#but also with how much she is mentioned in hades 2 it’s driving me crazy that we can’t see her yet aaaAAAAA

[ryuuna]

i love the way you draw mother night so much its a blessing every time. thank you for extending my life span

Ty! she’s one of my fav comfort characters to draw so I’m very glad you enjoy my art of her :)

angry night wip as a treat (mostly for me)

[miintsprigz]

Reblogging my own post to add onto it.

Things I specifically loved at the 4/28/24 Hadestown show. I knew the original myth and had heard a few pieces of the songs via TikTok, but this was my first time hearing it in full. I’m gonna go in soundtrack order because I’m tired now and I get order mixed up.

LONG POST BELOW and LET THERE BE SPOILERS!

-“AIGHT!”

-Eurydice is dressed in shorter overalls from the beginning and “always has the fates following her”…gosh don’t you hate it when Doomed, can’t even let this woman CANDLE in peace. she was always meant to go down there. And stay down there.

-I haven’t seen a SINGLE person talk about Yaya Reich’s version of Eurydice?! She’s excellent!!! I really love her hair, legit debated trying to style mine like hers

-I 100% understand what Eurydice sees in Orpheus. Gosh what a dork. I love him. I also 100% understand what Orpheus sees in Eurydice because HAVE I MENTIONED YAYA IS BEAUTIFUL

-Hermes gives me uncle vibes in the most comforting way imaginable.

-Persephone kinda gives me Tinkerbell vibes, the way she dances is so great. Woman EMBODIES life of the party.

-Her dance when Way Down Hadestown begins—she like bent at the waist, sort of shimmying side to side. It’s like she was being pulled down by Hades. So creepy, I love it.

-“I missed ya.” Philip Boykin’s delivery of that gave me Audrey II vibes.

-Orpheus visibly phasing in and out of Hadestown as he worked on the song…I’ve never seen a better representation of an artist getting completely swallowed whole by their work. The scared “is he always like this?” from Eurydice chilled me. Sometimes we’re in too deep…

-All these performers getting YEETED across the stage by the turntable/rotating stage/I dunno jargon was crazy. I would have fallen like 54 times.

-The way I audibly went “oh no” as Eurydice was pretty much attacked by the Fates. I see those three as the true villains here. Love it when your own mind tries to bite you.

-“Orpheus, I’m hungry…” the fact that Eurydice is so destitute for most of this show BREAKS MEEEE

-The intro to “Wait For Me” will never not frick me up. “Where is she…?”

-I didn’t know how to feel about Eurydice choosing to go down to Hades. But with what little we know of her past, it makes some good sense to me. She’s used to moving when the going gets tough and people left her a lot. Sure, Orpheus was different, but one person isn’t enough to change a lifelong foundation of behavior, and when people are stressed they’re even more likely to fall into old behaviors…I’m getting too psychoanalytical oops.

-The set BREAKING APART when Orpheus sings that melody. My gosh, I felt my mouth drop open. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The staging of this whole song was awesome.

-I know now that “there’s a crack in the wall!” in “our lady of the underground” is meant to be a peep show but seeing her reach up for the light made me kind of sad. Like she’s trying to reach and touch the world she loves.

-“Flowers” is one of the most underrated songs in this show, PERIOD. I got REKT. The fact that she REMEMBERS ORPHEUS’ KINDNESS EVEN THOUGH SHE FORGOT BOTH THEIR NAMES. NO IM NOT OK

-The gags in Come Home With Me (Reprise) had me rolling honestly. “No I walked” (points to aisle)

-The fight scene during Papers was genuinely super cool to me.

-“Nothing Changes” makes me think this show could really be used as a lesson not to let the cruel and twisted voices in your mind result in you leading to a tragedy by your own actions/inactions at times…but don’t get down on yourself for what you did before you knew better.

-If It’s True is CRUSHING. EMOTIONAL DAMAGE!

-Kinda got irked that Orpheus almost gave up here, but to be fair, this dude just got 1.) beaten up 2.) EMOTIONALLY DUNKED ON by hades. Probably the worst day of his life.

-“How Long?” Having them stand on either side of the hole, with O, E, and the workers going down in there…it’s like the riot is driving a wedge between the two of them. And ya know, sometimes you gotta tear it all down before you can rebuild.

-YOUNG MAAAAN GOT TA HAND IT TO YA—

“Keep your head” takes on a different meaning—don’t let them get inside your head, “take” your head…”keep” it, keep YOURSELF!

-Me: “the Epic is probably gonna be cheesy.”

Me after Epic III: “cheesy? Yeah a little. Still stunning? YEEAAAAH”

-The fact that the Fates themselves fall in line during Epic III, and follow the other characters for once. I know they were canonically probably biding their time, but I like to think Orpheus’ song was so good on this run that he BENT FATE TO HIS WILL. And that’s why, even though this has been a never-ending loop, Persephone comes down for springtime! He DID change something, he BENT FATE. HEAR. ME OUT.

-Hades’ shaky singing. Listen, he’s done bad stuff but I just thought “aw buddy”…

-Hades’ goofy dancing made him a lot more likeable to me.

-Idk why, I wasn’t big on Promises or Wedding Song as a whole—not like I hated em, I loved this whole show, those songs just didn’t light my brain up as much. I’m a lunkhead, so that doesn’t mean much. Don’t listen to me—

-The fact that HADES HIMSELF is swayed by the Fates—the Fates are literally responsible for driving (albeit not causing, note the difference) every single bad thing that happens—Eury going down, Hades making the catch, Orph TURNING—COME ON. Great theme that no one is without flaw.

-Personally, I love how done Hermes is with this plot from Hades. You can see how sick he is of seeing this same exact thing happen again and again.

-Again, Hermes tells it like it is. The doubt, the insecurities of the cast, they’re the real “villain” here. Not the gods. The sadistic Fates. And the fact that people can’t HELP but listen.

-Wait For Me Reprise is great. Send tweet.

-The staging for the walk up is great. The mist, the complete blackness representing the inner mind of Orpheus.

-The fact that The Fates PHYSICALLY get in between Orpheus and Eurydice. What a great visual metaphor. She’s talking to him the whole time and HE CANT HEAR HER!!! Because they’re held so much closer than even his love. He’s not doing it on purpose, it’s just human nature.

-There’s a whole group with her too, I swear the ensemble choir here comes through with this message of the people you surround yourself with rubbing off on you (like E dancing with them in Living It Up) but there comes a point where you get so drowned in your own thoughts that even a whole crowd can’t reach you…

-People have suggested Orpheus’ wavering could have to do with him literally losing himself from all the time he’s spent in Hadestown. He didn’t sign his soul away, so I know it doesn’t really count, but…I could kinda see it.

-I knew, I KNEW what was coming. And I was STILL HORRIFIED. The way she GASPS. The immediate relief that changes to horror as he realizes his desperation to see if she was really there is her ultimate doom. The woman he loved more than anything, and he’s sent her to her demise, once, twice, and FOR GOOD. All with the best intentions. They do indeed pave the road to hell.

-The ending positions. He’s forever looking down. Head down in despair. Unable to see the world as it could be anymore. And her? She’s just GONE.

-Jon Jon’s Hermes looked so DONE. His “aight?” Sounded like “okay, kiddo. You didn’t get it this time either. But it’s okay, because I’m going to keep singing it until you get it.” I was concerned they’d go right into the same opening version, knowing that would jolt me right out of immersion. That did NOT happen.

-Man I wanna give this whole cast a big hug. They want a happy ending so bad, and so do I. I’m gonna keep singing. Let’s all keep singing. Maybe one day, Orpheus won’t turn around. See the world for what it could be, in spite of the way that it is.

Raise a cup. For the Orpheus in all of us. Who will turn, again and again, but we keep on singing. Keep on weaving our masterpieces, trying to heal our world, and maybe, maybe one day, heal ourselves.

Okay it’s 1am, I need to sleep. Thank you for reading.

Just want to say I saw Hadestown for the first time tonight and I LOVED IT!

[deckerstarwrites]

wanted plots for my 1x1 blog @mostpxculiar as well as fcs I’d like to play/play opposite to. please like this post, or dm me if you’d like to discuss any of these plots further! tw: nsfw/smut plots cheating, pregnancy, murder/blood,  under the cut.

plots i want, but also please come at me with plots YOU want!

a plot based off of fleabag/hot priest from fleabag

someone should give me a plot with this big bad gang leader and his super soft and cute girlfriend that has him wrapped around her finger. like he’s a feared man, which she doesn’t really care about. and she’s there to patch him up and while he usually tries to hide her away from the cruel world he’s in whenever he isn’t there with her, she just patiently waits for him when he’s out and about doing his business and he’s so fascinated by her and no matter how much of a bad guy he is, he’s just so soft for her and he’d do anything for her!!! and then his most precious possession gets kidnaped and shit goes down snsnsns (m/f, f/f)

f/f plot where a snobby, graceful, poised and rich prima ballerina falls in love with a reckless pole dancer who is super hot with a 6 pack and colourful hair and the girls are total polar opposites pls hmu

a plot where muse a just needs to get away from everything so she packs up everything into her small shitty car that barley runs and just drives. she loses count of the boarders she crossed until she lands right into the middle of a small town where the population is like 2 thousand and her car breaks down. so she goes into a diner that she sees is open and she asks about a mechanic so the lady in the diner calls up her friend who happens to be muse b, the local mechanic. so muse b comes over and tells her that he wont be able to check her car out until morning bc its like 10 pm now so muse a is going to check into a motel or smth but muse b offers to put her up for the night and bc shes broke she says yeah and basically they end up banging with the intention that after tomorrow they are never gonna see each other again - wrong. muse b goes down to his shop and looks at the engine and a really important parts gone in it and its going to take a couple weeks for it to come in and basically muse a has to stay in this shitty small town for the next couple of weeks AND THEY FALL FOR EACH OTHER AND WE CAN FIGURE THE REST OUT! (m/f, f/f)

I really want a one night stand where she snuck out before he woke up and he tried looking her up but he didn’t even know her full name, so he moved on. Move on years down the road and he’s just gotten engaged and at the engagement part he’s introduced to her sister that’s been living overseas for the past few days, but who is it, that girl from all those years ago. Better yet, meet her child, wait, why do they his eyes.

modern hades and persephone where persephone is a tired college student and when she finds out the god of the underworld wants to make her his bride she’s like “become queen of the dead AND never have to go to an 8 AM lecture again, not to mention watch with popcorn as my ex dies and finds out my new boyfriend is his new king? YES PLZ” and just fucking swandives down into the underworld and hades is like “…i had a carriage prepared but okay that works too”

plot three. six months ago he let the nanny give him head. he has been avoiding talking to her since, and is really flustered. she is a full time, live in nanny in their giant mansion. i’m getting a ‘living in england’ vibe, but i’m not sure. he has 3-4 kids running around with his wife of years. the nanny can’t stand the wife, but is obviously polite. his wife is bitchy, whiny, and all she cares is about appearances. who cares if you’re actually happy? just play happy. pretend to be happy. the nanny loves to fluster him when the wife isn’t home. she’ll wear short outfits, lean over, not wear underwear, forget to wear a bra. it was a holiday. so they invited the nanny to eat dinner with them. she starts rubbing him under the table. later on that day, he pulls the nanny to the side into the bathroom or something to tell her that she had to cut it out and that it was a one time thing. out of the blue  - he kisses her hard. just give me lots of behind the wives back, and maybe she gets pregnant down the line?

ok but i need a plot where there’s these two idiots who are roommates, and they bicker and act like a married couple constantly, and can hang out like bros but they’re completely platonic, no we’re not in love that’s preposterous!! and it’s so evident that they’re into each other like whenever one goes out on a date, the other is all bitter like ‘no i’m definitely not jealous’. and they like leave bars together at some stupidly early hour and their friends tease them and they just go home and get drunk together instead. and like domestic washing the dishes and fighting over who does what and flinging soap at each other. and then one day it kind of just clicks, you know, like wow you’re my best friend but i think i might love you as more this is so difficult and just, give this to me now.  (m/f, f/f)

not to be dramatic or anything but i really want a sugar daddy/sugar baby plot where the muse a is “ happily ” married ceo of a big company with shit tons of money and muse a goes out to a local bar just to chill when they meet muse b. ofc they hit it off and go in muse a’s car and fuck all night and in the morning muse a offers muse b a proposition, if muse b agrees to be muse a’s mistress then muse a will give muse b anything they want starting their sugar baby/sugar daddy relationship. it’s all good until muse a sees muse b all over another guy and looses it and gets into a huge fight with muse b that ends with muse a fucking muse b up against his car and yea gimmie this smut i need sneaky around and sexting while around his wife nd getting him riled up like yes pls thank  

bloody , murderous & psychotic couples who love killing people for the thrill and make out with bloody lips and high five each other by the mountains of dead bodies they made . fuckyeah ?  give me this crazy shit . serial killer couples . vampire couples . dark romeo & juliet couples . modern au persephone & hades couples . couples who compete to see who kills the most or the most gruesome . give me gore . give me bloodshed . GIVE IT TO ME !  (m/f, f/f) (focusing a lot on hades/persephone, vampires but willing to go the bonnie and clyde or serial killer route)

no offense but i need a messy exes plot where they can’t get over one another no matter what they do and they always tell themselves they’re not gonna go back to them yet every time they get done with a date they end up knocking on the other person’s door and just jealousy and angst and heartbreak and crying because they don’t know if this is ever going to work out but they can’t walk away because this person is still their whole fucking world and they don’t know how to move on  (m/f, f/f)

faceclaims I’d like to play and play against or both  but also literally come at me with your fcs!!!

Inbar Lavi

Tom Ellis

Lauren German

Sophia Bush

Trevante Rhodes

Zoe Saldana

Madelaine Petsch 

Camila Mendes

Lesley Ann Brandt

Manny Montana

Diane Guerrero 

Adria Arjona

Ana De Arms

Aisha Dee

Chris Evans

Ryan Gosling

John Krazinski

Matt Czuchry

Lana Condor 

Elizabeth Lail

Anya Charlotra

Victoria Pedretti

Zazie Beetz

Shay Mitchell

Candice Patton

Margot Robbie

Florence Pugh

Lucy Liu

Jodie Comer

Katie Mcgrath

Justin Baldoni

Indya Moore

Oscar Isaac

Matthew Daddario

Tessa Thompson

[shireness-says]

If I Could See Your Face Once More (3/6)

Summary: This time, there’s no celebration at Granny’s when the latest crisis has been resolved. Instead, they’re left to deal with the body of Killian Jones. A 5B canon divergence where Killian dies in Camelot, never becoming a Dark One. Rated T for language. Also on AO3. ~6.6K. Chapter 1 Chapter 2

A/N: I ended up switching days to post my third @csmarchmadness, so here’s Chapter 3, a day earlier than expected! Thanks, as always, to @xemmaloveskillianx for organizing the even and @snidgetsafan for beta-ing, as well as the discord ladies for helping me figure out where parts of this section were going. 

Thanks for all your wonderful feedback so far - I’m so glad you’re liking where I’ve taken this! I’ll have Chapter 4 up as soon as I can - it’s about half written now, so hopefully I can buckle down on the rest. Brace yourselves for the angst, guys. 

Tagging: @thejollyroger-writer, @profdanglaisstuff, @captainsjedi, @ultraluckycatnd, @superchocovian, @snowbellewells, @killianjones4ever82, @wellhellotragic, @ohmakemeahercules. Shoot me a message if you want to be added to the list!

Thanks for reading, let me know what you think! I hope you enjoy!

As far as rude awakenings go, the entire house shaking has to top the list.

While half asleep, Killian had been happy to write it off as Emma tossing around in bed, as she’s prone to do (his favorite little bed hog), but as the shaking continues, shaking him fully out of slumber and straight into panic instead, it becomes obvious that something is happening. Something dire, something unusual even for the Underworld. It makes him sit bolt upright in bed, alert and trying to safely discern what the hell is going on as Emma grumbles incoherently at the sudden removal of her human pillow.

“Wake up, love,” he says urgently. When she just groans, not willing to rouse herself from her hazy dreamland, Killian resorts to shaking her. “Emma, love, you’ve got to wake up, something’s the matter.”

Just then, the shaking abruptly stops. Emma blearily blinks up at at him, blessedly awake. “Was something… shaking?” She asks groggily.

“Aye. I don’t know what,” he replies, quickly getting out of bed and moving to retrieve his trousers and shirt. Unlike certain blondes in his life, he’s always careful to fold his laundry and either put it away or into the dirty clothes basket instead of tossing them into corners willy-nilly.

“Well we’ve got to go find out!” Emma shoots right back, tossing the covers back and swinging her legs over the side of the mattress.

“Aye. I’d think it was an earthquake, but down here —” Killian’s train of thought is abruptly cut off as he hears a soft oof from Emma, followed by an alarming screech of bedsprings. When he whips back around from where he had been facing away from the bed, Emma is sitting wide-eyed, both hands gripping at the edge of the mattress.

Killian’s certain he’s never moved faster, crouching down in front of Emma in a flash and reaching for her hand. “Are you alright, Emma? Love, talk to me. Are you okay, is the baby okay?”

“Calm down, Captain. Everything’s fine, I just stood up too fast, blood rush or whatever.” Patting his hand briefly, she stands back up again, this time without any problems, and moves to collect her own jeans and sweater.

Emma may not seem too concerned, but the incident - small as it is - really throws things into harsh perspective. He’s already been wrestling with guilt over the fact that Emma’s here, in danger, in the first place - not to mention Henry and their unborn child - but this really reminds him of all the other, more mundane dangers facing them. Emma’s a woman of action; he’s always known that, it was one of the many myriad of things that made him fall in love with her in the first place. But that same impulsiveness, that same urge to help that drives her to action, puts her in a lot of dangerous situations - not just crazy things like this, things that would only happen to the Savior, but everyday dangers too. Her job as Sheriff doesn’t help; Storybrooke is a quiet town, but even quiet towns can host robberies gone wrong or domestic disputes or any number of other circumstances that might prove dangerous, or even deadly, to a bold sheriff too concerned with saving others to worry enough about herself.

“Maybe you should let us investigate this one, love,” he hazards cautiously. This will almost certainly come back to bite him, but he feels he can’t go without saying something. She already can only use her magic sparingly, and guns and swords won’t do much against the already deceased. Standing by while she charges into danger just feels like he’s playing a part in whatever harm might come to them.

Emma looks over at him as she pulls her jeans on, narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips in disapproval before turning back to button her pants. Their little one protrudes just enough that she’s had to rig up a new closure system with a hair binder, something Killian usually finds adorable, but today just reminds him of how much is at stake. “I’m fine, Killian,” she sighs, exasperation tinging her tone. “I’m not about to break.”

“I know you’re strong and hearty, love, but we don’t know what we’re facing out there. And there’s the babe to think about now, too,” he presses.

“What, so I’m supposed to just sit around here, twiddling my thumbs while everyone else rushes off into God only knows what? I’m supposed to be here to save you! I can’t do that just sitting on my ass!”

“I can’t let you do that though at the cost of your own life! I’m already dead, Emma - what the hell else can happen to me?”

Killian regrets the words as soon as they leave his mouth, but there’s nothing to be done about it. Still, seeing the tears pooling at the bottom of her eyes is like a stab through his heart. He hopes they’re a product of her fluctuating hormones, but he’s afraid they’re not; that feels like denying responsibility anyways, and those tears are certainly his fault.

“Emma, love…” he tries again, reaching for her, but she just shakes her head and leaves the room, leaving Killian all alone. With a sigh, he turns to finish securing his brace and shrugging on a shirt.

Give them both a moment to calm down; then he’ll turn his attention to fixing the mess he’s made.

He doesn’t get a chance, though, Regina already waiting in their living room when Killian finally makes it down the stairs. He wants to go straight to Emma, to try and make up (or, ideally, come to some kind of compromise that keeps her safe but still involved) and put this whole thing behind them, but they can’t do that with Regina standing right there.

“Madame Mayor,” he nods. Things have never been exactly natural between himself and the former Evil Queen; it’s easiest to fall back on practiced formalities. Still, that won’t stop him from asking why she’s here. It is still his own house, after all, and a man is entitled to such things. “May I ask what you’re doing here, Your Majesty? Or how, for that matter, since I didn’t hear the front door or doorbell?”

Regina sniffs in mild disdain at the questioning; he probably shouldn’t have expected any less. “Unlike your girlfriend here,” she emphasizes, “there’s nothing wrong with my magic.” At Killian’s blank stare - more unamused than confused, in truth - she elaborates. “I transported myself over into your living room. You felt the disturbance I assume, unless you’re even more oblivious than I gave you credit for?” Ignoring the jibe, Killian nods curtly. “Well, my sister dearest managed to get herself pulled into a portal. With the baby at that.”

“Are they both alright?” Emma asks, blessedly keeping the focus on the problem at hand before the Queen goes off on a rant about her sister (deserved or not).

“Zelena twisted her ankle upon landing, but Vera’s fine.” It’s obvious from Regina’s tone which person’s wellbeing she finds important. “Hades had some underling waiting, but Greenie was able to scare him off with her magic. As far as anyone can tell, he wanted the baby for some purpose, and Zelena was just collateral damage.”

“Robin must be relieved that the little one is alright,” Killian comments. What was the baby’s name? Vera? Soon enough, he and Emma will have to be picking out names for their own babe, if they can just both make it out of the Underworld in one piece.

“He is. We both are,” Regina agrees, a smile almost teasing at the edges of her mouth before she snaps back to her businesslike facade again. “Zelena thinks she might know something, however, and I’d really like to get home and away from the miserable bitch as soon as possible, so if you’re done with the small talk…” she trails off, fixing both Killian and Emma in turn with an expectant look.

Killian jumps to retrieve Emma’s heavy coat and his own leather jacket. They may not have a chance to talk for a while, not with the rush of everything happening, but maybe he can show his love, his care, his apology in smaller ways. She meets his eyes briefly as he opens the coat wide to slip her arms into, and he tries to put all the words he can’t yet say into a small smile; part apology, part reassurance, all love. Emma just looks away, though, reaching for her hat and gloves instead.

Not a good sign.

“I can only take you one at a time,” Regina warns brusquely, “so you’re going to have to wait a moment, Captain.”

“That’s fine,” he assures. “I should collect my brother anyways.”

“Are you sure that’s a wise idea, after his little disappearing act the other day?” Regina demands. She’s always cut straight to the point, and Killian usually appreciates that - hell, would admire it in anyone else - but he finds himself wishing she would perhaps mince her words just a bit. There’s something to be said for tact in small doses. It also reminds him that while the group at large knows that something happened yesterday for both he and Liam to suddenly disappear for hours on end, they don’t know all the detail of Liam’s betrayal.

“No, but for better or worse, I’m hoping he’ll have insights that will be of use to us.” Killian keeps things as vague as possible, but Regina looks like she suspects something’s up all the same. Not that it’s not warranted. The first order of business today will have to be making Liam confess to everyone. It’s as good a penance as any; Killian certainly wouldn’t want to face an angry Regina, let alone the Lady Snow. As much as he’s looking forward to his brother being interrogated by the Evil Queen, however, he’s not keen on receiving the same treatment himself. It’ll be a miracle if he can get out of the house without her demanding any more answers. “I’ll meet you at the Mayor’s Mansion as soon as I can,” he excuses, moving to leave. Things are still unsettled between himself and Emma, but it feels wrong to just leave without any gesture towards her, so he quickly drops a kiss on her cheek on his way to the door, letting their fingers brush in passing. She doesn’t say anything, or move to make it a real kiss, but she doesn’t pull away from him either, which Killian is willing to take as a small success.

Getting better.

It’s only a short walk from the house to the harbor, where Liam is already up and about on the Jolly Roger. “Brother!” he calls. “Did you feel the quaking?”

A burst of irritation fizzles through Killian’s veins. What does Liam think he is, some kind of imbecile? Brother knows best. It makes him wonder if his brother was always like this, and Killian was just too blinded by devotion to see it.

“Yes, that’s why I’m here,” he grinds out. “Gather whatever you need, we’re expected back at the Mayor’s Mansion.”

“I take it you’re still mad at me,” Liam comments on his way down the gangplank.

“Aye, well, it’s not exactly something you get over in only one night,” Killian snipes back.

“Killian, please —”

“No, this is what’s going to happen,” Killian interrupts. “We’re going to go and face Emma’s family - my family and friends, and explain exactly what you did, what you told Hades, what was on those pages. You are going to do everything you can to help us. And it still won’t fully make up for what you tried to do to me, what you tried to take from me, but it will at least be a start, and we can evaluate from there. Understood?”

“Aye, Brother, but what do you think this —”

“Further discussion will not be necessary.”

The rest of their walk is pretty quiet after that.

To his credit, Liam does confess to the group at large without any extra prodding. Reactions are almost exactly what Killian would have expected: Henry is furious at the betrayal, Belle is shocked, Snow seems to be hovering somewhere around maternal disappointment, and Regina rolls her eyes.

“Can you at least tell us what was on the pages?” she sighs, her voice sounding absolutely exhausted for this early in the day. That’s a feat, Killian can’t help but think as he watches the haughty mayor rub at her temples as if to make a headache go away.

“I wasn’t exactly looking too closely at their contents,” Liam admits with a wince. “All I can tell you is that illustration depicted some sort of rock, or gemstone.”

“It’s a crystal,” Zelena’s voice calls from the doorway, where she’d apparently limped over. “The Olympian Crystal.” Killian hadn’t seen her when he came in; he assumes they got the inevitable sniping out of the way before Killian arrived back at the Mayor’s Mansion with Liam. Not that he regrets missing it; even if he wasn’t already predisposed to dislike the Wicked Witch, especially after the incidents of the Second Curse - he’s not likely to soon forget her attempt to manipulate and drown him, thank you very much - her particular brand of constant drama isn’t to Killian’s taste. In his opinion, it’s never a good sign when he, the man who devoted centuries of his life to the pursuit of revenge, thinks you’ve gone a little too far.

“How can you be so certain of that?” Robin bites back. It’s harsher than Killian is used to from the easy-going bandit, but after everything Zelena has done to him, Killian supposes that’s warranted.

“Hades and I have clashed before. And unlike some of us here,” she says pointedly, “I’m willing to dig up a little research about my enemies so I can attack them head-on, instead of rushing in with some half-cocked plan.” There’s no telling who that was aimed at; probably Regina, but it could frankly apply to half the people in the room.

“Yes, you’re a champion researcher, we bow to you in awe,” Regina drawls sarcastically. “Do you want to tell the rest of the class about this ‘Olympic Crystal’, or do you just want to brag?”

“It’s the Olympian Crystal, since you obviously weren’t listening,” Zelena snaps back. Ah, siblings. “Supposedly, it’s a divine weapon that can be used to defeat Hades.”

“And you never used it? What a go-getter you are, sis.”

���He never came back after that frankly bizarre attempt to snatch Oz from under my nose, and unlike some people, I don’t feel the need to go actively looking for trouble! I never needed to use it!”

“Well maybe if you had we wouldn’t —”

“Alright,” David interrupts, blessedly so in Killian’s opinion. “Do you know where we can find this… Crystal?”

“No, Blondie,” Zelena sneers. “Like I said: I never needed to.”

That sits with all of them for a moment. This had seemed like such a good lead, but there’s nowhere to take it. Maybe the Crystal wouldn’t bring Killian back to life, but it could take Hades out of the picture, remove a major hurdle to their quest. But without any idea of where to find it, they’re just stuck.

“We could talk to the Apprentice,” Henry suggests suddenly. “I mean, he’s got to be down here, right?”

“That’s not a bad idea, actually,” Regina comments, the pride and surprise warring in her voice.

“Well done, lad,” Killian murmurs, nudging Henry affectionately.

“Okay, so we go see the Apprentice,” David says, no small amount of impatience tinging his tone and no doubt fueling his decisiveness on the matter.

“You can do that. I’ll start here with the baby, I couldn’t possibly walk on my ankle,” Zelena sniffs. With that, the room dissolves into a chaos of Robin and Regina protesting and insisting she can’t be left alone with Vera, as David starts just as loudly insisting that they need to leave right now, they can’t afford to waste time.

In the midst of all that, Killian takes the opportunity to tug on Emma’s sleeve. “Can we talk for a moment, love?”

She nods and follows him readily to an unused office, but still doesn’t say anything, instead crossing her arms over her chest and shifting from foot to foot. She looks nervous about this conversation, he realizes, and that helps a little bit.

“I’m sorry,” he says, diving right in. “I didn’t mean to suggest you were putting the baby in danger.”

“I know,” she replies quietly, still shuffling her feet. “My emotions are running so high right now, and I just…” she pauses, apparently collecting herself. “I just want to go home. With you. As soon as we can.”

“I know, love, I do too. I’m just horribly afraid that it’ll be at some awful cost. You’re already trapped here by that headstone. I’m thankful for everything you’re doing to save me, but I’m terrified it’ll be at the cost of someone else’s life - your own, or the Bean’s, or anyone else’s. Especially our child. You and I…” he pauses, organizing his thoughts. “You and I, we didn’t have happy childhoods. We didn’t even have safe childhoods, and I’ve always known that if I was lucky enough to have a child, I’d do my damndest to protect them for anything that might hurt them. The little one isn’t even here, and I already feel like I’ve failed at keeping them safe. What kind of parent does that?” he begs.

“It’s not your fault, Killian,” Emma assures him, stepping forward to cup his cheek in her hand. “You’re doing your best, and the fact that you’re trying is what’s going to make you a great dad.”

Killian smiles weakly back at her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I know you can take care of yourself,” he assures Emma. “It’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with you. But with everything that’s going on, I just…” Worry. Overreact. Wonder if I’m really worth it all.

“I know,” Emma says, and he really thinks she might. She’s always been able to see right through him, after all. “There’s going to come a time where I need to do that, take a backseat, and I’ll let you fuss over me all you want then. But for now…”

“For now, you’ve got it,” Killian finishes. He’ll still worry, of course, still try to protect her when they’re out in the field, fighting the forces of evil, but how is that different from before, really? He’s been by her side since Neverland, trying to keep her safe and happy. Now there’s just a little someone else to watch over as well. “I love you,” he says, making sure to look her in the eyes and attempt to impart exactly how much he means the words.

“I love you too,” Emma smiles back, pressing up for a kiss. Killian’s hand drops to her waist out of habit, allowing his thumb to brush over her growing stomach. “Now, you ready to go see a magician about a crystal?”

“Aye, love. Lead the way.”

———

The Apprentice lives in the same little cottage that he did in the living world, though his window boxes and garden beds are sadly empty. This place isn’t conducive to any form of life, even that of a more botanical bent. In truth, Killian dreads this visit due to all the messy history between himself and the mystical old man. The Apprentice may have seemed to forgive Killian before his untimely death at the hands of the Darkness, despite everything he had done, but Killian isn’t sure he’s forgiven himself. No matter how many times Emma and Henry tell him that he can’t be held responsible for trapping the fairies and the Apprentice in the hat, no matter the fact that he knows Gold was pulling the strings that whole episode, Killian still feels guilty. Even if he wasn’t in control of himself at the time, he was the one that sucked everyone into some unspeakable in-between world, that had to listen to their screams and watch them fight against the portal’s winds. It was a terrible reminder of all the darkness he’s capable of and had succumbed to in the past. Facing the Apprentice is a terrible reminder of all that.

He doesn’t offer any judgement as he opens the door, though, doesn’t slam it in Killian’s face (as would be well deserved) or even demand to know why they’re here. Instead, he just nods knowingly before opening the door wider to let everyone through.

“You’re here about the Olympian Crystal,” the Apprentice says as they file past into his little parlor. It’s a statement, a fact, not a question. He knows this, and is just waiting for everyone else to realize it.

“Yes, actually,” Killian replies. A not-insignificant part of himself wants to know how exactly the Apprentice knew what they were here for, but it seems rude somehow to ask. Looking through their little crowd, his companions seem to be wondering the same thing, if their confused expressions are anything to go by - Regina being the obvious exception, far too regal and refined for such emotional transparency. The man is a powerful magician; who are they to demand an explanation for his methods?

Thankfully, the old man seems to sense their puzzlement. “My master’s book of prophecies has foretold many things, both in life and now in death,” he explains. Ah, yes, Merlin. Killian had been impressed, if somewhat intimidated, by the man’s powers of foresight in Camelot; with so many centuries on his hands, it makes a certain amount of sense that he put some of his visions down to paper for his Apprentice’s reference. “Please, sit,” he offers, sweeping an arm towards the old fashioned upholstered chairs. “I assume you have many questions.”

“Yes, actually,” Snow replies, apparently taking the lead in this conversation. That might be for the best, actually; she has more tact than any of the rest of them. “What exactly is this Crystal? We’ve only just learned of the existence of the myths surrounding it.”

“And what did those legends say?”

“That it has the power to defeat Hades,” Emma replies, cutting to the point. Never one to mince words, his love. “And it’s a real thing? Not just a story?”

“It’s a real thing,” the Apprentice confirms, “one of Zeus’ thunderbolts made into solid form. Its efficacy against a god has never been tested, and so is yet to be seen, but I can tell you this for certain: it’s a powerful tool with the power of life and death.”

“Does that mean we could use it to help Killian?” Henry asks eagerly. Killian and Emma both lean forward in anticipation of the answer, as if the closer proximity will give them better - or at least faster - news. Could this be it, the solution to their problem?

“In the right hands, yes,” the Apprentice agrees. Even that conditional agreement makes Killian’s heart race with hope. “It is beyond my knowledge how to use it, however. I assume that it’s a conduit of some kind - a tool to amplify magic, a divine wand.”

“We can work with that,” David nods, his face set in determination. This must have been how he looked back in the Enchanted Forest as the consort of a bandit princess - a solid born leader. “Emma’s the Savior - if any magic could activate the powers of the Crystal, it’d be hers.”

“And do you know where it is?” Emma asks, steering the conversation back on topic.

“The book says that when it fell from Olympus, it landed in the River of Lost Souls. Unfortunately, it was less illustrative as to the specifics of where in the River.”

“And I suppose that’s the toxic river we already had to deal with to rescue Hook in the first place,” Regina deadpans, eliciting a nod of confirmation from the Apprentice. “Excellent.”

“Yeah but if this is the thing that can bring Killian back with us —” Emma starts to argue, before Regina cuts her off.

“Yes, that’s fine, don’t jump down my throat. I’m not suggesting we don’t pursue this, I’m just saying that it’s going to be difficult. Remember the part where the waters basically steal your soul and wipe your memories?”

“I don’t suppose you have a solution for that?” Killian asks the Apprentice, quickly redirecting before Emma and Regina can snipe at each other any more.

The other man just shakes his head in the negative though, sending a chill through Killian’s lifeless veins. “So what, that’s a one-way trip for someone?”

“Perhaps the Crystal can undo the River’s damage, but that’s never been tested, of course,” the old man explains.

“And there’s no other way?” Belle asks.

“There’s tales of an ambrosia bush, but it’s been lost for centuries. Even Merlin’s records don’t offer any clue to its whereabouts.”

“And I can’t just… write it into existence?” Henry cuts in.

“That’s beyond the abilities of the Author. Your job is merely to record. Argue all you like,” he tells the collected group, “but this is the best way as things currently stand.”

“Yes, but it’s not actually a viable option, you see, because we’re not sacrificing anyone,” Killian explains, his patience officially having run out. “We’ll just have to find this ambrosia bush, then, because —”

“I’ll do it.”

All heads snap towards Liam at the sound of his voice. Surely he didn’t just say what Killian thinks he said? As they stare at him in shock, however, he repeats the words with even more firmness and determination. “I’ll do it. I’ll retrieve the Crystal.”

“Liam, you can’t —” Killian tries to protest, but it gets him nowhere.

“I’m the expendable one here, Brother,” he reminds Killian. “You and I are the only ones not living, and we’ve got to get you home. It has to be me.” More quietly, he adds a private plea for Killian’s ears only. “Let me do this, Killian. Let me make up for the hurt I’ve caused.”

“I can’t let you do it this way,” Killian insists. Of course he’s been furious with Liam, and still is in many ways, but this? This is going too far. This could turn Liam into a shade of himself if it fails.

“You have to, Killian. It’s the only way. Though I wouldn’t say no if your lady love were to cast some sort of protection spell,” he jokes in an attempt to lighten to mood. It doesn’t work, not in the least.

“He’s right,” Regina says. “We’ll try the protection spell, but as much as I hate to admit it, Captain Jones is right. He’s the one we can spare.”

(Killian especially hates hearing it from Regina, and especially like that - like his brother is just some tool to be used and disposed of.)

As much as Killian’s heart screams in protest at the thought of his brother sacrificing himself to possibly become nothing more than an empty shell, another permanent farewell, his head knows they’re right. It’s the only way, and if Killian wants to return to his future in the living world, he’s going to have to accept that sacrifice.

“It’s the only way,” he echoes softly, nodding in resignation.

He may be mad at his brother, but he never wanted this.

———

The cave system beneath the Underworld through which the River of Lost Souls flows is cold and damp, fostering a foreboding air as the chill sinks into all their bones. The otherworldly green glow of the River’s waters doesn’t help matters either, making the whole thing feel even more nightmarish in an already unworldly place. Curiously, it reminds Killian of the catacombs he once saw in a far off land, so long ago that he can’t remember the name anymore. The glimpse of metal structuring or the stone ledges carefully carved out of the rock is a bare reminder of human presence in this empty space - that this is somehow a place built by people, but not truly intended for them. The only word for it, truly, is eerie.

It takes less time to find the Crystal than expected - only a day and a half of searching - but they seem to simultaneously pass in a blink and stretch on forever. They’d divided into small groups to punt up and down the waterways - Killian, Emma, and her parents in one boat with Regina, Robin, and Liam in the other. There’d been some debate about the divide - David in particular had wanted to be in the other boat, seemingly wanting to keep a closer eye on Liam. That’s reasonable, Killian supposes, after everything that had been revealed earlier that day. It takes a good deal of scolding from both Emma and Snow to convince him to climb into their skiff, all capped off by a very charming “You’re being ridiculous, Dad, get over here before you piss Mom off even more. You’re coming with us.”

(Whatever works, right?)

Still, the squabbling is a waste of time. One thing they can all agree upon, however, is to keep Henry as far away from the search as possible. No one knows exactly what those waters would do to a living being, and they don’t care to find out - especially not with Henry. No one wants him anywhere near that water. Instead, he’s persuaded to stay up above with Belle, doing research about how to use this Crystal once they find it. Henry’s not happy about it, but he agrees eventually - especially when it becomes obvious that no one is caving. Ultimately, Killian thinks the only reason Henry goes without anymore fuss is that he’s tasked with the responsibility of watching over Belle and the baby, and especially of ensuring that Zelena doesn’t try to stage a kidnapping in Robin and Regina’s absence or otherwise betray them. Whatever it takes, Killian tells himself, and at least this lets the lad feel helpful. They’re not all disconnected from each other anyways - Regina rigs up a system of handheld mirrors to talk to each other in case problems arise or one of the parties actually finds the Crystal.

It’s Regina’s party that ultimately locates the bloody thing, somehow glowing even brighter underneath the murky green of the River of Souls. Ultimately, they decide to wait until the next morning to attempt to retrieve the Crystal itself, due both to time and the need to form a more concrete plan, and instead head home to rest. There’s a lot of discussion that night, none of which Killian particularly likes - especially since it relies on Emma casting a protection spell over Liam.

“That’s not my expertise,” Regina sniffs when Killian suggests she do it herself.  “Savior magic would be much more effective in this circumstance.”

Savior magic or not, though, the fact remains that magic has exhausted Emma since she became pregnant. There’s no hospital down here to go to if she passes out again, and Killian is terrified of something happening.

“It’ll be fine,” Emma tries to reassure him quietly, squeezing his hand in an attempt at comfort. “It’ll just be a moment and then you can make me rest.”

Under other circumstances, maybe Killian would try to argue or find another way, but the fact of the matter is that they’ve been backed into a corner. This is the only plan they have to rescue him from the Underworld, and the only way they can both retrieve the Crystal and offer Liam some marginal protection from the danger of the green waters is to draw upon Emma’s powers. There’s no other way. When Emma insists that she can do it, too, there’s even less point in trying to argue. It’s just how things will have to be.

Killian sits up for a drink with Liam that night, the last before Gods only know what will happen. It’s impossible to find the right words to say, though: I wish things were different? I don’t know if I forgive you, but I want to try? Thank you for what you’re about to do? I never needed you to make up for your actions in this way? I’ve never needed a hero, just a brother? Ever since Liam’s betrayal, Killian has been a mess of emotions, and his brother’s volunteering to retrieve the Crystal, more than likely at his own peril, has only added more conflicting feelings to the mix. This is the brother he remembers from his youth - the born leader, the man who’d rather put himself in danger before anyone else, but it seems almost disingenuous. Too little, too late and all that.

Still, as Liam drops his head after dragging minutes of silence, rising to deposit his glass in the sink, Killian feels that rush of panic that this might be the last time. “Liam…” he starts, forcing himself to try one last time to say everything on his mind, maybe find some sort of closure with the brother he’s idolized more than anyone only for him to let Killianhim down more than anyone elseever has. It doesn’t work; the words don’t magically appear upon his tongue, and his words trail off into nothing.

Nevertheless, Liam smiles and drops his hand to pat Killian’s shoulder. “I know, Brother,” he assures. And maybe he does. Liam was always good at understanding the words unsaid, and something about his face says that he sees all the mess of love and hurt and anger and worry on Killian’s own visage.

It doesn’t make things any easier when the fateful moment comes and Liam stands at the edge of the stone landing, stripped out of his shoes and coat and tying the end of a rope around his waist. It had been decided that, should worst come to worst, they’d need a way to retrieve Liam, with or without the Crystal. It’s entirely possible that due to the water’s properties, he could reach the Crystal and just forget to swim back up. In fact, there’s so many ways that this could go wrong, but Killian is trying not to think of any of them. Trying.

(Failing. All his fault…)

A small blessing is that Emma had cast a protection spell around Liam without any problems. Killian had hovered anxiously at her side, just in case she’d become faint again, but it had been unnecessary. Put it down to a good breakfast or her previous abstinence from using magic. At Killian’s pestering, she’d admitted that her magic, that well of power within her she’s never been able to fully describe, feels depleted, but as close as he’s watching, it hasn’t seemed to exhaust her body and mind along with it.

“I’m fine,” she smiles, squeezing his forearm affectionately, and he doesn’t have any reason not to believe that. Before she can drop her hand back down to her side, Killian quickly catches it, lacing their fingers together and squeezing back as he turns towards his brother.

“You don’t have to do this,” Killian offers one last time as Liam eyes the glowing green waters and the Crystal sunken beneath them.

Liam exhales a breath before turning to face Killian. “You know I do.” The silence of so many words unsaid, so many things they could say and should say and need to say hangs heavy in the air. Everyone else has the tact to give them a little space. Liam breaks the oppressive stillness to pull Killian into an almost aggressive hug. “I love you, Brother,” he whispers fiercely.

And really, that’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it? Beneath everything else Killian is feeling right now, he loves Liam. Always has, always will. That’s all that matters, especially now in what might be their last moments together is this goes poorly. “I love you too,” he whispers back into the flesh of Liam’s shoulder, the spot he always used to rest his head as a young lad, fighting the tears that threaten to fall.

When they break apart, Liam nods briskly, his face settling again into an expression of determination as he turns towards the rest of their little group. “Are you ready with the rope?” he asks.

“Whenever you are, Captain,” Robin promises with his usual good humor.

“No sense in waiting, then,” Liam concludes. And with a final brave smile in Killian’s direction, he executes a neat dive into the River.

It feels like an eternity, watching Liam dive ever deeper towards the bottom of the riverbed. Killian feels like he’s holding his breath the entire while, disregarding the fact that he no longer has any breath to hold. It’s terrifying to watch. The Crystal doesn’t appear to be too far below the surface, but Liam keeps swimming and swimming and reaching and reaching and never quite getting there. All the while, they can see Emma’s protective spell spark and fizzle, visibly disintegrating under the erosion of the waters. Even as Killian thinks it, he spots pieces flaking off and floating to the surface even as Liam is still forced to keep going. It feels like watching his brother die right before his eyes again, and Killian can’t do a damn thing to stop it.

By some miracle, though, Liam keeps going. They all stand ready by the rope, ready to pull him back up, but his brother doesn’t show any signs of the confusion the River of Souls could visit upon him. Maybe this could work, maybe all hope isn’t lost —

And it isn’t. Liam grabs onto the Crystal and Killian lets out all that breath he’d been holding unnecessarily, slumping forward with relief. Below the surface, Liam kicks off from the bottom and swims for the surface, ascending at what seems a much quicker pace than his descent. That may just be an illusion though; Killian knows how time can drag when faced with that kind of dread.

Liam breaks the water’s surface with a grin, shaking his head and sending droplets flying. “It seems there might be some truth to the stories about this thing,” he declares. “It certainly healed me.”

Killian lurches forward to envelop his brother in a desperate hug as soon as Liam is back on dry land. He can’t even bring himself to be bothered by the way Liam is no doubt soaking his clothes, so great is his relief. “Thank the gods it did,” he mutters. “Thank the gods you’re okay.”

“Of course I am, Brother,” Liam whispers back. “You thought I could leave you again?”

Killian holds tight for a moment longer before a pointed clearing of Regina’s throat breaks them apart. “Can we return to less humid ground now that we have the damn thing? Or are you two planning to stay down here for the foreseeable future?”

“After you, Your Majesty,” Killian gladly cedes. As they all settle back in the boats to make their way back towards the elevator and upper surface of the Underworld, Killian gladly pulls Emma into his side, dropping a kiss on the crown of her hair and drawing comfort from her presence. Finally, finally there’s a glimmer of hope that they might actually be able to save him.

When the elevator doors open, however, it’s to reveal their worst case scenario: Hades himself standing between the doors and where Belle is trying to protect Henry with her very body.

“So good of you to show up!” the god oozes. “Have I got a proposition for you!”

[contractualsarcasm]

Tell us about the ex! (Always wondered what kind of guy Meg exchanged her life for)

Hi meet Adonis. 

When i first started writing my beloved sass daughter I originally had an OC character named Theo, he was very charming, a little arrogant and was a prince that she had been arranged to marry.  Then, one day I was rewatching the tv series because I had completely forgotten about the two (2) episodes she actually appears in. 

In one of them, we discover that she had been romantically involved with Adonis, an arrogant prince of Thrace who was pretty much exactly what I had made Theo to be so I just decided to keep the canon connection. However I do have two different backstories. One that goes along the lines of the  shows canon and one that ignores it.  

A WORD OF CAUTION TO THIS TALE: Adonis is an abusive and manipulative jerk wad. 

The Show Backstory

Adonis is a prince that she is set up on a blind date with. She becomes completely smitten with him against her better judgement.  He’s self-centered and totally not the kind of guy that she sees for herself and wants nothing to do with him–but she can’t get him out of her mind.  It drives her crazy that she’s fallen for someone who is such a jerk. 

 So, her solution is to retrieve Lethe water from the Underworld so she can forget him.  After paying a centaur to supply it for her she then seeks out the help of a rumored hero in training.  She tells him this story that the amphora belonged to her grandmother and that the centaur stole it because she doesn’t think he’ll help if he knows she’s just bringing him along for extra muscle.  Said hero in training instantly falls for her and blindly goes along with her request to assist her, only to be crushed when she runs off without him after getting the amphora and leaving him in a sticky situation.  

The two meet again, however when the hero hears that the damsel was taken by  P&P to the Underworld to pay for stealing Lethe water. He is able to save her, but only after the amphora breaks and splashes both of them with the Lethe water causing them to forget each other and go their separate ways. Her goal was met, she forgot about the arrogant prince who once tormented her every thought.

 Years later, the prince happens upon her again, being his usual smug self he approaches her to watch as she melts like putty in his hands–only to find that it has no effect on her because she doesn’t remember him.  How could she not remember him? He’s Adonis, the prince of Thrace, no woman had ever forgotten him before and now it was her that tormented his thoughts.  He decides to woo her, and take back the heart and the space in her mind that used to belong to him. 

They date for a longtime and he paints himself in the image of a perfect boyfriend. He dotes on her, tells her all the beautiful things she wants to hear. He watches as she submerges herself to all of his charms and then slowly he starts to go in for the kill. He starts to tell her how lucky she is to have someone like him, that no one will ever love her like he does, that she’s nothing without him. He isolates her from all other men and makes her feel like all she needs is him. 

So naturally, when it happens that the prince meets his early demise, she isn’t in her right mind. Before all this she would have still sacrificed herself, but there’s something about losing Adonis that made the matter more urgent. She needed him to be there, on Earth, with her.  So she begs the god of the Underworld to return her love to her. He declines at first, but when she shares that she is someone of noble blood and is willing to do anything, he changes his mind. 

He agrees to resurrect the prince but only if she does his bidding, she has to renounce her crown, leave her mortal life behind her and only answer to him. At first she agrees because anything is better than a life without Adonis. Does she want to give up all those things? Does she want to relinquish her soul? No, but the reward is worth it and she thinks that Adonis will without question turn around and save her.  But he doesn’t, when he learns of what she has done to save his life he knows that he’s accomplished all that he wanted to and he no longer has use of her. So, when another pretty woman happened to show interest of her—he left.  He abandoned her to stew in the fate she brought upon herself when she dare let him slip out of her mind.

 ALTERNATE VERSION

Adonis is still an arrogant jerk but in this version, instead of being set up on a blind date they are arranged to be married.  She’s against the engagement initially but he lays the charms on thick so she’ll submit to him because he wants to be king of Thebes. A jilted former lover of Adonis sends a trinket box with poisonous vipers in it as an engagement present. It was not intended for Adonis, but that’s who happens on them first.  Feeling guilt ridden she strikes a deal with Hades to take his place so he can live again.  After hearing of a mortal prince who was so perfect that women were willing to kill and sell their souls to be with him, Aphrodite expressed interest in having him for herself.  And what are a couple of princesses in comparison to a goddess?

                              ✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚*❋ ❋ ❋*˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

here are some additional thoughts i’ve had that are slightly related but not really, i’ve just wanted to mention this for a while and never had the opportunity. 

There are also some theories going around that the ex-boyfriend was in fact Hades in disguise because he wanted her to be his hench girl and he needed to put her in a position where she’d be willing to do that, but honestly that doesn’t add up to me because like, then who would the other woman be in this scenario? I mean, I guess that could be his way of ending the charade but I think if it were Hades he’d get a lot more satisfaction in revealing it was him all along VIA THE END OF THE FILM WHEN HE RUBBED IT IN HERC’S FACE THAT SHE’D BEEN WORKING FOR HIM THE WHOLE TIME. 

In terms of it being another god it would make more sense if it were Zeus because he often disguised himself  to trick others into sleeping with him and leaving for another woman also makes more sense with him.  But I still don’t think that’s the case.  

In the scrapped sequel Hercules goes on an adventure to save his old classmate Helen of Troy, Helen’s canon love interest in the series was Adonis and it makes more sense to me that Adonis was the ex because that would have been a good way to provide more backstory for the relationship since the sequel was supposed to dive a little deeper into hers, including officially stating that she’s a princess. 

TLDR;  his name is Adonis, he’s an arrogant jerk who thinks that he’s the god’s gift to women and everyone should just stay away from him. 

[livingwithashipname-blog]

Ermanda’s Inner Sanctum: Scorpion 4.06 “Queen Scary”

This episode epitomized my outlook on season 4 as a reset embedded with nostalgic parallels.  The holiday episodes are always very impactful and this one doesn’t disappoint!  We see almost 40% of the episode before the first commercial break!  The opening scenes felt reminiscent of season 1.  I also like that we are seeing more locations and are introduced to the team’s friends outside of work.  Even though things start and end in the garage, it is a nice change and improvement from previous seasons in my opinion.  I really liked episode 4.03 Grow a Deer, A Female Deer, but this is one has become my favorite of the season so far.  Maybe it’s because I am really excited about these Waige developments and Toby and Cabe.  Let’s talk about these things, shall we?! 

Cabe & the Quintis Tag Team 

It's a coincidence that I mentioned Cabe and Toby's similarities in my last review.  Now, the comment on their relationship feels right on time with what is brewing between them in light of Cabe's legal troubles.  Happy and Cabe established a special relationship last season which served as a contributor to Happy’s ongoing EQ growth.  This growth helps her to recognize Cabe’s identity crisis and proposition Toby to help him as a behaviorist and a friend.  Quintis working together, tag-teaming to reach out to Cabe, is reflective of a dynamic that isn't new but is becoming more prominent now that they are married.  They have these small discussions leading to one or both of them mobilizing whatever efforts are required for the moment.  The end scene between Toby and Cabe is a reversal of the same that existed between Happy and Cabe.  It places Toby in a more serious role with someone other than Happy.  I appreciated their connection in season 2.  Now that it is here again… I WANT MORE!!!  ¡Dámelo!  Many Toby fans in this fandom, including myself, are really eager to see the character in a multi-episode arc that separates him from the comedic relief, caring husband, and supportive friend roles into something that is more personalized and influences the other arcs in which he is involved (e.g., Baby Quintis, financial struggles).  I am also eager to learn more about Cabe’s past and see him shed this hardened exterior while he processes the charges, the trial, and possible prison time!  

Walter’s EQ Musical Adventure 

W: So you like it when people communicate their emotions through music? 

P: It’s like the electromagnetic field today. We couldn’t feel it, but it affected us. I don’t know… there’s something special about a power you can’t see but you can feel. Music is like that. It can be an unadulterated expression of truth. And that’s why I wish you’d just given it a chance, Walter. 

This scene has me all in my feelings dagflabbit!  It is obvious that Walter is still learning the importance of indulging Paige’s interests even if they do not appeal to him.  If you have been paying attention, music has been used as a point of reference for Waige already, prepping us for this new development.  Walter plans to understand music to write a song for Paige!  And I have one request... DON'T LET THE SONG BE GOOFY!!!  If my memory serves me correctly (and correct me if I'm wrong), every song ever sung on this show has been goofy.  There's the impromptu cadence of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" from 2.14 Sun of a Gun, Toby's wacky engagement song for Happy from 2.24 Toby or Not Toby, and "Dem Bones" as Walter's song suggestion for Quintis' first dance as a married couple in 3.21 Rock Block.  And do I really have to explain "Everything Is Absolutely Genius?!"  I think you get the point! 😂😂😂  The idea of Walter successfully writing a heartfelt ballad to which Paige can relate will give us WAIGE FEELS TO THE MAX!!! 😍😍🙌🏾💙💙💙🙌🏾😍😍  Then again... 

This plan showcases Walter's improving ability to apply emotional guidance in real time once again.  I am reminded of his brief Shakespeare performance in 2.11 The Old College Try where he was able to express emotion through acting even though he didn't relate to it.  He watched Shakespeare videos all day to prepare for his role as an acting coach during a mission.  We see this as well last Halloween (3.06 Bat Poop Crazy) where he uses Paige's feelings about family to aid during his immigration audit with Happy.  The moment also shows why his plans to win Paige via intellect never worked last year.  He tried to appeal to her better nature through means to which she did not relate and disregarded advice to the contrary.  So I am EXTREMELY EXCITED to see where this goes!  I hope it even turns into a collaborative task where the team, minus Paige, learns about his plan through some impromptu means (e.g., handwritten song lyrics on his desk, practicing with his guitar) and gives pointers for comedic effect!  Who knows?!  This song could be so successful that it becomes their "song"!!!  The eventual moment could be so awesome that it beats the end Waige scene of 2.15 Da Bomb as my all-time favorite! 😍😍😍💙💙💙😍😍😍  ¡VAMOS WALTER!  ¡Sí se puede!  ¡Dánoslo!  

Drabbles…

Walter knows exactly what he’s doing… trying to act like he’s keeping time with the music to cover listening to a lecture on his phone. Tsk, tsk, tsk…

I really like Paige’s blouse!

Sly: What the hades?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Toby and Sly are cracking me up with the profiling prep for jury selection! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Ferret Bueller is back!!! Oh 👀 Happy is developing wearable tech and using Ferret Bueller to test its efficiency! Yay! This is totally in line with how the geniuses mobilize their talents towards a very important goal. In fact, you could say that they are very motivated to develop innovative things when inspired by a very pressing matter (e.g., Walter working on a rocket to fund research to help Megan; the team donating their paychecks to help him when her condition worsens; teaching Ralph new skills).

Dave Blakely (as Walter walks down the stairs): Now, I need your team to help me prove, or disprove, the existence of ghosts!  Walter (walking back up the stairs): They don’t exist. Disproven. I will send you our bill. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💀

Toby before the numbers… “I don’t like this idea.”  Toby after learning the job pays $20K… “Let’s catch some ghosts!” 👀😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

All the Scooby-Doo references… 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🙌🏾

Notice how Walter defaults to Happy first when he’s trying to make a logical point. #Wappy 😉

Toby grabbing Happy’s hand during the perceived paranormal event… 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Walter, how you gonna throw shade from the garage when you ain’t even there?! 😒 He is in so much trouble with Paige. 👀😂😂😂

Cabe and his habitat suggestions for FB…poor Cabe 😢😢😢

Oh lordt! Walter makes things worse with his acknowledgement of wrongdoing… *facepalm*

Toast crusters joke… 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💀💀

The FollowShip representative is the new “Not Good” Happy. 😂😂😂😂😂

I am confused about the connection of these multiple extension cords.

Producer Dave is a hoot! 😂😂😂

I’m with Paige. Why does everyone look at her weird when she knows something? I mean, she’s only been working with you guys for the past 3.5 years! 👀 She has her moments. Let her have them! 🙌🏾

Happy beating the barrel top… 😍😍😍😍

Where did Paige get her idea? Flow dynamics lecture that she listened on her own time. Ooh BURN!!! How you like dem apples, Walter?! 😂

Did anyone notice that the stain on Sly’s shoulder is different towards the end of the mission? #gaffe Lol! 😉😂

Walter the Halfshirt… 😂😂😂😂😂😂 But real talk, only 25% of his shirt was ripped off so maybe he is more appropriately “Walter the Quartershirt.” 😂😂😂

I like how the Halloween song was incorporated into their “save the world” plans! Now Toby agrees that it’s Wolfman! 😂😂😂😂😂😂

That “Ghost Grabbers” pilot tho… 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💀💀

These Halloween costume ideas are totally “Scorpion on a budget” inspired! Sylvester Dodd, Esq. is the devil’s advocate, Happy is a sad sack (that still turns Toby on #KinkyQuintis), Toby is a ceiling fan since he loves them so much, and Waige is going as Rock n’ Roll with Walter holding a rock and Paige holding a dinner roll! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💀💀 So funny!

Maybe Walter needs to take his cue from Ralph since Ralph knows what he’s doing to appeal to his love interest, Patty Logan. Ralph’s costume is quite awesome! Early bird gets the worm! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

It’s official! It doesn’t matter what Happy wears or doesn’t wear. Toby will forever be turned on!!! 😍😍😍😍💚💚💚😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Is it just me or is Paige and Walter the wearer of blue pastels, or just blue hues for that matter? #wardrobeclues 💙💙💙 Btw, I am still waiting on a ship phrase, guys! I haven’t come up with a good one yet! Quintis is to “The Mighty Love Oak” as Waige is to… ??

Hello Quintis tag team! I love it! 😍💚😍💚😍💚😍💚😍

375 IQ points is in relation to Sly and Ralph. Happy needing to drive them makes sense, but Paige and Walter in tow as well. Maybe Happy is technically driving so that Walter and Paige can be together since Toby has been left behind to talk to Cabe. Or they’re probably going in two vehicles to the event. Ignore me… I’m just rambling at this point! 😂

Toby and Cabe are making me cry! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 GIVE ME MORE!!!

[kiki-ciara-blog]

CS Storybook - 5x23 The Way Back Home

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

Rating: M

AO3

Word Count: 6000ish words

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

I also created an illustration to go with the story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Are you okay love?”

"Yes. No. Probably." 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Good." 

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

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

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

"Need you. Now," Emma urged between kisses, "can't wait any longer."

"Are you sure, love? I don't want to hurt you, if you're not ready for me."

"Please Killian, I need this."

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

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

"I'm glad you're back," she whispered into his chest.

"Me too love, me too."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Oh my God, that's amazing," she mumbled, still chewing. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"As you wish love." 

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

"You can't beat 80s power ballads, trust me," she said, "especially on a road trip."

"Hmm, perhaps."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"How long from here to Boston, love?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You are simply divine, love.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Long overdue,” she replied blissfully.

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

Climbing back into bed, Killian pulled her into his embrace and they whispered sweet nothings to each other until sleep took them. 

They had brunch delivered to their room, neither in any hurry to leave the comfort of their sumptuous bed, unless it was to take advantage of the spa bath in their suite. Eventually, having enjoyed each other on every available surface, Emma and Killian checked out and set off to their next destination. She initially planned to spend the morning in Salem giving Killian an insight into how witchcraft had been viewed in years gone by. Their lazy morning put paid to that idea, and instead they headed north towards Portland. 

As Emma drove, Killian took charge of the radio again, fiddling with the dial until he found something satisfactory.  

When ‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen came on, Emma reached over and turned up the volume. As he listened a strange sensation came over him, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He didn't believe he had heard this song before, yet something about it resonated within him. Perhaps Emma would be able to explain it. He settled back and let the music with Emma's enthusiastic supporting vocals and steering wheel drumming wash over him. 

“In case you couldn’t tell, I love that song,” Emma enthused afterwards.

“Aye, that was apparent. So tell me, why do you love it so much?”

“It's hard to put my finger on. Some songs, the words just get to me, you know? But this one, it's more about the tune. I've always loved it, even when I little kid. I always get a sense of deja-vu when I hear it, and it always makes me feel safe. I dunno, I just really like it.”

“It's funny you should mention deja-vu, Emma. For I also had the strangest sensation when it played. I'm certain I haven’t heard it before, and yet as you say there's something about it. It stirred a memory in me that is just out of reach, and I felt an urge to stand on a table and pump my fist in the air.”

“Well, an involuntary fist pump is a sign of a good rock song Killian,” Emma laughed. “I'll have to take you and Henry to a gig sometime.”

“A gig?” Killian's brow furrowed in confusion.

“A concert, Killian. Where the band performs their songs live,” Emma replied gently, reaching across to squeeze his knee. Whilst his knowledge of American terminology improved daily, his occasional confusion over unknown phrases was still endearing. 

Arriving in Old Orchard Beach, Emma drove straight to the beachfront motel she had booked. It was simple accommodation, but it was clean and functional and unexpectedly had sliding glass doors opening out onto the pool terrace and the footpath leading to the beach.

“As this is our last afternoon, let’s have some seaside fun Killian,” Emma suggested, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the glass doors. 

Killian grinned and followed willingly down to the beach. Miles of sand stretched out in both directions. They strolled along the shoreline hand in hand, towards the distant pier and fairground and soon they encountered signs for Pirates Cove Adventure Golf. 

“Can we?” Emma bubbled, practically bouncing with excitement. It had been years since she last played crazy golf.  

“I have no idea what Adventure Golf is, but how can I resist somewhere with pirates in the name? It would be terribly bad form,” Killian replied, with a flourish and an exaggerated bow. “Lead on Swan”

Although he had agreed to the activity willingly, never imagined that it would involve chasing a little ball around a ridiculous obstacle course with a metal stick. Once he had found a way to support the club with his hook, he found himself to be quite skilful and to Emma’s chagrin was beating her fair and square. 

Emma was thrilled to be spending time being silly with her Captain, and his frequent grousing at the inaccuracies of the model pirates around the course had her in fits of giggles. 

“They’ve given me a hook, a peg-leg and a parrot on the shoulder! That's overkill on the pirate clichés isn't it?”

“It's a pirate themed fun park Hook, cliché is pretty much guaranteed!” 

Eventually Emma and Killian finished the 18-hole course, not sure who had won after losing count halfway round. They returned their clubs to the booth and walked back out onto the beach heading towards the pier and the fairground.  

They bought corn dogs and beers from a booth on the pier and found a bench to sit and eat watching the waves. Then they pottered around the fairground and amusement arcades until dusk. Killian tried to win Emma a stuffed toy at various stalls without success. She managed to win a tiger for him in a shooting gallery, and not to be outdone when they came across a coconut shy he was finally victorious, presenting her with a giant bear that would take up most of the bug’s back seat in the morning. 

They shared candy floss, and rode the carousel and the big wheel. As it stopped at the top to let on new fairgoers, Emma squeezed Killian’s hand and cupped his cheek. 

“Killian, there’s something I need to tell you, that I haven’t said before now,” Emma began.

“What’s that, Swan?”

“I...love you Killian.”

In reply Killian leaned in for a passionate kiss, as the ride began to move again. 

As night fell they walked back, hook in hand along the beach, the moon high in the sky above them. Hearts bursting with love for one another. And whilst the painful recollections of their separation in the Underworld remained, for the time being they were buried beneath joyful memories of quiet moments, of passion and of laughter.   

@csstorybook @flslp87 @whimsicallyenchantedrose

[ignisaurumprobat19-blog]

Chosen (full story)

Initially published on r/nosleep. 

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

PART 1

How does a religion die ? Most people would say that a religion dies when there are no believers left.

I know that's wrong.

When I first heard about Hadès, I was eight. My teacher gave us homework on greek mythology, and being the nerdy kid I was, I pretty much ran into the library straight after school and started digging up all the books I could find on the subject. There was none in the children's section, so I went into the science and history section. There were several, but one in particular grabbed my eye. " Greek mythology : The Forgotten Gods " It was beautiful. It was a bit too complicated for a 8 year old, though, so in the next few days my mom helped me read it and note down all the information I needed for my homework. I loved it. The myths, the power, the drama (even though I realized later that my mother kept the most violent ones and the sexual ones away from me).

Hades was my favorite. I remember how the book said that little to no shrines were dedicated to him, but that he was always mentionned during funeral ceremonies. I found it sad that people expected him to protect them in death, but ignored him through their whole life.

My mother is a Christian. She taught me to pray every night before bed.

After learning about Hades, I started adding at the end of my nightly prayer "And may Hades help me through my whole life and death ". It wasn't disturbing for me to talk to a different god. I don't think I fully understood the concept of Gods yet. I pictured Jesus and God as real men sitting on clouds somewhere above my house, and Hadès as a real old man sitting on a cloud in Greece, and for me, Greece was as distant as the sky.

That's when the odds started to be in my favor. It wasn't much, mind you : the teacher making us watch my favorite Disney movie, my mother agreeing to letting my best friend and I have a sleepover two week-ends in a row, getting the last one of my favorite pastry, having dogs walk up to me in the street and let me pet them...

You know what children's prayers are like.

I wasn't truly expecting Hades to listen to me and grant me my wishes, I just mentionned him in my prayer because I felt bad about him not getting many prayers, as the book said. In my child mind, I figured that he must feel lonely if no one cared about him.

I kept mentionning him in my prayers until I was about 12. By then, I had a better understanding of religion and it just felt silly to pray to an ancient Greek God. I noticed that things were getting harder for me, but again, I did not think it had anything to do with my prayers.

When I was 14, my mother decided to make me take a calligraphy class with her. She never told me, but I realized later that she saw it as a way to spend time with me. I wasn't a difficult teen (didn't drink, didn't smoke, wasn't rude, and my only shoplifting experience was a lipgloss from the supermarket), but I did spend every minute possible with my friends, and my family resented it.

I was reluctant to go, but against all odds, I fell in love with calligraphy. I was the younger in the class, and for a few months, I was the teacher's pet. Her name was Eleanor, and she always dressed in long, flowing skirts in bright colors. I loved her from day one. We started with just one letter, then the word "Home ", then "Hello ", and then a full (albeit short) sentence : "Happy birthday to you ". By then, I was getting pretty good, and soon enough the teacher allowed me to try and work on a personal project : I could write whatever I wanted, and embellish it to my liking. She gave me different colors of ink, thick paper, and recommended that I stuck to one word to start.

I decided my word would be a name. I had always liked the way "Hades " sounded. It sounded strong, powerful, and, yes, clean, somehow. It had a natural authority, and I felt that if I managed to embellish the H and the S the way I pictured it in my head, it would look great. I worked on it for hours. I started in class, but I took some of the supplies home (with Eleanor's agreement) and worked on it the whole weekend.

Eleanor didn't like it one bit. For a second, she looked almost angry, then she composed herself and asked me why I chose that name. I told her I've always been interested in Greek mythology, and she asked me if I believed in it. That struck me as a strange question, because no one still believes in Greek mythology, right ? So I laughed and said I didn't, of course, but I loved to study it. She then told me, in a cold tone she had never used with me before, that Hades was way too harsh sounding of a name, and that I should have written my own name instead.

I did love it, though. It was black and gold, the ink had runned a little, but it somehow added to its beauty. I hung it out proudly in my room.

I met Hades two weeks later.

When I got to the calligraphy class that week, there was a new student. He was the only male in a sea of middle-aged housewives (plus one awkward teenager), but what made him stand out the most was his outfit. The other women wore mom jeans or flowing dresses, I wore mostly black, ragged jeans with Converse. He, on the other hand, wore a dark red suit, with a black shirt and a crimson tie. And he was beautiful. Black straight hair, tanned skin, and the kindest, warmest, striking blue eyes I had ever seen in my life. He introduced himself as Sean.

He was friendly, charming, and won all the women over in a matter of minutes. All of them, except for Eleanor. Despite the newcomer's obvious talent for calligraphy, she barely talked to him and seemed to avoid him as much as possible. As you can imagine, that started rumours among the students : during our usual coffee after the class, Eleanor and Sean were the center of every conversation. Was he his ex ? Did he leave her for another woman ? Did he leave her for another man ?

I didn't care much for this kind of conversations, but it was pretty funny to see those 40 something women acting like teenagers.

The next week, some of the women decided to ask Sean to join us for coffee after class. He agreed. He ended up sitting next to me, and congratulated me for my Hades art. I thanked him awkwardly, as I wasn't used to sitting next to attractive men in their twenties, and let the conversation go on another subject.

It was only when I got home and saw it hanging on my bedroom wall that I realized that I had finished this piece and took it home before he started coming to the class. I figured someone would have told him about it, but I felt like something was off.

Staring at my Hades piece, I realized how long it has been since I last mentionned him on my prayers. As much I knew how silly this was, I felt a ping of guilt at thinking of Hades, alone on his Greek cloud, with no one caring about him. So that night, at the end of my prayer, I added "And may Hadès help me through my whole life and death. Oh and also, get Aaron to notice me. And an endless supply of chicken nuggets would be great, if you have time to do that for me. Thanks, Hades ". I didn't take it as seriously as I did as a kid, but it couldn't hurt, right ?

When Aaron asked me out the next day, I nearly had a heart attack. I was on cloud nine for the remainder of the school week.

Friday afternoon came around, and it was time for the weekly calligraphy class again. My date with Aaron was scheduled for 7pm, so I wouldn't stay for coffee this time. My mother would probably embarass me by telling all the others about my upcoming first date anyway, so I was happy to skip that, thank you very much. So as soon as Eleanor called the end of the class, I started frantically grabbing my stuff. Being the awkward teen I was, of course, I ended up dropping half the contents of my backpack on the floor. Sean reached down to pick my books from under his chair, and when he handed them to me, he said : "Have fun at your date with Aaron, Cara ! " Mom. For fuck's sake. Did she really have to tell everyone about it ? "Erm, thanks ". "I'll see what I can do about the chicken nuggets.". I was too stunned to react, so I just watched him wink, put on his suit vest, and walk away.

We talked a lot, after that. Both in person and in my mind. I've heard stories from times no human were born, and of all the times humanity needed Gods.

Hades isn't the cold, heartless God we picture in history books. Oh, I'm not saying he's a benevolent, loving Savior either. Gods aren't good or bad in nature. Those are human traits.

They can choose to interact with us, or not. Those people who claim they're talking to God and God is speaking back ? They're not crazy. They've been chosen, like I've been.

When I started mentionning him in my prayers, I was the first human in over 1800 years to call him. Even when greek gods were routinely worshipped, speaking his name out loud was supposed to be unlucky.

Hades gave me only two conditions to maintain our relationship : 1- My firstborn would have to be christened in his name. 2- I could not, under any circumstances, trust Eleanor.

The first one was an easy one, for me. Knowing all I know about Gods, I could not give my child a Christian baptism anyway. My mother will be mad, but she'll get over it.

The second one, though, is intriguing to me. To this day, he has always refused to tell me the reasons why I couldn't trust Eleanor. All he said was "That's family issues. You don't get to know that ". He'd get angry everytime I even mentionned her name.

I dropped off the calligraphy class two months after I met him, and got enrolled into a new one a few miles away. My mother was annoyed at having to drive further, but she did it anyway, so we could spend time together.

Having Hades in my life has been a blessing. My life is a hundred times richer and more interesting thanks to him, and, above all, I am not afraid of death anymore.

But something happened today. Two things, actually.

The first thing is that I found out I was pregnant this morning. My husband and I have been trying for the past six months, and I was getting worried. I'm overjoyed, and of course, the first thing I did was yelling for my husband to come to the bathroom. A minute after, we were both crying happy tears.

I decided that we would go out for lunch, to celebrate. Our workplaces are about a 10 minute walk from each other, so I decided to walk there at about 12.30 and surprise him. When I arrived, however, he was already outside the building, sitting on the bench with his back to me. Next to him was a woman with long, silky auburn hair. As I approached them, I overheard her saying : "At last. That's great news, Mark ! We'll need to start organizing the christening soon. It will take a while to prepare. "

Erm. Who was she and what made her think she had a say in my child's christening ? I know people can be quite bigotted in the area, but still. That's something I always made very clear to Mark : I won't get my child christened at the local church just to please friends and coworkers. I don't care if people talk. (Obviously, I left out the part about christening our child in Hades' name. What he doesn't know cannot hurt him, right?)

I put a smile on my face and said loudly : "Darling ! Hi ! I wanted to surprise you and... " I stopped abruptly as the woman turned around to see me. We both froze in place.

It's been 19 years since I last saw Eleanor. She hasn't aged a day.

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

PART 2

She composed herself really quickly and introduced herself as “Anna”. She said she was Mark's friend from university.  

He never told me about a “Anna”.  

“You look strikingly alike a calligraphy teacher I had when I was a teen” I said with a smile.  

“Oh yes, I get that a lot. Eleanor, right? Apparently I have a doppelganger! I've had people stop me in the street telling me how happy they were to see me again and I'm always standing there like 'Sorry man you got the wrong person'!”. Her tone was warm, but her eyes were cold.  

She quickly excused herself to “let us celebrate”, congratulated me on the baby and walked away, her long, flowing green skirt dancing in the wind.

I felt uncomfortable during lunch with Mark. I couldn't wait to be back to work so I could call Hades.

When I finally did, I locked myself in my office and asked my assistant to withhold any calls I might be getting until further notice.  

“Hades? Hades! I need you!” I thought hard and clear.  

Seconds later, his voice resonated in my head.  

“I know, Cara. I saw it too.You have to leave.”  

His voice was urgent, and he sounded... Scared? That made me even more anxious. Hades was always laid back, so relaxed and confident that he was nearly arrogant at times.  

“Leave? Leave what? Where?!”  

“You have to leave Mark. She hid all this time because she knew I was watching you both, but she's out now. It means business. If you want to save your child, you can't stay.”  

“But I can't leave Mark just because he knows Eleanor! There's something fishy about her, ok, I get that, but he's my husband, this is his child too and -”  

“Cara. Her name isn't Eleanor. Her name is Hera.”

Hera? The Goddess of Marriage and Women? Doesn't sound that threatening now. I mean, Hades is the God of the Underworld, and he's not half as bad as he's depicted, so Hera couldn't be worse.

“Why would Hera want to hurt me or my child? I'm a woman, isn't she supposed to protect me? And as far as I'm concerned I never had an affair with Zeus...”  

“It's not about you, Cara. It's about me. And power”.

That's the thing with talking with Gods.  

They never tell you the whole story. They're secretive by nature, and they'll only reveal what they want you to know, often leaving out important scraps of truth. For example, I know that Persephone doesn't exist anymore, but I never got Hades to tell me how or when she died.

What Hades revealed to me then, was that christening is more than offering the child protection from a God. It creates a bond that cannot be broken. And that's how Gods gain power. Not power as in ability to do godly things (the whole chosing your appearance, changing people into animals or stones, being in two places at the same time, time-travelling, blah blah blah). That is a given for them. Power as in power over other Gods.  

Believers may come and go, and Gods aren't obliged to help everyone who call them, but someone christened in their name? That's different. That's powerful. Your God will hear you, and they'll do anything to keep you alive, because if you die? That's less power for them.

The catch is that your God can also influence you to become the person he/she wants you to be.  

And you won't even realize.

That's why organized religions make such a big deal of baptism. For a God, power means influencing the history of mankind. It means other Gods will fear you, or at least respect you enough to not try to overthrow you.

This link between baptized people and power is also the reason why religious wars are a thing. By making their people kill people from another God, one God can reduce the power of the other, and, in the long term, take the lead.

“So you're telling me that you wanted to control my child? That's why you asked me to christen it in your name?!”  

“No, no!”, he exclaimed. “I don't care about that. I just need the power. She would have been free to do whatever she wanted, I just needed -”  

“She?”

I could hear him smile. “Yes. The child you're carrying. It's a she.”.

I started tearing up. “But why can't Hera pick another child? She must know that I plan to christen my child in your name. What can she do to stop me from doing that? Can she hurt me?”  

He seemed determined when he said “Oh, no. I won't let her. Trust me. And we will christen your baby in my name first, as soon as she's born. We just need to make sure she doesn't christen her in her name afterwards. That's why you need to leave.”  

“What happens if she christens her in her name ? If I had already christened her in yours, it won't work, right? You can't christen a child in two Gods' name?”  

“Oh, Cara. There's so much you don't know.”, he said sadly. “Of course you can. But it means war”.

So that's my situation now.  

If my daughter is christened in both names, she will be in the middle of two forces. Hera will be able to influence her, but Hades said he will do all he can to counteract this. I trust him.  

But for him, it will also mean that the war with Hera will start. And it will only end when one of them is dead.

Hades never had humans christened in his name before. So he was never a threat for anyone, and that's how he managed to roam the Earth for milleniums, free and careless.

But he says things are changing. Old Gods are tired of being forgotten, and Hera wants to be the most powerful. And she's willing to destroy everyone so that she and her children can take the lead.

I can't leave Mark. I can't just flee and hope for Hera to never find me, I can't impose this kind of life on my child. I have to stop Hera from christening my child. I don't know how yet, but I will find out. I won't let her ruin my daughter's life.

Tomorrow, Mark and I are going to our first echography. I have to relax and think of the baby first.

Hades will help me. He always does.

Oh my God.  

When I saw the look of worry on the ob-gyn's face, I felt like my whole world was shattering. No matter how complicated this situation is, I can't lose this baby. I just can't. I've always wanted to be a mother. I love her already.  

“What? What? What's wrong? Is the baby ok? Is it healthy?” I exclaimed.  

The doc furrowed his brow. “She's... She's healthy, from what I can see. But ...”  

“But what?!” I was almost crying at this point. Mark was holding my hand, nearly crushing it.  

“You're 9 months pregnant, Madam.”

They said it was a denial of pregnancy. They said it happened, and that they don't know the exact causes of this phenomenon yet.  

They said I probably conceived when I was still on the pill, which explains the “anniversary” periods I had in the first 3 months, and that the hormonal unbalance caused by going off the pill probably masked the symptoms of pregnancy. And since I believed I wasn't pregnant, my mind “tricked” my body into not looking pregnant. My stomach was still flat.

But I know that's wrong. I wasn't pregnant two months ago. I started feeling all the symptoms of early pregnancy only 3 weeks ago : the nausea, the tiredness...  

I wasn't supposed to give birth until January.

But they said they will induce labor tomorrow.

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

PART 3

We named her Charlotte Ava James.  

Giving birth is a world-shattering experience. The second they put her on me and I looked at her tiny, tiny face, I knew my life would never be the same. I could kill to protect her.  

Sadly, I didn't have much time to appreciate this magical moment, as I heard Hades' voice in my head : “Cara, I need to christen her. I need you to let me take possession of your body. Please.”  

It was such a troubling experience. It felt like being in the back seat of my mind : I was there, I could see and feel everything, but it wasn't me. I watched my thumb draw a straight line from Charlotte's forehead onto her nose, her lips, her chin, while I heard myself muttering words in Greek while having no idea what they meant. And then I was back.  

“Thank you, Cara. She's beautiful. I'm watching you, I'll be here in a heartbeat if you need me, ok?”.  

I just nodded. I was exhausted.

After a few hours of staring at Charlotte in awe, I ended up drifting off in Mark's arms in my hospital bed, Charlotte sleeping in her cot nearby. I knew Hades was looking over us, so I felt safe enough.

How presomptuous of me to assume we could relax.

I awoke to Hades' voice. “Cara, she's coming, we have to leave.”.  

Mark was pushing Hades away, clearly startled to be awoken by a stranger in a dark purple suit: “Who are you? Who let you in?”  

But it was too late for explanations anyway, because Hera appeared.  

Yes, appeared. She didn't walk in, or pretended to be “Anna” anymore. She just materialised in the middle of the hospital room, wearing a white, silky blouse and her usual long, flowing skirt, this time in bright pink.  

Mark's face lit up, then he looked at me anxiously : “Cara, I... It's kind of a long story...”.  

I was already sitting up, despite my C-section hurting me, trying to get Charlotte. Hera's smile spread wider.  

“There she is! Look how precious. Isn't she adorable? Isn't -”  

She didn't finish her sentence, because Hades sent her flying across the room.

The next minutes were a blur. They were both moving too fast for Mark and I to properly see them, so we just clutched to Charlotte and to each other, feeling nothing but panic, until it came to an abrupt end when Hades dropped to the floor like a lifeless doll.

Hera extended a hand to Mark. In a cold, authoritary voice, she said:  

“The baby. Give it to me. Now.”.

Mark's face discomposed. He let go of me and Charlotte and stood between us and Hera.

One flick of Hera's hand. Just one small, quick gesture, that I could have missed if I wasn't watching her as intensely as I was.  

One flick of her wrist, and a fine line appeared on Mark's throat. Blood started flowing down from this line, a crimsom river covering his thin, blue hospital gown.  

I barely had time to scream before Hades materialised next to me, grabbed my shoulder and took me away.

I was still in a bed, but it wasn't an hospital one anymore. This bed was huge, with expensive looking sheets and covers. The whole room was richly decorated. It was daytime when we left, but it was sunset where we arrived.  

I was still holding Charlotte. She wasn't even crying, just slowly moving her legs and arms, her eyes closed.  

Hades was sitting next to me. He wore no sign of the battle that had just happen : no blood, no cut, no bruise, nothing.  

He looked at me intensely and said “You're safe here. For now.”  

We both sat there in silence, until my heartbeat returned to normal, until it all started to feel real.    

Then he held me while I burst into lungs-collapsing sobs.

Mark is looking at me with such sad, begging eyes, my heart breaks again. I stare at the line on his throat, the dried blood all over the front of his body, the pale blue of his skin matching the hospital gown.  

He speaks quietly, calmly.  

“Why did you leave, Cara? Why did you abandon me?”  

“I-I, I couldn't do anything, I swear, Mark, I didn't want to leave! I just wanted to protect Charlotte, I wasn't thinking straight...”  

His smile chills me to the bone.  

“And you've made a great job, didn't you? She's DEAD, CARA, CHARLOTTE IS DEAD!”  

That's when I notice the weight in my arms. I look down. Craddled in my arms is my beautiful, tiny baby.  

She's blue, just like her dad. Her lifeless body is still.  

Then she opens her dead, cold, glazed eyes, and giggles.

“CHARLOTTE!!”  

“SHHH!” Hades slapped my wrist. “She's sleeping. She's fine. Hera's sending you nightmares.”  

And indeed, there she was.  Sleeping peacefully in Hades' arms, her little body rising and falling with each small, victorious, magnificent breath. My daughter. Those two words still felt unreal.

Only after I was reassured did I notice the two other people in the room. One was a teen, maybe Dominican ? Her skin was a light brown color, her hair was black and curly, and she had big, dark brown eyes and freckles around the nose. She was gorgeous.  

And the other was...  

“Olivia?!”

She sighed. “No, well I mean yes, but I'm not really Olivia. But it was her you were friends with as a teen, yes.”.  

“What?”

Another sigh. “I'm Athena. This”, she gestured around her face, “is just the body I'm currently in. Olivia isn't here anymore, I'm afraid. It's a long story.  

Oh. This was getting more and more disturbing.  

The teen girl smiled and said “And I'm Hestia. Hello. We're here to help you. And Hades.”

Have you ever had breakfast with three Greek Gods planning a war?  

That's quite the experience.  

From what I've understood, the only way to destroy a God is to convince or to force the one who gave it life to kill it.  

So that means the only ones who can stop Hera are her parents, who are also Hades' and Hestia's parents and Athena's grand-parents : Cronos and Rhea. Who, from what I deduced from the conversation, aren't really interested in the fights between their offsprings.  

“Wait” I asked, feeling my old fascination for Greek mythology coming back “then it means Gaia and Uranus cannot be killed, right? Or … is Nyx an actual entity like you guys? And in that case, who are Nyx's parents?”  

They stopped talking and looked at me sternly. At last, Athena smiled and said “You ask way too many questions, human. Go back to bed.”

I breastfed Charlotte, marvelling at her tiny hands and looking for traces of Mark on her face.  

Mark... Hades said he wasn't a bad man. He said Hera can be a very persuasive God, so I shouldn't be mad at Mark for falling into her trap.  

Still, there's so much I don't know, and will never know now. Everything happened too fast to give me a chance to have a real conversation with him. I thought I had time, I thought we would talk after the birth, when things calmed down. I was so stupid.

I settled back into the bed, and despite everything, or maybe because of everything, I fell asleep within seconds.

My mother opens the door of our family house.  

“Eleanor! Oh my God, it's been so long! You haven't changed at all, dear, that's crazy ! Oh, it's so lovely to see you. Come in!”  

Hera is standing on the porch, smiling warmly. She reaches down to pet my dog Brown, this old labrador I got when I was 15. My mother always said I should take it home with me now that I'm settled, but I know that she would miss him, so I never did.  

Brown isn't having it. He growls.  

She comes inside, while Mom is already putting the kettle on (she's British, she followed my dad to New Hampshire after they met while he was holidaying in Kent in 1975, and they've been together ever since) and yelling for my dad to come downstairs “Jacob ! Come here! You'll never guess who just came to see us!”  

But Dad is only halfway down the stairs when Hera clunches her fist and Mom falls on her knees, her hands at her throat, desperately trying to catch a breath. He stumbles down the last steps, screaming, but Hera just shoots him a look and he fells on his knees too, apparently breathing but silent, his face a mask of terror.  

Brown  jumps, but he doesn't come down. He explodes in a rain of ashes.

I wake up, screaming, to find Athena cuddling a crying Charlotte. I wipe the sweat off my forehead and tell her “Give me my daughter, she's probably hungry.”  

But she doesn't. Hades and Hestia are sitting on the bed. Hades strokes my cheek and whispers  

“Cara, it's better if she stays with Athena just for a moment, ok?”  

I start getting up. I can take care of my own daughter. “I'm fine, I'm fine. Just those nightmares again. Give me Charlotte, ok? Just give me my daughter!”  

“It wasn't a dream, Cara. Hera wanted you to see what she did to your parents”.

I don't fully realize that my parents are gone.  

I don't know what to do anymore. I have two brothers and a sister, and 6 nephews and nieces. When I think of Hera hurting them too... I can't let that happen.  

I don't know how to keep everyone I love safe.

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

PART 4 (FINAL)

Hello, Redditors. My name is Angela and Cara has been my best friend since high school.  

Cara asked me to update on her story, but I'm not going to write wHat she wants me to. I didn't want to write at all, at first, but after reading what she wrote in her previous posts I realized it could be an opportunity to ask for your help.

Cara is currently committEd to a psychiatric hospital after killing her husband, and she is suspected of murdering her parents and her child, though their bodies haven't been found.

I couldn't believe it at fiRst, but the police said the hospital cameras clearly showed that no one entered or left her room before the nurses found Mark laying in a pool of his own blood. It's still unsure how she escAped, as the power went out rIght after the nurses heard a scream coming from Cara's room and rushed to help. Therefore, there were no video recordingS for about 15 minutes afterwards. The baby was noWhere to be found, either.

I've read her previous posts, and it doesn't sound like Cara. I've known her for more thAn a decade, and she was noT a religious person. I knew she was brought up in a Christian household, but the only times she went to church was when she visited her parents baCk in our hometown. As I moved to California for work a few years ago, we Haven't seen each other much lately but we're stIll pretty close and I know she would have told me about whatever faith she found.

Her posts about Greek Gods don't make aNy sense. I don't know if she was havinG hallucinations when she wrote those posts, or if it was some kind of defence mechanism for her mind not to register what she had just done to her husbaNd, but I know from what the police revealed that Mrk was not killed by some kind of magical superpower. He was killed with the knife Cara was using tO eat her hospital meal, covered in her fingerprints. The line on his throat was nOt 'thin' as she quoted in her post, it was a mess. The autopsy revealed that the killer struggled, which is coNsistent with the hypothesis that the killer was somEone with little strength, like Cara.

I wish I could believe her stories about Greek Gods. I wish I could honestly belIeve that my friend isn't a murderer, but I can't. I don't know what'S happening to Cara, but I do believe she killed Mark. But she isn't a monster, that I can promiSe you. She's the sweetest, kindest person I know and she's been the best friend I've ever had. She's cleArly disturbed. I'm not an expert in mental health, but I'm sure it's not her Fault, I'm sure she's ill and she would never had done that if she wasn't.

Her denial of pregnancy probably revEaled some underlying condition. I'd be shocked, too, if I suddenly found out I was 9 months Pregnant and had to undergo childbirth with virtually no time to get myself ready for it. I'm not trying to find excuses for what she did, I'm just trying to understand.

Two days after disappearing with Charlotte, Cara was found, aLone, in a old abandonned house near Kanab, Utah. She was clean, hEalthy and she had food, even though she was 20 miles awAy from the nearest grocery store and didn't have a car. We don't know how she got there and how she got the food, but one thing that's certain is that Charlotte had been there because there were dirty diapers in the bin. But Charlotte waSn't here anymore.

Cara was brought to the hospital, and hEr sister Maria flew to Utah to be by her side. Maria then managed to get Cara commited in a psychiatric hospital in South Cal. Maria, her husband and kids live here, so sHe could visit Cara everyday and wait for hEr to get better. As soon as she called me, I drove aLl the way from San Francisco to see Cara, but at first the hosPital only allowed visits from family Members. Maria tells me everything she hears from the hospital and the police, so I've been well informEd.  

It's been hard for Maria, seeing her sister going mad, losing her brother in law and having no idea whether her parents and her newborn niece are still alive. Maria is Cara's little sister, and the baby of the family; her older brothers have always been overprotective of her and it feels weird to see her take the wheel that way. Cara's and Maria's brothers are arriving on Thursday, so at least Maria will get some support.

I've been allowed to see Cara for the first time today, and sHe was in an awful state. She kept muttering to herself, picking at her skin and hair, she hAd spasms... Please, do not judge her. I know what she did is terrible, but she's mentally ill. She is not aware of what she did. She keeps saying Hera killed her husband anD her mother. She won't say what happened to her fathEr, though, and she refuses to even Say Charlotte's name. When I visisted her today, she kept telling me “my daughter is safe, don't talk about her, please, my daughter is safe”. And theN she asked me to update this story on Reddit because “people have to know what's coming”, but she won't tEll me what she means.

As you can see, I'm not hEre to warn you against a mythological GoD. I'm here to aSk for help. I don't know where Charlotte is, but I doubt she's safe. Cara isn't herself right now and doesn't know what she's doing, so I'm verY worried about where she left Charlotte and whether she's still alive. I don't know what happened to Cara's parents either. In her last pOst, she talks about her mother being murdered and her father being... I don't know, controlled? Kidnapped? But while no bodies have been foUnd, her parents did disappear the day after Charlotte's birth. CaRa's car was found in front of her parents' house in Flagstaff, empty and unlocked. There was no sign of fight around the car or in the house.

Please, Reddit, if you have any idea as to where Charlotte could be found, it would helP the police so much. I know the community heRe is known for solving mysteries, so tAke it as a challenge or a game if You want, I don't care if you don't takE me seriously, but we need to find ChaRlotte. I truly hope Cara's state is temporary, but if Charlotte is in danger we might not have much time to find and Save her.

[kiki-ciara-blog]

CS Storybook - 5x23 The Way Back Home

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

Rating: M

AO3

Word Count: 6000ish words

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

I also created an illustration to go with the story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Are you okay love?”

“Yes. No. Probably.“

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Good.”

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

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

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

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

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

“Please Killian, I need this.”

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

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

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

“Me too love, me too.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“As you wish love.”

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

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

“Hmm, perhaps.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“How long from here to Boston, love?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You are simply divine, love.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Long overdue,” she replied blissfully.

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

Climbing back into bed, Killian pulled her into his embrace and they whispered sweet nothings to each other until sleep took them.

They had brunch delivered to their room, neither in any hurry to leave the comfort of their sumptuous bed, unless it was to take advantage of the spa bath in their suite. Eventually, having enjoyed each other on every available surface, Emma and Killian checked out and set off to their next destination. She initially planned to spend the morning in Salem giving Killian an insight into how witchcraft had been viewed in years gone by. Their lazy morning put paid to that idea, and instead they headed north towards Portland.

As Emma drove, Killian took charge of the radio again, fiddling with the dial until he found something satisfactory.  

When ‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen came on, Emma reached over and turned up the volume. As he listened a strange sensation came over him, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He didn’t believe he had heard this song before, yet something about it resonated within him. Perhaps Emma would be able to explain it. He settled back and let the music with Emma’s enthusiastic supporting vocals and steering wheel drumming wash over him.

“In case you couldn’t tell, I love that song,” Emma enthused afterwards.

“Aye, that was apparent. So tell me, why do you love it so much?”

“It’s hard to put my finger on. Some songs, the words just get to me, you know? But this one, it’s more about the tune. I’ve always loved it, even when I little kid. I always get a sense of deja-vu when I hear it, and it always makes me feel safe. I dunno, I just really like it.”

“It’s funny you should mention deja-vu, Emma. For I also had the strangest sensation when it played. I’m certain I haven’t heard it before, and yet as you say there’s something about it. It stirred a memory in me that is just out of reach, and I felt an urge to stand on a table and pump my fist in the air.”

“Well, an involuntary fist pump is a sign of a good rock song Killian,” Emma laughed. “I’ll have to take you and Henry to a gig sometime.”

“A gig?” Killian’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“A concert, Killian. Where the band performs their songs live,” Emma replied gently, reaching across to squeeze his knee. Whilst his knowledge of American terminology improved daily, his occasional confusion over unknown phrases was still endearing.

Arriving in Old Orchard Beach, Emma drove straight to the beachfront motel she had booked. It was simple accommodation, but it was clean and functional and unexpectedly had sliding glass doors opening out onto the pool terrace and the footpath leading to the beach.

“As this is our last afternoon, let’s have some seaside fun Killian,” Emma suggested, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the glass doors.

Killian grinned and followed willingly down to the beach. Miles of sand stretched out in both directions. They strolled along the shoreline hand in hand, towards the distant pier and fairground and soon they encountered signs for Pirates Cove Adventure Golf.

“Can we?” Emma bubbled, practically bouncing with excitement. It had been years since she last played crazy golf.  

“I have no idea what Adventure Golf is, but how can I resist somewhere with pirates in the name? It would be terribly bad form,” Killian replied, with a flourish and an exaggerated bow. “Lead on Swan”

Although he had agreed to the activity willingly, never imagined that it would involve chasing a little ball around a ridiculous obstacle course with a metal stick. Once he had found a way to support the club with his hook, he found himself to be quite skilful and to Emma’s chagrin was beating her fair and square.

Emma was thrilled to be spending time being silly with her Captain, and his frequent grousing at the inaccuracies of the model pirates around the course had her in fits of giggles.

“They’ve given me a hook, a peg-leg and a parrot on the shoulder! That’s overkill on the pirate clichés isn’t it?”

“It’s a pirate themed fun park Hook, cliché is pretty much guaranteed!”

Eventually Emma and Killian finished the 18-hole course, not sure who had won after losing count halfway round. They returned their clubs to the booth and walked back out onto the beach heading towards the pier and the fairground.  

They bought corn dogs and beers from a booth on the pier and found a bench to sit and eat watching the waves. Then they pottered around the fairground and amusement arcades until dusk. Killian tried to win Emma a stuffed toy at various stalls without success. She managed to win a tiger for him in a shooting gallery, and not to be outdone when they came across a coconut shy he was finally victorious, presenting her with a giant bear that would take up most of the bug’s back seat in the morning.

They shared candy floss, and rode the carousel and the big wheel. As it stopped at the top to let on new fairgoers, Emma squeezed Killian’s hand and cupped his cheek.

“Killian, there’s something I need to tell you, that I haven’t said before now,” Emma began.

“What’s that, Swan?”

“I…love you Killian.”

In reply Killian leaned in for a passionate kiss, as the ride began to move again.

As night fell they walked back, hook in hand along the beach, the moon high in the sky above them. Hearts bursting with love for one another. And whilst the painful recollections of their separation in the Underworld remained, for the time being they were buried beneath joyful memories of quiet moments, of passion and of laughter.  

@csstorybook @flslp87 @whimsicallyenchantedrose

[angstandhappiness]

Gorgeous

i love the way you draw mother night so much its a blessing every time. thank you for extending my life span

Ty! she’s one of my fav comfort characters to draw so I’m very glad you enjoy my art of her :)

angry night wip as a treat (mostly for me)