#ouat 3b

[shipping1addict]

I'm sure people already mentioned that scene on multiple occasions (including me) but my god.

The scene in 3x13 where Emma "introduces" Regina to Henry could be read as her wanting her son to meet her new girlfriend.

Even from the beginning of the scenen in front of the charming's apartment, where Regina gets all nervous to snow giving a side eye to hear when she enters the room.

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

How the Witch Stole Christmas--A CS Secret Santa Fic

Note: Merry Christmas @captainswan-kellie!  I was your Secret Santa this year!  I hope you enjoy your gift, and I hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Tagging a few people who may be interested (Let me know if you want to be added or taken off the list):

@jennjenn615 @laschatzi @snowbellewells @iamanneenigma @kmomof4

@linda8084 @searchingwardrobes @hollyethecurious @winterbaby89 @facesiousbutton82 

@therooksshiningknight @lfh1226-linda @tiganasummertree @jrob64  @anmylica 

@booksteaandtoomuchtv @i-will-sing-no-requiem @bluewildcatfanatic @laianely

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Thanks, Killian!  Maybe we could go out on your boat again sometime,” Henry said as he bounded into their room at Granny’s.

“Anytime, lad,” Killian said softly, and Emma felt her heart turn over at the affection she heard in Hook’s voice toward her son.  If she stopped to think about it too closely, it would scare the daylights out of her, how much she was coming to depend on him and lean on him in the midst of the latest craziness.

But that was a concern for another day.  For right now, she just wanted to celebrate another day where they were still standing and the villain of the day hadn’t succeeded.

“How did the queen fare against the witch?” Killian asked, as though reading her thoughts.  It was kind of unsettling how effortlessly he was able to do that..

“She survived, but the rest is definitely more than a doorway conversation,” Emma said, suddenly feeling tired as she recalled the showdown in the middle of town square.  

She was about to thank him again, when suddenly her phone rang.

“Hey Mary Margaret, what’s up?” she asked, seeing her mother’s picture on the screen when she pulled the device from her back pocket.

“Can you and Hook meet us down in the parlor in say five minutes?” Mary Margaret asked.

“Sure?” she said, the word coming out more of a question than a statement.  “What’s up?  Is everything okay?  Did the witch–”

“Oh nothing like that,” Mary Margaret said.  “Don’t worry.  Your father and I just had an idea.”

Killian gave her a concerned look as she hung up the phone.  “Another crisis, Swan?”

“I don’t think so,” she said slowly.  “That was Mary Margtaret and she sounded….excited.  She wants us to meet her in the parlor.  Just give me a second to tell the kid where I’m off to.”

Five minutes later, they found themselves seated on a loveseat in front of a merrily roaring fire in Granny’s parlor, an equally confused–and annoyed, from the look of it–Regina sitting across from them.

Before any of them had a chance to speculate what was up, Mary Margaret and David breezed in, cheeks reddened from the cold and a few stray snowflakes in their hair.

“Brr!  It’s cold out there,” Mary Margaret said with a smile, “and it’s starting to snow–which is just perfect.”

Emma shot Killian a bemused look, and he shrugged, clearly as at a loss as she was.

“Mom,” Emma said, hoping to win some favor by using the familial term.  “What’s all this about?  Is there a new threat from Zelena?  Did something else happen?”

“Oh nothing like that!” Mary Margaret said.  “We called you all here because, well, tomorrow’s Christmas Eve.”

“Tomorrow’s….Christmas Eve?” Killian said blankly.

“Oh come on, Hook,” David said, “we had Christmas back in our land.  Surely you know what it is!”

“Of course I bloody know what Christmas is,” Killian bit out.  “What I fail to grasp is why that warrants a meeting of the heroes.”

“We have to plan a celebration, of course!” Mary Margaret said, nearly bounding on her chair.  And there’s no time to waste!”

Regina gave her erstwhile enemy a look of disbelief.  “My insane half sister is running around, trying to steal hearts and courage and who the hell knows what else, and you want to plan a party?”

A look of steely determination came into Mary Margaret’s face.  “Yes, that’s exactly what I want to do,” she said.  “I don’t know what the witch has planned.  I don’t know how she plans to go about getting what she wants, but I do know one thing: when this town comes together we don’t fail.  I refuse to let her steal the joy of the holiday from me or my family–or my town!”

“And the best way to stop her is to set up a Christmas tree and drink eggnog and give each other presents we don’t want anyway?” Regina continued.

“Couldn’t hurt,” David said.

“Of course it could!” Regina exploded.  “Who knows what she’ll get accomplished while we galavant around town like idiots!”

“Swan?  What do you think?” Killian asked, turning toward her.

She thought for a moment before formulating her answer.  “I say, screw her,” she said finally.  “Whatever insane plot she’s hatching, she’s basically acting like a spoiled kid, and what do you do with a spoiled kid?  You ignore them.  She wants to throw a temper tantrum, we’ll be ready for her.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning, Zelena adjusted her hat, and then poofed herself out of her farmhouse to the edge of town, curious to see the effect her showdown with her pathetic younger sister had on the rest of the town.

She’d defeated her handily, thanks in part to her secret, Dark One, weapon.  

Would the town be cowering in fear?  Would they be huddled together trying to prepare for whatever new hell Zelena planned for them?

She looked around, and her brows furrowed in confusion.  There was no spirit of fear or concern in the air.  There was an air of excitement, of festivity.  Grumpy and the rest of the dwarf’s were dragging a huge pine tree onto the square and untangling strands of lights.  Marco and Archie hung decorations on light posts.  Belle sang a Christmas carol as she strung garland on the door of library.

Zelena huddled farther into the large coat she’d donned to hide her identity for her reconnaissance mission.  Stepping into Granny’s, she noticed the core group of heroes–along with Granny and Ruby were engaged in a strategy meeting.

But it wasn’t any kind of strategy meeting she would have expected.  They seemed to be planning….a party.

“Should there be a gift exchange?” Mary Margaret asked.

“Put together in one day?” Regina asked skeptically.

“Why not?” Mary Margaret said.  “What kind of Christmas party doesn’t even have a gift exchange?  We could make it a game.  A white elephant gift exchange!”

They were planning a party?  The morning after she’d so soundly defeated her younger sister?  Had they all gone crazy?

Wordlessly, Zelena slipped out of the diner.  They thought to ignore her and the threat she posed?  She’d see about that!

As she made her way back to her farmhouse, an idea came to her mind. A wonderful, terrible idea

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So….the whole town is having a Christmas party?” Henry asked as he, Emma and Killian walked from their rooms toward the diner bright and early on Christmas morning.

“That they are lad,” Killian said, smiling delightedly. “Replete with gifts, games and holiday treats.”

“But…but weren’t you all just working to find the person who killed my dad, and how you’re having a party?” he asked.

Emma stopped and put a comforting hand on her son’s shoulder.  “Kid, don’t worry, we’ll catch her.  We just can’t stop living while we do.  We can’t let her steal our joy.”

“Your father would want you to enjoy the season,” Killian added.

“But….are we safe?” Henry persisted.

A steely look came into Emma’s eyes.  “The only person who isn’t safe is the w–I mean the killer, if she tries anything today.”

He looked closely at her for a moment.  The kid had an unsettling way of looking for lies–much like she’d always had.  Finally, he nodded.  “Cool.  So what does this town do for Christmas?”

“I guess we’re about to find out,” Emma said.  “And kid…this town is….different, so don’t be surprised if some of their…traditions…are kind of weird.”

“Hey, I’m a kid,” Henry said. “As long as there are presents and sweets I’m happy.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The party went off without a hitch–until late in the afternoon.  Frankly Killian was shocked how long it took for the witch to strike.

They’d just finished a delectable Christmas dinner and were setting up for the white elephant gift exchange–which would no doubt prove to be interesting, given the fact at least four of the dwarves were well into their cups by that point, and Happy was fully inebriated–when a tremendous clatter was heard outside the diner.

As one, the residents of Storybrooke fled to the door and windows to see what was happening.

Zelena, in full on green skin, black dress and hat walked purposely toward them, while a band of flying monkeys screamed to each other, tearing decorations from windows and doors, destroying the carefully decorated tree.

A loud murmur of concern and fear went through the assembly as the witch approached.  Henry, for his part, gave his mother a bemused look.

“Uh…” she said, thinking hard, “this is….this is…”

“The traditional Christmas interactive play,” Regina said, coming to her aid. 

“She looks like the Wicked Witch of the West,” Henry said, skeptically.  “What does she have to do with Christmas?”

“It’s the green skin,” Emma said.  “She’s like… the grinch.”

“So….you do an interactive Grinch play starring the Wicked Witch of the West?”

Fortunately, Swan was saved answering that question by the arrival of the witch herself.

“Well, isn’t this a festive assembly?” Zelena said, walking in confidently.  “Didn’t get enough the other night, sis?”

Without further ado, Zelena raised her hands, called on all of her magic, and…..nothing happened.

“What the hell?” she asked, looking down at her hands.

“Protection spell,” Regina said, gesturing around the diner.  “Covers the whole place.  Sorry to ruin your greatest Christmas wish, but your annoying green hands are tied here.”

“You can’t keep a spell that powerful up forever!” Zelena thundered. “Sooner or later I will break through.”

“Maybe so,” Regina continued.  “But it won’t happen until after Christmas.”

“Look, greenie,” Emma said, “It’s Christmas.  We’re all here to enjoy ourselves.  You’ve got two options: leave us the hell alone, or get over yourself, grab an eggnog and act like an adult, rather than a spoiled child.”

Zelena looked murderous for another moment, and then her facade crumbled.  “You’d really let me join your party?  Knowing who I am?  What I’m capable of? That I’m planning to destroy you all?”

Mary Margaret approached her with a cup of eggnog.  “It’s Christmas, Zelena.   Everyone deserves a little grace and a second chance at Christmas.  I bet there’s even a gift for you under that tree.”

“Come join us,” David said.  “After all, you can always go back to trying to destroy us tomorrow.”

Perhaps the magic of the season touched her.  Perhaps she, like all the rest of them was simply tired.  Perhaps her heart grew three sizes that day. Whatever the reason, after a long silence, in which it felt like no one so much as moved, the witch nodded and the party went on.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Much later that evening a bemused Zelena returned to her farmhouse.  What manner of witchcraft had her spoiled sister used upon her?  She’d gone to the town to destroy their Christmas, and instead they’d invited her in, allowed her to make merry with them, treated her as one of their own.

Was it possible she’d been wrong about them–wrong about everything?

No, she finally decided, sitting before the fire. No, she wouldn’t let a little reverse psychology derail her like that!  Tomorrow it was back to business as usual.  Tomorrow she went back to getting the ingredients she needed.  Tomorrow she took the next step toward getting what she truly deserved–a life in which her sister had never been born.  A life in which she was the favored and only daughter.

And, after all, tonight hadn’t been a complete waste.  She’d gained some useful intel.  It seemed the Savior and the pirate were quite close.  The way they looked at each other.  The way they sought each other out.  Quite the budding romance there.

Perhaps she could use it to her advantage.  Perhaps it was just what she needed to neutralize the savior.  Just a little bit of manipulation, a little bit of deception, and she had no doubt she’d succeed in cursing the pirate’s lips and letting him do the rest for her.

Until then, she had a bigger problem.  The whole noxious town had come together to work as one.  She couldn’t have that.  Couldn’t have that at all.  She had to do something to wipe the warm fuzzies from everyone’s consciousness.

Looks like it was time for one last memory spell.  Taking a vial from her bag, she uncorked it and let the fog waft from it toward the town.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So kid, what did you think of Storybrooke Christmas?” Emma asked as the three of them headed back toward their rooms.

“Mom, this town is really, really weird,” he said.

“You don’t know the half of it,” she muttered under her breath.

“But,” he concluded, “it was a really good Christmas.  Thanks for bringing me.”

She gave him a quick hug.  “Kid, there’s no one in the world I’d rather spend Christmas with than you, no matter where or how we do it.”

“Me too, mom,” he said, returning her hug, before yawning loudly.

“Okay, time for bed, kid,” she said, opening their door, and gesturing inside.  “I’ll be in in a moment.  Just want to talk to Killian.”

She waited until the door was closed after him, and then turned back to Killian.  “Well, it looks like a Christmas disaster was averted, and the kid’s no worse for the wear.”

“Your lad is stronger than you think, love,” Killian said softly, taking a step closer to her and hooking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. “And you did a fantastic job giving him a joyful and memorable Christmas.”

“You really think so?” she asked tentatively.  “Killian, I never really had Christmas growing up the way I did, and so I always want to make sure Henry doesn’t feel the loss the way I did.”

“And he never will,” he said with a gentle smile, “because he has a mother who loves him.  It makes up for any….less than perfect Christmas moment.”

Her heart turned over at the look he gave her.  The look he was always giving her.  He believed in her, really, truly believed in her.  He was on her side and in her corner, no matter what.  It didn’t matter what she did, what she said, how much she tried to push him away.  He’d once told her he was in it for the long haul, and she was finally, finally beginning to suspect that he meant it.

She looked up at him for long moments as her heart pounded.  If she didn’t step away soon, she was going to do something stupid. Like kiss him.

She should turn around, walk back into her room.  Bid him good night.

But it was Christmas.  The day had been magical.  She was feeling good–and he was a big part of it.

Screw it.  Tomorrow she’d go back to guarding her heart.  For tonight.  For one night only, she’d show him what his support meant to her.

Reaching up, she grabbed his lapels and pulled him down for a long, slow kiss.  If he was surprised at her actions, he didn’t show it, merely pulling her close, and kissing her back just as fervently as he let his hand tangle in her hair.

Just how long the kiss would have gone on–and how passionate it would have become–Emma didn’t know, because just as she turned her head to deepen the kiss even further, she caught a faint wisp of–something (smoke? Fog? A spell?) out of the corner of her eye.

She pulled away, watching as the fog billowed toward them, and then overtook them, so quickly, she didn’t even have time to cry out.

But no sooner had the cloud overtaken them than it dissipated, and suddenly Emma couldn’t remember what they’d been doing or why.

She shook her head.  The showdown between Regina and Zelena must have rattled her more than she’d thought.

“How did the queen fare against the witch?” Killian asked, 

“She survived, but the rest is definitely more than a doorway conversation,” Emma replied.  “Thanks again for taking him out on your ship.”

[wicked-storybrooke]

Ouattober 2023 Day 3 - (2nd) Favourite Arc

[caliburn-the-sword]

rip to zelena. sorry your hair clashes with your own skin. i wish her a very don't be envious. not because i care about it from a moral standpoint or anything just because she's hard to look at when she's the wicked witch

[gch1995]

Season one, but it’s a genuinely fun ride up to 3A, in spite of some flaws here and there. 3B-S7 has a few nice moments here and there, but it went too far into blatantly emotionally manipulative nonsensical writing territory for me to be able to support it. Yeah, I love angst. A lot of us in the Dearie/Rumbelle fandoms really do. The problem with OUAT is that it became increasingly *forced* and inconsistent on the show after 2A, but it was bearable up to 3A because at least A&E and the writers still had stories to with relatively satisfying endings for the main characters planned ahead of time up to the Neverland arc.

The problem with 3B-S7 was that they completely threw away character development to focus on nonsensical plots to keep bringing them back to their stories between S1-3A, and every time they reset them, it felt increasingly ooc, forced, and lazy. I don’t hate the Aesop Amnesia trope when it’s well-done in fiction because people often make the same bad choices and/or mistakes at least a few times before they finally grow and move on, especially in the cases of children, reforming villains, and the mentally ill. The problem with the writers of OUAT is that it felt increasingly contrived and cheaply shocking character assassination every time they reset them because they forced them there with mischaracterizations and ass pulled plot twists with their go big or go home “what a twist” mentality when the from late 2B onwards.

In other words, A&E and the writers were far too invested in instantly gratifying plot-result oriented in their storytelling. They wanted to get to the end of every story they wrote right away, and focused way too much on pushing the characters there with deus ex machinnas and mischaracterizations.

Yes, I was primarily watching OUAT between 2015-2017 in my late teens-mid twenties because I was a Dearie/Rumbelle/BATB fan, too. In a way, I always will be. I gave up on watching after S5 out of exhaustion with the bad writing, I continued roaming the fandom at S6 to find our what was happening on the show through tumblr out of morbid curiosity, and I watched one Rumbelle centric episode of S7. Otherwise, I mostly just continue to love the characters and relationship after 3A through AU and certain canon-divergent scenarios in fanfiction.

Recently started for the first time season 3 and i HAVE to know, which is your favourite season of Once Upon A Time?

[swanonymous]

Ok I finished the OUAT rock opera! Thoughts:

-Cruella ate this whole thing up ngl. Ursula and Ariel were great, too. Overall the cast got a decent laugh out of me

-I think they mentioned tacos like twice in this? I totally forgot about that, but now I think I’m a sleeper agent and my conditioning will get triggered the next time I hear that word

-Chatttt, how much aura do I lose if I admit that I would unironically bump Charmingstein and Tinker My Bell 😭 the other songs were kinda forgettable though

-Honestly, this whole thing fits in between season 3a & 3b well enough where I’d buy it if you told me it’s canon lol

-Glad they acknowledged SwanQueen a little at the end there. Just in general the in jokes all worked pretty well (tacos, Neal’s rent, Ruby randomly showing up, all the subtle jokes about Mulan and Aurora being gay, etc)

-No idea what the FUCK was goin on with Rumple but it’s ok because I lost my shit laughing when he finally showed up

-Also: Charming’s stupid ass sacrifice made me lose it. David is just built different

-Snow with the ukulele 😭 Mary Margaret Blanchard apology video when???

Overall a batshit good time. Made me wonder if I was high the entire time (I didn’t consume anything that would have that effect at all today) so that’s some kind of achievement I suppose. Overall 8/10, would watch again

[17dvds]

I really need to talk about the German episode names for OUAT because they go so hard. Even better than the original titles so often. (This is the case with other languages like French, Spanish, etc. I am learning German so I'm only gonna write about German).

The Pilot? English, just "Pilot". In German? The title of the episode when it aired in German was "Das verlorene Happy End“, translates to "The Lost Happy Ending", which is literally the premise of the show in so many ways.

1x04, instead of the original "The Price of Gold", the German literally translates to "A High Price of Gold".

1x05, because the original title of"A Still Small Voice" is an English Idiom, it's now "The Quiet Voice of Conscience"

(cont.)

It's normal till 1x09, the one with Hansel/Gretel. It originally aired with the title "True North", and the German title is "In the Witch's House".

... Ok I could go on cause most of them are different, so I'm just going to pick my favorites now.

1x12 "Skin Deep" is, naturally, "Das Biest und die Schöne", aka "The Beast and the Beauty".

1x15 "Red Handed" they apparently don't have in German, so it's "Wolfs Winter", which sounds cooler honestly.

1x18 "Stable Boy" changes to "Butterfly Effect", which is very accurate how Cora killing Regina's boyfriend started SO MANY THINGS, much of which they hadn't even decided, like Zelena and stuff

1x20 "The Stranger" is instead "Emma's Burden". Idk who did the localization but I would like to marry them because they did NOT like the simple titles and I love it.

2x01 "Broken", when the first curse is broken? Nope, now it's "The New Curse of Freedom" cause they were cooking with the titles at this point.

2x03, originally about "The Lady of the Lake". But German localization team knew who was the real star of the episode, so it was called "A Mother's Feelings".

2x04, titled "The Crocodile". Good enough, right? References Rumple and Hook, connects to Peter Pan movie, etc. Nope! It's gotta be "The Crocodile's Wrath", which is better.

2x12 "In the Name of the Brother" (Frankenstein and his brother). I have to point out for two reasons. First, the German title, "Life, Death and the Alternatives" obviously is a banger. But it is the only language to be any different! Every single other language kept the orginal, so even more points to the German localization team.

2x13 continue's the team's crusade against single word Titles, as "Tiny" becomes "Anton and the Beanstalk".

2x14, too. "Manhattan"? Nope, too boring and simple. Instead, it's "Rumplestiltskin's Games with Destiny" which is amazing.

..... Ok I'm hyperfixating, only a few more, I swear.

3x06 is no longer "Ariel" of course, it's now "Under the Sea", naturally.

3x07 "Dark Hallow" is made even cooler as "Kingdom of Shadows".

3x08 oh my god instead of "Think Lovely Thoughts" it's "The Lie at the End of Eternal Youth" which is like six levels of awesome

3x12 has I think one of the worst English titles, "New York Serenade". Finnish, French, German, and Italian all changed the titles, and natrually I think German is best with "Green is the New Black", though it does spoil the Villian, which isn't reallllly a spoiler if you watched any of the promos for 3B before that episode.

LAST ONE. Going to end on the last OUAT Episode I've seen in my half rewatch, half catch up.

3x14 in English, is "The Tower". Boooring. German fixes it with "Rapunzel's Tower of Fear" which yes please it is.

Ok the end. .................. I may be developing a new Hyperfixation, which I did not expect. Well, maybe I'll actually finish OUAT this time

[grayintogreen]

Watching Haley Whipjack's OUAT retrospectives (which are amazing) has got me nostalgic for what the show could have been before a handful of decisions in 3B started me on a road of Trust Issues, but ultimately, me, the reigning Queen of "what if my favorite supporting character was allowed to be relevant" thought experiments, I have to say something deeply controversial.

I think they should have set up Neal and Regina.

It's not even that I don't like Robin Hood. I do agree that freeing Regina from the psychosexual nightmare that is the Family Tree is probably best for her, but like... no, I don't think in this soap opera show that she deserves that freedom. Because no one does. NO ONE IS GETTING OUT ALIVE.

And like there's a handful of character reasons (both have abandonment issues, both have complicated views on redemption, both simultaneously love and hate Rumple) that I think this, but it's also genuinely funny to be like "Yeah, this is my adopted mom Regina who is married to my birth dad Neal who used to date my birth mom who is now married to the man who wanted to be a father to my birth dad but now they have an extremely weird platonic bond. Also my stepdad has weird psychosexual issues with my paternal grandfather because he used to date my paternal grandmother. " Like you cannot deny that is fucking hilarious and what we deserve.

I always think of the Tinkerbell episode and how they could have done that differently, like the fight happened because Tinkerbell tried to send Regina in to talk to her mysterious someone and then it turned out that Tinkerbell lied and that when she used the fairy dust she never found anyone, so Regina thinks she doesn't have a soul mate! Imagine the delicious angst! And then it turns out it didn't work because her soulmate wasn't even in the realm! Or maybe she's like "i don't care maybe i don't need a soulmate. I'm choosing this loser."

Rumple would HATE Regina dating his baby boy, especially because THEY have such a weird psychosexual relationship. Yeah, regardless of how you feel about Neal or any other Regina ship, you cannot deny that it would have made so much shit so much funnier if they just turned Henry's family tree into a full circle.

[snowbellewells]

@exhaustedpirate This story was so lovely and wonderful and very much needed after that particular episode and the words that were said. I never particularly felt Emma meant them to be hurtful, but I could also see how they would trouble Killian and stay with them weighing on his mind. 🥺❤️‍🩹

It’s hard for me to even pick favorite lines to quote back to you, as the whole entire thing spoke to me - seriously!! You really did a brilliant job portraying Killian’s shame and doubt though, when he pulled away and tried to hide his hook, and how Emma reassured him, held onto it, and made right the injury she had inadvertently caused.

Plus, then, at the end, when they’ve turned the “handless wonder” insult into very much a spicy compliment and a secret between them that bonds them even closer. 💖💖💖It’s perfection!! (And who could resist Henry loving the drama?!? 😉😁)

Thank you so much for sharing this with us!!

her handless wonder

this all came to be from my love for the season 3 finale, my unsatisfaction at the resolution of that little Emma slip up a couple of episodes before AND my dislike of Regina; blended it all up and added a sprinkle of smut and voila! edited by the amazing @belovedcreation

rated M | 2498 words

also on AO3

“You traded your ship for me?”

“Aye.” 

It feels like hours ago and no time at all that he had made his confession. It still makes her heart pound just thinking about it. The truth and the devotion in his eyes meant that she could have done nothing except kiss him. Not that it was a hardship, really.

Killian kisses her now, on a dark corner next to the bathrooms, his lips insistent and passionate. Emma wraps her arms around his neck and prepares for the ride. Distantly, she knows they should stop - anyone could find them there. 

But his body is strong and warm against hers and his arms tight around her waist. Her self-restraint has limits - she had to wait an hour already (an eternity) so that she could make a quick exit, claiming exhaustion, and catch Killian’s attentive eye so he would know to follow her. Which led to her pressing him against the wall of this dark corner and pulling his lips to hers before he could say anything else to delay her desire to kiss him. And touch him. And hold him. And be touched by him.

Her lips trail down to his neck, hearing his quick breathing against her ear. She touches his chest over his many layers, her fingers caressing the chest hair peeking out through the shirt’s opening, and she feels his hand and hook on her hips. She smiles against his neck, worrying a mark to his hot flesh and feeling her insides tingle at the responding groan. 

“Touch me,” she demands, grabbing his wrists to urge him to do something, anything, her mind too flooded by desire to think of specifics.

But he flinches and pulls his arms away from her gasp. She lets him go, not wanting to force anything on him, and looks up. His lips are parted and his breathing rapid, signs of his lust, but there’s shame in his eyes overtaking the desire even as he tries to escape her gaze. 

“What’s wrong?” she asks quietly and places her hand on his cheek to bring his eyes to hers. “Killian?”

“I think,” His voice is rough as he responds, eyes shuttered even as he looks back at her. “We should stop, hmm, for tonight.” 

She wants to respect his wishes, she does, but she knows he’s deflecting. He wants her, can feel the proof of that against her belly, but something is stopping him. And then she notices how, while his right arm stays at his side, his left is carefully hidden behind his back.

“Killian,” Emma insists, her hands laying on his shoulders before slowly moving down his arms. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It-I-” He stutters and that’s even more jarring than him stopping her advances. He flinches when she finally takes hold of his hand and hook and she finds her final clue.

“Is it because of this?” she asks, keeping her eyes on him while she tugs on his hook. He doesn’t answer but she sees the truth in his eyes. “You know, I don’t care about that, right?”

Killian takes a deep breath and there’s carefully hidden pain in his eyes. “That isn’t what you said earlier,” Emma frowns, her mind working overtime to figure out his meaning. And, like a lightning strike, she remembers - Davids insists Hook join her and she deflects, of course, because she’s emotionally fucked up: “What is he gonna do? I have magic. He’s got one hand.”. In her remorseful reminiscing, he is able to extricate himself from her loose grip. Her cheeks redden with shame and she looks away. He sighs. “It’s alright, Emma, don’t feel obligated to be with me just because of what I did.”

That catches her attention though. She looks up sharply and finds a resigned expression in his face. “No,” she says determinedly and sees his eyes widen slightly. “That’s not why I’m doing this.” She takes hold of his hand and hook once more, her grip tight. “I’m kissing you because I want to kiss you and I'm touching you because I want to touch you.”

He shakes his head against her determination. “Emma, it’s-”

“I was wrong and stupid,” She interrupts and locks his gaze with hers. “I said it because I was pushing you away, because I didn’t want you to get hurt. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it,” She pulls his arms around her and feels warm at how they instinctively wrap around her again. “I don’t care that you only have one hand, I care about you and I care about being with you.”

He doesn’t let her say more, his lips pressing against hers in a hungry kiss, one she is more than happy to reciprocate, her arms wrapping around his neck. Their bodies mold against one another and she relishes the warmth, the perfect fit of their bodies. His hand finds the round curve of her ass and she grins against his lips before letting out a pleased gasp when the cold metal of his hook finds the bare skin of her back. 

“Besides,” she whispers. “I’m sure you can do a lot more with one hand than many men can with two. Wanna prove it to me?”

He chuckles darkly, his lips at her ear, teeth finding the flesh of her earlobe. She feels warm and like there’s electricity in her veins. She has never felt this way from such small touches before. “As you wish, Swan,” he whispers back in a hoarse voice, warmth pooling between her legs. “But we should find a more private place, don’t you think?”

She doesn’t answer, her hips grinding against his and her hands covering every inch of his body she can reach. Emma sucks in a sharp breath and takes hold of his hook. Without a word, she pulls him up the stairs, his steps in time with hers. They reach his door in a blur but it’s been far too long since she’s kissed him. He must feel the same way because he twirls her around until her back hits the wall next to his door and takes her lips in his.

“Killian,” she sighs against his lips, her hands grasping his shoulders.

“I got you, love,” he mumbles, hand finding the waistband of her jeans. “I got you.” His lips trail down her neck, focusing on her pulse and she feels like she wants to scream in victory. It feels better than she ever imagined. And she did imagine. A lot.

Emma is so distracted by his talented lips kissing, nibbling and sucking her skin that she doesn’t realize he unbuttoned her jeans until she feels his warm hand over her underwear. “Please,” she gasps, his fingers circling slowly against her clit. “Touch me, please.”

Her begging works. With a growl, he nibbles on her collarbone as he slips his hand inside her underwear and she swallows her sigh of relief with a loud moan. His hand stops and she opens her eyes to see him glancing around before looking back at her with a glint in his eyes.

“You’re going to have to be quiet, love,” he whispers and she bites her lip at the sound, his fingers twitching over her pussy at her reaction. “Can you do that for me?” he asks and his hook caresses her jawline.

She nods enthusiastically, rubbing her thighs together to urge him to touch her more and he grins, a smile full of promise and lust. He slants his lips over hers and she feels his fingers press against her clit, sinking her teeth on his bottom lip. 

“Gods I can’t wait to feel you around my cock, Emma,” he murmurs as his fingers begin to circle at a quickening pace. “You’re going to feel amazing, aren’t you?”

“Yes, yes,” she gasps, gripping his biceps tight in her grasp. “I want to feel you inside me.” 

His hook slides up against the skin of her belly and her mouth parts in a gasping moan. She feels his eyes on her but all she can focus on is the way his circling fingers quicken and his hook reaching the fabric of her bra. With desperate movements, she unhooks her bra, letting the undergarment sag underneath her clothing. She takes hold of his brace and looking into his eyes, she pulls his hook against her breast. His eyes darken as if he can see it, as if he can feel it, and she likes to believe he does. 

The cool metal presses against her hard nipple at the same time he slides a finger inside her. “More,” she whispers, she begs. “More.”

“Fuck,” he gasps, sliding a second finger inside her while pressing the heel of his palm against her clit. “You’re going to come for me, aren’t you, Emma?”

She nods desperately, wanting nothing more than to grant him that desire. But she needs something more, she needs- His lips find hers, a burning kiss. “Then, come, my love, come for me.” he begs against her mouth and his teeth find her bottom lip.

She shatters with a silent scream, his fingers slowing down to drag out her climax, to turn her into jelly in his arms. His left arm wraps around her waist to pull her against him, holding her up in her unstable legs. Emma blinks her eyes open to find him watching her, a desperate look in his eyes.

“I knew you’d look enchanting when you come,” he whispers and she is surprised to feel her body heat up at the praise, at the sound of his voice. His fingers drag between her folds slowly, whispering over her clit. “Better than I imagined.”

“You imagined it?” She smirks as her hands rub up and down his arms. 

“Many, many things, Emma.”

“So did I,” she confesses and bites her lips at his sharp intake of breath. Her hands move to his chest, feeling his heartbeat and slowly making their way to the waist of his leathers. “Should we go inside your room and see if reality measures up to fantasy again?”

“With pleasure, love.” 

Despite her request, she is still disappointed when he has to remove his hand from her clit. But he more than makes up for it by licking his fingers clean from her essence, his eyes fluttering shut with delight at her taste. He cups her chin and kisses her, his tongue tangling in his hers and she gasps out a moan at her taste in his tongue. His hips grind against hers and she feels his hardening desire against her. Her hand cups his cock over his pants and he pulls away from her lips to let out a strangled moan.

“Shh,” she grins, her hands massaging him while he looks at her with that blazing gaze and his bottom lip captured between his teeth. “You’re going to have to be quiet.” Her grin widens as she repeats his order back to him. “Can you do that for me?”

“Bloody hell,” he groans before fumbling for his keys in his coat pockets.

It takes too long for the door to open, especially when Emma is much more interested in pressing her body against his back and running her hands everywhere she can reach. The door slams behind her and the lock is turned determinedly, her body vibrating with anticipation and desire. The result is scattered clothing, rumpled sheets, sweaty bodies, a delicious morning shower and more orgasms than she ever thought she was capable of having. A perfect first night together. First of many.

Early in the morning, with her naked body draped half on him, half on the bed, she traces her fingers down his left arm, fingertips tracing his scars lightly. His right arm curls tighter around her waist but he doesn’t stop her.

“Maybe I should start using Regina’s nickname for you,” she randomly says, trying to cover up the teasing in her voice.

“Captain Guyliner?” She can hear his raised eyebrow. Ridiculous.

She grins, finally looking up at him. “Handless wonder.” There is teasing in her voice but also fondness, so much affection she feels like she’s drowning.

“So, just as good as a man with two hands?” He raises his eyebrow in jest but she can see his desire for an answer. 

“Hmm.” She bites her lip and swings her leg to straddle him, the sheet falling from her shoulders, her body in full view of his eyes in the light of the rising sun. She grinds her folds against his length and bites her lip at his moan. “A million times better.”

---

Regina is part of the family. Emma really needs to remember that. 

Needs to remember that she is Henry’s adoptive mother and Snow’s … stepmother. God. Needs to remember that family dinners are a great thing and, after so long on her own, she loves her family, loves spending time with them. No matter how hard it gets to do so.

“Next time, Miss Swan,” Regina’s haughty eyebrow is pointed judgmentally at the bread rolls she was asked to bring, “get something of quality.”

Murder is bad. Murder is illegal. She is the Savior, she can’t murder people. 

Killian’s hand finds her thigh under the table, massaging it reassuringly, and her pulse slows. She turns her head towards him and smiles back at him in gratitude. He pats her jeans covered flesh and turns back towards the table. 

“Actually, your Majesty,” She loves the way he says it like an insult, nothing like the way he refers to her mother. He stretches his arm to take a bread roll from the basket. “I was the one who chose these as they are my favorite.”

It’s a lie. Emma had been the one to pick them - finding the cheapest option, considering they were just bread rolls - but she wasn’t going to say so. He grins at the former Evil Queen as he takes a bite of one. He doesn’t fake it. He doesn’t care, not like she does. No one does.

She sees Henry trying to hide a grin from the corner of her eyes. He enjoys family dinners but Emma thinks he enjoys it more because of the inherent rivalry between his adoptive mother and his birth mother’s boyfriend. Maybe she should have a talk with her son about his enjoyment of family drama. Although she’d feel like a hypocrite.

“Of course, the Savior can’t think by herself without her handless wonder.” 

Regina speaks with disdain, meant as an insult. It would be, at any other point. But they remember that first night, his insecurity, her reassurance, his touches, his talent. And so, to the surprise of the smirking Queen and exasperated family members, Killian laughs. And Emma laughs with him.

“You are absolutely right, your Majesty,” Killian smirks, sitting back on his chair and subtly placing his hand back on her thigh. “I am her handless wonder.”

[italianbeatrice]

OUAT (re)watch S3b up to 3.18 and 1/2

I think this might be my most headcanon Regina (minus the forest boy which I really can't bring myself to like for many many reasons).

And quite a good spot for SQ too (minus the forest boy which I really really can't bring myself to like even a tiny bit amount).

I think this is where they really push for the redemption arc to feed the soulmates story arc and make Regina sympathetic.

But for me it's what I thought was behind S1/S2 Regina too, including her heartbreak at Henry not recognizing her as her mother (in S1 because he did not accept her and her because he does not remember).

And I like her at this moment because you can see the "Evil Queen" side of her character shine through in many moments... in her temper, her sass, her no-nonsense approach, her "I'll do what I have to do, I don't care if it's good or not", her comebacks ("Bring it Greenie") :D

And for me that's the true Regina. (I dare the moment I will arrive in my rewatch when they thought separating the good and the bad was a good idea, as if Regina was not her complete self, and better for that).

As much as I don't like Snow when she is her obnoxious black/white - good/evil self, I did like the fact that she and Regina were coming to terms with the past and their reason. And I liked that Snow acknowledged that the Eva she knew was not the Eva Cora knew, which is sort of acknowledgement that the same goes for them too, and everyone.

As for SQ. I loved how right at the beginning of 3b you can see them working together. They are really a team, so many iconic scene for the fandom, the stakeout in the bug, the "But with you Regina I always know when you are lying" with bonus "love-eyes". But I liked this "She's gonna get help whether she wants it or not", that is so SQ.

(Snow know it!! She might not like SQ, but she knows it ;)

S3 almost done... onwards!

[whatrealbeautylookslike]

just thinking abt how crazy ouat s3 actually was.

Henry kidnapped. Neal dead. then alive. then dead again. David lying to his family about slowly dying from poison. Rumple parent reveal and villian origin story. Pan switching bodies with Henry. Mary margaret pregnancy and new charming baby. Zelena's time travel spell. emma love triangle. tinkerbell/regina backstory. magical amnesia (again). and TWO dark curses in one season. not even- in half a season. two curses in 3b ALONE. wtf.

oh and emma almost marries a flying monkey.

[kmomof4]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

❤️😍🥹

Season 3 Rewatch Drabbles: 3x14 The Tower

Summary:  A series of 100-500 word drabbles to accompany my    rewatch of season 3 of Once Upon a Time.  There will be a drabble–either a deleted scene, a “fix it” fic or a character musing for each episode of the season.  Focus will be on Emma, Henry, the Charmings and Killian–with an emphasis on Captain Swan’s epic love story.

Word Count: 915

Tagging a few people who may be interested (Let me know if you want to be added or taken off the list): @sailormew4 @annaamell @flslp87 @emmateo26 @bethacaciakay @ultraluckycatnd @effulgent-mind @ilovemesomekillianjones @kat2609 @brooke-to-broch @missgymgirl @galadriel26 @the-lady-of-misthaven @charmingturkeysandwich @jennjenn615 @laschatzi @kimmy46 @snowbellewells @iamanneenigma @daxx04 @nickillian  @gillie  @britishguyslover @ginnyjinxedandhanshotritafirst @kmomof4 @linda8084 @golfgirld @captain-swan-coffee @searchingwardrobes @hollyethecurious @laughswaytoomuch  @allyourdarlingswans  @winterbaby89 @facesiousbutton82 @therooksshiningknight @lfh1226-linda @tiganasummertree @jrob64  @anmylica @booksteaandtoomuchtv @i-will-sing-no-requiem @bluewildcatfanatic @laianely

Other Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The past year without her had been hell.  He’d missed her every day, every moment of every day.  He’d tried everything he could to forget her, to alleviate the ever present pain, but the only thing that had brought him even the smallest modicum of comfort was the remembrance of their parting.

Good.

That one word had told him everything.  Despite her walls, she did care for him, she would miss him–or at least she would have had she retained her memories.

It was that reminder that had gotten him through the early sleepless nights.  It was that promise that had given him hope when he’d finally been given a chance to return to her.

He would like to believe he’d be pleased to learn she’d been happy, that she’d found love again, but selfish bastard that he was, it had cut like a knife through his heart when she’d told him the eight months she’d spent with Walsh had been real and that she’d loved him.

Now, reunited, back in Storybrooke, memories restored, the walls she’d built around her heart were tenfold what they had been in Neverland, and in his lower moments he almost wondered if the year without her–but with the memory of her good–had been less painful.

“You know what Swan?” he asked peevishly as they stomped through the snow-covered ground searching for a trace of the witch. “Whenever you’re around, I inevitably find myself trekking through some manner of woods or forests courting danger.”

She gave him a sardonic grin. “And here I thought you weren’t afraid of anything, always looking for the next adventure.”

“Oh, is that what this is?”

“Isn’t it?” she asked, her words dripping with sarcasm. “What the hell were you doing on that ship?  I’m guessing it was one swashbuckling tale after another until you decided to come back and save me.”

He couldn’t stop the stab of pain her words gave him.  He knew this was a defense mechanism, but gods above, did she truly think that of him, even in part?

“Exactly,” he answered shortly.  She wasn’t the only one, after all, who could employ defense mechanisms.

She stopped abruptly and turned to face him, all trace of mocking sarcasm wiped from her face to be replaced by a seering intensity. “You’re lying.”

“Excuse me?”

“What happened back there?” she pressed. “What aren’t you telling me?”

The shame washed over him as he remembered the sordid business with Blackbeard, Prince Eric and Ariel.  The last thing in the world he wanted was to see the disappointment and revulsion in her eyes when she heard the tale.  More deflection was certainly in order.

“Nothing,” he said shortly, turning to continue his walk. “That’s my tale and I’m sticking to it.”

“I still don’t believe you.”

Killian mentally groaned.  She was not giving this up.  It was time to take drastic measures to change the subject.  “Let’s leave it at that, and you can just say thank you.”

“For my memories?” she asked, “I already did.”

“For saving you from a loveless marriage,” he said, turning toward her, looking into her eyes, looking for an indication it was true.

“Is that what you think you were doing?” she asked.

“He was a flying monkey,” he said flippantly.

“I didn’t know that,” she answered, and he could hear the pain in that statement.  It made him feel like a cad, pressing on her still open wound.

“Were you considering it? His proposal?”

“Does it matter?” she asked.

“Humor me,” he answered, both needing and dreading the answer.  He knew this woman, knew her better than anyone.  He saw the festering wound her walls hid, knew it needed to be lanced in order for her to heal.

And so he pushed, even though the act hurt him nearly as much as it did her.

“Yes, okay?” she finally answered, her tone steely. “I was in love, so of course I was considering it, but as usual, he wasn’t who he said he was and I got my heart broken. That enough humor for you?”

Killian let out a long breath, feeling the pain and betrayal coming from her in waves.  Behind that thick, nearly impenetrable wall lay a heart that was bruised and bloody, but one that still beat, one that would heal, one that could find happiness again.

He could only hope she’d allow him to be the one who helped her find it. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m glad to hear that.”

If anything, her frown deepened. “You’re glad to hear I got my heart broken?”

Killian took a chance.  He stepped forward, letting his feelings, his sincerity, his care for her shine through his eyes as he looked deeply into Emma’s. “If it can be broken, it means it still works.”

For one bright shining moment, he thought she might kiss him.  Her breath caught, she swayed into him, her own feelings, which she’d been trying so desperately to hide, to banish, shown through her lovely green eyes.

And then abruptly the walls came up again.  

Without a word, she turned away, stepped past him and continued on toward the farmhouse in the distance.

The disappointment washed over him, and he allowed himself to feel it for a moment before sighing and moving forward.

The woman he loved–the one he knew loved him–was still in there.  He simply needed to be patient.

[thestraggletag]

okay, so there is a little buzz of bringing back once upon a time, nothing set but some ideas are out there, and I was thinking, I want to see maybe the kids of the couples doing their own adventures, especially with Gideon gold. I mean he would be a very interesting character, he's the son of belle and rumple, good and evil basically. like nothing more lawful neutral. if they were going to have an adult Gideon I think he would be a lawyer of some kind. likes rules knows how to bend them

God, do I want them to bring back the best worst show I've ever watched? OUAT was amazing and so, so bad. I was sad and ecstatic when they ended it and put me out of my misery.

The thing about OUAT though is that, because the show got so bad so fast (I'd argue that the show's only good season was season 1, things derailed in season 2 and crashed in season 3B) the one thing I liked were the characters because the actors who played them were so good. Robert and Emilie, in particular, kept the show alive and interesting for me, so I don't know whether I would be into bringing the show back without them.

If I could be guaranteed good storytelling I would really be into it. I love the notion of a magical world coexisting with/hiding from our real, non-magical world and what that would entail for magical creatures. And that is something that OUAT did not explore enough (or even at all). I would be into that a lot. Specially with Gideon.

[caliburn-the-sword]

it is SUCH a good thing that i wasn't allowed to write ouat. mainly because i was 5 years old when it first started airing but let's pretend for a minute we live in a world where time travel exists. because if i was then in season 3b you want to know how i would have revealed that snow and charming had split a heart keeping them both alive?? i would have had rumple rip it out of david's chest against his will, and for david to start keeling over, and everyone start freaking out... only for snow to ALSO cry out and collapse. ideally this happens across a battlefield, because david in true david fashion tried to rush zelena guns (sword) blazing. and as they die they crawl to each other to curl up and die together hand in hand romeo and juliet style. something about the futility of outrunning fate ending up in dooming them both. they adhered to prophecy and forced emma to grow up without them, and by trying to outsmart the terms of the curse they've now doomed their second child to grow up without them. except!! that's not entirely the case. because everyone in neal's life can pass on their wisdom, their lessons, their skills, their stories, in a way that emma never got for the first 28 years of her life. also idk what to call this because it's not exactly closure or redemption, but emma taking this child and raising it herself?? not being in a place of such instability, with such a lack of support that she has no choice but to give up this baby?? give her sibling the home and family that she never had?? AND KILLIAN. he doesn't at this point know that he killed david's father, but just imagine. he's gone from leaving a child fatherless to raising the child OF that boy. not to mention liam ii... this isn't about killian at all i just like talking about him. anyway idk this makes sense in my head and my head alone

[brucethegirl]

periodic reminder that ouat 3b is so friggin horror coded FOR LITERALLY NO REASON.

[i-will-sing-no-requiem]

santa here again! 🧑🏻‍🎄 i totally get what you mean, i think watching the build up in season three just followed by them figuring out their relationship and all the domesticity is just too good ❣️ i saw you also liked aziraphale/crowley and got super excited bc they’re one of my favorite ships too! and what do you like reading? oh and i’ve always wanted to try bookbinding so that is just amazing ✨ my next question is: do you have a favorite captain swan season/scene/arc?

Hi!! Yes Aziriphale and Crowley are perfect and I love them (I am unwell thinking about the Final Fifteen Minutes). I tend to read a lot of fantasy and contemporary fiction, although I’m starting to get a bit more into memoir and essay collections. The best books I’ve read recently are This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone and In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, and some of my all-time favourites are The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green, Beartown by Fredrik Backman, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I think I would have to go with Season 3 for favourite season. Specifically the Neverland arc was my favourite storyline that Emma and Killian were both in, but 3B had some of my favourite captain swan moments (I feel like this is an underrated one but I really love the moment in the last episode before the 2 part finale where they’re in the hospital and he thanks her for saving his life and it’s just like really clear that he thought she might let him die rather than risk her magic and saving the rest of her family but that wasn’t even a possibility in her mind) I also like the idea of them hanging out together at Grannys a lot during that time based on that one scene where they’re just sort of there together when it’s clearly closed and Emma’s practicing magic, and I’m just assuming he must also be staying at a room there (i’ve thought about it a lot and this is the only thing that makes sense to me for where he’s staying. Literally I’ve spent way too much time wondering where this man sleeps at night during 3B)

Also the time travel eps are hands down my favourite ouat episodes i’ve seen them so many times and I love their scenes in those too!