#young killian

[snowbellewells]

Birthday Fic Update: “One More” (part three)

Okay, I realize that it isn’t morning anymore (as I promised @kmomof4 Sorry Krystal!) But it is still Monday, and I’ve kept you waiting less the a week after the painful update. This one won’t fix everything, but you’ll have a better sense of what’s going on, and hopefully things will look less bleak. Also, this update marks the halfway point in the story - so there’s a bit of a hinge point with this one - the first half is from Emma’s point-of-view as usuall, and the second part shows us what’s been going on with Killian.

I hope you’ll enjoy (and perhaps feel less likely to keep out your pitchforks) after this one!

Still a Birthday Fic for @searchingwardrobes -- who I hope will trust me just a little longer, despite the momentary pain.

Also available on AO3, if that’s your preference, or from the start here on Tumblr

Summary: Through the years, Emma keeps waiting - one more placement, one more year, one more separation - until she can find where and with whom she truly belongs. It turns out the person to show her has been right beside her all the time...

by: @snowbellewells

iii. nineteen years old (two years later)

“Just one more good push, Emma!” the nurse at her elbow cajoled, urging her on intently, knowing the young woman was almost out of strength, at the very dregs of her reserves. “You can do it, I know you can.  …Ready? Push!”

Gritting her teeth on a last effort to free the little one inside her, whom she had clung to the hope of meeting, despite the heartache and worry that had hung over her as he grew. She couldn’t fail him now. They would both need every ounce of her resolve to face the world, just the two of them.

Shakily, Emma attempted to give Nurse Green a tremulous smile, though barely able to hold her head upright through her exhaustion. “Just one more, huh?” she huffed, her breath ragged as she exhaled and tried to draw in another. “I think the little guy has other plans, Tink.”

Tina Green, known to many of her patients and co-workers at the small women’s clinic in Seattle where she worked and where she had met Emma as ‘Tink’ for her petite, blonde, pixie-ish looks and chipper manner, merely shook her head. “Whatever it takes to keep you fighting to see him,” she countered stoutly.

The doctor broke into their back and forth from the foot of the bed - matter of fact and as though he had heard none of the women’s conversation that had come before. “Alright, Ms. Swan. The baby’s head is crowning. Now is the time for that final effort. You’re about to meet your son.”

Emma didn’t know that she had more to give; she had been laboring so long now that drawing breath and retaining awareness seemed almost too steep a battle. All the same, she bore down again, praying this truly would be the last push, that her little boy would finally join them. She could only hope she didn’t break Tink’s hand as she clutched it for some minor amount of support.

Over the last several months, there had been so many times; moments when she tossed and turned unable to sleep, when she tried to read maternity books to prepare and only felt inadequate and overwhelmed, or when she stood in the corner market near tears over boxes of cereal, wondering how she would ever keep her child fed and clothed with her meager sole income, when she had almost admitted defeat. She’d considered giving her precious little one up for adoption; thinking even as her heart bled at the idea that he would have to be better off with a family who couldn’t have a child of their own than with her - not even out of her teens, who’d never had a mother herself and could barely keep a roof over her own head. But then Emma remembered her own experience in the system, always alone and never wanted. What if her baby wasn’t adopted either? She simply couldn’t leave him to the same sort of childhood she’d lived through. 

Emma kept herself fighting because, in getting to this point, she and her child were already survivors. They would find a way, because they would have each other. Drawing in a ragged breath and forcing herself to exhale it slowly, Emma refocused on the goal before she was urged to push yet again. If nothing else, she would give her child what she’d only had for a short, golden period in her life - someone to love him unconditionally… a family.

The contracting pain inside her swelled yet again, feeling as if it might tear her apart. ‘One more, one more, one more…” she repeated to herself, almost a mantra that matched her heartbeat, urging her to carry on.

The pressure crested to almost unbearable proportions, and Emma couldn’t hold back the cry torn from her thoat as she gritted her teeth and strained to finally see her baby enter the world, to finally hold him in her arms. 

“There you are, I see the shoulders,” the doctor reported, guiding the newborn on his way. “You’ve got this, Ms. Swan.”

Falling back on her pillow, winded and drained like a deflated balloon, Emma tried to catch her breath, even as she listened intently for the first cries of her little boy, the announcement that he had arrived alive and well.

“Did you hear that, Emma?” Tink’s voice chirped happily at her side, brushing the mussed, sweaty strands of her hair off her forehead and offering her a gentle, encouraging smile. “He’s here! Your little guy’s finally here! You did it!”

“I did, didn’t I?” Emma slurred blearily, her eyelids hovering exhausted at half mast but determined to see the bundle who had caused such worry and excitement before she could fully relax. “Can I hold him yet?”

As if knowing his mother’s voice and prompted to answer it, just then a high, thin wail rang out in the delivery room, the reedy cry of a babe cold and scared outside of the cozy home he had known in his mother’s womb. The plaintive sound reached out as distinctly as an outstretched hand to squeeze her heart. Emma struggled to sit forward, straining to see and comfort her little one in his distress.

Only moments later, Tink moved toward her cradling a white-blanket-swaddled bundle passed on from the doctor as he had finished washing the newborn and clearing his airway. “Here he is, Emma,” she crooned, leaning over to carefully hand the baby off to his eager mother. “He just wanted to see his mama,” she added sweetly. The little boy’s cries lessened the moment he was nestled in Emma’s arms, and the angry red of his tiny wrinkled face lightened as he calmed.

Predictable as it might have been, Emma felt tears welling in her eyes, pooling and streaming down her cheeks. Her joy at holding him in her arms after nine months of waiting - her son, her flesh and blood - overwhelmed and spilled from her in an unchecked torrent. His little upturned nose, chubby cheeks, thin tufts of damp, curling bown hair were already cherished, even as they blurred before her eyes.

Naively, she had feared that he would remind her of the man who’d fathered him; someone she’d met not long after landing in Seattle a year ago, roving blindly in a lost and broken haze, barely remembered beyond messy brown hair, teasing cocoa-colored eyes, and a handful of rushed, less-than-incredible couplings in the back of the stolen car he’d left her with. She fallen in with the older guy almost solely because he’d shown an interest, she’d been running scared, almost starved and out of money to rent a motel room another night, and simply tired - tired of having to figure it all out on her own. When she’d wakened to find him gone about a month after they’d met and thrown their lots in together, she hadn’t even been surprised. She probably should have been hurt, but after Killian’s loss, Neal’s desertion was more like the prick of a thorn than a lasting wound. The positive pregnancy test stolen and then used in the Target bathroom had been the shock that had almost felled her.

Instead, gazing down at her little boy’s placid face, relaxed and nearly dozing once held again in his mother’s soothing warmth, Emma could only see his beautiful sweet innocence. She would give her own life - mere minutes after meeting him - to see that preserved. He should always be able to have the sort of hope she had lost long ago.

Unable to look away, afraid to even blink for fear he might vanish, Emma loved her baby on sight, as if she had never even understood love before. This was one thing at last she knew she had gotten right.

“Henry,” she breathed out softly against his baby soft skin. “Mama’s here… I love you so much, okay? No matter what.” And she vowed then and there, whatever came, Henry Swan - her Henry - would always have his best chance.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

eighteen years old  (not quite three years ago)

When Killian Jones first woke in a base camp mobile hospital overseas, he couldn’t remember where he was or what had happened to him. As he tried to regain his bearings, glancing around and intently tamping down the beginning flickers of panic and that blank canvas within his mind, he knew who he was, but who might be missing him, and why he might be lying there injured in the strange bed beneath him were completely beyond his capability to recall.

Thankfully, as he remained conscious, and doctors and nurses came to check on him and report on his condition and what was being done for him, more of Killian’s awareness and memory came trickling back. He had enlisted in the Navy and reported for basic training. He was had hoped to do his duty, to travel, find his purpose, and also pay for his chance to pursue college study for a career that truly inspired him. He’d been thinking of those possibilities, along with the more mundane pleasure of cuddling with some clearly familiar and comforting blonde beauty in some off-campus coffeeshop, humming along softly to some unknown singer, ignoring his school work and hearing of her day, even as he had been going about the tasks of a routine patrol in what were supposed to be friendly waters, when something had gone wrong. He’d been gladly thinking of making his older brother proud and the happy future stretched out before him when their vessel had been struck.

His brother! An alarm blared in his mind suddenly. Liam! How could he have forgotten?! He’d already wasted so much time! He shook his head in agitated frustration as his realizations multiplied. Bloody hell! Would they have already told his brother he was missing? Or dead?

Quickly flagging down the first orderly who passed, Killian urgently attempted to make the person understand just how desperately, how immediately, his message needed to be sent. He needed to find out if he had already been listed as missing, if his brother had already been notified, and if - 

Emma! This second remembrance was like a bolt of lightning slashing right through the center of his being. How could he have forgotten the most important name he had ever known? She was the beautiful girl beside him in his fantasies of quiet afternoons in a peaceful college town; the smile and sparkling green eyes looking back at him in his dreams. They had been nearly inseparable from the moment they’d met, so how was it possible her memory had not been the first to return to him?

Killian’s stomach fell away, gut clenching in fear and regret at how bravely Emma had tried to seem happy for him when he’d told her of his enlistment. How he had promised her he’d be back at her side before she could even miss him. Tears swam unbidden in his eyes, knowing how it would have devastated her to hear he was lost. Of course, Liam would have tried to tell her gently, but she would have assumed the worst. Life had given Emma Swan little reason to do otherwise in her first seventeen years. And he would, for all that she knew, be just one more person to desert her and leave her behind.

Mercifully, once Killian calmed himself enough to make the situation understood, and to speak with the right higher-ups to ascertain what had been reported and how he should proceed, it didn’t take long for them to help him contact Liam stateside. The relief and joy in his brother’s voice, at what seemed no less than a miracle to the elder Jones brother, was a balm to Killian’s fraught and anxious soul.

But when Liam balked at taking the call next door, not letting Killian speak to Emma, his insides turned to ice. Haltingly, in a voice full of pained regret - both for Killian’s hurt, and as one who had loved the neighbor girl as an older sibling himself - Liam managed to explain that they had no way to tell Emma of Killian’s return. The moment she had turned 18 and was free of the foster system, Emma had vanished. As if she hadn’t been able to look at Killian’s house next door without him there, Emma had fled; no one had seen or heard from her since.  She was just… gone.

Tagging:  @jennjenn615 @searchingwardrobes @kmomof4 @whimsicallyenchantedrose @laschatzi @jrob64 @apiratewhopines @cosette141 @stahlop @xarandomdreamx @sotangledupinit @teamhook @revanmeetra87 @tiganasummertree @optomisticgirl @nachocheese-itsmycheese @spartanguard @therooksshiningknight @xsajx @lfh1226-linda @winterbaby89 @elizabeethan @the-darkdragonfly @donteattheappleshook @motherkatereloyshipper @booksteaandtoomuchtv @thislassishooked @blackwidownat2814 @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @scientificapricot @tomeandflickcorner @ineffablecolors @drowned-dreamer @let-it-raines @justanother-unluckysoul​ @wefoundloveunderthelight​ @hollyethecurious​ @bdevereaux​ @zaharadessert​ @kday426​ @darkcolinodonorgasm​ @artistic-writer​ 

[supercap2319]

At least we know where Harry Hook gets his good looks from:

[sanityshorror]

Hi Sanity! I wanted to ask what the names of Cian's kids were and when they were born?

Hi anon^-^

I'm sorry but as of right now, I have yet to pick out names for the seven he specifically raised on his own (though he has created many, many, many more - the majority he's unaware of) and don't have their exact birthdates.

His first child, a girl, was born in the spring of 1899 though, a bit prior in the year to Cian's birthday. He, uh....... Really was determined to be JUST like Killian... 🗿 (I'll let you figure out the math on this one).

Ask again in about six months and I should have a solid answer lol

[jackiequick]

Behind The Layers / Marvel OC

A/N: Was this an small excuse to make another OC using the Once Upon A Time cast, like I did with Jennifer Morrison as an Top Gun OC? Yes. Yes, it is. Might use Lana Parrilla next.

Name: Adrian Clayton Everhart Richards

Nicknames: Rian, Clay, A.C.

Age: 28-33

Birthday: February 15th

Height: 5'10"

Relationship Status: Single

Appearance:

Charming and charismatic.

Striking ocean blue eyes.

Messy dark brown hair.

One pierced earlobe with a stud earring.

Has a tendency to wear a lot of black clothes

Job: Businessman, SHIELD Agent

Personality: He is a rich tapestry of creativity, independence, and principled honor. Stemming from his literary upbringing, Adrian's creative mindset and unique style mark him as an individual with a distinct flair. Preferring solitude and autonomy, he thrives when working on his own terms, reflecting a self-reliant and determined nature.

His unquenchable curiosity fuels a constant quest for understanding the world. Despite his persistent nature, Adrian grapples with moments of weariness and occasional irritation, especially when confronted with arrogance. His quiet demeanor and selective information-sharing contribute to an enigmatic persona, allowing him to navigate life on his own terms, staying in his own lane.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Background:

Born out of an affair between his mother, a young assistant, and his father, a wealthy businessman.

Raised in the Reed Richards family alongside his half-brother Reed, a scientist with a high IQ.

Father cared for his sons but imposed numerous expectations and rules on them.

Father was a wealthy businessman who slept around and made poor financial decisions.

Adrian's dating life was manipulated by his father for public relations, leading to less-than-pleasant experiences. Resulting in him not caring to date at all, not having any actual interest in anyone. But he is open to grabbing a friendly cup of coffee with a friend or two.

Emphasis on education: Reed excelled, while Adrian struggled with certain subjects but excelled in others.

After their father's death, Reed and Adrian had to navigate financial challenges and pick up the pieces.

Adrian tends to be one of the agents who scouts locations before striking, contributing to SHIELD's tactical approach.

Presents himself as a down-to-earth SHIELD agent who occasionally heads out to missions and parties to collect intelligence information. Even if he tends to very silent and stay within his own lane most of the time, resulting in people respecting him but curious onto what's going on in his mind.

But in reality, all Adrian wants to do get work done by the end of the day and head home to grab a bite. And possibly a nice bottle of beer afterwards.

Relationship with Reed was decent, despite their differences and Reed's ego. Their half-sibling dynamic involved comedic yet harsh fights over the years, resulting in the occasional broken lamp in moments of anger.

Despite their conflicts, they got along well in planning, with Adrian assisting Reed in matters like helping him win over his girlfriend Sue Storm.

Over the years, the brothers lost touch, going their separate ways to pursue their own paths.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Motivations and Conflicts:

Strives to prove his worth to his family and himself.

Balances corporate expectations with his secret life as a member of SHIELD's STRIKE team.

Deals with identity struggles being the result of an affair and the black sheep of the family.

Hobbies and Interests:

Music Enthusiast: Developed a love for music at a young age and played the guitar during his younger years. But stopped once he got a bit older.

Literary Pursuits: A avid reader and occasional writer, contributing to his creative mindset and unique sense of style.

Diverse Skill Set: Adrian's mother enrolled him in various classes, including waltz and photography, providing him with a diverse skill set that extends beyond his professional life.

Fitness Enthusiast: An advocate for a healthy lifestyle, Adrian is known to start his days with a morning jog in the park. During high school, he showcased his athletic side by participating in sports like soccer and baseball during gym class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Key Moments:

Sibling Rivalry and Self-Discovery: Growing up alongside his brilliant half-brother Reed, Adrian faced moments of self-doubt and comparison. It became apparent that he would never match Reed's level of intellect or quick-wittedness.

Realization of Differences: As Reed exhibited a self-centered and correction-prone demeanor, Adrian began to notice the limitations of his own capabilities. He observed how Reed often overlooked the obvious and failed to appreciate what was right in front of him.

Confrontation with Reed: Frustration built up within Adrian, leading to a pivotal moment of confrontation. During a heated exchange, Adrian pointed out Reed's tendency to overthink and correct others, uttering the words, "Use your head, Reed!" This marked a turning point for Adrian as he acknowledged his own strengths and value, distinct from his brother's.

Embracing Individuality: Following this confrontation, Adrian embarked on a journey of self-discovery, realizing that while he might not possess Reed's genius, he had his own stretches of positive thinking and unique contributions. This realization allowed Adrian to embrace his individuality and break free from the constant comparison to his brother.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Strategic Operations Specialist:

Location Scouting: Adrian excels in scouting and analyzing locations before SHIELD missions. He assesses the terrain, identifies potential threats, and provides valuable intelligence to enhance the team's preparedness.

Intelligence Gathering: Beyond physical locations, Adrian is skilled in gathering intelligence from various sources. Whether it's monitoring communications, analyzing data, or infiltrating enemy networks, he contributes to SHIELD's information-gathering efforts.

Covert Operations: Adrian is adept at handling covert operations, ensuring that the STRIKE team can approach missions with discretion and precision. His strategic planning minimizes risks and maximizes the team's chances of success.

STRIKE Team Member:

Sniper Expertise: Adrian serves as the team's sniper, utilizing his sharpshooting skills to eliminate threats from a distance. His marksmanship is crucial in situations that require precision and stealth.

Financial Support: Beyond field operations, Adrian leverages his background in marketing and investments to provide financial support to SHIELD. He channels funds from his family's company and other sources to contribute to the organization's resources.

Adaptive Team Player: Adrian's ability to work both as a lone operative and as an integral part of the STRIKE team makes him an adaptive team player. He contributes not only through combat skills but also with strategic insights and financial backing.

Mission Planning: Collaborating with other team members, Adrian actively participates in mission planning. Despite being silent for most of the time. His knack for planning and coordination, honed from his relationship with Reed and their shared experiences, contributes to the team's overall success.

Key Event - 2014 HYDRA Takeover: In 2014, during the shocking HYDRA takeover of SHIELD, Adrian Clayton Everhart Richards faced a profound and unsettling revelation. Discovering that his STRIKE team, led by Rumlow, was covertly aligned with HYDRA, Adrian experienced a wave of betrayal and shame.

The very organization he had committed to fighting against had infiltrated his team, casting a shadow over his trust in those he worked alongside. In a moment of clarity and loyalty to SHIELD's true mission, Adrian took back his position as a member of the team and aligned himself with agents who remained loyal to the organization's original ideals.

Fueled by a determination to right the wrongs and protect his fellow agents, Adrian joined forces with Agent 13 and other supporters of Captain America's fight against HYDRA. In a proactive role, he engaged in shutting down financial support and investments that HYDRA exploited, aiming to sever their funding sources and hinder their nefarious activities. This pivotal event showcased Adrian's unwavering commitment to justice and his resilience in the face of betrayal.

Post-SHIELD Takeover: Following the dismantling of SHIELD due to his knowledge (thanks to Nick Fury's contingency plans), Adrian Clayton Everhart Richards retreated to his home, contemplating the uncertain path ahead. Determined to continue the fight against threats to humanity, Adrian redirected his efforts to support the remaining loyal members of SHIELD who adhered to the organization's original ideals.

Simultaneously, he strategically maneuvered within the corporate world, utilizing his financial acumen to bolster market shares for Stark Industries, where he heard Maria Hill had found a new home working for Tony Stark. This move not only served as a means of support for the genuine defenders but also facilitated his introduction to The Avengers and Young Avengers.

In his discreet endeavors, Adrian channeled both time and financial resources into the development and enhancement of necessary equipment for these burgeoning hero teams. His contributions played a vital role in fortifying their capabilities and ensuring their effectiveness in safeguarding the world. Despite his significant role in this realm, Adrian maintained his characteristic low profile, shying away from the limelight and avoiding unnecessary attention. Attending events with a subtle presence, he operated in the shadows, a silent force ensuring that the heroes had the tools they needed to face the challenges ahead.

~~~~~

~~~~~~~~

Anyways here is a new low-key oc! I might add more to his story later on, who know haha. What do you think of him? Any ideas for new OCs?

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @gcthvile @missstrawbs2001 @rooster-84 @djs8891 @starkleila @cherrysft @mandylove1000 @yetanotherwells @topgun-imagines @hardballoonlove @buckysteveloki-me @sherloquestea @nakiaswg @carellmcu @ximehs @sofia-falcon @savemewattpad and et

[hannahhook7744]

'I Tried Carrying The Weight Of The World, But I Only Have Two Hands; Hope I Get The Chance To Travel The World, But I Don't Have Any Plans' Edits;

Bill, Katie, Zach, Max, Emma, and Killian (with a painting and the Peter Pan book added in).

Lily, Emma, Katie, Bill, Zack, Max, and Killian at the disastrous last dinner.

Killian and Ingrid.

Killian and Emma.

Killian, Emma, and Neal.

Cover.

Teen Emma Swan Moodboard.

Teen Amensiac Killian Jones.

Teen CS.

[deimcs]

A REPORT / BASILIK GATE, FLAMING FISTS HEADQUARTERS

Captain, the last patrol came back from the Szarr's residence early this morning. The main hall was strangely empty aside from a few confused guests who couldn't answer any of our question, as if they didn't know what they were doing there. The real carnage was found on the lower floors, I had to send the new recruits home to spare them the view and I'll admit even some of my most experienced Fists had to take a breather after that. Aside from the blood we found smeared on almost every surface and the various amount of undead's guts and bones that littered the floor, a nauseating smell of charred flesh saturated the air below. It was as if Lathander himself came down to drown the place in His light, burning everything in his path. Cazador Szarr's body has been identified but frakly speaking, it's not a pretty sight. I believe some powerful divine magic was at work here. Waiting for our next orders, in the meantime (and with your permission) I'll keep my guys as far from that place as possible.

[littleeliza-lotte]

Full audio recording of Lucy’s last show as Christine Daae on 21/01/23

This was my first time ever doing an audio recording, I was rather nervous and I apologize for it not being the best quality, as well as for the rustling sounds and some crying 😅

*Please do not share outside of Tumblr without my Permission*

[maraschinocheri]

Ten years later :: A happy 10th anniversary to Oscars Week for the Les Miserables (2012) film; Killian Donnelly, George Blagden, Jamie Muscato, Mat Seadon-Young, and Ramin Karimloo recharge their batteries and LA sunburns, and take lots of happy snaps around the pool at the W. ( 4 / 5 )

[incandescentia]

Killian: Violence is not the answer. Violence is not the answer. Violence is not the answer. Violence is not the answer. Okay, you know what? Fuck it. Violence IS the answer *roundhouse kicks you*

[snowbellewells]

WIP Wednesday: “One More” (part two)

Okay, here (at way too long last! ;p ) is the second part of Melanie’s  @searchingwardrobes​ birthday gift fic, which I began way back in November! I don’t have much of an excuse for why it has taken me so long, other than that I have gotten too many WIPs going at once, and I’m having to take turns. Anyway, I also waited until I had the third installment ready to go as well, because ~*FAIR WARNING*~ this chapter is sad and angsty and I didn’t want to leave you with it for too long without the next update, I don’t even feel like I should make you wait a week.  Just please know going into this one that this isn’t the end, and there’s more yet to come, so don’t give up hope...  (I can already feel Krystal @kmomof4​ scolding me for the angst and pain!)

Okay, without further stalling, Part Two of “One More”...

Summary: Through the years, Emma keeps waiting - one more placement, one more year, one more separation - until she can find where and with whom she truly belongs. It turns out the person to show her has been right beside her all the time...

{A 5 Part CS Modern AU}

From the beginning here on Tumblr, or on AO3 if you prefer

Part Two

by: @snowbellewells​ 

ii. seventeen years old (three years later)

“Just one more year, Emma,” he assured earnestly, his sparkling eyes wide and imploring her to understand. “Just one more year and you’ll be fre to go wherever you want. We won’t be apart that long.”

Tilting her head to look up at her best friend, Emma blinked back the tears rapidly gathering behind her eyelids, determined not to let them fall where Killian could see. She nodded in agreement, logically knowing his words were true, but unable to deny the hurt that lanced through her at the thought of their parting. The ache in her chest expanded and grew with every breath she took.

For all her life, Emma had been alone. Oh, not physically - she had rarely experienced true privacy or had space to call her own - but emotionally, with no one to listen to her hopes, her fears, her secrets, to laugh with her over inside jokes, or to offer a shoulder when she needed to cry. Not until three years ago when she had almost literally fallen at Killian Jones’ feet. Since then, Killian, and his older brother Liam too, had become what seemed to Emma like her whole world; the best approximation of family that she had ever known. To think of him leaving her behind, when she was stuck in one place and unable to follow, was crushing. Even as she tried to seem supportive, it pained her more than she’d like to admit.

Perceptive as always, Killian paused in his torrent of explanation to really take in her expression, the struggle on her face no matter how she tried to mask it. Reaching up to brush his fingers under her eye, he subtly wiped away the errant tear she hadn’t yet realized she’d let fall. The enthusiasm he had been broadcasting was tempered with concern for her as he murmured lowly, “Hush now, Swan, what’s this? Surely it isn’t all for me.”

Emma bit her lip, shaking her head quickly in frustration at herself. She hadn’t wanted to dampen his excitement or hold him back from the opportunity before him. Grasping his hand abruptly before he could withdraw it, she clutched it in both of hers and interlaced their fingers as she pressed it to her chest. “Killian,” she choked out, trying to push past the emotion clogging her throat, “Of course it is! I want to be happy for you - I do - and I didn’t want to cry.  B-but I’ll miss you so much.  Without you… it’s lonely, Jones.”

He dipped his head to playfully waggle his eyebrows at her in the way he had that never failed to make her laugh. Emma shook her head at his antics, feeling the tiniest bit better in spite of nothing having changed. “Seriously, Jones?” she griped, equally in jest, even as she put her hand to his chest and shoved him away, disgruntled by his antics. She sniffled, the tracks of her tears drying as she found he had her laughing again, bouncing back from her push and wrapping her up tightly in a hug she couldn’t escape, no matter how much she wriggled or feigned protest. 

In truth, for a moment she had to catch her breath and concentrate on not reacting to how much more solid and muscular his pectoral muscles felt under her palm and how wildly her heart fluttered when he pressed warm, full lips to the crown of her head as he held her close. Killian was no longer the lanky fourteen-year-old boy she had met on the front steps, though she had been under his spell even then.

No, he was nearly a man now, ready to strike out on his own and find what he was meant to do in the world. The military had served his older brother well, had even given Liam the means to take guardianship of his younger brother when his enlistment had ended about the same time their mother had passed away, leaving Killian all alone. She had heard Liam speak fondly of the places he had seen and the comradery he had shared with his fellow officers when they talked over supper sometimes while she was over at their house for the evening, or when the travel shows all three of them enjoyed happened to feature a place he had sailed. He didn’t bring it up all that often - Emma could sense without being told that the elder Jones never wished for his younger brother to feel guilt or like he had been a burden - but his fond reminiscence of the experience was clear nonetheless. Killian too spoke of his brother’s service with a definite sense of pride, looking up to the brother who was role model, parent, and friend rolled into one with a desire to follow in his footsteps.

This would allow him to do just that, as well as give him a real start in the world. They were two young men without much to their names. That he could then afford schooling when he returned was huge. Emma knew Killian wanted to prove himself, to show that what Liam had given up was worth the cost, for his big brother’s sake almost as much as his own. Even setting making Liam proud aside, Killian was smart. He wanted badly to go to college - either for marine biology or astronomy, most likely - whether he would usually admit it or not. This gave him that chance without putting he and Liam both into years of debt.

And he would be marvelous at it. Emma had no doubts about that. She might be biased, but there was literally nothing she had ever seen Killian Jones set out to do that he wasn’t brilliant at once he started.

So it was just the matter of the huge hole he would leave in her life while he was gone. She needed to try not to let him see how desolate the very thought made her feel. It wasn’t forever. Like he said, ‘just one more year’. She would be out of the system, graduated from high school, and free to go wherever he might end up. She could find a job, make her own money, and figure out what called to her, what she was meant to do as well. As long as he came back, and whatever she found was also with him nearby, everything would be fine. She could do this.

Offering him a crooked and rather wobbly smile, Emma returned Killian’s embrace, making him promise he would write every chance he got, and that he’d return with stories and pictures from all over to share with her. Meanwhile, he swore he’d be there with her again before she had a chance to really miss him. She nodded her agreement, already knowing that wasn’t possible. She would miss him the moment he left; like she had been split down the middle, like the other half of her body and soul was gone. It was the same empty feeling she’d carried with her from home to home, town to town, one foster family to another, until she’d ended up with Killian next door.

Emma didn’t want to go back to that, even if it was only temporary. But, if they had the rest of their lives afterwards, she could make do.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

It wasn’t until eight months later, when she saw through the screen door an unfamiliar and official-looking vehicle sliding silently up to park along the curb outside the Jones’ house that Emma truly feared her best friend might break his word. When two soldiers in dress uniform got out and moved slowly up the walk to Liam and Killian’s front door, one holding what even from a distance appeared to be a folded flag, Emma knew. Her head felt heavy, and she listed to the side as if she might fall over, dizzy and unable to see straight; suddenly she was unable to draw a full breath.

Liam came to tell her himself, an hour or so later, looking shrunken and pale to her eyes; his grief eating at him in a manner she knew all too well. Granted, Emma knew before he managed to tell her that Killian was gone, but that couldn’t have made putting it into words any easier for his elder sibling. They might be saying ‘missing’ rather than dead, but the detached, blank haze that had taken her over in order to survive didn’t seem to comprehend the difference. Liam promised he would tell her of anything he learned, that they should hold onto hope, that there was still a chance, and he assured her that she was still welcome at their house any time. She thanked him, promised to check in with him - though she wasn’t sure she could be in that house knowing that Killian wouldn’t be standing there again - and they hugged and cried together until both their eyes ran dry.

That night as she lay in bed unable to sleep, all Emma could think was that ‘one more year’ had become the rest of her life… and she was once again alone.

Tagging a few who might enjoy:  @searchingwardrobes @jennjenn615 @kmomof4 @whimsicallyenchantedrose @laschatzi @jrob64 @apiratewhopines @cocohook38 @hollyethecurious @winterbaby89 @darkcolinodonorgasm @stahlop @teamhook @revanmeetra87 @scientificapricot @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @let-it-raines @elizabeethan @the-darkdragonfly @donteattheappleshook @tiganasummertree @optomisticgirl @spartanguard @therooksshiningknight @drowned-dreamer @kday426 @lfh1226-linda @zaharadessert @xarandomdreamx @xsajx @wefoundloveunderthelight @cosette141 @sotangledupinit @booksteaandtoomuchtv @justanother-unluckysoul @bdevereaux @thislassishooked @blackwidownat2814​ @tomeandflickcorner​

[rapgamelilybart]

photos by melanie gowie/my photography journal!

[eric-raleigh]

Just thinking about them. As one does...

[piraterefrigerator]

A list of impressions I can do

Young Sheldon

That guy with the glasses from The Longest Johns saying "That's not port!"

Killian Jones (this one is quite poor)

Liam Jones (this one is less poor)

Baron Zemo

Peggy Carter

Cher Horowitz

[vasfasan]

I think it is extremely important that Killian being abandoned by his father as a child wasn't a retcon made just so that they could force a betrayal narrative into 5x11. No. It's a well in advance, way back in season 2, established thing, that just got its rightful flashback later on.

It's a theme that permeates Killian's entire character, influences his decisions and behaviour throughout the show. I just love that.

[littleeliza-lotte]

14/01/23 curtain call

Lucy St. Louis as Christine Daae

Killian Donnelly as the Phantom

Matt Blaker as Raoul de Chagny

[tmrrwppl]

*makes finger guns at Jed* - Killian / your choice if it a child toying around or older Killian being a dick

"Have I told you recently that guns are not a toy, Killian? It feels like it's been years." Not that Killian ever listened.