#the title's a reference to hestia btw

[nerdyhuntress]

CS Spring Fic Formal: ”Home and Hearth”

Hi there @endlessmoonrise!!! I’m your gifter for the Captain Swan Spring Fic Formal! I’m so glad to share this story with you and I really hope you like it :) Here it is!

Summary: 4x02 “deleted” scene. After nearly freezing to death in that ice cave, Emma seeks warmth and comfort with Killian.

Emma Swan mused that spring was her favorite season now.

After that episode in the ice cave, she never wanted to see a single snowflake again. Unless she was inside in front of a roaring fire, bundled in blankets, with a mug of hot cocoa. Of course, she probably shouldn’t say that to Elsa. The snow queen had retired to the guest room for the night and her parents upstairs, just about to go to bed.

Killian still hadn’t left her side. They moved to the couch after she had complained about how uncomfortable the chair was. She had three blankets wrapped around her now, a third mug of hot cocoa, and a sleeping pirate keeping her warm.

What could be wrong?

She hadn’t told him how she felt, of course. She still didn’t even know if they were a thing. Emma didn’t really feel up to unraveling their relationship at the moment. What had Killian said to her before the snow monster?

There is always a crisis. Perhaps you should consider living a life during them. Otherwise, you might miss it.

He certainly had a way with weaving words. One of the many things that she admired in him. Though, of course, she’d never say that aloud. She could imagine his teasing already.

“Swan?” he muttered.

“Yeah?”

“Sorry, must’ve dozed off. It’s dark now. Shall I leave? Do you want to go to bed?”

A low blush crept over her face. As obvious as their attraction was, they still hadn’t done it yet. That probably wasn’t what was on his mind. Especially after she had almost froze to death in that ice cave. She was quite sure that he meant that as platonic as possible. But she didn’t trust herself if they somehow wound up in bed together. It would complicate things between more and it was the last thing Emma wanted at the moment.

“No, I kinda want to stay here. That alright?”

“Sure, love.”

They stayed silent like that for a moment. Emma couldn’t remember a time someone had held her like this. So cozy and comforting. It wasn’t just the heater that had warmed her up; his embrace helped out more than any machine could have.

“Hey, Killian?”

“Aye, Swan?”

“I kinda want to….to say thanks. For saving my life back there.”

He lifted his head so he could see her better, “My pleasure, love. You really think I’d let you freeze?”

“Given our history, can you blame me for being uncertain?”

The second she said that, Emma let out a giggle that she was sure everyone upstairs had heard. She wasn’t sleepy at all, despite how late the hour was. Killian looked surprised that she had thrown his own words back at him.

“Alright, love. I think you’ve had enough of those chocolate drinks.”

As he took the mug from her to place it in the kitchen sink, Emma grabbed his shirtsleeve.

“No, don’t. Stay. You’re so warm.”

He chuckled, setting the mug on the coffee table. Killian sat back down on the couch and put his arms around her waist, lifting her into his lap. She squealed embarassingly, putting her hands around his neck.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Romancing my lady love. Keeping her warm,” Killian explained, wrapping the blanket more tightly around her. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“No, just….just keep doing that,” she whispered, laying her head on his shoulder. “But let’s lay down.”

“Of course, love.”

They fell sleep in each other’s embrace like that. Emma regretted it when she woke up in the morning to find them asleep on the couch and her neck completely stiff. She blamed him for being so warm that she drifted right off without going to bed.

Emma was grateful no one else was awake yet; she didn’t want to deal with the awkward questions of falling asleep with Killian.

Sunlight streamed into the room, lighting up everything it touched. Ordinarily, she wasn’t such an early riser, but the new spring weather beckoned her to wake up and enjoy the new weather. And it felt more enjoyable after spending what felt like eternity in an ice cave.

Emma quietly disentangled herself from Killian’s embrace. She stood up to stretch her limbs; it felt good after being cooped up on the couch all night.  She peered out the window, seeing the usual inhabitants of Storybrooke going about their mornings. The good weather had no doubt brought out the best in people. She could hear the birds chirping (or talking, as her mother would say) from above. The ewly planted bulbs in the windowsill were beginning to bloom, their colorful petals gracefully opening.

“Swan?” Killian muttered blearily.

Apparently, the stress of yesterday had taken its toll on Killian too. He slept quite soundly in such tight quarters, which was probably familiar to him after spending much of his life on the Jolly Roger. But now he was awake, his hair tousled adorably and his eyes full of sleep. He reached out for her and she took his hand, feeling the comfortable warmth that had lulled her to sleep last night. The warmth that saved her from freezing to death.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she grinned, pushing away the locks that had fallen onto his face. “Do you want some breakfast?”

“Aye, that would be lovely. Give me a moment and I’ll lend a hand too.”

Maybe she wasn’t ready to truly be open with him, but she treasured these moments with him. The wise, old pirate’s advice was indeed true. Living a life during these crises was definitely worth it.