#probably the most canon divergent to slay the princess the AU is going to get maybe ??????

[paintedplum7]

Me and my slug wife

[distant-rose-archive-blog]

Rose’s Captain Swan Fanfiction Treasure Trove

This mainly for my lovely friend Adira (who I JUST converted to OUAT) but might well post it for anyone who hasn’t read any of these fics. I would be surprised if they hadn’t because the majority of these have high popularity and would be what I consider classics. I love them all enough that I’ve downloaded them on my Evernote app and will reread them while I’m flying or on public transit. Anyway, these are my Top Ten favorite Captain Swan fics with my reviews/comments. Enjoy

You Play Ball Like a Girl by welllpthisishappening

Rated: M

Notable Features: Modern!AU, Boss!Killian, Slow Burn, Angst, Baseball & Killian (deadly as hell)

Author’s Description: Emma Swan had a plan. Get the story. Get the byline. Up her Twitter follower count. It was simple – she was going to take over the New York City journalism world. And she was going to do it from the sideline with a credential around her neck and a pen stuffed in her hair and a fierce determination no one was going to be able to put a dent in.It was the perfect plan.That plan just failed to factor in Killian Jones.

Rose’s Review: THIS FIC! MY GOD THIS FIC! I am in love with it and the author Laura (like full one girl crush on lovely lady. She’s just too cool and if I wasn’t engaged and she wasn’t married, I would like propose because this girl is my fanfic soulmate to the point my best friend is jealous even tho I have legit never met this woman, but that’s besides the point. I’m gonna stop embarrassing myself now. I need to shut up.) Anyway, sports centric isn’t normally a thing I go for because I’m a former athlete and the second I catch a mistake it’s an immediate turnoff, but Laura knows her shit. (Like really knows her shit. I can’t tell you how many times I cackled over her references to Melo being a selfish asshole and I love Emma and David’s rendition of the Giants/Pats rivalry! Also her reference to Derek Jeter’s walk up! OMG I promise I will stop right now but I’m so in love) However, you don’t need to love sports to love this fic, it’s just if you do it’s an added bonus. I love the development of Killian and Emma’s relationship even though the angst in this just kills me in the most delightful way. The Henry side story is honestly the best thing over and even though he’s not Emma’s son in this, the relationship between Emma, Henry and Killian really pulls at your heartstrings. I think one of the reasons I really love this fic though is how Laura handles Killian’s injury and how it affected his baseball career. It was incredibly realistic and I would know because an injury ruined my basketball career a long time ago in a galaxy far far away, so the scene where Killian is in the batting cage and hitting for the first time in a long time really hit home with me because I’ve been there. Anyway, why are you still reading this review, GO READ IT NOW! And also go read her outtake collection: Just a Bit Outside.

Breathless by AcrobatElle

Rated: E

Notable Features: Canon Divergence (Season 5), Heart Sharing, Magic, Amazing Amounts of Smut, Angst, PORN WITH FEELINGS

Author’s Description: Emma and Killian share more than just a heart.

Rose’s Review: ­To say I love smut is an understatement and I’ve been reading it long enough that I no longer have any shame in regards to it. This fic is, without a doubt, a masterclass at what we call Porn with Feelings (IT FUCKING DESTROYS ME). It’s not just smut, but emotional and creative smut which is my absolute favorite. (Dude, I legit fanned myself at Chapter 2 because it was just so smutty and hot. I almost want to beg Elle to write “that one time on the Jolly” scene because my inner perv just needs it because dom!Killian is just as much my jam as baseball!Killian is but she’s got more important things to work on. Harbor in the Tempest? GO READ IT NOW!) Also I never felt so melancholic about smut until reading the later chapters of this fic because the layers of desperation, hurt and brokenness is just so poignant that it just grips your heart. Elle in general though is just amazing at smut and everything else really (just read all of her shit. Do it. And if you’re already read her shit, read it again because she’s amazing) but this is my favorite of her work, though her Wish!Realm AU is a really, really, really close second. (Legit would have made this list if I wasn’t such a lazy bastard. I was going to rec 15 but got lazy and chopped off at 10 because I’m horrible but yeah go read Make a Wish, especially if you were not happy with Wish!Hook because I sure as hell wasn’t.)

Unbreakable by xHookedonKillianx

Rated: M

Notable Features: Canon Divergence (Season 3), Bartender!Killian, Pregnancy, Fluffy Angst, Epilogue that murders you

Author’s Description: What if Hook was able to go with Emma and Henry when they left to escape Pan’s curse? With no memory of each other or Storybrooke, Emma and Killian meet in New York as complete strangers, both with broken pasts, and both with clean slates for their future.

Rose’s Review: I feel think this fic is on every fic rec list and if it isn’t, then it should be because it’s just so well done. It’s just –whale noises- so fluffy but angsty at the same time that it really murders you in the delightful. I personally loved all the references to the monumental moments in the canon being mirrored or echoed unknowingly by Killian and Emma during their time in New York, it’s just a really cool tid bit. Honestly what I love the most about this is the Captain Cobra bonding, even more than the Captain Swan moments. The fact that Killian bonds so much with Henry to the point where they still hung out while Emma and Killian were “on a break” (I refuse to think of it as a break up and wanted to make a Friends reference because I’m lame) just murdered my soul in the best way possible. I love Henry (he’s my little munchkin so I get super annoyed when fics essentially ignore his existence. I have legit stopped reading fics before because they ignored Henry) and he is without a doubt the center of the Swan-Jones family unit in this fic. I really loved the addition of Mac as a supportive character from Killian’s past and almost wish he was featured more in the story. Also I must say this is one of the very few fics that I’ve come across where Neal isn’t a complete and utter douche canoe. This is definitely one of those fics that is like a must-read for the Captain Swanners regardless of what you think of kid!fic.

Beyond the Horizon by alexandralyman

Rated: M

Notable Features: Enchanted Forrest!AU, Pirates, Princess!Emma, Faked Married

Author’s Description: When Princess Emma's ship is captured by the Jolly Roger and Captain Killian Jones, she offers herself as a hostage for ransom if he will let the ship and the other passengers go. With Emma, Killian remembers the honour he once held dear, and Emma catches glimpses of the gentleman Killian had been. Against all odds, the pirate and the princess begin to fall for each other.

Rose’s Review: Beyond the Horizon is the first Captain Swan fic I ever read and it really set the bar high. This is fic is unfinished and I am eagerly, eagerly waiting for it to reach conclusion. I don’t normally recommend fics that aren’t finished, but this is just so, so, so good that I can’t let my hang ups get in the way of recommending it for others to enjoy. I love the development of Killian and Emma in this story, and between Emma and the Jolly crew as she falls into the role as the mistress of the ship. (I legit just want to cuddle Fergus, he’s just so cute.) Anyway, I am really curious and eager to see where she takes the fic because it was my first and without a doubt one of my favorites. I have a massive need for Pirate!Captain Swan (and a massive lady boner for actual Pirate!Killian) and this is what started it.) Just –grabby hands- I want it finished so bad, but regardless this is worth a read because it’s wonderfully written and it will suck you right in. If you’re left begging for more like I was at the end of this, I encourage you to check out her outtakes collection: Interlude at Sea.

A One Time Thing (and Other Untruths) by weezly14

Rated: T

Notable Features: Modern!AU, Pregnancy, Slow Burn-ish, Mild Angst

Author’s Description: "She supposes the reason she tells him is the same reason she kept his phone number after all those weeks." Pregnancy has a way of throwing a wrench in one's plans.

Rose’s Review: Oh man, oh man, where do I start with this one because this is just a pile of angst, fluff and slow burn goodness. I totally get Emma’s headspace in this because if I ever found myself in her situation, I would probably make the same decisions she did in regards to Killian, but KILLIAN, oh man, his thoughts and feelings about becoming a dad slayed me. He just wants to be there and be with Emma so bad. This fic also has probably want I would consider to be the best characterization of Neal. I’m not a Neal fan in any sense of the word, but I’m not a fan over the top villianization (is that even a word? I’m pretty sure it isn’t but if Shakespeare and GWB can make up words, so can I!) of him. This depiction of Neal is perfect in my eyes because it’s very obvious that all of his dickishness based upon genuine fear that Killian is gonna replace him and that Emma is going to take Henry away from him, which in all honestly, as someone who worked in the Family Court system, this is a realistic and very common fear when there is a power imbalance between parents. (Not that I think that the power imbalance isn’t justified because it totally is.) If Neal lived longer in the series, I definitely think the relationship between Emma, Neal and Killian would have been exactly like this. So if you’re looking for realistic parent dynamics and Daddy!Killian feels, this is the fic for you (and even if it isn’t, read it because you won’t regret it.)

I Belong To You, You Belong to Me by phthalo

Rated: M

Notable Features: Canon Divergence (Season 5-6), Pregnancy, Time Travel characters, Bartender!Killian

Author’s Description: Three weeks after dragging your boyfriend's sorry ass out of the Underworld is not the ideal time to find out you're pregnant.It's probably also not the ideal time for Zelena's time portal to spit out some kid...a teenage boy with blonde hair and Killian's eyes.

Rose’s Review: I’m going to admit it now, I was rather dubious about this fic because of the description. I love me some baby!fic/pregnancy fic and I headcanon it all the time, but kids and time travel always stuck me funny (even in Charmed which was my fucking jam before anything else in life was) but I glanced at the kudos and the amount of comments, and thought to myself “well, if this many people like it, then there has got to be something good going on here!” And holy shit, I loved Ian. (I now officially headcanon that Emma and Killian’s eldest son is named Killian David Jones. It just needs to happen because it’s fucking perfect and there’s just too many Liams.) Ian is just a little snarky bae and I really loved the relationship between Henry and Ian. (Operation: Octopus for the win) They’re my perfect little babies. Also the amount of sass Ian sends towards Killian reminds me a lot of my own relationship with my father. (I’m such a shit to him but we’re super close and I’m legit terrified of pissing him off even though I’m fucking 23 years old. Ian also emulates that.)This fic played on a lot of my headcanons (like Captain Swan definitely banging in a field of flowers and totally escaping to bang in the Jolly) and I found Emma’s fears about Dark!Baby and her decisions around that to be completely in character. Killian is just a fucking saint (he’s not, but he definitely has the patience of one) and his understanding of Emma’s headspace in this (and in the show) is one of my favorites. All and all, this story is so massively fluffy that it makes up for all the angst that I read normally. Domestic!Captain Swan is slowly becoming my jam.

With Affection by PhiraLovesLoki

Rated: E

Notable Features: Modern!AU, Secret Admirers, Love Letters, Sassy!Emma, Lawyer!Killian

Author’s Description: Emma Swan isn’t a middle schooler. So why is she receiving notes from a secret admirer? She’s also definitely not a romantic person. So why is she writing back?

Rose’s Review: Oh…my…god…this fic. This fic is just -whale noises- fucking everything. I love it. The snark, the romance and Tink! This is my favorite characterization of Tink! Also this characterization of Emma hit so close to home with me because I legit make up nicknames for everyone in my life even people I never approach (legit everyone in my phone is under a different name. I legit call my mother Madam President Furher because she’s a hard ass and my younger brother is Moose because he’s just a giant but that’s besides the point) so the fact that Emma did that just cracked me up. This is definitely the fic where I bonded the most or felt the most connection to Emma. I love reading for this Emma’s headspace. It’s legit a joy to read. Killian is amazing as usual. I love his letters to Emma, especially the ones where he got more authentic. Walsh, though, gave me flashbacks to my own failed relationships and break ups. I literally had a break up similar to the one that Emma has with Walsh so bravo though for douche bag realism with Walsh. Both of Killian’s and Emma’s backstories are heartbreaking in this and the level of intimacy without actual intimacy (until later on of course) is just astounding. Phira is amazing writer in general and I really recommend you read all of her works, but if you had to choose one, this is the one to read. It just hits you all over the place with feels, humor and realism. Once again, why are you still reading this review, go read the damn fic!

Separate Lives by lenfaz

Rated: M

Notable Features: Canon Divergence (Season 3), Fairy Tale Characters in the Real World, Detective!Killian, Angst, 

Author’s Description: Set after 3x20 "Kansas". After saving the town one more time, Emma decided to return to New York, leaving her past behind. Three years later, she realizes that might be not have been the best decision.

Rose’s Review: I’m not sure if lenfaz reads Janet Evanovich or the Stephanie Plum novels, but legit this story was giving me some Stephanie Plum realness with Detective!Killian and BailBonds!Emma. Except this is better than Stephanie Plum because Emma is just far more bad ass and mature (though relationship-wise is very Stephanie like.) Killian as a detective was complete roguish Joe Morelli realness in the best way. I really loved the addition of Killian being adopted into an Italian family and their protectiveness of him. Laura and her family made me crack up with all the references to him getting a haircuit. (Please don’t, Killian, I love you with longer hair.) It warmed my heart in the best way. I also loved the relationship between Killian and his partner. Killian almost never has anyone in his corner (which is a HUGE point of contention for me in the show because despite Emma’s loner-ness, EVERYONE is in her corner and Killian has like zero support and nothing made that more evident that 6x15, which slayed me in the worst way possible because I fucking love Killian.) Mac, Killian’s partner, is one of my favorite OCs of all time and I loved that he calls him “sunshine.” (Dude, I need the story behind that one so if you haven’t written it, please do. I will even slip you a twenty.)

Roses in December by just_another_classic

Rated: T

Notable Features: Canon Divergence (Season 3), Kid Fic, Fluff, Daddy!Killian

Author’s Description: In a flash of rainbow light, Emma remembers.

Rose’s Review: Surprise, surprise, kid/baby!fic on my reccomendation list. Yes, I realize that only a niche amount of fans like this type of fic, but honestly this is one of the best done baby fics I have seen. I think the best thing about it is that Emma’s focus the entire time is completely on her children and not on romance, which is realistic and should be expected. Her focus is not 100% on Killian, which tends to be done and honestly those type of fics turn me off. She comes off very realistic to me and that’s what I love the most about this. What’s also really cool about this fic is the engagement with the original source material - Peter Pan and the allusions made between what’s happening in the fic and the mechanics of the original play (clever girl!) Also, the way they deal with Zelena in this fic is honestly how I felt they should have dealt with the character on the show. Not that I hate Zelena (well maybe I do..kinda…sorta…the jury is still out on that one) but I always found their approach to the situation to be strange.

Strangeness & Charm by bluestoplights

Rated: M

Notable Features: Enchanted Forrest!AU, Battle Couple!Captain Swan, Adventure, Slow Burn

Author’s Description: Killian Jones is a pirate captain down on his luck after a falling out with the Evil Queen. Emma Swan just found out she is the Savior. Their shared goals bring them on an epic quest to liberate the kingdom once and for all. It's a lot easier said than done.

Rose’s Review: Not only is this beautifully written and engaging, but I seriously want there to be like a television series based off this one. Seriously, I loved it and the pacing of it would be perfect for season one of a really epic fantasy show (which I would totally watch the shit out of it and that scrape the internet for fic or maybe even finally get off my lazy ass and write fanficfor the first time since high school.) The pacing on this thing is on point. I am completely envious because I am such a slow build up writer that I couldn’t pull off something like this in only twenty-four chapters. I loved Killian and Emma’s partnership in this and how everyone just knew they were a perfect pair…except them. What I also love about this fic is that the author really seems to understand the tone of Once Upon a Time really well and stays very true to it. Not that this is a dig on other authors who go lighter or darker, but it’s a fic that seems very in tune with it’s source material which is a very rare find. I really loved the ending of this fic but at the same time I would be super excited if the author decided to write a sequel.