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elizabeethan · 4 years ago

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The Days We Defend (Will Turn to Gold)- Chapter 9/10

Everything is perfect, until it isn’t. Killian and Emma have spent months building a life together after finally defeating Neal and Gold, but when the Dark One dies and his power becomes untethered, everyone in Storybrooke is at risk, and some decisions may have lasting consequences.

Sequel to Walk With Me (I Think We’ll Find A Way)

Previous Chapters

Read on Ao3

A/N: Surprise, it’s early! One chapter to go after this one!!! Let me know what you think... It’s a doozy.

Thank you to my good pal @the-darkdragonfly for being an amazing beta!

Tagging: @courtorderedcake @kmomof4 @stahlop @klynn-stormz @laschatzi @emelizabeth88 @lfh1226-linda @kday426 @elisethewritingbeast @timeless-love-story @captain-emmajones @gingerpolyglot @ebcaver @ilovemesomekillianjones @teamhook @superchocovian @itsfabianadocarmo @tiganasummertree @gingerchangeling @jrob64 @onceratheart18 @xhookswenchx @winterbaby89 @swampmedusa @ultraluckycatnd @dancingnancyy @love-with-you-i-have-everything @shireness-says @snowbellewells @hollyethecurious @ouatpost @daxx04 @the-darkdragonfly @donteattheappleshook

They wait outside of the vault for what feels like hours. Realistically, it couldn’t be more than thirty seconds before someone speaks up, but the tension is palpable to everyone present, thick enough to slice with the dagger they just entrusted in the hands of Baelfire.

“So, how is this supposed to work?” Emma asks the Apprentice, breaking the silence in what Killian can sense is overwhelming nerves.

“You, as the Savior, are the proprietor of the most powerful Light Magic. As the person who removed your potential for darkness, I am the possessor of the counter to your lightness. Combining our powers will charge the hat enough to absorb the Darkness.” His answer is casual, as if it should be obvious to them all.

She’s pacing nervously, rolling her eyes at his mention of the removal of her potential for darkness. Killian almost wonders what may have happened if she had taken the darkness all those weeks ago based on the removal of such, but shoves those thoughts from his head. “It’s all a bit ridiculous, if you ask me,” she says.

“I’m sure it seems that way, but you must believe in your ability to wield your magic, Savior.”

“He’s right, mom,” Henry adds. “If anyone can get my other mom back, it’s you.”

She shoots her son a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes as she rings her hands together, holding them close to her just below her ribs. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, kid,” she murmurs.

Killian sighs, realizing once more that the more time that passes, the greater opportunity Bae has to cheat them all. Before he can voice his opinion, though, Robin speaks up. “Should we go in and check now? It’s been a few moments.”

“Yeah,” Emma breathes out. “He’s had more than enough time to subdue her.”

Once they’re inside, Emma pushing the tomb away from the vault’s entrance effortlessly with her magic, they creep down the dark stairs and into the halls of Regina’s safe haven. It’s dank and smells of mildew, and he wonders why she wouldn’t use her Dark Magic to polish the place up a bit.

“Savior,” the Apprentice says, “we’re close enough; we can pause here to charge the hat.”

Emma nods, taking a deep breath and hugging herself around her middle, crossing her arms stiffly in her stress. “Okay,” she says with her voice low.

The Apprentice’s explanation of what she needs to do seems somewhat complicated, but despite her inexperience with her magic, Emma seems to understand perfectly. The two of them stand across from one another with the hat sitting between them and he waves his hands over it until it begins to move. As he works, Emma glances up at Henry and Killian, giving them an encouraging but not quite believable smile.

Before they know it, the cylindrical lockbox housing the hat is jumping in place until the hat itself appears. The Apprentice continues to explain what she should do, and she concentrates harder than he’s ever seen her; the look of determination on her face gives him hope that this will work. Her resolve and conviction makes it impossible for him not to believe in her. The bright look of surprise across her features once the two of them stop using their magic tells him that it must have worked, and the hat glowing in anticipation of its use.

“You did it!” Henry exclaims, rushing to her and wrapping her in a hug which she returns easily. “I knew you could.”

Killian releases a breath that he didn’t know he was holding, stepping towards her and taking her hand once she’s released from Henry’s grasp. She goes to him happily, a triumphant smile across her face as she lets go of his hand in favor of pulling him into a tight hug.

“Job well done, Swan,” he says into her hair. “We never doubted you for a second.”

She pulls from him and giggles softly, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips and then stepping away, a silent agreement made among all of them that they must continue on. Once they’re far enough into the vault, sneaking quietly along the stone floor, they hear the quiet conversation going on between Regina and Bae.

“I saw what he said this morning,” the Dark One says confidently. “I used mirror magic and was able to see exactly what my son thinks of you these days. It shouldn’t be hard to convince him that I’m doing the right thing here.”

“You’re insane,” Bae responds, groaning in pain suddenly.

“No, I’m motivated. There’s a difference. Your little plan didn’t work like I’d hoped, so I suppose I’ll have to go with my backup plan.”

He’s breathing heavily as he says, “and what, you think killing me is the best way to go about getting what you want?”

Killian sees Emma tensing as she picks up her pace, tucking herself behind a corner close to where Regina and Bae have met. She glances back at everyone else nervously as the conversation continues.

“I finally found the spell I need to remove the darkness. I only need one more special ingredient.”

“Wait!” Emma shouts forcefully, as if she didn’t think before revealing herself in a desperate attempt to stop Regina in her tracks. “Regina, whatever you’re doing, just wait.”

“Savior,” she says venomously. “I was wondering when you were going to show yourself.”

It’s clear that she knew that Emma was here all along, but whether she’s aware of the presence of the other five people standing in her vault, he can’t be sure.

Emma steps around the corner fully, making herself seen and holding her hands up placatingly . “We have a plan, Regina. If you want to remove the darkness, we can help you with that.”

“Right. I’m sure the princess of Light Magic is going to help the Dark One. Step away, Miss Swan, and let me finish what I’ve started.”

“How long have you had his heart?” Emma asks, and Killian desperately wishes that he could see the scene playing out behind this wall.

Regina laughs lightly, ominously, and says, “I’m not surprised you didn’t notice. Meanwhile, how quickly did you realize that he had the pirate’s? I suppose that goes to show how she truly feels about you,” she says, and he can only assume she’s speaking to Bae now.

“Please just put it down,” Emma begs. Killian has to assume that she got the dagger away from Bae somehow because she evidently has his heart and can control him, likely coercing him into giving it to her. Otherwise, he’s certain that they would have commanded her to stop as they had planned.

He sees Henry starting to stir, so he holds up a hand and shoots him a glare that says don’t even think about it. The last thing they need is for Henry to put himself in harm's way. The lad leans back against the wall silently.

“Give me the hat and maybe I will,” she negotiates.

“Regina, please just trust us. We want to help you, and we have a plan. A good plan! We can help you get the darkness out without hurting anyone.”

Regina scoffs, her laughter reminding Killian of the person she was back in the Enchanted Forest years ago. “Who, you? You and the old man are going to help me? You think you're more powerful than I am?”

“I never said that!” Emma tries despondently. Then, Killian hears the unmistakable sound of magic being wielded followed by Emma’s desperate shout: “no!”

As he rounds the corner, all semblance of logical thought evacuating his mind quickly, he hears Baelfire cry out in pain and sees him collapse to the floor of the vault. Emma falls to her knees beside him, sobs wracking her as she hysterically shakes his motionless form. When Killian’s eyes finally find Regina, he sees her holding her closed fist above the glowing hat that she must’ve conjured away from Emma, the last remnants of dust sprinkling out of her hold as the hat’s brilliance strengthens. He sees a manic smile splitting the Dark One’s face as he rushes to Emma’s side in a useless attempt to comfort her.

He has no idea where anyone else is. He thinks he hears Robin shout, but it isn’t clear over the sound of Emma’s keening. He runs his hand along her spine when he reaches her and she spins, releasing Bae and throwing herself into Killian’s chest forcefully. Her tears dampen the skin of his neck. Her cries deafen him to the ruckus surrounding them. He almost doesn’t notice Henry boldly rushing towards the Dark One in violent haste.

“What have you done?!” he screams, and both Killian and Emma snap apart and turn towards the lad just in time to watch him thrust the dagger towards Regina’s throat.

“Henry,” the Dark One says against the blade, her eyes bulging as they meet his own. “Put the dagger down.”

Killian recognized the look on the lad’s face just before he leapt for her: it’s the same one he himself wore just before he killed his own father.

“Tell me why you did this,” he demands, his voice wrought with emotion.

Regina, unable to defy the laws of the dagger, answers, “he had no idea how to be a father to you.”

“Now he’ll never have the chance to learn!” he screams, pressing the blade until a trail of crimson paints her flesh.

“You deserve better than him,” she insists assuredly, though her head is held high in avoidance of the weapon.

“I deserve better than you!”

“Let me remove the Darkness. Then this will all be over! We can be together again!” she begs against the scalloped edge.

Killian stands slowly, pulling Emma along behind him, and they move closer to Henry as carefully as they can. “We had a plan to remove it that didn’t involve murder!”

“Henry,” Emma tries timidly. “Kid, please put the dagger down.”

“She killed my dad,” he reasons, not turning his gaze from Regina. “She has to pay.”

“If you do this, the only person who will pay is you.” Emma's voice is eerily calm now, as if something has switched in her and her motherhood instincts have taken over to give her what she needs to talk her son through the crisis he’s battling.

“I can’t let her get away with this!” he shouts. “She killed him right in front of me!”

“Kid,” she says, stepping away from Killian and towards the lad to put a careful hand on his shoulder. “We will make sure that she’s held accountable for this. Let me take the Darkness out of her and we’ll put her where she belongs.”

“She doesn’t deserve to live.”

“This isn’t you, Henry. You’re a good kid, you know right from wrong. You know what happens to you if you go through with this.”

“Lad,” Killian says, surprising himself. “Don’t let your mother see you become the Dark One.”

His shoulders relax. His arm loosens, the dagger falling from Regina’s flesh and dragging a bit of blood along with it. She lets out the breath she was holding in suspense and collapses slightly against the table behind her.

Emma turns towards the Apprentice and flatly says, “please take care of this now,” before Henry turns, drops the dagger to the ground, and throws himself into his mother’s arms.

Regina reaches for the dagger but Killian grabs it first. “Take him outside, love,” he instructs Emma.

Once they’re gone, the Queen sneers at him angrily as the Apprentice prepares for the spell to remove the Darkness and store it in the hat. “I almost had you,” she says, smirking.

He can’t help but to roll his eyes. “You never had me. How long have you had his heart?”

“Oh,” she says casually, “it wasn’t until after the curse broke. Don’t worry, that was all him.”

“So you knew we would try to disarm you with the dagger, then?” David asks.

“Of course. I figured the curse would break eventually, and when it did I had to be ready. Oh, congratulations, by the way.” She turns back towards Killian. “I must admit, you and the Savior breaking the curse was a fun surprise.

He rolls his eyes again, desperate to not engage her in further conversation. “Do you want us to remove the Darkness or not?”

“Yes, and then I’d like to see my son.”

He laughs. “I can assure you that is not happening.”

“Why, because I took care of a problem for him? We all know Neal wasn’t cut out to be a father. I mean, look at what he did. This was all based on his plan.”

“Take a look at what you did,” Killian spits, gesturing towards Bae’s crumpled, lifeless body, trying not to think about the young boy he used to know.

“It would be a miracle if Henry ever speaks to you again. You’ve just murdered his father in front of him,” David adds.

“Tell me, how is that any different from what you did all those years ago, Captain?”

He snaps his head towards her too quickly, fearing Emma’s father learning more about his sordid. “We agreed not to speak of that.”

She chuckles darkly. “You murdered your own father with his son in the next room. How are you any better than me?”

He hardly thinks before taking the dagger and pressing it to her throat, pushing her against the table and overpowering her easily. “Listen,” he commands, fully aware that she has no choice. “I made a mistake; I’ve made many. And since then, I’ve made amends. I feel regret over the things that I’ve done and the harm that I’ve caused. You just murdered your son’s father right in front of him and show no remorse. Don’t begin to compare us because we are nothing alike.”

He releases her once the Apprentice speaks, informing them that he’s ready as long as they are. “You have to want to have the Darkness removed, Dark One.”

“I do,” she insists. “Just do it already.”

He takes the dagger and waves it ceremoniously, reciting a spell that honestly sounds a bit ridiculous before waves of black are drawn from her chest, right where her heart would be if he believed she had one. The scene playing out before him reminds him of the violent onyx whizzing through the air mere weeks ago when she became the Dark One.

The Apprentice is shaking with exhaustion as he continues to chant, holding the dagger in his hands above her heart until all of the black ribbons have flown into the hat. Once the room fades to silence, he falls to the ground, Regina collapsing just after him.

The room is silent for far too long. No one moves. No one speaks. No one knows what to do.

“What now?” Robin asks, his voice flat and his expression blank as he stares at Regina’s still face.

“We’ll have to remove them and… and the body,” Killian chokes out. “Are they alive?”

“Both are. The Apprentice doesn’t look so good, though,” David answers. “Would be a lot easier if we could magic them out of here.”

“I’m not letting Emma come back down here!” Killian snaps, turning to sneer at her father.

“I wasn’t suggesting that,” he starts and though he looks as though he could say more, he stays quiet. “Why don’t you go up and check on them.”

“We've got to get—”

“Go,” he insists. “Robin and I will make sure Regina gets to where she needs to be, and we’ll take the Apprentice to the hospital.”

“What about him?” he gestures towards Bae’s stiff frame.

David sighs. “We’ll figure that out. Right now… your family needs you. Make sure Henry’s out of here. He doesn’t have to see anything else today. ”

His words weigh heavily in the space between them, the air feeling thicker suddenly as he admits his acceptance of Killian’s presence in his daughter and grandson’s lives. “Aye mate,” he breathes in response, taking one last look at the state of the room and turning towards the exit.

When he gets outside, the sun is nearly setting and the humid summer air leaves him feeling hot and sticky in his leather jacket. He finds Emma and Henry a few meters away from the stone structure, Emma sitting on the ground and her son’s head resting in her lap. His stomach twists in knots at the sight of them. The lad has been through enough already without having to be involved in what he’s just witnessed.

When she hears him coming, Emma looks up through tears, her brows pinching together as she appears to hold in more tears. She runs her fingers through Henry’s hair soothingly, but it’s clear that he’s difficult to console. He has every right to be.

Killian sits beside her, as close as he can get, and she somehow presses closer and rests her head against his shoulder. He wraps his arm around her so that he can run his hand along her arm. “Robin and your father are working on… cleaning up.”

“It’s done?” she asks through silent tears.

“Aye,” he just about whispers. “It appears to have worked.”

“Where is she?” he hears Henry mumble from his mother’s lap.

“Passed out, lad. To be transported to the hospital.” He nods in response, otherwise staying still. “We should go now. Pick up the baby and head home.”

Emma sighs, her breath stuttering, then says, “you’re right. Let’s get you home, kid.”

Henry’s silent and stoic as he stands from his mother’s hold and brushes off his thighs. He’s turning towards the car before Killian and Emma can even stand.

~~~~

Corrine, as emotionally intelligent as she is, keeps asking everyone what’s wrong. Emma tries making grilled cheese for dinner, hoping her favorite comfort food will entice Henry, but he stays on the couch and doesn’t say a word. She hardly touches her own, neither does Killian, and Corrine wonders aloud why everyone is so sad.

“We’re okay, baby,” Emma tells her softly, running her curled finger down her cheek and giving her a soft smile. “Don’t you worry.”

“Momma, Henny’s okay?” she asks through a mouth full of grilled cheese.

“He…” she starts, glancing over to Killian briefly. They’ve talked in the past about how they don’t wish to lie to her despite her young age, but this is too much for her to understand. “He’ll be okay, Coco. He just needs some time.”

She nods as if Emma’s words make complete sense to her and takes a giant swig of the chocolate milk she shouldn’t be drinking.

“What did you do with Mimi and Ollie today, love?” Killian asks her, trying to maintain an air of positivity for her.

“I play,” she answers. “I dance.”

“Did Ollie enjoy dancing with you?”

“No.”

Emma snorts softly, a genuine smile gracing her features in response to their humorous child. “No? He doesn’t like One Direction?”

She begins to pout, shooting him eyes filled with such pathetic sadness that it pulls at his heartstrings. “No, Baby Shark.”

“Ugh,” Emma says. “No Baby Shark in this house. We’ll stick to one direction, right Coco?”

“Mom,” they hear from the entrance of the kitchen, and each of them turn towards the source of the voice.

“Hey kid, hungry?”

“No thanks,” he says softly, his voice somber but slightly less angry than before. “I was hoping you could take me to… to my mom’s house. I have some stuff there that I want to move over here.”

She pauses and then turns to face him entirely. “Of course, Henry. Whenever you're ready.”

Killian and Corrine spend the evening together while Emma takes Henry to Regina’s. They were apart for nearly a month, aside from the few hours he could see her per day, so he’s happy to have the opportunity to reconnect with her. Her favorite activity to promote such reconnection is dancing.

Her favorite band has a variety of upbeat songs that he can easily hop around to, picking her up and bouncing her on his hip as she laughs and shrieks. At a certain point, she ends up in only her shirt and diaper, her hair having fallen out of the tiny updo it was in and landing in a wild mane around her face as she holds her fists in front of her and jumping to the beat of the song that plays loudly over the stereo.

“Hi momma!” she screams when Emma walks through the door, running for her at full speed and crashing into her legs.

“Hi!” Emma responds excitedly, the grin across her face as she picks her up squeezing at his heart. Henry walks in behind her with a box of items, smiling softly at Corrine and heading towards the stairs.

“Turning in, lad?” he asks.

“Yeah,” he answers, pausing briefly and sighing. “I’m just… I just wanna go to bed.”

“Aye. Well…” he starts, but is unsure of how to continue. He feels as if he should say something, but isn’t sure what he needs in this moment.

“We’ll be here, kid,” Emma supplies, simple and encouraging as he nods and heads up the stairs.

“Momma hugs Duddy now,” Corrine says, pointing towards Killian while still in Emma’s arms.

She laughs lightly, tickling Corrine’s bare thigh and asking, “oh, she does, does she?”

“Yes. No kiss,” she insists.

“I can’t kiss your mummy?”

“No!”

He wraps the two of them in a tight squeeze, sandwiching Corrine between her parents and sneaking in a quick kiss against Emma’s temple.

She turns to him and gives an indignant look, saying, “Coco said no kissing!”

“No, Duddy! No kisses for Momma, only for Coco.”

“My mistake.” He kisses her plump cheek and is rewarded in kind with a bright giggle. “Time for bed now, lass. I think we’ve done enough dancing for one lifetime.”

“We dance, momma.”

“Aye, we danced, momma. Next we’ll be learning a waltz.”

“Walls.”

Emma laughs, hiking the child up higher on her hip as she tries hard to settle her hair, though seemingly finding it impossible. “You know how to waltz?”

“First rule of dancing,” he says, taking her free hand and leading her towards the stairs once the music is shut off, “pick a partner who knows what they're doing.”

She gives him a look that he can’t quite read before leading him up the stairs and providing him with a lovely view of her ass along the way.

~~~~

Her thighs squeeze his hips tightly as she bounces above him, her breasts suspended tantalizingly over him as her nails dig into his shoulders. Her quiet pants and whispered moans drive him to harden his grip on her hip, sitting up slightly and using his blunt wrist to press into her back and pull her closer to him. She wraps her arms under his, hugging herself tightly to him and letting out a cry into his ear as he bends his knees up to deepen his thrusts into her.

“Don’t stop,” she practically begs, clinging to him as if her life depends on it. “Fuck.”

“So good, love,” he agrees as the coil in the base of his stomach tightens, almost ready to snap. “Gods, you feel so perfect. You’re perfect.”

“I love you,” she says through a strangled cry as she clenches around him and finally lets go; finally gives him permission to do the same.

He holds her so tightly that he doesn’t think she can breathe, but she doesn’t complain. Panting into his ear, her nails still digging crescents into his back, she hugs him close.

“I love you too,” he says once they’ve both caught their breath. She hums in contentment and kisses his neck before lifting herself from him and letting out a soft grunt as he slips out of her.

She spends a moment in the bathroom before returning, learning from last time and tossing his sleeping pants at him before dressing herself and crawling in. “You alright, love?” he asks, to which she shrugs.

“Where did Regina end up?”

“The asylum. We were able to use the cuff that blocks her magic before she awoke.”

She stays silent for a few moments, continuing her ministrations through the hair on his chest as if it’s soothing her.

“Today sucked,” she finally says.

“Aye, it did. I’m sorry.”

She sighs, tucking herself closer to him and resting her head on his chest. “Not your fault.”

“I’m not saying it is; I’m saying I’m sorry that you lost someone important to you.”

Squeezing her arm over his chest a bit tighter, she nuzzles her nose into a patch of the hair on his chest. “Yeah… you’re not mad, are you? About… I mean, I know my reaction was a little—”

“Emma,” he interrupts, “I could never be angry with you for something like that. No matter what happened, Bae was someone important to you.”

She sniffles a bit, moving to wipe a tear from her cheek before saying, “it feels weird. I can’t believe he’s gone.” He hums in agreement as he runs his hand up and down along her spine, occasionally combing gently through her hair. “After all the shit he put us through, I’ll admit that there was a time that—” she chokes on her own words, needing to take a deep breath before continuing. “Sometimes I wished he would just go away and not come back. But I didn’t want… I didn’t want Henry to lose his dad.”

“I know what you mean, Swan.” He rolls them gently so they’re facing one another, her leg tucked between his knees. He runs his fingers through her hair and down her cheek as he says, “it’s alright to be confused by this. Despite all that he did, he still loved you, in his own way. And he loved your son. He just had a horrible way of showing it.”

She nods against his forehead, her nose rubbing against his own making him unable to resist kissing her softly. “I know you’re right.”

“Did the lad say much earlier?”

She shrugs. “Not really. All he said was that he’s okay but he wants to live with us. I think he needs time.” He nods in understanding as she continues. “What he saw today— what he saw his own mother do… I don’t know how to help him live with that.”

“You're his mother, Emma, and I know you know what’s best for him. We’ll be here for him, however he needs us.”

“Yeah,” she nods.

“Perhaps a few visits with the Cricket would be prudent as well.”

“Probably.”

He kisses the tip of her nose, the skin cold against his lips, and says, “sleep, darling. We can deal with everything tomorrow.”

“Love you,” she says as she drifts off. He follows closely behind, sleeping soundly with her in his arms.

~~~~

#The Days We Defend #days we defend ff #walk with me #sequel #captain swan fanfic #cs ff #once upon a time fanfic #ouat ff #cs ff au #ouat ff au

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seriouslyhooked · 4 years ago

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Feels Like This (Part 8)

Emma Swan is a once lost girl who is now making good. She has made a way in the world for her and her young son, Henry, and after years of hard work, Emma is in her last stretch of schooling for the career she’s always wanted. Unexpectedly, she finds herself in a tiny nation no one’s ever heard of for her last year of study. She knows nothing about the place except that it’s beautiful, has a world-renowned child life program, and is filled with possibility. Meanwhile, Prince Killian is hardly happy with the title he received at birth. As the second in line for the crown, Killian has long tried shaking his royal duties. He built a career in the royal navy, and has stayed out of the limelight, but his ship has been called to port indefinitely at the request of his brother, the King. Fate (in her many forms) brings Emma and Killian together and the resulting fic is a cute, fluffy, trope filled romp featuring heart felt moments, a healthy dose of insta-love and an assured happily ever after. Story rated M and will have 12 parts. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7. Available on FF Here and AO3 Here.

A/N: Hey everyone! So I was writing this chapter before and during the angst of posting the parade chapter, and I want to just say, that while I knew many of you would be stressed, I imagined this chapter (and chapter 7) as a healing remedy. This is filled with first date fluff and cuteness and also some more needed disclosures between Killian and Emma. it represents a real beginning, and hopefully you’ll all enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Anyway, without further ado, here goes!

Okay, Emma, don’t panic. It’s just Killian. You like Killian. Actually, you really like Killian. And yes, he might be a prince, but that doesn’t have to mean so much when you think about it. A date is a date. Sure you haven’t been on one in years, and certainly not with a man you actually cared about. But it’s fine. It’s so fine. You got this. It’s not like he’s taking you to the palace for the date. Oh Jesus, he’s not taking me to the palace is he? I know he said he wasn’t but –

“I can practically hear you overthinking things through the door, Emma. Cut it out!” Anna scolded with her ever present affection laced into the sharp words. The censure snapped Emma’s focus back into the moment and reminded her that time was ticking, and she had others waiting on her. “Now come on, we want to see your dress, don’t we Henry?”

“Yeah, Mom. Open up!”

Anna and Henry’s headed back down the hall, and Emma heard their footsteps loudly thumping in a purposefully dramatic way. They hadn’t even waited for her reply, they just commanded her to get a move on. Emma smiled at their antics, despite her flurry of nerves, and looked back to the mirror one last time. She smoothed out the lines of the delicate dress she’d chosen for tonight, recalling Killian’s promise that they would have complete privacy and no expectations. With that assurance, she went with something pretty and yet still comfortable. Her chosen sun dress reflected the seasonal heat they’d been experiencing, but the pretty pink color was not her usual choice. It was different, but it felt special, and as she’d been choosing from the hordes of outfits Anna and Elsa offered when they arrived, Emma couldn’t help remembering Cecelia’s words at the center’s picnic. She’d said pink was for princesses, and though Emma by no means thought herself a princess, she wanted to feel a bit surer of herself in a not so normal situation.

“All right, I’m coming out,” Emma announced, swinging the door open and heading out for the big reveal.

Elsa, Anna and Henry were all gathered by the television, plotting out their movies to watch and snacks to consume while she and Killian went out for the night. Emma was so grateful to have new people in her life who would give up their one night off from work to help her care for her son, but when she tried to thank them, Elsa and Anna waved off her gratitude as unnecessary. Already they considered her a ‘dear friend’ and they were thrilled to spend more time with Henry. Henry was equally excited, but when he knew this was happening so Emma and Killian could go out, that excitement was compounded. He’d loved every minute they spent with Killian yesterday, and he’d reaffirmed that all day long. Henry had also been very clear of his approval and his want for Emma to give this a real chance.

When she came into view of her friends and her son, Emma felt a bit of lingering uncertainty, but it faded in the sight of everyone’s reactions. Elsa and Anna were so expressive, both of them clapping and smiling immediately.

“Oh, it’s perfect, Emma, just perfect,” Elsa said happily while Anna gave her own assessment.

“I really thought you should go with something more formal, but you were so right. This is the one.”

Emma smiled at the thought and looked to Henry. The softness of his expression made her throat tighten unexpectedly, and in seconds she was ready to cry. He looked so sweet and filled with adoration, and then he said the most beautiful words that always made a mother truly happy. “You look beautiful, Mom.”

“Thanks, kid,” she said, gesturing for him to come over. He ran to her, giving her a big hug that made her teeter slightly on her wedged shoes. She held on tight though, cherishing this love from her son and taking strength from his love for her. “You sure it’s really ok?”

“Killian’s not going to know what hit him,” Henry agreed with a grin. Then that smile faltered and Emma grew worried.

“Everything okay, Henry?” her son nodded.

“Yeah, Mom. Everything is great. You know I like Killian. He was so cool yesterday, and he makes you happy. I saw that.”

Emma couldn’t disagree. Even with all the unknowns and the questions and the hurt yesterday she had been happy. Spending time with Killian and Henry together had been easy and fun. It felt natural, and she’d loved that. It scared her, but she wanted it, and that was part of the reason she’d chosen to forgive Killian and still try despite everything that happened. Still, she felt there was something Henry wasn’t saying, and she waited her son out to see if he’d tell the full truth.

“You deserve this, Mom. I know you’re nervous still, about getting back out there after what happened with my Dad,” her heart stopped. They rarely ever talked about Neal, but when they did Emma always worried. Her priority was Henry and she never wanted him to feel like he was missing something. But in this moment, Henry quickly put those worries to rest. “But this is different. Killian is not like that.”

“You seem pretty sure about that,” Emma said, trying for lightness in tone, but not quite getting there.

“I am sure. You always told me to follow my gut, and my gut says that Killian is good for you. Good for us. Don’t you think?”

“I think…” Emma said, weighing her words carefully. Because yes, she did think that might be the case, but it was still very early on in whatever this relationship was, and she didn’t want to build up hopes too high for her or her son. “I think that I am excited for this date. So, what does that tell you?”

Henry grinned. He looked poised to say more but then a knock sounded at the door. Emma’s stomach flipped in anticipation and all the butterflies came back full force. Oh god he was here. This was actually happening.

“Look at that,” Anna said gleefully, gesturing to her watch. “He’s three whole minutes early. Someone’s certainly eager.”

“Anna,” Elsa said, chastising her sister, but only in jest. Elsa then came to stand and took Emma’s hands as a means of reassuring her. “You got this Emma. You can be totally certain we’ve got things handled here. Your only job is to go and have a marvelous time, okay?”

“And then report back all the details to us later,” Anna said. Elsa rolled her eyes, which made Emma laugh in spite of her anxiety, and then smiled.

“Any and all detail sharing is up to you.”

“Thank you. Both of you,” Emma said to Elsa and Anna. “Now Henry, you be good, okay?”

“You got it, dude,” he said sticking his thumbs up and quoting a show from her childhood that he’d taken to as a kid when it was on constant reruns. She laughed again, and allowed that laughter to carry her to the door. She didn’t give herself a chance to second guess, she just went for it, and then she saw Killian on the other side and she was spellbound, caught in a web of how handsome he looked.

“Emma.”

His voice sounded out in a deep rumble, gruff with feeling as his eyes took her in. She barely noticed though, distracted as she was by his outfit. Damn, it should not be legal for a man to be that hot. He was that perfect mix of formal and casual, and she momentarily forgot her audience. In fact, she forgot about everything except Killian, and by the time her eyes met his again, he was smiling this sinful smirk that lit her up inside. Crap, he’d caught her ogling him, but when he stepped towards her and filled the air around her with the scent of him she was lost again. She wanted to melt into him right now, but he held back, teasing her but never quite following through.

“I’ve no intention of waiting to the end of the evening to taste you, love,” he whispered, low enough that only she would hear. “But at the present moment we’ve got an audience, and I won’t put you through that.”

Emma nodded, thinking he meant Henry, Anna and Elsa but then she looked over his shoulder and saw the detail he’d had to bring. She blushed at the fact that she’d forgotten herself, but Killian didn’t give her any time to linger in that. Instead he took her hand in his gently. She assumed they’d leave straight away, but he surprised her by asking how Henry was.

“He’s great actually. Elsa and Anna are already spoiling him and I haven’t even left yet,” she said and Killian’s amusement was so genuine it touched her heart. “Do you want to say hi before we go?”

“I would love that,” he confessed and Emma brought him inside, realizing too late that this could be the equivalent of bringing him to the Spanish Inquisition. Her kid already asked a lot of questions, but with Elsa and Anna here, there was simply no way of knowing what would be asked or said. As if he could sense her worry, he squeezed her hand lightly and pressed a reassuring kiss to the top just before they came into view of the others.

“Hey, Killian! I didn’t know you were coming in. I hoped you might, but then Anna said people on dates get all heart eyes and stuff, whatever that means, and maybe you might forget.”

“Couldn’t possibly forget you, lad. Not when you introduced me to the world’s best pizza.”

Henry’s smile at that and his easy hop up from the couch to slap Killian’s hand had Emma absentmindedly rubbing at her heart. She watched the two of them catching up on the day, and also saw how easy Killian was with Anna and Elsa. Both of them lobbed a few sassier questions or comments his way, but he handled it all with grace, and every time he looked back at Emma, which was often, he had a smile on his face, like he was genuinely glad to be here, jumping through all these hoops.

Finally, after a a little visit with all of them, Killian made their excuses, while still keeping their end destination a secret. He offered Emma his hand once more and she took it, following him as he lead her out her front door and to the car. With sure and steady movements, he handed her inside carefully, acting every bit the gentleman. He then came around to the driver’s side and only when they were off and driving did she realize how not normal this must be.

“So what did you have to do to convince Jefferson to let you drive?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Killian said honestly before flashing her a smile. “He’s a smart man. He knows a losing battle when he sees one, and any iteration of this date where I sacrifice alone time with you is definitely a losing battle.”

Emma loved that he’d made this clear, and through the rest of the ride they talked and fell into an easy pattern together. It wasn’t long before they’d reached their destination though and Emma gawked when they pulled up to the magnificent, high, wrought iron gate.

“I thought you said we weren’t going to the palace,” she said, stunned at the size of this place. From the outside it looked like a castle, at least to someone who’d only ever lived in cramped apartments (at best) her whole life.

“This isn’t the palace. It’s another of my family’s estates. Actually, if you want to get technical, it’s mine.”

“Yours,” she said, dumbfounded, but entranced as they were let through and she looked at the stone façade. It was beautifully crafted, and maybe it was smaller than a palace might be, but it was a gorgeous home on a sprawling bit of perfectly manicured land. In a word it was intimidating, but she couldn’t deny the beauty, or the immediate charm of the place.

“Aye. I haven’t spent much time here though. I’ve always been home with my family when on leave. Historically if I so much as mention leaving, my Gran gets cagey and my mother grows quiet, two things you do not want to happen.”

“Bad signs?” Emma joked, and Killian nodded.

“Most definitely. Now though I don’t anticipate any push back.”

“What’s changed?”

“Everything.”

The way he looked at her when he said that told Emma so much. He was talking about her and about them. She felt a flare of heat and appreciation at his affirmation. Knowing he took this seriously made her happy even if she was still not ready to fully jump in. But it begged the question, did his mother and grandmother know about them? Did his brother? What did they think? Did they approve? All these thoughts ran rampant in her mind until Killian drew her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Immediately any worries fled and she was just here, with him, in this glorious moment. It felt just as good as she remembered, and she loved the taste of him and the feel of his hard body against hers. Emma never felt more secure or safe than she did in his arms, and she didn’t ever want to draw back. Fear was never on her radar when she kissed this man. She was simply free, free to be herself and to believe in something greater.

“I told you I couldn’t wait for the end of the night,” Killian said, his words a low warble that brushed against her skin when they broke apart. Her eyes opened and she took in his sexy as sin smile and felt her heart skip a beat. Damn this man for being so distracting. He was just so smooth and effortless, but underneath that swagger there was some not so hidden insecurity. He could be this and still be vulnerable with her, and that helped Emma feel like all of this was that much more real.

“Who said you needed to?” she quipped, teasing him with an almost kiss of her own and a soft nip at his lip. He growled and she pulled back, chuckling lightly. “Actually, on second thought, a little waiting never hurt.”

She should not have taken so much pleasure at his groan, but he respected her wishes, taking her hand and leading her inside. His hold on her was sure and strong, and she followed him, intrigued by a place she’d never seen the likes of before. The walkway inside was immaculately gardened. The cobblestone was ancient and even, and the vines along the walls were green and full and bright. There were flowers in the hedgerow, and the glass of all the windows glinted with the remaining sunlight. It was a gorgeous façade, and she was eager to see what beauty lay inside.

Walking into the manor home, Emma was struck by the design and the aura of the place. This home was pristinely kept and yet classic in all ways, but where Emma expected sterile, spacious garishness and overblown luxury, she found none. The mood inside was warm, there was plenty of natural light thanks to all those windows, letting in the dimming summer sun, and historical accents that blended with much more modern fare. Room by room she tried not to gawk at how beautiful it all was. It was wild because it was so different, but there was so much she liked, and so many parts of the house she saw and actually desired. It was a royal getaway but it was still a home, and that was beautiful. Thankfully they did not go on a full tour. That would have been kind of mortifying, and a reminder of how truly different their lives were, but what she did see was stunning. She could imagine Killian here, and for a moment she allowed herself to think if she would like it here and if Henry would too.

But she was getting way ahead of herself. She shook away the thoughts as they entered the kitchen, and once they were inside, she saw the first unkempt part of the house to date. It wasn’t messy, per se, but there were ingredients out and utensils and things for cooking. Actually, it looked like someone had already cooked half of a meal. Some things must be in the fridge, but there was enough on the counters for Emma to be curious. Yet there was no one in the house that she’d seen so far. The staff, Killian informed her, had all been given the night off. The only people on the property were his detail and they were at the gates. This was a secured place so aside from regular rounds, there would be no one walking about, and Killian assured her no one would be in earshot or view of either of them. She looked at Killian quizzically and he explained.

“I thought I might cook you dinner tonight, love, but then I realized, as a relative novice, some parts may take too much time. Between reading the recipes and consulting the videos I found online, it was a rather long process. So, I got what I could done earlier before picking you up. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

“Killian, you didn’t have to go through all the trouble,” she said shaking her head. No one had ever done anything like this for her. Certainly not someone who had so many other calls on his time and attention.

“It wasn’t any trouble, love. And I hope, when you find out what exactly is on the menu, you’ll be pleased.”

Emma didn’t know what she was expecting him to feed her, but his menu, as he put it, was a mix of elegant refinement and casual things that showed his attentiveness. He had a few courses mapped out, and most were unfamiliar and native to the Montennaran coast, but every one smelled delicious and tasted even better. It was a languid pacing, with Emma offering to help and Killian insisting he could do this. This left her to relax with a glass of some of the best wine she’d ever tasted, and gave the two of them space to talk, all while Emma took in his determination and sheer power of will. He was a beginner in all of this, and some elements took a bit more time because he was new to them, but his carefulness and attention told her so much about him, and all of his patience was well rewarded.

They stopped to share each plate together, and those moments felt especially intimate. They were seated close together, with barely any space between them, sharing each dish and enjoying each other’s company. Of course it was only a matter of time before that closeness got the better of them, but every time Emma thought they’d give in to the crackle of heat between them, Killian would say there was another course left. He’d press a gentle kiss to her cheek or her neck or her lips and be back up cooking once more. Now it was time though for the final course and she was eager to see what he had lined up for dessert.

“So let me guess, this dessert is going to somehow factor in those Montecarri things right?”

“What makes you say that, Swan?” Killian asked, amused at her question, but giving nothing away as he pulled some items from the cabinets. She was so distracted by his smirk she didn’t take stock of what he was gathering.

“Well this has been essentially a culinary tour of this country, and I hear Montecarris are the specialty to end all specialties. Seems fitting to include them.”

“Perhaps it would have been,” Killian hedged, his expression now the tiniest bit unsure. “But I actually had other plans.”

Emma was about to ask what they were when she looked down at the ingredients he’d brought out. Marshmallows, vanilla ice cream, and wait – was that chocolate chip cookie dough? If her eyes did not deceive her, that was chilled dough of a totally American staple, which also happened to be her favorite baked good bar none.

“Okay, I’m intrigued, what are you making?”

“Can’t you tell?” he asked curiously. “It’s your favorite. Well unless I’ve misunderstood.”

Killian explained his intention to bake these cookies and then to move outside to use the outdoor fireplace. He produced two perfect roasting sticks for marshmallows, and suddenly it dawned on her.

“Cookie s’mores,” Emma said in awe. They were her favorite summer treat, and as she looked closer at the dough she could see that there were graham cracker flakes in the mixture. Holy cow, he’d really done his homework for this one. “But how did you know?”

“My first week at the center, you were caught up in the children’s favorite game,” Killian said, alluding to how the kids loved to ask all of the adults about their favorite things. It had apparently been a staple since the older kids watched The Sound of Music. Now all of them loved compiling lists of favorite things as well as a list of things to try and to dream of one day seeing and doing. Thinking back though, Emma couldn’t understand how he would remember something like this. It was weeks ago, and it was such a small moment, but from her handful of words he’d created a road map to something thoughtful and perfect just for her. “You told them about this particular delicacy, and they were fascinated, as they are by damn near everything you say. I’ll admit, I had some trouble sourcing these graham crackers, though. They’re not a staple around here, but a lieutenant of mine from the navy can get anything from anywhere so I called in a favor.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Emma admitted. She found it hard in this moment not to cry, and the reasons for the feeling were all good. She was just a bit overwhelmed at how much he’d really been paying attention and how serious he was about making her happy. And it was working. She felt so good being with him, and for the first time in her life she was scared in a relationship, not because she didn’t want to trust, but because she didn’t want to let go.

“Perhaps you should save any declarations one way or another until after they’re made?” Killian teased and she knew he was looking for a smile, but she couldn’t just stop there. Instead she moved around the counter and pulled him in for a kiss, showing him how much this gesture meant to her in the scheme of an already beautiful night.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered when they came up for air. His eyes were filled with admiration and want, and she could see he was barely holding back, even as his cursed words sounded more like a prayer than anything else. Emma grinned and let out a low laugh as she ran her fingertips along his jaw.

“I think it’s safe to say that I love this, but just in case there was any doubt…” Emma said, and she purposefully left her meaning ambiguous. To him he might think it was just the s’mores she was discussing, but it was actually so much more. She loved being with him, on this date and just in general. She loved this snapshot he’d provided at a perfect quiet moment. And she loved the passion and the hope this man brought forth in her life so often. Despite yesterday’s uncertainty, she felt firmer in herself and in this new relationship than she ever had, and that was thanks to Killian and his kindhearted ways.

“You’ll never know what it means to me to hear that, love,” Killian admitted and she smiled at him once more. “I only hope you like the rest of the evening as much as you’ve enjoyed all this.”

And as they finalized things here in the house to make the rest of their dessert out back, Emma knew that she would enjoy whatever was coming down the pike. Because with Killian at the helm, she could have total faith in what was coming, and that feeling of safety and excitement that had been with her all evening would continue in the best and most wonderful way.

…………………

Sitting beside the outdoor flame, watching Emma laugh in the flickering fire light as she tried not to set her marshmallow ablaze, Killian knew he had never been more at peace.

Tonight was a revelation, just as many of his moments with Emma had been, but this was different. This time, Emma knew he was a Prince, and though he saw her eyes widen at the ostentatious gates and the vastness of this house, she never made him feel different or otherized. It may not be her norm, but there was no judgment from Emma or expectation. She had rallied and clearly chosen to be herself despite all of this, and that allowed him to do the same. It was a remarkable feeling, and a pleasure he never believed he could have as long as he lived here in Montennaro.

For the past few hours, Killian had done his best to memorize each moment. He kept tabs on all of Emma’s words and expressions. She was touched by his cooking for her, and though he was somewhat overwhelmed by all the things that could go wrong, she seemed to have complete faith in him. She also cherished all of their closer moments together, and he felt her wanting and the way it mirrored his own. There was so much brimming underneath the surface, a tantalizing knowledge that their chemistry was bound to combust sooner rather than later, but still he held back, savoring Emma the best way he knew how and trying to treat her to the perfect first date that she deserved. He wanted to carry all these little pieces of this evening with him for the rest of his days, even while dreaming of making a million more memories like this in the weeks and years to come.

Tonight had also solidified his hope for a future with Emma. He had known for some time that that he was in love with her. Interest and infatuation grew surely towards love early on for him, and now he cared for Emma in a way that would outlive his time on this earth. There was no denying how connected he was to her, and how enduring this bond he felt was becoming. She had his heart and his hopes tied so effortlessly around her, he stood no chance at getting either back again. But seeing her here, in his home, and in the place he was expected to build his future, changed something, taking things even further than they’d been before.

For the first time Killian could imagine Emma with him in his world. He could see a path for them to meet in the middle and to carve out a life they both could love. He had duties and responsibilities as Prince, some of which would require Emma’s participation if they continued to be together, but he would fight tooth and nail to give Emma everything she wanted and deserved outside of royal expectation. He couldn’t give her a fully normal existence, but he could give her love, support, and opportunity. He knew she’d want to work with the Institute still, and likely do even more for children all around the country and the world and he’d see to it that she could. He’d move mountains for her to help her feel fulfilled, because all he needed to feel that way was her. She was his home and his purpose, first date or not, and he prayed that someday she could see a home with him here. If not, he didn’t know what he’d do. All he knew was that living without her was not an option.

“You’re making that face again,” Emma said and Killian looked to her, grounding himself in the feeling of his hands on her lithe form as she turned their sugary treats until they were a perfect toasty brown.

He’d had his hands on her as much as he could tonight, and he was addicted to the feel of her. He did not know how he could go another day without touching her. Even a few hours felt too long a stretch. Emma soothed him and excited him at once, his heart raced but his demons stayed away. Feeling so much and having those feelings be good was something he’d never known before, but yes, sometimes worries crept in. He couldn’t help fearing that somehow she would leave him, and his hands were tied at the moment. He couldn’t tell her everything he felt so early on, but he’d never feel fully comfortable until he could. Still, the way she looked at him, like she knew him even better than he knew himself, should terrify him. Emma saw into his soul and could read him fully, scars and all. But instead of running from the attention like he did with anyone else, he was filled with pleasure. To know that she cared and that she was in this with him meant everything, and that eased the pain of his thoughts and worries being so obvious.

“What face is that love?” He feigned ignorance, though he knew exactly what she was getting at.

“The one you get when I’m leaving, or when you’re worried that I will,” Emma said, pulling out her golden treat from the fire and offering it to him. He absentmindedly took it as she continued on. “You had it yesterday at the parade, and then before we talked. Sometimes you get a version of it at the Center when it’s time to say goodbye, or when our tasks take us different directions for the day. Actually, now that I think about it, it’s a pretty persistent expression.”

“I’m not a fan of being parted from you,” Killian admitted and Emma looked at him with a softness in his eyes that spoke to understanding.

“That makes two of us. But luckily we’ve still got time, right?”

We have forever, he thought to himself but he bit the words back as he nodded and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

From there they managed to create Emma’s favorite summer sweet, and he had to admit that it was delicious, especially when he tasted it on Emma every time he stole a kiss. It was decadent but simple, and though s’mores were not a custom here in Montenarro, he felt young again. Like a kid in the summer months. It was peaceful and rejuvenating, and he wanted to extend that as much as he could.

“What are your thoughts on stargazing, love?” he asked, and Emma looked surprised before casting her eyes above.

“I haven’t had much chance to do it, honestly. We’ve always been city people so the light makes it hard to see. But out here… wow, I didn’t realize just how much you can see.”

“This is nothing,” he said, standing up and tugging at her hand. “Here, let me show you.”

As they left the stone walkway, Killian grabbed a nearby lantern, lighting the flame so they’d have enough light to guide their way. With languid steps the two of them walked from the fireside down a path in the back greenery. It was dimly lit with tiny lights along the path on the ground, but by now the sun had long since set and the night was out around them. Only the pale yellow glow of their lantern cast anything substantial enough to help them see. Emma held his hand tightly, and he checked to make sure she was comfortable. Her expression, even in the dim light, told him everything he needed to know. She was excited for this, and unbothered by the darkness they needed to get through to see the sea of stars.

Soon enough they came upon the back villa, a structure meant to house any guests, which had long been dormant. Since Killian was not here, he’d had no visitors, but someday he hoped that would change. What the house did boast, however, was something essential for stargazing, and he was glad he’d had the foresight to pull it out before Emma’s arrival.

“Wow,” Emma said when their seating area came into view. “That’s some telescope.”

“One thing you’ll learn about my brother is he does nothing by half. I mentioned the stars once when home for a deployment and the next day this was in my rooms. I had no real need of it at the palace, so I had it brought here. Needless to say, it’s a bit more powerful than anything I might have expected.”

“Henry would love this,” Emma said and Killian warmed at the mention of her son. Her boy was special to be sure, and even though he’d only met him yesterday, he knew Emma was right. Henry would take great joy in learning about something like this, and Killian felt a strong need to be the one to teach him how.

“He’s welcome any time, love. You and he both. You know that.”

Emma nodded, running her fingertips across the telescope thoughtfully. Killian knew she was thinking of that possibility, and he saw no signs of discomfort on her face. She just appeared to be thinking about what that might be like and what it would mean to bring her son to this place. Eventually Emma looked at him again, and when she did there was a light in her green eyes not provided by the lantern or the nearly full moon. It was something else, something warm and wonderful. A moment passed where there was so much left unsaid, but then she smiled and asked him to show her what to do. He was eager to do so, finding with relative ease all the big constellations and visible planets on this clear, summer’s night.

“Which constellation means the most to you?” Emma asked. He noticed that she hadn’t asked which one was his favorite. She had purposefully worded her query with the intention of understanding him. Tonight they both wanted to learn as much as they could about each other. It had been a theme throughout dinner and beyond, and for the first time he felt able to give that openness to someone. She may not realize how much this particular question meant, but he wanted to share it all the same.

“Aquila,” he replied, aiming the telescope to where it should be in the inky night sky. It took a few moments, but he found it sure enough, and he passed the scope to Emma with careful fingers so as not to move the lens. She took it in, looking at the stars, some brighter than others. She wouldn’t be able to see the design, or the lines that star maps always filled in, but that wasn’t important. It was the story behind this choice that mattered.

“It’s beautiful,” Emma said quietly. “What does it mean to you?”

“Aquila is the eagle constellation, part of the Herculean star systems. You can see the wings up top, and the bulk of the body below,” Emma nodded, her eyes staying trained in the telescope, giving him a bit more time to rein in his feelings before carrying on. “Aquila has long been associated with warriors, and so being in the navy, that connection always drew some attention. But it’s not the only fighting symbol. It’s not the strongest or most dominant. Most people who know of stars appreciate the constellation, yet cite others as more impressive or important.”

“But not you,” Emma said, looking back at him and coming to sit beside him on the outside lounger. Her hand came back to his and she gave a soft squeeze, pushing him forward.

“My affinity for this particular constellation has to do with the number in the grouping itself. There are ten stars in the assemblage.” He took a steadying breath and said the rest. “The same amount of sailors I’ve lost on my watch.”

Killian took another pause, steadying himself as the faces of those soldiers graced his memory. Despite the effects of time, he remembered each one of them, and sadly he vividly recalled their passings too. None had been easy losses, almost all had been in active combat, and most never had real resolutions. The killers got away, or were untraceable. There was no avenging these fallen brothers and sisters, there was only forward motion. Survival dictated they all carry on, but Killian’s heart required that he carry the fallen with him. He would not let them be forgotten. Indeed, the smallest thing he could do was see them in the stars each night.

“On a ship or on deployment, there are lots of open spaces. The night sky is a constant. Clouds may come, and so does fighting, but if you live through the day, the stars remain. They teach all sailors in the royal navy about the stars. Navigating by them might not be necessary anymore, but it’s a skill we’re expected to harness. The stars were also familiar. I had gazed upon them as a boy, not so unlike tonight. Liam and I used to enjoy such things, in the summer especially. For a long time, when I saw the stars, I thought of home. I thought of my family, and I took strength from that.

“But as much as the stars were a comfort, they were also witness to some of the worst moments of my life. When I experienced real fear and real loss in the field the first time, it was dark out, the peak of night, where stars are brightest. We were ambushed, a number of us were wounded, and we lost a life. Lieutenant Smee was nearly finished with the service. He had three weeks left, but death doesn’t respect such things.”

As he remembered that first lost, Killian still felt the weight of that realization. He’d known going into the service that risk was a part of things, but it made it all so much more real to have someone die in front of him. At that time he couldn’t understand why things happened that way, and he’d felt completely unmoored from any concept of a higher power. If endings were arbitrary and life came crashing down so unexpectedly all the time, what did that mean for the rest of them? What were they fighting for? And was any of it worth it?

“The next night I couldn’t sleep. I felt too much guilt,” he explained, looking down at Emma’s hands on him and using that as a lifeline in these murky feelings from his past. “We were sleeping and a man was dead, a family was broken, a dream was erased. I looked at the stars all night. This time I felt my ties back home and I also saw the scars I was forming. But even still, every night thereafter I looked at them. Loss came at any time, under the night sky, in a rainstorm, or in the blazing sun. Every time it did, I added a face to see. Soon I had enough to merit picking a specific group. At one time I prayed I would never come to need Aquila, and when I did need it, I prayed to never need another. Ten souls lost was ten too many.”

By now Emma was wrapped up beside him, her embrace having grown more supportive as he continued on, and despite the weight of the memories, he didn’t feel overwhelmed. There wasn’t darkness in full. It was like the sky tonight. There was deep, obscure patches, but light overall. That’s what Emma did for him. She lit him up and made his world so much brighter in the process. It also helped that as he continued on, telling stories of the people he’d lost she never flinched. She sat there calmly, attentively, and supportively. She held him, and when he felt he could say no more tonight she looked at him, with unshed tears and true affection that helped him feel like everything might be okay.

“That was the first time you’ve told anyone any of this, wasn’t it?” he nodded. She curled up closer to him, quietly telling him that she knew how much that meant.

“Aye, but it won’t be the last. I’ve made arrangements to meet with a naval counselor. I never intended to, but today I made the call.”

“What changed your mind?” she asked, clearly glad for his choice but holding off on her opinion.

“You,” he said honestly. “I would really like the chance to be in your life, Emma. You and Henry both. I hope I’ve made that clear by now, but I need to know for myself that I can give you everything I want safely. I still have nightmares and bad moments. I have scars as you now realize, and I want to understand them so I can be better for you, and for me.”

“You’re already more than enough, Killian.” Again she cupped his face, looking at him with what could only be described as love. Whether it was said or unsaid, Killian knew that Emma loved him, and that she was proud of him, despite everything he’d seen and done. It humbled him to feel that, and he knew he could never go another day without it. She was everything and so much more. “As someone who has needed help for my own demons though, I know how good sharing your stories will be. I used to be so afraid about being enough for Henry, about messing him up because of what I’d been through. I know you know the basics, but the truth is I was in more than a dozen placements in sixteen years, and that kind of constant change and upheaval and rejection takes a toll on a kid.”

Killian could not imagine how anyone could meet Emma and not want to keep her. To think of all the places that she’d landed that didn’t fight for her, that didn’t realize what a good and honest person she was made him sick. He knew she’d been through agony as a child, but he never imagined it could be so bleak.

“When I finally split, I still couldn’t find roots, no matter how hard I tried. I was desperate for them. I had no money and nowhere to go. I just… wandered. I’d have given anything for a family or even just friends, but I didn’t trust anyone enough to really let them in. I just needed to survive, and I couldn’t get to a stable enough place to feel like I could take a breath, never mind live a real life. Neal was the first person who helped me, and I made an exception for him. I let him past my walls, and I trusted in him.”

It wasn’t easy to hear Emma speak of a past love, but the look in her eyes told him there was no lingering emotion for this man he knew was Henry’s father. She may have loved him at one time, but that love was now gone. There wasn’t anger or hurt either, there was just calm, like she’d already made peace with every part of this sad story.

“It was good between us for a while, and I was young and I wanted to love and be loved. As soon as I let him in, that was it. He had my loyalty and my heart. I’d have done anything for him. I thought he could be that connection I was needing, but my desperation clouded my judgment. I couldn’t see what was right in front of me. I knew he wasn’t always on the right side of the law, but he always did right by me. I could see past his choices because he loved me and because he did these things for us. That’s what he always said, ‘I’m doing this for us.’ He also never involved me, and he made me feel protected. The world was a rough place, but we’d make it through. He’d get us through, that’s what he said. By the time I realized what kind of man he really was though, everything had gone wrong. He got caught stealing all sorts of shit, and he ran. Not only did he run, he tried to set me up for what he did to get the heat off of him. I almost went to prison. Not jail, but prison, for grand theft.”

Killian could understand more and more now why she had felt extra sensitive to the differences between them. As a Prince, his life and the lives of his loved ones would be under scrutiny always. She probably worried he would hear this and resent it, but he never could. He was livid at the fact that a man had ever hurt Emma this way, that he’d been coward enough to let her take the fall. But he was stunned at her perseverance. Somehow she’d gotten through that, and he was awed by the strength such growth must take.

“The only reason I was let go and my arrest was never recorded was because a good Samaritan called into the cops and provided my alibi. I had been in the park all day, studying for the last of my tests I needed to pass my GED. She and her dog were out there and the dog got off leash. I helped her wrangle the little guy at the same time as the robbery clear across the city. With her testimony they had nothing on me, and they realized they were going to charge me with something I had nothing to do with. I was let go, but yet again I was left with nothing. I had to start over again and it was so hard to do. Then a few months later I realized I was pregnant with Henry. I was so scared. I really didn’t think I could do it, but my state sponsored counselor ended up being a great help. She got me on the road to making things better, and she helped me see the circumstances of my life were out of my control. She said something I thought was unique, but it’s something I hear Anna say to the kids all the time at the center.”

“All you can do is the next right thing,” Killian echoed, and Emma nodded.

“I don’t think I always get it right, but I try to, and looking back I can honestly say that I’m proud of the last ten years. It wasn’t always easy, but we are here and here is…” Emma’s face colored with a soft, thoughtful smile and he could tell that she was thinking of her boy and how their life together was. Killian couldn’t help but feel tremendous pride in Emma and awe at all she had done. She was truly a survivor, and it was clear that the choices she’d made since then had all been guided by a want to do right by herself and by her son.

“Here is…?” Killian hedged, wanting to hear her put it into words. Now her eyes met his and they flickered, turning warm and sultry.

“Here is proving to be better and better, in no small part because of you.”

It was difficult to tell which of them started the kiss they shared then, but Killian savored every moment of it. They were out there together, under the stars and enjoying the quiet peace here away from the world. He wanted to get lost in it, to hold Emma tight from this point on and never have to pull back. Before their evening began he’d already envisioned his future lay with Emma, but now he could see it all here. The two of them together, choosing each other, building a life. Henry was here, and maybe someday other children. He’d be with his family, but they’d live on their own. He didn’t know how, but he felt that he could. He could craft a story for them here, and he just prayed that Emma felt inclined to do the same. Her actions tonight stoked that hope, and the taste of her kiss and the feel of her hands on him revived anything that he’d lost in his recent journey back through the past. Soon enough he was restored, feeling better than he ever had, and content that after so long he truly had found everything that he wanted.

“I wish this night never had to end,” Emma said wistfully some time later. Her lips swollen from their interlude and her golden hair bearing a slightly different shape from where his fingers had twined through. She was more beautiful than ever, here under the moonlight and in the lantern’s golden glow. And though they’d done nothing more than typical first date customs would allow, Killian would never know. He’d never felt so satisfied, and he shuttered to think of what he’d feel when they truly came together.

“I feel the same, love, but I promise – ehrm rather, I hope – that it won’t be the last.”

He shouldn’t have been so presumptuous as to assume she’d want another date with him. Of course he felt her desire and her want to be with him, but this situation was different than most other couples giving things a try. Perhaps she would realize she didn’t actually want to date a prince, undeniable attraction be damned. But God if she ended this then –

Before his thoughts could spiral, Emma pulled him for another searing kiss, one that left no room for outside worries or despair. There was only Emma, and god she was a wonder. He was dizzy from her by the time they broke apart, and his heart lurched at the seductive smile she tossed his way.

“Any chance you’re free on Tuesday?” Emma asked, filling his heart with relief before adding an even sweeter sensation directly thereafter. “Henry’s going straight from camp to dinner at a friend’s house but he’ll back for dessert. We’re having…” she trailed off and blushed and now Killian was too curious to be polite.

“What is it love?”

“Apple pie and ice cream.”

“How endearingly American.”

“I swear we’re doing our best to immerse ourselves, but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants,” she said with a shrug and he chuckled, running his hand along her cheek and watching her green eyes darken with the immediate interest that flared once more.

“I can think of nothing I’d like more than to see you and Henry again, love. Dessert sounds divine, whatever is on the menu”

“And dinner?” she asked, licking her lips and making him want another taste even though he’d had one just moments ago.

“If you’ll place your trust in me, I have just the spot in mind. It’s in the city, and we’ll be assured of total privacy.”

“Perfect,” she whispered, leaning into him as they stood and as he took her hand, leading her down the outdoor path once more.

And though it hurt to say goodbye when he drove her back home, so much so that Killian couldn’t bear to say the words, opting instead for a ‘See you soon, Swan’ and a final stolen kiss, he was comforted in knowing that this night was not the end. Instead, it was a beautiful beginning, one his instincts told him would lead him to the best moments of his life for now and always.

Post-Note: So there we have it – another CS first date in the books. I hope that you have enjoyed this chapter. For me it was a real relief to write this, both because I wanted to get to this moment, but also because I crafted it in the midst of a maddeningly busy part of my program. The good news is I have moved to my final stage and successfully passed, so I’ll soon be out of the thick of my crazy time consuming studies. Still, I may be sporadically posting for a little bit as I settle into my new normal post-school. All that being said, this chapter helped me destress and surround myself in fluff, even while dealing with some harder issues in Emma and Killian’s pasts. Please rest assured that Emma and Killian move forward from this moment with nothing but hope and good vibes. My plan for this fic has always been about 12 chapters, and I think I will land right there when all is said and done, and I promise to get back to this fic as soon as I can. In the meantime, I appreciate all of you so much for your continued support and kind words. They mean so much to me and I carry them always. Thanks again and hope you have a great rest of your weekend!

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lilacmoon83 · 4 years ago

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Clarity

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 13: Awkward Situation

"T...Tamara…" he uttered nervously and she made a display by siding up to him and pecking him on the lips.

"You left town so abruptly that I was worried. When you told me where you were...I decided to come find you," she said, as she looked around at the other people in the room.

"This is such a small town though...it wasn't even on the map. I think I just got lucky when I stumbled upon it," she added. Emma narrowed her gaze at that. She could sense a liar a mile away.

"Uh yeah...I was going to call you," he stammered.

"Well, I'm here now, so what's going on?" she asked.

"Well…I have a son. One that I didn't know about," Neal replied. Her eyes widened.

"A son?" she asked. He nodded.

"With who?" she asked.

"With me," Emma said, as she stepped forward.

"You?" Tamara asked, as her hackles seemed to go up.

"And you never told him?" she asked in an accusing tone. Emma opened her mouth to defend herself, but Neal beat her to it.

"Emma is my ex and about eleven years ago, she went to prison for something I did," he admitted.

"She went to prison, I took off, and she had a baby in prison. She couldn't keep him and gave him up for adoption. The Mayor of this town is actually our adopted son's mother," Neal explained. Tamara looked a bit shell-shocked by that.

"So...how did he find you?" she asked.

"He didn't...he found Emma first and then they happened to run into me in New York," Neal replied.

"That's a hell of a coincidence," she commented.

"Uh yeah…" he admitted.

"Okay...so how long are you going to be staying? We have a life in New York and we'll be getting married soon," she reminded him.

"Married?" Emma asked, as her eyebrows were in her hair and that admission made David and Mary Margaret exchange a worried glance.

"Yeah...Tamara is my fiancé," Neal said, in an uncomfortable tone. Emma was silent for a beat.

"I see," she replied.

"But I can't go back to New York right now," he said.

"Honey, I get that you have a son now, but what about our life there?" she asked.

"I have to stay. My son isn't happy with his adopted mother and my father thinks that if Emma and I file for custody against her...we can win," he replied.

"You're filing for custody together?" she asked in a sharp tone. He winced.

"We stand a better chance, even though we're not together. Emma was under duress when she gave him up and I didn't even know about him. A joint filing makes sense," Neal explained.

"I see...well, I support you and I guess I wouldn't mind taking some time off," she said.

"You don't have to do that. Honestly, we don't even have our first court date yet. This could take weeks...or longer," he replied.

"Well, I can at least stay a few days and then we can play it by ear," she said, as she kissed him and Emma looked away.

"So...when do I get to meet your son?" she asked and Emma wanted to claw her eyes out at that. Something inside her told her to keep this woman away from Henry. There was no way she believed that she just got lucky and found Storybrooke. Something was seriously off with her.

"Uh...well, his adopted mother is pretty pissed, but hopefully soon," Neal replied.

"Okay...well, should we go back to the Inn?" she asked.

"Actually...I need to talk to my father about some things. Can you go back and I'll meet you there soon?" he asked. She nodded.

"Your father? The one that abandoned you?" she asked.

"Yeah...it's complicated," he replied.

"Your father lives in the same town as your son's adoptive mother?" she asked skeptically.

"Like I said...this thing has a lot of moving parts," he replied.

"Okay…I'll see you later," she said, as she left the room.

"We need to talk," Emma snapped when she was gone and then stormed out of the room.

"Oh hell…" he complained, as he followed her, leaving Gold in the room with David and Mary Margaret.

"Well...that wasn't awkward or anything," David muttered.

"I miss being able to comfort Emma," Mary Margaret said and he squeezed her hand.

"I know...but I know she's going to let you in again, eventually," he promised.

"Meanwhile...we have a huge problem with an outsider in Storybrooke," Gold said.

"Yeah…I didn't think it was possible for people to come here from outside, except Emma," David recalled.

"It's not...unless you know what you're looking for," Gold said, as he looked at them. David and Mary Margaret exchanged a worried glance.

~*~

"Emma…" Neal started to say.

"You're engaged!?" she demanded to know.

"Yes...why does it matter?" he asked.

"We have a son! If you're going to be in Henry's life...that means she is too! I had a right to know!" Emma replied.

"You're right...and I wasn't hiding it. Things have just been nuts from the moment we met again in New York to now," he said and she couldn't really argue with that.

"Fine...but it doesn't make any sense how she found this place. I found it only because Henry guided me. Storybrooke isn't even on any of the road signs," Emma said.

"Yet you deny the book," Neal countered and she sighed, wanting to scream at him now.

"Don't change the subject. How did she even find this place?" she asked.

"I don't know! Tamara is resourceful," he replied and she rolled her eyes at that.

"Besides, if the book is bullshit, then why does it matter? It's not like this isn't just a normal town and it's not like my fiancé is dangerous or something," he added.

"Look...I know when someone is lying and she is," Emma accused.

"She's not lying...and I never bought that whole thing with your superpower," Neal replied.

"Since when?" she asked.

"Well, if you really can tell when people are lying...then are they lying?" Neal asked, as he gestured toward the room.

"That's not the same," she replied, with a sigh.

"Why? Are they lying?" he asked. She pursed her lips.

"Just because they believe what they are saying doesn't mean it's true," she replied. He snickered at that and shook his head.

"Right," he deadpanned.

"Okay...fine, I'll play your game. If the book is true...then ask yourself how bad it would be if people from outside did just start to roll into town. Even if she isn't lying or isn't a threat, she might tell others in passing about this quaint little town, hidden in the woods of Maine. So then this town becomes a tourist attraction and if this book is true and is somehow exposed...then it puts Henry in danger," she reasoned. He couldn't refute that, because he knew it was true. This town had secrets and though there was no magic to expose them, he never liked to take chances with people he cared about.

"I'll urge her to go back to New York, but she's going to get suspicious if I press her too hard," he said.

"Whatever...but that's not all we need to talk about," she replied.

"What else is there?" he asked.

"If we win against Regina...are you going back to New York? Are we really going to shuffle Henry back and forth?" she questioned.

"Why don't you just move back to New York with us?" he asked and she blanched.

"Because I have a life here...Henry has a life here," she replied.

"According to you...not really. I mean, what do you have here? If David and Mary Margaret aren't your parents and our son's grandparents...then you don't really have any ties here," he pointed out.

"But you do...your father," she countered. He snorted.

"Yeah...he'll be lucky if I visit him on holidays at this point. You may not believe anything in the book actually happened, but I lived it. He abandoned me in the worst way...and no, I'm not over it," he replied, as he walked away at that point to return to the Inn, leaving Emma alone in the hallway to ponder all the thoughts and emotions that had been stirred up that evening.

~*~

"You're quiet…" David mentioned, as he pressed a kiss to her hair. Gold had left and the nurse had lowered the lights in his room. The nurse had tersely offered a cot for her, but she refused and still remained cuddled against him in his hospital bed, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I was just thinking...I don't think Emma ever really got over Neal," she murmured.

"That makes sense...first love. I know I would never get over you. I just got lucky that I got to marry my first and only love," he whispered to her, which made her want to melt. He always knew exactly what to say to her.

"You're my first and only too," she replied, as she kissed him again, before they settled down and fell asleep in each other's arms

~*~

Regina angrily poured herself a glass of apple flavored liquor and took a big sip, letting the stinging liquid slide down her throat. After making sure Henry's window was locked from the outside, she was confident he was finally in his room, sleeping, leaving her to her own devices.

Any plans that had been in the works were now completely blown to hell by all the recent developments. She had planted all the right seeds to frame Mary Margaret for a crime. A crime committed by a jealous mistress against the wife of the man she was sleeping with. Harming Kathryn in any way had given her a moment of pause and that's why she had planned to go to Gold for help. He would help her with her plan for the right promise. But that option was gone now. Everything had changed. He could no longer be counted on as a shaky ally, for his son was the biological father of her son and he was now coming after custody of Henry.

David had divorced Kathryn and was now firmly with Mary Margaret. The town had still hated them, but the conflict between Kathryn and Mary Margaret had faded quickly with the divorce, as David clearly made his choice. But what was even worse now was that August had a story floating out there that she had helped Kathryn forge a marriage license that trapped the amnesiac David in a false marriage to keep him away from his true love, Mary Margaret Blanchard. The article painted Kathryn as the Mayor's lonely, browbeaten friend that agreed to go along with Regina's plot to keep them apart out of her hatred of Mary Margaret. She didn't know who this August W. Booth was and how he knew so much about all of them, but she didn't like it at all. Everything was completely screwed up and now she didn't know how she was going to fix any of it.

That's when she heard a knock at her door. She put her glass down and answered, only to find Kathryn there, looking miserable.

"I see you've seen that article," Regina said, as she let the blonde in.

"Yes...why would he write such a thing?" Kathryn wondered and that's when a thought struck Regina and she smirked evilly, before closing the door and turning to the other woman.

"It's quite simple, actually. This is Mary Margaret. Somehow, she convinced this reporter to write this monstrous article against us out of her hatred of us and her desire to keep her hooks in David," Regina said. Kathryn's eyes widened.

"You think so?" Kathryn asked.

"Absolutely...this is the woman that destroyed your marriage! And now she's trying to get the town to stop hating her by facilitating some outlandish story that she's David's true love? She is a lying, homewrecking little tramp and this cannot stand," Regina replied.

"But...what can we do? David chose her...he left me and he's with her," Kathryn said. Regina smirked deviously and turned to her.

"I have a plan...do you trust me?" Regina asked.

"Of course," Kathryn replied.

"Then leave everything to me and we'll make that little tramp pay for what she's done," Regina said vaguely, as a new plan formed in her head.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Emma Swan #Neal Cassidy #Henry Mills #Regina Mills #Mr. Gold #romance #adventure #family #drama #AU #Clarity #A 7x15 am AU

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swanqueeneverafter · 5 years ago

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The Long Way Back, Pt.2

Enchanted Forest. Several Weeks Later. Dark Palace. (David wanders through the palace until coming to a door. Entering the room he finds Emma’s proposed nursery. There’s a cradle standing in the middle of the room with toys laying around everywhere.) David: (Confused:) “This… This is impossible. This shouldn’t be here. (Steps closer to the cradle:) This is all wrong.” Emma: “You’re right. (Startled, David turns around. He notices his daughter standing behind him wearing a ball grown:) A full-grown princess still living in her nursery? I don’t even have a proper vanity.” David: “Emma, what… What are you doing here?” Emma: “I was looking for a place to practice. I’m a little nervous about tonight.” David: “Tonight? What’s tonight?” Emma: “The ball. You know, I’ve never been to one before. I don’t even know how to dance. (Takes David by the hand:) Teach me.” (Together they practice a few dance steps.) David: “You’re a natural. Just like your mother.” Emma: (Chuckles:) “And you’re the best teacher a daughter could hope for.” (David lifts Emma up and spins in a slow circle.) David: “Oh Emma, this is everything I ever hoped for you.” Emma: “Me, too. It’s a shame I never got it.” David: “What do you mean?” (They continue dancing around the room and finally stop in front of the magic wardrobe.) Emma: “I’m not really here. I was never here. I should be, but I’m not. All for one reason. (Backs away from her father:) You failed me. (Suddenly, the room darkens and thunder can be heard outside. Toys are falling off the shelves. Furthermore, the magic wardrobe’s doors fling open and a spinning portal opens. David grabs Emma’s hand, desperate to prevent her from going through:) Goodbye, daddy.” David: (Desperate:) “I’m sorry. I’ll save you.” Emma: “No, you can’t save me. You failed me. (David tries harder to pull Emma back into the room:) There’s nothing you can do.” David: “No, Emma!” Emma: “Don’t fail the next one.” (Letting go of his hand, Emma gets sucked into the portal.) David: “Emma!”

The Charming Bedchamber. (Waking up with a start, David opens his eyes. Emma’s words still echo in his ears. Panting, he sits up.) David: (Notices his wife is not in bed beside him:) “Snow?” (Snow White stands at the window looking over the landscape.) Snow White: (Cheerful:) “Look, who’s awake. (David gets out of bed:) Come, look at this view, Charming. I’d forgotten how beautiful it was here.” David: “Someone’s in a good mood.” Snow White: “I am. I have some pretty wonderful news. We’re pregnant.” David: “You are?” Snow White: “Are you not happy?” David: “No. No, I’m not. I’m thrilled.” (Chuckling, Snow White hugs Prince Charming. Unseen, David wears an anxious look on his face.)

Neverland. Past. Operation Cobra Rescue Camp. (Moments after finally speaking to Henry to let him know they're searching for him on Neverland, Regina, Emma and Mary Margaret discuss what just happened.) Mary Margaret: “You think he’s okay?” Emma: “He’s fine.” Regina: “You know this how?” Emma: “Because he’s our son and he’s a survivor, and now he has something to survive for. He knows we’re coming and we’re not gonna let him down.” Mary Margaret: “I’m sorry I doubted you. I’m just… (Sighs:) I know how easy it is to give in to the darkness. I didn’t want you to…” Regina: “She didn’t. I did. That’s what I’m here for. One happy family.” Emma: (As Regina walks past a few steps, to Mary Margaret:) “You should be apologising to Regina, without her we’d never have spoken to Henry.” (Before Mary Margaret can begin an assumed apology, she is spared acknowledging her own shortcomings when there is a sound in the bushes. All three women turn, prepared to fight. Emma with her sword, Snow with her bow and Regina with a fireball.) David: (Emerging through the foliage:) “Stand down, it’s me.” (The trio lower their weapons of choice as David walks purposefully toward Mary Margaret, kissing her deeply. Disgusted, both Emma & Regina turn away.) Emma: (Cringing:) “That’s one thing I’m glad I missed growing up.” Mary Margaret: (Breaking the kiss momentarily:) “Mmm. I’m not complaining, but what was that…” (David kisses her again.) Emma: “Okay, I’m complaining.” Elsewhere In The Jungle. (Hook sits alone, drinking.) Pan: (Clears throat:) “You really should’ve taken my deal.” Hook: "It doesn’t look like I need your help with Emma after all, mate. Saving her father’s life will make her see me for the man I am.” Pan: “What? (Scoffs:) A one-handed pirate with a drinking problem? I’m no grown-up, but I’m pretty sure that’s less than appealing.” Hook: “A man of honor.” Pan: “Once, perhaps. We both know those days are long gone. But, seeing as Emma’s current… situation cannot be allowed to continue, I suppose you’ll do as a substitute.” Hook: “Emma’s ‘situation’? You mean her dalliances with the Evil Queen? I’m not worried about that.” Pan: “That’s because you think only of your carnal urges and not the bigger picture. You think that just any shared magic could’ve saved Storybrooke from my trigger? I’ve destroyed countless realms trying to find the heart of the Truest Believer. Not one of those Kingdoms had anyone powerful enough to stop their destruction once I gave the order. The Savior and the Evil Queen have shared magic more powerful than anything I’ve encountered before.“ Hook: (Watches Pan for a long moment:) "It’s been said that there’s only one type of magic that can break any curse. (Sits up:) Are you meaning to tell me that their magic is-” Pan: (Cutting in:) “If their combined power is forged from True Love, thankfully, they aren’t yet aware of it. Which is where you come in.” Hook: (Frowns:) “You want me to come between them? My pursuit and, lets face it, eventual triumph in winning Emma’s heart would, in turn, protect you from that magic you fear?” Pan: “Does that put a damper on things for you?” Hook: “It does a bit, yes.” Pan: “Well not to worry, I’m not pitting all my hopes on you. I just need someone to come between Regina & Emma so that they’re powerless to stop me doing what I must to their son. So tell me… What would a man of honor like yourself do with a big, fat secret?” Hook: “Um. Well, that depends what the secret is.” Pan: “Baelfire. Neal. Whatever name he goes by these days. Henry’s father.” Hook: “What of him? He’s dead.” Pan: “No. I’m afraid not. He’s alive. And that’s not even the best part. He’s in Neverland.” Hook: “Is he?” Pan: “Oh yes. Can you believe it? I’m sure Emma would love to know that Henry’s father is still alive. But, considering their history, I’d hate for that to get in the way of budding romance. So you see, I do have other options. (Begins to walk away:) Oh, I’ll leave it up to you… to tell her or not. Let’s see what kind of man you really are.” Enchanted Forest. Present. Dark Palace. The Stables. (Prince Charming enters and walks over to a saddle bag, taking out a flask and takes a long drink from it.)

Robin Hood: (Standing at the doorway:) “I used to keep a bottle hidden in my quiver.” (Hood carries arrows with him. The arrow heads are gilded.) Prince Charming: “I… (Sighs then changes the subject:) Are those gold-tipped arrows?” Robin Hood: “Payment for helping the Queen break into her castle. (Walks further into the stables towards his own saddlebag:) Never thought I’d be paid to break in somewhere. It just feels wrong somehow.” (He places the arrows in his quiver.) Prince Charming: “It’s very generous. The Queen must like you.” Robin Hood: “It’s a pity she wants me out of her castle as soon as possible, but for now, it’s the best place for my boy. With that witch on the loose, my first priority is keeping my family safe. I’m sure you understand that.” Prince Charming: “I do.” (Sighs and takes another drink.) Robin Hood: “If you don’t mind me saying, you, uh… you look like a man who needs some sleep more than a drink.” Prince Charming: “I would, if I could.” Robin Hood: “Mm. Yeah, I’ve been there. (Prince Charming offers Hood the bottle. Hood takes a sip:) Is there anything you want to talk about? Or not talk about?” Prince Charming: “It’s just… I’ve always known everything would work out for the best. When I was last in the Enchanted Forest, I dueled a Black Knight to put my newborn in a magic wardrobe to flee a curse and never once did my confidence waver.” Robin Hood: “Then, what’s changed?” Prince Charming: “That’s just it. I don’t know. I just can’t seem to escape this feeling of dread. And I really need to be there for Snow, right now. And I can’t be distracted by this… This fear.” Robin Hood: “So, don’t be.” Prince Charming: “Easier said than done.” Robin Hood: “After my wife died, Friar Tuck told me of a root, that if digested would help one overcome any and all fears.” (Prince Charming prepares to leave.) Prince Charming: “Where do I find it?” Robin Hood: “It’s said to grow under the white moss at the edge of Sherwood Forest. Just south of here.” Prince Charming: “White moss. Anything else?” Robin Hood: “It has flecks of crystal within its flesh. It looks like stars.” Prince Charming: “Stars?” Robin Hood: “That’s why they call it ‘Night Root’.” Prince Charming: “Did it help you?” Robin Hood: “I don’t really dabble in magic unless I have to.” Prince Charming: “Well, I may not have that luxury.” (Prince Charming exits the stables carrying a saddle.) Robin Hood: “You should know they uh… say that that part of the forest is haunted.” Prince Charming: “Haunted?” (Stops in the doorway.) Robin Hood: “You may need the night root to handle the fear of your journey to stop your fear. Perhaps the flask was the right idea.” Prince Charming: “I’m not afraid of a ghost story, not when my family is at stake. Thank you.” Dark Palace. (Meanwhile, Snow White has just given Regina the good news.) Regina: "Pregnant? (Scoffs:) Well you didn't waste any time did you?" Snow White: "What do you mean?" Regina: "Tell me something, when you saw your daughter drive out of our lives forever, did you and Charming jump each other that same hour or did you wait the entire afternoon out of respect?" Snow White: "How dare you?!" Regina: (Shaking her head:) "I don't know what I expected from the woman who put her own daughter through a wardrobe." Snow White: "To save her from you!" Regina: (Laughs mirthlessly:) "Oh yes and you've been trying to 'save' her from me ever since, haven't you?" Snow White: "You cast the curse that ruined our lives and you're reason we're back here right now. If you hadn't left that curse in your vault as a monument to your maliciousness, Pan would never have been able to use it." Regina: (Scoffs again:) "Ruined your lives. What did I do that was so terrible, really? I brought you to a land without magic, I gave you a home, a life, a purpose. Running water, electricity - I even kept your mortally wounded husband alive." Snow White: "You watched me sit by his bedside for twenty eight years!" Regina: (Leaning forward:) "At least you were together." (With these words, Snow is reminded of her own memories of Emma.) Storybrooke. Main Street. Past. (Hours after breaking the Dark Curse, Emma is stopped on the streets by her parents.) Emma: “You guys ready?” Mary Margaret: “We need to talk.” Emma: “I- Well, I don’t… I just- I don’t wanna talk.” Mary Margaret: “But I do, okay? Gold can wait. I can’t. You’re my daughter. And I wanna talk to you.” Emma: (Sighs:) “Okay. What do you want to talk about?” Mary Margaret: “We’re together, finally. And I can’t help but think you’re not happy about it.” Emma: “Oh, I am. But, see, here’s the thing. No matter what the circumstances, for twenty eight years I only knew one thing, that my parents sent me away.” Mary Margaret: “We did that to give you your best chance.” Emma: “You did it for everyone. Because that’s who you are. Leaders, heroes, princes and princesses. And that’s great and amazing, and wonderful, but it doesn’t change the fact that for my entire life, I’ve been alone.” Mary Margaret: “But if we hadn’t sent you away, you would’ve been cursed, too.” Emma: “But we would’ve been together. Which curse is worse?” Enchanted Forest. Present. (Coming back to herself, Snow takes a deep breath and a lighter tone.) Snow White: "This baby isn't some attempt to replace Emma. Nothing ever will. This child is our chance to do things differently, to be the parents we should've been for Emma. Regina, I know there's a lot of history between us, a lot of it bad, but there's also a lot of good. I'd like us to enter this next chapter of our lives together, as a family." (Regina stares at Snow for a long moment before giving her a small nod.) Regina: "Just tell me one thing. Would you really have preferred Emma to be with Neal or the pirate over me?" Neverland. Past. Continued. (Disgusted by the sight of the Charmings continued kissing, Regina looks around for Hook.) Regina: (Rolls her eyes:) “What I wouldn’t give for another sleeping curse. Where’s the sextant, where’s the pirate?” David: (Finally ceasing the kiss:) “Hook’s hanging back, drinking I assume… he saved my life. On our trek, we were ambushed by Lost Boys. Pinned down, outnumbered. But Hook, he risked his life to stop me from getting hit by a poisoned arrow. But if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be alive.” Regina: (Nonplussed:) “Well how about that.” Hook: (Returning to camp:) "It was nothing, really." David: (Walking towards him:) "Your flask, please. (Hook reaches into his back pocket and produces his flask. Taking it:) I thought he deserved a little credit." Hook: "Thank you." (David takes a drink, then coughs at its strength. Returning to Mary Margaret he hands over the flask.) Mary Margaret: (Holding it up:) "To Hook." (Hook gives her an awkward wave as Mary Margaret takes a drink.)

Regina: (When offered the flask:) "I don't do rum." (Regina turns and walks away. Taking the bottle from her mother, Emma watches Regina leave then gives the pirate her own toast of acknowledgement.) Emma: "To Hook. (She drinks. Walking a short distance away, Emma wipes her mouth with the back of her hand before turning around to find herself alone with Hook:) You really save his life?” Hook: “Does that surprise you?” Emma: (Handing back the bottle:) “Well, you and David aren't exactly... (Inhales deeply:) How do you say it? (Imitates British accent:) Mates.” Hook: “That doesn't mean I'd leave your father to perish on this island.” Emma: (Sincerely:) “Thank you.” Hook: “Um... Well, perhaps gratitude is in order now.” (Hook motions towards his lips with his finger.) Emma: (Smirking at his mannerisms:) “Yeah. That's what the ‘thank you’ was for.” Hook: “Mm. (Moving closer to her:) That all your father's life is worth to you?” Emma: “Please. You couldn't handle it.” Hook: (Whispers:) “Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it.” (Emma pulls Hook towards her by the lapels of his jacket.) Emma: “You ready?” Hook: “Absolutely.” Emma: “Then close your eyes. (Smiling, Hook closes his eyes. In the next instant, they spring open and he emits a groan of pain, staggering backwards. Emma’s knee having made firm contact with his ‘treasure chest’:) That’s for working with Tamara, for allowing her to torture Regina and for letting her bring Henry to this godforsaken island to begin with! (Snatching the flask from his pocket, Emma turns and walks away, to Hook:) Don't follow me. Go get some firewood or something.” Hook: (Wincing in pain:) “As you wish.” (Once Emma is out of sight, he collapses to the ground.)

Enchanted Forest. Present. (Searching for night root, Prince Charming rides through the forest. Coming to a spot where white moss grows, he dismounts and digs up a root. Chopping off one slice of the root, he takes a closer look at it.) Prince Charming: “Just like stars. Night root.” Woman: “Help! Please, help. (Drawing his sword, Prince Charming decides to follow the sound. Stepping through a gap in the undergrowth he finds himself in a clearing. At the edge of the clearing there stands a tall tower:) Up here! Please. (Slowly, Prince Charming climbs up the tower’s wall. Panting, he finally climbs through a window:) You’re… you’re the first person I’ve seen in such a long time.” Prince Charming: “How long have you been up here?” Woman: “I’ve lost count of the years. Are you a prince?” Prince Charming: “Yes, you can call me David. Are you a princess?” Woman: “No... You can call me Alice.”

#sq #swanqueen #swan queen

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lamptracker · 6 years ago

Note

Ok now teens tend to be overdramatic so say Evan and Lily get into a huge fight over something silly and break up(only for like a couple hours) Lily is sobbing, Evan is heartbroken so Tom and Harrison help out to get them back together😍

Tom comes home from work one night to find Lily on the couch, head in hands, sobbing.

“Oh, Lilybug,” he says softly, using the nickname he’d given her when she was tiny. “What’s the matter?”

Lily looks up at him, big brown eyes red-rimmed and full of tears. “Evan and I broke up!” she exclaims before breaking down in tears again.

“What?!” Tom all but yelps.

Lily takes a deep breath. “Hegotattextfromagirlandhetriedtotellmeitwasforclassbutididn’tbelievehimandwestartedfightingandidon’tknowwhattodooooo!”

Having grown up with three younger brothers, Tom had no idea how to speak “teen girl.” So he just rests a hand on her shoulder. “Okay, Lily. Take a deep breath and tell me again what happened.”

She sighs shakily. “He got a text from a girl,” she starts. “And he said it was for a class assignment. It probably was, but he was just being so weird about it! And I thought he was cheating on me, but he said he would never... I mean, why would I say that? And then he said maybe it was better if we... if we...” She bursts into tears yet again.

Tom gathers her into his arms, holding her close to him. “Just give him some time to cool off,” he says soothingly. “Okay?”

Meanwhile, at the Osterfield house...

“Evan!” Harrison calls down the hall. “Evan, where are you?”

“Went to his room,” you say, shrugging. “He seemed pretty upset, wouldn’t even wave at me.”

“Well, that’s not... hm.” Harrison walks down the hall, softly knocking on Evan’s door. “Hey, son. Can I come in?”

“Sure, whatever.”

Harrison opens the door; Evan is pacing around the small bedroom, holding something in his left hand.

“What’s the matter, Evan?”

Evan sighs. “Lily and I broke up. She, uh, that necklace I got her for Christmas? She gave it back. I... I think I really screwed up, Dad.”

“Wait a minute. You and Lily broke up?”

Evan nods. “I got a text from Hannah about that group assignment for history class,” he says. “And Mr. Neal said we’re not supposed to talk about to anyone outside of our group. So Lily was asking me all sorts of questions about it, and I didn’t know how much I was allowed to say so...”

“So you got all secretive and Lily thought you were seeing this Hannah on the side.”

“Yeah. But, Dad, I’d never do that! I... I know we’re just kids, and you’re going to say we’re too young, but... Dad, I really love her. You know? There is not a girl at that school that’s even a fifth as pretty as Lily is. And she’s sweet, and she’s hilarious, and I’m even willing to overlook that she totally kicks the shit out of me at Mario Kart, and-”

“Language, Evan.”

“Sorry. Anyway, I told her that maybe we shouldn’t see each other anymore if she couldn’t trust me, but... I didn’t mean it, Dad! And now she probably hates me and it’s all my fault.”

Harrison smiles wistfully at his distressed son. “C’mere.”

Evan sits down next to Harrison on the bed, resting his head on his father’s shoulder. “Yeah, Dad?”

“Just give her a little time to cool off, yeah? And yourself, too. You two really care about each other, you’ll get through this.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Harrison gives his son a quick squeeze and steps out into the hallway. He pulls out his phone and is just about to call Tom when his phone rings.

“I was just about to call you,” Harrison says, chuckling. “How’s Lily?”

“Inconsolable. How’s Evan?”

“Feels about two inches tall. We’ve got to help these kids fix this, Tom. I can’t stand to see Evan so upset.”

“I know. I hate seeing Lily like this. Tell you what, why don’t we meet for ice cream in twenty minutes, let them sort it out?”

“Sounds good. Can I bring-”

“Yes, you can bring (y/n). Carly’s the assistant coach of the speech team and they have a meet tonight, so she won’t be joining us. See you in a bit?”

Twenty minutes later, Tom and Lily walk into the ice cream shop to see Evan, Harrison, and (y/n) at a table.

“Okay,” Tom says quietly. “Go talk to him.”

“Dad, what if he doesn’t want to talk to me?”

“How will you know if you don’t... oh, hi, Evan.”

“Hi, Tom. Um... listen, Lily. I’m really sorry about earlier. I, uh... I shouldn’t have been so weird about that group assignment. I just wasn’t sure how much I could tell you, you know how Mr. Neal gets.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry too. I know you’d never cheat on me, I don’t even know why I would think that.”

“Listen, Lily... I love you.”

“You do?”

Evan nods. “Yeah.”

“Oh, Evan, I love you too!” She throws her arms around his neck, reaching up to kiss him softly.

“Can you forgive me?” he asks, resting his forehead against hers.

“Yeah. Can you forgive me?”

“Sure, yeah. Um... let’s never do that again, okay?”

“Okay.”

You, Tom, and Harrison laugh as you peruse the menu. “It’s nice to see them happy again, isn’t it?” Tom asks.

“Yeah,” Harrison agrees. “I know they were only broken up for a few hours, but that was awful.”

“Oh, if only it were that easy now,” Tom muses; and the three of you laugh again.

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mariequitecontrarie · 7 years ago

Text

All of Me: Chapter 15

The Fic: Belle French is a pudgy librarian who’s in love from afar with “town monster” and ace reporter, Mr. Gold. Little does she know, he’s head-over-heels in love with her, too. Chapter Summary: Neal ships his dad and Belle hardcore. Meanwhile, Belle and Gold deal with the aftermath of their dinner with Edith and Moe, and Belle makes a major decision. Rating: T A/N: HI GUYS!!!! It’s been 84 years! I’m soooooo sorry! THANK YOU to everyone who is sticking with this story. I will try to be more routine with updates, though I can’t guarantee it because my muse takes its sweet time on this one. What I can guarantee is I WILL finish it! Some Neal POV in this chapter and some flashbacks. Thank You: @magnoliatattoo is amazing. You guys have no idea. Artwork by @wizzygold

Stay with Me (between Ch 9 and 10) | Pieces of Me (Q&A)

{On AO3}

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Viktor E. Frankl

Neal ducked away from the flakes of paint and insulation floating to the floor, then draped himself over the top of the ladder to watch Belle French bustle around the library.

He grinned to himself as Belle surveyed the space, hands on her hips. She started dragging furniture around the library, organizing the chairs and tables into attractive clusters—some for solitude, some for conversation. Next she went to the circulation desk and arranged some flowers in a vase. They were in the perfect position to be admired but not knocked over by a book or someone’s elbow. He was impressed. He loved to build a room—the smell of sawdust, getting something “in the dry”—going from an open frame to a building with a roof and walls, and he loved to work with his hands. He could create a building as solid as a rock, but Belle knew how to bring a space to life.

She moved in his direction and he descended from the ladder with loose, easy strides.

“Hey, Belle. How’s it going?” He wiped a bit of texture off his shirt. “You and Emma walking today?”

As happy as he was that Belle and his dad were falling in love, the instant friendship that had developed between Belle and his wife was even cooler, not that he’d ever admit it out loud. Emma had never had a truer, sweeter friend. At first glance, they were very different—Emma was brash and sporty while Belle was studious and feminine, but they had so much in common. They shopped together, shooed him away from his big-screen TV to watch cheesy romantic comedies together, and Belle was the only person who indulged Emma in her love of sushi. Some nights, the glare from Emma’s phone would wake him up, and he’d roll over in bed to find his wife giggling over a text, meme, or clever comment. All from Belle, of course.

He considered himself a damn fine judge of character. And there was no better friend to his wife than Belle French. She was clever, fun, and above all, fiercely loyal. Their relationship had grown so strong that he felt whatever happened between Pop and Belle, Emma and Belle’s friendship would last.

“Walking three times a week, yes.” Belle smiled and motioned toward his ladder and the hole in the ceiling. “How are the repairs going?”

“I’m done out here for today.” He took off his tool belt and set it on the canvas tarp he’d spread to protect the floor. “The leak you had a couple months ago is worse, though, and we’re going to need to rebuild part of the ceiling for safety reasons. I need to schedule a couple of structural tests with the city, but I wondered if I could take a look upstairs.”

“Oh, what for?”

He kept his shrug nonchalant. “A few ideas hit me when I was driving over; thought I would see if they might pan out in that space.”

Her face lit up, then fell, but she nodded in the direction of the door to the second floor. “Sure, you can look, but fair warning: we don’t have the budget dollars to make that area over, no matter how much I’d love an expansion.”

“Got it.” He saluted with a small smile. It wasn’t an expansion for the library he had in mind, but he couldn’t tell Belle yet. Pop had sworn him to secrecy. His father was determined to see the upstairs built into an apartment for her, and money wasn’t going to be a problem.

As he climbed the creaky staircase, the odors of mildew and mothballs hit his nose. He wondered how many times Belle might have ventured upstairs with a stack of decorating books and magazines, dreaming of ways to make something of the space but not having the tools or the means to do so.

He gained the landing and looked around; potential teemed in the scratched, warped floorboards and grey, dull walls. The same light flooding the front windows of the first floor bathed this space in bright sunshine. He squinted, mentally dividing the space. A small yet fully functional bathroom in the far corner; a bright galley kitchen with a breakfast bar and stools; a living room framed by a window seat and built-in bookshelves.

Yes, he could transform this dusty, dank space into something awe-inspiring.

He took a few minutes to sketch out his thoughts, then banged back down the stairs just in time to see his father walk into the library.

Papa raked a hand through his cropped hair, anxious eyes darting around, and Neal hovered behind the stacks to observe him. The moment his dad caught sight of Belle was something to see. The hard lines of his face softened and his eyes got mushy and muddy—like the melted chocolate he scraped off Henry’s hands after a visit with his grandpa.

When she saw his father, Belle’s friendly yet guarded countenance melted away, replaced by such a look of open adoration that he felt like he’d barged in on a private moment. They may as well have been the only two people in the library. A furious blush colored Belle’s cheeks, and even his father looked a little red under his tanned skin.

It was intimate and sweet and he swiped his knuckles across watery eyes. “Damned plaster,” he muttered to no one in particular, then broke out in another helpless grin as his dad crossed the library toward the woman he loved.

xoxo

Today was going to be salvaged, Belle determined, no matter how many obstacles she’d overcome this morning. Or how long and sleepless her night had been.

She’d stormed into the library like a woman on a mission, barking orders and flinging herself into the long-overdue task of rearranging furniture. Anything to keep her mind from returning to her conversation with Edith. Teeth gritted, she muscled a heavy mission-style chair into the back corner. If she pretended she was shoving Edith down a flight of stairs instead of pushing chairs into attractive formations, well she couldn’t be arrested for murderous thoughts, could she?

After lying awake for hours, watching the dawn break across the sky while Erskine slept peacefully at her side, Belle had realized she couldn’t take it another day in her parents’ house. Not for one more hour. She got up, dashed off a note to Erskine, and put on her clothes, her gaze hardly straying from his beloved face as she slipped on her shoes.

She’d hesitated in the doorway of his room, casting another longing look at the divet in the pillow where her head had been. It wasn’t easy, leaving the security of his embrace to face the unknown at home, and every muscle screamed for her to crawl back into bed to watch him sleep until those gorgeous brown eyes opened and he smiled his special smile, the one she fancied he reserved only for her. But she couldn’t run away from her problems this time. Her parents’ appalling behavior at last night’s dinner had been like a glaring, fluorescent light, illuminating all the cracks and ugliness her family was hiding. Change desperately needed to happen.

Belle had tiptoed down the stairs, away from the warmth and safety of Gold’s arms, feeling the pinch of her circumstances like a too-tight waistband. This wasn’t his problem to solve, though, and she would die before she would put him in the middle of another awkward family squabble. Edith’s failure to see her as a grown woman instead of a susceptible child was aggravating. Daddy’s refusal to see her at all was heartbreaking. For years she’d kept silent out of respect, but Edith’s rules and expectations had begun to chafe, as had her father’s extended silence. She was a grown woman with a job. No, a career. Now she was making friends, building a life of her own. And she’d fallen in love with a man who was not only not threatened by her success, he was encouraging it.

She’d crept into the house while it was still dark, filled a suitcase with clothes and packed the essential items from her room into a box. When she could put it off no longer, she’d gone back downstairs to face Edith.

xoxo

From the kitchen doorway, Belle twisted her fingers in her long, black skirt, watching Edith wash and wipe dishes. Should she sit down or keep standing? Belle chewed her lower lip in indecision. She was painfully ill at ease in her own home, and it had gone on long enough.

“You missed breakfast,” Edith chided, breaking the silence without turning away from the sink.

“Yes…” She trailed off, knowing what she needed to say but not finding the words. She took a deep, trembling breath. Sometimes there was really was no way to deliver bad news, even if that news was only going to be regarded as bad by one of them.

Steeling her spine, Belle decided to go for the direct approach. “I’m moving out.”

“Well.” Edith snapped her head around, the movement sharp and agitated, then dried her hands on a dishtowel. “I’m just going to come out and say it, Belle.”

“Yes, don’t hold back.” Belle bit the inside of her cheek, but it was too late to take back her sarcasm.

Edith flashed her a warning look. “You’re father isn’t going to be happy about this.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” That much was genuine. “But I can’t live my life trying to make him happy with me.” Especially since she knew nothing was ever going to make her father truly happy again. The void left by her mother’s death was still gaping and raw. And she had allowed his stagnancy to poison her outlook on the future. She’d become an empty shell, doing little more than existing, until Gold and his family had awakened her. She was hungry, not for food, but for affection and attention. She was starving for a real life!

“Be careful.” Edith smirked at Belle’s chest and Belle crossed her arms over her breasts, regretting her decision to wear the teal scoop-neck top that Emma had given her over wine one girl’s night. Somehow, her stepmother managed to make her feel ugly and ashamed, no matter what. “Gold’s not going to buy the farm when you’re giving the milk away for free, dear.”

“If you must know, I’m moving in with Marco for a while.” Belle squeezing her damp palms together to keep from trembling. Just until she decided on a more permanent solution. And maybe she would even come back here someday, if they wanted her. No! she corrected herself, she wouldn’t. Once she walked out the door with her bags, there could be no calling this place home again.

“Nevertheless,” Edith persisted. “I don’t think you’re making wise choices.”

Inside Belle was wavering, tears of shame and weakness filling her eyes, but she kept her gaze steady and focused. All the fight seemed to go out of Edith and she slumped, her face draining of color and her own eyes filling with tears.

“It’s about the dinner, isn’t it? That’s why you’re leaving? The cooking wasn’t fancy enough for Mr. Gold?” She wrung her hands, suddenly looking old and tired and sad.

Belle blew out a surprised breath. “No, Edith, dinner was the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I wouldn’t have cared if you’d busted out a package of Hot Pockets, as long as you treated Gold with respect and decency. Regardless of what he means to me—and the fact that I love him should matter to you—there was no excuse for the things you said.”

Edith’s thin lips began to tremble and a lone tear spilled down her pale cheek. “But all I have, all I am, is taking care of you and your father.”

And for the first time, Belle looked at her stepmother and saw her, not as a monster determined to make her life hell, but for who she really was: a lonely, grasping middle-aged woman, uncertain of her place in the world.

xoxo

Belle pushed the final library chair into place, forming a cozy circle around a reading table, then flounced over to the circulation desk to arrange the bouquet of mums she’d picked up from the flower shop. As soon as she finished here, she was closeting herself inside her office for a late lunch of snowball snack cakes, and no one—not even Emma—would be the wiser.

After last night’s excruciating family dinner, Erskine had escorted her to the Rabbit Hole for a drink, and she’d clung to his arm, shivering in the brisk November evening air. They’d huddled together for hours at a cozy corner table, sipping their drinks and holding hands, the whiskey warming her and making her toes tingle. She hadn’t raised a single objection when he bundled her into his car and taken her back to his house for the night.

She’d already slept there once, so it was a quick, comfortable journey from the couch to his bed, and he’d handed her a pair of his sweatpants and a soft, almost threadbare t-shirt with a smile. The sweet memory of his touches and kisses brought a fierce blush to her cheeks. Somehow, he seemed to know exactly how to make her feel at ease and desired all at the same time, making her forget everything that made her feel bad about herself. They’d lain in the dark, his mouth murmuring reassurances into her ear, telling her over and over how much he loved her.

She threaded her fingers in his hair and pulled him down for another kiss, her lips swollen and tingling. He grazed his teeth over the spot she always nibbled when she was thinking, then soothed the sting with his tongue. His hot breath ghosted over her face and neck, pebbling her flesh. She pressed his hand against her breast with a moan, delighting in the heat of his palm through the soft, borrowed cotton.

He jerked back, his breath coming in pants. She leaned over him, eyes wide with concern. “Are you having another panic attack, honey?”

“No.” He laughed, but it came out more like a wheeze.

“Okay, good. Then will you kiss me again?” she prodded, pulling at his shoulders.

“Belle, you have no idea what you do to me, do you? I need to stop, sweetheart, before I lose myself.” His dark eyes glittered in the dark. “Let’s…it’s late. Can we go to sleep?”

“Oh.” She ducked her head, hiding against his chest, but Erskine would have none of it. He lifted her chin forcing her to meet his eyes. Even in the shadows, the feral hunger she saw written across his features took her breath away.

“Belle, sweetheart, the first time I make love to you, it’s going to be planned and it’s going to be perfect. Not something rushed when it’s late at night after a tense evening and our heads are muddled with drink.” He paused, dragging his finger over her lips. “Okay?”

“Okay.” She nodded and lowered her head to his chest to cuddle closer, ridiculously pleased that he desired her so much. A tiny voice of doubt wanted to tell her he was lying, but she squashed it without mercy. Erskine loved her—she’d never been more certain of anything in her entire life.

After he’d nodded off to sleep, scenes from earlier in the evening repeated themselves like a gag reel from a horror film. So ashamed and embarrassed by what he’d put up with from her parents, she’d listening to his deep, even breaths and pressed her face against his neck, trying to find rest that never came. Giving up, she’d dashed off a note to him, and left, walking back to her house to pack her bags and make arrangements to stay with Marco.

xoxo Belle checked her phone for the first time all day, finding three missed calls from Gold. Great. She’d accidentally switched it to silent mode. She started dialing his number, but the library door opened and there he was, looking handsome and fresh as always in his trademark three-piece suit and one of her favorite purple ties.

“Hey!” A wave of relief crashed over her, and she hadn’t known how badly she needed to see him until he walked through the door. If they hadn’t been in public, she would have rounded the circulation desk and thrown herself into his arms. Instead, she settled for leaning over the counter for a quick kiss, but as he drew closer, the haunted expression on his face and the dark shadows around his eyes made her freeze.

“Hey,” he replied, his eyes twin pools of anguish. “Is everything…are you all right?”

“I think I’m the one who should be asking you that question.” She stared at him, trying to discern the myriad emotions crossing his face. She’d expected him to look happy and well-rested, but he looked terrible. She settled a hand against his clammy brow. “Are you sick?”

He shook his head. “No. But when I woke up you…you were gone.” His voice was frosty, but she knew him well enough to recognize the pinched, strained look around his eyes. He was hurting.

Belle’s heart leaped into her throat at the faint accusation in his tone. “Yes, I’ve decided to move in with Marco for a while and I wanted to hurry home…I mean, back to Edith and my father’s house to pack.”

“Oh. Good.”

Belle blinked at his forced smile. Hadn’t he read her note? “What do you mean, ‘oh?’”

“I didn’t say ‘oh.’ I said, ‘Oh. Good.’”

She swallowed hard and glanced over at Neal, who was back on his ladder, doing a terrible job of pretending not to listen. She dropped her voice. “But that’s not what you meant, was it?”

“You tell me, Belle.” Gold glanced down at her neglected phone sitting on the desk between them. “I woke up this morning and you weren’t there, lying next to me. I called you all morning and you didn’t pick up. Then I track you down at the library and you announce your plans to move in with Marco without even mentioning it to me.”

The pain in his dark eyes was now unmistakable, and her self-loathing mounted. At the same time, she wanted to cry in frustration. She was an adult, and she’d written him a note explaining herself before leaving. The last thing she needed after confronting Edith was another guilt trip.

“I’m mentioning it now!” Belle wailed.

“Excuse me, Belle, I couldn’t help but overhear. Did you say Marco?” Cordelia practically hip-checked Gold and leaned toward Belle, her green eyes sharp and wide.

Belle knew that look; it was the same one Cordelia got when a box of new mystery romances was delivered to the library. Her assistant put a hand to her neck, which was beginning to turn a mottled red.

“Uh, yes,” Belle said. “Why do you ask?”

“He’s a fine man. So handsome and he’s a chef. Perhaps you could arrange an introduction, now that other eligible bachelors are taken.” Cordelia fluttered her lashes at Gold, then frowned at the stack of cookbooks Belle had set aside for Marco. “But not so long as he never comes into the library.”

Belle sighed. Cordelia’s ill-timed interruption wasn’t all that was attracting attention. A dozen pairs of curious eyes had turned in her direction, waiting for her to continue arguing with her boyfriend. Now it was her turn to flush. They were making a scene. And Belle loathed being the subject of a scene.

“Belle…” Gold smiled tightly at Cordelia, and Belle could tell he was holding his patience in check. He slid his eyes toward her office. “Is there someplace more…”

She was already grabbing his hand and dragging him into the back corner of the library, and before the door to her office closed she was talking again, her words coming out in a painful rush.

“All my life I’ve been managing other people’s expectations, Erskine. Trying to be what they want. Good enough. Pretty enough. Thin enough. No one decides for me anymore. I do!”

“Please, sweetheart, calm down.” He enveloped her shaking hands in his, the turbulence in his eyes calming. “Please, please believe me. I’m not trying to run your life. I’m trying to be a part of it. People who love each other talk things out. They don’t go it alone.” He looked meaningfully at the suitcase and box parked next to her desk.

“I wasn’t trying to ‘go it alone’ as you say,” she said hotly, rounding her desk to stand behind her office chair.

“Then why did you sneak out in the middle of the night without waking me?” Gold ran his hand over his face.

“It wasn’t the middle of the night…it was…I left you a note!” Belle banged her fist on the desk, and she was sure they could hear her outside among the stacks, but she was past caring. “I’m not a child!”

He followed her around the desk and put his hands on her shoulders. “Sweetheart, I know that, and I support your decision to move anywhere you want, but… I could have helped you. I could have been there for you when you packed, and stood by your side when you talked to your parents…” Soft brown eyes pleaded with her. “I’m here for you to lean on, and I want to fight for you. Not because I think you can’t stand up for yourself, I know you can. But you don’t always have to be strong on your own. I love you, Belle.”

Sincerity laced every word he said, and Belle felt terrible for hurting him so. How could she make him understand? Her anxious thoughts last night had returned again and again to Edith’s insults and her father’s complacence, and the dam had broken. How could she make him see? This gentle yet powerful man, who had defended her honor. This brilliant soul who, instead of seeing a chubby, bookish loner who clung to her parents, saw beauty and someone worth loving.

But as much as he loved her, Belle knew she alone had the power to change her fate, to make different choices.

“Oh, Erskine,” she took his hand in both of hers. “I know. I know you do. And I love you for it. I just needed to do this on my own. Not to prove anything to you, or to Edith, or to my father, but to me. It is—it had to be—my decision, you know? Not because I don’t want you to be a part of everything, because I do…” She was rambling like an idiot. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to organize her thoughts. Then she opened her eyes and squeezed his hand. “Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve lied to yourself for ages and when you finally see the light and realize how wrong you’ve been, you can’t believe you’ve been so stupid for so long?”

“I have, actually.” Gold’s hand fluttered up to her face, soothing her with gentle strokes against her warm cheek. “But even then, I was never as brave as you are. Shh, my sweetheart, shh. I hear everything you’re saying, and you’re right. I’m sorry that I came off heavy-handed. All I want is your happiness, Belle.” He wrapped her in his arms, and Belle sank into his embrace, feeling cherished, protected, and understood.

“It’s because you love me—you, Emma, Henry, Neal—that I finally see I’m not powerless. I don’t have to be a victim. I can change my circumstances,” she explained. “And I’m sorry I ran out this morning without telling you more about my plans. I love you.”

“And I love you.” He crooned to her, pressing slow, sweet kisses against her hair, her ear, her cheek, then claimed her lips with a needy groan that made her pulse race.

xoxo

Neal opened the door to Belle’s office, stopping in his tracks when he found his father and Belle wrapped around each other. They stopped and turned toward him, their eyes glazed and their lips red. Crap. Now he had interrupted a private moment.

“Impeccable timing, son,” Pop said as Belle wiped lipstick off his mouth with her thumb.

Embarrassed, he cleared his throat. “Sorry, I’ve been in and out of here all day working. I didn’t think to knock. I left my drill bits, but I can come back.” They all looked into the corner where the missing tools were.

“No, it’s fine.” Belle didn’t pull away from his father, but rested her head on his chest, and the tight feeling in Neal’s chest loosened. He liked how she was comfortable being affectionate with Papa in his presence. “Do you have more news for me about the ceiling?” she asked.

He gave her a grateful smile. Belle had such a gift for putting others at ease. “Actually, I do. My friend Tessa’s gonna come in and check for asbestos, and then we’re going to replace that part of the ceiling because Leroy’s patchwork isn’t cutting it anymore. She’ll take samples, send them to the lab, and have results in about a day. If everything’s good, we’ll fix the ceiling and you can reopen by Tuesday.”

“I trust your judgment,” she said with a nod.

His father bent to kiss the top of Belle’s head again, and he suddenly noticed how drawn and tired they both looked. “You guys all right?”

“It’s been a rough day,” Belle confessed. “But we’re fine now, yes.”

“Agreed,” Gold nodded and reached for his cane. “How about a late lunch at Granny’s? We could all use a decent meal. What do you say, son? My treat. I won’t make a single comment about the lasagna.”

“Why don’t you boys go get a late lunch together, Dad?” His wife burst into Belle’s office before he could respond, practically mowing him over to get to Belle. “Belle has a date. With me.”

“Hey, Em.” He grinned down at her fuchsia walking shoes. “It’s that time already, huh?”

“Hey yourself.” She leaned in for a kiss. “Has November always been this bright? I can’t see a thing.” She squinted. “Did you take my sunglasses this morning?”

He patted his front pocket and pulled out her sunglasses. “That’s right, yeah. These are yours. Sorry, babe. Forgive me?”

“This time.” She made a face at him, then turned toward Belle. “Ready to walk?”

“Yes!” Belle kissed his father’s cheek and embraced Emma. “I’ll get my jacket and we can go.”

“Good, ‘cause I have had a day. Taking engagement photos for the paper is the worst! Kathryn Midas is a freakin’ bridezilla. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her and Frederick to elope and put the rest of us out of our misery! So yeah, need to get our exercise in and then we need to get drunk. Long Island Iced Teas for you and spiked hot chocolates for me. Maybe an order of cheese-smothered waffle fries thrown in there somewhere.”

“Yeah, that sounds healthy,” Neal said with a chuckle.

“Thanks, Coach.” Emma winked. “I think we got this. All things in moderation, right Belle?”

“Right,” Belle agreed, “including moderation. Go on ahead, Emma. I’ll meet you at the front door.”

He waggled his eyebrows at his wife and smacked her on the butt as she left, then bent to retrieve his tools from the corner of Belle’s office. He tried not to laugh as Belle kissed his father one last time and whispered something that actually made his old man giggle. Now he had officially seen everything.

Yeah, he was a damn fine judge of character.

###

#rumbelle #rumbelle fic #belle x mr. gold #swanfire #all of me #chubby belle #chubby!belle #mqc writes #neal cassidy #emma swan #belle french #mr. gold

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believingispowerfulmagic · 7 years ago

Note

One of the kids birthdays and Cora shows up with Zelena, Henry asks who they are. Soldier prompt

Slightly altered since Henry now knows who Cora is. But notZelena…

Several children splashed around in MaryMargaret and David’s pool, their laughter ringing throughout the air. David andRobin patrolled the edge with Will and Little John, all four ready to jump into help a child in distress–just in case. Regina, meanwhile, was busy makingsure all the drinks stayed filled and there was plenty of healthy snacks forthe children to eat whenever they got out of the pool.

“Here’s the veggie platter,” Mary Margaretsaid, setting the black plastic tray down in the middle of the table.

Regina smiled. “Thank you so much. Andnot just for that, but for also letting us have Henry’s birthday party in yourpool.”

“Any time,” she replied, squeezing Regina’shand. “We’re family, right?”

The reply was cut off when the baby monitornext to Regina went off and Diana’s “MAMA!” was heard loud and clear. Shesighed, picking it up. “I’ll be right back. Can you keep an eyeon…”

“The children? Of course,” Mary Margaret said,waving Regina off. “Go get Diana.”

Regina hurried into the house, heading up toEva’s room. She had placed Diana down in there for her nap before the party andit seemed her little girl had woken up just in time. “Hi there,sweetheart.”

“Mama,” Diana said, rubbing her eye as she satup. “Party?”

“Yes, it’s time for the party. Why don’t weput on your bathing suit?” Regina asked, pulling the bright pink garment fromthe bag she had brought from home.

Diana jumped up from the bed, trying to pullher shirt off. Regina chuckled, kneeling down to help her get undressed. Shethen held the bathing suit as Diana stepped into it.

“Okay, let me just put your hair up and we’llhead back down to the party, okay?” Regina pulled out the brush and ran itthrough her daughter’s dark curls.

Just as she finished putting Diana’s hair inpigtails, Regina was interrupted by the arrival of a breathlessNeal. “Aunt Regina, we need you downstairs,” he said.

She frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Dad says there are two people trying to crashthe party,” he replied. “Whatever that means.”

Regina sighed as she picked up Diana, puttingher daughter on her hip. “Lead the way, Neal.”

Once they got back down to the yard, Reginarolled her eyes so hard, she thought she strained a muscle. Her mother stood atthe gate, arguing with David, as Zelena hung back with a gift in hand. Itseemed they were trying to come to the party and she wondered how they foundout where it was.

“Mary Margaret, can you take Diana for me?”she asked, holding out her daughter to her friend.

Mary Margaret nodded, taking Diana as shefrowned. “Be careful, Regina.”

“I will be,” she replied. “But I thinkthat warning should’ve gone to my mother and half-sister.”

Regina stormed over to the gate as Robinjoined her. “Will they ever give up?” he asked.

“Probably not,” she said.

Cora spotted her first, frowning as Reginaapproached. “Will you tell your friend here who I am?”

“Oh, I know who you are,” David said, glaringat her as he crossed his arms.

Regina crossed herarms as well. “How did you find out about this, Mother?”

“I have my ways,” she replied cryptically. “Are you going to let us in or not?”

“Not,” Robin replied, wrapping his arm around Regina’s waist.

Cora glared at him as she snapped: “I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to my daughter.”

“I agree with my husband,” Regina said, stressing the last word. “You were not invited and you are not welcome. You and Zelena can just go home.”

“Or I’m calling the cops,” David added.

Cora sniffed, holding her head high. “Fine. Zelena, we have better things to do anyway. Come.”

“Coming, Mother.” Zelena shoved the present into David’s arm. “Here you go, Captain Chiseled Chin.”

She then tossed her red hair over her shoulder and stalked after Cora, heading back to whose ever car they had driven there. Regina didn’t care to see who climbed into the driver’s seat. Instead, she turned to Robin and motioned to the present in David’s hands. “Can you put that in the car for now? I don’t want Henry opening that here.”

He nodded, taking the present from David. “Sorry about that.”

“Not your fault,” David said. “Everyone has those relatives.”

Regina knew better than to press him about the twin brother he had cut from his life and nodded. “Well, thank you.”

“Come on. Let’s head back to the party before the children start to realize something happened,” David told her, guiding her back toward his pool as Robin headed off with the present.

The children were all still swimming in the pool, splashing each other and laughing. Mary Margaret sat at the edge of the shallow end, supervising Eva and Diana as the two little girls played around in the water. Both wore floaties as sat splashing each other and laughing.

Mary Margaret looked up as they approached. “Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Regina assured her before heading off to check on the snacks and drinks.

Henry stood at the table, a towel wrapped around his waist as munched on a carrot. Regina smiled, placing her hand on his warm and damp back. “Are you having fun, sweetheart?”

“Yes, Mom,” he said, though not smiling. “Was that Grandmother?”

She sighed, nodding. “Your father, Uncle David and I told her to leave.”

“Okay.” He paused before asking: “Who was that with her?”

“That was Zelena. She’s my half-sister,” Regina answered, wincing at the awkward questions she knew would follow.

Henry frowned. “Half-sister? What does that mean?”

“It means we have the same mother but not the same father,” she explained. She crouched down, looking Henry in the eyes. “Look, I didn’t grow up with her and the reason why is a long story. Why don’t we talk about this later? It’s your birthday and you should be having fun, not worrying about your grandmother and aunt. Okay?”

He nodded, leaning forward to hug her. She held him close, cupping his wet hair with her hand. “I love you, Henry.”

“I love you too, Mom.” He kissed her cheek before hurrying back over to join his friends in the water again.

Regina stood, sighing. She wasn’t going to let her messed up family ruin this party. Instead, she was going to put her mother and Zelena from her mind and focus on her children.

She was going to focus on being happy.

#once upon a time #asked and answered #anonymous #outlaw queen #oq au #oq ff #soldier verse

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quillerqueen · 7 years ago

Text

Unwritten

Prompt 44 of @oqpromptparty: Regina picks up the newest book by her favorite writer. Another best seller that she can’t get enough of. What she doesn’t realize is that the heroine from those books is inspired by her and the books were written by her sweet, handsome but oh so shy (at least in RL) neighbor Robin.

The package arrives around noon, delivered to the stables along with her afternoon charges all fitted out in their riding helmets and little boot Grace is among them, and baby Neal, who’s only just started to toddle but had been riding like a champ (with ample assistance, of course) for two weeks now. Rarely do Regina’s thoughts ever stray from the job she adores—but today is definitely one of those days.

Another in a long line of Huntingdon’s masterpieces, Unwritten has all the trademark flair we’ve come to associate with him—yet in many ways it’s unlike any of his novels before. 10/10 would recommend!

Fantastic—in all senses of the word!

An epic battle played out in one remarkable woman’s heart. Huntingdon’s heroine is stunning in every way.

Oh, she can’t wait to rip the paper off of this one, pour herself a glass of wine, and read through the night.

Only Regina ends up having to wait much longer than she’d like to crack the spine and leaf through crisp pages, because of course luck would have it she’s forgotten her damn keys at work.

“Robin can help,” Henry pipes up as she huffs in frustration, and before she can stop him he’s knocking on number 107’s door. “Hey, Robin!”

“Hello, Henry,” comes the neighbour’s raspy voice with its lilting accent and friendly smile. “Everything all right?”

“We’re locked out. Can you help us get in?”

“Somehow,” Robin chuckles, “I don’t think your mother would approve of my picking your lock.”

“She certainly wouldn’t,” Regina quips, and only then does Robin poke his head into the hallway, his eyes widening at the sight of her. His grin freezes a bit, then his lips pull into an apologetic half-smirk. The scruff is back, she notices, and does it ever suit him. Regina clears her throat (and her wandering mind), readjusts her grip on the rustling package her neighbour’s bright blue gaze flickers to, and sighs in resignation. “At least not under normal circumstances.”

Desperate times, after all, call for desperate measures.

Elysia stretched before them, bathed in liquid gold sunshine painting the land in vivid hues as the drab blackness of Eva Quinn’s life lurked behind, shunned and rejected and stripped of its power.

And the child was reborn—the light of her life, her little prince with claim to no kingdom but the entirety of her heart. He hadn’t come from her body, but she’d carried him swaddled and strapped to her chest through swathes of land, through blistering heat and crippling cold, dismissing all her aches only to soothe his, and braving the eternal night of Erebia with only a vague vision of some unknown but staggering light in the future she was fighting to build for the two of them. She’d left an entire life and part of her identity behind, a life only waiting to happen, and carried him here, where they could both be free.

And the babe stirred in her arms, blinking his little eyes dazedly as a playful sunbeam tickled his chubby cheeks—and hers—for the very first time.

They had reached their destination—and life was only just beginning.

Regina clutches the book to her with one white-knuckled hand, her other gripping tightly the blanket Henry’s snuggled under, fast asleep with his comic long dropped from loose fingers, his solid warmth soothing where he’s cuddled into her side. She can’t look at him enough, her very own precious little prince—except she can barely see through the tears she hasn’t realised are rolling down her cheeks—and have been for a while judging by the state of the front of her pyjamas. Oh dear god.

This heroine has hit a nerve. Several nerves, rather. Regina’s chest had squeezed when, driven by circumstances, centaur heiress Eva Quinn had given up her birth right and her hooves (and it should be cringe-worthy perhaps, this odd allusion to Ariel applied to a mythical humanoid-turned-human, but somehow Huntingdon’s managed to make it not so) in search for a better life. Yes, Regina’s chest had squeezed so hard she could barely breathe, scraps of memories of her equestrian career and its untimely end floating to the surface, old emotions flooding her. They no longer scratch and claw at her since she’d worked through them and made her peace with the course her life had taken, found happiness even. But they have a dull, bitter tang all the same, and likely always will. Rarely does she voice them, for rarely has she felt understood—except now, with this fictional kindred spirit, she does.

And then there’s the wonder that is a child, a child not grown under your heart but in it, no less, and that’s another aspect of Eva Quinn that plucks at her heartstrings—something she has evidence of, she thinks, sniffling and shaking her head as she decides against changing her pyjamas so that she doesn’t wake her dozing son.

It is past midnight after all—an hour for most reasonable working people to be asleep.

Regina fluffs her pillow, adjusts the lamp, and reads on.

To say the book’s exceeded her wildest expectations would be an understatement. Her expectations meanwhile had been sky-high, what with each of her favourite author’s last dozen works topping the bestseller list and lingering there practically until his newest piece hit she shelves. And she loves them all; but Unwritten, she can already tell five chapters in, is just…special.

It’s…fairytale-like. Unusually so for a Huntingdon, who despite his clearly positive outlook and fantastical medium enchants Regina by precisely his realism interspersed with sharp witticisms and clever satire—all while he manages to retain an astonishingly unshaken faith in humanity. She wants to scoff at that, the blind idealism—but it isn’t that, not really. He sees the flaws, describes them in vivid detail—and yet. She can only envy him. And thank him, perhaps, for inspiring her to keep her heart open and her guard, well, if not down then at least a bit lower than it would otherwise be.

If only she could tell him face to face. But Robert Huntingdon is a mystery, a pseudonym whose true identity remains hidden from the public, whose only recourse is the author’s social media and fan mail address. Regina isn’t into either (thank goodness the ranch she works at has someone else to run their social media), and so the only time her enthusiasm bursts forth is when she recommends his books to friends (and, sometimes, strangers) left and right.

Even, it turns out, to clearly busy neighbours at the most inopportune moments.

“Morning, sister,” Leroy the postman greets in his usual morose manner as she shuts the door behind her in the morning, tapping his foot and holding up a large box of whatever it is Robin Locksley’s trying to haul over the threshold and into his apartment.

“Thanks again for yesterday,” she peers inside, and Robin turns around to give her one of those grins that make her belly flutter.

“Any time,” he shrugs, fidgeting with a tear in the corner of the package and effectually blocking it from sight as he leans against it.

Regina finds that a bit—off-putting, to be honest, feels almost unwelcome by this odd distance between them as she hangs awkwardly in the doorway while he remains stationed inside by his monstrous delivery. She’d find him hostile if it weren’t for the smile playing around his lips and reaching those warm, crystal clear eyes.

She waves the book around on impulse, itching to open it even though it had barely been two hours since she’d put it down to take a twenty-minute nap before she needed to wake Henry for school. She knows Robin likes to read, has had brief discussions of books with him before when they shared short elevator rides, so why not recommend him this treasure?

“Have you started the latest Huntingdon yet?”

“Oh—well…” he rubs the back of his neck, shifting in place. “I haven’t had the pleasure yet, no.” And then, with visibly increased interest: “How are you liking it?”

Regina is just about to unleash her full enthusiasm on her poor, unsuspecting neighbour, when Henry yells at her to hurry up or they’re going to be late, and Robin escapes with just a gasp-turned-yawn and a quick wave as she races for the car.

Slowly but surely, Regina resigns herself to becoming an absolute mess every time she immerses herself in Eva Quinn’s story. She forgets about her surroundings, developing limb stiffness and backaches from the variously convoluted positions she finds herself in, and for the first time in her life arrives to work fifteen minutes late because for a moment she’s forgotten there’s a job she needs to get to. The only reason she even cooks that night is Henry, but after she burns her trademark lasagna by some miracle (not really—she was sneaking peeks at the pages again, dammit, and didn’t event hear the timer go off), they end up ordering in anyway.

The world, so the teachings went, was split into two great realms, eternal night and permanent light, with no third land for those caught in between.

If the world was indeed black and white, Eva Quinn was clearly evil.

Everything she touched turned to dust and ashes. It was like she carried a taint, and whichever way she offered a helping hand, whosoever’s life she touched, that taint would spread to them like the plague. Despite her best efforts, regardless of her intent, darkness followed her.

Perhaps her mother had been right all along. Perhaps, borne of darkness, Eva Quinn was darkness incarnate—and how could she escape herself? Flee from a fate inscribed in her very core, a personal night she carried around in her heart?

She’s glad for the wine tonight, grateful for the slight prickle and burn of alcohol sloshing down her throat and into her belly.

Regina doesn’t hate herself. She can say that now, finally. But she also knows all the darkest corners of the lonely, convoluted labyrinth that is self-loathing. It took years of therapy to heal the damage inflicted by her own mother, and oh how broken, how unworthy she’d once felt. And still those dark thoughts, those patterns of self-hate do still rear their ugly head sometimes. They may never quite go away, having been so deeply ingrained in her—but on most days she can handle them now.

Eva Quinn isn’t there yet. She doesn’t see, even rationally, that the path of destruction she believes she leaves behind is invisible to everyone else in Elysia, dwarven kingdom of purest hearts. She doesn’t see the fruit of her labours in the cloud of smoke rising from the blazing trail of ashes she supposedly leaves behind. She’s appalled then astonished to receive summons to the royal palace for recognition; remain sceptical of her own worth even as Bianca Neve’s court applauds and cheers the newly knighted champion of the righteous and true. Disgusted by the concept of preordained roles to be fulfilled in life rampant in both kingdoms, Eva channels her energy into establishing a new colony, Ephemera, for those who wish to break out of the confines of their prescribed fate.

Regina spots the flaw in her plan immediately, knows she’s doomed to failure looking for happiness outside rather than inside before it even happens, and caresses the inked pages as if she could somehow bestow even a bit of gentleness, understanding and compassion, through the paper. If only she could shake Eva Quinn by the shoulders, if only to pull her into a rib-crushing hug—and she grins. It’s such a Mary Margaret thought to have, one Regina would have absolutely detested being on the receiving end of once upon a time. Things change though. People change.

Eva Quinn—Regina has to believe this—is also going to get there. Next chapter, or the one after, or perhaps the following one, her journey to self-acceptance must surely begin. And Regina will be there every step of the way.

The good news is, Eva Quinn’s journey does begin a number of chapters later, and Regina is indeed very much there—even though it’s at three in the morning.

The bad news is, this book is going to be the death of her.

She doesn’t sleep. The nap she intends to take during her lunch break turns into another reading session, intense enough that she drops the fork halfway through her kale salad, food and sleep all but forgotten.

Food and sleep all but forgotten, Eva Quinn rode through forests and plains, through mountains and dales, through desert and storm, to the castle shrouded in a darkness thicker and more suffocating than it’d ever been. All for the sake of a sickbed. For a few words, whispered and slurred, into her ear as she kissed her father’s cheek and sprinkled it with tears. Perhaps if she’d come sooner, or had never left in the first place, he’d—but no. She couldn’t have stopped the inevitable. Her father smiled, a bright, childlike thing in the absolute simplicity of his happiness, and how did she have the power to bestow so much joy upon anyone?

There’s a light in your heart, darling, he told her and seemed to literally beam at the thought, there’s always been light—and now it’s strong, like the heart you carry it within.

Her shrivelled heart, filled with enough magic to sweeten a dying man’s last hours? Large enough to smuggle some of Elysia’s sunshine into the land of forever new moon? Could it be?

Eva Quinn couldn’t comprehend.

Yet as her father breathed his last breath, his words were ones of pride, and love, and absolution of past wrongdoings in exchange for the promise to allow herself happiness.

Papi had been gone for years. Ten, to be exact—the entire span of Henry’s life. Oh how proud he had been, how moved to hold his namesake, his precious grandson, for the first—and last—time when the adoption had been completed.

Regina cries for him tonight, cries for all the time they weren’t given together, then cries over all the time they had been gifted as she thumbs through albums filled with memories of her childhood and youth.

No one had loved her quite like him, or sacrificed so much for her happiness, even if he’d failed to protect her from his heartless wife.

The last chapter looms before Regina as she breaks open another box of Kleenex. Already she’s overtaken by that unique sense of loss experienced in the wake of a brilliant book. She doesn’t even begrudge Robert Huntingdon for turning her into an undignified sobbing mess on the regular, because few other experiences in her life have been so utterly—freeing.

Cathartic.

Change is incremental, and balance comes from within. As people from all corners of the world begin to embrace the good and bad in themselves, the sun and the moon shine for everyone again. The border between the kingdoms of light and dark is gone, and her son will grow up in a better world.

Eva Quinn’s heart has never been stronger.

Regina is left staring at the page. She’s barely breathed through the last few pages, but now her chest expands and she feels light, refreshed and almost weightless despite the alarming lack of sleep lately.

She’s still processing, still reflecting when the doorbell rings.

Startled, she shoots a glance at the neon display of the microwave. There’s enough daylight that she doesn’t need it though, and sure enough, it says 08:15 am.

Oh, shit.

“Robin, I’m so sorry,” she stammers out as soon as she yanks the door open. “I completely lost track of time—”

“Regina, what happened?” His voice is laced with worry, alarm etched into his frowning face. “Are you all right? Henry?”

It takes a good while for his meaning to sink in, and when it does, Regina is mortified. He’s standing there all gorgeous in a blue button-down shirt while she’s still wearing her work clothes from the day before, and the lack of make up will have those glorious bags under her eyes she’s developed in the past few days on full display. Her hair’s dishevelled, tear streaks running down her cheeks, eyes puffy from lack of sleep and excessive crying. Oh god, what a sight she must be.

“W—he’s fine. We’re both fine. Henry’s still asleep—shocking for a Saturday morning—but I’m sure he’ll be up the moment he hears Roland’s over.”

“Are you quite sure? Apologies, but you look like you haven’t slept a wink. And the flu’s been making the rounds of late—”

“It’s not the flu,” she says, then chuckles at the absurdity of it all. “I’m not sick. Just silly. I blame Huntingdon, actually.”

“I…see.” Robin draws back at that, a grave look settling on his features instead of the shared laugh she expected to garner from her joke. Instead, she gets a guilt-ridden: “I’m sorry.”

“For what? Unless you’re secretly him, you’ve nothing to apologise for.”

Her teasing only has him withdraw further, and that’s not like him at all.

“What gave me away?”

Is he—is he joking? But either he’s developed an impenetrable poker face in the last five seconds, or—he’s being serious.

“Oh my god,” Regina breathes. This cannot be.

“You’re mad,” says Robin, and it could be an accusation or a denial, but he delivers it instead as a n apology. “I quite understand, I shouldn’t have—should’ve been more discreet—”

It is then that it truly hits her.

“Eva Quinn is—is she—?”

“Inspired by you, yes. I never intended any harm. Truth be told, I never planned for you to find out. Although part of me thought you might—maybe even hoped that you’d see yourself the way I—the way others see you. Anyway, no one knows—nor will they ever, I promise you that.”

He’s rambling, churning out words like he expects her to cut him off any second now and possibly never speak a word to him again.

Regina has a temper—but she doesn’t exactly feel the urge to burn him down with its force.

“Robin, I’m not angry with you.” Funnily enough, it’s true. Is this how starstruck feels? “I’m just—this can’t be real. You’re my favourite author.”

“Present tense?” he asks hopefully, and she rolls her eyes at him dramatically, pleased to see his whole body relax.

“Are you in the book? As a character, I mean?”

“Ah, self-inserts,” Robin plays along with the theatrics, mischief in his eyes. “A blemish on everyone’s literary resume. So of course I went there. Not a primary character in Eva’s life—just a guest appearance here and there.”

“Oh. You’re—you’re Tobin Wood.”

Yes, Tobin Wood, friend for a rainy day, popping up here and there at different times of Eva’s life, always with a word of encouragement to spare and never asking for anything in return. He’s not ever on Eva’s radar as a romantic match, and with that knowledge, despite his own secret pining, he never vies for her affections. Regina found this refreshing, and healthy unlike many such occurrence in the realms of fiction and reality both.

She’s not sure where this sudden, indistinct pang of disappointment is coming from now.

“You did miss one thing after all,” Regina mutters before she realises she might be giving away a bit too much. Or perhaps not—if Tobin has a crush on Eva, perhaps this means Robin has one on Regina, too? He stares at her expectantly, his brow creased, and her mind feels sluggish as she stares back into all that startling blue. “About me and,” she clears her throat, “well, your heroine.”

The truth is, he did an incredible piece of work, and the effort he put in makes her feel all manner of things. Scraps of information, brief exchanges, subtle, cryptic hints at her life casually shared and forgotten—from these he assembled the puzzle, and the picture is startlingly accurate and at the same time somehow more stunning than she ever saw it—saw herself—for.

Robin rubs the back of his neck, trying to stifle the flush creeping up it. He cocks his head and regards her for a bit. Much to her surprise, his answer carries not a hint of bashfulness.

“Perhaps,” he admits, “but I daresay I’ve captured the essence. Strong and tenacious, no matter what life throws at you. Passionate about what you believe in—and a fiery temper to match. Blunt and guarded and kind, and fiercely devoted to those you love. A sarcastic dreamer. A brilliant instructor—and a wonderful mother.”“Is that really how you see me?” she whispers, blinking back tears that are definitely a sign of exhaustion rather than simply of the impact of his words.

“Yes,” he says softly. In response to her watery smile, he adds a smirk of his own. “And an avid reader, apparently.”

Regina chuckles, and just like that, the prickle in her eyes stops.

“Especially when it comes to Hunti— When it comes to your books.” Dear god, this man, Robin Locksley, her very handsome, very shy for some unfathomable reason, neighbour, is in fact also Robert Huntingdon, the author she looks up to and whose works have meant so much to her—and his latest success is inspired by none other than her. By Regina Mills, currently awkwardly leaning against the door close enough to said man that she gets a whiff of that delicious cologne that’s all fragrant pine and the crunch of leaves under hiking shoes. And he seems just as stunned, just as pleased by the latest revelations as she is. “I—thank you. This is the most unique, wonderful compliment I’ve ever received.”

“Not creepy?”

“No,” she laughs, because it really isn’t. He’s never not respectful when describing Eva Quinn, or any of his characters, really—be it their thoughts or their appearance. It’s something she likes about his writing—the utter lack of gross objectification or blatant sexism all too rampant in literature and life at large, the care and maturity his characters are crafted with instead. “Not creepy at all.”

“Oh thank goodness,” he exhales with a self-deprecating, apologetic little grin. His lips fascinate her, and he seems emboldened when he catches her staring. “Regina—” He reaches for her, then seems to think better of it and thrusts his hands into his pockets. She wishes he hadn’t. “Not to sound presumptuous, but would you like to—”

“Papa? Papa!” Roland sprints across the hallway and comes to a halt between the two of them. “Regina! Can we go now? I can’t wait to ride Foxy again!”

Robin chuckles, throwing Regina an apologetic look as he sweeps Roland into his arms.

“In a moment, my boy. Let’s give Regina and Henry just a few more minutes to get ready, and then I’ll drive us all to the ranch, how about that?”

And that’s not their usual routine, but he’s probably reached the conclusion she shouldn’t drive in her degree of sleep-deprivation—and he’s certainly not wrong. Regina musses Roland’s wild curls—he’s cute as a button, and she can’t be mad at him no matter what, including this particular interruption. But she’s frustrated, and clearly so is Robin. He was about to ask her out, she just knows it, and damn if she doesn’t stomp out every last bit of doubt he might still have about her interest in him.

“Robin?” she calls after him. “You still owe me that drink you were gonna ask me out for—perhaps after dinner?”

His smile is absolutely radiant, and the way it pulls into a smirk makes her heart—and not only that—flutter.

“I suppose I do.”

And that, they’re both soon to find out, is only the start.

Not because it’s written; but because in the end, the hand penning your story is your own.

#outlaw queen #oq ff #oq fanfic #oq prompt #oq prompt party #ouat #unwritten #bee writes fanfic

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starrnobella · 7 years ago

Text

Forever and Always - Chapter 17 - Revelations

Catch up here: Fanfiction | AO3 | Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15 | Ch. 16

A/N: Hey loves! I’m back with an update for this story, finally! I know it seems like forever since I posted the teaser. When you give your students a test and then have to grade a bunch of failing papers, you lose the desire to do much of anything.

With this chapter, we get to see a little of what the Evil Queen is up to with the band of villains she gathered at the end of last chapter. We also get to see how the whole group finds out about the Evil Queen being back in town.

Song Recommendations: Look What You Made Me Do - Taylor Swift; Make it Out Alive - Jennifer Hall; The Mess I Made - Parachute;

If you are interested in checking out my other works or keeping up with me in general, I have an author’s page on Facebook that you can check out (starrnobella Fanfiction) as well as a group (starrnobella Fanfiction Friends & Fans) that I am very active in on a daily basis. I’m also on tumblr (starrnobella) that you can follow along with me as well.

If you enjoyed the chapter, please be sure to leave a review! Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Love always, ~starr

Landing roughly on the ground, the powerhouse of villains dusted off their clothes quickly before heading inside to discuss the next step of the plan. Gold was the first person inside, followed quickly by Hyde and the Evil Queen. Zelena was the last person to enter her own home.

"You could have at least waited for me to unlock the door," Zelena huffed, closing the door behind her quietly. "You could have woken Robyn up from her nap or the sitter could have attacked you for breaking and entering, which would result in Emma and her posse being called and interrupting our little meeting."

"Had she tried attacking me, I would have killed her," Gold replied coldly.

Zelena rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to speak again, but was silenced when the Evil Queen put her arm in front of the infuriating green witch.

"Would you just shut up?" the Evil Queen snarled. "I know you don't have a sitter and I also know Robyn isn't here, so what Gold did wouldn't have woken her. She's with Neal and the Blue Fairy."

Zelena huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "It still doesn't make it okay to go barging into someone else's house. How would you like it if I did that to you?"

"I'd probably kill you too," Gold told her. "I do not appreciate having my personal space invaded. However, I don't care about yours, so I will do as I damn well please."

Zelen rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Dark One."

"Now that the pointless bickering has stopped, may I ask where the hell we are?" Hyde interrupted, curiously as he walked around the kitchen table in the middle of the room.

"As I'm assuming you've guessed, this is my house," Zelena began, waving her hands around to present the room. "I live on the outskirts of Storybrooke on this farm. For the most part, the Sheriff and her cohorts leave me alone. That is unless they need something from me, which doesn't happen often."

"Besides, they don't know for certain where you have hidden yourself Mr. Hyde," the Evil Queen added, pulling a chair out from the table to sit down.

"Would someone please tell me why the bloody hell we are here?" Gold hissed, smacking his hand against the table. "I have better things to do rather than waiting around here listening to you all discuss how to hide him."

The Evil Queen turned her attention to Gold, narrowing her gaze. As frustrating as the man could be, he was starting to get on her last possible nerve. "Like what?" she snapped, "Finding your wife who wants nothing to do with you? Attempting to make your unborn son like you again? Or are you looking for a new way to prove your power since no one what you do anymore?" The smirk on her face was enough to push Gold over the edge.

"Listen here, dearie," Gold snarled, teeth bared reaching his arm out, using his magic to lift the Evil Queen out of her chair by the throat. "Whatever you think you may know about my life is only a thought and I personally think it would be best for those thoughts to stay inside your head, so that they aren't heard by the wrong people. You never know what deals you may accidentally walk into with your commentary on the way other people live their lives. You, better than anyone, should know that I'm the last person you want to make a deal with."

Before setting her back down, he tightened his grip for a few moments. Watching her struggle for her breath brought glee to his face. He wanted to make sure that his point had been stressed accordingly and that for once she would keep her vast knowledge of the lives of the others in this town to herself. Unfortunately from prior experience, he knew that expecting that from her would be a stretch. After all, he taught her how to harness that power.

He dropped his grip on her quickly, causing her to fall back into the chair roughly. The Evil Queen rubbed her neck with her hand where he had held her. She furrowed her brow at him as she shook her head. "Wee bit testy today, aren't we Gold?" she hissed as a wicked smile graced her face. Gold narrowed his gaze in her general direction and slowly lifted his hand yet again, but The Evil Queen put up her hands, signalling surrender.

"I'll stop. Besides we have more important things to discuss," she said, ushering Zelena to join the rest of them so that this little meeting could begin. The sooner she could get Gold out of her hair, the happier she would be. There may have been a time in her life that she had romantic thoughts about her mentor, but those thoughts have been buried for a long time. The more she looked at him now, the less she saw of the man that had taught her everything she knew.

"Yes, like what the hell we are all doing here," Gold mumbled under his breath. The Evil Queen snapped her head and glared at him. When he met her gaze, he chuckled, folding his arms across his chest and leaned back in the chair.

Hyde leaned forward, placing his crossed arms on the table and nodded. "I too would like to know what exactly we are doing here and why I should consider joining alliances with that of the Evil Queen."

Zelen laughed quietly to herself as she listened to the argument brewing in front of her. She couldn't help thinking about how nice it was not being the source of tension in the room. Usually when she would walk into a room, particularly one full of her fellow Storybrooke inhabitants, an argument would most likely ensue for no reason other than she was there.

The Evil Queen caught Zelena laughing out of the corner of her eye and growled under her breath before snapping her head in the direction of her roommate. "What are you laughing at? Do you feel left out? Should we start insulting your life too? You're just lucky my better half hasn't taken your daughter away from you. My guess is she has been a bit distracted lately."

"Distracted by what?" Zelena asked, furrowing her brow. She might have noticed something off with Regina had she spent more time talking to her darling sister. However since Robin's death, Regina had been less than inclined to talk to her. Not that Zelena could really blame her for the lack of communication.

"Nothing you need to be distracted by right this second. Can we focus on the matter at hand?" the Evil Queen huffed, slamming her hand down on the table causing the knickknacks in the middle to shake.

"It would help if we knew what the matter at hand was, dearie," Gold replied, rolling his eyes.

With one last deep breath to restrain her anger, the Evil Queen finally began to divulge her intentions for the inhabitants of Storybrooke, including Gold's beloved wife and unborn child as well as the people that Zelena had been slowly starting to consider family.

. . . . . . . .

Meanwhile Emma was wandering aimlessly through the woods with Dr. Jekyll. He seemed to be leading her nowhere, but at the same time he seemed to know exactly where he was headed. There was something off about the man she was following, but at least if she kept an eye on him for the time being then she would know a few places he liked to go if they needed to talk to him again. From what she could tell, Dr. Jekyll was a kind man who just wanted to help them find and destroy Mr. Hyde so that he could not hurt anyone else.

"Jekyll, am I allowed to ask where we are going?" Emma finally asked after spending the last five or six minutes of their trek trying to get her bearings on their surroundings. Unfortunately, she was not as familiar with this section of the woods as she probably should have been being the town sheriff after all. It was just something she could add to her to do list once they had this crazy man caught.

Jekyll mumbled something inaudible under his breath before responding. "We're headed just up ahead here a ways. Don't fret. We'll be there soon."

He continued mumbling something under his breath that Emma couldn't understand. Emma grumbled under her breath, but continued walking and even managed to catch up to where Jekyll was so that she could see more of what was ahead of them.

After walking for a little while longer, Emma was able to her the rushing waters of the river that ran through the woods around town. As she looked around a little more, Emma recognized the Troll Bridge off in the distance to her right. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she finally realized that she did know where she was. This was where they had found Charming after he woke up from his coma when she had become the Sheriff of Storybrooke.

Jekyll stopped quickly in front of her and turned to face her. A nervous smile appeared on his face. "Now we can talk. No unwanted listeners can listen in on what I have to say."

Emma furrowed her brow. "What do you mean no one unwanted? I thought we were alone at your blimp…"

"That's why we had to come here. I'm never alone. He's always lurking in the shadows behind me," Jekyll said nervously.

"Who is always lurking?" Emma had her guess, but there was always the possibility of someone else lurking around Storybrooke causing trouble. It would be far too convenient for the Sheriff's office to be aware of all the possible lurkers spending time in Storybrooke before they started causing trouble.

Jekyll looked around nervously before he answered her question. It was as though he was convinced that they were not alone and someone had followed them from the blimp. As far as Emma was aware it was just the two of them, but maybe Jekyll was able to see someone that she couldn't. One could never be too careful in Storybrooke.

Jekyll stepped closer to Emma. "Mr. Hyde. He's been living in the blimp with me ever since he made his appearance in town. Someone else came to visit him. Someone feminine and she wasn't alone. I heard voices coming from the back room when we left."

"We killed the Evil Queen in New York…" Emma mumbled, but her voice soon trailed off as she started thinking about the events that transpired in New York. She remembered watching Regina crush the Evil Queen's heart and seeing it crumble to dust landing on the roof. After that they all just left. They didn't think to do anything with the dust because they thought that had been the end. "I have to warn everyone."

"Warn them about what?" Jekyll asked puzzled. He had watched a storm of emotions flood over Emma's face in a few short moments. Something bigger must be at stake.

"The Evil Queen is not exactly welcomed here and if she's back then all hell is about to break loose," Emma replied. She paused for a few moments before looking at Jekyll. "You should probably come with me. I don't know that it is safe for you to go back to your blimp right now. Especially if Hyde isn't there alone and if my guess is correct about his guest then you really aren't safe by yourself."

Jekyll and Emma began walking away from the Troll Bridge and back into town at a brisk pace. Jekyll asked Emma all sorts of questions as they made the trek. Emma answered them to the best of her ability, but some of his questions she just didn't have the answers for. She was sure that there would be more questions when they got back to the station and everyone was able to gather. She quickly sent a text message to Regina, Charming, and Killian asking them to meet her. They were going to need a plan of action.

. . . . . . . .

"So explain this to me once more," Charming said as he and Killian continued on towards the docks. "Did she explain what happened to her or why she went under the curse in the first place?"

Internally Killian rolled his eyes as he sighed. It seemed as though Charming thought he had all the answers, when in reality he had the same questions. "I don't know much about what happened because I didn't spend a lot of time with Belle. I talked to her long enough to tell her to seek out Emma and then I walked up to your door. Emma filled me in on a few pieces when I got home, but other than that I'm just as out of the loop as you are, mate."

Charming ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He wasn't sure why he was hoping to get more details out of Killian. The pirate's mind was a bit more preoccupied with other more important things than being concerned with what was going on with Belle.

After walking a little bit further, the two arrived at the docks and were standing in front of Killian's ship. Charming turned to Killian with a puzzled look on his face. "How is this the most safe place for Bell to hide? Can't Gold just show up here and take her away?"

"According to Emma, the protection spells that she and Regina put on my ship make it appear as though the ship isn't here, Emma," Killian said, shrugging his shoulders.

"But we can see it?" Charming asked confused.

Killian sighed and shrugged his shoulders again. "Apparently the spell only lets certain people know that it is here. So us, Emma, Regina, Snow, and Henry, I believe can see it. Gold cannot see that it's here. Also he won't be able to see people walking on the docks near the ship. I don't understand how it all works, but if it helps to protect Belle, then I'm cool with it."

"I won't claim to understand it either," Charming laughed.

"Shall we?" Killian asked, motioning towards the ships. Charming nodded and the two boarded.

"Belle, we've come to check in on you," Killian said, knocking on the door to the Captain's quarters and smiled when Belle opened the door with a smile of her own.

"Hello, Killian," she replied, turning to Charming. "Charming, it's so good to see you too. Won't you both come in?"

She ushered the two inside quickly and offered them a seat at the small table just a few steps from the door. Once seated, Belle set to work making a pot of tea and gathering some biscuits from the cupboards.

"You've made quick work of the place, Belle. It looks wonderful," Killian said, thanking her for the tea. His eyes wandered around his old room with a sense of nostalgia and realization that the place certainly did look better with a little bit of color.

"I have Emma and Regina to thank for that," Belle replied after placing a cup of tea in front of Charming and pouring one for herself before taking a seat at the table with the two men. "Actually I have all of you to thank for everything. I know it wasn't exactly fair of me to just show up and hope that you all would help me, but I'm eternally grateful for it all."

"If there is anything I have learned from being a part of Charming's family, it's that they help people without thinking twice. When you asked for my help, I knew I needed to do something," Killian replied.

Charming nodded. "All that matters now is that you and the baby are safe. How far along are you?"

"About two months, I think. I called the hospital to make an appointment this morning to find out all of the details," Belle replied, placing a gentle hand on her stomach. "It's a bit nerve-wracking if I'm being completely honest."

"You should come by later and talk to Snow. I'm sure she'd love to talk to someone else about the joys of pregnancy. She might even offer to go with you to the hospital," Charming suggested with a shrug.

Belle smiled and nodded her head. "I wouldn't mind getting some sound advice from someone who has done this before," she replied quietly.

"Then it's settled, you'll come for dinner tonight," Charming told her. The pair continued chatting back and forth about the joys of parenthood.

Killian had been partially listening as his thoughts began to drift towards his future with Emma and the possibility of their own beautiful blond haired children with sparkling blue eyes. He could hear the pitter patter of small feet taking their first steps across the living room floor. When he closed his eyes he could picture himself coming downstairs in the morning and walking into the kitchen to find Emma pretending to fly an airplane towards an eager mouth waiting for food, giggling at the sounds she was making.

The buzzing of his phone drew him back out of his thoughts, slipping his hand into his pocket to remove the device. Emma's name flashed across his screen. He looked at the phone curiously and slid the message open.

Emma: New development in Hyde case. Meet at station.

"Interesting," Killian mumbled, staring at his phone.

"What's interesting?" Charming asked, turning his attention from Belle over towards Killian.

"New development in the hunt for Hyde. Emma wants us to meet her at the station," Killian replied. "Belle, you are more than welcome to come with us."

Belle looked around the room momentarily. "I wouldn't mind getting out of here for a little while," she said with a smile.

"Well then, let's go!" Charming said happily as he rose from his chair and slid it back in towards the table. Belle and Killian followed suit soon after and the three were off.

. . . . . . .

Regina had been staring at her computer screen for the last two hours. The longer she searched, the more repetitive the information she found became. Everything she was finding she already knew from spending time with Emma and watching her use her magic. There was a small part of her that wondered whether or not she had pushed Emma too hard when she started teaching her how to control her magic. It is possible that the pushing was forcing some of Emma's abilities to remain hidden.

Regina: Let's start with roots for incantations. Emma: Are you kidding me right now? What language is this? Spanish? Regina: We're not making tapas. We're making magic. It's elvish. Well, half elvish. Emma: I'm never gonna get this. Is this how Rumple taught you? Just think about your training. What other methods did he use? Regina: Rumple was a bully. He didn't suffer fools and he certainly didn't coddle his students. And if he tried to teach you how to swim and you couldn't, you drowned. Emma: Drowned? Regina: That's it. Emma: That's what? What the hell are you doing? Regina: Teaching you to swim.

The more Regina thought back on that moment, the prouder she was of Emma for showing her strength and surviving the test. Admittedly, she probably could have gone a little easier on Emma since it was her first time using magic with some sense of control.

The buzzing of her phone pulled her thoughts away from her memories and back to the present moment. She read the message quickly and typed a reply. Regina turned off her computer and gathered the rest of her things. Before too much more time had passed, she was on her way to the station to find out what exactly was going on. It seemed as though the villains in this town never slept.

. . . . . . . .

On their to the station, Killian, Charming, and Belle bumped into Snow and Henry leaving the school. The five of them hurried off to the station. Whatever information Emma had found out was important to all of them placing the fate of Storybrooke in their hands.

Emma and Jekyll were the first people to arrive at the station. While Emma busied herself with paperwork, Jekyll wandered around aimlessly looking at all of the unique technology Emma had brought to Storybrooke that he had never seen before.

He pressed a button on one of the computers causing the screen to light up. The CPU started humming as the disc drive spun. Jekyll jumped away, afraid that it was going to explode. When Emma saw what was happening, she giggled quietly to herself before letting him know that nothing was going to happen to him.

"Dr. Jekyll, why don't you take a seat on the couch? There are a couple books on the shelf you might be interested in while we wait for the others to get here," she said with a smile.

He nodded his head and moved quickly over to the couch. He picked up one of Henry's comic books and began reading. Emma laughed to herself and turned her focus back to the work in front of her on the screen.

Shortly after she had gotten into a rhythm of typing up the case files on her desk, Killian and the others walked inside the station.

"Hello, love," he said, placing a kiss a top her head.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Hey you," she replied, squeezing him tight before addressing the others. "Hey, everyone."

They all replied in turn and Charming looked over at Jekyll, sitting on the couch and quirked his brow at the man's choice of reading material. "Why is there a comic book here?"

"That would be one of mine," Henry said with a laugh. Charming nodded in understanding before turning his focus back to Emma.

"So what's the new information?" he asked.

"We are waiting for one more person," Emma replied with a shrug before turning her attention over to Belle, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing alright. I think I finally have everything the way I want it at home. Thanks again for all your help," Belle said. "You have no idea how much it means to me."

"Any time," Emma replied with a smile before turning to Snow. "Mom, I'm sure we can fill you in on all this later."

Snow nodded with a laugh, "That would be nice. It's so weird being out of the loop for once. Usually it's David who has no idea."

"Hey," Charming whined, turning to Snow as he furrowed his brow and crossed his arms over his chest. "It's not my fault no one tells me anything."

Snow placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder and rubbed his back for a few minutes. Everyone else laughed at Charming's pouting fit and had no idea that Regina had entered the station.

"What's so funny?" she asked curiously. "Sorry, I'm late. I got sucked into a research vortex at my office."

"It's okay. We haven't talked about it yet, so you're not late at all," Emma replied, rising out of her chair and stepping her around her desk. "So you all know Dr. Jekyll correct?"

They all nodded, so Emma walked over to where he was seated. "Dr. Jekyll, do you mind telling them what you told me earlier at the Troll Bridge?"

Jekyll's head popped up from behind the comic and he closed it quickly, rising from the couch as well. He interlaced his fingers behind his back as he spoke. "Yes, well most of you, except Emma, you and the young lad came to visit me in the Land of Untold Stories," he began, pointing at Emma, Regina, and Henry as he mentioned each of them.

"You also had the unfortunate luck to meet Mr. Hyde, my other personality. You also know that we became separated and then came here. Well, he has been living in the blimp with me and when you all came to visit the other day I had to send you away because he was in a grumpy mood and was convinced that the Evil Queen was with you.

"That was until today," Jekyll said, pausing momentarily. "When Emma came to see me, he stayed hidden in the back. While I talked to Emma, I heard him start talking to a woman that appeared out of nowhere."

At this point, Emma stepped in. "Now, unless Regina left her office at some point today to come visit Jekyll, which I doubt was the case, there are only two other magically inclined females living in Storybrooke. Zelena and myself, but Jekyll met Zelena when he met the rest of you…"

"Oh no," Regina mumbled.

Everyone turned to look at at her as her expression saddened. She hadn't thought anything more about it when she ran into the Evil Queen the other night walking home from Snow and Charming's because her worser half had gone quiet. Regina worried her lip as she met the gaze of everyone else in the room.

"There's something I probably should have told you all a lot sooner than right now..." Regina began. She took a deep breath and held it for a few moments before exhaling as she spoke. "The Evil Queen is back in Storybrooke."

"When did she? How did she? Where did you? Why didn't you tell us?" Snow exclaimed, tossing her hands up in the air. "Don't you think we should have known that she was running loose? I thought you killed her in New York!"

"I thought I killed her too!" Regina shouted back before sighing again. "Sorry. I didn't mean to shout. I don't know why I didn't tell you that she was back in Storybrooke."

"When did she come back?" Emma asked calmly, stepping between Snow and Regina who were sharing very heated glances. The tension around the room was rising and something needed to be done to diffuse it before someone else said something they were going to regret in a matter of minutes.

Regina turned to look at Emma as she replied, "I'm not sure when she came back. The first time I was made aware of her return was the last night when Henry and I were walking home from dinner."

"You knew?" Killian whispered to Henry, smacking him in the arm with the back of his hand. Henry dropped his head momentarily and nodded before stepping forward placing a hand on Emma's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I should have told you," he said with a frown upon his face. "I just hadn't seen you since it happened and it all happened so fast."

Emma turned to him, placing a comforting arm around his shoulder, "It's okay, kid. We know now."

"So," Killian said, walking around Emma's desk and turning his attention to Regina, "What are we going to do now that we know she's here? Obviously she's been hiding herself, but that doesn't mean she is going to stay hidden forever."

They all nodded in agreement. It was particularly odd that she had only revealed herself to Regina once, and now the second revelation she chose to make was to Mr. Hyde. There was something about this whole situation that didn't quite add up. There were so many unanswered questions hanging in the air around and no one knew which one to ask first.

"We need to talk to Zelena," Regina said after a few minutes of complete silence. Everyone had been lost in their own thoughts about how to handle their current situation until she spoke. "We either need to warn her that the Evil Queen's back or we need to find out what she knows. Because if I were still the Evil Queen, then I'm sure I'd go to the one person who consider to be family for some place to stay."

"Since when has Zelena been willing to talk to us?" Charming asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He had kept his opinions on the situation to himself for the most part. His concern was that of safety for his family. His family and the Evil Queen did not have the best history, so he couldn't help thinking that the Evil Queen may have been planning something that would affect them all.

"All of us?" Regina questioned. "Never. However, she might be willing to talk to me."

"Mom," Henry began, but stopped when Regina placed a gentle hand on his arm.

"I have to do this. It's my fault that we are even thinking about her being around, so I need to do something about it. I'm going to go talk to her now. I'll let you all know what I find out," Regina said, turning on her heels exiting the station without another word.

The remaining group exchanged a concerned look between themselves before finding a place to sit down and determine a plan for how to handle the situation. Henry opted to sit with Dr. Jekyll and the two of them began discussing the comic book the Jekyll had been reading when they all came in.

Snow and Belle were sitting on the bench near Charming's desk talking about the joys of pregnancy and just catching up on life in general. Snow was still in shock that Belle was awake let alone finding out that the young girl was pregnant.

This town was certain to have it's handful with The Evil Queen lurking around in the shadows and Rumplestiltskin soon becoming a father.

"Wait, what do you mean you've met your baby as a full grown person?" Snow asked, furrowing her brow as she listened to Belle's story. Her reaction made Belle laugh momentarily before she continued to explain how her own feelings were reflected in Snow's reaction to the news.

Emma smiled to herself as she watched Snow and Belle talk. Someday she hoped to be able to sit with her mom and talk about the joys of pregnancy. They already talked about some of the joys of being a parent, but there was something different about the joys of pregnancy.

She glanced back to look at Killian.

Someday, she thought to herself.

#captain swan #captain swan fanfic #captain swan fanfiction #captain swan ff #cs #cs fanfics #cs ff #cs fanfiction #ouat #ouat fanfiction #ouat ff #ouat fanfics #ouat fanfic #once upon a time #once upon a time fanfiction #once upon a time fanfic #once upon a time ff

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mystical-flute · 7 years ago

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Once Upon a Dream Chapter 17

Emma paled and scrambled behind a rock away from the flames as the dragon let them burst forth. There was a dragon in front of her. A real, actual giant dragon that breathed fire. Something that she only ever saw in cartoons.

"Cartoons…" she whispered, peeking out from behind a rock as she took in the dragon's form. Black as night, but there was a glowing spot on her stomach that reminded her of a dragon from a very familiar movie.

"MALEFICENT!" she shouted. "Please! I don't want to hurt you!"

In her, Gold's voice echoed in her mind. Whatever it was she needed to get, it was inside of her. There had to be a way for her to get the… whatever out of her without having to hurt her, right?

The dragon growled a little as it hovered over her, seemingly interested in what she had to say.

"I need the thing inside of you. Whatever it was Rumplestiltskin wanted you to keep safe!" she called. "It may be the only way to save my son!"

Then the dragon paused… and began to cough, trying to hack up the thing inside of her.

She winced as something eventually clattered to the ground, and peeked out from behind her safe stone. On the ground in front of her lay a golden egg. How could that have survived inside a dragon for God knows how long?

Maleficent let out a soft growl, falling to her knees and, to Emma's horror, beginning to shrink. No, Emma realized suddenly. She was changing forms, and suddenly there was a very human-looking Maleficent laying on the cavern floor, groaning.

"Are… are you okay?" Emma asked as she slowly came out from behind her hiding spot and lifted the egg up before going over to the dragon.

"Yes… I – I think so. I just haven't had my human form since Regina cast her curse. I just feel a bit weak," the woman replied, grabbing on to Emma's hand and slowly pulling herself up, looking at Emma curiously. "You're their daughter."

Emma wrapped an arm around Maleficent's side, helping her as they walked back to the elevator. "What? Who?" she asked.

"Snow and David, of course… you're heroic, just like them. Even though I'm supposed to be a villain, you still helped me… and even wanted to get that egg out of me without harming me." the woman said. "Besides, you have your mother's chin."

Emma's grip tightened on her. "Yeah. That."

Maleficent frowned. "Oh, I see. You don't believe it."

"I do," Emma said as the elevator started going up. "It's just a lot to process considering my son is currently laying in a hospital room possibly dying and I just had to go get a golden egg out of a dragon."

"What happened to your son?"

She sighed. "He was poisoned. Or cursed. Ate an apple turnover and passed out."

"A sleeping curse."

Emma nodded. "Yes."

"Well… were you doing down there for?" Maleficent asked, frowning in confusion. "Not that I'm ungrateful that you saved me. The only way to break a sleeping curse is true love's kiss. I don't know who sent you down there but – "

The elevator stopped, and Gold stood on the other side of the gate.

"Oh. Of course. Hello Rumplestiltskin."

"Maleficent. You're still alive. How impressive."

"Oh let's be honest, Rumplestiltskin. If you really wanted me dead, you wouldn't have sent Snow and David's daughter to retrieve that egg inside of me. You called her The Savior for a reason."

Emma, meanwhile, could only stare between the two childhood characters. Maleficent knew her parents. And Rumplestiltskin was Neal's father. Which meant… Neal was… Neal was from that place too.

She closed her eyes, trying to process what was happening. She was fairy tale royalty, and her son's father was the son of Rumplestiltskin. Okay. Right.

"I need… I need to get back to the hospital," Emma stammered, leaving the library and taking a deep breath.

Henry was still in the hospital, possibly dying because of some sort of poison… or curse. Something the doctor's couldn't seem to figure out. But Maleficent had. Immediately. True love's kiss. It was desperate but apparently this curse was real and there may have been no other way to save Henry.

Bursting into the room, she felt sick all over again, seeing the ten year old hooked up to wires and machines that were beeping menacingly. Regina and Neal were in the room of course, but she couldn't bring herself to look at them yet as she bent down next to her son.

"God… Henry, I'm so sorry it took me so long, but I did it. I believe you. You were right all along and instead of celebrating, you're under this curse… well, I think I know how to break it. And if I'm wrong… oh God if I'm wrong then I'm so sorry. And I hope you know how much I – I love you Henry," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his temple.

A burst of light exploded from the pair of them and there was one beat… then two… and then Henry finally opened his eyes and took a deep breath, sitting up on the bed.

"Henry!" she cried in relief, tears pouring down her face.

"You did it. You actually did it…" Regina said, stunned as she slowly made her way to the bed.

"If I were you, your majesty, I'd find a place to hide," Dr. Whale said, his eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm sure there are lots of people that'll be interested in your head on a platter."

Regina's nostrils flared, and Emma could see the Evil Queen persona beginning to shine through as Daphne stepped closer. "Some of you should thank me. Especially you, Miss Gale. Because I, unlike you, actually have my sister contained," Regina sneered before turning to Henry. "Henry… no matter what anyone may say, I do love you…"

And with that, Regina fled from the room.

Emma took a deep breath as Neal rushed over to the bed and pulled the ten year old close.

"So… what was it that Regina meant by containing her sister?" Emma asked Daphne with a frown.

"In this world she's known as the Wicked Witch of the West. We've been trying to take her down for years. I didn't realize Regina had managed to trap her during the curse," Daphne replied as she ran out of the room.

Emma blinked. "O-kay… okay c'mon kid, let's get out of here."

She hated hospitals.

Henry nodded and climbed off the bed as Neal tossed him his clothes, and the trio was on their way into town, where chaos seemed to be running wild.

"What's going on?" Emma asked, her eyes wide.

"Everyone's trying to find their families," Neal replied as they rounded a corner.

"So what do we do now?" she heard Ruby say.

"Now… now I find my daughter."

Emma froze at the voice. It was Mary-Margaret but… it was different. More confident and sure of what needed to be done.

"So it's true," she managed to say as she stared in awe of her parents. Her parents.

They turned and stared in awe of her, and Emma saw written on their faces the look she had been waiting twenty-eight years to see. The face of love and devotion… and yet there was pain. The pain of everything they'd missed – more so on her mother than on her father.

"You found us…" her mother choked out, cupping Emma's face with delicate fingers before pulling her close. She felt her father join in the hug, cupping the back of her head gently and Emma felt the dam break, letting out her own flood of tears. Tears of joy, of pain, of relief, of shock. She'd found her parents, and they'd loved her from the beginning. Had wanted her.

"I just can't believe it was all real," she sobbed. She hadn't allowed herself to cry like this in years, and now she could cry to her parents and they wouldn't hat her for it.

She pulled away, looking between them. "Sorry. I just…"

Mary-Margaret shook her head. "You have nothing to apologize for."

"Grandpa?" came Henry's small voice from behind her.

"Yes Henry?" her father asked. Emma realized he sounded way too casual with being called a grandfather.

"Are you gonna tell them how long you've known for?"

Mary-Margaret frowned. "What? Charming, what is he talking about?"

He sighed, looking between the two women. "I've actually had my memories back since – "

Emma stared as she realized. "The day I told Neal about Henry being his son. You were sitting in the back room resting because your memories had come back. But it was your memories of your fairy tale life."

He nodded slowly. "Yes."

"Huh. I can't imagine how hard that was for you…"

David smiled a little and wrapped an arm around Mary-Margaret's shoulder as the group began walking down the street. "It was worth it."

"YOUR MAJESTIES!" Archie suddenly cried, running up to them nervously. "Your majesties I hate to bother you but there's a group going after Regina. They – they say they're going to kill her!"

"Great," Leroy grumbled. "Let's watch."

"No, we are not going to watch," Emma said sharply. "She still owes us answers and there's no way we can get those answers if she's dead."

"And she's still my mom," Henry added. "I know she did all of those bad things but – "

"Fine," Leroy sighed as everyone began running toward Regina's house, a large group of angry citizens standing in front of the door, led by Whale. Regina was pinned to the front door.

"Hey – hey! No! We are not doing this!" Emma shouted, pushing her way forward with Henry and her parents. "We are not killing her!"

"We don't belong in this land. We shouldn't have to listen to you," Whale snarled.

"Yeah well while you're in it, I'm still the sheriff here. We are not killing her."

The crowd began to grumble their discontent with the answer, and her mother stepped forward.

"Listen up! There are still answers we need, and the most important should be how to get back to our land. Instead of killing her, she needs to be locked up. For her safety, but more importantly for ours," she said in a tone that Emma had never heard from the meek schoolteacher. "We will take her away. Kingdom leaders, meet us at the Town Hall in an hour. We'll hold a meeting at six for everyone else. In the meantime… find your friends and loved ones. Reunite with them. We'll see you later."

Emma pulled out her handcuffs and secured them around Regina's wrists as David started leading her away from the mansion, the angry mob beginning to disperse.

"So I'm a prisoner now?" Regina sneered as the heavy jail door closed behind her. "You should remember how well that worked out for you last time."

"The curse is broken. Why didn't we go back?" her father asked sharply.

"There was nothing built into the curse about taking us back to the Enchanted Forest," Regina said. "And I wasn't strong enough to alter it beyond the cursed personas you had. But perhaps it's for the best that we aren't back there."

"Why?" Emma asked with a frown.

Regina sighed, slumping onto the bed. "Because… there is a group of dark magic users there that want to reverse the laws of magic. And they're working together to try to achieve it. If we go back there that means the group will be restored, and all of the magical devices that Rumplestiltskin has in his shop can be used against you… well – us. I turned them down when they asked me to join."

"Why would you do that?"

The woman scoffed. "Because I know a losing battle when I see it. Besides… I thought the curse would be enough to contain her."

"Maleficent?"

"No. Zelena. My sister. She's… I guess you could call her the leader of this merry band of dark magic users. But she started stirring the prison I set up for her here before the curse broke." Regina looked a bit rattled at the mention of it. "I'm just glad there's no magic here or we'd be in real trouble."

"I hate to be a downer but… we might be in trouble," Neal suddenly said from the doorway. "There's purple smoke heading this way."

Regina's eyes widened and she leaned toward the window to see. "Your father has no idea what he's unleashing, Mr. Cassidy."

But Neal shook his head and stepped toward Henry as the smoke blew closer to the station. "Actually Regina… I think he knows exactly what he's doing."

They huddled together as the smoke began to creep into the room, surrounding them with a breeze that felt unnatural. But as quickly as it came, it was gone, and nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

She caught Regina's eyes, seeing a slight bit of a smirk on her face as the former queen looked at Mary-Margaret and David.

"Well Snow, Charming. Looks like you both finally caught me. I guess you'd better get to your meeting with the other kingdom rulers," Regina said, far too casually as she sat regally on the prison bed.

David didn't seem to buy it. "What was that smoke?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," Regina said with a shrug.

"It was magic," Neal answered. "Trust me, I've been around it enough to know what the air feels like with it buzzing in the air. My father brought magic back."

Mary-Margaret paled, David tensed, his hand tightening on his wife's back as both looked at Regina.

Henry suddenly seemed to understand what was going on, eyes turning to his mother.

"Mom… don't."

Regina's eyes widened. "Don't what, Henry?"

"Don't hurt anyone just because you have magic back. Don't turn back into the Evil Queen. Please…" he asked, his dark eyes wide with concern.

Regina let out a sigh. "Henry, I don't want to hurt anyone, but you are my son and – "

"And I'm also Emma and Neal's son… Mary-Margaret and David's grandson. That's not an excuse to use your magic for evil. Please… don't hurt anyone in Storybrooke just because you have magic again," Henry said, biting his lip.

The mayor looked at him, conflict reading clear in her gaze. "Okay Henry. I promise I won't hurt anyone."

The boy smiled. "Thank you."

"Now go. All of you. I imagine the town is in a state of panic over the smoke."

Neal looked toward the others. "I'll meet you guys at the Town Hall. I'm going to go talk to my father. God knows he won't show up without me telling him to."

"Thank you Neal," David said. "Come on…"

Emma glanced back at Neal once before following her parents and Henry out of the station.

-----

"Come on Papa… pick up," Neal muttered under his breath as he held his phone to his ear as people filed into the town hall for the meeting. He had no idea where his father could have gone, having been searching for an hour. He wasn't in any of his usual hiding spots, which was a cause of concern.

"Bae, there you are. Shall we go inside for the meeting?" his father asked from behind him.

"Uh… yeah. You actually showed up without me asking you to?" Neal replied, dumbfounded.

Slight laughter escaped his father. "Yes. Of course I did. Why wouldn't I be here? The people need an explanation as to what happened, don't they?"

Neal blinked in confusion. "You want to actually help people figure out what's going on?" Who was this man and what had he done with his father?

His father only shrugged. "With what those people are planning, I wouldn't dare keep it hidden for even the sweetest of deals. Even though most of this town fears me, I wouldn't wish these things on anyone. Even Regina."

Neal frowned as they were led inside the town hall for the meeting. "Regina told us about them. What have you seen, Papa?"

"The final battle," his father explained, stepping up to the podium during the meeting after King Arthur asked the same question. I don't know how it will end but it will lead to the downfall of either the Dark Royals or… for the rest of us."

The color drained from Neal's face, the air leaving the room as the people of Storybrooke tried to process the answer.

"So – so what do we do? Regina said there's a group of magic users out there trying to do whatever it is they're planning, but there aren't many magic users in Storybrooke, are there? How can we protect the town?" Snow asked, shaken.

Rumplestiltskin nodded. "This is true, dearie. But there are other magic users out in the world that can help that managed to find other ways here. Ways that I was not allowed to use. But there is hope out there… we just need to find them."

"How?" Snow pressed.

"If I recall, our town sheriff was once someone who knew how to find people…"

Emma nodded slowly, squirming under the eyes of the entire town trained on her. "Okay – uh. If anyone can think of someone that might be out there somewhere let me know and I'll do my best to find them."

The smile on his father's face jolted him back to his childhood, and he wasn't sure he liked it. "Thank you Miss Swan. This is me cashing in on the favor you owe me."

"What do you suggest for the rest of the town then, Rumplestiltskin?" Prince Thomas then asked.

"For now… all I can suggest is to find your loved ones and keep living your life as we have been. We have a bit of time before the battle reaches its fever pitch. I'm afraid that is all I know," his father replied, giving the room an apologetic glance.

Nervous murmurs erupted from the audience, but the majority were nodding in agreement. Neal wasn't sure what to make of the news himself as his father stepped down from the podium. He had to admit, he was proud of his father for doing this instead of just leaving people to be caught by surprise.

"Bae, my boy. You should go be with your son," his father said as he hobbled back over to him. "We don't know how long we – "

"Rumple, is there really a chance that we could die?" a woman's voice asked.

Neal blinked, seeing a younger woman – probably around his physical age actually – standing behind him. She was looking at his father like she was in love with him, and it was baffling to him.

"Yes Belle, I'm afraid so. But we have each other. And there's someone I want you to meet. Belle… this is Baelfire. My son. Bae, this is Belle. She was my housekeeper in the Enchanted Forest."

"More than that," the woman replied, patting his shoulder and smiling at Neal. "It's so nice to meet you Baelfire. You father had told me so much about you."

He looked at the way the woman was leaning into his father, his arm wrapped protectively around Belle's waist. His gaze was softer, and Neal realized with alarm that his father must have been in love with this woman.

Neal exhaled. "You're my father's girlfriend," he finally said.

"I suppose that's a fair assumption," the woman said in agreement, shrugging at him casually.

Neal sighed. "Okay. Guess we have to go tell Henry about another new family member."

They found Henry with the Charmings in the small apartment above the bookstore. Snow and Charming had known of Belle – Charming hadn't lived too far from their castle and Snow had been acquainted with the family long before curses and deals and Evil Queens.

The awkward family was just sitting down to dinner when there was another knock on the door. Neal inwardly groaned, hoping that it wasn't another wayward family member coming to find them.

Instead, it was Maleficent.

"I have someone I want you to find," the woman explained as Emma opened the door. "My daughter. Lily."

Emma let Maleficent in and nodded. "Okay. You lost her when you were a baby, right? That's what Henry's book said. So it's going to be hard without any identifying marks or – "

"But she has one. She has a star on her wrist. It was a mark she was born with - it's meant to symbolize how she'll always find home."

Neal saw Emma blanch and frowned. "Emma… what's wrong?"

"I know your daughter," Emma whispered, looking at Maleficent. "I know exactly who she is."

"You do? Where is she?"

"I – I don't know. I haven't seen her in about twelve years, but I promise, she'll be the first person I track down once I get more people to find."

"Cruella and Ursula too," her father said. "They made it here too, right?"

Maleficent nodded. "Yes. They had. I was the only one that didn't."

The look on Emma's face was twisting into disbelief and discomfort, so Neal stood. "Hey Emma – I left something in my car that I meant to give to you when I got here earlier. With all the excitement I'd completely forgotten about it. Why don't we go get it?"

He noted the look of relief on her face as they made their way outside.

"You alright?" he asked.

"I'm just overwhelmed with… well, everything. It doesn't seem to be stopping. Now I have to go find a bunch of magical people? And not only that, but the two people I considered to be my closest friends and first love in my life are also from this fairy tale world?" Emma said.

He nodded slowly. "I know. I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you before. You're the first person I trusted in this world too. But I couldn't. You wouldn't have believed me."

She smiled with a scoff. "True. I wouldn't have."

"I really am sorry, Emma. For everything."

"I know… and I forgive you. But there's one thing that's still bothering me."

"What's that?"

"Where's August? I didn't see him at the town meeting and he'd said he would be here before everything kinda… exploded."

Neal inhaled sharply. "I think I know where he is. Come with me."

He drove quickly to the bed and breakfast, and the duo rushed up to August's room.

"August? You in there?" Emma called.

"Emma… yes, I'm in here," came August's voice.

Neal wiggled the door handle, finding it locked. "Unlock the door, August."

"I can't."

Neal paled as Emma brought her foot up to break down the door, and as they entered the room, they saw the answer to their questions.

August, half-sitting up on the bed, was made almost entirely of wood.

Emma caught on immediately. "Pinocchio."

#once upon a dream #swanfire #emma swan #neal cassidy #ouat #once upon a time #fanfiction #ouat fanfiction

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seriouslyhooked · 8 years ago

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Some Call It Magic (A CS AU) Part 3/?

When Killian Jones moves to Storybrooke he instantly senses something strange about this little town in Maine but he’s willing to overlook all the bizarre signs for one reason: the single Mum living next door to him. There’s only one problem. Killian is nearly positive she’s a witch, a brewing potions and casting spells witch. But when true love is involved, does a little thing like magical powers really matter? Story rated M.

Part 1 Here, Part 2 Here. Also On FF Here.

A/N: So here we are back with another chapter of ‘Some Call it Magic’ and as promised we’ll have both POVs this time. There’s some CS cuteness (as is to be expected) and also a fair bit of meddling (from a couple of sources) because I just love when everyone in creation ships CS and tries to get them together. Hope you guys enjoy and thank you all so much for reading!

Easily the best remedy to a racing mind and raging uncertainty was a full day’s work.

Emma learned that lesson very early on, and from the time she was a kid she’d tried to find ways to keep busy and keep going. Some people called that tendency ‘survival instincts,’ but Emma considered it a crucial facet of who she was. In good times and in bad, in joy and in trouble, Emma sought some sort of occupation. There was always something she could do or make or try to ease the thoughts that could otherwise catch up with her, and usually Emma was a master at avoiding and compartmentalizing those struggles away.

But today was no ordinary day, and it all started with another one of those dreams that had been plaguing her for months. The same pinpoints were clear as day in this nighttime fantasy, and Emma had been wading through feelings of contentment and peace, saddled with these little zings of pleasure and hope that eventually receded when she’d stirred with the morning sun. The loss that she’d felt for months at waking up and the longing for something more were both there, and Emma found herself missing something she didn’t even actually have: a real and true relationship with a man who not only loved her but was her equal partner too.

There was just one tiny, minor problem: this time the faceless stranger of the past wasn’t so faceless anymore. Where she’d once been hazy in the details of what her restless mind was seeking out, Emma now had a new figure imprinted in the folds of those imaginings and his name was Killian Jones. In fact, he’d been so undeniably present that Emma swore she could still feel every touch and hear every word that he’d uttered in the dream and whenever her mind slipped back to thoughts about it, she found herself blushing like a schoolgirl in an almost uncontrollable way.

As if that weren’t bad enough, Emma woke up from her inappropriately intimate dream about her new neighbor to find that her garden in the back of the house had nearly doubled in size overnight. The culprit for that newfound forestation was clear: her magic was flaring up again, and while it wasn’t a destructive kind of outburst like she’d sometimes had as a kid, it was noticeable, so noticeable in fact, that Emma had to run outside and try trimming away some of the flowers and hedges before her new neighbor had the chance to notice.

The last thing she needed was Killian growing suspicious of something being amiss and then confronting her about it. Actually the idea alone of that had been enough to totally wash away the warmth of that morning’s dream all together, and only when she was finished with her incantation to keep the garden from growing in her absence, and had gathered a whole huge basket of flowers to take back in her house, did Emma feel any kind of relief.

Things from there went quickly, thank goodness, with her and Henry running around and getting ready for school and for work. Emma didn’t have much time to linger on her worries or her slowly growing hopes too much, but that reprieve didn’t last very long, because when Emma was seeing Henry off to the bus, their neighbor finally made an appearance.

“Hey Killian!” Henry had called over happily waving their new neighbor’s way as Killian retrieved his morning paper.

“Good morning, lad. Off to school?” He asked and Henry nodded with a sly smile and an already ready quip.

“That’s where the big yellow bus usually takes me, yeah.”

“Henry!” Emma scolded, not knowing how Killian would respond to the bit of sass, but then her handsome neighbor laughed heartily and Emma was calmed instantly with a smile of her own forming.

Meanwhile, Henry looked back to her with a shrug and a pleased as could be grin as Emma shook her head, urging him to hurry up and get to school. He listened and hopped on the bus, offering a wave to her and to Killian and the look in Henry’s eyes, the one that said he was so eager to know Killian, clutched at Emma’s heart. Her sweet, sensitive little boy was getting attached and that could very well be a massive problem, big enough that Emma was hours into her shift at the café and no closer to an answer on how to handle it.

“Well someone’s going through it this morning,” Ruby said from across the kitchen, starling Emma from her reminiscing.

Emma looked up from where she was pouring over a big bowl of brownie batter and slowly losing her mind, realizing just how discombobulated she must look right now. She was usually meticulous and never messy, but in this moment her station and her apron were less than pristine. Her hair was coming loose from the tie she had it back in and her cheeks were probably flushed pink from the way her thoughts had been meandering the past ten minutes while she’d been alone back here.

“Does this have anything to do with the new neighbor you left goodies for last night?” Ruby prodded, causing Emma’s jaw to drop just as the wooden spoon she was using thudded in the bowl.

“How did you…?” Emma asked, but she trailed off realizing that there was no point. In Emma’s group of friends everyone always knew everything. Whether it was intuition, a vision, or some other sort of magical interference, there weren’t such things as secrets in their tight knit circle. Emma had never really minded that because she had nothing she wanted to hide, but this felt different. Whatever thing was happening between her and the intriguing guy next door, Emma wanted to keep uncomplicated for as long as she could.

“Oh come on, Ems. You knew the second Henry brought up that you two met a certain kitten-saving hero next door that we were going to do some recon. That was a given.”

Emma actively tried not to groan at the reminder of Henry’s song and dance last night. She loved her son, more than anything in the world, but last night he’d been in fine form, giving everyone the details of their newest neighbor while they had dinner at Belle’s. Henry had nothing but praise to bestow on Killian the entire time too. He’d been taken with the new Brit next door all afternoon at the café and by the time they were at dinner he was so ready for someone with more expressed interest than Emma that a room filled with his gossip-prone ‘aunts and uncles’ was his dream come true. To say that Ruby and the others had milked it was an understatement, but Emma thought she managed to keep that special delivery under wraps. Clearly she was wrong in assuming such a thing.

“So what, you had Anna and Elsa in the bushes across the street awaiting my show of neighborly kindness?” It was a joke but not entirely unbelievable either. Emma had seen the sisters in a number of strange and peculiar situations, but they were so likeable and nice it was hard to ever fault them for their weirder moments of attempted espionage.

“Oh that would have been hilarious,” Ruby admitted with her hand on her hip and a big smile on her face. “But no, we were tame about it and just used your average, garden-variety looking-glass spell. Totally basic.”

“A basic invasion of privacy,” Emma grumbled, but it was impossible for her to be angry with her friends and she knew it was coming from a place of caring, certifiably crazy or not.

“Call it what you will but it doesn’t change the fact that something is happening. We all feel it so I know you’re feeling it too,” Ruby claimed with an air of definitiveness that Emma didn’t dare to contradict. After all what was she going to do, lie? Something was happening, the problem was Emma didn’t understand what the hell it was or what the heck it meant.

All Emma knew for certain was that underneath the newness and the feelings of excitement and hope that meeting Killian had inspired was this nagging sense of doubt bestowed on her by a lifetime of experience. Before she’d come to Storybrooke she’d been more than abandoned, she’d been reviled and feared by people who were supposed to care about her including Henry’s father, a man she thought she loved and who loved her back. But all that ‘love’ ended up being was something fragile and ugly and painful enough to have Emma shielding herself away from everyone again.

Back then, when she’d fancied herself in love, Emma decided to finally take the risk with someone after a childhood spent in hiding and she revealed her powers to Henry’s father in the hopes of being totally honest with him so they could have a future together. But the second the dust settled and the truth was out, Neal had run as fast and as far as he could. He wanted nothing to do with her, claiming that magic was terrible and not to be trusted, and a few weeks later when Emma discovered she was pregnant, she knew he’d want nothing to do with her baby either. That had been abundantly clear when he summed up who he thought she was with the single most hurtful word Emma had ever had thrown her way – freak.

“Not every guy out there is like him, Emma. You can’t go holding what Neal did against Killian. That isn’t fair.”

Ruby’s words this time were softer and kinder. Her friend knew how hard it had been for Emma and how much baggage she still was carrying from that time in her life. It took a while for Emma to even be secure in her platonic friendships because of those old hurts, and with every new man that entered any of their lives Emma was always the careful one, and the one who hesitated to give her blessing until the proof was irrefutable. Everyone else was prone to believing that good things happened more often than not and that people were inherently good too, but Emma still bore the scars of some people who hadn’t been, or at the least weren’t good for her.

“Neal has nothing to do with this,” Emma rebuffed as she filled the brownie tray up getting it ready to move to the oven. Ruby meanwhile wasn’t buying it.

“Doesn’t he? If this were anything else in your life you’d be taking note of the signs and following the path that’s so clearly being laid out before you. You know that something’s shifting in the air, something magical, and it started when Killian got to town, but you’re fighting it instead of embracing it.”

“I’m not fighting anything. I’m just not going to rush to the conclusion that a new guy shows up and moves next door and that means he’s automatically my soul mate or something. Just because you and everyone else hopped aboard that train to crazy station last night because he happened to find a cat which is ‘good luck,’ Mary Margaret saw three coupled blue birds on a windowsill, and the stars are in the right place for blah blah blah, doesn’t mean I have to.”

“Oh honey, you are so far in denial. You know it all means something. Why can’t you just admit it?”

The reason Emma couldn’t give into their logic was two fold. On the one hand she was absolutely terrified that they were right, in which case she might actually have to open herself up to someone and take a risk. That thought was so daunting it had Emma’s hands shaking as she waved her hand above the now finished brownie batter to infuse some of her white magic, supplying a little happy kick for anyone who had one of these later. But another part of Emma was scared that they would be wrong. The only thing worse that Killian being here for her was the idea that he wasn’t, especially since he was already starting to feel important to her despite their hardly knowing one another.

“Maybe Killian’s here for other reasons. Maybe fate has different ideas for him and you’re all just so desperate for me to find someone you’re jumping to conclusions. Did you ever think of that?”

Emma was going to say that maybe Killian was here for someone else, and that love might be in the air but not for them, but the prospect of those words alone left a bad taste in Emma’s mouth. That was ridiculous of course, since she didn’t actually have any ties to this man at all, but she couldn’t bring herself to even throw that element of the argument out there as she put the brownies in the oven and set the timer to get them just right.

“It’s not about what we want, Emma. It’s about what you and Henry deserve. Killian could be a really good thing, if you’d just give him a chance,” Ruby professed, following Emma as she moved from out of the kitchen to the hall that led up front. “Come on Emma, give me something to work with here. As your best friend I can’t just let you wander around the world denying the facts. At least admit he’s hot and I’ll call it a day, a slow unproductive day, but a day nonetheless.”

“Jeez Ruby - Yes he’s hot, okay, I admit it. Are you happy?” Emma asked as they moved from the back of the store into the front and Ruby hummed out a sound of semi-agreement.

“I’m getting there. But I’d really be thrilled if you actually told me something – anything – about meeting him. Henry does his best, but he’s a kid. He can’t give me the juicy details the way you can and the reading we did when you left last night was strong, but you know they never get specific.”

Emma rolled her eyes at the fact that there had been even more supernatural sleuthing utilized by her friends last night, but at least she had magic on her side for once. Yes, a reading might have confirmed that there was some sort of charged chemistry between her and Killian, but her thoughts and her words with him, well those were private, and Emma had every intention of keeping them that way.

“That is so not going to happen,” Emma quipped, retying her apron and adjusting her hair so she was a bit more presentable.

The time for distraction was done. She was facing today head on right here and right now. So what if she’d been distracted for hours? It wasn’t too late to salvage the day and reclaim some control of her life and her mind again. She just had to get back in the right frame of mind and steer Ruby in a new direction to match.

“I guess I’ll just have to wait and see you two in person then,” Ruby replied with a dramatic sigh.

Emma wanted to tell her that wasn’t happening anytime soon either, but before she could that same sense of foreboding that she’d gotten yesterday perked back up again. Emma had this need to look through the store’s windows and there, crossing the street and actually heading their way this time, was Killian. Shit! So much for getting herself under control again, or for shielding anything from Ruby.

Be strong, Emma. He’s just a man. You can handle this, she thought to herself, but the moment the bell above the front door tinkled and Killian stepped in, all thoughts of resistance fell by the wayside. He was just so frustratingly good-looking, and when his eyes caught hers and he offered that warm, friendly smile Emma felt her walls melting down more and more. Damn it! Why did he have to be nice and hot? That just wasn’t fair.

“Move over Henry, there’s a new prophet in town,” Ruby whispered, but Emma noticed that her friend was distancing herself, pretending to be busy with something off to the side of the café. This perplexed Emma because it was so un-Ruby-like to retreat from any kind of scene, but before she could address what the heck Ruby was up to, Killian was right there standing before her and commanding her attention once more.

“We meet again, love,” Killian joked as he approached the counter, his hands coming to grab the edge as he leaned slightly closer to her. They still had a safe distance between them, but Emma was flooded in every sense with him and his presence. The whole aura had changed in here, and it wasn’t exactly a bad thing, despite how resistant Emma usually was to change.

“So it would seem. You stalking me or something?” Emma asked, hoping her nerves didn’t harden her attempted teasing. Was this how flirting worked? Emma could hardly remember, and she definitely didn’t want to consider the fact that her instinct was to try and flirt with this man she hardly knew. So instead she let herself sink into the rich, happy sound of his laugh and the cute way he ran a hand through his hair in a show of slight embarrassment.

“Not exactly. I’m here on a mission. I meant to thank you earlier for the gifts you left me last night, but I was too busy laughing at Henry’s well-placed joke to do so. Forgive me for that. I am truly indebted to your kindness.”

For someone who prided herself on being sharp and quick in all manner of things, Emma felt caught up in the way Killian chose his words and the foreignness of his phrasing. It hardly seemed possible that there were guys this good looking with accents to match and manners that toed the line between charming and seductive. Emma blinked a few times, trying to combat the haze that his offered apology had left and when she finally got it together she just prayed she made any sort of sense.

“There’s nothing to forgive. And I was just being neighborly, so there’s no debt to pay,” Emma replied more evenly than she thought possible. She half expected that she’d become a bumbling, incoherent mess with him, but it seemed the Universe was kinder than that.

“I find it hard to imagine most neighbors have a skill like yours, Swan. There wasn’t an item in that basket that wasn’t bloody fantastic, and I admit you might have made an addict out of me. One taste wasn’t enough.”

Emma knew that he was talking about the treats she’d given him, but the lilt of that brogue of his, and the gravel in his voice made Emma’s mind rush to far naughtier and more sinful thoughts. All this talk of tastes and addictions warmed her through, sending her blood humming and her heart skipping a beat, but while she knew there was some things she couldn’t help, like the way her eyes had widened ever so much and her cheeks were going pink, Emma was determined not to cave to his attractiveness, at least not with their current audience so diligently studying them.

As if Killian could sense Emma’s exact thoughts, his gaze shifted from her to somewhere over her shoulder offering a friendly smile and a nod to the person Emma had to assume was Ruby. She’d been lurking pretty much this whole time, and from where Killian’s gaze was, Emma had to guess that she’d cut her original distance in half over the past sixty seconds.

“You must be Ruby,” Killian said, surprising both Emma and Ruby with his knowing who she was.

“And you are most definitely Killian Jones. Tell me, was Emma talking me up when you met last night?” Ruby asked, digging in a completely transparent way.

“Actually your husband made the rounds this morning and introduced himself, but I think you knew that already, love.”

Killian’s boldness in calling Ruby out brought an instant smile to Emma’s face and made her laugh under her breath. It was soft, but Killian caught it, and his gaze came back to hers, focusing so intently on her subtle display of happiness that it made Emma fall back into those same feelings of heat and near dizziness. Luckily Ruby was so pleased with Killian’s sniffing out the truth that she clapped her hands together.

“Oh you are good! Yes, it’s true. I had Graham stop over. I just had to make sure you’re not a danger to my girl or my nephew.”

And there went the warm and fuzzy feelings Emma had just been succumbing to. Nothing to dowse a moment like her meddling friend being over protective and reading way too far into things. Honestly Emma didn’t even know what to say. She gaped at Ruby, wanting to throttle her or maybe to laugh at her audacity, but she was frozen. Thankfully though, Killian wasn’t and his voice dipped into a more gentle yet firmly confident tone.

“I’d never dream of causing any harm for Emma or Henry,” Killian affirmed, looking back at Emma after he’d said that and finishing his promise. “That’s nowhere near my intention.”

“Ooh intentions… do tell,” Ruby said and at this Emma was really about to die of embarrassment. She moved to chastise Ruby and keep her from pressing in her usual interrogations, but Killian only grinned in that all together too handsome way of his and played it cool.

“At the moment? My intention was to thank Emma and procure some coffee. I haven’t had the chance to buy a maker of my own yet and I’m in a slight state of withdrawal.”

“Well coffee we can do,” Emma said, silencing Ruby with a glare before her friend could say anything else and leading Killian further down the counter, putting space between them and her nosey, infuriating, lovingly protective friend. “Sorry about that. Ruby’s mostly harmless I swear.”

“It’s as you said, Swan, there’s nothing to forgive.”

Killian said the words with this ease and a charge all at once, and Emma could feel the air around them mellowing out. He had this calming affect on her, yet she felt more alive and alert than ever. It made the motions of getting him the cup of coffee just a little shaky, but there was a feeling of excitement underneath it and a desire to let this moment linger just a little longer. Emma searched for a means to procure that and stumbled on a perfect option.

“We made donuts today. I didn’t have any in the shop to send your way yesterday, but people tell me they aren’t half bad...” That was a slight fib. People actually told her they were heavenly, but Emma didn’t see any need to toot her own horn too much. He could make that call for himself.

“If you made them I’m sure they’re far better than ‘not half bad.’ I’ll take one of those as well.”

“You know Emma was just working on a batch of brownies. They’re probably almost finished if you -,” Ruby said from across the way and Emma immediately interrupted, not loving the idea of giving him one of her treats that was magically imbibed given everything else going on. No, Emma thought it would be best to avoid mixing her magic and her love life – or would be love life. Shit, now she was falling into everyone else’s insanity. Whatever, as long as she got Killian out of this shop without any sort of charmed cupcakes or spell cast soups it would be a victory.

“No I think those are actually going to take a while, and it’s kind of early for a brownie,” Emma pointed out, trying to divert him away from that choice without too much more muss or fuss.

“That it is, love,” Killian agreed. “Perhaps I’ll dabble with such sweets another time.”

“You think you’ll be back then?” Ruby asked eagerly and Killian smiled, his piercing blue eyes remaining locked on Emma’s green ones as he responded.

“Definitely.”

Then with the coffee and donut in hand and a sincere farewell that had Emma both totally relieved and a little bit remiss at his going, Killian left and headed back out into the sunny Storybrooke day. As he retreated, Emma made herself look away, but she knew that the damage so to speak was already done. Ruby had more than mere ammo at this point. She had a whole freaking arsenal of bizarre Emma Swan behavior to prove her claim that something was, in fact, going on between her and Killian.

“I am totally going to get you back for this you know that right?” Emma asked and Ruby practically chortled with glee.

“Worth it. Totally completely worth it.”

And with that, the two friends came to an unspoken agreement that that was just about enough of Killian Jones within the four walls of Stay a Spell Café today. But Emma did wonder once or twice (or maybe a dozen times, who was really counting?) about whether or not she might just see him again later and if she wouldn’t really like the chance to spend some more time with her new neighbor.

………….

There were a number of things that required getting used to when moving to a small town, and even though it had only been a day since he arrived in Storybrooke, Killian had already begun to pick up on some of those elements.

For one thing there was the complete lack of privacy despite the wide-open spaces that a small town boasted. It felt like anywhere he went he was on display, and no one bothered to hold back their looks or to appear uninterested. No, it was truly evident that the village’s conversation was consumed with their newest arrival, and Killian couldn’t so much as walk on the main road without all eyes being on him.

Yet despite that strange kind of quirkiness, there was a real sincerity here. The ‘how ya doings’ and ‘nice to meet yous’ still lingered in an ever pleasing way, and though there were some neighbors he found were more forgettable than others, there was one particular person in this town he couldn’t get out of his mind day or night.

Emma Swan was a mystery to him, but at the same time she was familiar and important in a way he couldn’t explain. There was rarely a moment that went by since Killian had been introduced to his lovely neighbor that his thoughts weren’t somehow involving her, and even his dreams had fallen victim to her charms and allure. Last night he’d fallen asleep easier than he had in years, but even sleep wasn’t an escape from thoughts of Emma, and he woke shocked at the kind of sincere intimacy they’d had in his dream. It wasn’t anything exceptionally lurid or scandalous, but Killian had this feeling deep in his gut that he’d been meant to be with her. The security and rightness that came in those imaginings should have startled him, but they left him restless for the chance to see her again and find out if this sort of premonition might not be accurate.

He’d risen early again this morning, wondering what his neighbor and her bright, excitable son would be up to, and when he cast his gaze outside to their house, he’d been immediately struck by just how much more there seemed to be today. Surely he’d noticed the abundance of flowers surrounding their humble abode yesterday, but today it felt like there was a substantial amount more than there had been. He moved outside to get a better look, but he lost track of those thoughts and that want to investigate the second his beautiful neighbor stepped out of her house, still wrapped up in her robe and wielding a basket.

Maybe it was bad form on his part to hide there in the still shadow cast part of his own back porch watching on, but Killian couldn’t help it. At first it was just shock from her being there and so close, but then it felt like too much time had passed for him to announce himself without being weird.

Finally he decided that honor should win out over his own possible embarrassment, but just as he was about to call out to her, the faint sound of her singing something wafted on the winds to his ears, stunning him into silence all over again. He didn’t have the chance to hear the words, and the melody likewise escaped him as it tumbled past her lips, but Killian did notice that the sun seemed to find Emma and her garden in this moment, shining it’s golden rays on her and her house and lighting up his entire world in the process.

Killian couldn’t say how long he’d watched her, but it was too short a time for his heart to be easy, and when she was leaving Killian felt a bit of pain beneath his breast. It was that strange kind of melancholy that had him trying to time the rest of his day around catching a glimpse of her. First he’d managed it by retrieving his paper when Henry was getting on the bus. Then he’d allowed himself the chance to visit her café a few hours after that, and after spending much of the early afternoon exploring, Killian had walked back through town, seeing Emma through the window but denying his instinct to go back inside. He didn’t want to come on too strong, despite this bevy of emotions he was feeling, and so he stuck his course, heading instead to the town’s bookshop for some much needed literature on what the bloody hell to do with a cat.

“Hello?” Killian called out in the store when he’d entered to find no one inside. It was actually so empty from first appearances that he wondered if it was even manned at this point, but from the back came a faint yell that signaled at life after all.

“Just one second!” a woman called, before there was the sound of shuffling and some muttered cursing as something (Killian assumed a stack of books) fell over. Killian moved to see if he could help, but the next second the woman popped out from the back and made her apologies. “Hi, sorry about that. I got lost in a new shipment of books and the next thing I knew I was trapped in a fort of my own making.”

“Don’t you just hate when that happens?” Killian offered, hoping to make a joke to ease the woman’s discomfort and she immediately laughed and nodded.

“Yeah I do. I really, really do. So what can I help you with? Let me guess – something to do with cat care?” she asked, blowing Killian away for a split second before he remembered how much people in this town liked to talk.

“You must be another friend of Emma and Henry’s,” Killian said. “Or perhaps David, since he knows of my new situation as well.”

“Try all three,” the woman said with a smile. “I’m Belle, and I think I might have just the thing you’re looking for.”

Killian recognized the name, and he realized this must be the friend who Emma and Henry had visited for dinner last night. He was going to mention that connection as a means of small talk as she helped him locate a book, but it turned out Belle didn’t have to so much as leave her station to procure a book on feline parenting. Somehow she must have already prepared for a moment where he might come.

“Henry was convinced when he came over for dinner last night that you’d be in today and I’ve learned never to doubt Henry when he’s got one of his feelings,” Belle supplied, her affection for Henry clear in her tone.

“He’s an intuitive lad then?” Killian asked, wanting to know as much as he could about Henry and his mother. They had proved to both be endlessly fascinating to him, but he also didn’t want to appear desperate for answers. Belle, however, didn’t seem to find anything amiss with his quandary and elaborated right away.

“Oh definitely! He’s got a real gift and it works in mysterious ways. He’ll figure it out someday though. People always do.”

The way that Belle made the statement was rather curious. She made Henry’s sense of what might happen seem like a certifiable skill as opposed to good guessing. Was he missing something perhaps? Or maybe this woman was just a bit odd. It wouldn’t be so beyond reason in this town. Storybrooke seemed to host a number of interesting characters from his experience so far.

“Aye, and he has time enough to do so,” Killian agreed with Belle agreeing readily.

“Absolutely. I didn’t realize my true path until I was fifteen. He’s got forever to figure out which way the fates will take him.” Belle said the words easily and without any thought, but then she seemed to realize that was strangely phrased. Killian watched as she went a bit red and started back peddling a bit from the bizarre ideas. “Sorry – I get kind of carried away. Books are my passion and sometimes I forget people don’t actually talk like that.”

Killian laughed good-naturedly at her explanation setting Belle at ease once more and back into motion to get his order situated. But as she moved to bag up his book, another manuscript across the room caught his eye. It was a beginner’s guide to sailing and Killian thought in that moment that it might be a good thing to get for Henry. As a boy Killian had always enjoyed being out there on the seas with his brother, and when living in a place like this, surely there was plenty of opportunity for Henry to give it a try. Besides, the lad had made sure Killian had a book today; the least Killian could do was offer him one in return.

“Oh Henry will love that!” Belle said when Killian reached for the book off the stand where it rested by the window. “You know he’s been a pirate for Halloween the last three years? He can’t get enough of that stuff.”

“How did you – never mind,” Killian said, not daring to ask how the woman could know so quickly that the book was meant for Henry. Instead he let Belle bag up both purchases and then went on his way, feeling a bit more confident in his gift for Henry even if he was slightly mortified that his motives had been so transparent. But by the time he was back at home again his musings on whether or not he’d made a mistake evaporated and instead he was focused on the fact that Henry himself was camped out in front of Killian’s house.

“Hey Killian!” Henry called from his front steps, and Killian smiled at the boy before realizing what Henry was carrying in his arms – the same tiny kitten that the two of them had rescued last night.

“Bloody hel- I mean heck – how did she get out?” Henry looked a little guilty at the question for some reason but then he pointed up to the open window at the side of the house. “I guess I’ll have to be more careful. I could have sworn I locked it earlier. Thanks for looking out for her.”

“No problem. So did you go see Belle?” Henry asked, nodding towards the bag Killian was carrying.

“Aye I did. She had just what I was looking for thanks to you, and as a show of my gratitude…” Killian trailed off as he grabbed the book he’d gotten specifically for Henry and handed it to him.

“No way! I was looking at this book last time Mom took me to the shop. How did you know?” Henry asked, his eyes raking over the cover of the guide as he clutched it close, allowing Killian to scoop up the kitten once more. As soon as he did the cat meowed and curled back into him again. And here he’d thought cats were standoffish and aloof. How wrong he’d turned out to be.

“I didn’t. But I figured any true friend of mine likely had a similar affinity for sailing.”

“We’re friends?” Henry asked excitedly and Killian nodded.

“I’d like to think so. I could certainly use some more being new to town and all.”

“My Mom could be your friend,” Henry offered and Killian felt the pang of want in his gut. Truth be told he’d like a lot more than mere friendship with Emma Swan, but being her friend would be a start, and at this rate he believed any kind of relationship with Emma would be a glorious thing indeed.

“You think?” Killian asked and Henry nodded but then seemed to reconsider.

“Well… maybe. She already has a lot of friends, but she could really use a boyfriend.”

Oh Jesus. Was this a test? It had to be some kind of test, right?

“Has she not had many of those?” Killian asked, immediately regretting how interested he sounded, and wondering what the ethical considerations were for talking to a woman in whom he was interested with her son without her knowing.

“Nope. She’s picky. But she likes you.” Henry imparted that fact like it was a given and not a crucial new piece of hope for Killian that he’d now come to cling to.

“She said that?” Killian asked, not bothering to hide his surprise.

“She didn’t have to. Some things you just know,” Henry said with a grin before something caught his eye over to the side of the yard. “Uh oh.”

“Did you give your Mum the slip again?” Killian asked hoping to get another glimpse of Emma today, but instead he saw one of the women who had been in the window of Stay A Spell yesterday with Elsa and Ruby looking totally worried as she ambled out of Emma and Henry’s house.

“Nope, just Anna. She hangs out with me on Tuesdays but she lost me once when I was six so now she takes worried to a whole other level.”

“I think you best put her out of her misery then, mate,” Killian said standing up at the same time Henry did.

“Yeah, probably. But you should know my mom likes flowers, coffee ice cream, Frank Sinatra, and sunsets at the beach. Just in case you decide to be her boyfriend or something.”

The way Henry informed Killian of these select ‘favorite things’ that his mother had seemed rather rehearsed in Killian’s opinion, and it indicated that Henry might have a scheme up his sleeve, but honestly Killian would take all the allies he could get when it came to Emma. Besides, the lad was obviously very fond of his Mum and wanted to see her happy which was something Killian likewise wanted. He was simply growing to hope more and more that he might be able to bring Emma such happiness if given the chance.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Killian said with a laugh and a shake of his head as Henry sprinted for the other house, halfway there he stopped though throwing another random fact over his shoulder.

“And she hates raisins! Whatever you do don’t give her raisins!” Henry shouted the warning as if men were prone to wooing women with raisins as a common play.

“Raisins? Henry what are you talking about?” The woman named Anna asked but Henry shook his head, pulling her back inside and leaving Killian alone there on the front walk of his house with just his cat to keep him company.

“Well, seems it’s just you and me again,” Killian offered to the kitten he’d still not named as he went back inside, facing the quiet of his solitude once more. But as he closed the door, Killian couldn’t help hoping there might be more brightness and life brought into his world by his new neighbors sometime very, very soon.

Post-Note: I think I can safely say after writing a few chapters of this story that I have really missed writing fics with Henry in them. I just love the added dynamic of meddling he can bring, and in this AU in particular, he’s going to be playing a big part of CS finding their happy ending. But more than that I am just really enjoying this strange little world I’ve concocted. I still don’t have a ton of chapters mapped out, but I have an idea of where I think the story will be taking us next. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed and thank you so much for reading and let me know what you think!

#captain swan #captain swan fic #captain swan ff #cs fic #cs ff #cs modern au #cs au #cs au fic #cs fluff #emma swan #killian jones #henry #belle french #ruby lucas #ouat au #some call it magic #some call it magic au #some call it 3

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lilacmoon83 · 6 years ago

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Dreaming Out Loud

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 164: Flaws

After leaving the Inn and threatening Owen, or Greg Mendell, as he was now calling himself, Regina sat despondently in her car, across from the diner. She knew it would only cause her pain and sure enough, it did, as she watched him come out of the diner with his family, beaming from ear to ear. She still couldn't believe it. Rumpelstiltskin's son and Snow White's daughter were the birth parents of her precious Henry. Fate certainly did have a sadistic sense of humor. She longed for the days before the curse was broken, before David Nolan was awake and Mary Margaret was a lonely, miserable wallflower, and before Emma Swan. Before all that, there had been a time where she and Henry were very happy; a time when she was all he ever needed. But those times were gone and she had been brainstorming on ways to get them back. However, Jefferson had been right about what he told her just a few months ago. The changes that Emma had brought couldn't just be undone. There was no putting back this open can of worms now, no matter how much she wished it.

Earlier that day, she had gone through her mother's things and found a written curse tucked away in one of her gowns. She knew her mother had meant for her to find this particular curse. It was the curse of the empty-hearted. In theory, it had the power to make someone think they loved you. She had instantly thought about using it on Henry, but the price was that she needed the heart of the person she hated most. It was brilliant, theoretically and exactly the thing her mother would leave her. If enacted, this curse would give her Henry and get her vengeance on Snow. But it was an impossible feat. Getting Snow's blood had been difficult enough and that had been with Hermes' help. Her heart...that was a different story entirely. While Persephone could not protect Snow twenty-four hours a day, she was on extra high alert with Hades in town. Which meant that it was likely that she had placed all kinds of protection spells on and around her daughter and family, ones they might not even been aware of. And with protection spells naturally came the one that prevented a heart rip. Regina's magic was powerful, but knew it was really no match for Persephone's.

"Thank you Mother...but unfortunately, it isn't meant to be," she muttered sadly, as she watched the dwarves drive up in David's truck. They got out and tossed the keys to the Prince, before heading into the diner with the former giant. That was odd, indeed, and she wondered what it was all about.

Curiously, she got out of her car once they left and using her magic, she enchanted the road to show her the tire tracks. With that, Regina followed them out into the outskirts of town and found that they ended in an empty field. She got out of the car and found a barrier spell was in place and not one that was strong enough to be Persephone's. In fact, if she had to guess, it was probably a fairy spell. She waved her hand and revealed what the field was hiding. She was shocked to see a full crop of beans...magic beans. She pursed her lips and confiscated a pod that had two beans in it. Perhaps getting revenge on Snow wasn't possible, but maybe getting Henry back could be with these beans...

~*~

Henry bounded into the loft, as they arrived home that evening. Neal was with them, as Emma had agreed to allow him to come tuck Henry in.

"Thanks for letting me come...I know this all still pretty weird," he mentioned. She shrugged.

"You're Henry's dad and he loves you. I only want him to be happy," she replied.

"Hey Gramps...if we're not going back to the Enchanted Forest, then why is Tiny and the dwarves growing the beans?" Henry asked curiously.

"Well...Tiny offered to grow them for us and while we may have decided that Storybrooke is our home now, we also decided that as leaders, it's only right that we offer others a way to leave if they want to," David explained.

"Yeah...and since leaving Storybrooke for others requires spells that aren't easy to replicate, we decided that we could offer this choice instead," Snow added.

"Do you think that if there is enough beans someday that we can visit the Enchanted Forest and then come home?" he asked, looking at his parents. Emma and Neal exchanged a glance.

"Uh...I don't know. But I guess it's something we could definitely talk about," Emma said with uncertainty.

"Yeah...but for now, I think we should get you ready for bed," Neal interjected. Henry nodded.

"Wanna see my comic book collection?" Henry asked excitedly. Neal smiled.

"Sure kid...let's go up and see. You know, I have a pretty good stack myself back in New York. We'll have to compare someday," he mentioned.

"That would be awesome. Mom...do you think we could all go to New York? Grams and Gramps too? Henry asked. Emma smiled.

"Ah well...if things keep calm around here, maybe that trip can happen soon," she agreed tentatively. Neal ruffled his hair.

"Let's go look at those comic books," Neal said.

"For a little while and then brush your teeth and get ready for bed," Emma called, as he bounded upstairs to the loft with Neal following. Emma sighed and Snow went to the kitchen.

"How about some cocoa?" she asked. Emma smiled and nodded, as she sat at the island.

"That sounds great, Mom," she agreed. The loft door opened and Persephone walked through. She shed her coat and hung it up, before joining them in the kitchen.

"Cocoa?" Snow asked. She smiled.

"If you spike it with vodka," she replied. Snow frowned and put the milk down.

"So it was a bad day? I figured considering it's about thirty degrees in April," Snow mentioned. Persephone smiled thinly.

"I'm sorry about that...I've never been very good at controlling my emotions when it comes to Hades...or you for that matter," she responded.

"You confronted him, didn't you?" Emma asked. She nodded.

"I had to...I had to make sure that he's not here to undo the trappings I placed Deimos in," she replied.

"And is he?" David asked.

"He says he isn't...he says he has no intention of releasing him," she answered.

"But you don't believe him," Snow guessed.

"I'm not sure what to believe anymore. Hermes is obviously just as confused by his behavior and even I have to admit that he's...different," Persephone replied.

"Different how?" David asked curiously.

"In many ways. For instance, my constant disdain and defiance of him is usually met with anger. But now he just seems amused by me," Persephone replied.

"That is kind of strange," Emma mentioned.

"And it gets stranger...I think something happened in the Underworld," Persephone said.

"Like what?" David asked. She shrugged.

"I don't know, that's the thing. He says that something happened and that he's protecting me...us by not telling me. Which sounds like his usual load of crap...but I don't know…" Persephone said, as she tried to put it into words.

"I've known him a very long time...I've been married to him for centuries and it's like...he's a different person. I just don't know what to think," she lamented.

"Is there any way you might be able to find out what happened there without asking him?" Emma questioned.

"Short of going there...I'm not sure. I should probably speak to my mother though," she replied.

"Do you think she might come here?" Snow asked curiously. Persephone smiled.

"I know she wants and now that Hades is here, I wouldn't be surprised if she finds a way here. She was the second person that held you, you know," Persephone said, as she took her cup and went up to the loft. Snow smiled, as she watched her go and David pressed a kiss to her hair. Snow served their cocoa and Emma sipped at hers, just as Neal came down the stairs.

"He brushed his teeth and he's all tucked in. Thanks again for letting me do that," he said, as they eyes met. She smiled.

"Henry's pretty stoked about having you in his life...and I promise that we'll work out some sort of custody thing. It's just complicated...with Regina and everything," Emma replied. But he held up his hands.

"Emma...no pressure. He's in good hands with you and your parents," he assured. She nodded.

"You know we need to talk about this though. I mean...the kid would love nothing more than for you to move here to Storybrooke," she mentioned. He nodded.

"I know...and it's something Tamara and I have to talk about. She's...not going to want to move here," he replied.

"And neither do you," Emma realized.

"I honestly don't know. When I first came here, that would have been a hard no. But now...I mean Henry is here and suddenly there is a lot less to leave behind in New York than I remember, save for Tamara, of course," he replied. She nodded.

"I get it…" she said. He sighed.

"Whatever happens...I promise that Henry's not going to get hurt," he said. She smiled thinly.

"That's what matters," she agreed, as she saw him out.

"That was tense," David muttered, as he slid his arms around Snow from behind.

"Yes…" she said sadly.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I just...what if Neal does go back to New York? I'm not sure I like the idea of Henry not being here in town sometimes," she replied.

"Me either...but I'm not sure his grandparents get a say, my darling," he said. She sighed and put their cups in the sink.

Meanwhile, Emma saw Neal out and realized that he had dropped a card on the steps.

"Hey...you dropped this…" she said, as she trailed off and looked at the card.

"Oh...that's nothing," he insisted, as he snatched it away.

"Nothing? Because it looks like something," Emma replied, with a note of anger.

"Emma…" he started to explain.

"Calyn Barlos...Family Attorney at law? That's nothing?" she questioned.

"She's a friend of Tamara's and she gave me the card, but I never had any intention of making that call," he assured. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Emma...I wouldn't do that to our son! I know how much he loves his family and Storybrooke," he insisted.

"I hope for your sake that's true. People can't find out about this town, Neal. Tamara knows that, right? She knows what could happen if people knew about this place," she argued.

"Of course she knows...this was before I told her everything. She's not going to do anything to put Storybrooke in danger," he insisted. Emma sighed.

"I really hope you're right," she replied. He sighed and tore up the card to hopefully satisfy her.

"I don't need it, so it's gone," he assured, as he went down the stairs and Emma went back inside. She saw her parents in the kitchen and her mother giggled at something her father was whispering in her ear.

"Honey...are you okay?" Snow asked. Emma put on a smile for them.

"Yeah...I'm fine. I think I'll go tuck the kid in and go to bed myself," she replied, as she hurried upstairs. They frowned.

"I don't think she's okay at all," Snow fretted.

"Definitely not...but you know Em. She'll come to us when she's ready. I think this is one of those times that it will be best not to push," he admonished. She sighed. She knew she did that a lot, but it was only because she wanted to solve all her daughter's problems. But she knew that she couldn't and that his approach was right in this instance. Whatever was between Neal and Emma had to be hashed out between them. They could be there to comfort her and give her advice, but only when she came to them. So she would reluctantly take her husband's lead on this one.

"You're right...I do push too much," she agreed. He kissed her cheek.

"She knows it's because you love her so much. And I promise that she'll come to us. She always does," he assured, as he took her hand and led her to their bed. He sat down and pulled her down into his lap.

"I think bed is a very good idea for us too right now," he purred. She smiled and kissed him.

"I agree...but I hope not just to sleep?" she asked coyly. He smirked and pulled the curtains around their bed.

"Oh no...never just to sleep, my love," he agreed, as their lips met again.

As their lips parted, Snow bit her bottom lip and started unbuttoning his shirt. He shed it and let it fall to the floor, before kissing her again. She mewled, as his lips trailed down her slender neck and she gasped, as he cupped her breasts. Her hands went to his belt and she undid it, as their lips parted and he grabbed the hem of her shirt, before pulling it over her head. Her skirt was next and he hooked his arm around her waist, as he slid them up the bed, allowing her head to fall to the pillow. They smiled at each other and the tossed the covers up and over them, as they gave way to their unbridled passion...

~*~

The dream started out quite pleasant. The scene was in his shop with Henry blowing out birthday candles. He, Belle, Snow, and Charming looked on and clapped like the proud grandparents that they were. Emma and Neal clapped as well, with Neal putting his hands on his boy's shoulders and Emma doting on him, before going to cut the cake.

"And now, my boy, for your birthday present. Pick one object from the shop. Anything you like," Gold offered. Henry walked around looking for something and then stopped, as he pointed at the wands.

"That," Henry stated, as he picked up a wand and waved it around.

"Alright, careful buddy. Wands are powerful," Neal warned. Henry turned to Mr. Gold.

"So...how does it work?" he asked.

"Here...let me show you," Rumple replied, as Henry handed the wand to him. Mr. Gold waved it through the air for a moment and then suddenly turned Henry into a ceramic statue with a flick of his wrist. The others present in the shop cried out in terror.

"Gold...why would you do that?!" David demanded to know.

"The Prophecy. The seer said the boy would be my undoing. So I have no choice...I must be his," Rumple answered, as he took his cane and shattered the statue.

~*~

Rumpelstiltskin jolted awake and sat up in bed, as he breathed heavily, with the dream still weighing heavily on him. Truthfully, he hadn't thought about that prophecy in a very long time. But now that he had his son back, he recalled the seer's foreboding warning; that a boy would be his undoing. Fate certainly was a tricky bitch, for in all his foresight, he had never imagined that the boy he had vowed to destroy so long ago would be his own grandson. If the prophecy was to be believed, then his own mortality could be tied to Henry's existence. But if he were to do the unthinkable, then Belle would shun him. She'd never forgive such an atrocity, nor would the others, obviously. And while that had never stopped him before, it made him pause now. He rather liked the life they had now. He had love now. He still had power. He had family and friends once again. But at the same time, if he died, then he would lose that. However, if he killed Henry, his own flesh and blood, then he would lose everyone in his life, not to mention, quite possibly what was left of his darkened soul. Yes...fate was quite the sadist. But perhaps this was one prophecy that he could thwart. After all, the visions of the future weren't always exactly clear.

In a way, he had become a much different version of himself; much like the man he had once been before power. Did he dare hope that the supposed unmaking of him could be more metaphorical than literal? Did he dare entertain that notion? Family and friends had certainly made him softer. He actually did things for them without making deals now. There was no quid pro quo anymore really. He offered help and in turn they had helped him; in fact far more than he had ever thought non-magical persons could.

Regardless of these musings though, Rumple knew that killing his own flesh and blood would cost him everything he now held dear in his life. At the same time, the possibility of his own demise still frightened him deeply as well. He decided that there likely would be no more sleeping tonight and he quietly left the bed so as not to disturb Belle. He proceeded down to the basement. Perhaps things would become more clear after spinning for a while.

~*~

"He did what?!" Greg exclaimed, as they walked along the darkened streets of Storybrooke.

"I'm surprised too...it was so blatant, which proves that they can't hide it. This town is lousy with magic," Tamara confirmed.

"He actually, like teleported you back to New York?" Greg asked in disbelief. She nodded.

"In a puff of smoke, I was suddenly at the top of the Empire State Building and in another puff of smoke, I was back in the diner. But that's not all I found out," she replied, as she pulled out a piece of paper.

"Neal made this for me to try and help me come to terms with this place," she said, as she handed him the piece of paper.

"He actually handed you their identities?" he asked with a snort.

"I know...he's making this too easy. But he trusts me," she replied.

"Snow White and Prince Charming?" he asked. She nodded.

"Emma Swan's parents. He's her deputy and her pixie haired mother is the new Mayor," she answered. He snorted again.

"And it gets better," she added.

"Does it? Did you send this to the Home Office?" he asked. She nodded.

"Already done...they're going to bursting at the seams to mobilize with all this information," she replied.

"What else did you find?" he asked.

"Well...this thirty degree weather isn't just an unfortunate cold snap from the remainder of winter. It's Persephone doing this. I overheard Snow White say her mother wasn't in a good mood today and that's why it's cold. Apparently her emotions can affect the weather; more evidence that magic is evil," Tamara informed.

"Wait...Snow White's mother is Persephone? As in Queen of the Underworld?" Greg asked. She nodded.

"Apparently so…" she responded.

"That wasn't in the Disney version," he joked.

"Wait...does that mean her father is Hades?" he asked. Tamara shrugged.

"I don't know...but Hades himself is here. It's the reason Persephone's mood is quite sour or so I heard," she replied.

"I knew this town was an abomination...but even more so than we thought," he mentioned.

"Don't worry...with this information, I'm certain the Home Office will soon be ready to make a move," she replied.

"Does Neal suspect anything?" Greg questioned.

"Not a thing," she confirmed.

"You're sure?" he questioned again.

"Don't worry about Neal...I'll handle him. Any luck finding your dad?" she asked. He shook his head.

"No...but I know he's here. I'm sure of it," Greg responded.

"We will find him," she assured.

"I know. But one thing at a time. Were you able to get the package here?" he asked. She nodded.

"I did...and we have a deal, but he went and complicated things," she replied.

"What do you mean?" Greg asked.

"I told him to be a nuisance, but he went a step further and got himself arrested. When the time comes, if we expect him to work for us, we'll have to break him out. That won't be easy with Emma Swan and her father running the Sheriff's station," Tamara replied. He smirked.

"Perhaps we'll have to create some distractions for them since our one handed friend isn't available," he responded. She smirked and kissed him.

"Good thinking…" she agreed.

"So now what?" he asked. She shrugged.

"We wait to hear from the Home Office. In the meantime, we can continue to search this town for your father," she replied, as he kissed her again and they headed back to the Inn.

~*~

Jefferson pulled back from looking through his telescope and was startled by what he had seen. He had been unknowingly keeping an eye on their visitor that had crashed into town. He didn't trust Greg Mendell and didn't like that he hadn't made his way out of town yet. And apparently his mistrust was warranted, in more ways than one. He needed to talk to Gold and David first thing in the morning. Because not only did their stranger, Greg Mendell, know this Tamara, but she was cheating on Neal with him. And he had been in this town long enough to know that it was likely there was even more to it than that. Even if there wasn't though, Neal still deserved to know that his fiance was obviously lying to him, probably about a great many things…

~*~

Morning dawned in Storybrooke, bringing about a new day. The April weather prevailed and the temperature was decidedly more tolerable that day, having risen twenty-five degrees already. Henry took that opportunity to fill Snow's bird feeders for her in the small garden, just outside the apartment building. He had an appreciation for the flora and fauna like she did, which should have been no surprise, given his roots and connection to Persephone.

"Good morning, Henry," Regina greeted.

"Um...what are you doing here?" the boy asked.

"I've missed you and I wanted to show you something," Regina replied, as she took something out of her pocket.

"Your family has been keeping this from you, darling. They've been growing magic beans in secret," she said. Henry shrugged.

"It's not really a secret. Gramps just said that we shouldn't tell people in case the beans don't grow. And anyway, I kind of guessed, because Tiny is here and he's a giant," Henry responded.

"So...they did tell you," she muttered.

"Yeah, but it's not a big deal. Mom Emma says that Storybrooke is our home now. And Grams and Gramps agreed with her. I think they just want to give other people a choice," Henry responded.

"Henry...I'm not sure you can trust that. With Hades here, your family may want to take you away. They may try to take you away and leave me behind," Regina said.

"No! That's not true! I asked them and they told me it was for others if they want to leave. Mom Emma said we might take a family trip to New York, but then we'd come home, here to Storybrooke," he refuted.

"But Henry...what about your home with me? What if we went somewhere together where they didn't see me as the Evil Queen? Think about it...I know how much you'd like to go back to the Enchanted Forest. We could do that together and start over," she said.

"Without the rest of my family?" he asked.

"I know it would be hard at first, but they will never see me as anything but the Evil Queen. I can't start over and be the hero that you want me to be with them," she replied. He shook his head.

"That's not true...Grams knows there is good in you, just like me. But you just keep hating her and trying to hurt her," he said in exasperation.

"Henry…she's the one that made me the Evil Queen," Regina insisted.

"No! You made yourself that, because you hurt people! But it's not too late! I know that if you really try to be good that they'll forgive you," he pleaded. Regina looked hurt.

"We don't need them, Henry. It can be good with just the two of us, just like before," she insisted.

"Why do you keep saying that? Are you planning something? Are you going to hurt everyone?" he asked. Another look of hurt passed over her features and she waved her hand over him to freeze him momentarily. With a quick spell, she extracted those memories from the last few minutes and erased them, before unfreezing him.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" Henry asked. She shrugged and smiled.

"I just came to say hello...I've missed you. Why don't you show me that bird feeder," she requested. Henry looked encouraged by her interest and then proceeded to show her.

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming Family #Persephone #Rumbelle #Swanfire #Greg and Tamara #greek mythology meets farytales #Regina Mills #Henry Mills #romance #adventure #dreaming out loud

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swanqueeneverafter · 7 years ago

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37. White Out, Pt.2

Storybrooke. Present. Main Street. (The people of Storybrooke are running away from the snowman. Amidst the mass panic, Elsa takes her chance to head towards Mr Gold's shop.) Leroy: “There's a monster on the loose! A monster!” Storybrooke. The Forest. (Emma, Hook and David are running into the woods towards Robin's camp.) Robin: “What is it?” David: “Some kind of... Snow monster.” Robin: “No monster shall cross our path. We'll give you our assist.” (The sound of footsteps can be heard in the distance.) Hook: “It's getting closer. It's coming from the north.” (The snowman arrives.) Little John: “There!” (Little John takes aim with his crossbow and shoots.) Emma: “No, no, no! Don't shoot!” Hook: “It only attacks when it feels threatened. (The snow monster recovers from the bolt to the shoulder and roars at the group:) Pistol, sword... Hook, my cunning wit... I don't think we have what it takes.” David: “Emma does.” Emma: “What?” Hook: “Your magic, love.” Emma: “Right.” David: “You can do this.” (Emma shoots the snow man with light magic.) Emma: “Take that, frosty. (The snowman becomes more threatening:) Really?”

(The snowman strikes Emma, knocking her down and out. Roaring, the snow monster also handily deals with David, Hook, Little John and Robin. Marian takes a box and arrow, steps forward and shoots it. The snowman attacks and she collapses. Stepping out from behind a tree, Regina appears. Standing between the monster and the prone woman, Regina glares at Marian.) Marian: “Please... Help me. Please. (Regina disappears in a cloud of smoke:) No!” (The snow monster advances. However, as it is about to crush Marian, Regina reappears from behind the snow monster and destroys it.) Marian: (Getting to her feet:) “You saved me. (The men begin to stir:) Maybe you're not a monster.” Regina: “Maybe I'm not. Welcome to Storybrooke, Marian.” (Without further comment, Regina strides past Marian and, with a wave of her hand, envelops herself and a still prone Emma in a cloud of smoke.)

The Mayor's Office. (Reappearing in the Mayor's office, Regina walks over to a table and picks up Henry's storybook. Reclined on the couch, Emma slowly regains consciousness.) Emma: (Confused by her surroundings:) "What the... How did I? (Looks over and sees the Mayor:) Regina. Did you-" Regina: "The snow beast is gone, everyone's safe." Emma: (Sits up, wincing:) "Thanks. (Rubbing her head, trying to keep things light:) So, you know how my morning was, what did you get up to?" Regina: "I think I've figured out why I've been so bothered by what Marian said." Emma: (Notices the book:) "Henry's storybook?" Regina: (Walks over and sits beside Emma:) "This book is the problem, not Marian. Every story in it has one thing in common... The villains never get the happy ending, and it's always been right. I thought not being the villain would change things, but this book, these stories... Only see me one way." Emma: "Regina, those stories were written when you were still the Evil Queen, they're about the past, not the present. You can change your story every minute, every moment of your life." Regina: "I know one of your mother's hope speeches when I hear one. (Emma smirks:) I think there's more to it than that. I believe in order for me to truly be able to move on with the next chapter of my life, (Holds up the book:) I have to put this one behind me." Emma: "So how do we do that, what's your plan?" Regina: "We find the writer. We find out who wrote this and force-" Emma: (Cutting in:) "Ask, maybe?" Regina: (Softens:) “Ask them for a clean slate. A new book, for a new life.” Emma: "And... is that possible? Do you really think that there's some all powerful... author out there who's writing about our lives?" Regina: "Somebody wrote this book, Emma. As long as I'm still tethered to the events depicted in here, people will always see me as the Evil Queen." (Emma watches as Regina absentmindedly traces the letters on Henry's book cover.) Emma: "A search like that, even with both of us looking, is gonna take some time." Regina: "Which is why I'm going to step aside as Mayor for awhile, at least temporarily. The fewer distractions I have, the better." Emma: "Wow, that's a pretty big decision." Regina: (Shakes her head:) "Not really. When I cast the curse originally, I was alone and being Mayor allowed me to be a part of people's lives whether they liked it or not. Now, I have people in my life that I love and who love me and that is more important to me than any title ever could be." (Emma smiles and leans in to kiss her lover.) Emma: (As they part:) "I still get to be Sheriff though, right?" Regina: (Chuckles:) "Of course." Emma: "Cool. (They kiss once more:) So, uh, if this is gonna be your last night as Mayor, don't you think we should..." Regina: (Reading her mind:) "Celebrate?" Emma: (Nods:) "For old time's sake." Regina: (Grins:) "Lock the door."

Outskirts Of Storybrooke. Mansion House. (Belle is sleeping in bed as Mr. Gold takes his dagger and waves it over the box he spotted earlier that day. Slowly, a magic hat appears and Mr. Gold smiles.) Mr. Gold’s Shop. Storybrooke. (Meanwhile, Elsa uses her magic to freeze the lock on Mr. Gold's shop door and enters. Checking the newspaper once again, she spots what she’s looking for. Walking over to the counter, she sees the necklace that she gave to her sister, Anna.)

Elsa: (Holding up the necklace:) “Don't worry, Anna. I will find you. (Exiting the shop, Elsa watches the citizens of Storybrooke go about their business:) Until we're together, no one leaves this town. (Elsa uses her powers and an ice wall grows at the border of Storybrooke:) Anna, I will find out what happened to you.” Storybrooke. Blanchard Loft. (Mary Margaret is putting baby Neal down for a nap.) Mary Margaret: “Here you go, sweetheart. I'll see you in three hours for your midnight shrieking. Yes, I will. Ohh. Sweet dreams.” (Emma enters the apartment, her hair a little ruffled.) Henry: (To Mary Margaret:) “What do you suppose babies dream about?” David: “Bullfighting.” Emma: “Laser tag.” Mary Margaret: “That's not true.” Henry: “I think they're joking.” Mary Margaret: “Right. I'll recognize funny again when he's 3 and I've had some sleep.” David: “3? I see the optimism returning.” (Mary Margaret slumps into a chair.) Emma: “Okay, chocolate, DVDs, ice cream. Red wine? That's one heck of a late-night snack, kid.” Henry: “It's for my mom.” Emma: “I don't drink and sheriff.” Henry: “My other mom.” Emma: (Panicked:) “Oh God, I didn’t miss Valentine’s day did I?” Henry: “Relax. I just wanted to do something to make her feel better.” Emma: “That is really sweet. You ready to go home?” (Suddenly, the power goes out.) David: “What the...” Mary Margaret: (Looking out the window:) “It looks like it’s a town-wide blackout.” Emma: “We better check this out. (To Henry:) Come on, we’ll drop you home on our way.” Henry: (To Mary Margaret:) “Are you gonna be OK alone?” Mary Margaret: (Nods:) “I’ll be fine, Henry. I might use this as a chance to get some sleep. Besides, Regina will be wondering where you are.” (As Emma, David & Henry exit, a raven knocks on the window. Confused, Mary Margaret opens the window and takes the message from the bird’s leg. Reading the message, her expression changes from confusion to shock.)

In David's Car. (Emma and David are driving through the streets trying to locate the cause of the blackout.) David: “So, Regina’s resigned?” Emma: “That’s what she said.” David: “What brought that on?” Emma: “She feels ready to move on from the curse. She has Henry, me, you guys. She’s happy.” David: (Shakes his head:) “Never thought I’d see the day where Regina would give up her power.” Emma: “Well it’s only temporary, she’s searching for something.” David: “Searching for what?” Emma: “It’s difficult to explain, but it’s important to Regina, so I’m going to support her.” David: (Nods:) “Good. That’s the key to a good relationship. Whatever comes, just stay strong and roll with it. (Stares out at the road ahead:) What the hell?” (A large ice wall surrounds the town line.) Emma: “Well, there you go. (David stops the car:) Whatever happened to these power lines happened after the snow monster. Let's go find whoever did this.” (Emma and David get out of the car. Meanwhile, Elsa is hiding in the wall.) Blanchard Apartment. (Leroy, Granny and Happy knock on Mary Margaret's door. She opens.) Mary Margaret: “What? (They barge in:) Well, just come on in, I guess.” Leroy: “Oh, look at the baby...” Mary Margaret: “Thanks.” Leroy: “Is what I'd say if I could look at the baby. But I can't. Why? 'Cause it's dark.” Happy: “Know what else we can't look at? The Internet, TV, my clock.” Leroy: “Happy's right. Power's out. So what are you gonna do about it, sister?” Mary Margaret: “Me? I think you mean Regina, the mayor.” Granny: “She doesn't want the job anymore.” Mary Margaret: (Mutters to herself:) “News certainly travels fast.” Granny: “This is your curse. You’re the mayor now.” Mary Margaret: “Now, wait...” Leroy: “We helped you take your kingdom back... Remember? So you could rule. Well, this is your kingdom now. So rule it.”

At The Town Line. (Emma and David stare at the ice wall as Hook arrives.) Hook: “In case you were wondering, it goes the whole way 'round.” David: “Hook, I didn't know you were joining us.” Hook: “Seeing as there few keener than I to leave Storybrooke, I generally like to keep an eye on it’s perimeter. In case of flying monkeys, memory charms or the like. And it seems I was right to do so.” Emma: “Clever you. You're saying this wall goes around what... The whole town?” Hook: “Aye, that it does.” David: “So, once again, we can't leave Storybrooke.” Hook: “Doing more than keeping us inside, by the looks of that. Guess that's what caused the loss of power.” Emma: “Look at you becoming a 21st-century man. Yeah. It looks to me like whoever was putting up the wall wasn't trying to take out the lights. They were just putting up the wall.” David: “To keep us in... Why?” Hook: “Kill us all one by one. It's what I'd do. (David leaves:) Swan, if you didn’t want me to leave Storybrooke, you could’ve just asked.” Emma: “Very funny. I didn’t do this.” Hook: “No, but it does give us another obstacle to overcome before we leave to find my child.” Emma: “What makes you think Maleficent is even out there somewhere?” Hook: “Because she was brought over with the Evil Queen’s curse. And since no one seems to know where she is in Storybrooke, she must be elsewhere.” Emma: “Elsewhere is a pretty big place to look.” Hook: “That it is. But you went to New York to help the crocodile find his son and you owe me much more than him.” Emma: (Sighs, notices something:) “I think I see something by the wall. You wait here while I check that out.” (Emma leaves and David comes back.) David: “I think it's time you stop following my daughter around, Hook.” Hook: “That's a little old-fashioned, even by my standards, and I still pay with doubloons. Relax, Dad, I seek the help of the Savior, nothing untoward.” David: “Believe me, I’m sympathetic to your quest but dragging my daughter away from her family to search for someone who may not even-” Hook: “Don’t say it, mate. I know in my heart my child still lives. And once we’re done here, I will find them, one way or another.” Inside The Wall. (Emma walks between the stalagmites and further inside the ice wall when she comes upon Elsa.) Emma: “Hey. Who are you?” Elsa: “My name is Elsa.” Emma: “Okay, Elsa. It's okay. I'm Emma. You want to tell me what you're doing out here? You have something to do with this... Wall?” Elsa: “I'm looking for someone... My sister. I can't find her. (Holds up the necklace:) This was hers. I found it in the store filled with things. Where is she?” Emma: “I have no idea, but if you want me to help you, you have to help me. What's her name?” Elsa: “Anna.” (As Emma is speaking with Elsa, Hook and David move closer.) Hook: “Swan?” Emma: “Stay back.” David: (Draws his gun:) “Hey, hey, hey, hey!” Emma: “No, no, no. Stay back. It's okay. She's just trying to find...” (Frightened, Elsa loses control of her powers. The ice-wall grows again.) David: “Emma!” (Snow and ice fall. David and Hook are separated from Emma and Elsa by the wall.) Hook: “The device... Call her.” David: (Picking up the walkie:) “Emma, are you in there?” (There’s no response.) Hook: (Staring up at the wall:) “Well, I'm open to suggestions.” David: (Thinks:) “Magic made this thing. I think we're gonna need magic to unmake it.”

#sq #Swanqueen #swan queen

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lotus0kid · 8 years ago

Note

The water in the well from Lake Nostos return what is lost. Use it to get Neal back safely when he was trapped in Rumpel's head.

OUaT: Anniversary Fic the 5th

((I will not forgive you for making me read the wiki aboutthat garbage season where they decided killing Neal was the greatest idea ever. Um, warning for.. violence? And character death, but it’s Zelena, so. Thanks for the prompts!))

Belle’s head is still spinning with the influx of shockinginformation. Apparently, Snow White’snew midwife is none other than the Wicked Witch of the West, whose identity wasrevealed when Emma and Regina spotted her stealing the potion to restore theirmissing memories. The witch thought shegot away without being discovered, giving the heroes time to plan a surpriseattack, which includes raiding Mr. Gold’s shop for all the magic weapons theycan find. They call Belle in to help, asthe person with the most direct knowledge of what’s in the shop. Although every item sends a sting into hergrieving heart, she arms them as best she can, and wishes them luck as theymarch off into the darkness.

She stays in the shop with her own small collection ofcharms, for whatever good they might do. She’s heard of Oz’s wicked witch, and her heart stutters to think of hercutting down the heroes and roaring into town bent on revenge. Gods, she wishes Rumpel was here. The blank space in her memory taunts her-where did the dagger go? Did she findit? Did she find Rumpel? If she did, where is he? Perhaps she tried, and spent a year grindingher hope down to nothing on the inescapable truth of his death. She’s not sorry to have forgotten that.

And where the hell is Neal? Did he run away again? Bellecan’t make herself believe that, not when she knows how devoted he is toHenry. Did he try to find Rumpel himself,and pay some terrible price? Her gutssquirm with dread as another host of horrific possibilities swarms into herbrain, not a single one she can prove or disprove.

A flash of white light over the trees outside of town dragsher attention to the present. A greenflash seems to answer the first, then blue, then more white, and more green,and finally so much white Belle has to turn away to avoid searing her vision. When it fades she blinks hard and forcesherself to look, just in case the whole forest is burning. All is dark and quiet. Half of Belle wants to grab some healingpotions and run out to where the light was, while the other half wants to throwevery lock and cower in a corner.

She stays frozen at the door until she sees six figurescoming down the road. Three arewalking. Two stagger along, supported bytwo of the walkers. The sixth floatshorizontally, their body limp. Belleshuffles aside as Regina helps a pale and weak Emma trudge into the shop whilealso gesturing with a hand to magically carry an unconscious, green-skinnedwoman.

Snow follows and turns to Belle, hands coming down on hershoulders firmly. “Belle, um,something’s happened.”

Belle’s brow furrows at Snow’s wide eyes. “What do you mean? What-?” She looks past Snow as David enters with a shabby figure tucked against hisright side where Belle can’t see. “Whois...?”

David turns, and all Belle needs to see is the fall ofsilver-streaked hair before she’s across the shop in three strides and grabbingRumpel’s arm. However, he yelps and jerksaway as if burned by her touch, and Belle’s words of joyful reunion die in herthroat. David shoots her an apologeticlook as he leads Rumpel into the back room. Belle hardly hears Snow come to her side.

“We found him in Zelena’s basement, in a cage,” she murmurs,“He seemed... confused. She had hisdagger. She ordered him to attack us,but... um...”

“What happened?” Belle asks desolately as her heart breaksall over again. Her poor Rumpel. Caged. Enslaved. It’s his worstnightmare come to life.

“Well, it’s a little hard to explain. He... Rumpelstiltskin changed... into Neal.”

If anything could make it through Belle’s shock and horror,it’s that. “Excuse me?”

All Snow can do is shrug. “Like I said, it’s hard to explain. Maybe Rumpelstiltskin can. Youknow, if he’s... up to it.”

Belle gives a small nod, utterly bewildered but desperate tosee Rumpel, even if she must keep her distance. She goes to the curtain separating the shop from the back room andgingerly slips through. Rumpel sits onone end of the cot tucked against the wall. Emma is curled up on the rest of it, facing the wall, seemingly asleepalready. In the shadows at the far endof the room, Belle sees Regina crouched over the witch, hopefully performingsome of the darkest magic known to humanity. Meanwhile, David fills a tea cup with water in the small bathroom. Belle is frozen a step inside the room as hebrings the cup to Rumpel.

“Just some water, if you want it,” the prince says gently.

It takes a moment for Rumpel to notice it, and even longerto uncurl a hand from where both clutch the dagger’s hilt and hold it out toreceive the cup. He downs its contentsin two huge gulps.

David grins. “Wouldyou like some more?” Rumpel lifts thecup to his waiting hands. “Right away,sir.”

When he steps back to the bathroom, Belle dares to movecloser, kneeling two steps from the cot, making herself as small as possiblebefore murmuring, “Rumpel?”

His eyes flicker, but don’t seem able to land on her. His knuckles whiten on the dagger.

“Rumpel, it’s me, it’s Belle. I’m...” Her throat aches and tears well up in her eyes. “Gods, Rumpel, you’re alive.”

He still doesn’t look at her, but his hand leaves thedagger, slowly traveling the vast distance between them until one finger canbrush away a hot tear. Of course, thatonly makes a sob burst out of Belle as she curls in around her heart thatthrobs with grief and fear and joy and love. She feels a hand on her back and sees Snow has come into the room, andnow smiles down at her weakly. Belle’sgaze falls to the floor as another sob shudders out of her.

“Hey. Hey, Belle,don’t cry,” says a voice from the cot that isn’t Rumpel.

Belle’s head jerks up to see Neal has somehow taken hisfather’s place. She stares in stunnedsilence before muttering, “This is... reallystrange.”

Neal winces. “Yeah, Iknow. Look, I don’t have time to tellyou all the details, so just listen. Iresurrected my father. And the price forit was... well, death. I’m dying, right now. I’d be dead already if Papa hadn’t... hiddenme inside his head. But we can’t staylike this. His mind is breakingdown. It’ll kill us both soon. You have to get me out, even if it killsme. I...” He pauses, a bitter smile creeping over hisface before he quips, “Magic always makes you pay, right?”

“Neal, how-?”

They’re out of time. Neal manages to cast a baleful glance at Emma just before his body jerksand shudders and becomes Rumpelstiltskin again, who drops his head to his chestand huddles against the wall miserably, muttering under his breath.

Belle casts a helpless gaze to David, who looks about aslost as she feels. “Yeah, so,” he says,then gives a firm nod, “That’s our next mission. Figuring out how to save Neal andRumpelstiltskin.”

“We’ll get it done, Belle. I promise.” The worry in Snow’seyes undercuts the conviction in her voice.

Regina comes to join them. She gazes at Rumpel with a riot of emotions in her dark eyes. “Who knows how long she had him living as herslave in that cage? Could’ve been months. I can’t imagine.”

She can imagine it perfectly well from Zelena’s point ofview, a fact she seems acutely aware of as queasy guilt fills her face and shelooks away.

“What can we do to help him- them?” Belle asks her.

“I’m not sure. Idon’t even understand what Rumpel didto save Neal. Nothing I’ve ever seenbefore.”

“There must be something,” Belle insists.

Regina tilts her head, “Well, I do know one story of a childspringing fully formed from their father’s skull.”

Belle gapes at her. “You- you mean Athena? But, Zeus’head was split open with...” Horror seizes her throat briefly. “With an axe.”

“A magic axe,” David offers, “It didn’t kill him.”

“Zeus is a god,” Belle reminds him firmly, “Rumpel ispowerful, but not that powerful.”

‘Rumpel and Neal are both dying right now, Belle,” Reginastates, “We need to consider every option.”

“What about Nostos?” a sleepy voice inquires from thecot. Emma sits up, squinted gaze landingon Rumpel briefly before moving to the rest of the group. “Water from Lake Nostos, it returns what’slost. That’s a pretty vague description,‘lost.’ Neal’s lost inside Gold’s head, right? He lost his life, bringing Gold back. It seems like powerful stuff. Could do something here.”

“Worth a shot,” Regina says, “I’ll fetch a pail of waterthen, shall I?”

She’s about to poof herself away when Snow holds up ahand. “Wait, what about Zelena?”

Regina blinks. “Oh, she’s dead. I slit her throat.” She turns to Belle. “Don’t worry about the blood. It’s... it’s somewhere it won’t botheryou. I’ll incinerate the body after Icome back. Okay?”

She seems to take everyone’s stunned silence as an answer,and vanishes in a dark blue cloud of magic.

“Well,” Snowsighs, “I guess that’s one less thing to worry about.”

“Snow!” David admonishes her.

Belle knows she should feel... if not guilty, at least notgrimly satisfied that the woman who hurt Rumpel to the core is gone. She focuses on him again, scooting closer tothe edge of the cot and laying her hand palm-up next to him. She holds her breath as he eyes itmomentarily, then reaches out and clasps it with his own quickly, before he canlose his nerve. Belle lets out a softgasp and squeezes his hand. Tremors run throughit like the threat of an earthquake.

“Rumpel,” she murmurs, “We’re going to help you. We’ll find a way. You don’t have to be afraid. We’re here for you.”

He still doesn’t look at her face, but she imagines hisexpression smooths just a bit. “Light...” he whispers, the first word he’s said that Belle understands. She doesn’t know what he means, but thesoft wonder in his voice makes her heart swell and her eyes sting.

They stay like that, his hand gripping hers, until Reginapoofs back into the room carrying a sloshing bucket in one hand and a vial inanother. “I figured we could start smalland work our way up,” she says before walking toward Rumpel.

Belle feels his cringe and instantly says, “Stop.”

To her surprise, Regina stops.

“Give me the vial.”

Regina shrugs, but again silently follows instruction. Belle turns to Rumpel, offers him the vialwith her free hand. “Water from thewishing well,” she says, “It’s Lake Nostos water, isn’t it? Do you think it will help?”

He seems to consider the question while staring hard at thewall. “Return...”

“Yes, it returns what’s lost. It could return Baelfire’s life. Do you want to try?”

He has to choose it. She will never force a decision on him. Not ever. He draws his hand outof hers, and despair darts through Belle before he takes the vial, pulls its corkout with his thumb and first finger, and tosses the water down his throat.

Everyone waits in frozen silence to see what the magic willdo.

After a moment, Rumpel lets out a tiny whimper. Then the dagger topples from his hands andthey clamp around his head as a groan of agony seeps out between clenchedteeth.

“Oh- oh gods, Rumpel!” Belle cries, climbing onto the cotand laying a hand on his back and another on his head. She feels it- terrible heat and tensionstraining the seams of his skull. It surgesunder her palm and Rumpel screams. Belleturns to the group and shouts, “Get an axe!”

“Go,” Emma tells Regina, who vanishes.

Belle gently pulls Rumpel into her arms even as he writhesand growls, “Let go- can’t... you’ll die... pay the- I won’t... not again- can’t...no...” His words are cut off by another scream.

“It’ll be okay, it’ll be okay, Rumpel, I promise,” Bellebabbles mostly to herself as she clings to him, “We’ll help you, help iscoming, hold on, love, please...”

Emma sits nearby, trembling palms held up and glowingwhite. But she seems unwilling to comecloser, for fear of making things worse.

What feels like an hour later, blue smoke boils into theroom and clears to reveal Regina and Leroy, who is already saying, “-me to do what to Rumpelstiltskin?”

Regina’s already ducking to grab the bucket of Lake Nostoswater and dump it on the end of the pick axe the dwarf carries. “Get him on the floor,” she tells Belle, whomoves Rumpel as carefully and quickly as she can to kneel in front of Reginaand Leroy.

Rumpel moans as he bends over and drags his fevered, sweatyforehead along the floor’s cool wood. Belle holds his shoulders and fixes a beseeching look on Leroy. “Please, Dreamy, he’ll die if you don’t.”

“Won’t he die if I do?”he asks in total bewilderment.

“Let’s find out!” Regina cries, “Do it!”

A new scream tears out of Rumpel as his spine arches backand Belle sees blood dripping from the corners of his eyes. Leroy spins his axe once, takes aim, andbrings the point down directly on Rumpel’s head.

White light fills the room. It slowly retreats back to the hole punched into Rumpel’s skull. His eyes are closed, face serene, his bodyheavy and still in Belle’s arms. She’sfaintly aware of Emma staggering off the cot and dropping down beside her,laying a hand over the hole and pouring magic into it. Belle prays it will be enough to save him.

Meanwhile, David, Snow, and Regina help Neal sit up fromwhere he’s materialized lying on the floor. He looks shaky, weak, and traumatized, but he manages to ask, “Is- is hedead?”

Dreading the answer, Belle forces herself to hold a hand byRumpel’s nose. “He’s breathing,” shegasps.

Emma takes her hand away, and nothing remains of thehole. Belle pulls Rumpel tight againsther, burying her face against his neck as she mumbles, “Please... please...”

Eventually, a hoarse voice whispers, “Belle... Bae...?”

Belle lets out a cry of startled joy and Neal shrugs off thehands supporting him so he can crawl to Rumpel’s side. “Papa, I’m here. I’m okay. They got me out.”

“Bae, you’re...”

“No, I’m fine. Itworked.”

Rumpel’s unsteady hand rises toward him. Neal drops his head to Rumpel’s chest andwraps his arms around both him and Belle, who rests her palm on Neal’sback. The whole family dissolves intotears of relief and happiness.

“Okay, uh,” Leroy says, “If that’s the onlyweird shit you need me for, can I go back to bed now?”

#rumbelle fic #rumbelle #fanfiction #once upon a time #woodelf68

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