complete stranger her life story and somehow she knew the knowledge would be safe with him. There was no judgment in his eyes. Just an acceptance and pride that she would expect out of a close friend or ally, not a man she’d only met a couple of days before.

“You said your upbringing set you on your career path,” Killian observed. “What is that, if I may ask.”

Emma grinned and her eyes lit up. “Of course! I’m a social worker. Growing up on the other side of the equation, I wanted to do my part in making a difference in other kids' lives. I was lucky, where so many other kids aren’t. I was raised by the same woman from the time I was four. But she passed away before Henry was born. She got to see me graduate with my degree, though.”

“That’s wonderful,” Killian enthused. “I’m so glad you at least had that stability as you grew up.” He cut his eyes away from her briefly before returning his gaze to her own. “I have a similar story,” he informed her. “Our mother died when I was young and our father abandoned us not long after. We were also raised in foster care by Captain Nemo.” He smiled at the memory. “He was the harbormaster when we were growing up. Brought Liam on when he was fifteen.”

Their waiter approached with their meals then, interrupting their conversation. After he withdrew, Emma invited Killian to continue.

“He passed not long after Liam and Elsa married,” he continued. “By then, Liam had worked his way up the ranks at the harbor and he was able to step into his shoes nicely.” Killian smiled. “I love the water as much as they both did, but I’d always been more fascinated by planes. I wasn’t interested in being a commercial pilot, but wanted to be an air traffic controller instead. Nemo made sure I could follow my dream.”

Emma smiled softly. “Looks like we were both lucky in our upbringings.”

Killian looked into her eyes. The green shone in the light from the windows, but he couldn’t be sure if there were tears or not. He had to admit, bringing back these memories and sharing them with someone was choking him up just a bit.

“I rather think they’re blessings from God,” he mused, thoughtfully. “I tend to think that things happen for a reason…” he trailed away for a moment before continuing. “Makes more sense of the universe that way.”

“I can see that,” Emma agreed. “Looking back over my life, I realize how very lucky, uh, blessed, I have been. Being raised by Ingrid, who made sure I could follow my dream. Even though we’re divorced, Neal gave me Henry and I could never regret that. Plus the fact that we really have a good relationship. Probably better now than when we were married, honestly,” she laughed lightly.

Killian nodded and chuckled. “It seemed that way when you spoke to him before they took him in the ambulance.”

“Yeah,” Emma continued. “There haven’t been any custody issues, and we’re both in agreement on how Henry should be raised. We’ve been divorced five years now and Henry spends his summers with Neal and we switch off for fall and spring breaks and Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year, he’ll be here for fall break and Christmas and spend Thanksgiving and spring break in New York City with his dad and step-mother, Tink.”

Killian’s eyebrows raised nearly to his hairline and Emma had to bite back her chuckle. “Tink?” he asked. “Like Tinkerbell?”

“She has very pixie-like features, and apparently always has,” Emma told him, “So she insisted on being called Tink from the first time she saw Disney’s Peter Pan when she was four.” They laughed together for a moment before Emma continued. “I want to say her legal name is Tina, but I can’t swear to it. They’re expecting their first child in January and Henry is beside himself. He can’t wait to be a big brother.”

Killian grinned widely. “That’s wonderful. I can imagine. So he’ll be able to meet his baby brother or sister over spring break? Or will he be able to go see them in January? Do they know what they’re having yet?”

“Actually no,” she said. “They haven’t decided whether to find out or not. They have an envelope on their kitchen table with the results of the ultrasound she had a couple of weeks ago. Henry is even more beside himself over that. He’ll have to wait until spring break though, to get to meet him or her in person, but they call every week and FaceTime, so we’ll get to see the little one before then.”

“That is great. I’m glad he’s excited.” The conversation continued, bouncing between everything from current movies to hobbies they both enjoyed.

Killian took his last bite and sat back in his seat. “This was delicious.”

“It was,” Emma agreed, swirling her finger in the peanut butter syrup still covering her plate before sucking it off. She looked across the table at her companion and saw how his eyes widened and his mouth dropped slightly at her action. A shiver of attraction raced down her spine and what she hoped was a flirty smile lifted her lips as she watched him. His eyes darkened and a smirk graced his mouth, giving him a roguish look that only made the shiver intensify.

“Bad form, Swan,” he said huskily. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here.”

“And I like the gentleman,” she said, lifting her eyebrow slightly. “But that doesn’t mean there can’t be a little fun.”

“A very little, Swan.” He took a deep breath and reached across the table to take her hands. His smile and the look in his eye was genuine and Emma felt her respect for the man in front of her suddenly skyrocket. “I don’t date much,” he informed her seriously. “I never have, really. Most women I’ve gone out with were only interested in one thing and I was raised to respect women and to treasure and protect a physical relationship. I don’t pillage and plunder on a first date. I really like you, Emma, and I’d like to see where this might go.”

Emma smiled gently at him, his words filling her heart in a way she’d never known. “I really like you, too, Killian,” she said. Her words made him light up like the sunrise and the shiver of attraction became a soothing warmth that she felt all the way down to her toes.

He sat back and pulled his wallet out of his pocket, extracting a credit card and laying it on the table for their waiter. He turned his attention back on her with a question in his eyes.

“You said Neal would be in the hospital through the weekend? Do you think it’d be alright if I stopped by? Just to offer my hope for his speedy recovery?”

“I think that’s a great idea, Killian,” she agreed. “Would you like me to come along? I don’t have any other plans this afternoon, until I have to pick up Henry after dinner. I can introduce you.”

Killian’s jaw dropped open slightly. “You’d do that? You sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” she promised. “I’d love to.”

“I would really appreciate it if you would come along,” he said, sincerely. “But I don’t want you to feel pressured. It’s not necessary.”

“No pressure. I promise. I’m glad to do it,” she assured him. She rose from her seat. “I’m going to run to the restroom before we go.”

Killian also rose when she did, his eyes tracing her form as she walked away. He hadn’t felt this way about a woman since college and he really didn’t want to screw it up. He took his card back from the waiter and moved to the front door to wait for Emma. When she emerged from the restroom, he couldn’t keep the smile off his face if he tried. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, hands down. He offered his arm and placed his other hand on hers when she took it.

The drive to MUSC was less than ten minutes, and Killian was grateful that Emma kept the conversation from inside Magnolia’s going, helping to keep his nerves at meeting her ex and Henry’s father at bay. Once inside the hospital, she led him to the cardiac wing until they stood outside the room. Emma knocked and cracked the door when she heard a muffled come in from inside.

She entered the room, followed closely by Killian. Neal lay on the bed, Tink sitting next to him in a reclining chair that could pull out to make a bed for her so she wouldn’t have to leave him each night. Emma smiled at them as she came in.

“Hey, y’all,” she greeted.

“Emma,” Tink cried in surprise, rising from the chair. “I didn’t know you’d be coming by today.”

Emma hugged Tink tightly before pulling back. Technically, they weren’t family, but Tink loved Neal and Henry both and Emma loved her like a sister. Tink’s eyes widened when she saw Killian standing behind Emma.

“Tink, this is Killian Jones,” Emma introduced him. “He’s the air traffic controller that helped Henry land the plane Friday.”

Tink inhaled sharply as Killian stuck his hand out for her to shake. Ignoring his offer completely, she hugged him tightly. Killian choked on a laugh in surprise at the exact same response he’d gotten from Emma on Friday when he tried to introduce himself. Tink obviously cared deeply for Henry to greet him in such a manner, and Killian didn’t hesitate to hug her back.

“I can’t thank you enough,” she whispered. She pulled back and took his hand, leading him to the bed where her husband lay. “Neal, this is Killian.”

Killian looked at the man on the bed. He looked better than he had on Friday before he’d been taken away in the ambulance, but there still seemed to be a pallor about his skin that Killian hoped would fade with time and treatment for whatever it was that happened in the first place.

Neal smirked at his wife as he held his hand out for Killian to shake. “I heard what Emma said, Tink.” He turned his attention to Killian and his expression sobered into deep appreciation and seriousness. “Thank you, man. You saved my son’s life. There’s nothing I could say… nothing I could do to tell you how thankful I am.”

Tink slapped her husband on the arm indignantly. “He saved your life, too, you dolt!”

Neal rubbed his arm where she’d hit him and looked sheepish. “She does have a point, I guess.”

Tink rolled her eyes in exasperation and Emma bit back a chuckle.

Killian scratched at the spot behind his ear and told Neal and Tink the same thing he’d told Emma on Friday. “Henry is the real hero, not me. I was just doing my job. I’m just thankful you both came through it ok,” he said sincerely.

“Killian gave Henry a real Aviator pin since he did fly the plane and land it safely,” Emma interjected. Neal and Tink’s eyes widened in both their countenances as they looked back at Killian. “You should have seen him,” she continued. “He tried to refuse, but,” she looked to Killian for confirmation, “Killian told him… What exactly did you say? Any landing you walk away from is a good landing?”

Killian was nodding and as soon as he realized what she was asking, joined her in finishing the phrase. “Chuck Yeager said it. He was a flying ace and is generally considered the greatest pilot of all time.”

“Right,” Neal added, “He broke the sound barrier.”

“Wow,” Tink said, awe coloring her tone.

“Anyway, I shared that quote with Henry and told him that he did deserve the wings.”

Emma turned back to the man on the bed. “He was so proud, Neal.”

A small smile graced Neal’s face as pride and a profound gratefulness rose up in him. This had been one of the worst experiences of his life and it could have been so much worse were it not for the man standing in front of him. He placed his hand over his heart and felt tears start to well in his eyes.

“I really can’t tell you…” he choked out. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”

Killian looked around the room, taking in the tearful and grateful expressions on the others’ faces. It really was part of his job, but this was the first time he’d ever been presented with such an up close and personal expression of appreciation for doing it, and he could feel his own eyes welling in response.

“It was my honor and privilege. Truly,” he assured them. “Henry is an extraordinary lad. You’ve all done a wonderful job raising him, and I know you are proud of him.” Slightly uncomfortable with the excess emotion in the presence of virtual strangers, Killian looked around. “I think I need to make use of the facilities, if y’all will excuse me for a few minutes.”

Emma led him out of the room and pointed him in the right direction. Coming back in, she smiled at the others who waited patiently for her.

“I like him,” Tink said. Emma could feel the heat on her cheeks as she cut her eyes to Neal.

“I do, too,” he agreed. “Come here, Em,” he said, holding out his hand to her. Emma approached the bed and took his outstretched hand. “He seems like a really good guy, Em. Do you like him?” Emma’s blush deepened and Neal smirked at her. “That’s what I thought.” His thumb ran over her knuckles as he moved his head so he could catch her gaze. “Listen, Em. I know I don’t have any say in how you live your life, but I do know you pretty well, and it is written all over your face that you like this guy. Is this a date? How exactly did this visit happen?”

“Yeah,” she admitted. “He asked if he could take me out for coffee right after the ambulance left. I called him yesterday and he invited me out to lunch instead.” She shrugged, “And I agreed. We went to Magnolia’s a few blocks away and he asked if I thought y’all would mind if he came by for a visit, just to give you his wishes for a speedy recovery. So I offered to bring him.” Tink’s smile split her face as Emma explained.

“I’m glad you did. You should go for it, Em,” Neal continued. “He’s obviously a stand up guy and he’s already met and obviously likes Henry. You’ve put your life on hold for the last five years, Em, raising Henry, pouring all your energy into him,” he observed. “It’s time for that to stop. You deserve to be happy. And I think he…”

“I am happy, Neal,” Emma interrupted in protest.

“We’re not saying you’re unhappy, Emma,” Tink interjected. “We know you love your job, Henry, and you have great friends. But love is a part of all true happiness and we think you should be open to that.”

Emma looked back at Neal who was smiling and nodding in agreement.

“Ok,” she murmured. “Thanks, y’all.” She reached out and took Tink’s hand in her free hand and squeezed gently as Killian came back in the room. Emma released them and turned toward him, smiling widely.

“Thanks for coming by, man,” Neal said, holding his hand out for Killian to shake again.

“My pleasure,” he replied, taking Neal’s hand in his own. “I’m glad to have met you both. Congratulations, by the way,” he said, nodding toward Tink’s obviously rounded middle. “If Henry is any indication, I know y’all will be great parents.” Tink blushed at his assertion and smiled shyly. “Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I’m glad you’re alright and offer my wishes for a full and speedy recovery.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Thank you, Killian,” Tink added, “For everything. We owe you a lot.”

Killian waved away her sentiments. “Part of the job description. You owe me nothing. It was very nice to meet y’all.” He looked to Emma and held his arm out for her to take. As she looped her arm in his, they both waved at Neal and Tink and took their leave.

Once she was settled back in Killian’s car, she turned toward him. “They liked you,” she said simply.

Killian’s cheeks reddened and it made her smile. “I’m glad,” he said, with a slight cough. “I liked them, too.” He turned his face toward her, a smile on his lips. “I’m really glad they liked me. I know y’all are close, and I have to admit, it felt a bit like meeting the parents.”

“I hope when I get to meet your family, it goes as well as this did,” Emma murmured, looking out the front windshield as Killian drove.

“Does this mean you want to meet my family, Swan?” he asked. She could hear the smirk in his voice and cut her eyes over to him.

“Maybe,” she allowed, with a smirk of her own. She reached over and placed her hand on Killian’s forearm. She’d have rathered taken his hand, but as it was occupied on the stick shift of the vehicle, she had to be satisfied with this. Killian’s face broke into a wide grin and her own smile widened in response.

They rode the rest of the way in comfortable silence, and much too soon for her liking, Killian pulled up in front of her house. He jumped out of the car and was opening her door in moments. She took his arm again as he led her up the front walk to her door.

“I’d invite you in, but I don’t want you to think I’m only after one thing,” she told him, trying to insert a joking tone into her voice after their conversation at the restaurant as she turned to face him.

He chuckled before his face turned serious, his eyes bouncing back and forth between hers. “I would have to decline if you did,” he replied, taking both of her hands in his own. “I told you in the restaurant I really like you.” He raised her hands and gently kissed her knuckles before capturing her gaze once again. “I haven’t felt this way about anyone in years and I don’t want to move too fast and risk compromising a potential future with you.”

Emma gasped at the sincerity in his gaze and her stomach flipped in response to his words. She thought back to what Neal and Tink had said at the hospital and decided she had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

She released his hands, looped her arms around his neck, and drew him down into a kiss. Killian didn’t think he’d ever tasted anything as sweet as Emma’s lips and he moaned as she opened to him. His arms wrapped around her and he held her close as their tongues danced together, sending sparks of desire shooting through him.

Before they could get carried away, he broke off the kiss and touched his forehead to her own, still holding her closely. He opened his eyes and saw her own veridian depths glazed over with the same yearning he himself felt. He licked his lips and stepped back slightly, while still holding her in his arms.

“Will you go out with me again, Emma?”

“Yes, Killian.” She smiled gently and stepped out of his embrace, turning toward her front door. Killian was frozen in place as she opened the door and turned back toward him briefly. She rose on her toes and placed a chaste kiss on his lips and he couldn’t help but smile at her as she stepped through her door. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Yeah,” he breathed, still grinning like a giddy school boy. When she closed the door behind her, he stood there for a moment more reliving their kiss. He finally turned back toward his car, thinking about the circumstances of their meeting. The worst nightmare of an air traffic controller was a crash landing, and their meeting almost felt like a crash landing all on its own- completely unexpected and out of the blue. But this was a landing that he was thankful for. There were no casualties, unless you counted his heart, and it was definitely a landing he had no interest in walking away from, because he was hers- for better or worse, to the end of the world or time. And he would wait for her as long as he needed to make her his as well.

The End

~*~*~

Thank you for reading and sharing! I’d love to know what you think!

[karlyfr13s]

One Love, One Lifetime a Captain Swan Phantom-inspired AU, coming soon

Don your finest attire and dust off your opera glasses: the season opening of the Palais Garnier is mere days away! We hope you have tickets for this year's sold-out gala. Now under new management, Mssrs. Booth, Lewis, and Locksley bid you welcome. We invite you to enjoy the fifth season with the opera's leading soprano Mme. Regina Mills, our ever-charming and talented ballet chorus under the tutelage of Mme. Elizabeth Lucas, and our world-class orchestra under the direction once again of M. Archibald Hopper.

Rated M, cover art by @hollyethecurious

Tagging CSMM Discord and those who've asked:

@kmomof4, @teamhook, @veryverynotgood, @caught-in-the-filter, @hollyethecurious, @laschatzi, @donteattheappleshook, @lonelyspectator12, @the-darkdragonfly, @zaharadessert, @winterbaby89, @jrob64, @wefoundloveunderthelight, @ultraluckycatnd, @winterbythesea

[sailtoafarawayland]

A little Dark One for your day...

This is my first foray back into art in many years, and while it’s not perfect and I’ll just keep tweaking the more I look at it, I’m happy. It was relaxing to return to something I used to love doing so much.

And what better way than with Dark One Hook taunting the Crocodile aboard the Jolly Roger?Hoping I captured some of that personality.

*Please do not tweet or repost. Reblogs are awesome and appreciated*

Tagging: @justanother-unluckysoul @kmomof4  @the-darkdragonfly  @teamhook  @zaharadessert @xarandomdreamx   @jrob64  @wefoundloveunderthelight @tiganasummertree  @pirateprincessofpizza  @lfh1226-linda @alexa-fangirl-forever  @alifeofdreams  @superchocovian @donteattheappleshook  @hollyethecurious  @caught-in-the-filter @snowbellewells  @itsfabianadocarmo  @stahlop  @karlyfr13s @elizabeethan  @rkrbirdgirl  @batana54  

[caught-in-the-filter]

CSSNS 2022 - The Devil Within by @justanother-unluckysoul

Rated: T

Summary: Newly-turned vampire Killian struggles to overcome his bloodlust and self-loathing, seeking revenge against the man that ruined his life, and trying not to fall in love with the woman that saved him.

For Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 2022 (@cssns)

This fic is so great! It’s dark and sweet at the same time, a perfect balance of angst and suspense and comfort and blooming romance (with a hinted dash of sexy that calls for a Part Two imo but no spoilers (love you, Elsie lol)). My art doesn’t do it justice.

Check it out at the links below and give Elsie and her fic some love.

Read it on: AO3, tumblr.

——

Tag list ❤️: @anothersworld @batana54 @darkcolinodonorgasm @deckerstarblanche @donteattheappleshook @elizabeethan @holdingoutforapiratehero @hollyethecurious @ilovemesomekillianjones @itsfabianadocarmo @jonesfandomfanatic @jrob64 @justanother-unluckysoul @karlyfr13s @klynn-stormz @kmomof4 @laschatzi @motherkatereloyshipper @qualitycoffeethings @resident-of-storybrooke @sotangledupinit @stahlop @teamhook @the-darkdragonfly @thejollyroger-writer @tiganasummertree @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgoodwrites @wefoundloveunderthelight @whimsicallyenchantedrose @xhookswenchx @xsajx @zaharadessert

[kmomof4]

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAMS!!!!!!

It’s PERFECT!!!!!

LOVE this art!!!!

LOVE this fic!!!!

we kill the flame by RecoveringTheSatellites

Summary:

Earth, 2123.

A city striving to escape a bleak future. A crime lord who wants to bring it to its knees.

An agent and a fugitive, thrown together by chance on a mission to free the city - and save themselves.

There’s no way that could possibly go wrong.

Chapters Completed: 13 of 13

I'm still working my way through a mass amount of fics I haven't read for CS. I'm thankful for the discord where there is a treasure trove of amazing artists and fic recommendations. This one got saved for reading about 2 months ago and I finally got around to devouring it and OMG I loved it so much I read it in a day! I loved the Sci Fi and it was so easy to imagine this world and the characters in here were perfect! (of course the CS is beautiful, but I loved Will and Robin so much in this fic) If you haven't read this, please do!

Stacy’s Recommended Fics and Stuff

Tagging: @teamhook @kmomof4 @thisonesatellite

[teamhook]

Un-Kissable :|: Never Been Kissed CS AU

Okay… So I said I will be posting the original chapters first then add the new one.

Day two:

I thank @ilovemesomekillianjones​ for being my beta for the first chapters and then the lovely @ultraluckycatnd​ took over. Both lovely human beings!

Art by @herhookedhero​

 Chapter 2

Liam had finished his day at the docks, he was kind of a jack of all trades. He would do mechanic work on the ships and any maintenance required. He had welcomed the job once his Navy career ended, it allowed him to be close to his beloved sea.

His dream had not been that of a professional athlete but one of an honorable Navy officer. Sadly that dream was not meant to last. He tried to deny for a long time that something was wrong. He would lie and minimize rashes witnessed by his fellow officers. His skin became over sensitive to the touch because the fabrics friction caused burning, he tried over the counter relief because he didn't want to see a specialist.

He had somehow been successful for a time and hid the issue that eventually led him to be discharged. But the condition just kept getting worse and he was eventually exposed by his friends out of concern. Soon the doctors realized the allergies were not from food or airborne allergens, but a rare allergy to Uniform Wool.

It was just his luck that a bloody allergy would cost him his dream. Now all he had was an occasional glimpse at Navy ships passing in the distance. He sometimes wished he would have pursued his athletic career instead.

Liam saw his brother approaching while on his last break. He could tell his brother was upset just by the way he was walking, and the clenched jaw, an obvious tell sign.

Continue reading here

Tagging:

@andiirivera @caught-in-the-filter @anothersworld @apiratewhopines @artistic-writer @batana54 @beckettj @bethacaciakay @bixisarusher @branlovestowrite @brooke-to-broch @captainodonoghue @carpedzem @chasedancer17 @cocohook38 @courtorderedcake @darkcolinodonorgasm @deckerstarblanche @demisexualemmaswan @djlbg @donteattheappleshook @dovelyheart @elizabeethan @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @holdingoutforapiratehero @hollyethecurious @hookedonapirate @hookedonaswanprincess @hookedonhiddles @ilovemesomekillianjones @imlaxdris71 @itsfabianadocarmo @jarienn972 @jennjenn615 @jonesfandomfanatic @jrob64 @justanother-unluckysoul @k-leemac @karlyfr13s @kday426 @killian-will-do @klynn-stormz @kmomof4 @kwistowee @kymbersmith-90 @laschatzi @lassluna @let-it-raines @lfh1226-linda @lonelyspectator12 @mariakov81 @motherkatereloyshipper @officerrogers @ohmakemeahercules @onceratheart18 @pirateherokillian @purplehawkcaptain @queen-serena88 @resident-of-storybrooke @revanmeetra87 @rumdrum91 @sailtoafarawayland @sals86 @scribomaniac @searchingwardrobes @seriouslyhooked @shardminds @shireness-says @snowbellewells @sotangledupinit @spacekrulesbians @spartanguard @stahlop @superchocovian @swanslieutenant @tehgreeneyes @the-darkdragonfly @thejollyroger-writer @thepirateandhisson @therealstartraveller776 @thislassishooked @thisonesatellite @tiganasummertree @tomeandflickcorner​ @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgoodwrites​ @wefoundloveunderthelight @wellhellotragic​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose @winterbaby89 @winterbythesea​ @xarandomdreamx​ @xsajx​ @zaharadessert​ @myfearless-love​ @cosette141​ @grimmswan​ @fleurdepetite​ @hookmecaptain​ @once-upon-a-pirate-ship​ @undercaffinatednightmare​

@mie779​ @nachocheese-itsmycheese​ @eddisfargo​ @cs-rylie​ @4getfulimaginator2022​ @betweengalaxies2​

[the-darkdragonfly]

Let's Play A Game

Send me a WIP from below and I'll post the art for it!

1. The Ripple Effect, Chapter 20 - 25 (which one do you want, since I love my chapter art)

2. Tears & Rain (Part Two of The Ripple Effect)

3. Golden - A SH Tale

4. Into the Ocean - A SH Tale

5. Neverland - A Captain Hook Tale

6. Windward - A PWP CS Tale

7. Never Say Goodbye - A SH Tale

8. Twelve Days of Christmas - A CS Tale

9. High Tide - A CS Tale

10. Fair Winds - A CS Tale

11. Riptide - A DH Tale

Ask me!

Read my stuff!

Tagging:

@elizabeethan @donteattheappleshook @sailtoafarawayland @teamhook @wefoundloveunderthelight @caught-in-the-filter @batana54 @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgood @veryverynotgoodwrites @snowbellewells @hollyethecurious @jrob64 @kmomof4 @artistic-writer @gingerpolyglot @xarandomdreamx @xhookswenchx @justanother-unluckysoul @itsfabianadocarmo @zaharadessert @jadehowlettthewolf @xsjax @karlyfr13s @tiganasummertree @asluve @winterbaby89 @wyntereyez @klynn-stormz @onceratheart18 @rkrbirdgirl @ouatdaily @blowmiakisscolin @courtorderedcake @winterbaby89 @pirateprincessofpizza @superchocovian @deckerstarblanche @jlsadphoenix @alexa-fangirl-forever @stahlop @ohmakemeahercules @undercaffinatednightmare @lostintheskyfaraway

[kmomof4]

A Spy Finds a Home: A Snowing Tale for A Family Affair  Epilogue: A New Beginning

We’re HERE, y’all!!!! The entire series is finally COMPLETE!!! 

For those of you who’ve been with me from the beginning, THANK YOU from the BOTTOM of my HEART!!! I never would have believed the reception I received for this series if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. I hope y’all enjoy this final installment and think it was worth the seven month wait! And for those of you who wanted to wait to read until this fic or the series was complete, I so hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think!

Since this is the final installment, I’m gonna share links to all the individual fics in the series below. 

The series A Family Affair introduces us to the family of Marco and Beverly Swan, a family of entertainers who raised their four children, firstborn David and triplet daughters Regina, Emma, and Ruby, while traveling around the country doing gigs at family retreats, resorts, summer camps, and the like. Now that the children are all grown up, they each have a love story to tell.

Love Between the Pages tells the story of Emma and Killian Jones, a bestselling biographer who arrives at her horse farm in rural Virginia to interview Emma for his latest project, a biography on her late husband Neal Cassidy, NASCAR darling killed five years ago on the track. Falling in love with her was not part of the plan.

Dance With the Gypsy is Broadway star Ruby and Graham’s story. Graham had sworn off love years ago, but when Ruby Lucas literally danced her way into his life, he was helpless to resist her. Maybe falling in love wasn’t so bad, as long as he didn’t screw it up.

Clipping an Angel’s Wings tells the tale of Hollywood star Regina and Robin, a PI she hires to keep an unstable fan at a safe distance.

And finally, A Spy Finds a Home tells David and Mary Margaret’s story. Mary Margaret, Snow as David calls her, hires international spy David to find her parents who’ve been kidnapped by a terrorist group. When the dust settles, Snow brings David home to reunite with the family he left a decade ago. Today’s ch link

All of the love and hugs I can give to the team who helped me get this entire series published in the first place. These ladies betaed, encouraged, helped with the art, and brainstormed with me over the many months I’ve been working on these fics. Thank you to artists @motherkatereloyshipper​ and @apiratewhopines​. Kit was responsible for the manips used in all the Snowing artwork and Beth made her own picset for this final installment featuring all the couples from the entire series!!! You can find Beth’s artwork at the end of this chapter because of mild spoilers. I cannot thank these ladies enough!!! Please go give them all the love!!! Betas @profdanglaisstuff​ @snowbellewells​ @jrob64​ @betweengalaxies2​ and @apiratewhopines​ made sure my words made sense and the characters stayed true to themselves. And finally, @hollyethecurious​ and @jrob64​ were my encouragement and brainstorming team from the very beginning and I could not have done this without them.

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you’d like to be added or removed.

@hollyethecurious​ @winterbaby89​ @snowbellewells​ @stahlop​ @resident-of-storybrooke​ @jennjenn615​ @kingofmyheart14​ @profdanglaisstuff​ @branlovestowrite​ @thisonesatellite​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @flslp87​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ @let-it-raines​ @shireness-says​ @kymbersmith-90​ @darkcolinodonorgasm​ @bethacaciakay​ @searchingwardrobes​ @ilovemesomekillianjones​ @teamhook​ @aprilqueen84​ @qualitycoffeethings​ @superchocovian​ @artistic-writer​ @donteattheappleshook​ @doodlelolly0910​ @seriouslyhooked​ @tiganasummertree​ @lfh1226-linda​ @xsajx​ @klynn-stormz​ @jrob64​ @wefoundloveunderthelight​ @zaharadessert​ @elizabeethan​ @xhookswenchx​ @gingerpolyglot​ @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713​ @sailtoafarawayland​ @justanother-unluckysoul​ @veryverynotgoodwrites​ @jonesfandomfanatic​ @deckerstarblanche​ @the-darkdragonfly​ @batana54​ @purplehawkcaptain​ @k-leemac​ @motherkatereloyshipper​ @apiratewhopines​ @killiansqueenofthejollyroger​ @onceuponahookandswan​ @meat-pie-with-sauce​ @cosette141​ @pirateprincessofpizza​ @xarandomdreamx​ @fleurdepetite​ @hookmecaptain​ @o-wild-west-wind​

And now, without further ado, the final chapter for A Spy Finds a Home. Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

Ch. 7 Epilogue A New Beginning

“After everything we’ve been through,” Mary Margaret began, looking out the window of their rented car at the palm trees lining the road, “I can’t believe you’re nervous about this.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” David retorted, pulling at the knot in his tie. As far as he was concerned, Cabot was dead, and the ties should have died with him. “I’m not nervous.”

“Mmhmmm,” Mary Margaret hummed.

David turned to her with a put upon scowl on his face. “I don’t know how I let you talk me into this.”

“You said that when it was all over, I could pick anywhere in the world for us to go,” she reminded him. “And where I want to go is your sister’s wedding.”

“A cheap trick, Snow, after I saved your life,” he grumbled, “We could’ve gone to New Zealand! Middle Earth tour! Cross that off your bucket list.”

“David, don’t be cranky,” she admonished him, gently. “It’s a beautiful day, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life. Didn’t Mom and Dad look great when we left? I can’t believe it’s over. Really over.” The relief in her voice made him smile. He placed his hand over hers.

“Yes, it’s over,” he affirmed. “With Excalibur extinct, your father has nothing to worry about.”

“Spencer wasn’t pleased about the Horizon project being destroyed, or Dad’s refusal to try and duplicate it.”

David gave a short laugh. The good doctor had stood toe-to-toe with Captain Spencer, turning aside offers, pleas, bribes, and threats. Mary Margaret had taken the same stand, saying nothing about her memory or the doctored notes. For better or worse, Horizon was finished.

“He really wasn’t pleased to be losing one of his best agents,” she mused.

David snorted. “I don’t think he’d put it in exactly those terms.”

Mary Margaret turned to him. “But he did.”

David had to struggle to keep his eyes on the road, but the surprise was clear on his face and in his words. “Are you serious?”

“Yep,” she said, popping the p. “He wanted me to try to talk you into ‘staying on’, as he put it.”

David raised an eyebrow. “What did you tell him?”

“That he was mad as a hatter.” She looked out the windows at the gorgeous blue sky above them. “Would you just look at this? I’m so glad I’m missing all the cold and sleet that’s going on in New York right now.”

“Well, you’ll be back in a couple of days.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t decided, actually.” She wasn’t going anywhere without him, he just didn’t know it yet. “What about you? Heading straight to the islands?”

David sighed. “Not quite yet,” he admitted. “For some reason, Lance left me his house. So I’ve got to go tie up loose ends there before I do anything else.”

“I see.” Her smile was brilliant. “So it seems you have a home after all.”

David sighed. He could think of nothing to say to that. As he looked ahead at the palm-lined streets, he knew he had to keep his promise. He’d promised her. But more than that, he wanted to come. The ideas, or maybe they could be called dreams, that had begun to form couldn’t come to fruition until he had resolved his life. He couldn’t do that until he’d closed the rift with his family. With his father.

A guard approached the car as they pulled up to the gate of the palatial estate belonging to Regina Mills.

“You’re early, sir,” the man informed him. “May I see your invitation?”

Mary Margaret gasped softly. She hadn’t thought of that when she conspired with Ruby to come today.

But David was nonplussed, pulling out his identification.

“David Nolan, Special Security,” he replied before the guard waved them through. The ID looked official because it probably was. Mary Margaret shook her head. She’d never get over just what kind of resources David had access to, just because of what he did for a living. Or rather, used to do for a living.

As they came to a stop on the circular drive leading up to the front porch, a shriek resembling that of a banshee reached their ears and a leggy brunette with red streaks in her hair came barrelling out the front door.

“You’re here, you’re here, you’re here!” she exclaimed, launching herself at David, barely giving him enough warning to catch her and swing her around. “I knew you’d come! I didn’t believe it, but I knew it! And here you are!”

“Ruby,” he breathed, holding her close. “God, I’ve missed you!” Mary Margaret’s heart melted in her chest as the man she loved greeted the first of his sisters that he hadn’t seen in a decade.

He put Ruby down to get a good look at her. Tears streamed down her face, but the smile was all teeth. Exactly the way he remembered. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself,” she replied, grabbing the handkerchief out of his jacket pocket. “Regina’s gonna kill you for messing up my makeup,” she said, dabbing at her eyes before looking at him again. “How do I look?”

“Terrible,” he said, grabbing her chin and turning it from side to side. “But there’s so little you can do with that face.” With the laughter, the years disappeared. He hoped it would be so easy with everyone. He pulled Ruby into his arms again before he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, then led her toward where Mary Margaret had just gotten out of the car.

“You’re Mary Margaret,” Ruby exclaimed before he could say a word of introduction, gathering her in her arms. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

Mary Margaret laughed as she pulled back from the other woman’s exuberance. “It’s wonderful to meet you, too! I’ve heard so much about you!”

Ruby slapped David’s arm. “You’d better not be telling any lies about me, big brother!”

David laughed, rubbing the spot where she slapped him. “I swear, Ruby. Nothing but the truth!”

Ruby linked arms with them both and started up the stairs when a tall, sandy and curly haired man came out the front door.

“Graham,” Ruby crowed, “It’s David! I told you he’d come.”

“So you did,” the man replied, glancing at his wife before turning his smile on them and holding out his hand. “Nice to meet you, David. Ruby’s been beside herself ever since she talked with…” he turned toward Mary Margaret with a charming head tilt as he waited for introductions.

“Uh, sorry,” David apologized. “This is…” He looked at Mary Margaret, not knowing quite how to introduce her. At the laughter and trust in her eyes, he decided to take the plunge. “My girlfriend,” he said softly. “This is my girlfriend, Mary Margaret.”

At that moment, a very pregnant blonde woman emerged from the house.

“Look who it is, Emma!”

Emma gasped, her hand flying to her mouth and her green eyes filling with tears.

“Oh…” she breathed, completely overwhelmed. “David? Is it really you?”

Mary Margaret turned and looked at him and was nearly overcome herself at the look of mild shock mixed with joy and wonder on David’s face.

“It’s me, Emma,” he assured her before releasing Ruby, climbing the steps, and gathering her in his arms.

Mary Margaret averted her gaze at the poignancy of the moment before her. Ruby’s greeting had been exuberant. This was emotional, too emotional for her to watch without bursting into tears of happiness herself. She could hear Emma’s sobs and David’s whispers as, out of the corner of her eye, she watched him cup the back of Emma’s head before stroking her hair tenderly. As her sobs tapered off, Mary Margaret looked back and saw Emma pull away from David, wiping her face furiously.

“Look at what you made me do!” she exclaimed. “Regina’s gonna throw a fit you made me mess up my makeup!”

“That’s exactly what Ruby said!” David laughed.

“I think we’ll be forgiven, sis,” Ruby asserted as she continued climbing the steps to the house. “Once Regina sees the reason why.”

Just at that moment, a hurricane in the shape of a little boy shot out the front door, followed by a tall, raven haired man, scruff lining his jaw.

“Mom,” he hollered before skidding to a stop, his mouth snapping shut as he spied the new arrivals on the porch. “Who’s that?”

Emma released a watery laugh as she reached out for the man’s hand, pulling him forward.

“Henry,” she began, looking down at her son, “This is your Uncle David.”

David got down on one knee, eye level with the little boy in front of him and held out his hand.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Henry.”

“You’re the one who went to Istanbul?”

“Yep,” he replied, “I’ve been there.”

“And Japan?”

“Japan, too.”

“They eat raw fish there,” Henry declared.

“Yes, they do.”

“Did you?”

David looked up at Emma and the man by her side, who were vainly trying to contain their chuckles at Henry’s interrogation, before answering.

“Sure, I did,” he said. Henry wrinkled his nose and grinned adorably. He couldn’t have been more pleased. David stayed still, his hand still held out in front of him, waiting to see what his nephew would do. Henry looked at the hand speculatively for a moment before launching himself at his uncle. Almost completely unprepared for the enthusiasm of the greeting, he nearly fell over, but he certainly wasn’t complaining either.

David wasn’t entirely ready to let go when Henry pulled back and grabbed his hand.

“This is my dad, Killian Jones,” he introduced. David and Killian shook hands as Henry continued on in his impassioned introduction. “Well, he’s not my dad yet. Neal Cassidy was my father, but he died when I was a baby. I don’t remember him at all. But Killian is gonna dopt me…”

“A-dopt,” Emma murmured, interrupting and drawing Henry’s attention briefly.

“That’s what I said, dopt me,” Henry insisted, before turning back to his uncle. “The hearing is just before Christmas and my last name is gonna be Jones and everything!”

“Very exciting,” Mary Margaret exclaimed.

Ruby pulled Mary Margaret forward. “This is Mary Margaret,” she exclaimed. “She brought David.” Emma’s eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline. “Or David brought her.”

Emma took both of Mary Margaret’s hands and kissed her on both cheeks. “Whoever brought who, welcome! I’m so glad to meet you.” Emma’s smile was radiant. “I can’t wait to see Regina’s face.”

“Why wait?” Ruby asked. “She’s upstairs making herself more beautiful.”

“Nothing’s changed,” David observed.

“Not much,” Ruby agreed.

“Graham and I will check on Robin,” Killian offered, as they all entered the house.

“Thanks,” Emma said, turning for the stairs and following everyone else up.

Ruby stood in front of a door, waiting for Emma to join them, before she knocked loudly.

“We come bearing gifts, big sis,” she exclaimed, opening the door.

“If it’s not a glass of my favorite Champagne, I don’t want it,” Regina groused.

“This is better, I promise.” She swung the door open wider until David met Regina’s eyes in the mirror of the vanity where she sat. Her eyes widened briefly, then narrowed as she turned, a smirk tilting the corner of her lips.

“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.”

David returned her smirk. “Hiya, sis.”

She rose to look at him. She was every bit as beautiful as he remembered. Ebony hair that gently swept her shoulders, high cheekbones, chocolate brown eyes. “You look good, kid.”

She shrugged, with a smirk. “I know. You don’t look so bad yourself. A little rough around the edges, maybe.” She inhaled deeply and brought her hand to her face in a fanning motion. “Bastard. There goes my makeup.”

Regina launched herself at her brother. David met her halfway and spun her around before setting her back on her feet.

“David, we always knew this day would come,” Regina said, between sniffles, “but you couldn’t have picked a better one.” She lightly slapped David on the shoulder. “Don’t you even have a handkerchief?”

“Ruby stole it.”

“Figures.”

“This is Mary Margaret,” Ruby interjected, all but shoving her into the room.

“Oh?” Regina questioned, raising a brow.

“I’m sorry,” Mary Margaret began, “I didn’t mean…”

“She’s with David,” Emma put in.

“Isn’t that nice,” Regina purred. In the way of triplets, the silent communication between them spoke more loudly than the actual words, the wide smiles and twinkling eyes expressing their delight at this development. “Excellent taste, David.” She turned back to Mary Margaret. “Sorry as I can’t say the same for yours. But champagne is definitely in order.”

“I’ll get it,” Ruby exclaimed.

“You will do no such thing, Ruby,” Regina cried. “We can’t have you traipsing up and down the stairs in your condition. Graham will have my head! One of the servants will bring it up. Take everyone down to the sitting room at the end of the hall. Robin is barred from the wing. I’m not taking any chances at bad luck. I’ll be there as soon as I fix my face.” She placed her hand on David’s arm as everyone else filed out. “Stay, please.”

David turned and smiled at his sister as she sat back down before the mirror.

“I always figured you’d return in absolute triumph or absolute destitution.”

David laughed. “Sorry, it’s neither.”

“I won’t ask what you’ve been doing, but I will ask if you’re staying.” She eyed him in the mirror and David thought his heart might explode from the happiness of seeing his sisters again.

“Yeah, I’m staying.”

“Good.”

“Regina, dear,” Beverly called, entering the room. David turned, heart hammering in his chest. He was suddenly a child again, wanting nothing more than to be held in his mother’s arms. Beverly gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “David?”

“Hi, Mom,” he murmured.

Beverly’s breath caught on a broken sob as she held her arms open for him. He stepped into them and nearly broke down himself when she wrapped them tightly around him. She held him for long moments, before he pulled back, wiping the moisture from his eyes.

“Are you back? For good?” she asked.

“Yeah, Mom,” he assured her. “I am. I’ve had enough of traveling. I’ve seen everything I wanted to see. More than what I wanted to see, actually. I’m ready to settle down.”

A chuckle escaped as Beverly dabbed at her eyes. “I’m going to dance with my son at my daughter’s wedding,” she cried.

“Regina,” Marco hollered from down the hallway outside, “that buffoon of a band leader refuses to let me sing at the reception.”

David tensed as the new voice reached them. Beverly pulled back. “Don’t repeat mistakes,” she urged him. He looked into her eyes and nodded slowly.

Marco entered the room and stopped dead in his tracks, completely unprepared to face the son he hadn’t seen in so many years.

“Come on, Mom,” Regina said, “Let’s go get the champagne. And there’s someone I want you to meet.”

Beverly approached Marco with a stern but still loving countenance. “I’ve loved you for most of my life,” she began, tears still shimmering in her eyes, “and will no matter what fool thing you do. Don’t disappoint me, Marco.” She kissed his cheek and followed Regina out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

David took a deep breath as he looked at his father.

“David.”

“Dad.”

“Still footloose and fancy free? With no obligations or responsibilities?”

David took a deep breath, rolling his eyes and trying to contain his temper. “You’re still always right and never listen?” he countered. His dad’s eyes flashed and his nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply, about to retort. David thought about his mother. About his sisters. How disappointed they’d be for him to show up here on what was supposed to be a happy day, only to disappear again because of another blow up with their dad. He had to try. “It was never about no obligations and responsibilities.”

“What was it about then?”

David sighed heavily. “It was about a kid who wanted to stretch his wings and fly, Dad. I told you that night you gave us a great life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. We may have lived in each other’s back pockets with no privacy to speak of, but we never doubted we were loved, we never went without anything we needed, and I had the kind of relationship with the girls that I cherish to this very day. Even if I’ve been out of touch for a while,” he admitted, a touch of apology coloring his words. He looked back at his dad and met his gaze. “Listen,” he began, swallowing hard, “I won’t apologize for leaving or being who I am. But I am sorry I disappointed you.”

“Who said you disappointed me?”

“Come on, Dad,” he said, feeling his temper rise again. “I can see it in your eyes.” He held his hand up, staying his father’s next words. “Listen, I didn’t come here to fight. I don’t want to ruin Regina’s wedding day. Can we at least call a truce for one day?”

Marco looked at his son. The calm strength surprised him. His boy had grown up.

“I don’t want to fight with you, either, David. But I will say that I was never disappointed in you. I was hurt. And ashamed that I wasn’t the father I should have been to you. When you wanted to leave and make your own way in the world, I felt like I let you down.”

“Never, Dad,” he protested vehemently. “I didn’t think you wanted me back.”

“There hasn’t been a day that I haven’t wanted you back, David.” The look in his father’s eyes made his chest tighten with emotion. “But I didn’t know how to tell you. Hell, didn’t know where you were or how to contact you at all!”

“You gave me everything, Dad,” David asserted earnestly. “I just had to take it and see what I could do with it on my own.”

Marco moved forward and embraced his son tightly. Tears spilled down both their faces as the rift that had kept them apart for years, healed in the space of moments.

“I’m sorry I drove you away, David,” Marco cried. “You’ve come back a man and I’ve missed all these years.”

“It’s ok,” David assured him, “we have all the years ahead of us.”

Marco laughed as he released his son. “That we do, my boy. Had enough of the adventures? I want to hear all about them.”

“I promise,” David replied. “I’ve had more than my fill of adventures. And I’ll have you know, I even sang for my supper a time or thrice.”

“Of course, you did,” Marco beamed. “You’re a Swan, aren’t you? Always had better fingers on the piano than feet for dancing. Come on,” he urged him. “I need to introduce you to Robin. When this hullabaloo of your sister’s is over, we’re getting a drink. And I might even risk your mother’s temper and get a little drunk. A man’s entitled when he’s been given a son.”

David laughed as they descended the stairs. “I’m buying.”

“That’s my boy.” They entered the foyer and saw a brown haired man with his back turned to them standing at a small entry table talking on the phone.

“I’ll take care of it,” he said, before hanging up and turning toward them. The shock of recognition ran through David, and Robin’s narrowed eyes told him the recognition was mutual, as he extended his hand.

“Robin, my boy,” Marco exclaimed, “Meet my son, David.”

“David Swan,” he introduced himself. Now that he was out of the espionage world, he could fully embrace his true name, his true self, again. “Regina’s older brother.”

“Nice to meet you, David,” he said. “Robin Locksley. I’m sure Regina is thrilled you’re here.”

“It’s certainly interesting meeting all my in-laws in one fell swoop.”

“I’ve got to go straighten out that imbecile of a band leader before the guests start arriving,” Marco murmured, turning toward the back of the house.

“I’ll be right out,” David said, patting his father on the back. As soon as they were alone, David turned back to the man who in his early days in the ISS had been his partner. “Locksley, huh? Flows off the tongue a little better than Nothamshire.”

Robin chuckled. “Yeah, it does, doesn’t it?” Robin looked at him with surprise. “Small world. Afghanistan was what? Eight years ago?”

David nodded. “Thereabouts, yeah.”

“So you’re Regina’s brother. Are you still…?” he trailed off.

“Recently retired,” he filled in. “What about you? Does she know what you do?”

“I don’t do it anymore,” he said, “I’ve been out of the business five years. I own a personal security and PI firm in LA. It’s how I met Regina.”

“I heard about all that from Ruby. Thanks.”

“My pleasure,” Robin assured him.

“I guess since you’ve saved her life,” David began with a smirk, “I can’t really threaten you with death and dismemberment if you hurt her.”

Robin shrugged and chuckled, “Or telling me they’d never find my body.”

David laughed. “Yeah, we’ll just keep that on the down low, between us.”

“No problem, mate.”

~*~*~

David’s family was overwhelming. Mary Margaret found herself sitting among them as Regina Mills and Robin Locksley were married under a flowered canopy with a couple of hundred guests looking on. There was champagne by the bucket, flowers by the truckload and tears enough to swim in. Once the food was served and the dancing began, Mary Margaret found herself right in the middle of everything as if she had known the Swan clan for years instead of hours. Catching the bouquet of red and white lilies was the icing on the cake. Once Regina and Robin were sent off in a white limo for an undisclosed honeymoon location, Mary Margaret retreated to a downstairs study. The party was still going on, but at least the music was muted here.

“Hiding?” David asked, closing the door behind him.

“You scared the life out of me!” she exclaimed, hand over her heart.

“I’ve been doing it for almost a decade,” he informed her, shrugging. “Old habits die hard.”

She relaxed against the arm of the leather sofa she sat on. “I feel like I’ve danced my feet off. Does your father ever slow down?”

David chuckled. “Not that I’ve noticed.” He sat next to her and lifted her hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss against the knuckles. “Thank you for bringing me.”

A soft smile lifted her lips. “I love you, David,” she reminded him. “I just want you to be happy. And I thought reuniting with your family would help accomplish that.”

“Mmmm,” he hummed. “You mentioned that before.”

“That I want you to be happy?” So she was gonna play it like that, was she? The innocence on her face was entirely too contrived.

“That you love me.”

She pursed her lips and pretended to inspect her manicure. “So I did,” she agreed. “And as I recall, you didn’t have much of a reaction then, either.”

“Well, I did have some pretty important things on my mind at the time.”

“Ah, yes,” she agreed, again, “saving my parents. That was pretty important. Speaking of…” she trailed away and pulled a check out of her clutch. “Two-hundred-fifty-thousand dollars. As promised.” When he didn’t take it, she grabbed his hand and pried his fingers open before placing it in his palm. “It’s certified. I promise it won’t bounce.”

He stared at it- fighting mightily not to crush it in his hand- but he controlled himself and folded it carefully before putting it in his pocket. “Fine.”

“So, what now?” The straightforward question caught him just a bit off guard.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you’ve got everything you want now,” she explained, exasperation lacing her words. “Right? Your retirement fund, a house, your family. So what now?”

“I don’t know, I haven’t decided,” he murmured. “Actually, I’ve been thinking.”

“That’s good to hear,” Mary Margaret grumbled.

“Watch your mouth. Better yet, just shut up.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her hard. Only pulling back when Emma came in.

“Whoops,” she exclaimed, stopping in her tracks. “Excuse me. Sorry.” And just as quickly, she was gone again.

David ran his hand through his hair. “Maybe you do love me. And maybe you’re just stupid.”

“Why don’t you just tell me how you feel, David,” she asked, quietly.

“We’re not talking about how I feel.”

“Oh, I see,” she said, trying to maneuver herself off the sofa.

He grabbed her hand and tugged, pulling her onto his lap. “Don’t turn away from me.”

She raised an eyebrow at him and looped her arms around his neck. “I’m not the one doing the turning away, David.”

He pressed his lips into a thin line. Dammit, she had him there. “Listen, I don’t know how exactly we’d make this work. I could sell the house if it didn’t suit.”

Mary Margaret felt a surge of triumph in her heart, but she tried to maintain her stern expression even if the corner of her lips raised in a smirk.

“Didn’t suit what?”

This time it was Ruby that burst into the room. One look from David had her backpedaling immediately. “You didn’t see me. I never came in,” she babbled. “And now I’m gone.” And she was.

David sighed and dropped his forehead to hers. “Some things never change. I never had a moment’s peace with those three around.”

Mary Margaret grinned. “David, are you asking me to marry you?”

“I’d like to muddle through this in my own way, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course not. Please continue.”

David sighed and looked into her green eyes. Did she think sitting there quietly like that was going to make it easier for him? He didn’t know how to put what he was feeling into words.

“I’ve never had a home, Mary Margaret,” he began. “But when I look at you… I think I’m about ready to make one. I told you I was tired when we first met, and I meant it. I don’t need to climb mountains anymore. I already know what’s at the top. And it’s awfully lonely up there. I love you, Mary Margaret.” It was a great deal easier to say than he’d thought it would be. “We can settle anywhere you want. As long as I’m with you, I’m home.”

“I am, too,” she whispered, before claiming his lips in a kiss.

~*~*~

Isn’t Beth’s art for this chapter/series PERFECT????!!!!! PLEASE go give her all the love she deserves!!! Thank you all again for reading and sharing. I hope you enjoyed this final installment and let me know what you think!

[donteattheappleshook]

TIT Thursday Sneak Peek of She Came From the Water to force me to get this chapter finished!

“Granny from the onion rings?” 

That brings a smile to his face. “Aye, and many other greasy dishes.” 

“I like her.”

    Killian laughs, brushing a piece of her hair back. “I think she’d like you. Perhaps someday you’ll meet.” 

    Her expression shifts, falling as her gaze returns to the paintings and drawings in her hand. He regrets it immediately. He’d forgotten, only for a second that their lives aren’t like everyone else's, that her life is so very different. He’s only just forming an apology when she turns to him, leaning on her side and holding up a sketch. “Do you think I could draw something?” 

    He almost falters at her change in mood, her gaze curious and a little mischievous where it was haunted only a moment ago. “I’m sure you could.”

    “Yeah?”

    Killian smiles softly at her. “I’ve yet to see you fail at anything you’ve set your mind to, love,” he assures her as he reaches past her to the little box of art supplies, laying it in front of her and flipping open the lid. 

    Her smile is a little smug and a glint of a challenge flashes in his eyes and she returns it. He waits for her to decide if she’ll take it or not. She picks up a charcoal pencil, toying with it between her hands as she levels him with a challenge of her own. 

    “Can I draw you?” 

@kmomof4 @snowbellewells @teamhook @resident-of-storybrooke @stahlop @hollyethecurious @artistic-writer @gingerchangeling @bubblegum1425 @jackieorioncat @xhookswenchx @lfh1226-linda @winterbaby89 @xsajx @thejollyroger-writer @elizabeethan @carpedzem @spartanguard @tiganasummertree @itsfabianadocarmo @courtorderedcake @the-darkdragonfly @ouatpost @ultraluckycatnd @sailtoafarawayland @zaharadessert @wefoundloveunderthelight @wicked-storybrooke @justanother-unluckysoul @captainswan-shipper88 @onceratheart18 @xarandomdreamx @jrob64 @yasbio2015   @karlyfr13s @csalltheway @batana54

[veryverynotgoodwrites]

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Or should I say, Happy Two Year Anniversary to Perilous Harbor!

I originally posted this very first fic of mine on February 14th, 2019! Crazyyyyy.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has read my story and to everyone who always comments, reblogs, likes, and flails over the words I put together every chapter. You mean the world to me. I also want to say thank you to a whole discord full of amazing writers who keep me motivated to write and put up with my foolishness. You’re the best. And of course, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to @wefoundloveunderthelight for making me this incredible art. I could never have imagined this when I started this two years ago.

In honor of our anniversary together and all of my wonderful readers these past two years, I want to post a special sneak peek of something I’ve already written for later in the story! <3

Enjoy!

@facesiousbutton82 @finmnsoh56 @teamhook @followbatb @xarandomdreamx @the-darkdragonfly @kmomof4

“Killian, I -”

“Look,” he whispered. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what she had to say yet, not before she saw what he had done for her, what was in his heart.

She slowly turned around, and when she laid her eyes upon the deck, she made a small noise in the back of her throat.

Emma stretched a hand out as a single point of light floated through the air toward her. Killian delighted in her amazement as the speck touched her fingertip. The light bounced away, slowly growing brighter and brighter until she had to shield her eyes. When the light dimmed and she looked back, he heard the air completely whoosh from her lungs.

The small light had transformed into millions of stars, suspended in the air all around them. They shone like shimmering crystals in sunlight, their brilliance flickering and growing with every shaky breath she took. It was as if they existed only to reflect the light of her own soul, as if their ability to shine through the darkness of the ocean around them rested with her.

It was at this moment that he realized perhaps her powers weren’t just drawn from the brightness of the sun or the glow of a fire. Maybe her powers were also tied to the gentle glitter of the stars, the light which peeled away the abyss even in the dead of night. The heavens knew she had done the same for the gloom within Killian’s heart.

Carefully, Emma stood up, bracing herself on the handrail beside her. She pulled the blanket tightly around her shoulders as she walked toward the middle of the deck, the epicenter of the magic. Her mouth hung slightly open in disbelief and her blonde curls fell behind her shoulders as she looked up into the sky. The starlight illuminated her face, highlighting the wonder and amazement that she so openly felt. Those impenetrable walls around her heart had completely dissolved. It was the most emotion Killian had seen from her in weeks, and his heart soared as he simply sat and watched, afraid to break the spell.

She slowly spun around, stars floating out of her path as she took in the beauty of the night around her. She moved as if she was in an ethereal dream, so completely entranced by this small bit of magic that she didn’t notice when she hit the rail at the side of the deck and gasped in shock.

Killian jumped to his feet, his hand instinctively moving to the sword he hadn’t even bothered to attach to his belt when he’d dressed. He craned his head to confirm that there was no threat before his princess when he realized that her gasp hadn’t been from some threat or wicked sea monster, but at the full scale of the magic that had been released.

Emma’s misty eyes dropped from the horizon line to the water itself and lingered there, hands gripping the solid wood of the ship, as if it were the only thing that could ground her in this trance, to reassure her that this was real. Quietly, Killian took a step down. What stretched before them struck him speechless.

The calm, clear sea now acted as a mirror to the heavens. Every light in the sky, each shining crystal that overflowed from the Jolly Roger now reflected on the water, making it appear as though the ship was sailing through an ocean of stars. Not a ripple or splash could be seen, nothing to ruin the illusion of this magic. It appeared as though they were frozen in time, as though the spell had paused the world around them so that they were the only two who could share this moment.

In two hundred years, Killian had never seen a night like this. He had been on adventures in lands near and far, seen magic that could shape and destroy worlds, but this… this was beyond measure.

This breathtaking beauty that swept before him was the product of the love that he was so opposed to not months ago. He was convinced that love would make him weak and eventually become as corrupt as his own heart. Now, seeing this, he wanted to laugh at his foolishness.

Love had not made him weak, nor had it bent to the darkness. It had given him the best gift he could ever dream of, had made him stronger than he’d ever been, and had shown him the light still in his heart.