#cs recs ff

[hollyethecurious]

Can you add me to your tag list? Part 1 is great, can't wait for Part 2!

Of course! Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed Part 1. I am diligently working on finishing Part 2, so I hope to have it ready for y'all soon.

I also want to congratulate you on being the first person added to my 2025 Curious Crew Tag List! Each year I start over with my tag list, allowing people who may have moved on from the fandom to gracefully exit the list.

So...

Look alive, ya filthy bilge rats! It's time, once again, to sign up for me crew!

It's a clean slate for the new year, so if you'd like to be tagged in my 2025 fics/updates, then please comment on this post, send me an Ask, or slide into my DMs.

I set a writing goal for myself of an average of 300 words per day, which will give me just over 100k words this year, and believe me... I have at least that many words of ideas in me!

Just a reminder, though. I do not do individual lists for each fic. I have one tag list for all updates and new works, so if you asked to be added you'll get notifications for everything. However, you can exit the list at anytime by just shooting me an Ask (I won't post it) or a DM. No worries at all.

Finally, I have made the decision to no longer post on FanFiction.net. I'm sorry for the inconvenience this may cause for some of you, but the site has become so burdensome. Going forward, you can find my fics here on Tumblr and on AO3. I am HollyeLeigh over there.

I look forward to sharing my works with y'all. If you're curious as to what I'll be working on this year, feel free to send me an Ask. I love talking about my ideas and having it out there will keep me accountable, lol!

Thank you to those who have been with me both this past year and the years prior. Your continued support and encouragement means the world to me!

Tagging the 2024 Curious Crew so they can decide weather to come aboard.

(add to tag list)

@kmomof4 @jrob64 @zaharadessert @laianely @booksteaandtoomuchtv

@the-darkdragonfly @undercaffinatednightmare @killianxswan @mie779 @motherkatereloyshipper

@jennjenn615 @jonesfandomfanatic @anmylica @superchocovian @caught-in-the-filter

@winterbaby89 @wyntereyez @stahlop @resident-of-storybrooke @gingerchangeling

@exhaustedpirate @cocohook38 @donteattheappleshook @lfh1226-linda @teamhook

@jackieorioncat @paradiselady19 @snowbellewells @earanemith @ultraluckycatnd

@pirateherokillian @calmjoonie @unworried-corsair @tiganasummertree @captainswan-kellie

@soniccat @kday426 @djlbg @fairytalepretzkle @maggiegreenvt

@natascha-ronin @ilovemesomekillianjones @iamstartraveller776 @deckerstarblanche @shadowsaur

@qualitycoffeethings @idristardis @phoenix-untamed @bluewildcatfanatic @bananachickens

[4getfulimaginator2022]

Captain Swan Fic Recs

Fic Recs (with my cover art)

Tagging the authors on Tumblr: @dancingdoula44, @o-u-a-timer, @killians-sex-hair, @livinglights, @goforlaunchcee

Thank you for all you've done for the CS fandom - sending you much love and many hugs! 🥰❤️💝💞

[snowbellewells]

CS Fic Rec Monday: "Ruff Night" by: @exhaustedpirate

Oh my goodness!! This week's rec just completely charmed me, and I've already read it three times!! I realize it's Halloween-themed since trick-or-treating and costuming play a major role in this, but it's going to be fun to read and enjoy any time of year, truly.

@exhaustedpirate does a brilliant job with the Charming-Swan-Jones family dynamics (incredibly sweet and funny in turns! :) the CaptainCobra dynamics are heartfelt and AMAZING, and she makes use of a wonderful old-school Disney villain that the show itself never used.

I couldn't get it out of my head, so I even attempted a little cover art/banner of sorts for it. (Hope you'll like it @exhaustedpirate) And if you haven't read this one yet, definitely check it out.

"Ruff Night" by: @exhaustedpirate

[princess-and-the-swan]

MC Fic Rec: Seal the Deal

By @hollyethecurious | Rating: E

“Then we have a deal,” The Dark One murmured. “When you return home, you’ll find your father well and healthier than he’s ever been. All the pain and suffering a distant memory.” Emma released stuttering breaths of pure joy, her eyes stinging with the happy tears pooling in their corners. “Thank you! You… you’ve no idea what it means to me. What he means to me.” “I only hope he’s worth the price you’ve agreed to pay,” he replied, his hand still firmly enveloping her own. “Which we shall begin working towards tomorrow eve.” Emma cocked her head to one side, brows deeply furrowed. “What?” A cunning grin pulled at his lips. “You agreed to give me your firstborn child, did you not?” “I… yes?” “Well…” his pregnant pause and suggestively raised brows caused Emma’s heart to palpitate painfully in a vice of dreadful understanding his next words clamped into place. “With no husband to assist in the matter, how else did you presume to give me your firstborn?” Complete

Read it on AO3

[veryverynotgoodwrites]

Chapters: 19/23 Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Captain Hook | Killian Jones/Emma Swan, Captain Hook | Killian Jones & Emma Swan, Prince Charming | David Nolan/Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard, Prince Charming | David Nolan & Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard & Emma Swan, Prince Charming | David Nolan & Emma Swan, Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard & Emma Swan Characters: Captain Hook | Killian Jones, Emma Swan, William Smee, Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Red Riding Hood | Ruby, Seven Dwarfs (Once Upon a Time), Widow Lucas | Granny, Original Characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Pirate Captain Hook | Killian Jones/Princess Emma Swan, Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault, Fluff and Angst, Action/Adventure, Action & Romance, Swords, I Will Go Down With This Ship Summary:

Emma Swan is heir apparent to her parents' kingdom in the Enchanted Forest, and a powerful wielder of light magic. This makes her the most wanted woman in the realm, not only for marriage, but for leverage against the king and queen. While her parents have been able to keep her safe so far, an attack is launched on Princess Emma that leaves her no choice but to seek the protection of her worst enemy - Killian Jones, infamous captain of the Jolly Roger and his pirate crew.

Rated M for language and mentions of assault

-

Hello, hello, hello!

Darkest Winter last week, Perilous Harbor this week. What a time to be productive, eh? This chapter was mostly finished but needed most of the encounter at the end of the chapter after the last divider, and I wound up knocking it out in two hours over a lunch break and a slow work afternoon which was fortuitous! With this, we only have four chapters left until this story is complete, and I'm so excited for it to finally be out in the world in its completed form. Now that I'm seeing how close we are to the finish line, I'm super motivated to keep going and to keep writing (especially since a large part of the next chapter was written roughly 4 years ago in preparation for this!) so hopefully the last three updates will come quicker than the previous ones.

Onto notes for this chapter:

This chapter is 8,353 words long. I believe this is the longest I've ever left a single chapter in its edited form. I'm sorry if that's super overwhelming for some readers! After working with two betas for this update, we all three agreed that there was really no good place to cut this chapter that wouldn't ruin the pacing and sense of urgency I wanted to set given that the events below occur over the pace of a single day. I want you to feel as overwhelmed as poor Killian so that you can empathize a little better and my betas did agree that this was best, so I left it uncut. No worries if you need more than one sitting to complete it!

Speaking of betas, HUGE thank you to @xarandomdreamx and @ultraluckycatnd for the beta work! @ultraluckycatnd has beta'd a LARGE portion of this fic over the years so extra appreciation for sticking around and helping me out!

If you didn't see notes on my Darkest Winter update, I have begun serious work on publishing my book and have had to take a step back and re-evaluate how many fics I can continue with. I will be finishing out Perilous Harbor and continuing Darkest Winter and A Dangerous Game, but anything else under my profile has been abandoned for the time being :( Maybe once Perilous Harbor is complete and I begin querying agents I'll have a bit of downtime to pick a couple of things back up, but for now, don't expect any updates for those titles.

As always, HUGE shout out to @wefoundloveunderthelight​ for the AMAZING art for this fic. I’m still amazed that someone would do that for anything I’ve written

Also apologies, there are some weird formatting things happening when I copied the chapter over and I'm not sure why they keep popping back up after I fixed them...so enjoy the extra spaces I guess?

Again, thank you so much for sticking with this story since it first came out in 2019. It's officially been FIVE YEARS since I first published my first creative work to the Internet with chapter 1 of this story, and I've appreciated every single hit and comment and kudo and reblog that you've left for me. It really motivates me, and has ultimately helped push me to writing my own original stories and taking the leap to publishing and hopefully becoming an author. I love all of you.

If you’d like to be added to my tags list for future updates on any of my fics, please DM me! I’d love to add you :)

TAGS: @kmomof4 @caught-in-the-filter @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @the-darkdragonfly @teamhook @justanother-unluckysoul @jrob64 @karlyfr13s @hollyethecurious  @tiganasummertree @winterbaby89 @snowbellewells @xarandomdreamx @klynn-stormz @omninerdgirl  @facesiousbutton82 @finmnsoh56​ @followbatb​

[killiansprincss]

Timeless - a Captain Swan AU chapter 10/19

Summary: Season 3 divergence - When Zelenas time portal works, Henry wakes up alone in Storybrooke and must travel to the Enchanted Forest to get his family back. Only once he gets there he quickly realises its not like the one in his book, theres no Evil Queen and his mother Emma wasn't put through a wardrobe, theres even a poster inviting the entire kingdom to her engagement ball, to Hook. What will happen once Henry gets them to break this new curse and they get their memories back?

In which chapter is inspired by a different Taylor Swift song.

Previous Chapters, AO3

———————

'Cause all the boys and their expensive cars

With their Range Rovers and their Jaguars

Never took me quite where you do

And all at once, you are the one I have been waiting for

King of my heart, body and soul

It had been a week since Emma’s return to the Palace. She kept playing the situation over in her head, her fathers angry face and how small she felt. There was a lock on the doors to the balcony. The lock was strong, that was for sure, she tried and failed to break it open. But it was no use, even if she did she would have to face the guard posted below the balcony.. She was a prisoner. 

She hadn’t spoken to her father since he’d sentenced her. Her mother would knock and check in and give her some food, but Emma didn’t speak to her. She could have easily sided with her and didn’t. The only person she spoke to was her brother, who felt it was his fault she was trapped.

When she falls asleep, Emma dreams of being back in Killians arms. She felt safe in his arms. They were at sea for three days before they saw land again, and when they docked Emma had to take a moment to realise how vastly different it was to Misthaven. The docks were similar, but they led right into the market square where stalls were selling everything from spices to silk.

“Come on love, let me show you around.” Killian took her hand and laced their fingers together as he led her round the market, explaining this kingdom was a hub for imports, ships would arrive every day to buy what they needed, whether that be the best cheese of any realm, or the finest silk for the prettiest dresses. Some claim they had access to these items due to magic, and there may be some truth in that yet in the mountains you could see camps set up where workers were farming livestock or growing the plants needed for the materials. 

Emma dropped the hood from her cape as they walked, fingers interlaced, breathing in the smells and looking round at every corner. Something she was always afraid to do in Misthaven for fears someone may recognise her and take her back to the Castle.

__

“David. It’s been a week, hasn’t she suffered enough?” Snow asks her husband at breakfast. Sure, she wasn’t happy about her daughter running away with a Pirate, but she knew her daughter and knew it wasn’t a decision she made lightly.

“Snow, are you forgetting what he is?” Pirates had a notorious reputation for a reason, he couldn’t imagine what would happen in the kingdom if they accepted this relationship, or what would happen to Emma.

“You know you’re sounding an awful lot like my parents when I told them I wanted to marry you.”

“That is completely different and you know it. I was an innocent shepherd who your parents already loved. That man is a Pirate who stole her innocence and is going to break her heart.” 

Snow purses her lips as she sips her tea. “How do you know he will break his heart? Have you spoken to him? Asked his intentions with our daughter since you locked him up?”

David just shakes his head, “you’re suggesting I talk to the man who kidnapped our daughter?”

Snow sighs as she takes a sip of her tea. “I don’t think our grown daughter can be kidnapped. David, she left of her own free will, you think she let herself get taken away, our daughter is strong and capable of her own decisions.” She puts her cup down and takes her husband's hand, “I don’t like that of all the men in the kingdom she's chosen a Pirate. But this is our daughter, we raised her and we know what she's like.”

David considers his wife's debate. Yes they had always taught Emma to be strong and independent, even when they came to the Palace, even when she became a Princess. But he also thought they taught her she could tell them anything. David had suspected something was up, when she became more brash at turning down suitors, but he assumed she wanted a stable boy or someone in the kitchens, he never suspected a Pirate Captain. He is reminded thought of when he first went to Snow's parents and asked for their blessing and they turned him away, he had always vowed to treat his children with respect and love. Emma was his little girl and maybe part of the reason why he was angry with her wasn’t the fact it was a pirate, but more that she was grown up and wasn’t his little girl anymore.

“I’m gonna get some answers about this pirate our daughter is so enamoured with.” David simply says as he retreats to his chamber to formulate his plan. He wanted to find out about Hook, but from someone he trusted, a third party. Which is why he dons his royal clothes for something a little more comfortable, something he was used to wearing 16 years ago. 

He rides one of the horses from the stables, one that was not a clear royal horse, and rides down to the Tavern where Emma met her Pirate. Pulling his hood over his head as he enters the tavern, he looks around for the man he was looking for. 

“I’ll take an ale please, fine sir.”

August, the man who was once a boy made of wood stares at him as he grabs a goblet from the shelf underneath the bar. David lowers his hood slowly so that the once wooden boy can see who he is.

“David?” He whispers. “Your majesty, what are you doing here?”

Throwing a few coins on the bar, David tells him he needed his opinion on the Pirate his daughter supposedly loved. Someone that saw what happened and can give another view on what went on with them.

“Well I can tell you what happened with them, or you can speak to the very man himself.” August says pointing over at a table in the corner where a group of men in leather were drinking and playing cards. Pirates. And amongst them, the man that should have been in the dungeon back at the Castle. 

______

Killian had escaped from the dungeon not long after he was put in there. He and Emma had a plan, if it went badly, they knew he could escape any shackles he was put in and Emma would sneak away and meet back at either his ship or the tavern and they would run away for good. 

But it had been days and he had not seen or heard from Emma. He was worried about her. She was always able to escape before, what if they had put her in the dungeon and she wasn’t able to escape? What if she were in shackles made of magic which made it impossible to escape from. Surely her parents were not that cruel though?

His crew noticed he was off. They all knew it’s because he didn’t have Emma but they didn’t dare to say anything. So he turns to his trusted friend, Rum. He would sit in the tavern each day waiting for Emma to show up and each day he drank more and more when it was clear she wasn’t coming. 

That was until one day around noon, he saw Emma’s father, the King, standing in front of him. “You.”

Killian banishes his crew back to the ship, claiming he had an important meeting.  “Your majesty.” He had imagined how meeting Emma’s father would go, he had seen him many times from afar but up close he could immediately see the similarities, and not just in looks. The fire in his eyes was the same Emma had when she was angry.

“Didn't I lock you up?” He asks, a fair question.

The Pirate raises his eyes at the King. “You really think a 300 year old Pirate cannot make his way out of a trap?” 

The King was practically lost for words. “Look. I didn’t come here for that. I came about Emma.” 

“Where is she? Is she okay? Please, I need to know.” he touches his chest, “I can normally feel her or sense she’s okay, but I haven’t felt her. I know that sounds crazy, but I just, I need to know if she’s okay.”

It actually didn’t sound crazy at all, David used to be the same when they were young, he would feel hurt when Snow was hurt, or if she was in trouble, he would just know.

“She’s fine, she’s back where she belongs.” Killian could sense the slight dig in his choices of words. “That’s why I’m here. I just can’t understand it, you’re a pirate she is the Crown Princess-what is it she sees in you and why do you care about her? Don’t Pirates swear an oath to hate royalty or something?” 

“I didn’t plan this, that’s the first thing you must know.” He tells the King as he orders another round to the table. “Neither of us planned on falling in love. I met her at this very tavern, I recognised her from a few nights before where I snuck into one of your balls and she threw me in the dungeon.”

“You did what?” David interrupts.

Killian waves him off, “story for another time mate. Anyway, we began talking as I wanted to know why a Princess was dressed as a commoner. I was enchanted to be honest, she was so different to anyone I’d ever met.”

Killian then explains how they got to know one another over the past few years, and how Emma felt alone sometimes despite her life being filled with people who loved her. He told the King about their adventure to another kingdom and how alive Emma had felt and that they never intended to run away forever.

“I’d do anything for her. I have lived a very long time. I was trapped in a horrid place called Neverland for almost 3 centuries and they frequent my nightmares every day since I returned. But the last few years with Emma have been the happiest of my life. I can’t imagine life without her. I understand she’s the Princess and a Pirate doesn’t fit into that, but the thought of not being with her takes me to a very dark place. I just, I beg for you not to take her away from me.” 

David didn’t know exactly what he expected to come of this conversation, but he certainly never expected the fearsome Pirate Captain to speak so highly of his daughter. He hated to admit it, but it clearly was love that drove Emma away. “Would you give it up for her? The life of a Pirate?”

Without a second thought, Killian simply says, “Yes. I’d do anything for her. I'd go to the end of the world for her.”

“I have a proposal. Now if you accept, I will let you formally court Emma, no promise of an engagement or marriage, but simply a chance at officially courting the Princess of Misthaven. It so happens my current Navy is slacking, they aren’t good enough. I could use a fine captain to whip them into shape. I can’t let a Pirate court my daughter, but a naval captain on the other hand.” 

The chance to officially court Emma. To hold her hand in public and spend the day with her surrounded by people and not live in constant fear. But he would have to leave the life he had lived for the past 300 years and go back to working for a King which he swore he would never do. “That is a very kind offer, and I would love nothing more than to accept. However, a former King is the reason I became a Pirate, why I left the Navy all those years ago.”

“You have been in the Navy previously?” The King asks.

“Aye. My brother and I were fortunate enough to be given the chance to study and learn in a former Kings Navy 300 years ago. We worked hard, and one day my brother Liam became Captain and he appointed me his trusted Lieutenant. At the time our kingdom was not in a good shape, we were at war. Our King sent us on a journey to a horrid land to retrieve a plant called Dreamshade, he told us it would heal our injured soldiers. Well an evil demon lived on this Island, and when we told him of our plans to retrieve said plant he told us it was a poison. My brother was stubborn, you see, he believed the best in our King, so to prove my suspicions he drove the spikes of the plant into his skin until he bled. And all I’ll say is Liam didn't make it back to our kingdom alive.” 

Killian had told that story to a few select people, Emma included. It was his darkest memory. If Liam had just believed him things would be very different. 

“I’m sorry about your brother, that’s horrible. I have heard Kings become tyrants in the past, but I can promise you I will never be like that. I’m not of royal birth even, I was a shepherd until I married Emma’s mother. So I feel like an outsider many times, my wife knows everything about the kingdom and how we should run it and what people deserve our attention, so I find myself sitting back and letting her do the work. And when I tell you she has the kindest soul.” 

Killian wouldn’t be leaving the high seas, not really. He would be close to the sea, and be sent on missions. But he would be paid in gold he did not have to steal. And he would marry Emma one day the right way. And King David, he did have a kind heart, but he was also a concerned father, and that’s why he knew he would never

be like the King who killed Liam. A Pirate's life came at a time of darkness, and was filled with getting revenge. But that all stopped when he fell in love with Emma. So maybe it was time for a new change. “King David, I accept your offer to be in your Royal Navy as your trusted Captain. I just would like one request.”

David just nods, “tell me.”

“My home is my ship, the Jolly Roger. She has been with me through everything, light and dark. But she wasn’t always a Pirate ship, she was once the Jewel of the Realm, fastest ship in the kingdom. If I’m to accept, I would wish to keep my ship. I will tell my men to bugger off and find another Captain to follow. I am already giving up my life as a Pirate, let me keep my ship. I know how she runs and her weak spots, she can be a Naval Ship once more.” 

The King smiles, “we have a deal.” 

_____

“Emma. It’s me.” David knocks softly on his daughter's door. He was too harsh on her, she has always been his baby girl and seeing her grown up and making her own decisions was hard for him, but he had to accept it. “Can we talk?”

“Go away. I don’t want to see you.” She yells back. 

“I have someone here to see you.” 

“Love, will you open the door?” As soon as Killians voice is heard, Emma opens her door and jumps into his arms. He wraps his arms around her and breathes in her scent. “I missed you.” 

Emma wipes away her tears as she looks up at her Pirate, standing next to her father. “What are you doing here?” 

It’s David that steps forward. “Emma. Firstly I just want to apologise for how I acted. It was wrong of me to dismiss you straight away, I should have given you a chance to tell your story instead of locking you away.” He truly was sorry for how he acted, he was stubborn and impulsive and when she had been missing he panicked and assumed the worst when he learnt she had run away with a Pirate. “Secondly, I would like to introduce my new Naval Captain, Captain Jones. He has my permission to officially court you, if that is what you desire.” 

Emma’s mouth widens in shock, Killian-Naval Captain? She can barely process what was going on and the words couldn’t form in her mouth, all she can manage to say is “what?”  

And so the two men explain their conversation and Emma isn’t able to stop the tears coming from her eyes. As long as she had Killian by her side, nothing else mattered.

“You will be able to court him. If things go well we will discuss your engagement.’ Her father explains and Emma couldn't believe this was happening. “I understand you wish to abdicate, but all I ask is give it time, your mother will lay off the suitors and I will see about what we can do about your duties and so you don’t feel like a prisoner in this place. If you still wish to abdicate, then I understand, we just don’t want to lose you Emma.”

Emma hugs her father, and whispers “thank you daddy.”  This was all she had been asking for, to marry someone of her choosing and for her family to listen to her. Whatever would come next, at least she had Killian by her side.

[captainswanfluffyfebruary]

There's No Harm in Repeating

Killian Jones has lived in apartment 204 for a year and has never exchanged more than ‘hellos’ with Emma Swan in apartment 205. That is until a run-in with her son, Henry, results in the boy doing some unintentional matchmaking. For how else do you find out what a woman thinks of you, if not through her four-year-old son? A Captain Swan as neighbors au featuring Captain Cobra moments.

Read on A03 and send some fluffy love to @beckettj

[stubblesandwich]

Shipmates, anyone have any favorite fake dating AU fics for Captain Swan? 👀 I'm listening to an audiobook and the characters are giving me some vibes that led to an itch that must be scratched. Y'all know how it is.

[donteattheappleshook]

Happy Birthday @The-DarkDragonfly!!

Happiest of birthdays @the-darkdragonfly ​ to one of my best friends! I’m so glad that the fandom brought us together and while your birthday fic isn’t finished, I thought it would share some of my favorite fics of YOURS! 

You are such a talented writer and such a wonderful person and if anyone hasn’t read these fics they are incorrect and need to fix it immediately)

This was very hard to narrow down because everything your write is perfect but I gave it my best shot! 

The Ripple Effect

Of course I had to start with the fic that brought us together. This story, omg this story. Every time I read it I’m filled with an irrational anger at how unbelievably beautiful your prose is and what an ubelievable talent you have for creating atmosphere and building relationships between characters. The way you write this fic is magical, there’s no other word for it. It weaves through time and perspectives, dialogue and imagery and emotion and my heart just shatters every time I read about these two adorable broken idiots fixing each other and falling in love. And omg your little snippets of everyday life are so imaginative and hilarious and are so perfectly in character and somehow both incredibly specific and relatable. I could read a hundred million fics of just filler scenes (which I know you also have -Missing Moments)I will forever think of this fic when I watch the CS movie and wish that we’d gotten this instead. 

Tempest

I hadn’t started this one when you were writing the first version but when you started on the rewrite omg I have jumped onboard and along for the ride the entire way with this adorable wonderful fic. I will say it now, I don’t usually like Captain Duckling but this story is so wonderfully written that you’ve managed to make me obsessed with your version of them. The dynamic between them is just beautiful and so honest and pure and they’re both just so. stupid. and I love them and will protect them with my whole heart. I adore the way that you don’t always give us all the moments of their relationship at once and just let us see it develop and then jump back and forth through time to give us scenes we’re already invested in and dying for. I love this fic and I’m fully aware that you’re gonna hurt me with it but I’m 100% here for it. And also - WILLIAM!!! My beautiful, sad, sassy, loveable William. I will never get enough of him and how you write him in this fic. He is the ultimate bestie and comic relief watching his mom and dad try to get their shit together and fall in love and I would die for him. 

The Wreck of our Hearts

My birthday fic!!! This one is gonna be short because I get emotional just thinking about this story. You took my favorite Hook, Deckhand Hook, and mixed him with my other favorite, Silver Hook, and you’ve created a monster that no other Killian will ever live up to. Just an ultra sad broken man who still loves Emma so damn much and can I keep typing through my tears? I don’t know but I do know I’m gonna go reread through them. 

People, please, if you haven’t, go read it. If you have, go read it again. 

PS: If you ever wanted to revisit this universe or this character I’m not saying I’d be mad... 

Old Times' Sake - A Captain Swan Tale 

I don’t care if it’s July. This Christmas fic can be read any damn time of the year and it will destroy me and put me back together again every time. You’ve done it again! Taken my sad broken little babies and put them together and made them whole. This story is SO short (seriously I had to go back and check the word count because I couldn’t believe it) but it somehow has such a rich backstory woven in for both Emma and Killian, both their families and their relationship and oh man you know I’m a sucker for “what do you mean, feelings? this is just boning (LIES)” and you did it so perfectly here. This wasn’t my Christmas present but I’ve decided to claim it as such because it’s my favorite Christmas fic of all time (again, a genre I don’t like that you’ve somehow managed to make me adore - very rude. stop doing that. but also don’t. ever.) 

Sill Love Songs

You KNOW I had to end with this one right? My very own birthday fic and omg I will forever be grateful to have you in my life for writing me this fic (and many other reasons but the point stands). This story is Hilarious. Like I was giggling and laughing out loud throughout because, you guessed it, William Fucking Scarlet. All I asked for was CS's love story told in the POV of his inappropriate wedding toast and GIRL. You delivered. He’s so absolutely perfect in this story. His interactions with Killian make me die (when he propositions him in the kitchen I thought I would straight up perish) and his interactions with Emma are equally hilarious but also so so soft and beautiful underneath it all. I did not expect to be hit in the chest with a mactruck of emotion in what I expected to be an aptly named silly little fic but of course I should have because everything you write carries so many layers of human emotion and you’re characters are so REAL and beautiful and flawed in such a true to life way. I don’t know where or how you developped such an amazing talent or if you were just born with it but I will selfishly devour and demand more of everything that you write with it.

I’m also just saying that the sequel doesn’t HAVE to be a birthday fic... I have a 2/3rds birthday coming up in August..... 

Happy birthday bestie!

Thank you so much for everything that you write and for being such an amazing person in my life. I hope you have a wonderful birthday long weekend and a fantastic year! 

And please add your tag list so they can all get a reminder of these amazing fics!

[snowbellewells]

@initiala Oh man, oh man! Another one shot that has been around a while, but rediscovering and rereading it today definitely made me smile. Just a beautiful reminder of how Killian truly kept his word in the missing year and “not a day went by” without him thinking of his Swan. But in your version she finds the visual evidence of just how close she always was to him.

Brilliant and simply lovely!!

Could you write a fic of Killian getting drunk one night and coming home with an "Emma" tattoo? (maybe similar to his "Milah" one?)

Tweaking this one just a little :)

It’s not until Camelot that Emma notices it.

In her defense, she and Killian had only slept together once before the whole Queens of the Night People thing. She’d been much more interested in finding out if the good captain could put his money where his mouth was than a slow exploration of each other’s bodies. After things went haywire, they’d been reduced to quickies in a dark corner to take the edge off, always promising to take it slow, take their time later, later, later.

They’d thought there would be more time.

Keep reading

[snowbellewells]

CS Fic Rec Monday: "Safe Passage" by: @belovedcreation

This one shot Autumn Bingo fic by @belovedcreation just swept me up in its adventure and then its healing, bonding and romance so completely. I know that I'm going to be returning to re-read it MANY times, and that so many good stories have been posting lately that people might have missed it - which would be a real crime! And this is coming from someone who genuinely CANNOT HANDLE zombies, about a story that it "zombie-adjacent", so that should tell you just how irresistible it is. ;p

There is some wonderful Swan Believer in this, with Emma and Herny surviving alone in dangerous new surroundings. And heroic Hook who brings them the title's "safe passage" and some really beautiful trust and sharing (and of course chemistry) between our captain and our heroine.

I kept thinking about it, and so I attempted some cover art for it as well. I hope you'll like it @belovedcreation!!! I'm so glad you shared this story with us! ;)

"Safe Passage" by: @belovedcreation

[killiansprincss]

A Court of Vines and Shadow - for @cssns ‘23

SUMMARY: When Dark One Killian Jones makes Faerie Princess Emma of Misthaven spend 3 moon cycles a year with him to break a curse, Emma never expected to fall in love with him. Now she was walking down the aisle, meant to marry a man she doesn't love because she can never be with the one her heart wants. Or can she?

An ACOTAR Inspired fic written for Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 23. Also on A03

Also it’s July 9th and Speak Now Taylor’s Version just came out I feel like Speak Now is the perfect song to accompany this fic!!

Huge thanks to @cssns for this amazing event which allowed me to bring this to life! And special shoutouts to @hollyethecurious for the amazing art and also to my awesome beta @blonde-of-sherwood 💙💜

White dress. The Spring fallen gardens filled with flowers upon flowers, petals scattered all the way down the aisle and vines spiralling the chairs and arch. Flowers Emma had grown herself with her magic, snowbells and lilies, her mothers favourite flowers, the ones she first learnt how to grow using her magic when it first manifested all those years ago.

Her mother was who she was doing this for. Marrying someone she doesn’t love. Her mother worked so hard to arrange the various meetings with suitors, all noble Fae men, only the best for the Princess of Misthaven. Her mother never got to have a big wedding, she met Emma’s father and fell in love almost as quickly as she fell pregnant. As newly appointed King of Misthaven, they had to elope quickly so the Kingdom would be more accepting of their new Queen, who also happened to be a demi-fae. Her mother, who Emma dearly loved, so much so that she was marrying someone she had had just 3 conversations with all to appease the Kingdom and not go to Civil War because of the man she does love.

Killian. That’s who her mind wandered to. The Prince of Darkness as the rest of the Kingdom saw him. It had taken a while to see past his shadows and darkness, which she now understands was built from the loss of his family and the only people he had ever loved. But she loved him fiercely, anytime they were apart it broke her. Having to say goodbye for the final time was the closest Emma had felt to heartbreak. 

So here she was, standing in her white dress, flowers in her hair and bouquet in her hands, where she would meet her father, take his arm and walk down the aisle to marry Lord Walsh. Pushing thoughts of Killian to the back of her mind as she walked towards the aisle to all the smiling faces of her Kingdom. She had to do this, she loved Killlian but they both knew they would never be together in the way they wanted. She just wished she had allowed herself to see past his darkness sooner and they could have had more time together. 

“Emma.” An all too familiar voice calls her name from behind the aisle. He uses his power to bind the shadows to him, making him appear in a sort of smoke of darkness as he steps towards his lover. One of his other talents includes stopping time, just for a few minutes, but those few minutes were all he needed.

“Killian. What are you doing here?” As much as she loved him, it pained her to see him here. They had said their goodbyes a few nights prior. Seeing him here, in a white dress about to marry someone else, it wasn’t right.

“I have tried, Emma, truly I have tried to stay away. If it made you happy I would stand by and let you marry someone else, but I can feel your pain all the way in Neverland. It’s causing me pain too, and I think I understand now, it’s why I was so drawn to you the very first time we met, why, even when you hated me you could never really stay away.”

“Killan, you’re not making any sense, what are you saying?” It was painful seeing him, she was hurting, thinking of their time together and how fate was so cruel to not allow them more time.

“You’re my mate.” 

His mate. Mates in this world were rare, her parents were never granted that luxury. She hadn’t known of anyone in the last 200 years who found their Mate. So why her? Why now?

Mates were equal in power and status, perfectly matched by the universe. A one true love, a soulmate. She never denied she loved Killian, but being his Mate was a whole other experience. It made sense in a way, they were drawn together at the ball when they first met. He could sense she was powerful, he recognised her untapped powers, something even her parents were unable to do. And she was never scared of him either, she had heard the rumours of course, and knew what he was capable of, but that didn't scare her. 

_______________

Emma had been to hundreds of balls in her lifetime, even when she was a little girl, she would sneak into the ones at her palace, and watch everyone dance. They all shared a unique beauty about them, from the way the light reflected on the dresses worn or the chandeliers making rainbows across the walls, they were a thing of otherworldly beauty. But this ball in particular was nothing like those she was used to. It was hosted just outside Misthavens borders, an old castle known to be taken up residence by a Fae many years ago known as “The Dark One”. Rumours began to spiral that the Dark One was back. It had been years since he had been seen and random killings had stopped, but who knew. The invitations went to all the noble folk in Misthaven and surrounding kingdoms and the signature was empty, leaving more curious minds. There were many debates surrounding whether they should go or not, but the Royal Family of Misthaven had to attend to keep peace.

As she grew older the balls became a chance for her parents to find her a suitor to marry, she was now 21 and it was considered uncouth for the Crown Princess to be unmarried, even by Fae standards. So in an effort to avoid dancing with a Duke, she would practise her magic. Every Fae was gifted a power linked to the four elements, and Emma had inherited Earth from her mother. At times she thought it was a boring element to have, her younger brother Leo had water, which was useful for everyday life as well as pulling pranks (to which she was victim of lately). But as she got older she learnt to appreciate it, she enjoyed seeing what she could make grow, especially in situations like right now. 

There would always be potted plants, pretty flowers surrounding the tables, she breathed into her powers and with a single touch could double the petals or even change their colours. Sometimes she would paint the pink flowers blue, or the white ones black just to test what she could do. Of course, her mother didn’t approve of using it for this. She was also gifted with the power of earth, but she preferred to make things grow or inject life back into a sunken plant, rather than mess with existing life.

“Not enjoying the festivities I see?” A voice from behind Emma startles her, she didn’t recognise him, dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Dressed in an all black leather suit, not the typical style the men wore. His pointed ears stick out from his dark hair, Emma had always felt self conscious of her ears, so made an effort to hide them, but this man, whoever he was, was the most beautiful man she’d ever laid eyes on.

“I come for the faerie wine and food only I’m afraid.” She tells him with a playful smile.

“Well if you’re here for the wine why aren’t you dancing? Most people get drunk off a few sips then don’t leave the dance floor all night.”

She leans in close, “I’m not like most women.” What was the harm in flirting, he was gorgeous and her parents would never approve which made him all the more exciting.

He holds out his hand to her, “Dance with me, I insist.” 

Dancing with a handsome stranger was not how Emma expected the night to go, but he was a great partner, unlike some of the suitors her mother had forced upon her in the past. He led her around the room with grace and it was as though they flew through the dancefloor together, no stepping on toes and he even spun her around a couple times, feeling the wine go to her head a little more. “You’re really good at this.”

“There’s just one rule, pick a partner who knows what he’s doing.” He whispers into her ear as he dips her. “You’re very powerful, you know Emma.” He tells her as she comes up.

“How do you know my name?” Sure she was the Princess, and most people recognise her at these things, but it was strange the way he said it so casually.

“I know a lot of things Emma.” He whispers, his breath close to her neck, making Emma feel a sense of arousal. A moment later the mystery man turned into shadow and darkness, disappearing from her hold and reappearing out of shadows at the top of the staircase.

“Welcome to my lovely guests. I guess it’s time I introduce myself?”

All eyes were on the mystery man now, they all saw his shadow power. That wasn’t one of the four elements, this was some other worldly magic. Then, for Emma at least, it clicks. The charming lustful energy coming from him, his ability to know things he shouldn’t, and his shadow and darkness powers. He was the Dark One.

That should have made her terrified, but for some reason, it didn’t scare her. Who was he?

“My name is Killian Jones. But I believe your people have a few different names for me, Dark One, Wronged Fae, Prince of Darkness is a personal favourite-though I bore no royal blood or status.”

_____________

And that’s where it began, he said he held this ball because he was supposedly cursed and needed someone with light magic to resolve it. Not just any light magic though, a very specific kind. And of all the Fae in the land, he decided Emma, after one conversation and dance that she was the Fae he was looking for, only she could break the curse. 

“All I request are 3 moon cycles with her every year until I decide otherwise, or my curse is broken, whichever comes first.” This was his deal, his bargain. As the Dark One, you would be a fool to refuse or dispute a bargain. 

Her parents were outraged, and tried everything in their power to stop them. They were a royal family, if he were anyone else maybe that would have been enough, but as the Dark One, he bore no allegiance to royalty. So for 3 moon cycles, she was to live with him, in his castle, doing who knows what.

____

The first moon cycle was absurd, The Dark One didn’t mention a single thing about his supposed curse. He made her practise her magic every single day. Barely spoke to her. Her main source of contact was with one of the servants, Belle. She would show her to her room, which wasn’t a prison or a dungeon like she was expecting, but it had lush carpets. velvet curtains and the most gorgeous and comfortable king size bed in the centre of the room. She would also take her down to the grand dining room where she was to eat all meals. The food was exquisite, the spices used were unlike anything she’d eaten before, it made Misthavens cooks look like a child in the kitchen. 

There was no sign of him for the first couple of days, he left Belle with a page of  instructions for Emma to get on with while she was here. The only thing on the list:

Read: The Complete Earth Elemental Magic Volume I

Read about her magic. That was the only thing she would do all day. For the first two moon cycles this is all she does, she sees him in passing, at mealtimes mainly. He is pleasant and they make small talk. 

When she arrives home, her parents pounce on her, needing to know everything. What she witnessed, who she spoke to and if he hurt her in any way. They were terrified, and it made Emma realise she wasn’t afraid of him the way others were.

“We have suitors lined up.” Her mother would tell her, desperate to get her married off in the strange fear the Dark One would whisk Emma away to be his bride before she could marry a noble born. She would play along and speak to the princes and lords her parents picked out for her. She tried, really tried to find something good in any of them, but her mind would wander back to the blue eyes and dark haired villain she would be seeing again very soon.

The next moon cycle comes along and her task is to again, read the magic book which she was now on volume III of. Enough was enough, she needed to know her place and what exactly he intended to do with her.

“I have read these volumes cover to cover. If I have to learn about the different ways a flower can be grown I think I will die of boredom. You mentioned a curse that first night. Tell me everything and I can look in those stupid books for something that might actually help.”

He smiles at her as she rambles on about being a useful Fae and powerful if he lets her see. He admired her courage and her passion. “Very well Emma.” The way he says her name makes Emma feel something inside her that she’s not sure is good or bad.

“Contrary to popular belief about the Dark One, I did not choose this power willingly. It was forced upon me by a former Dark One. You see, only one can exist at a moment in time, and the only way to steal the power is to steal the life that holds such power.” He then goes on to explain how many years ago, his brother’s wife had fallen sick from her pregnancy and they were not sure if the baby would survive, the three of them searched for a cure around different lands, different royal families, they had to find something to save her but had no such luck. “One night, we had grown tired and stopped to find shelter for the night, when Elsa, my brother's wife began to bleed, she was losing the baby. Liam cried out and an old man came to our aid, asked if we would do anything to help to which I naively responded yes to. He kills them both using a type of magic I didn’t know existed.’ He can barely get through his story without stopping every few moments, and it's clear he still has a heart. “He then tells me if I take the dagger and stab him in the heart, they will be revived and the baby safe.”

“He forced you to kill him so he would be free of his curse, and in turn it then cursed you?”

“Aye love. That night has haunted me for nearly 200 years, I was desperate and if I could go back and change things I would. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to free myself that doesn’t involve trickery. I also do not wish to burden another innocent life with this curse.” He then takes Emma’s hand and looks into her eyes, “That is where you come in, Emma Darling.  I saw a seer and she shared with me a vision. A golden haired demi-fae with an earth element bearing an unyielding amount of light magic has the power to free me without hurting either party.”

“And of all the demi-fae with an earth element, you believe it's me because?”

“That’s why I held the ball. I wanted to see who I was drawn to, and as soon as I met you Emma, it was clear you were the one. You are special” The way he looked at her as she said this, made her feel warm inside. For a split second Emma also thought he was going to kiss her, and that if he did, she would let him.

That was the changing point. The more time they spent together going over her magic the more confident she felt. She learnt more things about her magic that she had known were possible. She could end life as quickly as she could revive it, well, the life of a flower anyway. She could drain the life from a lily and then when it was wilting, press life back into it. Emma guessed the more she practised this, maybe she would drain the darkness from Killian.

“Have you ever experimented with other elements, Emma Darling?” He asks one day, it was the last day of the moon cycle and she was to return home. She hadn’t realised how much she would miss his company.

“I was only gifted with the earth element, my mother shares it too. My brother inherited water from my father.” She explains, “I haven’t heard of any Fae who were gifted more than one element, wouldn’t that disrupt the power balance?” 

She would also miss the way he would sit there and smile at her when she rambled, he really wasn't as bad as people said he was. They didn’t know him the way she did. “Emma, you’re special. You hold the element of earth, well all elements are connected to the earth, are they not? Why don’t you try to conjure fire?”

All Fae were granted one element, fire, air, earth or water, it was unheard of for someone to hold a double or even triple elemental magic, every scripture and teacher would tell you too much power would disrupt the power balance of the universe, and everyone would suffer. But then again if she were truly the Fae in his prophecy, she was already disrupting the power of the universe.

“I wouldn’t know where to start, I don’t know anyone with that power and even if I did I-.” He was already moving towards her before she could finish her train of thought.

“All power lives inside you Emma.” He stands behind her and places his hand on her shoulders, moving down to her abdomen, “you can feel it inside you, reach deep inside and find that extra source of power.” Emma had to focus on keeping her breathing normal, he was touching her and she was feeling very strange things at the moment. Still, she does as he instructs, she feels where she knows her earth power lies, she taps into it daily. But then she tries to focus on where that power was, and if she could feel anything else. At first she could only feel her earth, but then she felt something different, she wasn’t sure what it was but it was similar to the way her earth felt. 

“That's it, love.” Killian says, hand still resting on her abdomen, “hone in on that. And think of something that makes you angry, feel the fire before you conjure it.”

Pushing the way his husky breath felt on her neck aside, she thought of her mother and how she orchestrated all these suitors that were supposedly so ‘perfect’ for her, how she never listened to what she wanted and how angry she felt when she would come home from her studies to see a Prince or a Duke in her sitting room.

“Open your eyes Emma.”

Fire. A small flame coming from her palm was the sight Emma was greeted with when she opened her eyes. It didn’t burn for very long once she realised what she had done and couldn’t figure out how to control it. But she did that.

“I conjured fire.” She says with a mix of shock and excitement plastering her face. 

“I told you you were powerful Emma.”

 He was still standing behind her, so she turns to see him grinning at her and his gaze fixed on her, in awe of her. They’re both silent for a moment, clearly having the same internal battle inside their head. Their heads moved closer and closer until their lips finally met and Emma felt her magic on fire. Every sense was heightened with this kiss, a merge of power and lust building up from their shared time together. Killian deepens the kiss as his hand settles on her cheek while Emma’s hands find his hair. She’s being pushed up against the wall after a while, and Emma leans her head back and moans as Killian pressees kisses onto her neck and then back to her lips. 

Their time together was never the same after that. Being apart from one another became harder. Every time Emma would practise her newfound powers, her thoughts would wander back to Killian and how he made her feel. 

When they were together, they were rarely apart. She possessed all four elements, and took the time to learn and explore what she could do with them. Of course she had to keep this quiet when she was away from Neverland and from Killian. Her family and her court would be wary of her newfound powers, likely brand her as dark as her ‘captor’ as they referred to Killian.

“I wish you would stop calling him that, he has a name.” She finally snaps back at her mother upon her return after listening to her rattling her newest ideas on how to get out of the contract. 

“He forces you to be away from your family for a whole moon cycle. He is darkening your mind with his power if you do not see what is wrong with that my sweet child.” 

That taught her to keep her mouth shut. They didn’t understand. Yes, as part of a bargain she was to spend time with him, but she looked forward to those moon cycles, he understood her, listened to her, she felt he was the only person she could be herself around. Worst of it was, she was falling in love with him. No, she was in love with him. And she had an inkling that he felt the same.

The next time she comes home, yet again there is a suitor sitting in her living room. She didn’t know who this one was and frankly, she didn’t care.

“Emma. I’m glad to see you’re home in one piece.” Her mother says, and Emma rolls her eyes, pretending she wasn’t practically seething that comment. She would never understand Killian or how she felt safe with him.

“Hello mother. Who is our guest?” She asks with a fake smile, knowing full well this was another suitor she was not interested in.

The suitor offers out his hand and bows, “Lord Walsh of Oz. it is a pleasure to finally meet you, your highness.” 

He was an older man, older than she was, which was not uncommon for suitors as they had to be to have a title. He was average height, nothing particularly interesting about him was jumping out at her. Her mother clearly chose this one from the same place as all the others, he was polite and overly grateful to the Queen for inviting him. They would all sip on their tea whilst Emma made polite conversation with them and they would express their interest for children and make an awful comment about being the more powerful Fae and Emma would thank them for their time as she busied herself with something else to get away. She wondered how long this one would take to get rid of. 

“Lord Walsh is to be your husband. We have been setting arrangements whilst you were being held hostage.” She rolls her eyes at the hostage comment and was about to argue, until it hits what she just said.

“I’m sorry, we’re to be married when?” This was a new low, even for her mother. “Mother, may I speak with you in private?”

“Excuse us.” Snow tells Walsh as she guides her daughter into the drawing room.

“I can’t believe this. I’m away for one moon cycle and you have me married off already? I keep telling you, I want to marry for love.” She didn’t know what to feel right now, angry yes, upset yes, and also confused, why now, when the topic of suitors had never felt imminent. 

“Emma, every day you spend with the Dark One is a day closer to us never seeing you again.” She tells her as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. 

“If this is still about him corrupting my mind, you have to know I’m still the same person as I was before the bargain.” As the Crown Princess, Emma didn’t have many choices in terms of clothing, free speech or political opinion, but she deserved the freedom to choose and to marry whoever she liked. 

Her mother touched her cheek, a way she did when Emma was younger. “Emma, the fact you don’t see it worries me. This is for the best. If we send a message you’re getting married, you can convince him to call off the bargain. This is a good thing Emma, things will go back to the way they were.”

She may have spent more moon cycles with the Dark One than planned, but she sure as hell was not dark herself, Killian couldn’t corrupt her when he was only trying to heal. She was different, she admits that, but it was a good different. She was powerful, confident in her abilities and her magic. Something that only came from being with Killian.

But she was the princess. Her parents, the King and Queen. She could fight with them about many things, but this was orchestrated by them. She could try to refuse this marriage, but she would need a valid reason, another prince or duke to replace Lord Walsh. It was a horrifying thought, but she didn’t have a choice. She was going to have to marry him.

What she wanted was to run away with Killian. She wanted to free him of his curse, help him heal. She did not want to be bound to him for a moon cycle at a time, she wished to spend as much time as she wished. But if she did that then her parents would come looking, they would send armies to search for her, it would cost the kingdom more money than they have. Running away would cause a civil war. 

All because she fell in love with the wrong Fae.

________________________________________

“I know you feel it too. Please Emma, don’t deny it.” He pleads, keeping the shadows clouding around them for a little while longer.

“I don’t deny it. I’m just in shock.” She admits. Having a mate in this world was rare, but those who were lucky enough to be granted one would be damned for all eternity if they chose to reject their mate. She had grown up with a legend of a male who loved another for years before meeting his mate, they chose to be apart and he died of heartache. She isn’t sure how much of that was true, but there was a reason they were chosen to be mates by the universe. She couldn’t marry Lord Walsh, no matter how hard her mother worked, marrying someone she had no love for knowing her mate, her true love was just out of reach would be too painful a life to lead. “Killlian, if we’re doing this, it has to be right, we have to follow the rules. If I run away now, it will only start a war.”

Killian nods in understanding, “We do this the right way. I claim you in front of everyone, and if you claim me back there is nothing they can do to stop.” He gives her a quick kiss before disbanding the shadows around them and hides from onlookers until it's time.

The crowd are unaware anything happened as she begins her descent down the flowery aisle. She spies her family in the crowd, her mother looking so happy, her brother next to her smiling brightly and her father trying not to cry as she takes his arm. He was meant to be giving her away to Walsh, but he was indirectly handing his daughter over to the Dark One. This was going to break their hearts, but she hoped they would see that Killian made her happy, the life she was choosing for herself was far better than the one her family were choosing for her. 

Walsh stands at the end of the aisle by the arch, his family were noble and would prosper from this union, more land and a grander estate. All of that was meaningless though, he didn’t love Emma either, it was his family pushing this marriage as much as it was her own. She was leaving a lot behind, her brother would become Crown Prince, and her mother would likely push a marriage for him too, likely to Princess Alexandra of the Western Kingdom to save the Kingdom from too much heartbreak of a runaway Princess. But it was worth it, the time spent with Killian made her feel alive for the first time in her life, she discovered things about her she didn’t know she could do.

“We are gathered today to witness the marital union between these two people. Lord Walsh of Oz, and Princess Emma of Misthaven.”

Emma spies Killians shadows from just beyond the arch, waiting for the right time.

“If there is any reason why these two should not be married, Speak Now or forever hold your peace.”

Silence from the crowd. Until shadows grow and at the other end of the aisle, Killian transfigures. “I object.”

The crowd begins to stir, chatter arises, some people even scream. “Under what grounds?”

“I have come to claim Emma. As my Mate.”

Shock horror from the crowd once again, she hears her parents cries and pleads not to go through with this, but she had no choice, this was for her own happiness, she was putting herself first for once.

“Do you claim me as I claim you?” He asks, knowing her answer.

“I claim you, Killian Jones, as my mate.”

Neither were sure exactly what would happen when they said those words, legend said mates had to claim one another in words, whether that be in public or in private. Considering mates were rare and neither had met or heard of anyone that had a mate, they were unaware if anything were meant to happen after they had claimed one another, whether it be lighting from the sky or if they would feel it in their hearts.

Neither were prepared for their right arms to suddenly have ink appear and spiral into a tattoo, matching with one another. Confirming their mateship and that they were now bound to one another, there was nothing anyone could do about it.

With a last look of pity and sorrow at her family, she runs into her new mates arms, and they disappear in a cloud of shadow.

 Emma was going home.

[snowbellewells]

@the-reason-to-sail-home Oh my heavens! This was simply STUNNING!!! I don’t know how I had never stumbled across this story before, but it is beautiful! I loved the idea of Killian’s voice charming the very stars, and how they had loved and lost each other before, and how it all came together to allow him to save Emma in the present. It was bittersweet and melancholy and tugged at my heart, and yet they were able to find their happy ending as well. I am so glad I got the chance to read this! Thank you for writing it. 💖💖💖

his sea of stars

“You’ve listened every time I’ve spoken before,” he said to the stars above his head. “You’ve turned and moved to listen to my voice and my poems. Now it is time for you to repay me.”

The stars twinkled in response, showering light on his face as if to wash his tears.

“Hold onto this magic. Keep it safe,” his voice cracked as he added the last important part. “Use it to bring us together in every lifetime, and when the time comes, I will be back for it. I’ll use it to save her. I won’t let her get away.”

Killian focused on the magic humming inside of him. He closed his eyes, tears sneaking out between the lids, and outstretched open palms. The glowing began in his fingers before extending throughout his entire body.

A final offering, Killian lifted his arms toward the sky and let the heavenly lights take away the burden of the magic. With it, they lifted away his grief and his sorrow. The magic exploded out of him in a flash of bright white light, but just as soon as it came, it was gone. Because of the fisherman’s heroic actions, the princess’ sleeping curse wasn’t for naught.

Read full fic on tumblr, ao3, and ff.net. 

CS Halloweek Day 3: Myths, Legends, and Fairytales

[captainswanfluffyfebruary]

Under the Weather

This is just a little post-Neverland one-shot, taking place sometime after they've returned to Storybrooke with Henry. Pan's gone, and there is no second curse. It was probably inspired by cold January weather and my wondering how Hook managed to keep warm and not get sick on a freezing cold old ship. And it was cold January weather this morning that brought it back to mind to re-post this morning. Anyway, pretty sweet and fluffy, I'll admit it, but I still hope you enjoy.

Read on A03 and send some fluffy love to @snowbellswells

[snowbellewells]

CSFRM: "A Taste of Love" by: @belovedcreation

This three part fic is really wonderful and beautiful - by turns steamy and angsty, painful and healing. I love the way we see Killian's loves and losses in such detail. What those he loved before and along with Emma mean to him, and the part they all have in him becoming the man he is, and then seeing what he and Emma come to mean to each other in this AU version of their meeting, makes the whole love story all that much more deeply felt. I like Emma also being a pirate captain in this, and it's interesting to see her interacting comfortably in that world. I also really like the way it's set up - even indicated in the separate parts' titles - as different courses of a decadent meal. It really is quite a rich and rewarding treat to savor as you read.

@belovedcreation has been writing and posting some amazing MCs for ages now, but this three shot might have slid under the radar. If you haven't read it yet, you should check it out for sure!

"A Taste of Love" by: @belovedcreation

[veryverynotgoodwrites]

Chapters: 6/? Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Captain Hook | Killian Jones/Emma Swan, Captain Hook | Killian Jones & Emma Swan Characters: Captain Hook | Killian Jones, Emma Swan, Evil Queen | Regina Mills, Original Characters, William Smee, Various Characters Additional Tags: Dark One Captain Hook | Killian Jones, Alternate Universe, Thief Emma Swan, Alternate Universe - The Enchanted Forest (Once Upon a Time), Enemies to Lovers, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Angst, Heavy Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Romance, Eventual Smut, Slow Romance, Action/Adventure, What Have I Done, Prepare Your Souls, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, Additional Warnings Apply Summary:

Emma Swan, arguably the most talented thief in Misthaven, receives an offer from the Evil Queen that she can't refuse: steal an amulet from the new Dark One in exchange for amnesty and more money than she could ever dream of. She devises the perfect plan, but this job might cost her more than she ever imagined.

A Dark Hook AU

-

Hello, hello! I hope you like long chapters lol

This was a fun one - the length and development in this chapter was really challenging, but ultimately necessary to keep up the pacing. One of my goals with this fic is learning to write stories over short timelines, and since this story is meant to take place over 8-10 weeks, I want it to feel like every chapter comes with at least one change or significant event. It’s been very fun yet somehow incredibly stressful trying to ensure that I’m hitting my goal and also remaining consistent in wrangling plot bunnies.

Huge shoutout to @caught-in-the-filter​ and @xarandomdreamx​ for the beta on this chapter! You have no idea how much your feedback truly helps. Even every flail in the doc is helpful to ensure I’m keeping everything straight since I don’t write chapters in order.

Another thank you, as always, to everyone in the CSMM discord for always being there and motivating and encouraging me and everyone else. Truly, you’re the best thing to come out of my 11 years on Tumblr.

If you’ve read this story and want more, or if you want to be tagged in any of my stories please let me know! I’m more than happy to add you to my tags list :)

@kmomof4​ @caught-in-the-filter​ @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713​ @the-darkdragonfly​ @teamhook​ @justanother-unluckysoul​ @jrob64​ @karlyfr13s​ @hollyethecurious​  @tiganasummertree​ @winterbaby89​ @snowbellewells​ @xarandomdreamx​ @klynn-stormz​ @omninerdgirl​