#but maybe she brings me orange juice she bought specifically for me in a special cup and i accept it and thank her

[gender-euphowrya]

my mom bought me orange juice because ''it's got loads of vitamins'' and she offers me some and i'm thinking "i gotta say yes bcs that's her way of communicating that she loves me" and then she brings it to me in my pride cup from my first pride parade

[holylulusworld]

Best-hidden secret

Summary: You were invisible, and you liked it until his eyes land on you.

Pairing: Alpha!Mobster!Dean x Omega!Reader

Characters: Alpha!Mobster!Sam Winchester, Omega!Mobster!John Winchester, Alpha!Mary Winchester

Warnings: angst, abo, abo dynamics, mobster au, protective alpha, scenting, true mates, scared reader, fluff, comforting, sexual harassment (nothing graphic; a hint of unwanted touching), threats, Sam being a douche, secrets, language, implied violence, a hint of nakedness

Words: 2,9 k

Hidden in plain sight Masterlist

Proudly Dean puffs his chest when he walks past his father. Sam left the house moments ago, not wanting to wait for his mother’s judgment.

“So, no sharing?” John carefully tries. He’s looking at his son, nodding silently when Dean points toward his mother’s office. “I will wait for the alpha’s words.”

Your mind races with every step Dean takes closer to his part of the house. Mary, the alpha saved you from the others and it’s a relief but – What about the alpha holding you in his arms?

“You��re safe with me, ‘mega. No one will touch my true mate. Let me bring you to my bedroom and we can have dinner. I don’t want my father and brother close to you again tonight.” Dean whispers and you look over your shoulder to meet John’s eyes.

“What if they do not follow your mother's order?” Choking the words out you wrap your arms tighter around Dean’s neck. “What will they do to me?”

“My mothers’ words, the alpha’s words are final, sweetheart. She decided tonight that you are mine. No one will dare to act against her order, or he’ll die. No matter if it’s her husband or son.”

“Dean, can I talk to your omega for a moment?” Mary’s words sound like a question, but Dean knows, it’s an order. “Only five minutes to clarify a few things.”

Your heart races when Dean whines low in his throat. He fears, just like you, that the head of the family changed her mind. “Please…”

“Calm, Dean. I only want to talk to her in private for a few moments. Let me take her to my private rooms to calm her.” Mary watches Dean reluctantly placing you onto your feet and can see the fear in your eyes when she holds out her hands.

“Maybe she’s not yours…” John whispers, causing Dean to snarl into his father’s direction. “A free omega now enslaved could bring us a lot of money.”

“Silence, omega.” Mary’s face contorts in anger feeling the tremble of your hand. “Go to our room and reconsider your words in front of your alpha. I will have a short conversation with Dean’s omega…”

“Sit over there, Y/N. Take a deep breath and don’t be afraid of me.” Mary sits on a chair opposite the couch she wanted you to sit on. “I have to tell you a few things, make sure you know the rules of our family.”

You nod silently, not wanting Mary to get mad. “Okay…” A single word is all you can choke out when the alpha looks at you. Her gaze too intense for you to hold you glance at your shoes.

“Dean is a good man, he made mistakes and is part of this business but, with you, he seems calmer. My eldest needs someone who tames him, who shows him the ropes of being a good alpha. I think you are headstrong and feisty enough to do so.” Her words let your head snap upwards and Mary chuckles lightly.

“As an alpha, I am used to have control, my dear but…” She gets up to sit next to you. “As a woman, I always had to fight for my rights in this world. The reason why John is the face of our organization is the same that you will have to wear Dean’s mark.”

“Public opinion?” Mumbling the words, you give Mary a cracked smile. “People do not like feisty omegas or strong women.”

“Exactly, sweetie. When my father died, there was no male alpha to take over his empire. Only I was left. John, I met him a few months later and knew, he’s my true mate. I had to have him, even tho, I was like Dean back then.

Independent and not interested in having a permanent partner I drifted through life until I found John. He was a tall man, a strong one. No one would believe he’s omega. I chose him and we agreed he’ll take over the empire in public while I’ll pull the strings behind the scenes…”

“Can I ask you why…” Mary pats your thigh, nodding as she knows what you want to ask her.

“You want to know why John is allowed to have sex with other omegas? He needs it, needs to have control from time to time. He’s a façade, a strong hand in public but my sweet omega when we are together. I can’t be weak, can’t give him control over me, but those girls can.”

“Oh-I see.” You nod silently, not wanting to imagine that your alpha will seek comfort in other girls’ arms.

“Dean is different, Y/N. He’s alpha and used to having control. No need to worry. My son will not be unfaithful. Now…”

Getting up Mary walks toward a commode to open the first drawer. “Take this until Dean puts a mark on your neck. This means you belong to the Winchesters, Dean to be specific.”

Handing you an amulet Mary nods encouragingly. “Wear it inside and outside the house.”

“Thank…you.” With shaking fingers, you put the amulet around your neck. “I…I still don’t know how to feel about this…”

“I know, Y/N. You were a free omega and suddenly Dean bought you but…” Cupping your cheek Mary gives you a soft smile. “He’s your alpha and you are his omega.”

Dean is slowly going insane in front of his mother’s room. He’s pacing, followed by low whines while he waits for you to return.

The door finally opens, and the first thing Dean does is to bring you into his arms. No matter what his mother decided, he’ll fight for you.

“We are done. Now have dinner and find some rest. I think Y/N knows everything she needed to hear to become your omega.” Mary hides the smirk when Dean picks you up to race toward his bedroom.

“What did she say? What did you talk about?” Dean looks you all over after he placed you carefully onto his bed. “Y/N?”

“Girls talk.” Lips pursed you don’t give away Mary counts on you to ‘tame’ her eldest pup. Giggling at the memory of Mary calling Dean pup you try to hide the grin. “I can’t tell you what we were talking about. ”

“You are already conspiring with my mother? How’d I end up being played by my mother and omega?” Whining Dean sits next to you. “Can you not tell me anything?”

Blinking a few times, you watch Dean give you puppy dog eyes. “She called you pup.” Giggling again you shrug when Dean looks at you in awe. “It was kinda cute. That’s all you’ll get.”

“She gave you my necklace.” Dean touches the amulet Mary gave you with shaking fingers. “This means she agreed to our bond.” Purrs leave Dean’s lips when he starts to nuzzle you.

“Can you not smell that…intoxicating?” You try to fight your instinct, but your inner omega takes over and you return every purr from your mate. “Why do you have to do this to me?”

“I am yours, and you are mine, Y/N. Please…” While Dean becomes bold and presses his lips to your mating gland you fist his hair. “Please…”

“I am hungry, Winchester. Your mother, the head of the family, told you to take care of me. Do I have to go to her tell her you wanted to cuddle instead of feeding me?” Dean’s eyes widen and his mouth falls open at your dominant tone.

“No. I-uh… I’ll go to the kitchen with you. You can choose what you want to eat, sweetheart…”

“Crap, we don’t have orange juice. Let me go to the pantry. You can butter the toast.” Dean hates to leave you alone but it’s only for a minute so his eyes dart between the door and you.

“Isn’t that your job?” Bold you grin up at Dean when he realizes what you tried to say. “What?”

He’s grinning wildly, even chuckles as you just made a dirty joke. “You’re a dirty girl, omega. I’d like to butter your toast but for now, I want to eat it.”

Dean walks out of the kitchen, still laughing at your joke while you try to concentrate on the toast.

Your eyes drift toward the window and you wonder if you could go for a run. You are still torn between wanting your freedom back and the way Dean makes you feel. The warm feeling in your belly gets stronger every time he’s close and you are sure, sooner or later you will not be able to resist his scent and the way he looks at you.

Lost in thoughts you giggle at the memory of his dirty grin when you made a joke. “Did you find the juice, or do you want me to help you out?” Your eyes meet darkened hazel ones and you almost drop the toast.

“Look at you, omega, already comfortable in our kitchen.” Sam steps closer, a grin on his lips. “You know that you are no one special to him. Like every other omega, you have to work to get food.” His hands grasp your arms and you drop the toast to the ground.

“Keep the toast and everything else but let me go.” Sam wants to nuzzle you but the necklace around your neck stops him. “I am Dean’s…”

Sam drops his hands to his sides, even steps backward to give you space, and the moment you see your chance you dash toward the door to run back into Dean’s bedroom.

“Y/N?” Watching you curled into a ball, shaking in fear Dean’s stomach tightens. Moments ago, you made a dirty joke and he had the feeling you feel more comfortable around him and now you are scared again. “What happened?” A scent catches Dean’s attention and he leans over you to sniff at your skin. “Sam…”

“He…he said I am no one special and that I have to work for the toast. I…I dropped it. Sorry.” Tears well-up to your eyes when Dean wraps his arms around your shaking body to bring you close to his chest.

Desperate you bury your face into his neck to scent the alpha. He’s slowly running his hands over your hair, arms, and back to calm you. “What did he do?”

“He grabbed my arms and said those things. Then he saw the amulet and let go of me. I ran into your room to feel safe.” Tiny sobs leave your lips and you are close to crying when a knock makes you jump.

“Son, we need to…” John waltzes into Dean’s bedroom, Sam hot on his heels. “You shouldn’t act like a needy omega. Soon you will have enough of that girl and toss her away like the other toys. Stop cuddling and let’s talk like men.”

“Needy omega?” Huffing Dean looks at his father while you refuse to let go of the alpha. “What about you during your heat? Your Alpha treats you with respect, always.”

“Son, do not compare my relationship with your mother with your obsession with that meek girl.” In a split-second, Dean’s head snaps upward and his teeth grit. If not for you holding him in a tight grip, he would’ve attacked his father.

“Sweetheart, I’ll be right back.” Whispering the words against your skin Dean presses soft kisses to your forehead. “Just a minute, Y/N.”

Dean leaves the bed, to guide his father and brother out of the room you were seeking shelter in. You can hear your alpha growl, even snarl while his father and brother remain silent.

Your body is still shaking so you grasp for the sleepshirt Dean is hiding under his pillow to press it to your nose. The alpha’s scent always calms you, even if you would never admit it.

“She’s mine! Live with it or I’ll fight you with all my strength. Our alpha confirmed our bond. Never touch my omega again.” The door slams shut and you only hear low whines when Dean looks at you on his bed.

Still clinging to his shirt you look at the alpha who carefully steps closer. “I smell like him. I don’t like it, Dean.”

“I’ll prepare a shower, okay. You will relax and I’ll call Ellen for food. She will bring it to our room. No need to leave it again.” Slowly sitting up you grasp for Dean’s wrist when he wants to walk toward the bathroom.

“I want to stay by your side.”

“I’ll be waiting outside the room, sweetheart. If you need anything, holler for me. I can bring you more towels or…” You shake your head, grasp for Dean again as he tries to leave the room.

“Can’t you stay? Please.” Sam’s words, the way he treated you and John made you vulnerable again. You don’t know why, but you the thought Dean will leave you alone scares you more than anything else.

“You will be naked, Y/N.” Dean murmurs when you nuzzle your face into his chest. “I should wait outside.” Humming you wrap your arms around the tall alpha, not wanting to let go.

“Don’t make me weak, ‘mega. Have a shower or a warm bath and I promise to wait outside.” He tries again but you shake your head, sniffling. “Baby Girl…”

“I want a bath…but…but stay.” Clinging to Dean you whine when he walks backward to run a bath for you.

He tries so hard to fight your embrace but, in the end, he gives in. “It’s big enough for us. You’ll close your eyes and we can go in…both.” Not accepting any argument, you look up at Dean.

“Jesus, you have me wrapped around your pinkie. Back to back, Y/N. I’ll go in first and you can step inside the tub. No peeking. Promised.” Nodding you let go of Dean and you stand back to back to strip off your clothes.

Dean is nervously chewing on his lower lip when he steps into the warm water, trying so hard not to glance at your naked form when he sits in the bathtub.

“Done, sweetheart. Get in before it gets cold.” Still not opening his eyes Dean listens to your clumsy try to enter the bathtub. Giggles escape your lips, along with a loud squeal as you feel the warm water surround you.

Dean waits for you to sit opposite him but you scoot closer to lean your back against his chest. A sharp intake of breath later he feels your body against his and the alpha purrs low in his throat.

“I want to wash his stink off, alpha. I don’t like it.” Humming Dean gently runs a washcloth over your left arm. “Why is Sam like that? John, I understand. Mary told me about a few things but Sam…he’s…”

“Different since an accident. Five years ago, he lost his mate in a fire. We assume it was Ketch. Sam survived but for Jess, it ended badly. When Sam woke from coma months later, he was a different man. Colder. More calculated. A better mobster but not the man he used to be.” Dean explains while he gently moves the washcloth over your right arm.

“Maybe the loss of his mate changed him.” Soft lips press against your shoulder and you shudder feeling Dean’s hands wander to your stomach. “Dean…” Falling back against Dean’s chest you guide his hands to your chest.

“Not tonight, Y/N. We’ll do this the right way, or we won’t do it at all.” Whispering a promise into your ear Dean hopes Sam learned his lesson after he got a black eye from his big brother…

“Sam.” Mary scolds, looking at the black eye. “What did you think you are doing?”

“I…I was jealous. I still remember how it feels having a true mate. I wanted Dean to feel the pain I felt. It was his fault Ketch was after me and Jess!” Sam snarls through gritted teeth.

“No, it wasn’t Sam.” Sam’s eyes never leave his mother’s face when she gently pats his cheek. “Dean took the blame, but it was me telling your father to not make the deal. They tried to hurt the head of our organization and chose the weakest member…you.”

“It was you?” Sam steps backward, shaking his head furiously.

“I sent all men to your apartment after I got to know Ketch wouldn’t go after John or Dean. I wanted to save you and your mate, but it was too late.

When you stumbled out of the fired, Jess in your arms your brother knew, you would hate me, so he took the blame. It was the best-hidden secret, Sam. If you want to hate someone, hate me. Let Dean have his tiny piece of happiness.” Mary’s eyes sadden watching her youngest fall onto an armchair with a heavy sigh.

“I treated Dean badly, just like any girl he brought here. How could everyone watch me hurting my brother knowing it wasn’t his fault? I would’ve forgiven you but Dean, he said it was his idea to follow Ketch.”

“I think, he tried to make sure you believe it was him. Truth is, he raced toward your apartment without waiting for back-up after I told him Ketch will go after you…”

“I’ll need time to think about a few things. Do not try to contact me while I am away. I will call you if I am ready…” Sam’s words let Mary sniffle but her face remains stoic - she has to be the alpha after all...

SPN Forever Tags

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Dean/Jensen Forever Tags   

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

Hidden in plain sight

@stilltoomuchafangirl​​, @olichat​t, @lizzyumi​, @maddiepants​, @rosiehayes​, @pekusofixus​

A/N: If your name is crossed out Tumblr won’t let me tag you.

[readyourimgaines]

The Little Things

Summary: Derek knew fully well that moving in with Spencer was going to bring around some changes. Dr. Spencer Reid was different and Derek loved him for it. There were little quirks that the doctor showed at work and some Derek was still learning. So there must be some at home.

And a special thanks, of course, to @chaoticgremlinwholikescheese​ for helping me compile this list!

1. Alphabetizing Movies by Title

“Pretty Boy?” Derek was crouched down in front of their TV looking for their movie while Spencer did the dishes. The latter hadn’t seen Happy Gilmore and Derek couldn’t let that stand. 

“Yeah?” Spencer called from the kitchen. 

“I can’t find it?”

“What?” Spencer stepped away from the sink and went to the living room. Water dripped from his fingertips. “The movies are alphabetical. It’s between Hamlet and Ice Age.” He went to Derek’s side and gestured to the movie. “I was going to order them by director, but Hotch said most people don’t know directors very well. Which is a shame because J.J. Abrams destroyed Star Trek but Guy Riche-” 

Derek pressed a kiss to Spencer’s lips with a fond smile. Spencer blinked. 

“Sorry,” the doctor blushed. 

Derek just chuckled. “You know you’re adorable, right, Pretty Boy?” 

“You may have mentioned it a time or two,” Spencer laughed. 

“You can tell me all about directors later,” Derek promised. “I know a bit about the mainstream guys, but not a whole lot.”

“All you really need to know is that J.J. Abrams kills anything he touches and Peter Jackson doesn’t get as much attention as he should.”

*****

2. Morning Rituals

One thing that Derek very quickly learned about Spencer was that he 

had a specifically timed morning ritual when not on a case. And that if it was broken or disturbed, the whole rest of the day would go down hill like a train on greased tracks. 

He woke up at 6:17, was in the shower by 6:25, eating breakfast by 7:00, his bed made by 7:30, and shoes on his feet by 7:32. The last half hour before they left at 8:00 was free game. 

The first morning in their new place was the roughest. Spencer went 

about his usual morning, but Derek didn’t usually wake up until 7:45 because he took less time to get ready and ate in the car. So when Spencer finished breakfast and went back to their room to make the bed but Derek was still asleep… He paced for the next fifteen minutes and his head nearly went through the ceiling when Derek’s alarm went off. 

Spencer almost had a panic attack as he fumbled his way through making their bed and cramming his feet into his shoes. Needless to say, the extra half hour was spent- in vain- trying to calm the doctor down. None of the rest of the day lined up properly and Spencer was on edge and fidgety. Hotch even had to gently remind him to focus a few more times than the usual redirection of infodumps. 

That was the first and only time Derek didn’t follow Spencer’s morning routine. He found the same day that Spencer had a much simpler night ritual: Snack (sometimes) at 10:10, teeth brushed by 10:25, in bed by 10:35, reading until (supposed to be) 11:18, and then lights out. This routine was much more flexible and relaxed.

Derek found waking up and going to bed at the same time every day made the former much easier. He also found that Spencer reading to him most nights- no matter the book or topic- was very relaxing. And of course there were nights when Derek read to Spencer.

*****

3. Sugary Coffee

Derek took a sip of coffee from his travel cup and whistled. “Think I got yours, Pretty Boy. There’s enough sugar in this to hype up a six year old’s birthday party.” 

Spencer braced himself and took a sip of the coffee in his own cup. He was pleasantly relieved when the bitterly sharp taste expected never came. “I-I put sugar in both of them. I wasn’t thinking,” he said sheepishly. 

Derek shrugged. “You know what they say: I’ll try anything once.” He chuckled. “I’ll just brush my teeth for an extra three minutes.” 

Spencer scoffed as he got into the passenger seat of Derek’s car. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll like it. You don’t get the caffeine drop when the eight hour half-life is over.” 

“Is that why you put so much sugar in coffee?” Derek raised an eyebrow, thinking he already knew the answer. 

“And coffee tastes like battery acid. I’d rather drink vinegar than black coffee.” Spencer shuddered. 

Derek chuckled but didn’t say anything else as he pulled onto the street.

*****

4. Cuddly Sleeper

Even though Spencer wasn’t huge on PDA like Derek was, he sure was a cuddly guy. The second the door closed, he was a six foot koala. That included in bed- but usually not until after he was asleep. 

Some nights, Spencer would fall asleep reading. So Derek would take his book, close it, gently remove Spencer’s glasses, and turn out the lamp. Nine times out of ten, Spencer was curled up against his side before Derek was asleep himself. 

At first, Derek found himself wondering why Spencer wasn’t nestled against him before sleep took him. But after a while, it sunk in that the doctor unwound by reading. 

The look on Spencer’s face when he curled into Derek’s side always sent the older man over the moon. The absolute peace on the doctor’s face. One night, Derek almost woke Spencer up laughing. Derek rolled over to out the lamp and Spencer had gripped Derek’s arm tighter and whined in his sleep. Derek then had to assure his boyfriend- in soft whispers as to not actually wake him up- that he wasn’t going anywhere. 

Spencer never thought to question why his book and glasses were gone when he woke up.

*****

5. Leaves Books Everywhere

Anyone who had a 30 second conversation with Spencer- anyone who glanced at Spencer- could tell the man read more than he did anything else. 

Derek picked up the doctor’s satchel once and was moderately surprised the slim man hadn’t dislocated his shoulder with how heavy the bag was. But Spencer didn’t only keep books in his bag. No. They were all over the place. 

Their bedroom, the craft room where Derek made floor plans for his renovations, the kitchen, the dining room, the living room. Even both bathrooms and the basement. 

When the two first moved in together, Derek debated building an extension onto the living room for a library. He still debated it from time to time (just in case). But as time wore on, Derek grew to appreciate the countless (if seemingly random) books around the house. 

Spencer would read when Derek was working on floorplans, so Derek would read when Spencer worked on an academic paper or consult. 

“What’re you reading?” Spencer asked one night, finally looking up from his notebook. He was writing an essay on how handwriting analysis could help catch a serial killer and/or rapist. 

“I don’t even know,” Derek chortled. “Uh..” he looked at the cover, “it’s Introduction to Law by Joanne Banker and Yvonne Ekern.” 

“Oh! Hotch loaned that to me yesterday,” Spencer noted. “I should get that back to him soon.” 

Derek just shook his head. “You know, Pretty Boy, I didn’t read this much in college.”

Spencer smiled. “See? Maybe there’s a good side to not spending thousands of dollars on building a library,” he teased.

6. The Nightlight

In the bedroom, in the outlet closest to the door was a nightlight. But not just any night light. This nightlight made the move in the front pocket of Spencer’s satchel. 

“So what’s the story behind this platypus, Pretty Boy?” Derek had to ask one night as Spencer turned it on. “Because you’ve had this since before we were dating.” 

“My uh- my mom’s went on a sort of field trip with her hospital a couple years ago. It was on one of her good days. She saw this in the aquarium’s gift shop and bought it for me.”

“That’s pretty cute,” Derek encouraged. He knew Spencer didn’t open up about his mom often so Derek tried to learn everything he could about the woman during the rare occurrences. 

“We named him,” Spencer laughed. “Alfred Nicholas Brian Reid.” He giggled. “I just… He helps.”

*****

+1. Bleeding/Infected Hangnails

Spencer usually had something to stim or fidget with. A strip of paper, a pen or pencil to twirl, a shirt with a loose thread, something. On the off chance that he didn’t, the doctor somehow decided that his fingers were good enough. If Spencer didn’t have a hangnail, he’d start one. 

This was the one and only thing about Doctor Spencer Reid that Derek Morgan hated. He could see the minute flinch when Spencer held a utensil wrong and it pressed on the swollen skin. He heard the soft hiss when Spencer got tomato or orange juice in the broken skin. 

What Derek hated even more than that was when the hangnail would get infected. The skin around the nail or turn a greenish-yellow and harden. Which, in turn, gave Spencer another thing to pick at. 

“Pretty Boy, you gotta stop,” Derek sighed. He’d gone into a convenience store to get them something other than coffee- but tastier than water- to drink. While inside, he bought a box of Band-Aids and a tube of anti-bacterial cream. 

Spencer snapped out of his daze. “What?”

“Picking at your nails.” To prove his point, Derek took Spencer’s hand in his to show him, as well as to stop his current picking. “I know you’re worried about the case, Baby, but we’ll catch the son of a bitch and put his ass behind bars like we always do. You gotta stop destroying your hands.”

“I didn’t realize I was,” he admitted. 

“I know,” Derek said softly. He applied the cream and a Band-Aid to each finger that needed it (five in total between both hands). “We just gotta get you a couple of those fidget cubes Garcia has.”

Tag List: @mayonnaiseismycomfortfood​

[searchingwardrobes]

Christmas in Storybrooke: 3/13

Summary: My Hallmark Christmas movie fic in which flights get cancelled and Henry’s “best friend’ gets snowed in with him in his quirky hometown for Christmas. Only with magic and fairy tale characters.

Yes, you read that right. I outlined this fic, and it will be 13 chapters (well, 12 plus an epilogue) because apparently my muse loves to torture me. Once I finish Sleepless in Seattle, I’ll be updating this daily to hopefully finish by New Years. Hopefully . . .

Rating: M for suggestive scenes and adult situations, not smut

Trigger warnings: Henry is an adult. Read that again: Henry is an adult. Look at the picset: that’s Andrew J. West. If Henry actually behaving like an adult makes you feel icky, the don’t read this.

A03

Tagging @snowbellewells @kmomof4 @jennjenn615 @kday426 @bethacaciakay @teamhook @whimsicallyenchantedrose @snidgetsafan @delirious-latenight-laughs @winterbaby89 @distant-rose @yohoyohoafandomlifeforme

Chapter Three: White Christmas

 Henry rolled over on the lumpy futon, groaning and arching his back. How had ever slept on this thing as a teenager? Across the room, Evie was still asleep in the bed from the old guest room. She was on her side, one pillow under her head and a second one clutched to her chest. Her brow was furrowed and her fists clenched, and he wondered not for the first time why her body was always so coiled and tense in sleep. She seemed to be so steady most of the time, so unfazed by the rough nature of her work. Did she keep it all bottled inside?

He threw his blankets aside, also casting off such melancholy thoughts about Evie. Maybe she just couldn’t relax in an unfamiliar place while she was missing her family. He pulled a sweatshirt on over his undershirt, put some thick socks on his feet, and padded down the cold hardwood stairs to the second floor. It was quiet there, but he could hear voices drifting up from the ground floor along with the sounds of someone working in the kitchen. Sure enough, he found his siblings scurrying around the kitchen while his stepfather stirred a pan of scrambled eggs at the stove. A timer dinged, and Killian smoothly pushed the pan off the hot burner and opened the oven door to pull out a pan of cinnamon rolls.

“Morning, lad!” he called to Henry, in his usual bright morning voice. Killian’s love of the early hours had always been a source of slight irritation for both Henry and his mother. It never felt right that he was so chipper when the sun was barely rising.

Of course, the upside was having a breakfast chef. Once they had convinced him that broiled mackerel was not a suitable breakfast food, that is.

“Grab these eggs, for me?” Killian asked as he set the pan of sticky rolls on the countertop. Hope was next to the fridge pouring glasses of orange juice. Soon, they were all gathered around the table with plates of food.

“I’ve missed breakfast like this,” Henry sighed as he bit into a cinnamon roll. “Usually I just grab a donut or a bagel on my way to work.”

“Why do you still have to work for that online newspaper?” Hope asked. “You wrote that book.”

“Well,” Henry sighed, “novelists don’t exactly make a ton of money, especially when they self- publish. I have to pay the bills somehow.”

“It was a fantastic read, Henry, I couldn’t put it down,” Killian added, “I don’t know why a publishing company hasn’t picked it up.”

Henry warmed at the praise. Everyone in Storybrooke had supported his career. He was pretty sure everyone in town had bought multiple copies of his first novel. But to hear Killian support him like this meant even more. Not only because the man read voraciously but because he was the closest thing to a father he had ever had.

“Well,” he said, struggling to swallow his bite of egg as his heart soared, “I think they see fairy tale retellings as only selling in YA markets, and mine is definitely an adult book.”

“Yeah,” grumbled Hope, “Mom and Dad won’t let me read it yet.”

“Sorry, kid,” Henry sympathized.

Leia attempted to wipe her sticky fingers on the front of her nightgown, and Killian wordlessly handed her a wet wipe. “When do we leave for the farm, Daddy?”

“No!” Charlie protested, almost spilling his juice, “the Snow Festival is first!”

“But I want to ride Buttercup!” protested Leia

“Shut up, you two,” Hope snapped.

“Don’t tell your brother and sister to shut up,” warned Killian.

“Fine,” Hope muttered, rolling her eyes.

“And you two,” Killian added, pointing at the twins as they stuck their tongues out at each other, “you know full well we’re going to the festival first, then the farm. There’s no point arguing about it.”

“The festival’s going to be lame this year,” Hope pouted, pushing at her eggs with her fork.

“Hope,” a voice said from the stairs, “watch it, young lady.”

“Swan!” Killian exclaimed, jumping from the table and rushing to his wife, “I was going to bring breakfast up to you!”

Emma waved him off as he helped her into a chair. “I’m fine, babe. I’m not an invalid.”

Killian frowned as he started scrambling some more eggs. “But I worry about the stairs, love. It seems like a lot of strain, and Whale said you’re not supposed to over exert yourself.”

Emma rolled her eyes exactly as Hope had earlier. “You insist on carrying me up the stairs, going down is no big deal. And I’m already having to be pushed around the festival today in a wheelchair. At least let me eat breakfast at the damn table with my family.”

“Words, Mommy!” Charlie crowed with a smirk.

“Speaking of the festival -” Henry began hesitantly.

“Don’t worry,” Emma assured as she reached her hand over to rest upon his arm. “I sent a message to Elsa, and we also had an emergency town meeting. No magic.”

“Like I said,” Hope grumbled, “lame.”

“What’s lame?”

The silence became palpable as every head swiveled to the bottom of the stairs where Evie was just coming down. She had combed her hair and put it in a smooth, low ponytail, but she still wore her snowflake flannel pajamas.

“Hope was just expressing her opinions on our town’s annual Snow Festival,” Killian smoothly explained as he set a plate of food in front of his wife. “I’m afraid she’s getting to that age -”

“The tween age?” Evie laughed as she took the empty seat between Hope and Emma. She looked over at Hope and winked. “I remember those days.”

“She only thinks it’s gonna be lame cause there’s no mag-”

Henry reached over and clamped his hand over Leia’s mouth. “No . . . magi . . . “ he stuttered, wracking his brain to come up with a lie. “You know, the three wise men?”

“Yeah, magi,” Emma put in, “there . . . uh . . . used to be a live nativity scene . . . but, uh, people complained about the animals -”

“And their poop!” Charlie finished, dissolving into giggles. “Camels poo-oop, camels poo-op -”

“Charlie, that is not appropriate at the table,” Killian told his son firmly.

Henry caught Evie’s eye, who was holding her hand over her mouth and trying not to laugh. An awkward silence fell as Evie and Emma both started on their food.

“You know,” Evie finally spoke up, her gaze still on her eggs, “I work for the FBI. I can tell when people are lying.”

Silence reigned again, as the entire Jones family exchanged concerned glasses.

“But,” she continued, “I can also tell when a lie is innocent and when it’s more . . . nefarious. This is clearly a lie I can overlook.”

Everyone let out breaths they didn’t realize they had been holding.

Evie took a sip of juice, then added, “For now.”

*******************************************************

The family ended up being late to the festival, what with getting three kids out the door and maneuvering Emma’s wheelchair down the porch steps. Emma’s irritation at using said wheelchair not necessarily helping matters. So by the time they reached town hall, it was packed. Luckily, Regina, Zelena, and the Charmings had saved them a nice spot up front. The crowds, of course, also eagerly parted for the savior, calling out well wishes and concern for her and the baby. If Evie noticed Emma’s special treatment, she didn’t comment on it.

“As if this weren’t humiliating enough,” Emma grumbled under her breath. Henry exchanged an amused glance with Killian; they both knew his mother wasn’t fond of being fawned over like the princess and hero that she was.

Further introductions were necessary as Evie met the rest of Henry’s family for the first time. He had prepared his grandparents ahead of time to call themselves his aunt and uncle, and Neal at 13 was old enough to play along and pretend to be Henry’s “cousin.” Little Ava wasn’t even a year old and not yet talking. Evie eagerly took the baby from Mary Margaret (no “Snow” Henry had lectured everyone over the phone), and the little one seemed just as eager to be in Evie’s arms. His other mother and Aunt Zelena were also on their best behavior, welcoming Evie with rare warmth. Twelve-year-old Robyn was fascinated by Evie’s career in the FBI.

“Have you ever had to shoot someone?”

“Robyn!” Zelena reprimanded. “That is not an appropriate question!”

“It’s okay,” Evie laughed as Ava gurgled and grabbed at her nose. “No, Robyn, I haven’t. Most of what I do is more boring than you would expect. I mostly talk to people after they are brought in. I try to get them to tell the truth.”

Henry could tell by Robyn’s expression that she was disappointed. He also knew Evie was being vague on purpose; her specific job with the bureau wasn’t exactly an appropriate topic for children.

“Well,” Regina said, “it was nice to meet you, Evie, and I can’t wait to talk more later, but right now I have a job to do.”

His mom made her way up to the stage that had been set up in front of town hall. Everyone cheered as she waved to the crowd and stepped up to the microphone.

“Welcome everyone, to our annual Snow Festival!” she paused while the crowd cheered some more. “I’d like to welcome to Storybrooke, Qu-Mayor of Arendelle, Elsa Frost!”

The crowd clapped half-heartedly as this was much shorter than the usual speech. Normally, his mother reminded everyone of the Snow Queen and her spell of shattered sight that was thwarted by sisters Queen Elsa and Princess Anna of Arendelle. Even though the spell happened in the summer, not the winter, the town had voted that the Saturday before Christmas was the perfect time to celebrate the historic Storybrooke event.

As Elsa came up the steps to join his mother, Henry realized he had never seen her dressed in normal clothes. Instead of her usual royal gown, she wore a simple blue off the shoulder sweater dress with black leggings and boots. Her hair was still braided over her shoulder, and laced through with decorative snowflakes. He wasn’t surprised to see her without a coat, hat, or mittens. As she often said, the cold just didn’t bother her. Everyone else gathered around, even his mother on stage, were bundled up and shivering.

Elsa embraced Regina, then turned to the microphone. “As always, I am delighted to be here. This town is full of so many dear friends.” Here Elsa searched the crowd, her gaze resting on Emma and Killian for a moment. “And now, I would like to present, Arendelle’s yearly Christmas gift!”

With that, Elsa lifted a large sheet off an ice sculpture that stood on the ground in front of the stage. Next to him, Evie let out an awed gasp, but she was the only one impressed. Everyone else gave only polite applause.

“That’s amazing,” Evie told him, “I’ve never seen something so intricate! And how did she get the ice castle to glow like that?”

It was beautiful, and it was no doubt made from Elsa’s ice magic. But normally Elsa made the ice castle while everyone watched in awe. The castle was slightly different every year, but it was always big enough for everyone to explore. It would have slides and turrets and winding staircases. Then Elsa always ended the presentation with a burst of magical snowflakes, intricate and as big as your hand that twinkled with glittery multicolored magic as they floated over the crowd. In comparison, this year’s sculpture was a huge disappointment. Hope caught his eye, her arms crossed and her eyebrows lifted as if to say, told you so.

“Henry,” Evie leaned over and whispered, “um, why is everyone glaring at me?”

Henry looked away from his sister and saw Leroy giving Evie a look so hateful he was surprised daggers weren’t shooting out of the dwarf’s eyes. “Oh ignore Leroy, he’s always in a bad mood.”

“No, Henry, not just him.”

Henry scanned the crowd to find that she wasn’t exaggerating. All of the dwarves were gathered around Leroy like a group of rural thugs from The Outsiders. Granny was giving her the stink eye over the edge of her bifocals, and even the fairies were staring snootily down their noses. Henry scowled, rubbed Evie’s arm comfortingly and marched over to Granny and the dwarves.

“Will you all lay off?” he hissed so Evie couldn’t hear. “It’s not her fault that her flight got cancelled. She’s essentially stuck here for Christmas, so the least you can do is make her feel welcome.” Without waiting for a response, he marched over to the fairies. “How do you think it looks to have a group of nuns shunning a visitor to town? I’d expect this from the dwarves, but not from all of you.”

“I agree,” a voice spoke up from the edge of the group.

Blue turned to face the petite blonde. “Tink, you aren’t even part of our order anymore.”

“And this is exactly why. You’re really going to pout over a silly little festival?” Tink then turned to Henry apologetically. “Hook told me about your friend. Introduce me?”

“Um, okay,” Henry said hesitantly, “but none of that Hook business, and your name is Tina, okay?”

She nudged Henry with her elbow. “I can be subtle.”

God, I hope so, Henry prayed to whoever would listen. As he walked back over to his family with Tink, his concern only increased. His other grandfather and Belle had joined them, and Elsa was bent over Emma’s wheelchair giving her a tight hug. Mercifully, Gideon had taken off somewhere with Hope, Neal, and Robyn. That was three less magical youngsters he would have to worry about. Hopefully the twins would keep behaving themselves.

“Henry!” Belle exclaimed, bounding over to him and embracing him in a tight hug. “We’ve all missed you. Did Killian tell you I have six copies of your novel in the library?”

He glanced over his shoulder to where Tink was introducing herself to Evie. Since his best friend’s eyes weren’t bugging out of her head, he assumed it was going well.

“Um, yes, he did, but considering that everyone in town bought their own copy, I think it was overly generous of you.”

“It was not,” scoffed Belle. “That book is a masterpiece, and we need to make sure it’s preserved for the future. Isn’t that right, Rumple?”

“Aye, it’s a great accomplishment, my boy.”

He slapped Henry on the back and smiled, but Henry still couldn’t shake the feeling that Belle was always happier to see him. Nevertheless, he shook his grandfather’s hand in greeting.

“We’ve been meeting your friend Evangeline here,” Belle continued in her eager, friendly voice. She put an arm around Evie in a half hug, and his friend tossed him a look that clearly said help! It wasn’t that Evie had an aversion to touch like Emma did, but meeting so many people all at once was clearly overwhelming her. Mary Margaret was now on stage announcing the snowman building contest, giving Henry a perfect opportunity to rescue her. He extended his hand towards her.

“I believe you told me once that you’ve never built a snowman?”

Evie grinned and took his hand. “I did.”

“You know what they say,” he told her with a wink, ”you never forget your first.”

He had no idea what possessed to say something so audaciously suggestive in front of his entire family.

“He gets that from me, you know,” Killian commented to Grandpa David as Henry walked away with Evie on his arm.

He had no idea what that meant, either.

***************************************************

“You know,” Evie grunted as she rolled their snowman’s head across the snowy ground, “no one ever mentions in Hallmark movies what a workout snowman building is.”

Henry chuckled as he helped her roll the head on top of their snowman’s torso. “I don’t think Hallmark movies are the best place to get accurate information about snow.”

Evie draped a scarf around their snowman’s neck, then looked around at the competition and frowned. “Ours looks like Frosty, but some of these are works of art.”

Henry nodded as he gave their snowman a carrot nose. “It’s gotten very competitive as the years have gone by.”

“Look at your stepdad and the twins,” Evie pouted.

Henry followed her gaze to see Killian lifting Leia to put a garland of poinsettias on their snowfairy’s head. It also not only had wings on its back, but Killian had helped the kids add glitter to intricate carvings along the bottom. The snowfairy had an hourglass figure as well.

“Yeah, Killian’s pretty artistic. You should see him carve a pumpkin.” Of course, he used his hook for those, but Evie didn’t need to know that. Come to think of it, he normally used his hook in the snowman building competition, so it was pretty impressive that he had done so well without it. “He and the twins won last year.” Until the twins were disqualified for bringing their snowpirate to live, that is.

Evie bent down to press buttons into the bottom of the snowman. “So what’s up with your grandpa?”

“What about him?”

“You and him; you seem kind of . . . distant.”

“Oh,” Henry replied, shaking his head. He had thought she was talking about Grandpa David, and he suddenly realized she thought David was his uncle. “Yeah, we’re not that close really.”

“He doesn’t have to be so cold,” Evie said with an edge to her voice.

Henry sighed as he turned the pebbles they were using for the snowman’s mouth in his hand. “I’ve tried to figure out why he’s like that, but I’ve given up. He says he loves me, but . . . .” Henry started pressing the pebbles one by one onto the snowman’s face. “It may be because of my dad. People say I look like him, and since he died . . . maybe it’s painful for my grandpa? But then other times, I wonder if he just doesn’t like me.”

“He should be happy to have a bit of his son in you.”

Henry shrugged. “Could just be his personality then.” Or being the Dark One, once again something else Evie couldn’t know. “Or it may be my stepdad. Killian and I are close, and, well . . . Grandpa has never liked Killian much.”

Evie nodded as she stood and brushed snow off her knees. “Everyone has some dysfunction in their family.”

“Even your perfect suburban family?”

She rolled her eyes. “Please, Henry, you have no idea.”

She gazed over his shoulder and smiled at whatever had caught her eye. Henry turned to see Hope, Neal, Robyn, and Gideon shoving handfuls of snow into each other’s faces and laughing instead of working on their snowman. Evie squinted.

“Is that . . . “

“Cerberus, the two headed dog of the underworld? Yep, it is,” Henry answered.

“Guess they’re Percy Jackson fans,” Evie mused as she put the top hat on their Frosty.

“Yeah,” Henry said dryly, “guess so . . . “

*************************************************

Evie plopped down on a bench next to Elsa who had been sitting and chatting with Emma in her wheelchair. Henry smiled as Evie said something to his mother, and they both laughed. When he reached them, Evie grinned up at him.

“I was just telling your mom how miserably we did in the competition.”

“And I was telling her that the only time I got so much as an honorable mention was when Elsa was my partner.”

The Queen of Arendelle giggled. “I think the judges felt sorry for us. You would think I of all people would be able to build a simple snowman.”

Emma grasped Elsa’s hand, her laughter leaving her breathless. “You should have seen it, Evie, a pitiful little thing that only reached our knees.”

“It looked like it was already melting,” Elsa added, fanning at her cheeks as tears filled her eyes from laughter. “With that huge carrot nose and crooked stick arms.”

“We named him Olaf,” Emma finished.

“Like in Frozen!” Evie exclaimed. “Cute! I bet you get Frozen jokes a lot with the name Elsa, and being blonde, and -”

“Dad!” Hope yelled so loudly over Henry’s shoulder that all four of them jumped. When they all swiveled towards her to find out why in the world she had screamed that way, she pointed near the ice skating pond. “I want to ice skate with Dad.”

“He’s coming over here now,” Emma pointed, then she mouthed to her daughter thank you.

“Mommy, mommy, look!” Charlie shouted, waving a blue ribbon in his hand as he and his sister and Killian approached. “First place!”

“And we didn’t even -”

Killian clapped a hand over Leia’s mouth before she could finish. “We didn’t even have the biggest snowman,” he finished.

“Our cerberus would have won if his second head hadn’t fallen off,” Hope grumbled.

“Uh uh,” argued Leia, “our snowfairy had glitter!”

Charlie stuck his tongue out at his big sister.

“Can you three get along for five minutes?” Emma groaned.

“Daddy!” Hope squealed, bouncing over to grasp Killian by the arm. “Come skate with me!”

Killian’s eyes grew wide and he scratched behind his ear. “Now love, you know how ridiculous I look trying to ice skate.”

Henry bit his lip to hold back his chuckle. A pirate who spent two centuries on a tropical island wasn’t exactly the most coordinated man on ice skates. Teasing him about it had become a favorite past time for all the Jones children.

“I see you, Henry,” Killian protested, wagging a finger at his stepson.

“How about if there’s a beginner on the ice with you?” Evie spoke up. She turned bright eyes on Henry. “I’ve never ice skated, but I’ve always wanted to.”

“I thought lots of people skate in New York City?” Charlie asked.

“They do, I guess,” Evie said with a wrinkled nose, “but what they don’t show in the movies is how crowded those rinks are. And I’ve never wanted to make a fool of myself in front of that many people.”

“Come on, then!” Hope cried, pulling her father down to the edge of the rink. Evie was right behind his little sister, and with a shrug to his mom and Elsa, Henry could do nothing but follow.

************************************************

Evie was clinging to Henry as if her life depended on it. Just staying upright was an incredible feat, and to say they were going a snail’s pace around the rink was an understatement.

“Whoa - oooh - woah!” Evie cried out as her feet slid back and forth beneath her. Her grip tightened on the collar of Henry’s coat.

“Careful!” he cried, wrapping his arms tight around her waist. “You’ll take me with you!”

“I take it back,” she muttered into her shirt, “building a snowman is a piece of cake compared to this.”

“You know,” he said against her hair, “it’s easier to skate going forwards.”

Still pressed against his chest, she tilted her face to look up at him. Her face was flushed, and wisps of her auburn hair had come free of her low ponytail. The green of the beanie on her head made the green in her eyes brighter, and even though there seemed to be a thousand layers of clothes between them, he was keenly aware of every one of her curves.

“So,” she said with a grin, “how do I turn around without falling on my ass?”

He suddenly realized he had a goofy grin plastered on his own face, and quickly cleared his throat. ”Um, very carefully?”

She rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the detailed instructions, Scott Moir.”

“If that makes you Tessa Virtue, I beg to differ.”

“Ha, ha, can you just help me face the other way, smart ass?”

He frowned down at her. ”Actually, I think it would be easier if I turned around.” He loosened his hold on her and then slowly let go with his left while keeping a firm grip on her with his right. “Don’t move,” he warned her as he pivoted. He tucked her into his side. “There, see?”

She wasn’t looking at him, but down at her feet. “Now how do I move?” she whispered as if talking too loud would sent her feet flying out from under her.

“The way my mom taught me is to pretend like your marching, only with tiny steps.”

“Which mom?”

“Does it matter?” Henry laughed. “It was Regina. Now, try it.”

Of course, he also had cursed memories of Emma teaching him. In his mind, those false memories still felt real. He cleared his throat to push the thought away as he watched Evie tentatively shift her feet back and forth.

“See, you’ve got it!”

Apparently, he had spoken too soon. Maybe there was a dip in the ice. Maybe it was the shock of Gideon Gold flying past at top speed. Maybe it was simply a sudden lack of balance. Whatever it was, Evie’s feet flew out from under her as a scream tore from her mouth. Henry moved to catch her, but her iron grip on his coat brought him down with her. He took the brunt of the fall and cushioned Evie’s landing.

Luckily, hysterical laughter poured out of her mouth. Henry let out a breath of relief, even as pain shot up his hip. Her laughter was contagious, and soon they were both breathless with it. Evie rolled off him and onto the ice, holding her side as she attempted to calm down. Henry rolled over to look down at her, his hand ghosting over her head, and then down her arm.

“Are you okay?”

“Me?” Evie gasped, laughter still spilling from her lips. “I landed on top of you!”

“As small as you are?” Henry teased. “You just knocked a little wind out of me.”

“Shut up with the short jokes,” she told him, smacking him lightly in the chest.

Without thinking, he grasped her hand and pressed it to his chest. They were both wearing mittens, but his heart still thudded. His gaze drifted from her eyes, those flecks of gold now shining merrily, and down to her lips. They were pink from the cold, but still full, and -

“Henry?”

“Yes?”

“The ice is kind of wet.”

“Oh,” he said, a blush filling his face as he scrambled to his knees. He helped her up, and once again she was clinging to the front of him, her nose buried in his coat.

“I think I’ll stay right here this time,” she told him.

That was definitely fine with him. The thought came unbidden, and Henry suddenly knew that his feelings for Evangeline Crawford went far deeper than friendship. But could he really expect to win this woman’s heart when every other word out of his mouth was a lie?