#captain swan is my favorite rom com

[snowbellewells]

Self Promo Sunday: "While You Were Sleeping"

It seemed like the right time to dig out this older story of mine and revisit it. I even created some fic cover art for it at long last. I originally wrote this for @searchingwardrobes' Captain Swan is my Favorite Rom Com collection on AO3, and I had a lot of fun adapting one of my all-time favorite movies While Your Were Sleeping to include Killian, Emma, and many of our other favorite OuaT characters. I hope you will enjoy seeing it again, or seeing it for the first time, as this week's self promo re-run.

~*~ Complete in 8 Chapters ~*~

Also available on AO3 or ff.net if that is your preference...

by: @snowbellewells

Part One: Prologue

“Next.”

The clink of the subway token in the steel drop slot made its familiar sound as Emma Swan almost robotically gestured the traveler through to make room for the next and fished the coin out to add to the growing pile on the counter at her elbow. At this point, the main part of her job at the Riverside subway terminal on Boston’s Green Line was so routine she barely paid attention or even looked at the equally harried and distracted commuters, but simply gathered their fares, waved them on, and kept the line moving. It certainly wasn’t exciting or life-changing, but it paid the bills, kept her and her cat fed, and if she daydreamed meanwhile about someday traveling beyond the bounds of the city’s subway network, and having someone to travel with – well, no one had to know that but her.

The jangle of another coin in the till jarred her from her morosely-veering thoughts and reminded Emma of her duty, “Ne-” she began to say, even looking up at this person as if to prove she wasn’t lazing on the job, but the words froze on her tongue at the sight before her.

It was him – the mystery man who traveled through her station every week. Like clockwork, he appeared each Saturday at nine, then reappeared on his return journey in the early evening. Only on Saturdays, but without fail; once a week some pilgrimage brought him to her like a shimmering mirage, leaving Emma shaken and breathless, thinking throughout the rest of her work week that she must have conjured him from her own imagination. Though she wanted to shake her head at the preposterous reaction, roll her eyes at the dramatic way her heart raced whenever this guy came into view, and write herself off as pathetic for behaving with such girlish enthusiasm, it never failed to strike her again on Mr. Handsome’s next arrival.

It wasn’t just the perfectly tailored slate gray suit and handsome overcoat the man wore, the fancy watch on his wrist, or the confident, decisive way he moved and carried himself; it was more in the twinkle of playful mischief she saw in his breathtaking blue eyes behind the proper veneer of his business-like appearance (even on a Saturday), the subtle quirk of his mouth as he never failed to thank her, in a heart-stopping British accent no less, before moving on to his destination, and the way that, though he without doubt had the best products and stylists at his fingertips, there was still an unruly, disheveled mess of curls atop his thick, sandy head of hair. The man was clearly a mover and shaker, powerful, well-to-do, and yet he carried himself as if it were an easy mantle, with the grace not to give his power too much credence or act better than anyone else.

As if to prove her point, the guy smiled at her kindly, even as she did little more than nod dumbly and reach out to take his subway token. His voice was warm, almost melodious with the lilt of that accent as he added, “Thank you, Lass. Have a lovely day.” Then, with a dip of his head and a wink, he was gone, moving off on his way again, leaving Emma looking after him and trying to shake herself back into coherence.

She watched his tall, broad-shouldered frame, now with his back to her, stop on the platform to check the time, and she sighed, dejectedly berating herself for being too dumbstruck to even answer the seeming man of her dreams. “You have a nice day too.” “That’s a great tie you’re wearing,” she snarked to herself quietly, reminding her stunted brain of the sensible replies she could have given Mr. Dreamy instead of merely gawping at him like a fish out of water. “‘You’re beautiful”, “Take me with you…” Letting out a growl of frustration at her own lunacy, Emma buried her head in her hand a moment before knocking her brow against the glass a couple times for good measure. “Stupid, stupid,” was really all she could find to mutter to herself.

However, though she admitted that she might be many things, a wallower was not one of them. After her short personal pity party, Emma drew a deep breath, squared her shoulders and looked up, intending to get back to work – monotony and all. Unfortunately, that still wasn’t in the cards.

She looked up just in time to see her daydreams’ focus be joined on the platform by three other men, looking much less clean-cut and a lot shiftier in their bearings. Whatever the first one said to her suited regular, it clearly wasn’t friendly, as he stiffened rigidly, and Emma did too merely from watching at a distance. The first newcomer gave her commuter’s scarf a flip back over his shoulder, making the muffler fall from his shoulders to the ground, and she could almost read the words on those well-formed lips, imaginary or perhaps even distantly hearing his, “Watch it, you lot. Just back off. I’m not looking for any trouble.” He had turned partially to take in all three of the men who’d accosted him, clearly not wanting to put his back to any one of them, and she could see the storm cloud that had settled on his strong brow, that handsome face dark and warning where before she had only ever seen it show either mild happiness or amused curiosity.

One of the newcomers jeered loud enough for Emma to hear as she cracked open the door of her vestibule, ready to call out and intervene, asking loiters to move on before the next train’s arrival. “Well, you may not want any trouble, guv’nuh,” mocking his English speech obviously as he moved right into her guy’s space, “but what if we do?” And before Emma could call out or make any sort of sound at all, he shoved at her regular passenger, hard enough to send him stumbling back despite his height and the casual poise with which Emma normally saw him move. Though he might well have caught his balance just fine in usual circumstances, they were standing too near the edge of the platform. The next foot he put back to brace himself found only empty space.

One of the hoods bent quickly to swipe the dropped briefcase he had been carrying; while another gave her handsome stranger one last shove in the chest before the three attackers bolted, disappearing up the subway steps, even as Emma finally jolted from her wide-eyed shock, leapt from her stool, and ran toward the fray.

Unfortunately, even as she hurried, she knew it was too late. In nightmarish slow motion, her guy’s arms pin wheeled, still seeking balance. The desperate attempt failed, and Emma skidded to a stop where he had been, grasping for nothing but air as he fell and vanished over the side, plummeting to the tracks below.

Tagging a few who might enjoy: @searchingwardrobes @kmomof4 @jennjenn615 @laschatzi @whimsicallyenchantedrose @jrob64 @apiratewhopines @teamhook @revanmeetra87 @xarandomdreamx @xsajx @bluewildcatfanatic @spartanguard @therooksshiningknight @tiganasummertree @optomisticgirl @motherkatereloyshipper @stahlop @booksteaandtoomuchtv @kazoosandfannypacks @thislassishooked @winterbaby89 @the-darkdragonfly @elizabeethan @donteattheappleshook @lfh1226-linda @justanother-unluckysoul @mie779 @drowned-dreamer @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @wefoundloveunderthelight

[scripted-downfall]

What are your top five ships?

Oh, dear, this is hard to answer... I'll do my best, though :) (Disclaimer that what ship I prefer at any given time is largely a function of what mood I'm in then, and that, obviously, varies. I'll try to list them in some kind of an order though.)

Destiel (Supernatural)

Ineffable Husbands (Good Omens)

Steddie (Stranger Things)

Captain Swan (Once Upon a Time)

Gentlebeard (Our Flag Means Death)

And for some honorable mentions + reasons for them being there/not being in the list:

Ronance or Rockie from Stranger Things (I honestly don't know which one I like better... they both have merits. Robin just deserves to be happy, okay???? Honestly, my indecision about which I'm rooting for is probably the only reason this doesn't make it to the top five list.)

Wandavision from, well, Wandavision et al. (I've kinda stumbled into this from my friend's obsession, but the dynamics of their relationship --- while definitely not always healthy --- are fascinating in an iffy way. I like them a lot regardless, and the show is one of my favorite Marvel vehicles I've seen.)

Deckerstar from Lucifer (cute when they're well-written, but verges on unhealthy when not... the latter gets them knocked off the "top five" list, but the better version of the ship, where she's not perpetually trying to change him and he's not condemned to the fate he never wanted, is quite nice)

Isabeau/Navarre from Ladyhawke (I don't usually feel strongly about ships from movies, but these two... for all people say that Romeo and Juliet is the quintessential romance, I disagree. This is the one romance movie I could tolerate as a kid in a household full of the rom-coms my sister made me watch despite me hating them, and that's a powerful statement)

Perc'ahlia from Critical Role (Also something I've gotten to through a friend, and also something I likely won't engage in fandom-wise, but I appreciate their dynamic too, so it bears mentioning)

Also, this isn't romantic, but I need to add in a section for the best non-romantic relationships; it's not the focus of the ask, I don't think, so I'll keep it short, but it has to be said... In no particular order, Steve/Robin and Tenth Doctor/Donna. Chaotic platonic soulmates right there, and I love 'em to bits.

Thank you for the ask! Hope that was an engaging-ish answer, and that you're well! (And I'm happy to elaborate on any, should you wish... I could just go on for ages about most of them, so I had to cut myself off somewhere!)

[searchingwardrobes]

Priceless: 9/9

Here it is, finally, the long-promised happy ending! This chapter varies the most from the movie because I felt that it left a lot of questions unanswered. Mainly, how Joel Smallbone's character managed to avoid going to jail. I've also worked some canon CS into this chapter, which required changing things up.

Is Regina's legal strategy for Killian realistic? Well, I'll confess, I'm not a lawyer, but I figured if John Grisham can write a bestselling book that became a hit movie in which a main pleads not guilty to murdering his daughter's rapists in cold blood, in broad daylight, in a crowded courthouse, then I can damn well write this fic the way I want to.

Thanks once again to my beta @xhookswenchx​ for looking this over!

Summary: Summary: Desperate men often find themselves in places they never thought they would go, but for Killian Jones it would finally force him to be the hero his daughter always thought he could be. The job was simple: drive the truck, don’t open the back, don’t ask questions. But Killian Jones has never followed instructions very well …

An AU of the movie Priceless starring Joel Smallbone of For King and Country.

Rating: M for themes

Trigger warnings: This story is about human trafficking so there are discussions of rape and non-con, some of it involving minors. None of it is portrayed as positive nor is it graphically described. If you have any specific questions or concerns before reading, feel free to message me.

***But this chapter we finally leave all of that behind for the happy ending - whoop, whoop!***

Words: A little over 4k in this chapter

Also on Ao3 and a part of my series Captain Swan is My Favorite Rom-Com: 2nd Edition. This chapter ends that series! There’s also a First Edition.

Tagging: @snowbellewells​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ @kmomof4​ @thislassishooked​ @welllpthisishappening​ @bethacaciakay​ @teamhook​ @let-it-raines​ @wellhellotragic​ @winterbaby89​ @kday426​ @ekr032-blog-blog​ @shady-swan-jones​ @sherlockianwhovian​ @shireness-says​ @spartanguard​ @superchocovian​ @scientificapricot​ @stahlop​ @delirious-latenight-laughs​ @resident-of-storybrooke​ @vvbooklady1256​ @tiganasummertree​ @nikkiemms​ @jennjenn615​ @profdanglaisstuff​ @shipsxahoy​ @cat-sophia​ @artistic-writer​ @thejacketandthehook​ @hollyethecurious​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @branlovestowrite​ @dassala​ @allofdafandoms-blog​ @snidgetsafan​ @pocket-anon​ @optomisticgirl​ @flslp87​ @onceuponaprincessworld​ @courtorderedcake​ @distant-rose​ @lfh1226-linda​

Three Months Later . . .

My hands were sweating, and I wanted to rub them on my dress pants, but Regina was adamant that I wasn’t to show any signs of nerves today. Yesterday when Emma took the stand, I had been unable to keep the emotions at bay, especially when the DA cross examined her like she was a criminal and not a victim. Yet my bloody brilliant lass hadn’t let him rattle her for a second.

I knew what a gamble this all was - pleading “not guilty.” Yet Regina thought it was my best shot at avoiding prison, and even one day back in that place was the last thing I wanted. I couldn’t be away from Alice again, and the sentence for pulling out a firearm in public was three months to a year plus a thousand dollar fine. Yet with my record, a judge could have levied an even harsher sentence if I pled guilty.

The DA was giving his closing arguments - a passionate speech about the dangers of vigilante justice and of the innocent lives that could have been lost. It sounded pretty convincing, even to me, and I worried that the jury was swallowing every bit of it. I glanced back at Liam, and he gave me the smallest of nods and smiled. Regina nudged me with her knee. Don’t look at your family and friends had been her other order, one I continuously had a difficult time obeying. Liam’s arm was still in a sling from the gunshot wound in his shoulder, and I knew he was sometimes still in pain. Yet here he was, supporting me. Elsa sat next to him, squeezing his hand comfortingly. They had both also taken the stand yesterday.

Once the DA took his seat, Regina Mills stood regally and smoothed her sensible business skirt. I had learned over the last few months that though she was no-nonsense and a bit snarky at times, she had a passion for justice and truth. The girls were in the US legally now because of her, with Anna enrolled in the local high school.

“Ladies and gentleman of the jury,” Regina began, giving them a confident smile, “I ask you to contemplate something for a moment. Why is my client on trial? First of all, he didn’t even fire his gun. That violence occurred because of the criminals he was trying to thwart. So again I ask, why is he on trial? For ensuring that Robert Gold, the head of a massive human trafficking ring, is in jail? For helping the Nevada Bureau of Investigation bring down that ring? For saving the lives of three innocent women, one of them a minor? If that’s why he’s on trial, then I’m confused. Aren’t you? Didn’t he do all he could to do the right thing, even at risk to himself? Is this behavior our society should punish?”

Regina paced for a few moments, probably to give the jury time to mull over her questions. Then she drew closer to the jury box.

“The DA says my client is a vigilante. He says my client should have gone to the police, but my client DID go to the police! It ended up that the police were involved in the trafficking ring. What was my client supposed to do? He could have walked away. He could have forgotten all about these innocent victims. But he didn’t. Instead he did the same thing that many of our forefathers did during a different era of slavery. Just like those who worked the Underground Railroad, he broke the law. He broke the law to free slaves. He knew the risk he was taking, but he took it willingly to help the oppressed. Will you join him? Will you do your part to end slavery today? Will you stand up against even our own justice system that so often looks the other way? Stand up with my client. Find him not guilty. For he isn’t a criminal - he’s a hero. Thank you.”

Regina barely glanced my way as she sat, cool and composed. It was quite the speech, though I wasn’t sure I was as noble as she had led the jury to believe.

The jury filed out of the room to deliberate, and the rest of the courtroom was given a recess by the judge. David and Mary Margaret paid my bail when I was arrested, so I didn’t have to go back into custody. Instead, I embraced Emma and squeezed her hand as she smiled tremulously up at me. Liam came over and clapped me on the shoulder. Even Tiana had come all the way from New Orleans to support me. Mary Margaret was babysitting Alice, however. We didn’t want to expose her to the details of the trial.

“I don’t know why the jury even has to discuss anything,” Emma told me as she took both of my hands gently in hers.

“It was an amazing closing argument, Regina,” my brother said, squeezing my shoulder and beaming at Regina.

“Well, let’s not celebrate yet,” she cautioned, “you never know how a jury will go.”

“I thought you said this was my best chance!” I exclaimed.

Regina waved her hand dismissively in the air. “Oh, it is, but we discussed the risks, remember.”

“Way to build my confidence,” I grumbled.

“Hey, none of that,” Tiana admonished, placing a hand on my forearm, “everything Regina said is true. You deserve thanks, not punishment. Alice is so proud of you, and so am I.”

I swallowed a sudden lump in my throat at her words. Tiana didn’t give forgiveness and second chances easily, and I was humbled to have received both from her in the past few months.

Emma still hadn’t released my hands. If anything, she was clasping them harder. I suddenly realized she was trembling.

“Emma?” I asked gently, tipping her chin up. I was alarmed to see that she was crying.

“If they send you to jail for this -”

“Hey, hey,” I soothed, bringing her closer and wrapping my arms around her, “it’s going to be alright. I’m a survivor, love.”

She turned her face into my chest, and I felt her tears wet the fabric of my shirt. I wished I could promise her that they wouldn’t find me guilty, but how could I? I pulled out a gun that I didn’t even have a permit for in a public park. A man died because of me. I may not have pulled the trigger that sent the bullet through Neal Cassidy’s heart, but that didn’t mean I didn’t have a hand in his death.

Although I’d be lying if I said his death was heavy on my conscience. It wasn’t. I couldn’t muster a modicum of remorse for him. Emma was safe and alive, so was Elsa. We had gotten Anna out of there before her innocence was shattered forever. I would do it all again if I had to, even if I went to jail for the next three years. It would shatter my heart to be away from Alice, but at least I could look her in the eye without shame.

Much too soon, the jury filed back in, and the judge called for everyone to take their seats. I wanted to ask Regina if a short deliberation was good or bad, but my nerves were too on edge. I clasped my hands in my lap and stared at them, unable to gather enough courage to look at the jury.

“Has the jury reached a verdict?”

“We have your honor.”

I held my breath.

“We the jury find the defendant . . . not guilty.”

Behind me, my friends and family cheered. I felt Liam’s good arm come roughly around my shoulders, and he shook me in an exuberant hug. Overcome, I lifted both my trembling hands to my face and couldn’t stop the tears of relief.

It was over. Finally.

On shaking legs, I rose and turned to those who had supported me so well throughout this entire nightmare. Emma let out a cry and flung herself into my arms, peppering my face with chaste kisses. I cupped the back of her head, threading my fingers through the strands of her ponytail. I was pulled from her arms, however, by first David, then Tiana, then Elsa. Even Regina embraced me. But my mind was never far from Emma and the future we could now have together.

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

I knocked on the door frame of Emma’s room at the Nolan’s, but she didn’t even turn to look my way. I hadn’t pursued anything more than friendship with her for the past three months. For one, I wanted her to heal from her trauma, and for another, I knew my future was uncertain. Even now, I didn’t want to rush her, but I also couldn’t hold back my feelings any longer. My love for her had only grown as she had supported me through the trial.

“Come in,” she said softly, her gaze focused on her hands clasped in her lap.

“What do you think?” I asked as I gently eased down on the bed next to her. She turned her face further away from me.

“I think it’s great.”

“Great? The Nolan’s are perfect for this kind of work, and so is this land.”

“It’s been nice of them to put us all up here.” She finally shifted towards me, yet her head was still down. “I think it’s time for me to move on, though.”

I frowned. “Move on? But didn’t you hear them? Didn’t you look at the plans? They plan on building two dormitories on the old grazing land,” I took Emma’s hand gently in mine and added softly, “and several family homes.”

“I know,” she told me, finally lifting her gaze to mine. Tears were welling up in her eyes, but I couldn’t figure out why.

“One of them will be Elsa and Liam’s, you know.”

Emma finally smiled. “Yes, I know. She loves him so much.”

“And he loves her,” I infused emotion into my voice and stroked Emma’s knuckles with my thumb, hoping she would catch my meaning.

She lowered her eyes again and stared at the motion of my thumb. “And Anna will be living here with the Nolans until she graduates at least.”

“Aye, as she should. The Nolans have been named her legal guardians, and it won’t surprise me if they adopt her.”

Only half of Emma’s lips turned up in a smile. “I’m so happy.”

“You don’t sound happy.” I lifted her chin so she would look at me again. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. “My love,” I whispered, brushing at her tears with the pad of my thumb, “what’s wrong?”

“I’m happy for my sisters. Ever since this whole thing started, that’s been my only goal. Get them out, help them start over.” She took in a shaky breath, then let it out slowly, as if gathering her strength. “But it was never for me - starting over. It was too late for me; I’ve always known that. I don’t want their pity, or yours, so I think . . . I think it’s best that I move on. Find my own place.”

Her words were like a punch to the gut. I thought we had grown closer as the weeks had gone by; I thought she shared my feelings. Had I read her completely wrong?

“Emma, none of us pity you. Your sister’s love you. I love you.”

She rose from the bed and stepped away from me, hugging her middle. “I know you all do, and I appreciate all you’ve done -”

I cut her off, “I don’t think you understand me.” I rose and went to her, gently turning her to face me. “I love you Emma, with all my being - body and soul. My heart belongs to you Emma, and I want nothing more than to always, always be by your side.”

Her eyes widened, and she choked on a sob. I cupped her face in my hands and pressed my forehead to hers.

“You deserve so much more, Killian. You deserve a happy ending with Alice.”

“No, love, don’t you understand? It’s you, always you. There’s no happy ending without you as a part of our lives.”

I tried to pull her closer, wrap my arms around her, but she backed out of my embrace. “Killian,” she choked out, pressing her fist to her mouth, “I’m . . . I’m pregnant.”

Sobs overtook her body then, and she pressed her hands to her face. I deflated then, understanding flooding through me. I pulled her tenderly to me, letting her tears wet the front of my shirt as I stroked her hair.

“Regina thought it best I do a paternity test, just to be safe. It’s crazy, but . . . rapists can ask for custody rights.”

My jaw tightened so hard, I felt a headache radiate up to my temple. “Over my dead body,” I vowed.

“Don’t make threats like that, Killian Jones, they aren’t funny anymore.” She chuckled wryly, but I heard a hint of sincerity in her voice.

She stayed there in my arms, accepting my comfort, and I brushed my lips against her temple. She sighed in contentment and snuggled closer.

“It’s Neal’s,” she finally whispered.

Relief rushed through me. I had wondered where Regina would have found DNA samples. She must have suspected - hoped even - that Neal Cassidy was the father. There was no one to threaten Emma and the child, thank God. Emma let out a long, shuddering breath, then gently pushed me away from her. Unable to speak, she backed towards the door behind her, shaking her head. It suddenly dawned on me that this was about more than her pregnancy or even Neal.

“I understand. I can’t expect your love after what I did.”

At first, her brows knit together in confusion. Then she laughed sardonically. “We both think we’re not good enough. But Killian, you can’t possibly want this - want me.”

“There’s nothing in this world I want more than you! But if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be in this situation at all. You wouldn’t be in therapy for ptsd, you wouldn’t be carrying that bastard’s child. How can you ever want me, Emma?”

Her eyes widened at my words, her lips parted in wonder. The heaviness that had darkened her face for so many weeks, suddenly cleared. A single tear rolled down her face, but it was different than her previous ones. She crossed the gap between us and took my face gently in her hands. I closed my eyes in shame.

“Look at me,” she ordered in a soft voice, and I reluctantly opened my eyes. Her thumbs caressed my cheeks, and for the first time that day, she smiled. “Let’s say you didn’t take the job to drive that truck. We still would have been in it. You were meant to drive it, Killian.”

Now it was my turn to gaze at her in wonder. I let her words wash over me, the truth of them seeping into my soul. Emma rose onto her tiptoes and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. She pulled back, her smile brighter as she traced my jaw.

“Killian Jones, you’re so -”

“Handsome?” I interrupted her with a teasing smirk. “Especially when I’m angry?”

She swatted my chest gently and rolled her eyes. “How long are you gonna tease me about that?”

I pulled her close and wrapped her up in my arms. “If I have my way, for the rest of our lives.”

I bent my head, pressing my lips to hers for the first time. My heart nearly burst when she responded with urgency, parting her lips and dragging her fingers through my hair. I felt her tongue swipe against mine, and the taste of her nearly did me in. As much as I wanted to carry her to the bed and make love to her, I broke the kiss, wanting to cherish every step she allowed me to take in our relationship. I would let her take the lead. I rested my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling.

“I love you too, Killian.”

I thumbed her chin. “You are absolutely priceless, Emma.”

Three years later . . .

I saw the girl standing on the sidewalk, clad in a skin tight, animal print skirt. I motioned for Will to pull over, and I rolled my window down. She came closer, leaning against the open window to give me an ample view of her cleavage.

“Looking for some fun?” she asked me.

“I sure am,” I replied. I handed her a slip of paper. “Meet me here? Room 112?”

“I will for two hundred bucks, handsome,” she replied with an arch of her dark brows as she took the paper.

“Sounds good to me.”

She backed away from the cab, tucking the slip of paper into the dip of her low cut top and winked at me. I motioned for Will to drive on.

Fifteen minutes later, I was waiting in a dingy motel room when there was a knock at the door. The exotic brunette was on the other side, and I motioned her in. She retrieved a condom from her tiny purse, then tossed it on the room’s nightstand.

“Okay, what are you into?”

I gestured to the bed. “I’d like to just talk, if that’s okay?”

She rolled her eyes. “So you’re one of those. Whatever, it’s your money.” She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned back seductively, crossing one long leg over the other.

I stepped to the door and opened it. I leaned out and called for Emma. When I ushered her into the hotel room, the girl’s eyes widened. She sat up abruptly and for the first time looked nervous.

“What the hell is this? If you want a threesome, you gotta pay extra!”

Emma shook her head as she sat down slowly on the opposite bed. I stayed near the door, which I left cracked open so the girl wouldn’t feel trapped.

“We don’t want anything like that,” Emma explained gently. “I only want to talk to you.”

The girl’s nerves only seemed to grow as her gaze bounced from Emma to me and back again. “Oh my God, are you two cops?”

“No,” we both assured her softly.

“Religious nuts?”

We both laughed and shook our heads.

“What’s your name?” Emma asked her.

The girl shifted nervously. “Jade.”

Emma shook her head gently. “What’s your real name?”

The girl bit her lower lip, but I noticed it tremble slightly nonetheless. “Jasmine.”

“They called me Swan, but my name is Emma.”

I watched Jasmine’s expression change as realization dawned. “No one’s making me do this,” she told Emma firmly.

“That doesn’t mean you chose it, though,” Emma said softly. “I mean, when you were a little girl, was this your dream?”

Jasmine’s head dropped and she clasped her hands together. “This world is no place for dreams.”

“There is hope, Jasmine, I promise,” Emma said. “Could I tell you a story?”

It was silent in the room for a long, pregnant moment. Finally, Jasmine raised her head to look Emma in the eye and then slowly nodded.

“I came to the US illegally. I trusted these men who said they would help me, but they lied. My sister’s and I were in the back of this truck. It was dark, and we were hungry and dirty . . . “ Emma turned to me and held out her hand. I took it and sank onto the hotel bed next to her. “Then the light flooded in . . . “

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

I was awakened by Emma’s cold feet sliding between my calves. My eyes fluttered open to find her nuzzled against me, her hair tickling my nose. I wrapped my arms more tightly around her and sighed in contentment. It had been another long Saturday night, but a satisfying one. Jasmine had come home with us, and Mary Margaret had wasted no time getting her settled in the women’s dormitory. Tiana had been alerted, and she would make sure Jasmine met with her for counseling over the next few days. Elsa and Liam had been less successful, unable to get two teenage girls off the streets. They were too afraid of what their pimps might do to them if they left. The work was never easy, and we had to focus on the positive or the enormity of it would become overwhelming.

One of the positives was here in my arms. I would never stop feeling awe over the gift of her love. My hand drifted down to rest upon the swell of her stomach. Emma hummed in contentment against my collarbone and pressed herself closer to me. My body responded to her as it always did, and I lowered my lips to her jaw. She gasped and tilted her head back to give my better access. Her fingers began to scratch at the nape of my neck.

“I’ve got morning breath,” she giggled breathlessly.

“Then I’ll kiss you in other places,” I teased.

She gave out a little mewling sound that made my body thrum even more. Her morning sickness had passed, and in her second trimester she had become a quivering mess of desire. She’d been the same with Henry.

Before our morning activities could go any farther, however, two small bodies hurled themselves onto the bed. Ten year old Alice, all gangly arms and legs, sent Emma and I sprawling apart as she wedged herself between us. Three year old Henry crawled over his mother, dragging his favorite stuffed bear behind him. Emma laughed and rolled over, cuddling Henry close.

“You two still don’t understand how late we have to work sometimes,” I grumbled.

Next to me, Emma only laughed more brightly as she tickled Henry’s tummy. The boy wriggled away, crawling over his big sister who complained loudly as she swatted at him, then straddled me and started bouncing as if I were a horse.

“But we’re supposed to go riding today, Papa,” Alice reminded me, “you promised.”

“She’s got you there,” Emma put in.

“Horsey, horsey, horsey!” Henry cheered, bouncing even more enthusiastically. “Horsey, Papa!”

“I didn’t mean in the morning,” I moaned.

“It isn’t morning,” Alice countered, “I just made me and Henry peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. It’s after noon already.”

Emma slid up against the headboard and opened her arms for Alice. The girl grinned and cuddled up next to her mother, a sight that would never fail to warm my heart. Emma ran her fingers through Alice’s hair while our daughter rested her hand against the swell of her mother’s stomach. Suddenly, Alice gasped.

“She kicked me!”

“She did!” Emma exulted, resting her hand next to Alice’s. “She must want to say hello to her big sister.”

Alice grinned and leaned over Emma’s stomach. “Hello, Hope, I can’t wait to meet you. We’ll have so much fun playing together.”

Emma’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she caught my gaze, but I knew they were happy ones. The same joy she felt was flooding my own heart. Our family came about in a crazy way, but we were more than blessed with what we’d built together.

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

Emma and I walked slowly across the grass, hand in hand. Ahead of us, Alice and Henry raced to the corral. They scrambled up the fence to lean forward and feed the horses carrots they had brought. Their Uncle Liam and Aunt Elsa were on the other side to greet them, their two year old cousin Ian astride a dappled pony. The curly headed boy had a tiny helmet strapped to his head, making an absolutely adorable picture.

Next to me, Emma sighed in contentment as she wrapped her arms around my waist. I lowered my head to brush a kiss to her golden hair. The picture in front of us: our family, the horses, the mountains in the distance, and the bright spring sunshine filled my chest with unexplainable joy. I looked down into Emma’s face; her emerald eyes sparkling in the early afternoon light.

“I love you more than I could ever say,” she told me.

I turned her towards me and cupped her face in my hands. “Emma, you are more precious to me than all the treasure in this world. I have my happy ending now because of you.”

She shook her head gently. “That isn’t what this is.”

My brow furrowed. “It’s not?”

“It’s a happy beginning.”

I lowered my face to kiss her deeply, knowing down to my very soul the truth of her words.

[apureillusion]

happy valentine’s day Lia! it’s so nice to meet you 🥰💖 i’m also a captain swan shipper, and “Cruel Summer” gives me their vibes. here’s my special taylor lyric as a lil gift from that song:

I love you, ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard...?

He look so pretty, like the devil.

happy valentine’s day to you too!! i literally love that song! i have it in my captain swan playlist! 😁 one of my favorite taylor songs is paper rings, it just gives me that young love, aesthetic montage in a rom com feeling. my line is:

i like shiny things but i’d marry you in paper rings

that’s right, darling, you’re the one i want 🥰

[let-it-raines]

@dorisquinn​ I accidentally posted your ask before it was ready, so I had to delete that. Haha. But I will answer it now!

This is decidedly not exactly what you asked for. That maaaaay be coming a little later on since I got another prompt with some more specifics on that. This does, however, involve Killian, Jace, and some baseball introductions. 

found on ao3 | here | if that’s more your cup of tea!

-/-

October 2023

“Killian, where are we going?”

“I can’t tell you that, love.”

“Because you’re being obnoxious.”

“No, because I’m surprising you.”

He hears Emma scoff, and he reaches his hand over to place it on her knee, squeezing before leaning his palm against the rough denim.

“Swan, I packed everything we need. I even made some brownies for you. Plus, you and Jace are both wearing appropriate clothing, and we don’t have to stay for the entire time.”

“The entire time?” Emma hisses before looking up into the review mirror to see Jace in the backseat. He’s been sleeping since they put him in the car seat, and since he always sleeps when they drive him, Emma really shouldn’t expect him to wake up anytime soon. “Where are we going?”

Killian sighs and looks over to Emma, flashing her a smile, before threading their hands together and bringing her hand to his lips. “There’s a fall Little League I heard about last week. They’ve got games today.”

“I thought Little League happened in the spring.”

“Aye, it does, but this is a league specifically for fall. It’s for the kids who pretty much eat and breathe baseball.”

“Oh, so you.”

His nose scrunches up. “Yes, you could say that.”

Emma shifts in her seat and runs her thumb over his knuckles. It’s always so soothing when she does that. They could have stayed home today. It would be so simple and wouldn’t have required them to change out of their pajamas, but he wanted to do this. He wanted to take Jace to this game and to have him see kids playing instead of professionals, even if there’s not a chance in hell that he’ll understand what’s going on.

“I like that about you, you know?”

“You like that I’m obsessed with baseball?”

“I like that you have something you love so much.”

He squeezes her hand and turns on the blinker before switching lanes. “I love you far more than I love baseball.”

“That’s rom com level cheesy.”

“You know I have a track record for that.”

“It’s honestly a miracle we’re together because I am not a fan of cheesy.”

Killian scoffs and shakes his head. “You say that you’re not, love. You do this thing where you scrunch up your nose and scowl, but afterward, your lips tug up and compliment the pretty blush on your cheeks. You like it.”

He hits the breaks as the light in front of them turns red. Emma leans over and kisses him, lingering a few seconds more than a quick kiss would require. “I will never admit that.”

Eventually the light turns green, and he keeps driving them toward the fields. It’s a little further away than he was expecting, but then again, traffic was absolutely horrible getting out of Manhattan. He’s not supposed to be doing this. Technically, he’s supposed to be reviewing tape for the ALCS next week, but he knows the techniques of the Astros well enough to know what he’s got to do. Really, he should have an ice pack around his shoulder and should be in bed, but he wanted to do this.

He needed to do this.

The parking lot is full of cars, all of the fields already have games going on, and Killian quickly pulls in a spot near the back of the lot before he and Emma get out of the car.

“Would you rather get the kid or the bags, sweetheart?”

“Bags. He’s going to be mad if you wake him up.”

“Should I just undo the car seat then? Let him sleep?”

Emma hits the button for the trunk to open. “I would.”

Killian nods and quietly opens the door to get to Jace only to find him awake, his eyes sleepily opening until Killian is looking into a pair of blue eyes that look far too much like his own.

“Well, hello,” Killian sighs, reaching forward to undo Jace’s straps. “You woke up just in time, lad.”

“Dada,” he sleepily says. The kid’s got three words down, which Killian is pretty sure means he’s going to be a genius, but that particular word will never get old. “Dada, Dada, Dada.”

“Hi, Jace. Mom and I are going to have you watch some baseball with us. I know you can’t be tired of that, right? It’s not like you watch games all the time, is it? You’ve probably been inside Yankee Stadium more than a lot of the rookies.”

“Dada.”

“So articulate.” Killian keeps undoing Jace’s straps until he’s free of them and can stretch his arms out, releasing a small yawn, and then curling himself into Killian when Killian picks him up.

“Did you wake him up?” Emma asks.

“He was awake. Do you want to trade since we don’t have the car seat?”

“Nah, this is fine. Lead the way, Captain. I assume you have some kind of game plan.”

“I kind of figured we’d wander around, check out a few different games.”

“We can’t just aimlessly wander at a park with a bunch of kids. That’s what creeps do. We’ll look like creeps.”

“We will not.”

She motions toward him. “You have on a baseball cap and sunglasses and dark clothing. You are going to look suspicious.”

Killian pushes Jace up on his hip. “The baby makes me look significantly less creepy. Plus, you. You help.”

Emma shakes her head and rolls her eyes before grabbing a small knit hat out of the bag and tugging it down over Jace’s head. “We can wander if you get me a hamburger and a hot chocolate from the concession stand.” “Deal.”

After he gets Emma her food, even if he does remind her they have brownies, they begin wandering around the fields. It’s colder than he thought it would be, the wind picking up and blowing around the bleachers, and Killian makes sure that Jace is covered at all times. He keeps squirming, wanting to get down and move, but considering he’s not walking yet, Killian isn’t going to put him down on the concrete. Later, they’ll put a blanket down and let him crawl there, but the kid has got to chill.

An eleven-month-old obviously listens when someone tells him that.

“My mom used to do that.”

“Hmm?”

“The woman sitting in the top corner of the bleachers.” Killian points toward a woman sitting down with a sign at her feet next to a cooler he’s sure is full of snacks. She’s wrapped up in a blanket, and she’s sitting away from all of the other parents. “My mom would always sit away from the other parents because they were always losing their shit over a bunch of seven-year-olds playing a game. She said between them and my dad, she just needed a place to breathe.”

Emma exhales next to him, a small white puff of air appearing, and if the sun doesn’t come out soon, they’re going to have to go home sooner than he anticipated. But then she’s leaning her head onto his shoulder and resting her hand on his knee, and everything in the world feels right for a moment.

“Did your mom practice with you? Or was she just your biggest fan from the bleachers?”

“If I asked, she would.” Killian grabs Emma’s and traces his finger over her rings. “She preferred to read with me or to play soccer or something. The only time we really talked about baseball was when I brought it up or when she and Brennan were arguing over how hard he was working me. Of course, that didn’t truly start until after she’s passed, so she missed the worst of it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Tis okay, my love. It was a long time ago.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean it sucks any less. One day Jace will be telling someone all the ways we screwed up, too.”

Killian scoffs and shakes his head before turning to kiss Emma’s temple, breathing her in. she smells of a warm vanilla, and he’ll never tire of it. “We’re definitely going to screw up, but we’re nothing like our parents, Swan. It’s not going to be the same.”

“No, no I guess not.”

“I know not.”

Emma laughs and presses their hands forward, releasing his to clap for Jace so he’ll start crawling back toward them. “I’m pretty sure Jace is about to eat grass, so we’re obviously doing a great job.”

“Darling, I think every kid eats grass at some point. Kids come from two people having sex, so it’s not like there’s really a test to see if you’re qualified.”

“Oh my God.” Emma shoves his shoulder and lets go of his hand until she’s leaning forward and grabbing onto Jace. “Your dad is ridiculous, kid. Do you know that? He’s absolutely ridiculous.”

“For saying how the reproduction system works because I – ”

“Excuse me.”

Killian quickly turns from Emma to look up at a young boy standing above him. He’s in a dirtied-up uniform, dirt marks on his knees and scuffing up his cleats, and his jersey is far too big for him. The timid smile on his face, however, seems far too small for him.

“Can I help you?” Killian asks as he tugs down his hat.

“Are you – are you Killian Jones?”

Killian smiles and moves his hat up. “Aye, I am. And may I ask, who are you?”

“Henry.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Henry. Do you want me to sign your ball?”

The kid nods, basically thrusting the ball and the marker into Killian’s hand until Killian is signing the ball while asking Henry about his team and what position he plays. The boy gets a little more talkative, the nerves waning off, and Killian gets it. He does. He never likes to think too highly of himself or think that he’s some big deal, but he’s living the dream. He’s living the dream that ninety percent of the kids here are going to dream of for at least one moment in their lives, and it’s fucking awesome.

It’s…

“Can I tell all of my friends that you’re here?” Henry blurts out.

“Oh, I, uh – ”

“I’m going to take Jace to go watch that game over there,” Emma tells him, nodding and smiling. “You go ahead.”

“Swan – ”

“They’re kids,” Emma whispers. “It’s your favorite. I don’t mind. Go make their day. Henry, you can tell your friends.”

His smile finally matches the size of his face. “Awesome. I’ll be right back.”

Henry sprints away to a group of kids in the same uniform as him, and Killian quickly turns to Emma as she stands and picks Jace up. “Swan, we can leave right now. We don’t have to stick around.”

“Twenty-nine, you came to a ballpark in New York full of kids who are obsessed with baseball. You were obviously going to get recognized despite you’re not so sly disguise. The only people you don’t mind signing autographs for and taking pictures with are kids. Jace and I will go hide out somewhere else, and it’ll be like we’re not here so there aren’t a million and two pictures of him online.”

Killian nods and rises to his feet as well, leaning forward to glide his lips over his. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Jace takes the opportunity to make some kind of unnatural noise then, dimples popping up in his cheeks, and Killian’s heart decides to do some kind of unnatural beat to match his son’s noise.

God, he might be the luckiest man on the planet.

“And Jace either loves your or hates you. I can’t tell.”

“It’s love,” Killian assures her while tugging down Jace’s beanie. “It’s definitely love.”

“Whatever you say, Jones. I think your fan club is on its way over.”

“Wish me luck.”

Emma salutes him and then walks away as Killian hears Jace start screaming out the word “ball.”

He wouldn’t be the son of a baseball player if one of the three words he knows wasn’t ball.

“Yep, ‘ball,’” Emma tells him. “Your daddy plays baseball, and he does it really, really well.”

Killian signs autographs and takes pictures for thirty minutes. It could be longer than that, but he starts losing track of time as more games end and kids keep coming over. Some of them have absolutely no interest in him, actually probably despise him and everyone on the Yankees, but that’s fine. He gets it. Sports are intense, and as long as no one is making any actual threats toward him or his loved ones, Killian is here for a little antagonistic taunting.

(Actual threats happen more often than he’s comfortable with, and while he and Emma have always been private, they are much more so with Jace and the information they share about him. People are bloody insane, and Killian isn’t going to ignore the possibility of harm.)

Eventually, though, once his hand starts to cramp and his cheeks hurt, Killian finishes signing balls and jerseys and taking pictures and politely excuses himself, telling everyone that he’s got a game to prepare for. It’s true, but not entirely. Mostly he wants to get back to his family, get in the car, and go home.

He wanted to be here today, wanted to watch all of these kids have such joy for the game that has defined his life, and he wanted to feel it somewhere outside of the mound.

His shoulder has started hurting again, is an absolute pain in the ass, and Killian has done everything to make it better. It’s not every day and not every game, but it is happening far more often than he’d like it to. It’s happening when he wants to pick up his son after a game and when he’s got his shoulder wrapped around his wife.

It’s happening.

He doesn’t want it to.

And somewhere in the back of his mind, Killian knows that this season won’t be the end. Next season, however, if he can’t pick Jace up without much pain, he might have to hand in his glove. He’s got All-Star games and three fucking World Series Championships, which is more than he could have ever dreamed about. He’s got friends and family and…Emma.

He’s got the love of his life who he shouldn’t even be with.

He’s got the love of his life who he can’t tell these thoughts to, not yet. They’re not supposed to keep secrets from each other, but he’s going to for now, until he knows for sure.

Asking her out all that time ago was complicated, but it worked out for them.

She should have slapped him, refused to talk to him again, and then filed some kind of order against him when he asked her out on television. That was still an asshole, misogynistic move, and every time Killian sees something similar happen, he hates himself for doing that and for possibly encouraging other men to do it. He didn’t…well, he didn’t mean to cause any harm, but he still did, didn’t he?

Emma’s forgiven him, though, and at the end of the day, even with all of the awareness he tries to bring to the problem that keeps persisting with men not taking female reporters seriously, Emma forgiving him is what matters for his personal life.

Emma forgiving him and sticking by his side while he does obnoxious things like drag her out in the cold to go to the little league fields.

“Hey,” Killian whispers when he walks up to the two of them, “you guys ready to go?”

“I think my fingers are icicles.”

“So that’s a yes?”

“That’s definitely a yes.”

They’re able to get out of the park fairly easily, moving away from the crowds and getting into their car, and before Killian knows it, Jace is asleep in his car seat while Emma has her hand in his once more.

Like clockwork.

“Are we going to be those parents who drag their kids out to little league games when it’s not even little league season?”

“Technically we already are.”

Emma laughs and taps her thumb against his hand. “You know what I mean.”

“Aye, I do. And I imagine that if Jace or any other kids want to play baseball during the fall, we’ll be out there, coolers full of snacks and signs tucked under our arms.”

“You’d definitely have to be the coach.”

“Would I?”

“Twenty-nine. C’mon. You would be the first one signing up for it.”

He would. He knows it. If Jace wants to play, Killian would be beyond thrilled to be the coach.

“Sweetheart, if Jace plays baseball, I’ll be the coach. If Jace plays tennis, I’ll be the coach. If Jace is on the debate team, I’ll quiz him. If he is into art, I’ll be at every art show and every class. If he’s into something else entirely different, I’ll be there. I’m always going to be there.”

Emma’s hand squeezes his before he brings her knuckles to his lips once more.

“Killian, are you okay?”

“I’m perfect.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” he says. It’s a lie and the truth all at once, but for right now, just like this, he’s going to lean more toward the truth of things. Today’s not the day to be figuring everything else out. “I am.”

-/-

-/-

@bluewildcatfanatic @killianswannn @dorisquinn​ @onepunintendid​ @authorarsinoe​ @stunningswan​ @eala-captian @galaxyzxstark @xellewoods @mariakov81 @ultraluckycatnd @royalswan @shey-starsfury​ @superchocovian​ @sals86 @iam2307 @ashley-knightingale @karenfrommisthaven @scientificapricot @captswanis4vr @ultimiflos @jamif @idristardis @nikkiemms @resident-of-storybrooke @tiganasummertree @bmbbcs4evr @onceuponaprincessworld @jennjenn615 @mayquita @captainsjedi @teamhook @notoriouscs @kmomof4 @ekr032-blog-blog​ @cs-forlife @andiirivera @jonirobinson64 @qualitycoffeethings​ @carpedzem​ @tornadoamy​ ​

[thejacketandthehook]

The Art of Pretending 4/?

Title: The Art of Pretending 4/?

Author: thejacketandthehook (aka everystareverywhere)

Summary:  Killian Jones needs a family and needs one now. In order to impress his boss, Killian hires a single mother and her son to pretend to be his wife and son for the weekend. Nothing can go wrong, right?

Rating: Teen (for language)

Words:  13,479

Author’s Notes: Hello all! Here is my submission for the @captainswanmoviemarathon! This is based off of the Lifetime movie, “Borrowed Hearts,” starring Eric McCormack and Roma Downey. The movie came out in 1997, and I consider it to be one of the first made-for-tv Christmas movies.

A couple of years ago I was watching it and thought this would be a fantastic scenario for our favorite Captain and Savior. I wrote it and then stopped, and then started it again, only to stop again. When I saw this movie marathon, I knew instantly this was the movie I wanted to do and I wanted to make sure that I finished it this time.

I hope you enjoy it!

A30

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3

TWO YEARS AGO

Emma laughed heartily. “No, no, no, please, Mary Margaret, please tell me you didn’t say that!”

Her best friend was laughing so hard, that she had one hand on Emma’s arm and the other on the table. “I did, Emma. I did –Oh! David’s face turned so red!”

“You threaten three guys that looked like Vikings!” Emma laughed harder. She wasn’t sure if it was the story that was so funny, or the fact that she had three glasses of rum and coke that just made the story funny. “I’m sure David saw his life flash before his eyes!”

Mary Margaret took a deep breath, trying to control her laughter. Some giggles still came through as she said, “But I told you, I’m an excellent marks—mark—marksmmm—I can hit something really well.”

Her four glasses of margaritas were certainly making it harder for Mary Margaret to get her words out, but Emma laughed anyway.

She looked down at her phone and when she noticed that Neal called again, she groaned.

“Neal?” Mary Margaret asked as she raised her (fifth) glass of margarita up to her lips.

“Yeah. Guy can’t take a hint.” I don't want to talk to him."

“Maybe you should just…I don’t know? Ignore him?” she asked in such a way that she wasn’t suggesting it.

Emma sighed. “I wish I could, but--”

“But Henry, yeah." She sobered up before asking, "I thought things were getting better, yeah? Like, I thought you kind of liked him again.”

“I did. But—”

Mary Margaret reached out and grabbed Emma’s bicep. She opened her mouth to say something, looking dead into Emma’s eyes, when she squeezed the bicep again and looked down at it. “God, girl, when do you work out? You’re toned as hell.”

“I’ve got a demanding job and a six-year-old. I work out to relieve stress.”

Mary Margaret let go of Emma’s arm before raising an eyebrow. “Isn’t Neal supposed to help relieve stress too? Or someone else, at least.” she asked with a suggestive wink. Or, at least that’s what she was going for, but it was more like a blink.

“You’d think,” Emma snorted. “I don’t even know the last time I got any ”

“And you’ve haven’t even been married for ten years for that to fizzle out.” Mary Margaret was certainly more direct when she some liberations in her. “I take it there is no spark any more.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Sparks are from Romance novels, and movies made in the 2000s. Nobody has sparks.”

“David and I have sparks.”

“You and David are in another category that no one else will ever live up to.”

Mary Margaret shook her head, and Emma knew that she was going to give her some hope speech that, in all honestly, Emma probably heard about three hundred times already. Before she could fully launch into her speech, Emma grabbed her bag from the table and told her best friend she needed the bathroom.

She walked (more like stumbled) towards through the bar, excusing herself when she bumped into someone and shook her head as she thought about her best friend and her husband. Another category, indeed. Mary Margaret and David made falling in love (and staying in love) look so easy. And while life for Emma Swan hasn’t been easy, love has been even worse.

Just thinking about Neal made Emma so mad she was seeing red. Her thoughts on Neal and how much she currently hated him consuming her, that she stumbled once more into the bathroom door. Only it opened as she fell and a pair of strong arms grabbed her around her waist.

“Aye, watch it love,” said a voice she wasn’t sure she actually heard before. Mainly because it sounded like music to her ears, but also because whoever this man was spoke with an English accent. Kind of like the Tenth Doctor, from Doctor Who. That kind of accent.

“Sorry,” she muttered as she gathered herself. Once she was standing up (semi) straight, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and almost gagged on her spit. For standing in front of her, leaning down just a tad so he was able to look in the eye with no difficulties, was a movie star.

Okay, not really a movie star, but one that certainly looked like he should have been on the main guy in a rom-com. With piercing blue eyes, dark hair, and a five o’clock shadow she was sure would be rough to the touch, he might as well have just walked off of a set.

Emma hadn’t seen herself in a while, but she knew that her mascara was probably rubbed all over her eyes, and some of her make-up was in need of a touch up. She’d count herself lucky if her long blonde hair actually looked good, instead of looking like it needed a good brushing (like it usually did by this point in a night).

“Well, well, well,” the man smiled down at Emma, and Holy. Shit. Seriously, where did this guy come from? “What do we have here?”

“A girl who needs the bathroom,” she insisted.

The man’s smile turned more into a grin. “Of course. What kind of gentleman would I be if I blocked the lady from her destination?”

He didn’t move, and Emma wasn’t steady enough on her feet to push him. “Dude, let me pass.”

He shook his head a little, as though he was lost in thought, and said, “Right. Of course,” and step aside.

Emma walked towards the door and as she went to close it, realized he was still standing there. “What? Are you going to protect me from any dragons?”

He laughed. “Dragons? Lass, what kind of bar do you think this is?”

“Well, you never really know,” she retaliated. “Some dude might be standing in front of the bathroom so he could try to flirt with someone who needs to pee.”

He laughed, and Emma swore she heard bells ringing. “I believe that, yes.”

Who is this guy, Emma thought to herself. She shook her head as she closed the door. A part of her hoped the guy would still be there when she opened it, while the other part of her hoped he was long gone. She didn’t know which side was winning.

When she was finished and opened the door with a paper towel, sure enough the guy was still standing there.

“My hero,” she joked as she took a step into the hallway, holding onto the wall for good measure.

He grinned again, and Emma wished her heart didn’t pound at the sight. Good Lord, this man just grins at her and her heart beats faster than when Neal actually touched her.

“I’m a gentleman,” he retorts.

Emma chuckles. “Sure. Right. A gentleman.”

His grin falters as he asks, “You doubt me, love?”

Leaning a little closer, almost pointing her finger in his face – she might actually be in his face, her equilibrium is completely off right now –she mutters, “You look more like a pirate than a dashing prince.”

She leans back, taking in his whole body, and good Lord, what has she gotten herself into? Wearing a dark button-down shirt with a navy (could be black too, it’s hard to tell in this hallway that isn’t too well lit) vest over it, and dark jeans, this man certainly looks like he walked right out of romance novel. Only, he’s the bad-boy-mama-warned-you-about.

Emma licked her lips. The fact that she herself didn’t have a “mama” who could warn her about anything didn’t faze her right now, like it usually does. This man (and the alcohol) seem to have that effect on her.

“I prefer a dashing rapscallion,” he smirked, a small dimple appearing on his cheek.

And he has dimples?! Emma’s mind screamed.

She shook her head at him, “You’re something else, I tell you.”

He smiled at her, and she was sure that the room tilted just a tad. “I get that a lot.” Looking at her lips before looking back into her eyes, he commented, “Don’t I get something for protecting you against the dragons?”

Her mind was foggy, but now it was crystal clear. It was her turn to smirk. “Really? You ‘protect’ me against imaginary dragons, and you want a favor? What kind of gentleman are you?”

“We discussed this, love,” he said, taking a step closer to her and almost whispering. “A dashing rapscallion.”

Emma could feel the heat in her cheeks, and her heart was pounding in her ears. She didn’t want to admit that this man (whatever his name was), has gotten her more excited in the last ten minutes than Neal has in the last few years.

“You couldn’t handle it,” she flirted.

He raised an eyebrow and watched her carefully. “Perhaps you’re the one who couldn’t handle it,” he whispered back.

Looking him in the eyes before looking at his lips, Emma made up her mind before she could fully register it. Grabbing his shirt tightly, she pulled him closer to her and smashed her lips against his. And as much as she wanted to admit that he was all talk, he most certainly was not. His lips moved with hers in a rhythm that she has never been able to establish with any other guy she has been with. It was almost like he knew she wanted, which was impossible, because they never even met before.

She kissed him harder, her hands letting go of his shirt to work their way around his neck. He, too, was busy, his hands first around her waist before one hand went into her hair and gently, oh so gently, held onto her golden locks like they were his life-line.

He went to pull back, but Emma took a step closer to him (any closer, honestly, and she would actually be in his pants) and pulled him back in. He didn’t protest, but instead kissed her back even harder.

Finally, the need for air was too great and Emma leaned back, her forehead just grazing his. He was breathing just as deeply as she was, his hands running smoothly though her hair.

“That was—” he started before Emma’s phone rang.

She let go of him and pulled back completely before taking her phone out of her back pocket. It was her babysitter.

“Shit,” she muttered, reading the text. Henry had a nightmare and was crying and calling out for his mother. She looked back up at him, and, though she couldn’t fully tell thanks to the darken hallway, he certainly looked rumpled and a bit…well, almost dazed. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

“I—” he started, but she was already backing away.

“Sorry, I don’t usually—This is an emergency.”

Before he could say another word, she was out of his arms and turned back towards the bar. She located Mary Margaret and told her what happened (about Henry, not about the guy she kissed passionately a few minutes ago), before leaving the bar altogether.

She never saw the guy again.

Until now.

Emma shook her head, trying with all of her might to move on from that night. Because, while Killian was…quite something, it was obviously a one-time thing, and she needed to just…forget it.

Unfortunately, it would pop into her mind at the most inconvenient times, like when she was in the shower, making breakfast, or –

“It’s overflowing.”

Quickly looking down, Emma realized that this person’s water glass was most certainly overflowing. Grabbing napkins from the table adjacent to it, she soaped up as much as she could before telling the patron that she was going to get a towel. Once she returned and cleaned up the mess, with more apologizes, she turned back to the kitchen.

“You’ve been awfully distracted lately. Something on your mind?”

Giving a quick glance her way, Emma saw the wolfish grin. Shaking her head, and focusing (seriously focusing) on measuring the correct amount of sugar into the containers, she replied, “No.”

Ruby chuckled. “Oh, Emma. You might be able to tell when people are lying to you, but you are a horrible liar yourself. Girl, just talk to me. I know you want to.”

“And I know that I want you to do the job that I pay you to do,” Granny said from behind them. Emma almost kissed her for saving her from this conversation. “Get back to work, Ruby.”

“Yes ma’am,” she replied in a huff, obviously disappointed that she’s not getting the information she clearly wanted.

Emma shook her head before muttering to the older woman, “Did you tell her?”

“It slipped out. I’m sorry. The second it came out of my mouth, I knew that I made a huge mistake.”

Of course, Emma had to tell Granny why she wouldn’t be working on her two busiest days of the week. She tried to make it sound classier than it truly was, because Emma wasn’t thrilled with the idea of being paid to pretend to be married to some dude.

Though, people do pretend to be other people for money. It’s called acting. Still, it made Emma a bit uncomfortable. Though, it might have something to do with the fact that she’s kind of, in a small way, attracted to Killian.

But she wasn’t too worried about that part. Because it would only be for 48 hours – less than that really, when you take into account that for 16 hours of that they will be asleep. In different bedrooms. Like it should be.

Emma was walking into a disaster.

“Think nothing of it,” Emma insisted to calm the woman’s nerves. “I’m sure that it would have come out sooner or later.”

“You need Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?”

Emma sighed. “Well, Friday afternoon. Closer to evening. I’m taking Henry over right after I pick him up from school.”

“Can I ask why?”

“Um,” Emma bit her lip, unsure of how to even continue. “We need to prepare. I…Henry and I need to get outfits ready and bring some things from the apartment to make it look…Well, to make his house look like home, if that makes any sense.”

Granny nodded. “Makes perfect sense, actually. Though they better not ruin that hair,” she said, gently touching Emma’s golden locks.

She gave a small laugh. “I don’t think they’re going to change that. No, I know he’s hiring some people to dress me and Henry up, for a lack of better term. So it looks like…”

“Like you come from money?”

“Or at least married into it, yeah.” Emma put down the sugar container and the cup she was using to measure it, and whispered to Granny something that has been bothering her. “It’s just…Granny, I don’t think I can act. You know, like I have money. I have been barely able to get by with what I make here. Tips included. I don’t think—”

“Emma Swan, you don’t need to act like anyone else other than yourself. If Kevin –”

“Killian,” Emma corrected.

But Granny ignored her and kept talking. “—Doesn’t appreciate that your saving his ass from whatever the hell it is that he got himself swept up in, honey, you march right out of that house and don’t you dare look back.”  

Emma laughed. “I’ll do exactly that.”

~*~

“David, what in bloody hell is going on?”

Killian came home to find…well, just about everything in his house was gone. His expensive couch, gone. His formal dining room, gone. All of his old books, gone. Instead there was a couch that was probably expensive, but it looked worn in, with two winged chairs on either side of it different colors, but still kind of looking like a set. His long table gone, instead there a slightly smaller table with chairs that aren’t in perfect condition. His books (he hopes were put into storage) are replaced with books that range from Jane Austen to J.M. Barrie along with some pictures of Emma and Henry, Henry growing up, and one photo that was photoshopped of Emma, Henry, and Killian all smiling on the beach. Killian picks that photo up and if you look at it really closely, you can see that it’s a fake, but otherwise he might have thought this actually happened.

“Hey!” David said, coming out of kitchen with a bag of chips. “Yeah, we’re just moving the furniture around, trying to make it look like a family.”

“And where is my actual furniture?”

“In storage.  Don’t worry, I didn’t throw out your precious First Edition of Moby Dick.”

“I don’t have a –” Killian looked at the huge pile of toys in the corner of the room and gestured to it. “David?”

He looked at Killian before shrugging. “Dude, you’re supposed to have an eight-year-old boy. Just be glad if it actually stays in that pile.”

Killian shook his head before putting both hands on the sofa in front of him (and damn it, it’s actually really soft). David wrapped the bag in of itself before placing it on the table behind the couch and asking, “Just what did you think this weekend was going to entail? We need to make it look real. So why do you have a stick up your butt?”

“I don’t know. I just…I thought I was living a good life, you know, and then…I realized it was, how did you say it? Cool.”

“You know that I love your house,” David defended.

But he waved him off. “Aye, I know. It’s not that. It’s just…maybe I haven’t been living my life the way I expected. Bloody hell, I’m almost thirty-five and I have to pretend to be married with a kid. I’m not even dating anyone to make it seem real.”

“Look I know you and Emma just met—”

“We met two years ago.”

David was silent before saying softly, “That’s right. And I don’t want to know, right?”

“I didn’t sleep with her, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Yeah, I definitely heard enough,” David said, getting up from the couch. He moved to grab the bag of chips off the table before he said, “You know that if you hurt her, I’m going to hurt you, yeah?”

Killian nodded. “Understood.” Putting his hands in his pockets, he rocked on his heels once, twice, three times before stopping and crossing his arms in front of his chest. “Okay, mate, when will this be done?”

David had a box of his own on the coffee table that was labeled Photos in a handwriting that was very much not David’s. He didn’t recognize it, though it did look feminine. If he had to wager, he would bet that it was Emma’s box.

Taking a picture frame out of the box, David sat down on the couch before putting his hand back into the box and taking out a smaller one. Once that was opened, he pulled out a stack of photos and Killian almost groaned at the thought that now they were going to have to go through that bloody pile of photos so it would look like Emma and Henry lived in the house and weren’t just visiting.

“Not sure,” David responded distractedly. He was looking through the pile, one by one, before finding one that seemed to appease him. Flipping the six by four frame over, David opened it up before placing the photo in it. Once he was securing it, he continued. “The movers said they only needed a couple of hours, and Regina claims they should have everything in place by ten o’clock.”

“Tonight?” Killian looked at his watch. It was barely past five. That means they were going to be in his house for another five hours? Bloody hell.

Getting up and taking the frame with him, David placed the photo on the bookshelf before going back to the couch to take out another frame and pick out another photo. Killian wished that he had a glass of rum on him, or anything really that had alcohol in it, because holy hell, this was going to be a process, wasn’t it?

“Why do you seem so shocked?” David asked as he sat back down. “They’re trying to make it look like a family lives here, especially one with a kid. Do you really not know that children have a lot of things?”

Killian walked over towards the photo David placed on the shelf. “I’m sure I did—Bloody hell!”

“What?!”

Killian turned back towards David, the picture frame in his hand. “Why is there a photo of Emma, Henry, and myself standing in front of Cinderella’s Castle?”

“Oh,” David sighed, relieved that that was all it was. Killian was just about to loose it, but luckily his friend was eerily calm. “They photoshopped that. To make it look like you took vacations together. You know, as a family.”  David stopped what he was doing and focused on his friend. “Are you sure you’re alright? You seem sort of…jumpy.”

“I’m not jumpy,” he yelled, but when the response was only a raised eyebrow, Killian decided to answer a little more truthfully. “I kind of am, I guess. It’s just…mate this is a big deal. One that might not come around again, and I…I don’t like being dishonest. It’s one thing to win your battles, but it’s another to win fairly.”

“You think that just because you’re pretending to have a family that you have a leg up over the competition?”

“Maybe? I don’t know. I think it’s also that I don’t really know Emma or Henry, so how can I--?”

“Oh!” David sat up straight, his eyes wide, an idea forming in his mind. “We should have you three sit around.” Before he could explain further, David grabbed his phone and began typing something rapidly.

When his friend got up off the couch, his phone still glued to his hand, Killian sighed and sat down on the vacate seat. He leaned over the box and saw a picture that must have been a real one. It was Emma and a much younger Henry, probably not even four-years-old, sitting in front of a Christmas tree. Emma was smiling down at the boy who was grinning at the camera with a missing tooth and a toy car held tightly in his lap. Killian focused on Emma’s face, the loving way she was looking at her son and sighed.

He knew, without a doubt, that he was in way over his head.

[saltlamp]

what are some book recs? I want to read a new series 🤩

thanks for asking!! 🙈 get ready for some basic recs and hopefully recs you haven’t heard before! gets less basic and more pretentious (?) as u go down, i think,,, also sorry this took me so long to post! i’m the worst, bless you for putting up with me. the list and my descriptions are under the cut!

1. The Shatter Me series is pretty good so far. It’s a YA series that has eight books, and it’s completed, but I’ve only read the first three. So far, it has a lovelyyy enemies to lovers romance that is very reminiscent of ships like captain swan (and reylo, just for you, kat. there’s a scene in the second book that reminds me so much of the throne room scene where rey is debating joining kylo ren). It’s about a girl whose touch is lethal and her growing into her power and doing some badass stuff. She’s a little annoying because she’s horny the entire time but all in all, I’d highly recommend it, especially considering your tastes!

2. I always always always have to recommend the Six of Crows duology, if you haven’t read it yet. It’s objectively the best ya series around and is a sequel series to the Shadow and Bone trilogy, but reading that first isn’t necessary. It’s about a heist and the group of six criminal teens who try to pull it off, and the found family trope is strong with this one. I would die for every single character, and the plot is twisty and so so good!! The romances are all perfectly angsty, too.

3. Another ya classic is The Raven Cycle series and its spinoff, The Dreamer Trilogy (which only has one book so far). It’s extremely difficult to describe but the found family is good here too. It’s about a group of friends in Virginia who are looking for a dead Welsh king. There’s lots of supernatural things and dreams and psychics and dead people who are alive and alive people who are dead. It’s so odd but so endearing and unique and reading it makes me so nostalgic for some reason.

4. Onto non-ya but still basic! The Goldfinch is one of those books that you read because everyone says you should and then suddenly you’re crying over the last 20 pages and overthinking the meaning of life. It’s a coming of age story about a boy who steals a painting after his mom dies in a museum bombing and deals with the guilt and repercussions of this theft for the next decade or two. It can be a bit problematic (as I find with Donna Tartt novels) but it’s mostly good.

5. The Great Gatsby is a good one, especially if you (like myself) had to read it in middle/high school and didn’t actually read it. And then you go back and read it and realize it was actually really good! Basically: guy simps for girl, his neighbor narrates the whole thing, and there’s death and a roaring 20’s aesthetic and ~ s y m b o l i s m ~

6. The Inkworld Trilogy (starting with Inkheart) is a childhood favorite of mine and I just remembered by looking at my bookshelf omg. It’s about a girl and her dad who can read themselves and other things in and out of books, and there’s a specific obsession with this book called Inkheart. Super unique and lovely aesthetics and nostalgia, especially if you grew up reading books! It is middle grade, though (or at most early YA). Speaking of middle grade, if you haven’t read Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, you must.

7. Till We Have Faces by the guy who wrote Narnia is a retelling of the myth of Eros and Psyche through the eyes of the oldest sister who is so ugly she has to cover her face with a veil (or so she’s convinced). Her ‘ugliness’ is a big plot point, contrasted against Psyche’s beauty. She loves her sister more than her own life and is convinced that the beast who takes her in is actually evil. But who’s the real villain of the story? Who’s the real hero? Hmm... It’s such an interesting take on the myth and no one ever talks about this book!!!!! The last two chapters are a trip, but CS Lewis considered it his best work (and I agree!)

8. Any and every Shakespeare play. Specifically Much Ado About Nothing, it’s an easy read and has the funniest plot: Two exes ‘hate’ each other and people are tired of them fighting so they set them up. Side plot where girl’s cousin has to fake her death to defend her honor. I’m a shameless Shakespeare nerd. Ignore this one if u want lol, or watch the Emma Thompson movie!

9. If you actually are a Shakespeare nerd, I’d recommend the dark academia murder mystery novel If We Were Villains. It’s about a tight-knit group of seven pretentious young actors in their final year studying at an acting conservatory. This year, the casting list for a particular performance is different than usual, and it causes drama between the characters and eventually leads to one of them being murdered. It uses themes and plots from Shakespeare plays such as Julius Caesar, King Lear, and more, and there are scenes where characters’ actions off-stage match or contrast their actions on-stage, and it’s super cool if you’re a NERD like me.

10. Red White and Royal Blue is like every rom-com you’ve ever watched with every cute (fanfic) trope you could think of! What if the first son of the United States hated (read: was secretly in love with) the Prince of Wales? They’re rivals until they bond over Star Wars (there’s more than that, but, mood). They are so dramatic and the writing is wonderful. Covers absolutely everything I could ever want from a story, honestly. It has the best cast of side characters, too! 

11. The All for the Game trilogy is no easy read, it’s very gritty and I’d recommend reading the list of trigger warnings before opening the books. But, if you’re up for it, it’s a good story involving a fake sport and a bunch of college students from rough backgrounds who play said fake sport and eventually bond over trauma and such. Also, it’s set in my state with an orange paw-themed sports team... hmmm familiar

12. It was at this point that I wondered if I should recommend the Shadow and Bone trilogy. It’s getting a Netflix series this year (!!) and it’s the series before Six of Crows, mentioned earlier, but it’s not as good. Many people complain about the ending (even though I liked it) and Leigh Bardugo’s definitely found her style since writing these. Also, the character development is lacking. That being said! It’s a good introduction into the Grishaverse and it helps you get a feel for the magic system and all that. It’s not a terrible series, it’s just cliche and Alina makes me want to rip my hair out :))

13. Classics promo ok... if you haven’t read all those (specifically greek) classics that were on the english syllabus that were ignored or sparknotes’d, now’s the time to read them to enjoy them! My personal favorite is The Iliad.

[shady-swan-jones]

Any Ella Enchanted AUs out there?

I don’t think so, but @searchingwardrobes has an entire series of cs rom com AUs! 

Captain Swan is My Favorite Rom Com

[onceuponaprincessworld]

CaptainSwan Movies Inspired Au Recs

Hello Beautiful Fandom, the other day I received an ask about making a list about CS fanfiction inspired by movies, and you guessed it this is the list! If you have any list request come tell me, I am always in for making them. Hope you enjoy. 🎬🎥📺 

Multichapter

Complete

Captain Swan Is My Favorite Rom-Com, @searchingwardrobes

A collection of Captain Swan movie AUs.

Coming Home to You, @phiralovesloki

Sweet Home Alabama AU- Emma Swan has worked hard to escape her troubled past and start a brand new life. But with that brand new life now involving a new fiancé, there’s something in her old hometown that she has to go back for: a divorce.

On the Virge, @hookedonapirate

Emma Swan is an aspiring filmmaker struggling to get a job in Hollywood. When she lands an editing position at a porn production studio and has to collaborate with the director, Killian Jones, she realizes it's definitely more than she bargained for. Based on the movie, Finding Bliss. Contains obscene language and sexual humor.

Persuading Emma, @dassala

Jane Austen AU. 1794 - Maine Territory, Massachusetts - The daughter of a wealthy American Gentleman, Emma Nolan has her coming-out ball at her father's estate, Storybrooke House, where she meets a charming young British lieutenant who has defected to the American Navy.

The Proposal,  BRBDyying

A Modern CS AU based off of the movie 'The Proposal'. Killian is in danger of being deported, so he enlists Emma's help to stay in the country. By marrying him. Rating based off slight language, if it's any more than a few curse words, I'll put it at the beginning of the chapter.

The Writing's On the Wall, @hookedonapirate

Modern Lieutenant Duckling friendship/Captain Swan friends with benefits AU. Emma and Killian become best friends in an orphanage when they are thirteen and after they reunite years later, they add a physical component to their friendship. When true feelings are finally revealed, will it tear their friendship apart or turn it into something more? Based on movie No Strings Attached. 

The Pirate Trap,  Lin_ifyouplease

Lizzie Jones has never met her mother. Leia Swan has never met her father. After a chance encounter during a fencing match at Summer Camp, these two girls discover they are the identical twin daughters of the divorced. Emma Swan and Killian Jones. The suave Lizzie and clever Leia stage an identity swap. If it works, they could bring their whole family back together. BASED ON THE 1998 MOVIE "THE PARENT TRAP"

Almost is Never Enough, @sharky-clarky

Modern CS AU. Love, Rosie cross over. Emma and Killian met as children in England and grew up together in the foster system. But after nights of firsts, dreams and bad decisions their lives end up flying in different directions. Killian to university in America and Emma into motherhood. Despite staying in touch, the world seems adamant they stay apart. But will their luck change?

Chocolat, @lenfaz

AU based on the movie.

Wip

Captain Swan is My Favorite Rom-Com: 2018 Edition,  @searchingwardrobes

The second collection of Captain Swan Movie AUs. Not all will be rom-coms, that's just a cute title ;) Up first: The Fugitive (ch1-6) and Adventures in Babysitting (ch 7-?)

One-shot

A Pirate Comes to Pemberly, @mryddinwilt

Years ago Miss Emma Nolan of Pemberley was left heartbroken by the unfaithful Neal Cassidy. Now an older and wiser young woman a chance meeting with the scandalous Captain Killian Jones leaves her determined to not make the same mistake. A OUAT AU fused with Pride & Prejudice where David and Snow are Lizzy and Darcy and Emma is Georgiana.

on a roman holiday,  bluestoplights

Roman Holiday AU / Emma wasn't exactly expecting to become a princess after 28 years separated from her family. Killian Jones might help her come to terms.

we're simply meant to be, @caprelloidea

A Nightmare Before Christmas AU. Emma is the princess of Valentine’s Day Town. Killian is a realm traveling, liquor looting, candy stealing Pirate King. Sparks fly when they cross paths on their quest for a new adventure. Literally.

Two-shot

The Favor, @madjm

What's Your Number? AU. Emma Swan doesn't do relationships, but her annoyingly attractive neighbor, Killian Jones, might change her views. 

[capswantrue]

Chapters: 8/8 Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Captain Hook | Killian Jones & Emma Swan Characters: Emma Swan, Captain Hook | Killian Jones, Liam Jones Summary:

A modern au reimaging of the movie "While You Were Sleeping" with Emma Swan and Killian Jones in the leading roles, plus various other OuaT characters along for the ride! :)

[snowbellewells]

3, 14, 16, 28 for the fanfic end of the year asks, please and thank you! :)

Ooh, thank you @laschatzi !! I really like this ask list and hoped to get a few more. ;)

#3: Favorite line/scene you wrote this year: This one is tricky! I tend to look back at what I’ve written and find flaws and edits needed instead of really feeling like I’ve done well.  All the same, the scene that came to mind for me here was the scene I managed to set in the prologue for my shorter @cssns work this summer “A Story Told at Last”. Looking back on it, I feel like I managed to make it atmospheric and set the tone just the way I had hoped to... I was also really pleased with the opening to “The Lawman, The Thief, and the Outlaw” - probably partially just because I have been wanting to write that particular Western for SO LONG, and I was so excited to finally be started!

 #14: A fic you didn’t expect to write: Well, one fic I didn’t intend to write was  the second and third (and maybe more sometime) installments of the French Revolution AU @kmomof4 requested.  I considered that finished when I wrote the first little drabble long ago, but she convinced me otherwise. ;)  Also, the “A Litter More Than They Bargained For” one shot I wrote for @cspupstravaganza was not a fic I would have envisioned until I tried to come up with something for the event - but I loved writing it once I got started.

#16: Fic(s) you completed this year: I’m gonna have to genuinely look back at Tumblr, AO3, and ff.net and take a count to be certain on this one... I guess it’s 6, as far as ones that are actually completed.

“Run to Me (in the Dead of Night)”  - This is actually last summer’s MC from the @cssns event, but I didn’t complete the final chapter until January of this year, so I’m going to count it. ;)

“Captain Swan is my Favorite Rom Com: While You Were Sleeping” - I started this last summer as well. The rom com movies re-tooled as CS fics was an idea I saw @searchingwardrobes doing really entertainingly, and I decided to give it a go as well.  By the time I posted the last chapter though, it was spring of this year.

“A Story Told at Last” - my shorter @cssns piece from this summer. Only a prologue and two main chapters, but I’m really fond of it.  I had a great time trying to fashion my own version of a sort of Rapunzel/CS kind of fairy tale homage, and trying my hand writing grown-up Henry as a main protagonist.

“Savior’s Haven” - This was a two-part fic I wrote for @csseptembersunshine and I really liked what I came up with, even if it was a little more “feelsy” than I first intended!

“A Litter More Than They Bargained For” - CS family fluff for the @cspupstravaganza event.  This one was pure fun to write, and I giggled a lot imagining the literal fluff as I put it down on paper!

“Bless What is Given You” -   This is part of my “Of Swans and Swords and Hopeful Hearts” one shot collection, but it was also written as a birthday gift to stand alone, so I’m going to include it separately here as well.

#28: Longest fic you read this year:  Oh my, um, I’m not sure????  I don’t usually keep a word count or even tend to look it up.  If it sounds go, I read it - whatever the length. I’m just really not sure here, unfortunately.

[huffleporg]

The Bookshop Around the Corner - A CSSS 2017 Fic

Hello @snarkycaptainswan4! I’m your secret Santa! Surprise!!!! I’ve really enjoyed talking to you these past weeks, and I hope you like this fic I wrote for you. Based off of the list of your favorite movies, you seem to really like Rom-Coms, which is a genre that I’ve never actually written before. So this was a bit of a challenge for me, but I do love a challenge as the Captain would say. ;) I certainly hope I did one of your favorite movies justice with this fic. 

Anyways, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas since that’s today!

Here’s your fic:

The Bookshop Around the Corner [G] 4k words [Ao3] 

For the past five months, Emma Swan has been talking to RollyJoger online, little does she know, he's actually the man that just might run her small bookshop out of business.

Characters: Emma Swan, Killian Jones, Alice Jones 

Warnings: mentions of previous relationships for both characters, season seven inspired some parts of this AU

Beta read by the amazing @best-left-hook-jones.

Emma wished that the stress of the day could wash off of her the minute that she crossed the threshold of her apartment, but unfortunately, she was granted no such relief. She let out a sigh, set down her purse, and hung her keys up on the hook by the door before heading to the kitchen.

Uncorking the half-finished bottle of wine, she started looking for a wine glass. Finding none in her cabinet, she opened the dishwasher full of dirty dishes. Grumbling, Emma picked out a wine glass and ran it under some water. “Alcohol sterilizes,” she murmured to herself. Besides, the only person who could have drunk out of it was herself, and she wasn’t exactly worried about what she could catch from herself.

Full glass in hand, Emma turned and walked to her bedroom, hope rising in her chest for the first time in hours. “Please let him be on,” she said softly, repeating it several times until she was sitting in her comfortable black chair in front of her cluttered desk. The pseudo-prayer of hers increased in speed as she opened up her laptop and woke it up from its deep slumber. Finally her desktop materialized. Quickly, she clicked on the application to open it up. As the chat app whirred into gear, she took a gulp of wine.

And there he was.

<i>RollyJoger</i> with a little green dot next to his name.

Emma broke out in a smile. She set down her glass of wine and clicked on his name to open up the private chat window. As it popped up, she saw the end of last night’s conversation that had gone on far later than she should have. She had been yawning the whole morning after staying up long past her bedtime talking to <i>RollyJoger</i>. But, after the past five months since she had met him in the Single Parents of NYC forum, that had ceased to be something new.

At long last, Emma began to type.

<i>LostGirl815: I feel like I’ve been waiting all day to talk to you, so I’m so glad you’re on. </i>

It didn’t take more than a few seconds before she saw “<i>RollyJoger is typing</i>” below her message. She took a sip of wine and waited.

<i>RollyJoger: Me too. Feel like that every day to be frank.

LostGirl815: Same. But today especially.

RollyJoger: Why? What happened?</i>

She brought her glass to her lips as the memories of what had felt like one of the longest days running the bookstore since she had opened it flooded back to her. It had started off good enough; a storytime for the kids meant to make up for the fact that during the summer break the children spent little time around books. She had finished her coffee while she had watched the handful of children come in and sit around the large rocking chair on the circular rug in the center of the bookshop.

After making sure their children were settled and ready for the half-hour of stories, a few parents began to wander the shelves of books, but most just sat down in the metal folding chairs, pulling their phones out. No doubt they had realized that there was little that would entertain them in a children’s bookstore. It was nothing new for Emma. Considering how this particular story time was meant for six-year-olds and up, she rarely expected the parents to get especially involved. This wasn’t a toddler or baby storytime.

Most of the children and parents that came in were familiar faces. Only three faces were ones that she had never seen in the shop before. Emma looked at the blonde little girl with a well loved toy elephant, chattering on excitedly to a man sitting on the rug with her who she could only assume was her father. From her angle behind the counter, Emma could only see the back of the man’s head. A boy a few years older than the girl came over to the father and daughter, holding out a chapter book Emma recognized as one in the Redwall series. It was one she had seen Henry read several times when he had been in elementary school.  

Knowing that she would only get upset if she let herself dwell on memories of reading books with Henry- the way she did every week he spent with her ex - she turned to Mary Margaret. “I think it’s about time I got the storytime started,” she said, setting her mug of coffee down.

Her best friend and co-owner of Duckling Books gave a nod. “Seems like everyone’s settled,” she said. “What are you going to read to them today?”

Emma held up the two books that she had picked out for today’s storytime. “Some new arrivals.”

“Hello everyone,” Emma said, walking over to the story circle, “Welcome to Duckling Books summer storytime! I’m so glad to see you today.” She reached the big rocking chair and sat down, looking at all of the children there.

As her eyes scanned the crowd of familiar faces, she found herself drawn to the newcomers. Having already inspected the faces of the girl and boy, she felt her gaze lingering over the father. Dark hair that was a few shades darker than the little boy’s led to reddish stubble around his jaw. Bright blue eyes were focused on the fidgeting little blonde girl beside him. He leaned forward to whisper something to her, and the girl stopped, staying still, but only for a moment. There was something in his face that sparked some recognition. Had he been here before? No, she prided herself in being able to remember their customers. She had to have seen him somewhere else.

Emma felt the back of her neck grow hot as she realized just how long she had been staring at the father. Trying to keep her composure, she continued and began to introduce the first story of the day, hoping none of children had noticed. The father certainly didn’t seem to have noticed; he had been much more focused on the children with him than on her. That, at least, was a relief.

The rest of the storytime went much more smoothly, but that was mostly through a concerted effort not to look in the direction of the stranger. Once it was over, she got to her feet. “If you liked the stories you heard today, you can find more like them here. Just ask me or Mary Margaret and we can help you find the perfect story for you.”

As the group of children and adults started to disperse, Emma began to collect the two books that she had read.

“Thank you, Miss!” said a child’s voice.

Emma turned around to see the blonde girl with her elephant. “You’re welcome,” she said kindly, smiling at the girl. “I’m Emma Swan. This is my and my best friend’s bookstore.”

“I’m Alice,” the girl said brightly.

“Nice to meet you, Alice.”

“Alice,” said a soft, accented voice. “You shouldn’t bother Ms Swan while she’s working.”

Emma looked up from the eager girl to see the dark-haired man approaching, his bright blue eyes fixed on hers. Beautiful eyes. For a moment, Emma was speechless, but finally she found her voice. “No,” she said shaking her head. “She’s not bothering me. Quite the opposite. I love getting to interact with children.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Why else open a children’s bookstore?”

Children’s books was hardly the line of work she would have expected for herself to fall into, but when Mary Margaret had come up with an idea to distract Emma from the stress of the divorce and what she was fairly sure was the most bitter custody battle in New York history, Emma had found herself drawn to the plan. It had become her pet project, and now, five years later, she was glad that she had seen it to fruition. It was hardly the most successful bookstore, and it had taken a hit since the large chain bookstore ‘French and Jones’ had opened a store just two blocks down, but it was her and her best friend’s business. And she felt like they did a damn good job of it, all things considered.

The man gave a small smile and shrugged his shoulders. “Some people get into the book business because of a love of books,” he said. “The social part doesn’t enter much into the equation.”

Emma grinned a little. “What? Are you a librarian?”

“Something like that,” he said. “I actually--”

“Are there more stories?” interrupted Alice, tugging on Emma’s flannel sleeve, clearly bored with the adults talking over her.

“Alice…” sighed the man.

“Yes, actually,” Emma said, amused. The little girl definitely seemed to be a bit of a handful. An adorable handful. “We have the elementary school storytime every week this time until Labor Day. Then we hold it Monday at four. We’ve also got a book club you can join, if your father gives you permission.” She glanced over at the man who shrugged his shoulders. “Mary Margaret runs that book club, so you can talk to her more about that.” She pointed to her friend who was currently ringing someone up for a stack of books.

“Book clubs,” said the man. “That’s a very good idea. I like it. Can help keep the kids engaged with books. Important. Especially during-”

“The summer,” Emma said at the same time as the father. She grinned. “Yeah, that’s what Mary Margaret and I were thinking. My son loves books, so during the summer he would use the time to read more books than he did during the school year. But not all kids are like that.” He son was special, she knew that.

“I don’t think Alice has picked up a book since June. So a bookclub should be good for her.”

“Good,” Emma said smiling. “It’s the best book club around here, if you ask me. I’m biased, though. But you certainly won’t get anything like it at ‘French and Jones.’ They’re really not that personal there. I like to get to know my customers and engage with them. Not just ‘here, get your book, come back again, we don’t care if you do though.’” It was certainly a little bit cathartic to insult the competition, especially when she knew that she could definitely offer the community something that chain bookstore never could.

The expression on the man’s face changed from a smile into something that Emma couldn’t quite read. “Every place has its strengths and weaknesses,” he said, his British accent becoming slightly more prominent. “And-”

“Papa?” Alice said, putting the formerly white elephant in between his arm and hip, “does she not like your books?”

Emma began to feel the blood in her face drain. No wonder the man had seemed familiar to her. This was none other than Killian Jones. She had only ever seen pictures of him before, but she had spent enough time hating the name to instantly feel her own demeanor change. All the former warmth and cheer was gone from her voice as she said, “What are you doing here?” She folded her arms and glowered at the man. “Is this some kind of corporate espionage?”

“What? No,” said Killian, taking a hold of Alice’s hand. The girl just stared at her father confused as he continued, “I just wanted to take my daughter and nephew to a story time. Where’s the crime in that?”

“And using kids to spy?” continued Emma, staring at the man in disgust. What kind of ruthless businessman brought his child and nephew with him to spy and steal ideas. “First you come to this neighborhood trying to run me and all the other local bookshops out of business, but now you’re trying to steal ideas from us.”

“Okay,” said Killian, backing up. “You seem to have gotten the wrong idea.” He held up his hands. “I’m only guilty of wanting to go to a storytime. I promise you, ‘French and Jones’ has no plans to start a book club or start having story times.”

Emma let out a laugh. “Oh, let me guess, you’re going to give me your word as a gentleman?” She shook her head. “That doesn’t mean anything to me. I’ve got zero reason to believe you.” Trust was something that very few people had earned from Emma Swan, and Killian Jones was the last sort of person to gain it.

Killian let out a defeated sigh, looking out the ground. “Alice, find your cousin. We’re leaving,” he said firmly enough to prevent any protests from the little girl, who quickly hurried off to find the boy. Killian Jones took a few steps closer to Emma and said, “Believe me or not, but it’s not what you think it is, and I’m sorry that that was the conclusion your mind jumped to.” He paused, seeming to be fighting the urge to say far more that he should, finally concluding, “Have a nice day,” before joining his daughter and nephew by the door.

The slam of the door practically reverberated around the bookshop.

Emma felt everyone’s eyes on her as she walked to the back room.

There had been no improvement the rest of the day. Mary Margaret had glowered at her all day only to give her a tongue lashing at closing about being rude to a man who clearly just wanted to bring his daughter to storytime and have a family day. A shipment of books from a vendor had gotten lost somewhere in Virginia and the shipping company had no idea where they were now. A toddler had gotten sick all over a display of books and the mother had taken the kid out of the shop before they could get her to pay for the books her toddler had ruined.

All in all, it had been a miserable day. She had been surprised that when she’d left it hadn’t started raining on her to add insult to injury.

At least now she could relax with RollyJoger and drink her wine. She would take her victories where she could get them.

<i>LostGirl815: The person who’s responsible for all my work troubles tried to pretend he was a nice guy today.

LostGirl815: So that was fun.

LostGirl815: Felt manipulated by the whole thing.

LostGirl815: My friend is mad at me now.

LostGirl815: And I had to clean up toddler puke.

LostGirl815: Great day.

RollyJoger: I thought your son was 15.

LostGirl815: Not my kid’s puke.

RollyJoger: Outstanding.

LostGirl815: How’s your day? Has to be better than mine. </I>

For a few agonizing minutes, there was nothing but the agonizing <i>RollyJoger is typing</i> message on the screen. Emma leaned back and sighed, not sure if her virtual penpal had accidently pressed a key while getting up to deal with something or if she was about to get a novel of a response. Or maybe he kept on typing and deleting what he was saying. “Come on, Rolly J,” she murmured, “talk to me.” She drained her glass of wine and got up to pour herself another. When she got back, she found his message waiting for her.

<i>RollyJoger: Can’t say it was horrendous or anything that awful, but it was far from the best. Had taken the day off of work to be with family, but my partner had some crisis with her husband, so I had to go into the office and deal with business. I come home and my daughter is crying because she left her favorite toy somewhere we aren’t ever going back. On top of that, my ex (the witch) called, so I’m going to have to muster up the strength to call her back and find out what she wants.</i>

It was a situation Emma was familiar with herself.

<i>LostGirl815: Might I suggest wine?

RollyJoger: I prefer rum.

RollyJoger: Or beer.

LostGirl815: In all seriousness, that does sound like an awful day. I’m sorry to hear about that.

RollyJoger: It’s okay. Not much you can do about it.

LostGirl815: I can try to cheer you up.

RollyJoger: I should be trying to cheer -you- up.</i>

Warmth that had nothing to do with the wine flooded through Emma. She smiled and typed:

<i>LostGirl815: You already have.</i>

<center>***</center>

Emma yawned as she unlocked the door to the bookshop. Talking to RollyJoger last night had made the hours fly by, like it did every night. She had looked at the right hand upper corner of her laptop and been shocked to realize that it was 12:48 a.m.

Even now that she was facing another morning exhausted yet again, Emma didn’t regret it. She loved her nightly chats with RollyJoger, the man who knew more about her than arguably anyone else in her life. She had confessed things to RollyJoger that she had never felt capable of opening up about to even Mary Margaret. At first, she had chalked it up to the fact that it was different talking to someone anonymously online where she wasn’t Emma and he was just a stranger with a boat as an avatar. It was safe to confess things this way. There was no chance that he could betray her. There was no way to see the judgement in his eyes. He simply listened and told her things from his own life that seemed equally buried and equally fraught.

Emma knew how he and his brother had had to start working under the table when they were in middle school in order to keep up with bills after their father had gotten laid off. She knew how his first real love, an older, married woman, had gotten sick and had died and he hadn’t even been able to pay his respects at her funeral. He had even confessed how his trainwreck of a marriage had been simultaneously the best and worst thing in his life as it had given him his daughter, who meant the world to him.  

Emma knew him, even if she had never seen his face.

To prepare for opening at nine, Emma walked around her shop, tidying up and doing tasks that she had been too tired and mad to do the night before. She straightened up the displays, reshelved misplaced books, and went to the back to replace books that she knew had been bought the day before. She walked through the baby book section, the early readers section, but she stopped when she came to the chapter books section.

An elephant stared back at her - as best it could with only one black button eye - from where it sat on the shelves containing the fantasy novels.

Emma’s stomach slipped up into her throat.

“Alice,” she whispered, picking up the well-loved stuffed elephant.

Was it a coincidence?

There were many fathers of young daughters in New York City. Many of them were business owners with female business partners. Any number of them could have had their daughters leave behind cherished toys at places where they would never be welcomed again.

It had to be.

Emma tried to tell herself that. There was no way that sneaky, conniving Killian Jones was the man that she had been talking to for months online. No, that man was kind. He cared about strangers, wanted to make the world a better place, valued his family above all else, and had never once given her a reason not to trust him. He couldn’t be Killian Jones.

And yet, Emma found herself reaching towards her phone, about to do something she promised herself she wouldn’t do: download the chat app onto her phone. She knew that she would probably delete the app later - and if RollyJoger was in fact Killian Jones, she might even delete her account altogether, she thought - but right now unusual and confusing circumstances demanded that she log-on right now.

Her chat friends list was very short, so it wasn’t hard to find him with a yellow idle sign beside his screen name. “Let me be wrong,” she murmured, “please let me be wrong.”

<i>LostGirl815: Is it an elephant?</I>

Not sure whether or not he would actually see her message, Emma tentatively put her phone back in her jeans pocket. “Let me be wrong,” she continued to murmur as she continued to go about her tasks for opening shop.

Feeling her phone buzz, Emma practically jumped. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out, reading the message from the lockscreen.

<i>RollyJoger: ???</i>

Emma let out a sigh. If he didn’t connect it to his daughter right away, that had to be a good sign. Or perhaps they had simply talked about so many things that he had forgotten that he had mentioned his daughter losing her favorite toy.

<i>LostGirl815: Is your daughter’s favorite toy a stuffed elephant?</i>

For several agonizing minutes, the <I>RollyJoger is typing</I> message kept on popping up and disappearing. That alone was enough to confirm Emma’s fears.

<i>RollyJoger: Please tell me you’re the friend.

LostGirl815: I can’t.

RollyJoger: Bloody hell.

LostGirl815: The bloodiest. </i>

All of the hope and happiness that had surrounded her chats with RollyJoger were beginning to leak out slowly, as if she were a balloon that had been punctured.

<i>RollyJoger: Can I come over and get it for her?</i>

Without any hesitation, Emma typed:

<i>LostGirl815: Of course.</i>

She knew what it was like to have an unhappy child. She would do anything for Henry. Face her ex and his horrible father. Walk through fire. Drink poison. Anything at all without question.

<i>RollyJoger: I’m coming over now.</i>

The green active light by his name turned grey.

Emma swallowed and put her phone away. She glanced up at the clock. A half hour until she would be opening shop. She didn’t know when she should expect Killian Jones, the man formerly known as RollyJoger, to arrive. She didn’t even know what she would say to him when he did come. She could just wordlessly hand him the elephant and let him walk away. That was certainly an option, but it was something Emma wondered if she actually, truly could do. This was still the man she had spoken to every night for months. This was the person she had shared her secrets with and who had confided in her. This was the only person she had encountered since her divorce that had made her feel something.

Hope.

And something else, something she was still afraid to name.

Emma looked out the window of the shop and saw him standing there outside, hesitant. In a few strides, Emma was opening the door.

“Emma, I-” started Killian.

“I know,” Emma said quickly. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have accused you of spying.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t blame you for making that conclusion. It was… dubious.”

Emma held out the elephant. “You were here for the same reason you’re here now,” she said softly. “You’d do anything for her. Even face someone who…” She let out a laugh. “I thought I hated you. But here I am… here we are… I don’t hate you. After all that we’ve shared these past few months, I don’t think I could.”

He took the elephant from her and nodded slowly. “Aye, but there’s another reason.”

Emma looked at his eyes, willing him to meet her gaze instead of staring awkwardly at their shoes. “The same reason you wanted to meet in person,” she said quietly, remembering how two months ago he had suggested that they get coffee and actually talk together in person. She also remembered how she had said no, believing that it would be safest to keep things as they were.

“Aye.”

Emma took a breath, calculating and weighing the options before finally reaching out and grabbing the lapel of his black business suit and pulling him closer to him. She pressed her lips to his, and she wasn’t surprised to find them open for her, allowing her to kiss him deeply. She felt one of his hands come up  to cup the back of her head as he leaned forward into the kiss. She could feel an almost electric energy radiating from him and their touch.

A couple breathless minutes later, and Emma pulled away from the kiss as suddenly as she had started it. She grinned when she saw him follow her, seeking to prolong the kiss. “For the record,” she panted, “I still hate your business model.”

“I… can live with that,” he murmured, his nose nuzzling her cheek before he covered her mouth with his.

[searchingwardrobes]

Priceless: 8/9

I was planning on this being the last chapter, but I simply couldn't fit in everything I wanted to do, so there will be one more. I also couldn't resist this cliffhanger. Just don't hate me! *hides* Although you can partially blame my wonderful beta, @xhookswenchx​. She encouraged me when I mentioned doing a cliffhanger. Though she did yell at me once she actually read it ;)

I also noticed a huge error. I had Will Scarlett in earlier chapters as Killian's contact for the job. Then he popped up again in the last chapter as a cabbie! Oops! That's the problem with taking months to update. I loved Will as the cabbie, though, so I went back and changed the sketchy contact to Jefferson. I think it fits better, actually.

Summary: Desperate men often find themselves in places they never thought they would go, but for Killian Jones it would finally force him to be the hero his daughter always thought he could be. The job was simple: drive the truck, don’t open the back, don’t ask questions. But Killian Jones has never followed instructions very well …

An AU of the movie Priceless starring Joel Smallbone of For King and Country.

Rating: M for themes

Trigger warnings: This story is about human trafficking so there are discussions of rape and non-con, some of it involving minors. None of it is portrayed as positive nor is it graphically described. If you have any specific questions or concerns before reading, feel free to message me.

**in this chapter specifically, there are depictions of violence**

THERE WILL BE A HAPPY ENDING, I SWEAR!!!!

Also on Ao3 as part of my movie au series Captain Swan is My Favorite Rom Com: 2nd Edition. There is also a First Edition.

Tagging: @snowbellewells @whimsicallyenchantedrose @kmomof4 @welllpthisishappening @bethacaciakay @teamhook @let-it-raines @wellhellotragic @winterbaby89 @kday426 @ekr032-blog-blog @shady-swan-jones @sherlockianwhovian @shireness-says @spartanguard @scientificapricot @stahlop @delirious-latenight-laughs @resident-of-storybrooke @vvbooklady1256 @tiganasummertree​ @nikkiemms​  @jennjenn615​ @profdanglaisstuff​ @shipsxahoy​ @cat-sophia​ @artistic-writer​ @thejacketandthehook​ @hollyethecurious​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @branlovestowrite​ @dassala​ @allofdafandoms-blog​ @snidgetsafan​ @pocket-anon​ @optomisticgirl​ @flslp87​ @onceuponaprincessworld​ @courtorderedcake​ @superchocovian​ @distant-rose​

Chapter Summary: After rescuing Emma from the spa, Killian faces dire consequences for his actions.

The cabbie Will whistled in admiration as he turned onto the drive to David and Mary Margaret’s place. I agreed with his assessment - this wasn’t just a home, it was a ranch, and a large spread at that. The cab drove beneath a stone archway. Swinging from the center of it were scrolling iron letters that said “Misthaven Farm.” The land up on these hills was more lush, and there were several smaller buildings lining the long drive that took us up to the house. I assumed they were barns and stables, though no animals were visible at this hour. Will parked the cab in a circular drive right in front of a two story house built of uncut stones and raw timber to give it a rugged air. It was large, but not massive, just the right size to be welcoming and homey.

Will whistled once again when I paid him handsomely for the long ride, much more than was necessary. I wasn’t just paying him for driving. I was paying him for being a good man, one who would ask questions to ensure the safety of an inebriated woman in his cab. And despite my desperation to make a way to be with my daughter, I could no longer keep the money Gold had given me. It was dirty, and I wanted to be rid of it as quickly as possible.

Emma still couldn’t walk, so I scooped her up again and carried her to the Nolan’s front door. Mary Margaret opened it before I even reached the front stoop, rushing forward with a gasp despite the phone pressed to her ear.

“Oh my God, um, Regina, I’ll have to call you back!” She hung up, her hands fluttering around Emma as if she wanted to help her but wasn’t sure what to do. “What happened?”

“I found her, and I couldn’t just do nothing.”

It wasn’t the greatest explanation, but I was more concerned about Emma. Mary Margaret motioned towards the stairs and I followed her up. Emma lifted her head, but her eyes couldn’t seem to focus on anything. She mumbled something, then her head lolled back onto my shoulder.

“They drugged her.” Mary Margaret wasn’t asking a question.

She led me into a modest bedroom at the top of the stairs. It held only a full size bed in one corner, a small dresser, and a desk pressed against a wall. Opposite the bed was a door that led to a small bathroom.

“This isn’t much,” Mary Margaret explained, “but I thought she might be more comfortable here.”

Frankly, I didn’t think Emma cared where she was. I deposited her gently onto the bed, slipped the glittery gold stilettos off her feet, and edged her under the covers. I tucked her in like I often did for Alice, but stopped short of brushing a kiss to her temple. I turned to go, but Emma surprised me by grabbing my hand.

“Please stay,” she whispered.

I glanced over my shoulder at Mary Margaret. She cast her gaze pointedly to the floor and arched a brow. I got her meaning fully and eased down to sit on the floor by Emma’s bed.

“As you wish,” I whispered to Emma.

She let out a shuddering breath and then her whole body relaxed, though she didn’t release my hand. When Mary Margaret slipped out, she left the door cracked open. I stayed there with Emma’s hand grasping mine, my head resting against the edge of the bed. I didn’t think I would be able to sleep, but somehow, my body relaxed and I dozed off.

When my eyes opened again, the light of early dawn streamed through the window, and I realized Emma’s weeping had awakened me. She had released my hand at some point, and when I turned my head I found her curled into the fetal position, facing the wall. I rose up on my knees and placed my hand tentatively on her upper back.

“Emma?”

She tensed, and I withdrew my hand. A heavy silence filled the room, but I didn’t know how to comfort her or what to say. Finally, she rolled over, clasping the blanket tighter around her frame. It enveloped her like a cocoon, and I cursed myself for not asking Mary Margaret to help her change her clothes the night before. The skin tight red dress Emma wore beneath the covers barely contained her curves and couldn’t have been comfortable. A shiver rocked her frame, and I winced.

“I’ll get Mary Margaret,” I finally said, rising quickly to my feet.

“Not yet,” she whispered, then pressed her eyes shut as more tears spilled down her cheeks.

I stood there, feeling helpless and awkward. I noticed an extra blanket draped over the desk chair, and grabbed it. She was still shaking, so I draped the blanket over her, careful not to touch her. It wasn’t enough, but it was something.

“I don’t deserve to be here,” Emma whispered.

“What do you mean, love?” I asked, sinking to the very edge of the bed.

“My sisters. I don’t deserve to be here when they’re still -” her voice broke as if she couldn’t bring herself to say it. “I’m an awful person.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is! Because I’m here, and they’re not, but I . . . I feel . . . “

“Relieved?”

She pressed her eyes shut, as if ashamed of herself. “I was so relieved to hear your voice at the spa. I shouldn’t have called out for you.”

“I’m glad you did.”

Emma’s eyes flew open suddenly, and she scrambled up, shoving me aside as her feet hit the floor. She struggled to stand, with both blankets still wrapped around her, but she swayed and I had to help her sit back down.

“Careful,” I admonished, “I don’t know what they gave you, but it may take awhile for the effects to wear off.”

“I don’t know either,” she whispered, dropping her head to her hands, “but after the first time, they didn’t have to force the pills down my throat. It . . . numbed things, and sometimes if I passed out . . . it was better that way.”

I blinked back tears at the defeat in her voice, and I couldn’t help it any longer. I pulled her next to me and held her close. I whispered nonsense meant to comfort as I stroked her hair. Just empty words, but she clung to my shirt nevertheless, and I prayed that they helped.

“I have to go back. Gold may be mad, but he’ll take me -”

“Over my dead body.”

Emma pulled back sharply. “Killian, I have to! Elsa is still sick, Anna’s just a kid -”

I stilled her words with a finger to her lips. “Emma, do you really think they’ll honor their word?”

“At least I’ll be with them! Besides, what options do we have? We’ll be arrested. Deported.”

“You don’t have to be.” Mary Margaret’s voice spoke from the bedroom doorway, and Emma and I turned to her in surprise. “That phone call I was on when you got here last night? It was my stepsister, Regina. She’s an immigration lawyer, and she says that victims of trafficking by law can’t be deported.”

“But I’ve heard stories from the other girls,” Emma protested, but Mary Margaret cut her off as she sat next to her on the bed and took her hands in hers.

“Yes, some do get deported, I won’t lie, but that’s usually because they don’t know their rights. Or they’re too afraid to speak up against their traffickers. Sometimes the law doesn’t understand what trafficking looks like. It’s not always kidnapping and locked doors. It’s manipulation, fear, and sometimes even Stockholm syndrome.”

Emma nodded. “There’s a girl there in the house - Ivy. She thinks Neal really loves her; thinks the brothel is a family.”

I could tell Mary Margaret was forcing back tears, and I thought of her daughter. Mary Margeret cupped Emma’s face in her hands. “But that’s not you. That’s not your sisters. Not only that, you’ll have Regina. She says she’ll represent you, pro bono.”

Tears poured down Emma’s face. “Why would you do this for me?”

Mary Margaret shrugged. “Faith means we care for those who can not care for themselves.” Then she leaned forward and pressed a motherly kiss to Emma’s head. “Now,” she said, forcing a smile upon her face. “I’ve put towels and a change of clothes in the bathroom over there. They may not fit perfectly, but I thought they’d at least be comfortable. How about you shower and then I’ll fix you some breakfast?”

Emma gave the other woman a wobbly smile. “That sounds nice.”

After Emma rose and shuffled into the bathroom, still wrapped up in the blankets, Mary Margaret gave me a weighted look. “I need to talk to you,” she whispered, and dread coiled in my belly.

I followed her wordlessly downstairs and into the kitchen. I almost tripped over my own feet to see David sitting at the kitchen table with a wet towel pressed to a gash on his head. I looked frantically around the room, my dread only increasing.

“Where’s Liam?”

David’s jaw clenched as he forced himself to meet my gaze. “We were run off the road by an unmarked SUV. We slammed into a ditch, and I hit my head. When I came to, Liam was gone.”

I looked frantically around the room. “They know where we are?”

David shook his head. “I hitchhiked home in a farmer’s pickup. We weren’t close enough to the ranch for them to put things together.”

I sank to the chair next to David. “They just wanted Liam then.” I didn’t even ask why - all three of us already knew.

My phone, still in my pocket, rang. My hands shook as I answered it, and the voice on the other end made my blood run cold.

“Hello, Romeo. That’s quite the rescue you pulled off.”

“Gold,” I ground out, “what do you want?”

“I want my property, naturally. I’m assuming you want your brother. Alive, preferably?”

I pressed my eyes closed as the words hit home. When I opened them, David and Mary Margaret were right by my side. Liam? Mary Margaret mouthed, and I nodded.

“What are you asking?” I finally managed to ask.

“A trade. My girl for your brother. Simple as that.”

My mind spun as I tried to come up with a plan. When it finally came to me, it sounded crazy, but if I played my cards right, it could work.

“Not so fast,” I answered him, adding an edge to my voice. “I know how valuable Swan is. A trade’s not good enough.”

“I don’t know that you’re in a position to negotiate,” Gold snapped. “I can put a fucking bullet in your brother’s head.”

I tsked, “Come now, Gold, don’t be hasty. The way I see it, I’ve got plenty of evidence that I can take to multiple government agencies. Trafficking, immigration violations, drugs - would you like me to continue?”

“What’s your point?” he growled.

I paced, my gaze focused on the tile in the Nolan’s kitchen. “I’ll give you Swan, but I want more than my brother back. I want her sisters too.”

Gold barked out a laugh. “Why in the world would I do that?”

“Elsa’s sick, and it’s gonna cost you to get her well, or you would have done it already. Once she’s well though, she can make me some serious money.”

“I thought you were in love,” Gold replied dryly.

“That’s what I wanted her to think,” I sneered, “and it worked. I had her eating out of my hand. She was good, I’ll say that, but she’s not the only blonde in the world. I’ve seen the money that can be made in this business.”

“And you want in.”

“With you? Hardly. I want to start my own business and with a blonde and an underage red head? I can.”

“The bid on the black market for that virgin keeps climbing,” Gold countered, “why should I give that up?”

“It’s a one time deal, and you’ve got other underage girls. I saw their photos at the house. I’ve gotta be in that market too if I want to build my business. But Swan? She’s top-tier. Even spoiled frat boys driving daddy’s Lexus can’t afford her. Long term, she’s worth way more than her kid sister.”

“How did you know that?”

“I have my sources.”

There was a long silence on the other line, and I prayed fervently to a God I wasn’t sure even cared about me. But he had to care about a frightened sixteen year old and her ill sister. Right? God if you’re there . . .

“Okay. Meet me -”

“No. My terms. I don’t trust you, Gold. You would double cross me in a heartbeat. I wanna make the trade in a public place. Broad daylight. No tricks.”

Gold growled, but relented. He named a time and a place. I knew it already - warehouses in a sketchy part of town. I shook my head at David, and he frantically scribbled on a piece of paper.

“Anthem Hills Park,” I countered.

“Are you insane? There will be -”

“Kids? Families? Exactly. No way you can screw me over in such a public place. Be there WITH Liam and the girls or the deal is off.” I hung up without waiting for a reply and prayed I hadn’t just doomed us all.

“Do you think he’ll be there?” Mary Margaret asked nervously.

I shook my head. “I don’t know, we just have to . . . “ I trailed off when I noticed Mary Margaret’s face go pale as she stared at something over my shoulder. I turned to see Emma sitting on the bottom of the stairs, her hair wet from her shower, and her eyes lifeless as she stared at me. “God, Emma, that wasn’t . . . I mean I didn’t -”

“I get it,” she interrupted in a shaky breath, “Anna’s young and Elsa’s sick, and I’m . . . already used up. Damaged.”

“Emma, no,” I told her as I came towards her, “that was all just an act for Gold.”

She looked up at me with a tentative smile. “Oh, I know that you didn’t mean any of that crap about the business. But let’s face it, Killian. You have to save our siblings, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes. We can’t let Gold hurt them.”

I sank to the step next to her and took both of her hands in mine. “I was bluffing with every word of it, Emma.”

“What? But -”

“No buts. I can’t let Gold hurt you either. Not anymore.”

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

Later that afternoon, I pulled into the lot at Anthem Hills Park. The day was gorgeous, and the park was filled with people. Children scampered about on the playground, their happy squeals ringing in the air. Parents sat and chatted on benches while others pushed strollers down the walking trails. Right next to the slides, on a park bench, were Gold and his son, Liam and the girls sandwiched between them, just as promised. Their backs were to us, and I swallowed nervously as I pulled David’s handgun out of the glove compartment. I set it on the dashboard and took a deep breath before fixing my gaze on Emma.

“Do you trust me?”

Emma nodded, but more than that, her eyes were blazing and her jaw was set in determination.

“Always.”

I nodded in return, then shoved the gun into the waistband of my jeans. Emma turned to open the car door, but I stilled her by gently grasping her hand. I rubbed my thumb tenderly over her knuckles as her eyes met mine.

“I don’t know how this will all play out, so I just need you to know . . . not a moment has gone by since we met that I haven’t thought about you.”

She searched my face, then her lips turned up in a teasing smile. “Good.”

I returned her smile, buoyed by the pleasure I saw in her eyes. We both exited the vehicle, and I pulled Emma close to my side as we crossed the grass. When we reached the park bench, Liam’s eyes met mine, and I saw a warning in them. He glanced at the girls on either side of him. Elsa, despite the fever trembling through her frame, was stiff and unnatural. Anna was even more so, her eyes wide and frightened. Gold and Neal both opened their coats just enough that I could see the guns they had pressed to the girls’ sides. I caught my brother’s eyes once more, trying to reassure him. This was nothing the Nolans and I hadn’t anticipated.

“Deal’s off,” Gold sneered, “give us our property - all of it - and we’ll let you and your brother be on your way.”

I smirked at Gold. “You know, I’ve been told that I’m many things. I’m too dramatic, I feel too much, I get too attached. I jump in with both feet, and I just don’t think things through.”

I pulled out my gun, brandishing it dramatically so anyone nearby could see. As expected, several screams immediately rang out. People started running, people shouted for someone to call 911. I smirked again at Gold.

“Police will be here any minute I’m guessing. Crazy guy with a gun at the park tends to draw attention.”

“You’re crazy!” Neal screamed, leaping to his feet and pointing his own gun right at me. The screams around us grew louder.

I had anticipated this too, and calmly shifted to point my gun back at him. Emma didn’t hesitate, but raced to Anna’s side and pulled her out of the way. Liam took advantage of the distraction. He leapt up and barrelled himself into Gold, shoving Elsa out of the way. A gun went off. Elsa screamed Liam’s name.

Then Emma screamed mine. I turned to see her tackle Neal and another shot went off. I was shoved from behind, the arm holding my gun wrenched behind my back. My face was shoved to the ground, and handcuffs were slapped on my wrists. A cop began to read me my rights.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law . . . “

From my place on the ground, I saw Emma scramble off Neal, her hands red with blood. Neal lay face first, lifeless, blood spreading beneath him, staining the ground. Anna raced to her, weeping and holding her close. She was safe.

I turned my head to see more blood staining the ground.

Liam lay prone and still, Elsa weeping over him.

[ao3feed-captainswan]

Captain Swan is My Favorite Rom-Com: 2018 Edition

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2NvWoUf

by searchingwardrobes

This is my second collection of Captain Swan Movie AUs. Not all will be rom-coms, that's just a cute title ;) Up first: The Fugitive.

Words: 7267, Chapters: 5/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Emma Swan, Captain Hook | Killian Jones, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard, Red Riding Hood | Ruby, Huntsman | Sheriff Graham, Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Silver, William Smee

Relationships: Captain Hook | Killian Jones/Emma Swan

Additional Tags: Movie AU, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Federal Agents, the fugitive - Freeform, Emma as a federal marshall, murder investigation, Implied/Referenced Character Death

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2NvWoUf

[katie-dub]

3, 7, 28 😉

RUUHHHHIIIII! My darling, thank you for your (not at all challenging 😘) ask!

3 Is there a trope you wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole?

Answered already!

The rest is under the cut because it gets long!

7 Share a snippet from one of your favorite pieces of prose you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

“I will always find you, Killian,” she murmured soothingly. Her words sounded familiar. He pulled away to look at her, noting with curiosity that there were sparks flying from her fingertips. Everywhere she touched he felt -

Blinding agony.

The Dark One sent tiny electric shocks across his skin. They hurt, but worse was the feeling of being dragged away from Emma. From a very important realisation that drew further and further away with every jolt of pain. He needed to understand.

It was so much harder to play Gold's minds games after what had just happened. He wanted to curl up and get lost in his fantasies. But he needed to stay strong, to give away nothing so he could be reunited with Emma and The Saviour.

He locked up his tender heart full of emotions and packed it away for safe keeping, readying himself to face his tormenter.

The Masks We Wear

Idk if I'm meant to explain why I'm proud of the story or the snippet, but for the story in general I love the relationships between Captain Swan and everyone around them, in my one shots their love is the sole focus of the story so I've enjoyed actually writing them interacting with friends more. Killian's scenes with Regina, his ones with Belle and Emma's with Henry are some of my favourite that I've written.

I also have had the story mapped out for a long time so to me everything feels obvious? So when readers have been shocked or tell me they're at the edge of their seats I get a real kick out of that. I'm proud to have written something that I think leaves people guessing and I'm hoping that they will like how it ends!

28 Share three of your favorite fic writers and why you like them so much.

Wow, Ruhi, talk about asking me the hard questions! Are you going to ask me to name my favourite child next? I spent way too long agonising over this, and in the end I'm kind of conceding defeat, I can easily give you my top two but then I kind of lose it.

First up there's Clare @mahstatins whose gorgeous fics give me life. I love her gorgeous metaphors and her deep understanding of and insight into the characters. For example, look at this gorgeous (repetition of gorgeous, must buy a thesaurus, prize for you if you get at reference) line that has honestly stayed with me since I very first read it and clutched my heart in shock:

”The last act of Killian Jones starts with the sheathing of a sword, and Captain Hook strides out into the forest.” - Renegades, chapter 7

It's just wonderful, isn't it? Clare's the best.

Next up is Phira @phiralovesloki, I've made no secret of the fact that her fics are some of my favourite. They're just these well written rom coms (generally speaking, although the fics that don't fit this description are also incredible) that warm my heart. I feel like they have everything - wit, perfect pacing, romance and great characterisation. Honestly there isn't a fic she's written that I haven't loved.

But then, how do I choose a third? Do I pick @blessed-but-distressed whose wit spills over from the banter and into the vivid descriptions in her prose? Or possibly @pocket-anon who creates detailed and vibrant worlds that I can practically step into they feel so real? Should I go for @tnlph whose modern aus I often turn to to cheer me up on bad days - but then that’s true of @kat2609 too? @lifeinahole27 wrote one of my all time favourite fics ever - but @sambethe wrote another and how can I set one awesome friends with benefits to lovers fic author above another? I adore the sharp wit of both @allrightfine and @this-too-too-sullied-flesh so who would I pick out of them? @welllpthisishappening got me to fall in love with sports fics and that surely deserves some kind of medal. @justanotherwannabeclassic writes the most beautiful poetic prose, but then @seastarved also has a poetic soul that infuses her every word, so it’s hard to choose between them. @icecubelotr44 is like, The Queen of Whump, writing thrillers that have me at the edge of my seat. But then @winterbythesea gets me laughing out loud and feeling lots of feelings. @lovethatshit is another writer who brings her a game to the banter and she even got me reading fics for fandoms I’m not in. @piratesails writes these cute little stories that give me heart eyes for days. @distant-rose has a whole universe of realistic af fics about family life (and some dramatic af adventures) that are just amazing…

Every time I think I can choose I can think of another writer whose fics bring me joy. I haven’t even said every writer whose fics I love, whose words have made me laugh or cry or scream or flail or curse their name because how could they leave it there?! There is so much talent in this fandom. We’re so lucky.

Fic writers asks - send me a number!

[cat-sophia]

Perfect, beautiful - made me cry - read it my friends!