#to be clear i think rumi has used the spell for good look at the episodes suurounding elotl...

[burning-sol]

Idk why but right now I'm thinking about when Rumi used their command spell on Exandroth, and thinking about the way it makes my skin crawl. I know why Rumi is using it, I know why it's warranted, but still, Exandroth at multiple points does just leave Peter alone and agrees of its own volition to go away when asked. Like from inside the text, the act makes sense, but from the outside it is uncomfortable to see Rumi turn around and not even hesitate to make Exandroth go away by force. It's not even just the force though I don't think, I think it's the act of taking away Exandroth's own autonomy, the specific spell that Rumi uses, that's what makes me uncomfortable.

I just think the existence of a command spell is fucked up and evil and the fact it can be used in incredibly fucked up ways (which it was during the campaign) makes ME feel fucked up.

[atomic-taco-muffin]

The Lost Princess Chapter 85

Warnings: You already know

Rating: SFW

You, Vanitas, Celina, Xemnas, Roxy, Yui, an Sora had arrived the Tower of Endings, where Riku, Mickey, Ansem, and Rumi. 

“Oi!” Celina said. 

“About time,” Riku said.

“Sorry! It’s not our fault that the Organization took forever to get passed!” Roxy said. The ground shifted ahead, casting dirt into the air on a strong wind. Young Xehanort, Anti-Elena and Anti-Muki appeared ahead, walking toward them as Master Xehanort watched from a high tower of rock.

“Muki! Where’s Kairi?!” Sora said as he ran ahead of Riku, readying his Keyblade. 

“Wait! Is she in trouble?” Riku said. 

“Yeah, Muki took her,” you said. Anti-Muki smirked, only fueling your and Sora's anger. Master Xehanort chuckled from up above.

“Settle down, my precious daughter,” he said.

“I am NOT your daughter!” you growled. 

“The thirteen darknesses and seven lights have clashed nine times, yielding these nine keys.” Xehanort waved an arm with a wild glint in his eye. Out of thin air, nine Keyblades, identical to his unnamed weapon, hovered around him.

“Do you think we care?” Vanitas asked. 

“We are four short... But those four keys will be produced here and now.”

“Yeah, sure. And what makes you think there'd ever be any way we'd help you with that?” Yui said. 

“You forget I plan for every eventuality.” 

“Kairi!” you and Sora gasped. Ansem stepped forward.

“If you do summon Kingdom Hearts, we will defeat you, and we will close it again,” he said. 

“Perhaps. That is...if you survive that long!” Xehanort smiled. Anti-Muki, Anti-Elena, and Y!Xehanort readied themselves for battle.

“Guys, come on!” Mickey said. You and the girls summoned your guardians and you all charged into battle as Young Xehanort transformed his Keyblade into a whip. Anti-Muki hung back as Anti-Elena summoned a group of orbs that shot arrows at Mickey, Rumi, and Ansem. The three of them dodged as Young Xehanort went after you, Vanitas, Celina, and Riku, who used a Dark Firaga spell, which scattered, homing in on the three foes. Several hit their target, before Young Xehanort blocked the rest. The three of them reeled back and teleported in unison. Master Xehanort waved his hand and a snake-like swarm of fallen Keyblades flew through the battlefield, sending up dirt into the air. The Keyblades separated you, Celina, Vanitas, and Sora from the others. 

“Guys!” the four of you yelled. Throughout the swirling vortex around the four of you, the swarm of blades attempted to strike you four, but you all dodged their attacks. Y!Xehanort appeared in the fray, casting a blue symbol onto the ground.

“That's checkmate!” he yelled. 

“We’ll see about that!” you yelled back. Y!Xehanort hit the four of you with his long whip, causing your visions to cloud, and launched the four of you in the air. Anti-Muki spun in, bashing the four of you with her fire bullets like spokes of a wheel. Anti-Elena cackled loudly from amidst the area, erupting in a burst of dark tendrils.

“How the wielders weep for you!” Xehanort said.

“Would you shut up?!” Celina yelled. The storm of Keyblades broke through once again walloping the four of you before the haze cleared and the four of you were reunited with the others. Young Xehanort shot icicles at you, Celina, Vanitas, and Sora as Anti-Muki struck Xemnas, the twins, and Mickey with her fire bullets. Riku, Rumi, and Ansem attempted an attack on Anti-Elena, but she hovered far above the ground while on Anti-Nyx.

“Burst!” Anti-Muki shouted. She released four energy bullets that hit the ground around you and the others and enlarged, knocking you all into the air. Anti-Elena glowed with a red aura.

“Surrender to it!” she yelled. You and your team felt a tug as you all were pulled closer to Anti-Elena as the red aura glowed brighter. When you and your team were within range, tendrils of darkness exploded from her body.

“Desist!” she yelled. A protective barrier erupted around Anti-Elena and she hovered menacingly near you and Sora, who were forced to dodge roll away. Mickey attacked Anti-Muki while Young Xehanort thrashed Riku with his whip. Anti-Elena surrounded herself with dark mines, which crackled with red electricity.

“Embrace the dark!” she shouted. A dark shadow followed you, Celina, Vanitas, and Sora along the ground and at Anti-Elena's command a giant claw emerged, missing the four of you by a spiky hair. Mickey kept Young Xehanort at bay while Riku, Rumi, and Ansem rushed Anti-Elena until the Lady fell. 

“I reach for...the darkness...!” she groaned. The final bell has rung for the self-proclaimed Wind Spirit. She clutched her chest as it was expunged from her. She hunched over, staring at her hand, watching the small traces of darkness flicker away, feeling the Negaverse trying to fight for control. 

“Elena!” Ansem said as he ran to her. 

“No...please. Don’t come any closer,” Elena whimpered as she fell to her knees. Ansem didn’t listen and held her weak body in his. 

“Elena, I know you’re stronger than this. Please, come back to me,” he said. Elena summoned enough strength and kissed him passionately, causing Xemnas to cover Rumi’s eyes. Elena and Ansem felt their bond return to them and the Negaverse was finally defeated, leaving Elena as her regular self. They broke the kiss and rested their heads together. 

“Hi,” she whispered. 

“Hi, angel. I missed you,” he whispered back. 

“I missed you too. Wanna take down the crusty bastard together?” 

“You know it.” The two of them stood up and the battle continued. Anti-Muki hovered in a circular motion around you and the others, conjuring up spheres of energy, which unleashed a barrage of bullets that honed in on you and the others. She managed to deflect most, but not all. Mickey aimed a burst of light magic from his Keyblade at her, stopping her attack, as Young Xehanort struck Riku, Elena’s family, Celina, and Vanitas with his whip. Fire crackled in the palms of Anti-Muki’s hands and she kicked Mickey and her family in retaliation. You and Sora bashed her with the Keyblades, but cut through her like air, and the image of Anti-Muki froze. Suddenly, she spun toward Xemnas from her right, catching him off-guard. Leaving Young Xehanort for a moment, Riku changed his target to Anti-Muki and joined Xemnas, Roxy, Yui, and Mickey in a dual attack. Whirling through the air, you all pummeled the Queen of the In-Between with continuous spinning attacks.

“What?” she whimpered. The great swirl of darkness pierced the sky above the Organization's Queen. She looked down at her hands, the darkness being licked clean off of them.

“X-Xem...” she whimpered. Xemnas rushed over and caught her before she could hit the ground. 

“Hey, I’m here,” he said softly. 

“Please, get it out of me.” 

“I know, I know. Do you trust me?” 

“A-always.” Xemnas crashed his lips onto hers and from the power of their bond, the Negaverse had finally ended its torture. 

“How’re you feeling, love?” he asked. 

“Better. I have a surprise for you,” she smiled. Xemnas looked at her confused and she put a finger to her lips.

“I’ll tell you later,” she said. Xemnas chuckled and helped her up and the battle continue once more. 

“Don't blink!” Y!Xehanort yelled. 

“Grr, just shut up!” you, Vanitas, and Celina growled. Y!Xehanort raised his arms, summoning diamond-shaped shards of ice which flew through the air towards you and your team. Mickey attempted to intercept but Y!Xehanort ensnared him with his whip. You and Sora quickly blocked the ice shards with your Keyblades as Riku knocked Xehanort back, freeing Mickey. With his associates down, even with his powers over time, was brief.

“So this is where my role ends...” he said. The darkness lifted off of Young Xehanort as he fell to his knees laughed.

“What the hell is so funny?” you asked. 

“I told you. There's a high price to pay for all of this,” he said. 

“And what price would that be?” Sora asked as Y!Xehanort stood back up.

“I'll go back to my time, and live out my life. But Sora, you're done now,” he said. You and your team were stunned. “Your journey ends here.” 

“What?” you and your siblings growled. 

“Good-bye, my children and Sora. Your time...in this world is--” Roxy handed you her gun and you shot him as he vanished to the winds. 

“Heh, I like you,” Muki said. 

“Here’s this back,” you said to Roxy. Roxy smiled and took her gun back. Three additional keys had joined the nine replicas encircling Master Xehanort.

“Twelve keys we have now. Leaving just one more!” he said. He summoned his Keyblade, raising it high. A blue orb appeared from its tip, which he then launched into the clouded sky. The world rippled and a light peeked through the clouds, shining down on him.

“Shit!” you, Celina, and Vanitas breathed. 

“Now, Sora, (Y/N). Darkness and light's final clash,” Xehanort said. The clouds swirled and parted slowly. You and Sora gasped as Kairi floated up beside Master Xehanort, who laughed softly.

“Kairi!” you and Sora cried and the two of you began to run toward the pillar of rock. 

“Guys!” your friends shouted. 

“You require motivation,” Xehanort said. You and Sora leaped onto the side of the pillar as Kairi's comatose body hovered in front of Master Xehanort. He reached back with his blade and bludgeoned her full on the back in one swift stroke. She glowed pink and her form shattered, disappearing in a fracture of light.

“Kairi!” you and Sora screamed. Unable to blink, you and Sora raced atop the pillar swinging your Keyblades at Master Xehanort, who blocked with his own.

“Why her?!” Sora asked, angrily. Master Xehanort knocked the two of you back and the others watched as you and Sora tumbled to the ground behind them. Tears fell from your and his eyes as the two of you looked back up to Master Xehanort from the position on your knees.

“Why?!” the two of you sobbed. 

“I have done it,” Xehanort said. 

“Xehanort!!!” Xemnas and Ansem shouted. They rushed up the pillar just as you and Sora had done, but were held back by the thirteenth replica Keyblade which materialized in front of Master Xehanort and proceeded to swing them away as well. The two of them screamed, falling back down the pillar.

“Dad!” the girls screamed. 

“Xemnas!” Muki yelled.

“Ansem!” Elena yelled as well. 

“You'll pay!” Mickey said. He jumped to the top of the pillar and aimed his Keyblade at Master Xehanort.

“Ultima!” Mickey yelled.

“Stopza!” Master Xehanort held his hand out in front of him conjuring a dark wind. The Spirits tried to attack him with their powers but he deflected them, causing them to land on the ground hard. With magical runes surrounding you all, the two spells collided, with Xehanort's sphere of stopped time growing to encompass Mickey and Riku. The blast of wind rippled through you, Vanitas, and Sora's hair as the three of you saw your friends frozen in place.

“Your Majesty! Riku!” Sora yelled. Master Xehanort smirked as the three of you moved to pursue him, but with only a few steps taken, were surprised by the replica Keyblades appearing behind the three of you. They knocked the three of you down as Master Xehanort turned toward the others.

“Now...the Keyblade War will finally reach its conclusion!” he said. He rose into the air with the thirteenth key rejoining the others. They floated around him as the great yellow moon of Kingdom Hearts shined in the sky. He basked in its glow, the culmination of his life's work now in the eleventh hour. He raised his Keyblade, which glowed and became a new weapon made of two crossed keys, the Chi-blade. He marveled at its brilliance.

“The Chi-blade is complete,” he said. You and the others watched from below, unable to stop him. “Kingdom Hearts! I call upon your true form. Open now and show me the World to come.” 

“We’ve lost...” you mumbled. Xehanort aimed the Chi-blade at Kingdom Hearts and a violet beam erupted from the blade. It struck the moon and wreathed it in dark flame, eventually turning it a deep shade of purple. The horizon turned a shade of pink and rays of light peeked out from behind Kingdom Hearts. You, Vanitas, and Sora, still on your knees, felt crestfallen. Donald and Goofy arrived, placing hands of comfort on Sora’s back.

“Hey, don't give up,” Donald said. Goofy grabbed Sora by the waist and helped him stand up, while Celina and Roxy did the same to you and Vanitas.

“We thought ya might be able to use a couple a' more quarters,” Goofy said. 

“And besides, Spirits stick together,” Roxy said. 

“And so does family,” Celina said. They smiled at you, Vanitas, and Sora. 

“Typical. You can't do anything without us,” Donald said. Sora wiped the tears from his eyes. 

“Now wipe those tears, and let's go stop Master Xehanort!” Goofy said. 

“Yeah...but...he controls Kingdom Hearts now. And Kairi...” you said as you looked down. 

“You worried?” Roxas asked. You and the others looked over, seeing Roxas, Axel, and Xion enter along with Terra, Aqua, and Ventus.

“Guys,” Vanitas said. 

“Sorry we took so long. Had a couple of plot points that needed ironing out,” Axel said. Ventus and Roxas exchanged a look on their identical faces (i wish they had more interaction!). Terra and Aqua looked up.

“Master Xehanort...” Terra said. 

“He did it. He opened Kingdom Hearts,” Aqua said. 

“So, what now?” Ventus asked. You looked over at the frozen Mickey and Riku and you used your powers to stop the spell. 

“We've still got one hope,” Mickey said. 

“Your Majesty, Riku, are you okay?” Sora asked.

“We're fine.” 

“Yeah,” Riku said. 

“What hope?” you asked. 

“It's Xehanort. During the Mark of Mastery exam, we learned that he can transcend space and time. He's a portal. And we can use that to trap him.” Mickey nodded in agreement. 

“But, it won't be easy. Aqua, Riku, I'll need both your help if we're gonna push Xehanort out of this world,” he said. 

“Understood,” Aqua said as she started to walk over to him. 

“Wait. I'll do it,” Sora said. 

“Me too,” you replied. 

“What?” Riku asked.

“Kingdom Hearts is a much bigger threat. Let us handle Xehanort... while you guys keep it shut,” Sora said. 

“At least let us come with you,” Muki said as she and Elena walked over to you and Sora. 

“Are you sure?” you asked. 

“Yeah. He tortured us ever since we became his puppets. It’s time karma kicked his ass,” Elena said.

“Alright. If you say so,” Mickey said. 

“We got this!” Sora said. Xemnas, Ansem and their daughters gave Muki and Elena a worried look but they gave them a reassuring wink. 

“I’m coming too,” Celina said. 

“Same here. It’s time we put crusty in his grave,” Vanitas said. You nodded and the six of you walked forward, soon joined by Donald and Goofy.

“You can't forget about us,” Donald said. 

“Without Keyblades, it's not like we'll be much help here,” Goofy said. 

“Don’t forget about the Spirits!” 

“Oh, right.” You and the girls giggled and Sora spun his Keyblade in a large arc before twisting it in his hand and aiming it.

“Do it!” he yelled. Your friends each projected a beam toward Kingdom Hearts, different spots creating a hole in the darkness of the moon from which light emanated. Just as Master Xehanort turned around, he was struck in the heart by you and your new team.

“What?!” he asked. A pink spiked sphere emerged from his chest, a portal to trap him. You and the others became a sphere of light which floated up to the portal before light enveloped Kingdom Hearts. 

[oddmentt]

The Deep End - Part 2

A/N: Alright here we go with the second part. I think I used the word indeed too much... Oh well. Sue me.

Part 1

“Miss Calder, may I have a moment please?” Professor McGonagall called after her. It was the end of the school day and Rumi was quickly trying to pack her books back into her already stuffed bag. She gave a quick glance to her two best friends, Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon, who nodded and said that they’d see her later in the common room. Rumi made her way up to the front of the class and strode over to Professor McGonagall’s desk.

“Yes, Professor?”

Rumi noticed professor McGonagall hesitate for a split second. “Now, I know you already have your hands full with your last tutoring students and Quidditch practices… However, I was wondering if it would be possible for you to fit one more student under your tutoring?” The professor noticed the anxious look on Rumi’s face before continuing quickly. “Like I said, I understand you are under a lot of stress with your N.E.W.Ts coming up next year, but this particular student will not even pass the bare minimum expected in order to pass this course. Therefore, I am imploring you to take him under your wing. As I understand Mr Lockswell is doing rather excellent in class now after some sessions with you, I must say I am more than pleased with your work with him. I have spoken to Mr Lockswell and we have come to the conclusion that he will not be needing any more tutoring for the time being.”

Rumi sighed and pushed a brown strand behind her ear.

“I suppose I can take him for tutoring…” she slightly hesitated, imagining that she would have to redo her studying schedule once again. Lily and Marlene would not be happy.

Professor McGonagall beamed. “Excellent! I will let Mr. Black know at once so you will be able to—”

“Forgive me, Professor, but… I thought Regulus was doing just fine now?” Rumi interrupted her, feeling slightly confused. She had tutored Regulus Black, a quiet Slytherin boy, last year after Professor McGonagall had referred him under Rumi’s tutoring. They had gotten along rather well, as long as he wasn’t with his Slytherin friends.

“Oh, yes, Regulus is doing quite well, quite well indeed now that he has caught up with the others,” replied Professor McGonagall. “However, I was referring to the other Black—”

“The… other… Black?” His brother, on the other hand, she had never gotten to know. Nor did she feel the particular need to want to get to know him; he was always joking around and playing pranks on other students with his boy gang.

Professor McGonagall fluttered, slightly taken aback by Rumi’s sudden lack of manners. “Why yes, Miss Calder, did I not mention his name before? Oh well, now you know that the student in question will indeed be Sirius Black.” She nodded courtly at Rumi who was shuffling her feet slightly. Professor McGonagall sighed and added in a quiet voice, “I trust him only in your hands.”

Rumi knew indeed who Sirius Black was, however they had hardly ever properly spoken. Her best friend was in the early stages of dating James Potter, after Rumi had finally been able to get Lily alone with James and simply let him speak to her without his flock of friends swarming around him. The three girls had only recently started hanging out with James Potter’s boy gang, since apparently things between Lily and James were quickly heating up.

Rumi had always been an avid James endorser, with Lily and Rumi’s best friend Marlene backing up her cause. James was a good-humoured boy, who was the Gryffindor Quidditch team captain and Rumi’s fellow chaser. She and James were great friends and had been since their third year, after both making it onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Quickly they became the gruesome twosome on the team, making their teamwork look seamless and effortless, scoring countless goals during games.

Rumi had also often worked with Remus Lupin, a tall, quiet bookworm like herself, in the library and they had often had marvellous and long conversations and debates from Basic Herbology to Politics. Rumi had immediately grown to like Remus and she felt that they had loads in common and it was always a relief to be able to talk to him without having to contribute to Lily and James’s conversations that almost always turned physical very quickly.

The fourth person of the Marauders (as they called themselves) was a short, shy boy with wheat coloured hair named Peter Pettigrew. He was always listening in on Rumi and Remus’s conversations and quietly tried to give his contributions to the conversations from time to time. Unfortunate for him, however, that he very rarely had anything significant to say and on more than two occasions he just gaped at Rumi while she spoke.

Sirius Black, on the other hand, had become a daydream of Marlene’s. She was determined to find out his affections for her and she often tried to converse with Sirius whenever she had the chance, fluttering her eyes in the dreamiest way possible. However, Sirius had not been as interested in her as she was in him, much to her disappointment. There was always that confident way he walked and joked about that made Rumi want to roll her eyes. Although on more than one occasion she would find him brooding on the edge of the common room couch, barely saying a word as the other Marauders shared a joke or two. Nevertheless, every girl in the school wanted to be his girlfriend. Or, rather, his something. So far every girl had fallen for his dark, handsome looks with a twist of brooding and recklessness. And much to Rumi’s surprise, he barely reacted to the attention he was getting. She had to admit (after endless prodding from Marlene) that Sirius was, indeed, very good looking. He was tall and handsome, with long dark hair that almost touched his shoulders and more than often he wore a charming smile on his lips. And somehow Rumi always caught him looking somewhere else when she was absolutely sure his eyes had just been on her.

“Alright then.” Rumi sat down facing Sirius Black in the library to start their tutoring sessions the next day. She pulled out her book of Transfigurations and looked up at him with an unyielding expression, meaning all business. He was smiling at her charmingly, leaning back in his chair with his book and wand already out.

“And so we meet again,” he said and drew a hand through his dark hair, making it slightly stick out on the side. Professor McGonagall had pulled them both aside after the morning’s Transfiguration class and explained to the boy that the carelessness of not being able to spare enough time to do homework properly had its consequences.

“So we do,” she retorted and before he could continue, “Now, since you are officially under my tutoring, I have some rules for you. Number one: be on time. Number two: work hard. And number three: I’m not here to take any codswallop from you, so you can forget all that nonsense. Are we clear?”

“Absolutely.” Sirius merely smirked. Rumi took out her wand and started to ask him questions about which spells he thought were more difficult for him. It didn’t take her long to notice that he, in fact, wasn’t at all behind in class; it merely seemed as if he didn’t really care.

“So it was your doing that the two lovebirds finally found each other, eh?” he said after a few minutes of silence. Rumi continued to write down a list of spells they still had to go through, not taking her eyes off the parchment.

“And what’s it to you?”

“Well… I was rather hoping to be the best man at their wedding and your support for my campaign wouldn’t hurt,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

Rumi rolled her eyes in exasperation, trying in vain to hide her amusement.

“All the campaigning I’ll ever do is to get you to do your homework properly so Professor McGonagall won’t have to make me waste my time on you.”

Sirius quietly chuckled, satisfied with her response. He indeed had a firecracker in his hands, just like he had predicted. He theatrically laid a hand on his heart pretending to be wounded by her remark.

“Ouch! Why must you hurt me so, love?”

She cocked her eyebrow after hearing the last word, lifting her gaze to stare him straight in the eye.

“Easily, love, if you don’t start that homework of yours,” she retorted pursing her lips, trying to hold back a smile that was fighting its way onto them.

During their discussions, Sirius was starting to pay more attention to her warm hazel eyes that seemed ever so inviting, now that they were looking straight at him. Her eyes had depth in them; even the colour was not truly hazel, but with a hint of green closer to the pupil. He found himself imagining a brown brick wall with intense green ivy growing around the middle, tangling itself tightly among the bricks. He was now indeed satisfied to find out their true colour, since she was often conversing animatedly with Remus or Lily or had a thick book propped up in front of her, her eyes averted away from his curious gaze. And once they found his, he didn’t yet possess the courage to meet them.

She had an easy-going way of manner, with still being strict yet incredibly kind. And yet, she was somewhat shy and rather listened than spoke up. But when she did, all eyes would be on her. And when it came to matching with Sirius’s sass, she was right there, giving it back to him in same measure.

Occasionally she would absently push a wavy hair strand behind her ear as she leaned over to study from her open book. Her wavy, brown hair with a hint of auburn, was up on a messy bun and now and then her hair strands would flutter in the faint breeze that came from the open window.

He was very intrigued by her now, yes, but he was also curious to why he had not noticed her before. Sure, he had seen her before, but he had not truly noticed her. She had been in the Gryffindor Quidditch team since their third year and he always remembered her having a word with James in the corridor, discussing Quidditch practice and new strategies. He also recalled how she would give the Marauders a small smile as she and James made their way down to Quidditch practices. He knew she was friends with Marlene McKinnon and Lily Evans, who was James Potter’s longest crush to date. He vaguely remembers Rumi steering Lily away from the Marauder’s gang and scolding at them for making fun of Severus Snape before their fourth year. Only at the beginning of this year (their sixth) he had, indeed, truly noticed her.

[justanotherwannabeclassic]

Bloom (1/?)

This has been a work in progress for quite some time. It started as a response to the fact that OUAT seemingly cannot have a normal pregnancy on this show without it being traumatic or otherwise very sad. This is the result. This series will be following the arc of Emma’s totally normal, only lightly angsty pregnancy that will end 100% happy. That is my guarantee. No prophecies. No speeding up. A super normal pregnancy.

As for the timing of posting this…well, we could all use some fluff, and I’m not letting reality get me down. So, presenting, “The Happiest Pregnancy Ever”

Also on A03.

Why should I be unhappy? Every parcel of my being is in full bloom. -Rumi

Emma tapped her fingers on the table, her nails clack-clack-clacking on the wood with each downward press. She listened to the steady tick-tock of the clock, understanding with sudden clarity why Barrie had one haunt his interpretation of her husband. 

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Her husband wasn’t home. He was at store working his way down the list of things she’d hastily scribbled before he walked out the door. The list was long, and she didn’t really need half the things she sent him to buy, but she needed him gone, not anywhere near her while she processed the impending changes to their life. He would be home soon, which meant that she had to decide just what course of action to take.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The house was quiet. Whenever Henry stayed with Regina, there was a certain stillness to their home. Even when he was there, he opted to listen to music via headphones. He was teenager, meaning he didn’t want to draw attention to himself. She liked the quiet, sometimes. Other times, not so much. It reminded Emma of her time as the Dark One – the house barren, dead. 

It won’t be like that much longer.

Emma fingered the stick in front of her. It read “pregnant” in small letters. She sprung for the test that said pregnant or not pregnant. She didn’t want to take any chances with lines or ink. It was clear as day that way. No mistakes.

This was the fourth positive test she had taken. She used magic to dispose of the three others, sending them to the Storybrooke dump away from prying eyes. Storybrooke was bad enough about gossip. She wouldn’t put it past a nosy neighbor to glance through her trash, and have the news travel before she even told the father.

The baby wasn’t planned. She was on birth control, but she and Killian had been sloppy with using extra protection the week she had been getting over a sinus infection. Damn antibiotics and their stupid side effects. 

There was a dark side of her that wanted to laugh about how both her children weren’t planned. She could prevent the destruction of untold realms, but pregnancy? What a great Savior she was!

At least things were better this time around. The only jail she was in was when she booked someone. She had a stable job. She wasn’t living out of the bug. She had a support system: friends, family, and –

Killian.

Emma had Killian. He was there for her, he would never abandon her. He loved her. Truly in the fairy tale, curse-breaking kind of way. She knew how he’d react once she told him the news. He’d be elated, but he would hold it back to test her reaction first. Always waiting for her, that’s how he normally approached any relationship milestone. (Even when he didn’t want to, Emma thought, the memory of his first proposal flitting through her mind.)

So why was she afraid? 

She and Killian had been married for almost a year, and things had been peaceful by Storybrooke standards. And that was the rub - “by Storybrooke standards”. Their home was as fantastical as the curse that had created it, with dangers Emma never could have eve imagined. Prior to moving here, the worst Emma could have imagined was a random terrorist attack or freak train derailment. Here she had to worry about time travel, and realm hopping, and memory spells. 

What if a villain made her forget her own child?

Emma wasn’t even sure how pregnancy and raising an infant would even work. Her mother had pulled it off, but the bulk of her pregnancy had been spent in the Enchanted Forest. Both Zelena and Belle had their pregnancies magically sped up, which Emma was sure wasn’t entirely healthy. Not to mention the kidnapping. Her little brother had been kidnapped, as had Gideon. Gideon, in turn, had attempted to murder her and her family. What would she do if her kid was kidnapped and went all Terminator?

Pregnancies were supposed to be happy things, right? Not riddled with anxiety regarding villains and portals and crazed relatives seeking revenge. What If Killian had more surprise relatives who wanted him dead? What if she did?

What made matters worse was that for a brief moment she had been happy. The first, second, and third time the tests turned positive - Pregnant! - she had been elated. Emma could easily picture a boy with her green eyes and his dark hair running through the house. Or a little blonde-haired blue-eyed girl receiving archery lessons on the lawn. But somewhere between test three and four, anxiety had creeped in and taken hold. 

She could get rid of it, but that didn’t seem right either. Truth was, she wanted the baby. She and Killian could pack up the house and move seven states over, but even then Emma was convinced that somehow, some way, a villain would find them. After all, it was she who nearly became engaged to the flying monkey. 

Emma felt the pinpricks of tears at the corner of her eyes, and tried to will them away. It was a lost cause. Not only was she a mess of hormones, but she was stressed, anxious, and more than a little overwhelmed. 

“It’s gonna be okay,” she said to herself, as if announcing it aloud would somewhat make her statement more true. “You’re going to be fine.”

It was then when she heard the district sound of the boards of the front steps creaking, indicating that someone was outside. She had been meaning to fix the stairs, tighten them or whatever one did to stairs – a handy woman, Emma was not – but she was grateful for the alert that allowed her to shove the test out of sight. Killian likely didn’t know what a pregnancy test looked like, but she didn’t want to take the chance of him seeing it first.

As expect, he swept through the front door, grocery bags hanging from his hooked arm. 

“Good news, love, there was a two-for-one special on those pints of ice cream you and Henry enjoy. Never let it be said that I–” Whatever Killian had been saying died in his throats when  caught sight of her. Emma knew she must look miserable, cheeks flushed from her earlier bout of tears. “Emma, what’s wrong?”

He rushed over to her, dropping the bags front of the door. Emma had half a mind to tell him to put the ice cream in the freezer, but relented. She knew Killian. His focus would be completely on her. Instead, she waved her hand and magicked what she hoped was the ice cream into the freezer. There was no use getting it all melty while she and Killian had a serious conversation.

“I love you, you know that right?” She asked, wanting to stress that the conflicting emotions she felt had nothing to do with him. 

“Yes.” His brows furrowed even as he took a set next to her at the table. He eyed her suspiciously and said nothing more.

“And you know how we’ve talked about wanting a future,” she continued, knowing she was beginning to ramble,“ but here’s the thing, we never exactly ironed out what exactly that was gonna entail, and when those things were gonna happen.”

“And you desire to have that conversation now?” Killian asked, enunciating every word slowly as if he was trying to wrap his mind around the concept. He reached over and clasped her left hand in his right, rubbing his thumb over her rings. “Darling, if that’s what you’re worried about, there’s no need to be.”

“I’m - I’m-” Emma began, struggling over what she was intending to say. She’d never been good with the whole talking thing. Flowery language and grand announcements had always been Killian’s forte. One would think that after a year of marriage, some of it would have rubbed off, but nope. “God, I should have prepared a speech.”

“Emma, you can tell me anything.” Killian kept his voice soothing, but Emma could sense the undercurrent of worry there. She supposed if he had been acting similarly, she too would be worried.

Deciding that actions spoke louder than words, Emma let go of Killian’s hand and pulled out the pregnancy test she had hidden, shoving it unceremoniously toward him. Brows furrowed, he picked it up and studied it intently. 

“What’s this?” he asked, because as expected, it was obvious he had never seen such a thing. “And why does it say…”

His voice trailed off. Her husband was an intelligent man. He could put two and two together and figure out just why she was handing him a stick that said “Pregnant” on a tiny little screen. He looked from it to her, realization dawning on his face. 

“Emma,” he said, her name coming out half-gasp, half-whisper. He sat the test down delicately, almost reverently, as if he believed that moving too quickly would upset the balance of what it had revealed. 

“So, yeah, that’s the thing. The future we didn’t elaborate on is here.” She gestured vaguely to her abdomen where a tiny lump of cells was slowly developing into a small human. 

“I see,” Killian replied. He now looked as if he were grappling with his own words. “Swan, how are you feeling?”

It was his way of asking how he should feel. Her pirate wasn’t that difficult to read.

“I feel happy, but mostly scared,” she admitted. “I have no idea how this is even going to work here or anywhere, you know, with our crazy, fucked up lives.”

He was silent for a moment… After what felt like forever, he asked, “How would you feel if our lives weren’t so crazy? If we lived a lifestyle that you considered ‘normal’, like you had in New York with Henry?”

“Still happy, a lot less terrified. Probably still freaked out, but about the normal stuff,” Emma answered truthfully. “But I don’t think going to New York is the answer either.”

“Of course not.” Killian shook his heads “But allow me to remind you that you’d still be both happy and afraid no matter what lifestyle we lead.”

She sighed. She understood what he was trying to do, let her know her reactions were totally normal. That no matter where they were and the lives they were living, she would likely still be afraid on some level. 

“We can’t pretend our lifestyle is the easiest,” she told him, looking away as she felt the tears come again. “Our kid wouldn’t exactly have the most normal of lives.”

“Our child will have both a mother and father who loves it,” Killian replied, his tone taking the authorial tone of a captain. “It will also have adoring grandparents, a protective older brother, and what I imagine will be s handful of devoted honorary aunts and uncles standing alongside those it will have by blood.”

“That doesn’t guarantee its safety or even normalcy.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Killian shook his head. “But it’s more than either you or I had.” Emma was silent. She didn’t know how to formulate a response, couldn’t really. His words struck her. She, the girl who bounced from home to home, and he, the boy raised a slave and abandoned by his father were discussing their future and their unborn child. Sometimes, Emma was overtaken by the awe of how far she’d come since those days in the systems. It was during moments when Henry would steal onion rings from her plate at Granny’s, or pancake breakfasts with her parents. And now here in the kitchen, Killian holding her hand and she worked through her feelings regarding her pregnancy. And then there was Killian, sold into slavery and practically raised by his brother. A life in the Navy, followed by a life of piracy and loss, finally to here, to her.

“So what do you say, love?” he asked, watching her meaningfully. Truth be told, Emma was still terrified of a curse, but something told her that if she asked about curses, Killian would counter by reminding her there might not be one.

And he was right, there might not be a course. Or there could be. But they’d be there, and her parents, and Regina and Zelena, as well. There would be a house the kid could come home to, the same house with the same bed. There’d be clothes that fit and kisses and “I love you”s every day. There’d be a home, one picked out by Killian and Henry, one they all filled together, their happy little family.

Wasn’t this the “Happy Beginning” they sang about all those months ago?

“I think,” she began finally, “I think that we should grab some spoons and eat the ice cream you got at the store. Celebrate.”

He grinned. “Aye, love, let’s celebrate."

She sealed it with a kiss.