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killiansprincss · 10 months

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A Court of Vines and Shadow - for @cssns ‘23

SUMMARY: When Dark One Killian Jones makes Faerie Princess Emma of Misthaven spend 3 moon cycles a year with him to break a curse, Emma never expected to fall in love with him. Now she was walking down the aisle, meant to marry a man she doesn't love because she can never be with the one her heart wants. Or can she?

An ACOTAR Inspired fic written for Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 23. Also on A03

Also it’s July 9th and Speak Now Taylor’s Version just came out I feel like Speak Now is the perfect song to accompany this fic!!

Huge thanks to @cssns for this amazing event which allowed me to bring this to life! And special shoutouts to @hollyethecurious for the amazing art and also to my awesome beta @blonde-of-sherwood 💙💜

White dress. The Spring fallen gardens filled with flowers upon flowers, petals scattered all the way down the aisle and vines spiralling the chairs and arch. Flowers Emma had grown herself with her magic, snowbells and lilies, her mothers favourite flowers, the ones she first learnt how to grow using her magic when it first manifested all those years ago.

Her mother was who she was doing this for. Marrying someone she doesn’t love. Her mother worked so hard to arrange the various meetings with suitors, all noble Fae men, only the best for the Princess of Misthaven. Her mother never got to have a big wedding, she met Emma’s father and fell in love almost as quickly as she fell pregnant. As newly appointed King of Misthaven, they had to elope quickly so the Kingdom would be more accepting of their new Queen, who also happened to be a demi-fae. Her mother, who Emma dearly loved, so much so that she was marrying someone she had had just 3 conversations with all to appease the Kingdom and not go to Civil War because of the man she does love.

Killian. That’s who her mind wandered to. The Prince of Darkness as the rest of the Kingdom saw him. It had taken a while to see past his shadows and darkness, which she now understands was built from the loss of his family and the only people he had ever loved. But she loved him fiercely, anytime they were apart it broke her. Having to say goodbye for the final time was the closest Emma had felt to heartbreak.

So here she was, standing in her white dress, flowers in her hair and bouquet in her hands, where she would meet her father, take his arm and walk down the aisle to marry Lord Walsh. Pushing thoughts of Killian to the back of her mind as she walked towards the aisle to all the smiling faces of her Kingdom. She had to do this, she loved Killlian but they both knew they would never be together in the way they wanted. She just wished she had allowed herself to see past his darkness sooner and they could have had more time together.

“Emma.” An all too familiar voice calls her name from behind the aisle. He uses his power to bind the shadows to him, making him appear in a sort of smoke of darkness as he steps towards his lover. One of his other talents includes stopping time, just for a few minutes, but those few minutes were all he needed.

“Killian. What are you doing here?” As much as she loved him, it pained her to see him here. They had said their goodbyes a few nights prior. Seeing him here, in a white dress about to marry someone else, it wasn’t right.

“I have tried, Emma, truly I have tried to stay away. If it made you happy I would stand by and let you marry someone else, but I can feel your pain all the way in Neverland. It’s causing me pain too, and I think I understand now, it’s why I was so drawn to you the very first time we met, why, even when you hated me you could never really stay away.”

“Killan, you’re not making any sense, what are you saying?” It was painful seeing him, she was hurting, thinking of their time together and how fate was so cruel to not allow them more time.

“You’re my mate.”

His mate. Mates in this world were rare, her parents were never granted that luxury. She hadn’t known of anyone in the last 200 years who found their Mate. So why her? Why now?

Mates were equal in power and status, perfectly matched by the universe. A one true love, a soulmate. She never denied she loved Killian, but being his Mate was a whole other experience. It made sense in a way, they were drawn together at the ball when they first met. He could sense she was powerful, he recognised her untapped powers, something even her parents were unable to do. And she was never scared of him either, she had heard the rumours of course, and knew what he was capable of, but that didn't scare her.

_______________

Emma had been to hundreds of balls in her lifetime, even when she was a little girl, she would sneak into the ones at her palace, and watch everyone dance. They all shared a unique beauty about them, from the way the light reflected on the dresses worn or the chandeliers making rainbows across the walls, they were a thing of otherworldly beauty. But this ball in particular was nothing like those she was used to. It was hosted just outside Misthavens borders, an old castle known to be taken up residence by a Fae many years ago known as “The Dark One”. Rumours began to spiral that the Dark One was back. It had been years since he had been seen and random killings had stopped, but who knew. The invitations went to all the noble folk in Misthaven and surrounding kingdoms and the signature was empty, leaving more curious minds. There were many debates surrounding whether they should go or not, but the Royal Family of Misthaven had to attend to keep peace.

As she grew older the balls became a chance for her parents to find her a suitor to marry, she was now 21 and it was considered uncouth for the Crown Princess to be unmarried, even by Fae standards. So in an effort to avoid dancing with a Duke, she would practise her magic. Every Fae was gifted a power linked to the four elements, and Emma had inherited Earth from her mother. At times she thought it was a boring element to have, her younger brother Leo had water, which was useful for everyday life as well as pulling pranks (to which she was victim of lately). But as she got older she learnt to appreciate it, she enjoyed seeing what she could make grow, especially in situations like right now.

There would always be potted plants, pretty flowers surrounding the tables, she breathed into her powers and with a single touch could double the petals or even change their colours. Sometimes she would paint the pink flowers blue, or the white ones black just to test what she could do. Of course, her mother didn’t approve of using it for this. She was also gifted with the power of earth, but she preferred to make things grow or inject life back into a sunken plant, rather than mess with existing life.

“Not enjoying the festivities I see?” A voice from behind Emma startles her, she didn’t recognise him, dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Dressed in an all black leather suit, not the typical style the men wore. His pointed ears stick out from his dark hair, Emma had always felt self conscious of her ears, so made an effort to hide them, but this man, whoever he was, was the most beautiful man she’d ever laid eyes on.

“I come for the faerie wine and food only I’m afraid.” She tells him with a playful smile.

“Well if you’re here for the wine why aren’t you dancing? Most people get drunk off a few sips then don’t leave the dance floor all night.”

She leans in close, “I’m not like most women.” What was the harm in flirting, he was gorgeous and her parents would never approve which made him all the more exciting.

He holds out his hand to her, “Dance with me, I insist.”

Dancing with a handsome stranger was not how Emma expected the night to go, but he was a great partner, unlike some of the suitors her mother had forced upon her in the past. He led her around the room with grace and it was as though they flew through the dancefloor together, no stepping on toes and he even spun her around a couple times, feeling the wine go to her head a little more. “You’re really good at this.”

“There’s just one rule, pick a partner who knows what he’s doing.” He whispers into her ear as he dips her. “You’re very powerful, you know Emma.” He tells her as she comes up.

“How do you know my name?” Sure she was the Princess, and most people recognise her at these things, but it was strange the way he said it so casually.

“I know a lot of things Emma.” He whispers, his breath close to her neck, making Emma feel a sense of arousal. A moment later the mystery man turned into shadow and darkness, disappearing from her hold and reappearing out of shadows at the top of the staircase.

“Welcome to my lovely guests. I guess it’s time I introduce myself?”

All eyes were on the mystery man now, they all saw his shadow power. That wasn’t one of the four elements, this was some other worldly magic. Then, for Emma at least, it clicks. The charming lustful energy coming from him, his ability to know things he shouldn’t, and his shadow and darkness powers. He was the Dark One.

That should have made her terrified, but for some reason, it didn’t scare her. Who was he?

“My name is Killian Jones. But I believe your people have a few different names for me, Dark One, Wronged Fae, Prince of Darkness is a personal favourite-though I bore no royal blood or status.”

_____________

And that’s where it began, he said he held this ball because he was supposedly cursed and needed someone with light magic to resolve it. Not just any light magic though, a very specific kind. And of all the Fae in the land, he decided Emma, after one conversation and dance that she was the Fae he was looking for, only she could break the curse.

“All I request are 3 moon cycles with her every year until I decide otherwise, or my curse is broken, whichever comes first.” This was his deal, his bargain. As the Dark One, you would be a fool to refuse or dispute a bargain.

Her parents were outraged, and tried everything in their power to stop them. They were a royal family, if he were anyone else maybe that would have been enough, but as the Dark One, he bore no allegiance to royalty. So for 3 moon cycles, she was to live with him, in his castle, doing who knows what.

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The first moon cycle was absurd, The Dark One didn’t mention a single thing about his supposed curse. He made her practise her magic every single day. Barely spoke to her. Her main source of contact was with one of the servants, Belle. She would show her to her room, which wasn’t a prison or a dungeon like she was expecting, but it had lush carpets. velvet curtains and the most gorgeous and comfortable king size bed in the centre of the room. She would also take her down to the grand dining room where she was to eat all meals. The food was exquisite, the spices used were unlike anything she’d eaten before, it made Misthavens cooks look like a child in the kitchen.

There was no sign of him for the first couple of days, he left Belle with a page of instructions for Emma to get on with while she was here. The only thing on the list:

Read: The Complete Earth Elemental Magic Volume I

Read about her magic. That was the only thing she would do all day. For the first two moon cycles this is all she does, she sees him in passing, at mealtimes mainly. He is pleasant and they make small talk.

When she arrives home, her parents pounce on her, needing to know everything. What she witnessed, who she spoke to and if he hurt her in any way. They were terrified, and it made Emma realise she wasn’t afraid of him the way others were.

“We have suitors lined up.” Her mother would tell her, desperate to get her married off in the strange fear the Dark One would whisk Emma away to be his bride before she could marry a noble born. She would play along and speak to the princes and lords her parents picked out for her. She tried, really tried to find something good in any of them, but her mind would wander back to the blue eyes and dark haired villain she would be seeing again very soon.

The next moon cycle comes along and her task is to again, read the magic book which she was now on volume III of. Enough was enough, she needed to know her place and what exactly he intended to do with her.

“I have read these volumes cover to cover. If I have to learn about the different ways a flower can be grown I think I will die of boredom. You mentioned a curse that first night. Tell me everything and I can look in those stupid books for something that might actually help.”

He smiles at her as she rambles on about being a useful Fae and powerful if he lets her see. He admired her courage and her passion. “Very well Emma.” The way he says her name makes Emma feel something inside her that she’s not sure is good or bad.

“Contrary to popular belief about the Dark One, I did not choose this power willingly. It was forced upon me by a former Dark One. You see, only one can exist at a moment in time, and the only way to steal the power is to steal the life that holds such power.” He then goes on to explain how many years ago, his brother’s wife had fallen sick from her pregnancy and they were not sure if the baby would survive, the three of them searched for a cure around different lands, different royal families, they had to find something to save her but had no such luck. “One night, we had grown tired and stopped to find shelter for the night, when Elsa, my brother's wife began to bleed, she was losing the baby. Liam cried out and an old man came to our aid, asked if we would do anything to help to which I naively responded yes to. He kills them both using a type of magic I didn’t know existed.’ He can barely get through his story without stopping every few moments, and it's clear he still has a heart. “He then tells me if I take the dagger and stab him in the heart, they will be revived and the baby safe.”

“He forced you to kill him so he would be free of his curse, and in turn it then cursed you?”

“Aye love. That night has haunted me for nearly 200 years, I was desperate and if I could go back and change things I would. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to free myself that doesn’t involve trickery. I also do not wish to burden another innocent life with this curse.” He then takes Emma’s hand and looks into her eyes, “That is where you come in, Emma Darling. I saw a seer and she shared with me a vision. A golden haired demi-fae with an earth element bearing an unyielding amount of light magic has the power to free me without hurting either party.”

“And of all the demi-fae with an earth element, you believe it's me because?”

“That’s why I held the ball. I wanted to see who I was drawn to, and as soon as I met you Emma, it was clear you were the one. You are special” The way he looked at her as she said this, made her feel warm inside. For a split second Emma also thought he was going to kiss her, and that if he did, she would let him.

That was the changing point. The more time they spent together going over her magic the more confident she felt. She learnt more things about her magic that she had known were possible. She could end life as quickly as she could revive it, well, the life of a flower anyway. She could drain the life from a lily and then when it was wilting, press life back into it. Emma guessed the more she practised this, maybe she would drain the darkness from Killian.

“Have you ever experimented with other elements, Emma Darling?” He asks one day, it was the last day of the moon cycle and she was to return home. She hadn’t realised how much she would miss his company.

“I was only gifted with the earth element, my mother shares it too. My brother inherited water from my father.” She explains, “I haven’t heard of any Fae who were gifted more than one element, wouldn’t that disrupt the power balance?”

She would also miss the way he would sit there and smile at her when she rambled, he really wasn't as bad as people said he was. They didn’t know him the way she did. “Emma, you’re special. You hold the element of earth, well all elements are connected to the earth, are they not? Why don’t you try to conjure fire?”

All Fae were granted one element, fire, air, earth or water, it was unheard of for someone to hold a double or even triple elemental magic, every scripture and teacher would tell you too much power would disrupt the power balance of the universe, and everyone would suffer. But then again if she were truly the Fae in his prophecy, she was already disrupting the power of the universe.

“I wouldn’t know where to start, I don’t know anyone with that power and even if I did I-.” He was already moving towards her before she could finish her train of thought.

“All power lives inside you Emma.” He stands behind her and places his hand on her shoulders, moving down to her abdomen, “you can feel it inside you, reach deep inside and find that extra source of power.” Emma had to focus on keeping her breathing normal, he was touching her and she was feeling very strange things at the moment. Still, she does as he instructs, she feels where she knows her earth power lies, she taps into it daily. But then she tries to focus on where that power was, and if she could feel anything else. At first she could only feel her earth, but then she felt something different, she wasn’t sure what it was but it was similar to the way her earth felt.

“That's it, love.” Killian says, hand still resting on her abdomen, “hone in on that. And think of something that makes you angry, feel the fire before you conjure it.”

Pushing the way his husky breath felt on her neck aside, she thought of her mother and how she orchestrated all these suitors that were supposedly so ‘perfect’ for her, how she never listened to what she wanted and how angry she felt when she would come home from her studies to see a Prince or a Duke in her sitting room.

“Open your eyes Emma.”

Fire. A small flame coming from her palm was the sight Emma was greeted with when she opened her eyes. It didn’t burn for very long once she realised what she had done and couldn’t figure out how to control it. But she did that.

“I conjured fire.” She says with a mix of shock and excitement plastering her face.

“I told you you were powerful Emma.”

He was still standing behind her, so she turns to see him grinning at her and his gaze fixed on her, in awe of her. They’re both silent for a moment, clearly having the same internal battle inside their head. Their heads moved closer and closer until their lips finally met and Emma felt her magic on fire. Every sense was heightened with this kiss, a merge of power and lust building up from their shared time together. Killian deepens the kiss as his hand settles on her cheek while Emma’s hands find his hair. She’s being pushed up against the wall after a while, and Emma leans her head back and moans as Killian pressees kisses onto her neck and then back to her lips.

Their time together was never the same after that. Being apart from one another became harder. Every time Emma would practise her newfound powers, her thoughts would wander back to Killian and how he made her feel.

When they were together, they were rarely apart. She possessed all four elements, and took the time to learn and explore what she could do with them. Of course she had to keep this quiet when she was away from Neverland and from Killian. Her family and her court would be wary of her newfound powers, likely brand her as dark as her ‘captor’ as they referred to Killian.

“I wish you would stop calling him that, he has a name.” She finally snaps back at her mother upon her return after listening to her rattling her newest ideas on how to get out of the contract.

“He forces you to be away from your family for a whole moon cycle. He is darkening your mind with his power if you do not see what is wrong with that my sweet child.”

That taught her to keep her mouth shut. They didn’t understand. Yes, as part of a bargain she was to spend time with him, but she looked forward to those moon cycles, he understood her, listened to her, she felt he was the only person she could be herself around. Worst of it was, she was falling in love with him. No, she was in love with him. And she had an inkling that he felt the same.

The next time she comes home, yet again there is a suitor sitting in her living room. She didn’t know who this one was and frankly, she didn’t care.

“Emma. I’m glad to see you’re home in one piece.” Her mother says, and Emma rolls her eyes, pretending she wasn’t practically seething that comment. She would never understand Killian or how she felt safe with him.

“Hello mother. Who is our guest?” She asks with a fake smile, knowing full well this was another suitor she was not interested in.

The suitor offers out his hand and bows, “Lord Walsh of Oz. it is a pleasure to finally meet you, your highness.”

He was an older man, older than she was, which was not uncommon for suitors as they had to be to have a title. He was average height, nothing particularly interesting about him was jumping out at her. Her mother clearly chose this one from the same place as all the others, he was polite and overly grateful to the Queen for inviting him. They would all sip on their tea whilst Emma made polite conversation with them and they would express their interest for children and make an awful comment about being the more powerful Fae and Emma would thank them for their time as she busied herself with something else to get away. She wondered how long this one would take to get rid of.

“Lord Walsh is to be your husband. We have been setting arrangements whilst you were being held hostage.” She rolls her eyes at the hostage comment and was about to argue, until it hits what she just said.

“I’m sorry, we’re to be married when?” This was a new low, even for her mother. “Mother, may I speak with you in private?”

“Excuse us.” Snow tells Walsh as she guides her daughter into the drawing room.

“I can’t believe this. I’m away for one moon cycle and you have me married off already? I keep telling you, I want to marry for love.” She didn’t know what to feel right now, angry yes, upset yes, and also confused, why now, when the topic of suitors had never felt imminent.

“Emma, every day you spend with the Dark One is a day closer to us never seeing you again.” She tells her as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

“If this is still about him corrupting my mind, you have to know I’m still the same person as I was before the bargain.” As the Crown Princess, Emma didn’t have many choices in terms of clothing, free speech or political opinion, but she deserved the freedom to choose and to marry whoever she liked.

Her mother touched her cheek, a way she did when Emma was younger. “Emma, the fact you don’t see it worries me. This is for the best. If we send a message you’re getting married, you can convince him to call off the bargain. This is a good thing Emma, things will go back to the way they were.”

She may have spent more moon cycles with the Dark One than planned, but she sure as hell was not dark herself, Killian couldn’t corrupt her when he was only trying to heal. She was different, she admits that, but it was a good different. She was powerful, confident in her abilities and her magic. Something that only came from being with Killian.

But she was the princess. Her parents, the King and Queen. She could fight with them about many things, but this was orchestrated by them. She could try to refuse this marriage, but she would need a valid reason, another prince or duke to replace Lord Walsh. It was a horrifying thought, but she didn’t have a choice. She was going to have to marry him.

What she wanted was to run away with Killian. She wanted to free him of his curse, help him heal. She did not want to be bound to him for a moon cycle at a time, she wished to spend as much time as she wished. But if she did that then her parents would come looking, they would send armies to search for her, it would cost the kingdom more money than they have. Running away would cause a civil war.

All because she fell in love with the wrong Fae.

________________________________________

“I know you feel it too. Please Emma, don’t deny it.” He pleads, keeping the shadows clouding around them for a little while longer.

“I don’t deny it. I’m just in shock.” She admits. Having a mate in this world was rare, but those who were lucky enough to be granted one would be damned for all eternity if they chose to reject their mate. She had grown up with a legend of a male who loved another for years before meeting his mate, they chose to be apart and he died of heartache. She isn’t sure how much of that was true, but there was a reason they were chosen to be mates by the universe. She couldn’t marry Lord Walsh, no matter how hard her mother worked, marrying someone she had no love for knowing her mate, her true love was just out of reach would be too painful a life to lead. “Killlian, if we’re doing this, it has to be right, we have to follow the rules. If I run away now, it will only start a war.”

Killian nods in understanding, “We do this the right way. I claim you in front of everyone, and if you claim me back there is nothing they can do to stop.” He gives her a quick kiss before disbanding the shadows around them and hides from onlookers until it's time.

The crowd are unaware anything happened as she begins her descent down the flowery aisle. She spies her family in the crowd, her mother looking so happy, her brother next to her smiling brightly and her father trying not to cry as she takes his arm. He was meant to be giving her away to Walsh, but he was indirectly handing his daughter over to the Dark One. This was going to break their hearts, but she hoped they would see that Killian made her happy, the life she was choosing for herself was far better than the one her family were choosing for her.

Walsh stands at the end of the aisle by the arch, his family were noble and would prosper from this union, more land and a grander estate. All of that was meaningless though, he didn’t love Emma either, it was his family pushing this marriage as much as it was her own. She was leaving a lot behind, her brother would become Crown Prince, and her mother would likely push a marriage for him too, likely to Princess Alexandra of the Western Kingdom to save the Kingdom from too much heartbreak of a runaway Princess. But it was worth it, the time spent with Killian made her feel alive for the first time in her life, she discovered things about her she didn’t know she could do.

“We are gathered today to witness the marital union between these two people. Lord Walsh of Oz, and Princess Emma of Misthaven.”

Emma spies Killians shadows from just beyond the arch, waiting for the right time.

“If there is any reason why these two should not be married, Speak Now or forever hold your peace.”

Silence from the crowd. Until shadows grow and at the other end of the aisle, Killian transfigures. “I object.”

The crowd begins to stir, chatter arises, some people even scream. “Under what grounds?”

“I have come to claim Emma. As my Mate.”

Shock horror from the crowd once again, she hears her parents cries and pleads not to go through with this, but she had no choice, this was for her own happiness, she was putting herself first for once.

“Do you claim me as I claim you?” He asks, knowing her answer.

“I claim you, Killian Jones, as my mate.”

Neither were sure exactly what would happen when they said those words, legend said mates had to claim one another in words, whether that be in public or in private. Considering mates were rare and neither had met or heard of anyone that had a mate, they were unaware if anything were meant to happen after they had claimed one another, whether it be lighting from the sky or if they would feel it in their hearts.

Neither were prepared for their right arms to suddenly have ink appear and spiral into a tattoo, matching with one another. Confirming their mateship and that they were now bound to one another, there was nothing anyone could do about it.

With a last look of pity and sorrow at her family, she runs into her new mates arms, and they disappear in a cloud of shadow.

Emma was going home.

#captain swan #captain swan fanfic #cs ff #cs fic rec #my writing #cssns23 #captain swan supernatural summer

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veryverynotgoodwrites · 2 months

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Chapters: 19/23 Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Captain Hook | Killian Jones/Emma Swan, Captain Hook | Killian Jones & Emma Swan, Prince Charming | David Nolan/Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard, Prince Charming | David Nolan & Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard & Emma Swan, Prince Charming | David Nolan & Emma Swan, Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard & Emma Swan Characters: Captain Hook | Killian Jones, Emma Swan, William Smee, Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Red Riding Hood | Ruby, Seven Dwarfs (Once Upon a Time), Widow Lucas | Granny, Original Characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Pirate Captain Hook | Killian Jones/Princess Emma Swan, Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault, Fluff and Angst, Action/Adventure, Action & Romance, Swords, I Will Go Down With This Ship Summary:

Emma Swan is heir apparent to her parents' kingdom in the Enchanted Forest, and a powerful wielder of light magic. This makes her the most wanted woman in the realm, not only for marriage, but for leverage against the king and queen. While her parents have been able to keep her safe so far, an attack is launched on Princess Emma that leaves her no choice but to seek the protection of her worst enemy - Killian Jones, infamous captain of the Jolly Roger and his pirate crew.

Rated M for language and mentions of assault

Hello, hello, hello!

Darkest Winter last week, Perilous Harbor this week. What a time to be productive, eh? This chapter was mostly finished but needed most of the encounter at the end of the chapter after the last divider, and I wound up knocking it out in two hours over a lunch break and a slow work afternoon which was fortuitous! With this, we only have four chapters left until this story is complete, and I'm so excited for it to finally be out in the world in its completed form. Now that I'm seeing how close we are to the finish line, I'm super motivated to keep going and to keep writing (especially since a large part of the next chapter was written roughly 4 years ago in preparation for this!) so hopefully the last three updates will come quicker than the previous ones.

Onto notes for this chapter:

This chapter is 8,353 words long. I believe this is the longest I've ever left a single chapter in its edited form. I'm sorry if that's super overwhelming for some readers! After working with two betas for this update, we all three agreed that there was really no good place to cut this chapter that wouldn't ruin the pacing and sense of urgency I wanted to set given that the events below occur over the pace of a single day. I want you to feel as overwhelmed as poor Killian so that you can empathize a little better and my betas did agree that this was best, so I left it uncut. No worries if you need more than one sitting to complete it!

Speaking of betas, HUGE thank you to @xarandomdreamx and @ultraluckycatnd for the beta work! @ultraluckycatnd has beta'd a LARGE portion of this fic over the years so extra appreciation for sticking around and helping me out!

If you didn't see notes on my Darkest Winter update, I have begun serious work on publishing my book and have had to take a step back and re-evaluate how many fics I can continue with. I will be finishing out Perilous Harbor and continuing Darkest Winter and A Dangerous Game, but anything else under my profile has been abandoned for the time being :( Maybe once Perilous Harbor is complete and I begin querying agents I'll have a bit of downtime to pick a couple of things back up, but for now, don't expect any updates for those titles.

As always, HUGE shout out to @wefoundloveunderthelight for the AMAZING art for this fic. I’m still amazed that someone would do that for anything I’ve written

Also apologies, there are some weird formatting things happening when I copied the chapter over and I'm not sure why they keep popping back up after I fixed them...so enjoy the extra spaces I guess?

Again, thank you so much for sticking with this story since it first came out in 2019. It's officially been FIVE YEARS since I first published my first creative work to the Internet with chapter 1 of this story, and I've appreciated every single hit and comment and kudo and reblog that you've left for me. It really motivates me, and has ultimately helped push me to writing my own original stories and taking the leap to publishing and hopefully becoming an author. I love all of you.

If you’d like to be added to my tags list for future updates on any of my fics, please DM me! I’d love to add you :)

TAGS: @kmomof4 @caught-in-the-filter @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @the-darkdragonfly @teamhook @justanother-unluckysoul @jrob64 @karlyfr13s @hollyethecurious @tiganasummertree @winterbaby89 @snowbellewells @xarandomdreamx @klynn-stormz @omninerdgirl @facesiousbutton82 @finmnsoh56 @followbatb

#perilous harbor #veryverynotgoodwrites #captain swan #captain swan fic #cs ff #my fic #cs #emma swan #killian jones #captain hook #fic rec #it's almost finished and i'm so emotional over it

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captainswanholidayspecialreruns · 8 months

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HALLOWEEN RECS NOW OPEN!!!

Have a favorite Halloween (or spooky themed) CaptainSwan fanfiction/fanart/gifset/other fanwork? Now's the time to send them in!

Here's how it works:

From September 3-14th, you can go to this link and fill out the form!

From the 15th-31st, our mods will go over all the works sent in.

From October 1st-31st, we'll be sharing all the works sent in here on this page, so make sure to give us a follow!

Other rules and terms 🎃 All of the works submitted for this event must primarily feature Captain Swan, though the presence of other ships in a work does not disqualify it! 🎃 All of the works submitted for this event must primarily focus on Halloween, be in some way spooky, contain supernatural/monsters, or in some other way be Halloween related. If it doesn't fit one of the first three criteria, please specify at the end of the form why you think it should be included in this event. 🎃 This event does not require any kind of sign-up. 🎃 You may submit as many works as you would like, but if you choose to do so, fill out a separate form each time. 🎃 You are allowed (and encouraged!) to refer your own works! 🎃 Planning on posting something Halloween/Spooky themed this October and want us to share it? Just tag @captainswanholidayspecialreruns when you post it, and we'll share it here. 🎃 Mature content is allowed, but only under a readmore or as an ao3 link, and will be marked with an easily recognizable "after dark" banner. If you're posting a mature fic but don't know how to add a keep reading tab, send us a dm and we'll help you out. 🎃 If a work is referred by someone other than its original poster, we will be contacting the poster to ask if it's okay to share their work in this event. 🎃 The goal here is to spread positivity for a lot of the fanworks out there, not to spew hate. As such, anyone who responds to a posted work with negativity, hate, or unwarranted criticism will be blocked from this blog permanently. 🎃 We reserve the right to not share a requested work, even without a good reason. However, since our goal is to share as many works and as much CS love as possible, we will try to avoid doing this.

Stay spooky, loves!

👻 kazzy and the CSHSR crewmates!

#captain swan #killian jones #emma swan #cs ff #cs fic rec #once upon a time

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snowbellewells · 2 months

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CS Fic Rec Monday: "High Scores, Exes, and Neon Lights" by: @xarandomdreamx

I have been slacking and not having the chance to do Monday recs the way I would like, but this week I have some for you that I have recently enjoyed.

This first fic is a modern AU in three parts, featuring not only Emma and Killian, but a whole crew of their friends and loved ones - including a Liam who is alive and well. He and Killian own a bar where, when Emma and her friends turn up, things in the Jones brothers' lives are turned upside down in the very best of ways. I had the pleasure of beta-reading this as well as just enjoying it as a reader, and I loved seeing it as it grew and developed. It had moments of laughter, heartache, sweetness and feels - everything rolled into one. Don't miss it!!

I also took the liberty of attempting to make cover art for your lovely story @xarandomdreamx! I hope you'll like it:

Read it here: "High Scores, Exes, & Neon Lights" by: @xarandomdreamx

#cs fic rec monday #csfrm #cs three shot #modern au ff #high scores exes and neon lights #such a talented shipmate #ouat ff #cs ff

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stubblesandwich · 4 months

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Shipmates, anyone have any favorite fake dating AU fics for Captain Swan? 👀 I'm listening to an audiobook and the characters are giving me some vibes that led to an itch that must be scratched. Y'all know how it is.

#Captain swan #cs fic rec #cs ff #help a sista out

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shady-swan-jones · 8 months

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A Good Wife No More - a captain swan Modern AU

Ao3, Wattpad

Summary: Killian hasn't seen Emma since law school, when she broke his heart and left to marry another man. Now she's asking for a chance in practising law, when all her wants is to know why she left then.

a Good Wife inspired modern AU

(1/5)

The soft morning light from his office window dances against her hair, tenderly casting her profile in a warm glow, as the rays finally settle on her hand.

Correction, his haunted mind unhelpfully supplies. Her ringed hand.

When asked about his biggest regret by prying colleagues at happy hour, usually trying to fish sex-stories-gone-wrong from him, Killian always says Tink. An affair with a perky paralegal inadvertently resulting in his firing makes for a convincing tale of failure.

Yet no amount of work-related downfalls, as savage as they may be, can compare to the real thing. In a surprising turn of events, his biggest regret is a captivating mix of nerves and fearlessness.

And she’s sitting right in front of him. Emma

-/-

“Killian, stop! I’m going. It’s my decision and it’s final.”

Emma is shivering under her worn out red leather jacket. He doesn’t have a mind to appreciate the sight though, not with her casually mentioning she’s abandoning her career. Abandoning it before it even has a chance to start and following her prick of a boyfriend to Chicago right after graduation.

She’s leaving.

“Love, deny it all you want, but you’re an open book to me. Neal’s forcing you to follow him in his ridiculous quest to be the Wolf of Wall Street. You love the law. You’ve had a taste of it here. I have seen your eyes sparkle when you’re facing me in mock trials. You’re passionate. You’re bloody brilliant!”

He paused his desperate, last-chance speech to look her in the eye. His voice caught in his throat.

“Don’t abandon this, Swan.”

Don’t abandon me.

-/-

The next time he saw her was through a screen. She was standing tall, offering her support to people who didn’t deserve it. Robert Gold’s half-assed apology to his voters, essentially for having no soul and dignity, captured everyone’s attention in the office.

Emma captured his.

She was behind her father-in-law, as beautiful as he’d often dreamed, even though no amount of makeup could hide the pair of shining, red-rimmed eyes.

-/-

“I knew you’d find me, Swan.”

“Shut up, Jones.”

The roll of her eyes is another thing he missed about her.

“That’s Jones Esq to you, darling,” he supplies playfully, and fixes a smile on his face.

She doesn’t need to know how fast his heart is beating. How the gold tresses framing her face, make his fingers itch to tuck a lock behind her ear or how the sight of her, after all these years, is an image that will be permanently stitched on his brain.

But, she’s in his law firm after all. Which brings up the obvious question.

“What are you doing in my conference room? Not that I’m complaining to see an old friend,” the word friend bitter on his tongue as he forces it out, “but-”

“I’m here for the job, Jones.”

He goes to protest but she cuts him off expertly, “not for the pleasure of your company.”

Killian pouts and prays to an invisible god it affects her just a tad.

“Let’s get this over with so we can go to the part where you hire me, and I get an office. With a view.”

-/-

She won’t get an office, of course. First-year associates get a legal pad and a box of pens with the firm’s initials. His initials among them.

He selfishly thinks of her tracing his name with her fingers while she works.

-/-

Killian Jones doesn’t hire people on the spot. So he makes a great show of listening to all her reasons why she will be a valuable asset to his team. As though he hadn’t made up his mind the moment he saw her sitting nervously on the chair, touching the stem of her wrist tattoo.

He doesn’t need to hear why he should give her the job. Every scandal in the world couldn’t tarnish the image he has of her from their earlier days in college. “You bested me, Swan,” was his graceful admit of defeat when the professor paired them opposing each other for the mock trial. He’d lost the case to her, but it hadn’t felt like a loss at all.

He knows she has fought for everything she has in life -from the orphanage to Columbia Law School-, and this will be no different. Opposing counsel doesn’t stand a chance. Yet, he lets her speak, passionately and -dare he hope- a little flustered.

They avoid, masterfully, any heavy topics that could lead this reunion to rocky paths. They don’t talk about Gold or Neal but there is a brief mention of Henry, where he enjoys Emma’s genuine smile. Her first one this morning.

He tells himself he has all the time in the world now to learn her again. She’s here.

As Emma stands to leave, never one for pleasantries despite the political chaos she lives in, he braces himself and stops her. The flicker of hope in his heart matches the one in her eyes.

“Emma,” he breathes. “You should know, not a day went by that I didn’t think of you.”

She pauses. Her hand settles the loose strand of hair he had itched to touch, as her diamond ring catches the light painfully.

“Good.”

#cs ff #cs au #cs fic rec #captain swan #killian jones #emma swan #cs fanfic #ouat #once upon a time

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donteattheappleshook · 1 year

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CS fics by @elizabeethan you must read!

Happy birthday @elizabeethan ! @snowbellewells and I had the same idea apparently but you deserve all the love for your fantastic stories on your birthday!

Elizabeth have so many amazing, beautiful fics and so I’ve struggled to narrow it down to my absolute forever favorites. If you haven’t read one of them yet you’re missing out and you need to rectify that ASAP - your life will be better for it, trust me

The Sad Baker Killian series

Never More Than I Can Take

holding my breath for you

From the Beginning

What can I even say about this series - there aren’t even words. It’s the softest, most painful, hearbreakingly beautiful love story. Sad Killian is always one of my favorites but who knew that adding baker to that would just magnify it tenfold. Ugh this story is just - I can’t - just gfjdakvdsagl. Read it.

Overboard series

Ao3

Here we have a beautiful example of our lovely talented shipmate thinking she could get away with only writing us a oneshot of this breathtaking universe. And here we are 6 installments in and if you don’t think I would devour a hundred thousand more you’re wrong. I need this as a whole damn novel that just never ever ends. The sad silver Killian and damaged Emma, the way you’ve written the emotion and the love between these two, the way you created such a full and complete world which feels so real and beautiful while still keeping our favorite ship so true to their characters - I’m in awe. Sometimes I’ll just start thinking about this fic and sit there for a good long while in amazement at your talent. Did I mention I’m obsessed with this series already? Perfection.

Watch the Sunlight Fade

UUUUGGGGHHHHHH this fic. It’s like you wrote everything I wished Sons of Anarchy had been and then multiplied the amazingness by a billion. This one is so so painful to read and so incredibly beautiful. Strap yourselves in for a hell of an angsty ride that will be 100% worth it. Prepare yourself to want to murder Neal like you never have before. Prepare yourself to want to give Killian a giant fucking hug and take care of him. The way you slow burned this fic too is just stunning too and I can’t even get my words to work right in saying how much I love this fic. Everyone needs to read it and give it the appreciation it deserves because WOW this story gives me life.

Steal Away

So there’s obviously a pattern starting here of @elizabeethan hurts me to the deepest part of my soul and I thank her for it. I was obsessed with this fic from the moment you suggested the premise and honestly apart from Overboard which will forever be one of my all time favorite fics, this might be my favorite of yours. This fic starts as a robery gone wrong and then becomes something so much more than I ever expected or knew I needed. It had me crying, like ugly cry in public but don’t stop reading because you need to know what happens next, and then just feeling so many things that I couldn’t do anything but yell at you about it and then I think this one just renewed my belief in love because you wrote their characters and their story and their emotions so perfectly and everything feels so REAL and heartbreaking and then so so hopeful. This fic is a masterpiece and I would (have?) read it a million times over.

Spaces Between Us

I remember this fic starting with “do you think people would be mad if...” and man I think that is how you need to approach everything you write forever lmao. Will it make them mad? I don’t know but it will absolutely make them rage at your horrible villains, want to cry for Emma and be begging you to let our babies have a torid affair and then maybe murder someone (disclaimer: there is no murder in this fic- but you’d consider it a reasonable choice if there were). You absolutely broke my heart with this story, poor Emma trapped in her relationship with Walsh, the second chance love story that felt so real that I was blown away. I’ve always found it hard to read those because I couldn’t get on board with my ship breaking up in the first place let alone how they’d end up together again but then you wrote this fic and I get it now. And you brought them together again in such a beautiful way with all the angst I could possibly handle. You write angst so well but you also have such a talent with bringing happiness and love and hope back to the story at the end of it all and this fic is a perfect example of that.

Between the Morning and the Night

Finally I had to throw this hilarious little fic in. I swear I’d have listed every single one of your shorter fics - there were so many I loved and everyone should go read them all but I had to narrow it down for this list and I ahve to say that this might be my absolute favorite of your standalones. The premise is so fucking funny - Will noticing the scratches on Killian’s back and Killian in full blown panic about David finding out just who gave them to him - dead. Of course, beautiful, talented, amazing author that you are you gave us feels like you wouldn’t believe turning this funny little oneshot into a truly stunning piece of writing. I love this fic so much. Like just:

“Good god, mate.”

He turns, surprise in his eyes when he faces his friend and colleague and is met with his shocked, horrified expression.

“What?”

He knows he’s red and sweaty after a workout, but it can’t be anything different from how he always looks when they return to the locker room.

“I mean, were you attacked?”

💀💀💀💀💀

Bless this fic and bless you for writing it

I hope you’ll all go and read the incredible fics that Slibby has written over the last couple years (she wrote 54 in like 2 years???? are you real though, girl??) and give her the love and appreciation she deserves on this the most special of days!

Happy birthday again @elizabeethan you’ve been the best pocket friend a girl could ask for and I’m forever grateful that the fandom brought us together

@kmomof4 @elizabeethan @the-darkdragonfly @undercaffinatednightmare @jennjenn615 @dramioneswan @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @batana54 @lfh1226-linda @csalltheway @xsajx @xarandomdreamx @onceratheart18 @ownedbycaptainswan @teamhook @pirateprincessofpizza @lostintheskyfaraway @zaharadessert @thejollyroger-writer @ultraluckycatnd @justanother-unluckysoul @spartanguard @jonesfandomfanatic @deckerstarblanche @jrob64 @klynn-stormz @wefoundloveunderthelight @sailtoafarawayland @tiganasummertree @winterbaby89 @hollyethecurious @stahlop @superchocovian @snowbellewells @xellewoods @sals86 @karlyfr13s @ouatpost @skairipakomtrikru @lonelyspectator12 @anmylica @alexa-fangirl-forever @inspiredbystardust @marcella2727 @paradiselady19 @koryandr @killiansprincss

#major cs fic rec #fic recs plural #cs fic rec #cs fanfic #cs ff #talented shipmate is talented #happy birthday my love!

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4getfulimaginator2022 · 2 years

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Saving Prince Killian by Commandante Theresa. CS AU (no magic) with Prince!Killian and Princess!Emma. When Princess Emma's romantic dream of marrying Prince Killian finally comes true, she discovers they are married in name only. He has fallen into a life of vice & debauchery, infatuated with his mistress, the infamous, manipulative courtesan Milah. Only True Love can save him from darkness & Milah's evil influence to become the noble Prince he was meant to be.

Comments: I literally sought this one out to re-read it just last week! It's like a historical romance - funny, smart and smoking hot. I 100% recommend it! So...I was rustling through my Amazon Drive uploads, since Amazon Drive is being retired at the end of 2022, and look what I found! I made a heap of CS fic banners back in the day, and I decided I'm going to do a series of fic recs and repost all these. Some of these lovely writers are still on Tumblr, while others never were. I'll tag everyone I can. Please reblog!!! Please share them. They are wonderful stories.

Banners are by @4getfulimaginator2022

#cs fic rec #cs ff #cs au #cs ff au #captain swan fanfic #cs fanfic #cs fic #cs fanart #captain swan #please reblog #my art

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kazoosandfannypacks · 1 year

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"Open to Interpretation" by kazoosandfannypacks

Pairing: Captain Swan

Rating: General

Word Count: 1K

Summary: At the art museum, Emma is appalled at works by modern artist Killian Jones- until a handsome stranger convinces her otherwise.

Tags: au, fluff, captain swan, one shot, modern au

Author's notes: Happy Valentine's Day to my lovely followers and readers! Yesterday I released a poll to see which fic I should release next... and surprise, surprise, the release date was today! Almost half of you voted for "Art Museum," so I hope y'all enjoy this one! it is, in fact, based on that list of meet uglies that was floating around!

Taglist:@zahara@kmomof4@jonesfandomfanatic@booksteaandtoomuchtv@jrob64@tiganasummertree@anmylica@teamhook@undercaffinatednightmare@gingerchangeling@lonelyspectator@caught-in-the-filter @ultraluckycatnd @cs-rylie @silver-the-phoenix [if you’d like to be added to or removed from this list, hmu in my dms or askbox!]

Also on Ao3!

"I can't believe this guy has a whole wing dedicated to his art." Emma muttered, staring at the painting in front of her. She didn't know who this "Killian Jones" was, but based on his art, she was glad she didn't.

"Why not?" A voice behind her asked.

She hadn't even realized she'd made her statement out loud, but she'd never been one to back down from a fight, even over something as trivial as art.

"It's tasteless," She turned to look at the stranger, only to find him more attractive than she expected, "and purposeless- like if absurdism and abstract art had a child in a soulless void. This guy isn't trying to communicate anything, and if he is, he's buried it so deep his viewership can't find out what it is."

"That's because they're not looking," He said, "besides, isn't art open to interpretation? 'Death of the author' and all that? Maybe the reason you're not seeing the message is that you're not looking hard enough."

Determined not to be outwitted by a cute art museum stranger, she turned back to the painting in front of her and tried to see what it could possibly mean. This piece in particular was of waves on a stormy sea- except one large blotch of a vibrant white, silhouetting a sailing ship.

"This one communicates that he knows how to paint water," Emma suggested, "but he's scared to try his hand at realism when it comes to boats. It almost looks like he intended to paint a magnificent vessel there- but backed down at the last minute."

The stranger laughed. "That's what this picture shows. But what does that communicate?"

"That he doesn't like to paint boats?"

"Then I suppose you haven't paid close attention to the rest of the exhibit," he said, "ships seem to be a recurring theme in Jones' work."

Emma bit her lip and nodded. She did recall seeing a few other paintings of ships in this wing.

"So the absence of the ship here is intentional," he continued, "he meant for this picture to be missing something."

"A purpose?" Emma suggested.

He gave half a laugh, "You're closer than you think. I believe Jones' purpose," and here he paused, for a dramatic effect, "is that some purpose of his is missing. The sea has everything but a vessel to sail on it, and without it, something is missing. A clever metaphor, really- though it may be a bit lost on less intellectual self-proclaimed connoisseurs."

"Did he just insult me?" Emma thought, though she had to admit, she started to appreciate the meaning behind the piece- there'd been times she'd felt like that shipless sea herself. Still, she was determined not to be outwit by this stranger.

"That's just one piece," Emma said, then pointed to one she'd spent twenty minutes judging, "what do you think he meant to communicate by this?"

This one was more simplistic than the other, painted in only three colors, and only using basic shapes. It depicted a classic red heart on a white background, with three lines overtop the heart, something like thorns sticking out of the lines- and those were deep black.

"A valentine's heart a five year old could draw," Emma said, "basic shapes, a self proclaimed gritty design that a twelve year old emo with Microsoft Paint would be able to make for themselves."

"You've done it again," he said, "in attempting to swing a low blow on the painting, you've instead hit the nail on the head. This is simple, it is easily accessible- and I think that's because grief is too. Whatever pain inspired this piece, he must've found it extremely extraordinary, to paint it in such an ordinary manner- as if trying to make one understand it. See how the thorns cover the heart, almost like a jail cell, like you can't reach your heart through all that grief."

Emma nodded. "Or maybe the heart is trying to get out- and the grief is the cage you use to protect it."

"So this piece doesn't exist in a soulless void either?" he asked, and raised an eyebrow.

"Two out of twenty means nothing."

"Then perhaps discuss another?" he asked.

"What about that one?" Emma asked. A few paintings down the hall was an abstract array of brushstrokes, all positioned vertically on the canvas. All of them were in shades of red, pink and white, except for two of them. These two would've been directly parallel with each other if they were centered on the canvas, but one was on the top right and the other on the bottom left. They were a deeper shade of red, so much so that they were almost purple, and on further inspection one could even see a little bit of blue peeking out the edge of each stripe, on the sides facing their nearest edge.

"What do you think he doesn't mean to say in this one?" he asked her.

"It looks like Pong without the ball or the center line." Emma said. "Is this another 'something important is missing' too, like how," and here she feigned a dramatic tone of voice, "a game of Pong without the ball is already lost?"

"Not even close this time," he said, "and you were so good up until now."

"I thought art was up to interpretation?" Emma asked.

"True, but look at this," he pointed to the title of the piece.

"Silverstein's Masks?" Emma asked. "I don't know who Silverstein was, but he must've been some kind of picasso painting himself if he could wear this as a mask."

"So knowledgeable in the visual arts, but not in the literary," he shook his head, "I believe the Silverstein in question is Shel."

"Shel Silverstein?" Emma asked, "like, The Giving Tree."

"Ah, so you do know the classics," he said, "but you may not be familiar with one of Silverstein's lesser known works, a short poem almost like a tragedy, simply entitled Masks."

"And I take it you know the poem?"

"Quite familiar with it," he said, "'She had blue skin, and so did he. He kept it hid, and so did she. They searched for blue their whole lives through- then passed right by and never knew."

"And these stripes are supposed to represent that?" Emma asked, trying to hide how impressed she was by his recitation.

"You know more than you're letting on," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder to turn her attention back to the painting, pointing out details with his other hand, "see how these two almost look like they're moving, moving past each other. And while, for the most part, these appear like the others, you can see, just barely peeking out at the bottom- though not where the other could have ever noticed- that under all that red, they're blue."

"So?" Emma asked, understanding exactly what it meant, but wanting to hear him say it in his own words, finding his intellect and voice and his face altogether quite attractive.

"In trying to blend with the rest of the palate, they've closed themselves off from the opportunity to be understood- they've lost a chance to be truly loved because they tried to be something they weren't."

Emma nodded. "I think I get it now."

She looked up at the stranger, his hand still on her shoulder, his eyes a work of art unto themselves, one that she carefully inspected.

"Shall we discuss another one?" he asked, remembering his place and taking his hand off Emma's shoulder.

"I think you've proved your point," Emma said.

"Oh?" he asked, "and what point is that?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Killian Jones is very clearly a talented artist with a clear message in his works."

The stranger smiled a little more than expected, almost sheepishly.

"I'm glad to hear you've changed your mind, miss…."

He held his hand out to her, and she took it, noticing how strong his grip was, but how delicate as well.

"Swan," Emma said, "Emma Swan. And you are?"

"Artist in residence," he smiled, "Killian Jones."

#captain swan #once upon a time #killian jones #emma swan #ouat #fic rec #cs ff #fanfiction #cs au #Valentine's fic

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