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resident-of-storybrooke · 3 years ago

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I’ll Be Home (For Christmas) - CSSS 2021

AN: Happy holidays, Fam Squad! I hope everyone is enjoying their time, whether it be with family and friends or taking some time for yourself to relax. @motherkatereloyshipper I am excited to finally reveal my identity, it’s been awesome getting to know you through this, I hope you enjoy your gift. Thank you to @ultraluckycatnd for being the best elf and helping with this. And thank you to the mods for @cssecretsanta2020 for putting this together. Watch out 2022, I have some plans for you! Enjoy and all the love!

Summary: Emma and Henry are on their way to Storybrooke for Christmas, once upon a time their home. But when a storm has other ideas Emma is forced to face the one man she can’t seem to forget, and he’s just as enamored. Will the two help keep each other warm or will this icy heart never thaw?

Rating: M/E (saucy times and language)

Read it: ao3 and ff.net

Words: 6999

tagging some of the fam squad (please let me know if you’d like to be added or removed): @kymbersmith-90 @let-it-raines @artistic-writer @hollyethecurious @hookedonapirate @carpedzem @nowforruin @kmomof4 @wellhellotragic @thesschesthair @teamhook @winterbaby89 @zaharadessert @stahlop @ultraluckycatnd @blowmiakisscolin @peggyswan @jrob64 @klynn-stormz @tiganasummertree @batana54 @pirateprincessofpizza

The grey clouds only affirmed Emma's fears, a snowstorm was about to hit. And it was going to hit soon. She knew she should've left earlier, but her co-pilot decided it was more important to wrap all the gifts at their house before getting to the Nolans'. Henry was so excited to return to Storybrooke for the holidays. Emma was too, but she was more reserved with her emotions, which is nothing new for her.

It's been a couple years since she stepped foot in the odd town on the coast. Five years, two weeks, and seventeen days to be exact. It was both the best and worst week of her life.

She'd met him.

Emma didn't believe in fate, not after everything she's been through in her life, but he made her consider there was a chance. Sometimes she thought about the man who flipped her world upside down. Wondered how he would've reacted if she'd told him about Henry. Or what he would've said if she had admitted she'd fallen for him after the most glorious week of her life. But she never told him about then five-year-old Henry or her stupid feelings. He was gone before she could even consider taking that risk.

Good.

Love brings nothing but wasted years and endless torment. Emma was better off with him leaving when he did.

"You okay, Mom?"

Henry broke her bitter trip down memory lane. One she's taken too many times this week. Stupid emotions.

"Yeah, kid, all good. How are you? We're only about thirty minutes out."

Henry eyed her curiously. Fuck he looked like his father when he made that face. It broke Emma's heart, but she'd never tell him. He isn't Neal and would never hurt her like he did.

"What's that look for? Hmm?"

Henry was silent for a moment before he turned down the radio. "You've just been weird this week, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know this isn't where you met Dad, but Storybrooke obviously makes you feel weird. That's why Aunt MM's and Uncle David always come to our place in Boston. I just…I hope you didn't feel like I was pressuring you to go there this year."

Emma was too stunned to speak. How did she raise such an emotionally mature young man when she's, well, not.

"Henry, kid, I love you so freaking much. I don't avoid Storybrooke-"

"Mom," Henry rolled his eyes at the blatant lie.

"Okay, we don't come here often. It's nothing bad, I promise. And never ever worry about pressuring me to do anything, okay? We always promised to be upfront with one another. I'd tell you if I didn't want to come here."

"Okay, as long as you're sure, Mom."

Emma looked at him again; god, she had the best kid ever. "Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks for being the best, kid."

"That's me, the best!" The two giggled, her ever so modest son. "Now, can we stop? I really need to go to the bathroom?"

"Ugh, I knew it! We're so close, can't you hold it? I'm worried about the storm."

"Mommmmmm. I just saw a sign that there's a store off the next exit. I can't hold it, please I'll be quick. Besides, the weatherman said the storm wouldn't hit for hours."

Emma conceded it was easier this way. Plus, she had to go to the bathroom if she were being honest. Henry was right, the exit was less than a mile away, and she could see the store he'd mentioned. There seemed to be a tiny town, one that rivaled Storybrooke for how small and quaint it was.

Hopefully, they let non-paying customers use the bathroom. These moms and pops could be such a hit or miss. She brought her wallet in just in case.

Emma wasn't sure why she parked in front of this particular store, Jones’ Wooden Thumb. There were dozens on the main street. She shook off the weird feeling; this is the one Henry mentioned. That's why. No other reason.

Just go in, Swan.

They didn't see another soul as they walked in, which was surprising given how packed the shopping center seemed to be. After failing to see even a staff member, Emma walked around and took in the scenery. It was breathtaking.

The shop sold pieces of art and decoration made out of what she assumed to be driftwood. Everything was hand-carved, it was beautiful. Henry seemed to be just as in awe of the pieces around him.

"How did they make this? Do you use a chainsaw? How did they get these different colors?"

He was spouting out questions so fast Emma failed to notice they were no longer alone.

"Oh, that, my boy, is a trade secret. But you look trustworthy. Would you like to see my workshop?"

Emma froze.

It was the one person she dreaded running into. More than Neal. More than her birth parents.

It was Killian Jones.

Oh fuck.

---------

He didn't see her at first.

In fact, he didn't notice her until he'd already opened up his damned mouth. He had heard the lad and was so excited to see a young person interested in his work rather than looking at their phone.

Then he saw her.

His siren, his Swan.

He hadn't seen her in half a decade, and she was more beautiful than he remembered. And he thought of her often.

They had spent a week together all those years ago. Merely exchanged names at first, but it felt so much more intimate than that. Perhaps it was the different ways they had brought the other so much pleasure that made it feel so real.

He'd shared more with her in that week than he'd shared with some of his best mates after years of friendship. Of course, they avoided certain topics. And it appears Emma had omitted a rather large topic herself.

He wasn't mad. It was just another reminder that they didn't know each other as well as he pretended during the sleepless nights.

She was spooked. He could see it clear as day. He wasn't sure what to say next. Does he tell her she's haunted his dreams since his abrupt departure? Does he pretend he'd never seen her before? That he doesn't know how she moans when he…nope, he cannot have these thoughts in front of who he assumes is her son.

He's definitely older than five, so he's not concerned the lad is his, but there's this weird feeling in his chest. He can't put his finger on it.

"Yeah! I would love to see it! Mom, can you believe it? Wait - first, can I use your bathroom?"

Killian shook his head as he tried to come back to reality. "Aye, lad. It's just towards the back on the right."

The boy ran off without another word. They were alone.

Fuck.

She looked stunning. Her hair is a bit longer than the last time he saw her. She was wearing the same red jacket. God, he loved the red leather jacket.

"Swan-"

She stepped back as he reached for her. The sting in his heart hurt more than he imagined. She still hadn't met his eyes; she looked like a deer in headlights as she looked back towards where her son went.

"Emma? I…how… I'm sorry, love. How are you?"

She laughed. At him, definitely not because he said something funny.

"Please, Emma. I never meant to…I know I fucked up. I'm sorry."

"Thanks."

Killian wasn't sure how much longer he had before her son returned, and with the warm welcome he was receiving, he was running out of time.

"Do you want me to pretend I don't know you in front of him? Or I can act like I'm busy, and you guys can leave so you don't have to feel uncomfortable? Whatever you want, Swan, I'll do it."

He saw the flash in her eyes. He'd said the same thing all those years ago. Killian saw her open her mouth to speak, but her son had returned.

"Can we see your shop? This stuff is sooooo cool!" He envied her son. He was blissfully ignorant of the tension in the room. What Killian wouldn't give to be him at this moment.

Killian looked at Emma, still frozen. He didn't want to make the decision. He'd given her an out, and he'd be damned if he took another choice from her ever again.

"Henry, I don't think he has time to show us the shop anymore. Isn't that right?"

He tried to hide his disappointment, he failed, no doubt.

"Sorry about that, lad. I do have a couple of orders to finish before Christmas. Perhaps another time?"

"But you just said…please, I promise I won't break anything. I'll be good!"

Killian looked back at Emma, he could see her resolve breaking. Seemed like this was a frequent occurrence, but he couldn't blame her - her son was giving the most killer puppy dog eyes he'd ever seen.

"Fine, only if Killian has a minute. And no touching anything without his permission."

Killian was shocked. Emma agreed to spend more time at the shop, and he wasn't going to waste a single moment. He was finally near her.

Well, her son. But she was there, even if it was on the other side of the workshop.

Killian tried his best to push her from his mind as he was showing Henry the different tools he used to make one of his pieces. He was proud of his work, he was excited to share this with someone. Henry asked the most interesting questions, and he genuinely enjoyed talking to the boy.

Henry would call his mother over, and she'd humor him for a moment before bringing her attention back to her phone.

"I'm sorry about that." Killian didn't answer Henry immediately, confused why the boy was apologizing. "She's usually a lot nicer or will pretend to be. Did you say something after I walked away? You should say you're sorry…even if you're not." He whispered the last part, which made Killian chuckle. He was a bright boy indeed.

"Your mother is fine, Henry, I promise. She's probably just talking to…." Killian paused, not wanting to entertain the idea that Emma had someone else.

"She's probably texting David."

Killian's heart sank. She did have someone. Of course, she did, how could she not. It's been years, and it's not like she ran back to his arms.

"Yeah, we're going to David's and MM's for Christmas. They live in Storybrooke. Mom used to live there too, or we did, but then we moved to Boston when I was five."

Oh fuck.

She moved because of him. That's where they met, and she moved across state lines even with him out of the country.

"Where are you going to spend Christmas? You shouldn't be alone. Maybe you can come with us!"

"Henry, what are you two talking about?"

That sure as hell got Emma's attention.

"Henry, you cannot invite strangers to places. Let alone to a house that isn't even ours. Right?"

He saw the boy's shoulders deflate. Apparently, this is a conversation they've had more than once. But Killian wouldn't lie, hearing Emma call him a stranger stung.

"I appreciate the invite, Henry. It's very kind of you, but I'm not spending the holidays alone."

Emma's head spun so fast that he thought she'd hurt her neck.

Interesting.

"Oh, who are you spending it with then?"

Killian debated how he'd respond, but Henry didn't understand the weight of his question.

"My brother, Liam. He lives in town too, and we'll spend it together with his wife." Killian looked over to Emma to try and gauge her reaction.

Nothing.

Killian looked up at the clock hanging by the front door. They'd been there for two hours! He didn't want them to leave, but he knew he'd pushed his luck far enough today.

"Henry? I know you and your mum have a bit of a drive left, and I heard there was a storm coming. I reckon you should get on the road before you're trapped here."

"Oh, okay. You're right. Do you mind if I get something before we go? I've had my eye on something, and I want to get it for my Mom."

"Of course, lad! Anything you want, it's on the house."

"Killian, we can't. It's only right we pay for it."

That was the first time she'd addressed him. "I know, love, but spending the afternoon with Henry has been a joy. Please, allow me."

The two adults couldn't look away from each other while Henry went and picked out his gift. Killian started taking steps towards Emma as he realized their time was already ending yet again.

"Swan-"

"How'd you know?" Henry came back with his gift.

A swan.

It was a centerpiece he'd been working on. Over the last five years, he found himself drawn to the animal. Whenever he was stuck creatively, he always could work through it with a swan piece.

"How'd you know that was our last name?"

"I…your mum said it earlier." She didn't, but he didn't think Henry would call him on it.

"Well, Henry, say thank you to Killian. We need to get back on the road."

Henry gave Killian a hug and thanked him for his time. He sprinted to the door, leaving them alone once again.

"Emma…"

"Thanks for this afternoon. Bye, Killian." Emma had already started to walk away before he could say another word.

He stood there for a moment, but he didn't want her to leave. He tried to find the words to stop her, but he saw her standing there, frozen. He hoped that maybe she'd say anything before walking out of his life again.

Then he saw what she was looking at. The storm wasn't on its way.

It was here.

A couple of inches already covered the parking lot.

"Swan, please don't drive in this."

"It'll be fine. I just put on snow tires because I had a feeling this would happen."

He was dismissed, he knew it and didn't want to push it further. Emma and Henry ran to the car, and Killian couldn't help but watch to make sure they made it away safely. He saw Emma try and start her bug, but nothing happened.

Oh fuck.

---------

This couldn't be happening.

Not after being trapped in the same store as the man who has haunted her dreams. She tried to start the bug, but nothing happened.

"Mom?" She could see Henry's eyes started to water. He was scared, and her frustration probably didn't help.

"It's fine, kid. You know how this car can be finicky."

"I'm cold. Can we go back to the shop while we wait for it to heat up?"

Emma didn't want to, but the bug wasn't giving her much hope. She looked up and saw Killian still standing there as he watched them.

"SWAN! Get back in here!"

Emma thought it, but she didn't want to look like she was giving into him. She probably would've stayed out for another couple of minutes if it weren't for the kid shivering next to her.

"Ugh, fine. Henry, let's go back in."

They sprinted back into the shop, and Killian greeted them at the door. He offered to look at her car, which she took him up on. The two stood inside as they watched Killian fight with the bug.

After nearly thirty minutes, Killian came back inside with a disappointing look upon his otherwise handsome face.

"So, good news-bad news, Swan." He waited for a response, but she didn't seem to be in the mood to play games. "The good news is the piece I need to replace is inexpensive and is super easy to change out. The, um, bad news is that I can't get the piece in until tomorrow afternoon."

"What do you mean?"

"Liam, my brother, he's a mechanic. He's not available right now, but he has the piece, and we can get it from him early tomorrow and send you on your way." Emma didn't give him any reaction beyond being frustrated with the situation and the joke that apparently was her life. "I will call Widow Lucas and see if she has any rooms available for the evening." He didn't wait for any acknowledgment before he turned away.

Henry seemed to have sensed the tension this time and decided to walk around the store while Emma stood frozen. What tiny smidge of hope she had disappeared once she overheard Killian say, "Please check again, love. Are you sure you have nothing?"

Perfect. They had no place to stay for the night.

"Uh, Swan? I'm not sure if you heard, but it seems as though there's no room at the inn. Pardon the pun."

"Well, thanks for checking. We'll figure something out. Thanks, Killian."

Emma wasn't sure what she would figure out. It's different now that she had Henry, otherwise, she would've toughed it out and stayed in her car. She looked back outside to the storm. There was no way she would have the Nolans come out in this - even though they totally would in a heartbeat.

"Swan…listen, I know this isn't ideal. And I don't want to make you any more uncomfortable than I already have, but I cannot let you and your boy go out in the cold. I, uh, my house is right behind here. And I have two guest rooms. I'm not going to force you to do anything, but would you consider staying with me, I mean at my house, for the evening?"

At first, Emma wanted to laugh in his face. Then yell. Yelling sounded really good right about now.

How dare he make such an offer! After everything he'd done to her, with her.

Focus Emma.

But then she saw Henry wander back to her. She couldn't punish Henry for Killian's lack of communication all those years ago. He had multiple guest rooms, she didn't miss how he made that explicitly clear.

She looked back at those ocean blue eyes and was lost in them, in the memories of that week. Damn, she missed him.

FOCUS EMMA.

"Fine. Thank you, Killian."

Emma definitely caught him off guard with how quickly she'd given in. Killian asked for a couple of moments to close up the shop to go home. He wasn't kidding, the shop was 20 steps from his house. Not that she counted.

When they walked in, it looked like everything a home should. The one she'd told Killian she'd dreamt about growing up. It was her dream home.

Oh fuck.

---------

He was surprised with how easily Emma gave in would be an understatement. Something told Killian it had more to do with the kid currently eating him out of house and home more than anything else. He'd take what he could get.

He knew it was a risk bringing her here, to their dream home. They'd talked about it one of the nights they were tangled up together. He didn't mean to model his house after their conversation. Still, subconsciously over time, he noticed how he'd done exactly that. Killian assumed it would be the closest they'd ever get to their dream home together.

But now she was here. He wouldn't push her, but he'd be damned if he didn't savor every moment.

Emma had barely said a thing, but Henry suggested a game night after dinner. She couldn't avoid him. The trio played Monopoly, one of Killian's favorites.

He noticed Emma was a bit aggressive with her buying of property. They just so happened to be the ones Killian had voiced he planned on buying after his first trip around the board. At first, he thought he'd imagined it, but then he saw it again. She was smiling, hell, she was laughing and enjoying herself.

Eventually, Henry gave in and watched the adults play before looking for a movie to watch.

"Swan, you're a pirate!"

"Oh, looks like someone is being a sore loser." She threw her head back and laughed at him. It was the most beautiful noise he'd ever heard.

Correction, the second most. First place also belonged to her, but that was saved for more adult games.

Apparently, Killian's rolls weren't up to par, and Emma jokingly accused him of cheating. "Don't think I'm taking my eyes off you for a second."

At first, he was concerned, but he saw the corners of her mouth barely twitch up to a smile. Killian licked his lips and leaned forward. "I'd despair if you did." He wasn't sure where the hell that'd come from. Now concerned he'd gone too far, he made eye contact with Emma with his apology on the tip of his tongue.

Except he didn't apologize. He couldn't because he saw Emma blushing, and fuck if he didn't miss seeing how far down that blush ran.

The game didn't last much longer as Emma was well ahead of Killian almost from the start. Henry was very much over the game as he waited for the two of them to make their way over to the couches for the Muppets Christmas movie.

Henry decided he wanted to sprawl out on the couch. Which, of course, left the loveseat for the two of them to share. Killian was about to offer to sit on the floor when Emma had asked if he'd bring them over a blanket.

He'd be lying if he wasn't confused by the whiplash of Emma's mood, but he wasn't going to question this gift. Killian made his way over to Emma, and at first, there was a couple of inches of room between them. But he swore that Emma had gotten closer to him as the movie went on. Or maybe he moved closer to her. But she wasn't retreating at his touch anymore, and he thanked his lucky stars.

They talked throughout the movie, laughing at the ridiculous hijinx. At one point, Henry had shushed them since they talked too much. After that, they settled down, still trying to make the other one laugh without disrupting Henry.

Henry had fallen asleep at the end of the movie, so Emma brought him up to one of the bedrooms so he could sleep in peace for the rest of the evening. While she went upstairs, Killian decided to make some popcorn and brew hot chocolate for the two of them.

Emma had come back downstairs when he saw her in her pajamas. She was wearing one of his shirts.

The one he'd left five years ago.

Oh fuck.

---------

She'd forgotten that she had bought this shirt. His shirt.

Go figure they'd run into each other.

Emma was scared he'd read too much into it, but then again, would he really be all that wrong? Tonight she'd let her guard down again, and she missed him. Things were easy between them, playing stupid Monopoly and laughing at that silly movie.

Neither of which were actually stupid. She was merely frustrated with herself for giving in to him so easily again. She nearly jumped him after the look he'd given her at the table. If not for the ten-year-old who now slept soundly upstairs.

They were alone again, and Emma wasn't sure what to make of the recent development. She saw his face, he'd recognized the shirt instantly. She'd hoped he'd show her an ounce of mercy and move on with the evening. As if he were reading her mind, he did just that.

"I thought some substances were in order, Swan."

"Don't forget the-"

"Cinnamon. Already topped you off, but I have more if you'd like some." Killian extended his arm with hot chocolate in hand, and Emma made her way over to him without a second thought. Emma hadn't had a good cup of hot chocolate all season and moaned as she took a sip without a thought.

When she looked up to Killian, he looked almost in pain. She recognized that face. It meant danger. As much fun as that sounded, she couldn't give in. Not again.

"Ready for the second movie?" Emma broke the moment. She felt guilty, but she needed to protect herself. Protect them from each other.

She saw the defeat in his eyes, but he covered it back up quickly. The two headed back into the living room. There was a brief moment where they were both unsure where to sit. Henry wasn't there anymore, so there was no reason to sit together anymore.

"Do you want to sit over here again? You're a lot warmer than the blanket, and your house is freezing."

That was the lamest line in the history of lamest lines.

But that didn't deter Killian. She knew she was giving him mixed signals, but he respected her boundaries which only made her want him more.

Stupid respectful English man.

The two decided to go with the best Christmas movie, Die Hard.

As their drinks and popcorn were long forgotten, Emma felt Killian stretch his arm behind her head halfway through the movie.

She laughed at the move.

"Are we in junior high?" Emma turned to face him, but he could barely look her in the eyes. She could see the tips of his elf-like ears turning bright red. He didn't say anything, but he didn't move his arm. After another beat, Emma leaned into his side.

Both were silent as they watched Bruce Willis climb through the air duct.

Then Killian lowered his arm onto Emma's; he tugged her ever so slightly closer into his side. Emma didn't stop it.

She missed his touches, even the innocent ones. Although nothing was innocent about the ways Killian had touched her before.

As the movie progressed, Emma had practically wrapped herself around Killian. His head rested above hers. She'd sworn she'd felt him kiss the top of her head as the credits rolled.

Netflix's homepage soon illuminated the living room, but neither moved. Emma didn't want to break contact first. She missed him so much. Emma knew it was insane to fall in love with someone in a week, but she had.

Then he left.

For his wedding.

The veil was broken. She remembered why she was so frustrated and heartbroken. He had to fly back to England for a wedding. He had used her as his last hurrah and left her with a note staying where he'd gone and his phone number.

That was it.

Killian must've sensed the shift in Emma's demeanor.

"Swan? You alright, love?"

Emma nearly jumped off the couch. "Don't call me that, Killian. I shouldn't be here. We…we shouldn't have just done that."

"Done what, lo - Swan? We watched a movie. That's all, and I'm confused where this is coming from."

"You're confused? Do I need to remind you why you left me all those years ago?" Emma didn't realize how loud she was until she finished her question, which sounded more like an acquisition than anything.

"Why I left? Do you mean the wedding? I apologized for having to leave and left you my number."

Emma walked away from him, beyond frustrated and disgusted with how carefree he was about the whole thing.

"Yes, Killian. You left me a simple note stating you were going to your wedding and left me your number. Real classy move there, by the way. I can't believe I was starting to fall for you again. You'd think I'd learn! And where's your wife? Oh my God, you're married and we just fucking cuddled on the couch like fucking teenagers. What - why are you laughing at me?! What the fuck, Killian Jones. Are you kidding me right now?"

She saw red, and she was about two seconds away from grabbing Henry and taking her chances at the inn.

"Emma Marie Swan. You beautifully stubborn incredible woman, whom I love so bloody much. Did you truly think I left you for my own wedding?" Emma shook her head. She didn't miss what he'd said. "Emma, come here." He waited for her to make her way back to him. "It wasn't my wedding, darling. It was Liam's, my brother I mentioned earlier. I was the best man and needed to fly out for the wedding."

Oh fuck.

---------

He'd just told her he loved her.

She didn't run. She might've thrown a pillow at him, but she was still here in his arms.

He was so upset that his actions had hurt her. That she had ever believed he could ever hurt her in a million years.

"Emma -"

"You keep calling me that." That's all she said. He wasn't sure if she was still in shock.

"Aye, that's your name, my love. And truthfully, I've missed saying it over the years."

She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. She looked so scared. "You did?"

Killian had to look away for a brief moment as he felt the tears well in his eyes. She'd never been shown what a treasure she truly was, and Killian had only added to that pain. He looked back down at her; a million thoughts raced in his mind. He'd thought about this moment often over the years, what he would say if he ever found her in front of him again.

All thoughts left him, all grand speeches disappeared with one look at her.

"Aye."

"Good."

Killian wasn't sure who moved first, but Killian's lips were on hers in the next moment. He'd almost forgotten how soft they were. Almost.

He felt her hands wander as they played with the hair on the nape of his neck. He was half-hard, and they'd barely gotten to first base. She would be his undoing.

Then she moaned into their kiss.

No, that would be his undoing.

Killian wanted to take things slow for their first time together, but he couldn't control himself. Not as Emma rocked her hips into his so wantonly. He slowly moved them back towards the couch until Emma fell back into the seat. Killian hovered over her as his two arms framed her.

He'd sworn he heard her whine in protest, but he was in no position to make fun of her need. He was just as greedy as she was. Before thinking of his next move, Emma made it for him and brought him down. He assumed she'd want him on top, but he had other plans. It'd been five years since he’d had a taste of her, and he wasn't going to wait even one more moment to get another.

She was so sweet; he'd forgotten how much he loved her taste.

Oh fuck.

---------

She missed him for many reasons, but right now, he was reminding her why she missed his mouth.

"Fuck, Emma, I could come just from this alone. You are absolutely soaked, my darling."

Emma could barely compute the dirty words between his licks. She hadn't felt pleasure like this since their last time, and he was making her go foggy in the brain.

"Don't, oh fuck, don't you dare. Not yet."

"Don't what, love?" He stopped giving her the most intense smolder, disarming her even further. "Hmm? Come on now, Swan, use your words." He smacked her bundle of nerves when she didn't respond. Emma didn't know how intense that pleasure could feel. She'd have to catalog it for later.

"Don't finish yet, need to…."

He laughed. The smug asshole. The smug asshole with the most talented mouth. "Oh, my love, I'm not finishing anywhere else but inside you. Don't you worry, lass, you'll get your fill soon."

He dove back in; this time he added a finger, then two, making her see stars faster than she had in years. She could barely think straight as she came down from her high as Killian's mouth slowly teased her.

Without a second thought, she reached for him and kissed him once more. She could taste herself, and although new, she didn't mind it. The fact he could make her come undone so quickly after years apart only turned her on more.

As the two broke for air, Emma spoke up, "You said you had two guest rooms?" Emma saw his face fall for a moment; she realized she hadn't been as smooth as she intended. "What I meant was, I was hoping you had…a…" She finally felt the nerves she'd pushed down from earlier. For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes.

"Would you like to come to bed with me?" She could only shake her head in response. "Emma? I have no expectations. I didn't think you'd sit next to me tonight, let alone anything we just did. Being near you, having you in my arms, is more than I thought I'd ever get again."

She wanted to be brave, for him but primarily for her. He'd been the man of her dreams, and he was finally in front of her again. After a moment of reflection, she found her voice again. "Killian, I know we need to talk and figure some things out, but I know three things."

It was his turn to nervously shake his head.

"First, I'm so freaking happy Henry had to go to the bathroom and that out of all the places to stop, I felt drawn to stop at your shop." The two chuckled as they thanked Henry for this moment. "Two, if you don't make good on your earlier promises, you'll be in big trouble."

Emma was completely thrown off balance as Killian gathered her from the couch and nearly ran up the stairs. She would've been impressed if she weren't so concerned he'd drop her by accident. They made it to his bedroom in no time, and he carefully placed her on the bed as if she were something precious.

She was, to him at least.

Emma removed her clothes as Killian watched her from the foot of the bed. He followed soon after. At first, he kept his boxers on and Emma wagged her finger before he knelt down.

The two explored each other, just like they did all those years ago. At one point, they thought they heard Henry, but after another moment of silence, they realized it was the wind. While he was temporarily distracted, Emma flipped Killian onto his back.

"I'd much prefer to do more enjoyable activities with you on your back, darling." He stuck out his bottom lip to emphasize his pout.

"Patience," Emma whispered back, mocking him as he had told her that downstairs. "Grab onto the headboard, and do not move."

Emma wasn't sure where this commanding voice came from inside, but Killian seemed to have loved it as he moved his hands instantly. She moved her mouth down his body. She had never been a fan of chest hair until Killian. But now? She found nothing sexier than the dark patches of hair that covered his perfect chest. He was firm but not overly muscular. He was perfect.

Killian whimpered as Emma explored the planes of his chest. As she snuck down lower, she saw his hands move for a moment, and she stopped immediately. She would've pinned his hands to the bed if she weren't so far down. "Behave. Otherwise, you won't get your reward, Killian."

He instantly complied with her demand, he didn't take the threat lightly.

Emma finally made her way down to her prize. God, he was bigger than she remembered. His cock was red and swollen and was leaking. At first, she teased with light kisses, but Killian's resolve gave in as his hips lifted from the bed.

"Emma, please love, take pity."

She looked up, her one hand still stroking him, "No."

Emma dove back down, taking him into her mouth entirely. She changed her speeds, sometimes humming around his tip. He made the most delicious moans, and Emma was soaked from it. She started to touch herself while she sucked him off.

"Fuck, love, so fucking glorious. Look at you, sucking my cock and touching yourself. You dirty lass."

Emma was about to climax again, and she could feel how close Killian was. She knew she needed to stop if they wanted to be ready for the main event.

"Emma, darling, this isn't where I want to finish. Not for the first time." Emma finally relented and let him go with a pop. This time it was Killian's turn to flip her over. "There we go, Swan, much better."

Before she could give her retort, Emma saw Killian reaching over for the condoms, and she remembered something.

"Killian?"

He stopped mid-tear of the packet. "Yes?"

"The third thing I wanted to mention." She met his eyes and found the courage. "I love you."

That was all Killian needed before he attacked her mouth again. "I don't know if I can do gentle or slow right now, but Emma Swan, I love you so much it hurts, and I promise I'll show you how much after this. We're long overdue, my love."

She merely nodded as Killian lined himself up with her entrance. He didn't go slow, it wasn't gentle, but it was perfect. The two found a rhythm after a couple experimental thrusts. They lasted longer than either of them anticipated. Emma came first, Killian followed shortly after. He fell on top of her as he caught his breath.

"That was…"

"A one-time thing."

Emma thought Killian would get whiplash for how fast his head twisted. She couldn't keep it together and started laughing immediately.

"Oy, wench, you'll pay for that! It's rude to play with a man's heart like that. Especially as he still has the rubber on."

Emma rolled over and batted her eyes. "I'm sorry, Killian. I love you. Am I forgiven?"

"You're lucky I love you too, Swan." He said it jokingly, but Emma knew she was indeed fortunate.

The two came together two more times that night. They eagerly made up for the lost time.

When Emma woke up the following day, she was hot. Like burning up. She didn't remember the blanket being so heavy before she went to bed, then she realized it. Killian had practically wrapped himself around her. He held onto her like she might disappear if he didn't.

She was so touched by this incredibly infuriating, handsome, smug, charming man that she loved. Emma debated how to wake him up, but she remembered they weren't alone. Henry would be up soon and expect breakfast.

Emma shimmied herself out of his clutch and made her way to the kitchen. She assumed Killian wouldn't mind her going through his cabinets as she looked for something to make. Eventually, she settled on pancakes and got to work. Henry would be up soon, the one thing he didn't get from her was an internal clock.

She heard the bedroom door open as she finished putting down the second batch. She assumed it was Henry, but it was her other favorite guy.

Killian came up behind her as she flipped the pancakes. "Something smells delicious."

God, his voice was sin itself. "It's just from a box," she whispered as she leaned into his embrace.

"I wasn't talking about the pancakes, love." Emma didn't realize he had spun her around until his lips were on hers again. When they broke for air Emma was thrown not to have his lips immediately back on hers.

"I'm just…I missed you, Emma. So much. I can't believe you're here. I just can't believe…"

"I know, me too."

Killian immediately dove back in with the same hunger as before. Emma was about to say the hell with the pancakes when they heard the upstairs bathroom toilet flush.

They were not alone, and they needed to remember that. Henry made his way downstairs and grabbed a plate. Killian asked the boy how he slept, and the two fell into a conversation about the shop.

Emma watched as Killian treated Henry as an adult and didn't baby him. It was crazy how fast the two of them bonded. She knew she wasn't the only one who was smitten with Killian. Emma also knew they'd need to talk about what came next because there had to be a next. She wouldn't allow for anything less.

"Swan, I think we have enough pancakes to feed several Romanian powerlifters. Come sit down, love."

Emma rolled her eyes, and she fixed herself a plate. She didn't mean to, but she placed a gentle kiss on Killian's head as she walked by. She didn't realize what she'd done until she saw Killian's eyes blown wide.

"You guys can chill. I saw you down here already."

Emma choked on the mouthful of pancake, concerned he meant last night.

"Yeah, Mom, you guys should be careful by the stove. We're not allowed to play around in the kitchen."

Both Emma and Killian had a sigh of relief that he only saw their morning activities. That would be an adjustment for Emma as she explored this with Killian. The rest of the meal went off without a hitch or reference to their rekindled romance.

Emma stayed in to clean as the boys went outside to make Olaf. It's when she realized she was about to uproot her entire life and Henry's, and she couldn't think of a single thing to stop her from making this crazy move. No voices of self-doubt for her or Killian's love for her.

She was excited about their future; she felt complete. Not that she needed a man to feel complete, but that she would have Killian. Her other half, her home. She knew they had a lot to discuss and figure out, but she wasn't scared of what came next for once. They were finally home and not just for Christmas.

#captain swan secret santa #csss2021 #secret santa 2021 #captain swan #emma swan #killian jones #henry mills #i'll be home for christmas #cs fanfic #cs ff #once upon a time

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stahlop · 3 years ago

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Let Your Heart Be Light

Happy Holidays!

This is my Secret Santa gift to @piinfeathers, an amazing artist. Two of her pieces inspired this fic: Bring your daughter to work and Emma convinces Killian to take a ‘snow day’.

Thank you for @cssecretsanta2020 for putting this event on again. And thank you to @firawren for being my beta!

This is a companion piece to Not all Treasure is Silver or Gold (sometimes it’s chocolate) a Halloween fic I wrote a few years back. You do not have to have read it to read this piece, but it does give you a sense of the family dynamic a bit more.

Summary:

Emma goes into labor on Christmas Eve during a major snowstorm.

Rated: T

On Ao3

Two months had seemed like forever at Halloween when Emma had been happily munching Peanut M&M’s and passing out candy to all the Storybrooke boys and girls, but now it couldn’t end fast enough. If she had to hear Hope and DL (sorry, Dylan, as he now wanted to be called in all his four-year-old wisdom) complain that this baby was going to ruin Christmas one more time, well, Emma wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but it was annoying her greatly. The baby’s estimated due date was actually December 30th, but seeing as Hope had been born exactly on time and DL (Dylan, she still wasn’t used to that) had been two days early, Emma was wholly prepared for a Christmas baby. Because here it was, Christmas Eve, and Emma was almost positive she’d just felt her first contraction.

Of course, it could still be Braxton-Hicks. Emma had been having those ‘practice’ contractions for the last few months, hence the modified bed rest she’d been on. And as much as she loved the attention Killian had lavished on her, and as appealing as it had sounded to catch up on every television show and movie she’d missed since moving to Storybrooke all those years ago, after a week Emma had been bored out of her mind and would have given anything to just walk down Main Street and go to Granny’s. But no, modified bed rest meant no leaving the house and no driving the Bug, and most of all, no magic. Relying solely on Killian and her parents to take her anywhere was a pain in the butt. But she thought she had dealt with it well. And she’d even gotten used to Braxton-Hicks rearing its ugly head at all hours of the day and night. But this one contraction was decidedly not Braxton-Hicks.

The first time she’d experienced the dreaded practice contractions had been when she was six months along. She’d been looking at the family photo album Henry and Violet had gifted them for her and Killian’s anniversary. She’d had tears seeing Henry as a ten-year-old boy again from when he’d first found her (damn hormones), and they continued to fall as she moved through the years in the album. His prom picture with Violet stood out, as did their engagement pictures, and finally their wedding pictures. Emma had been so thrilled that Henry’s first love had lasted. It’s not like he could have gone out into the real world and brought a girl home. How would they have explained that (And she didn’t even want to think about the fact that Violet was due with their first in seven months)?

The pictures then shifted to Emma pregnant with Hope. The fact that it was 17 years after she’d had Henry weirded her out slightly. That Henry was the same age she’d been when she’d given birth to him and was about to become an older brother at that age…well, let’s just say that Killian had to calm her nerves a lot. She knew the situation was completely different—she was older, had a loving husband and family, she wasn’t in jail—but she was still nervous as hell. And then Hope was born and the tears fell even more as her fingertips ghosted over the picture of her holding a newborn Hope in her arms. It had been so surreal having a baby again. And Killian had been the best father and husband she could have ever hoped for. The father/daughter bond had been sealed from the start. Killian just couldn’t get enough of his little girl. Her favorite pictures had to be when she and Killian brought Hope to work with them. Henry had insisted on photographing the whole experience. So, there was Hope in what Henry had called a ‘reverse Winnie the Pooh’ outfit (and Henry insisted on calling her Winnie the whole day she wore that outfit), sucking on the charms of Killian’s necklace as they walked to the station. There was Emma giving Hope kisses and making her squeal. But Emma’s favorite had to be the one where Hope had fallen asleep on Killian’s chest. And it was on that picture, as she wiped away more tears, lamenting over the fact that Hope was seven-years-old now, that the contractions had started.

Emma had been scared out of her wits. It was too early to have the baby. She knew this was considered a geriatric pregnancy, what with her being 41 now. And honestly, when they’d found out they were pregnant again, they’d been almost as scared as they’d been when they’d discovered they were pregnant with Hope. They’d gotten rid of all their baby stuff, not intending to have any more. Emma knew exactly when they’d conceived this little peanut. The children had been at her parents’ farm, and there was a late snow that March. Emma had finally gotten back down to her pre-pregnancy weight (pre-Hope weight to be precise) and had been feeling good. She’d been in nothing but her robe that morning and convinced Killian to take a snow day with her. The good citizens of Storybrooke weren’t going to be getting into much trouble with the way the snow was coming down. Any calls to the station were already forwarded to their phones overnight, and spending the whole day in bed with her husband had seemed like a great idea at the time.

She was jolted out of her reverie when another contraction hit, the pain starting in her back and spreading around her stretched out stomach like an electric current. Emma couldn’t remember if she’d felt the labor in her back previously. This is why women continued to have babies after the first child, they couldn’t remember the pain of it until it was too late. Considering this was only the second contraction and how painful it was, maybe she should call Killian. Luckily, her father had been helping out at the station ever since she’d been put on bed rest. They were also training a new deputy. Nicholas, or Hansel, had decided he wanted to go into the law enforcement business rather than take over his father’s garage. He had a good head on his shoulders, and Emma hadn’t had any issues with him after their first meeting under less than desirable circumstances.

She considered calling Killian. She should call Killian. Mary Margaret had taken Hope and D…Dylan to make Christmas cookies and gingerbread houses that afternoon so Emma could finish wrapping presents while Killian and David were at the station. But she’d only had two contractions, they weren’t even that painful, yet, and her water hadn’t broken. She just needed to breathe through them. Checking her phone, she saw that there was another two hours before Killian was due to arrive back and bring the children with him (Mary Margaret dropping them off at the station). She would be fine. Just fine.

An hour later Emma was not fine. Those two contractions had ramped up and were now five minutes apart. Her back felt like it was going to split into two. She didn’t remember her back hurting this much with her last two. She tried walking around the house as she’d done during her last two pregnancies. But that seemed to only make things worse. Bouncing on her yoga ball didn’t help either. Emma was close to tears and very frustrated, and that’s when Killian texted her to look outside.

Emma went to the front of the house and saw nothing but white blanketing the street, while the sky had large heavy flakes gently falling. When did that happen? Obviously, when she’d been walking through the house trying to ease the labor pains. Another text made her phone vibrate in her pocket, and it was Killian again, telling her he may be late because he couldn’t drive home until the snow plows had cleared a path. Another painful contraction tore through Emma’s body. They had gotten progressively more painful. The contraction, along with the pain in her back, and now Killian telling her he may be late (not to mention the hormones), made her burst into tears. She knew it was time to call Killian.

The phone almost seemed like a foreign object in her hand as she pulled up her most recent phone conversations and tapped Killian’s name (with a little hook emoji next to it).

He answered on the fourth ring, which annoyed her slightly. “Hello, love,” Killian answered, sounding slightly out of breath. “Leroy’s snow plow is stuck and we’re trying to dig it out,” he informed her, her annoyance slipping away. “Can I give you a call back in a few minutes?” He sounded distracted (which he was, he was digging out a snow plow), and Emma was almost tempted to say yes, when another contraction ripped through her.

“I’m in labor!” She gritted out as quickly as she could while the contraction enveloped her stomach. A muffled thwump came from the other side and Emma was pretty sure Killian had dropped his phone into the snow. She could hear him cursing over the line as he tried to pick the phone back up. It would have been comical if the situation didn’t seem so dire.

“Emma, love, are you still there?” The concern in his voice came through loud and clear. He rattled off all the questions she knew he would ask. How long had the contractions been coming, how long were they lasting, had her water broken yet? She answered them the best she could, sobbing the entire time.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her tears subsiding slightly.

“Whatever for, darling?” He asked, sounding slightly distracted. She knew he was probably trying to get the snow plow out even faster than before.

“I should have called when the first contraction hit an hour ago. I just….I didn’t think it would come on this fast. And then the snow….” Emma began sobbing again. She had no control of her emotions at the moment.

“It’s fine, love.” Killian said comfortingly. “Your father is already on the phone with your mother letting her know the kids will be staying there for now, and I’ll call the hospital after this to let them know we’re coming in. Actually….” He trailed off, something he did when an idea he knew she probably wouldn’t like had come to mind.

“What, Killian?” Another contraction was ripping through her at the moment, she didn’t have time for his guessing games.

“Should I call Regina to poof you over to the hospital?” Emma paused to consider this as the pain in her body subsided. She knew she couldn’t use her magic, but there shouldn’t be any reason why Regina couldn’t use hers to help her get to the hospital.

“Yeah, that might be good.” Killian hung up the phone after telling her he loved her, then texted her to let her know Regina would be there immediately. Purple smoke immediately deposited a very put together Regina Mills into her living room

“Leave it to you to be as dramatic as ever with your child’s birth.” Regina snarked. Emma resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Regina called her dramatic. She wanted to call Regina out about that, but another contraction hit and everything in Emma’s body screamed that this was different.

“Emma?” The slightly higher octave in Regina’s voice alerted Emma to the fact that she could tell something was different as well. Emma looked down to see water spreading out along their wood floors. Shit!

Another contraction slammed through her body without warning. It was sharper and more painful now that the cushion of amniotic fluid was gone. Regina immediately started to help her over to the couch, but the prospect of sitting down while having contractions seemed worse than the actual contractions themselves.

“Emma, I don’t think it’s safe for me to magic you to the hospital like this. But I can bring Killian here, if you’d like.” Being alone, even for a minute, terrified Emma to no end, but giving birth to his child without him terrified her even more, so she nodded yes. Regina poofed out of sight, leaving Emma to wander around the house, hoping to stave off the birth of this child before Regina returned with her husband in tow.

Two more contractions hit before Regina returned, not only with Killian, but with Zelena as well. Emma side-eyed Regina for bringing her sister.

“Darling,” Zelena began, “when I told your parents I’d been a midwife in the Enchanted Forest, I wasn’t lying. Except that it had been in Oz. I actually know how to care for a pregnant woman and help them birth their babies.” Emma gave a barely perceptible nod and then braced herself for another contraction that was coming on.

“May I?” Zelena asked, dousing her hands in sanitizer and putting her hands on Emma’s stomach before she could even answer. Emma could swear she heard Killian growl in the background. She reached out her hand for his and he took it. They both knew Zelena had reformed her ways since having Robin and losing her magic during the Black Fairy’s reign of terror, so she wasn’t a threat, but sometimes Killian fell back into old protective habits. Zelena felt her stomach until the contraction subsided and Emma let out the breath she’d been holding.

“Emma, darling, I think your baby is coming out posterior. Or what you might refer to as sunny side up. The back of their head is hitting your tailbone and that’s why you’re having back labor. You can still labor and have this baby normally, but it’s going to be much more painful and probably take longer than your last births, I can imagine.” Emma was not keen on the sound of that. She’d been lucky with both Hope and DL to have fairly easy labors. She was not at all prepared for a baby in a difficult position and to have it in her home.

“Walk around with her, Hook.” Zelena said, still using his old moniker and receiving a dirty look from him. Zelena smirked. “It will help the baby position itself better. Regina and I will prepare the bedroom for the birth. Maybe let her soak in a warm tub if she can deal with sitting.”

The contractions were picking up now, even though Zelena had said she might be in for a long night.

“Maybe a bath would be helpful?” Killian suggested. They had a jacuzzi tub so it was quite large and fit both of them comfortably. Emma could only nod. The pain was becoming unbearable. She needed something to help manage it if she couldn’t get drugs at the hospital.

Killian finished filling the tub and put in her cushioned bath seat that Emma used when she was luxuriating in the tub. He helped her get out of her sodden pants (she’d almost forgotten her water had broken not too long ago) and the linen shirt of Killian’s she’d taken to wearing. Then he brushed back her hair into a ponytail to keep it dry and out of her face.

The water felt wonderful on her back as she sat on the cushioned seat. The next contraction that hit felt muted with the warm water surrounding her. It may not have been an epidural, but it definitely helped to dull the pain. Emma became aware that it was just her and Killian now. She could faintly hear Regina and Zelena through the closed door, but right now, with the snowstorm raging outside, and she and Killian holed up in the bathroom, it felt like it was only them.

“This reminds me of how this little one was conceived.” Emma said breathing through another contraction (why hadn’t she thought of the bath earlier). Killian gave a salacious smile.

“You mean when you seduced me into having a ‘snow day’, and then we proceeded to not leave the bedroom until your mother came by with the kids?”

“Yeah.” She said, not able to get many words out.

“Seeing you in my robe definitely does things to me, love.�� Emma reached out to grab his hand and hook when another contraction hit. “Try not to break my hand this time.” Killian chuckled.

“It was only a finger.” She mumbled. He quirked his eyebrow in disagreement. Emma laughed, and then immediately started sobbing. Killian’s face fell, not sure how to help her.

“She’s in transition.” Zelena said from the doorway. “The baby should be here soon.” Killian nodded, dumbstruck by the abrupt change in his wife. Emma lifted her head with tears still streaming down her face. She felt as though she were suddenly in a fog and her vision had tunneled. Everything felt surreal. Having had epidurals before, she’d never really experienced the pain that had come along with labor. She’d felt slight bursts in her stomach and then pushed when the doctor had told her she was ready. This was a whole different ball game going on.

“Come, Emma,” Killian said, towel now in his hand as he offered his hook, “Time to get out of the bath and meet this wee one.” Her husband’s voice always soothed her. Emma nodded in agreement, but needed help from Killian and Regina to get to her feet. The moment she was out of the bath the contractions seemed amplified. Her two helpers got her to the bed just in time for a huge jolt of pain to hit down below.

“Ah!” Emma screamed, the urge to push now overwhelming. It was the only thing her mind could focus on. PUSH!

“Emma!” She was suddenly aware that Zelena was screaming at her. “Don’t push unless you’re having a contraction, you could hurt yourself otherwise.” Emma scoffed at that. Pushing seemed like an involuntary action now. It was as natural as breathing. Another contraction hit and the pain that ripped through Emma’s back was excruciating.

“I can’t give birth like this!” She panted. “I feel like my back is going to break.” Killian brought a wet washcloth up to her brow. When had he gotten that?

“Try being on your hands and knees.” Zelena suggested. She helped her up from the sitting position and situated her. “Takes pressure off the back.” But when the next contraction hit, Emma’s arms and legs buckled under her from the pain.

“I can’t do it,” She moaned, rolling onto her side. That position felt good. “The baby’s going to have to stay in. It can’t come out.” Regina and Zelena smirked at Emma’s statement, while Killian just gave her a comforting smile and a small laugh.

“You know that can’t happen, love.” He pushed stray hairs that had escaped her ponytail from her forehead. “Just push when the contractions hit and our little one will be here before you know it.” Emma just shook her head and continued to cry as Killian looked on helplessly.

“This is completely normal.” Zelena said reassuredly. “And she’s never done it without the drugs so she’s never experienced the pain before.” She put her hands on Emma’s stomach again as Emma moaned at the pressure Zelena’s hands brought. She gave Emma a big smile. “Good news! I think this baby will be out in a few pushes.”

The prospect of meeting her child gave Emma new vigor, and the side position was really working for her. When the next contraction came she pushed with all her might. She could physically feel her baby moving downward. She almost couldn’t believe she’d missed this with Hope and DL (dammit, she was in labor and she was going to call her son whatever she wanted), but at the same time, she was glad she was never going to experience this again. The contraction subsided without the promised baby.

“You did so good, Emma.” Her husband whispered. “Just a few more and you’ll never have to do this again.” She felt the smile against her ear. She felt the next contraction gearing up. Emma pushed as though she’d never pushed before. The pain was almost blinding. A feral scream escaped her throat. There was no way she was going to survive this. It was too much. Too much. Too…

The sound of her baby crying alerted her to the fact that all the pain and pressure had ended. She looked up to see Zelena holding her baby with a proud smile on her face and Regina looking on in wonder.

Zelena wrapped the baby in one of the new blankets Killian had bought and handed the baby to an exhausted Emma as she adjusted herself to sitting up in a better position on the bed. She realized the bed was covered in towels so that her sheets wouldn’t be ruined (good call). Emma stared at the baby she was holding. She couldn’t believe they had a newborn again. Emma stroked the tufts of dark hair that barely covered the baby’s head.

“Emma,” Killian said in the same awestruck tone he had every time a child of theirs was born, “Do we have another lass or lad?” Emma laughed out loud, she hadn’t even thought to look, so used to having the doctor announce it at the hospital. It hadn’t even occurred to her that she didn’t know. She slowly unwrapped the blanket from the babe as if she were unwrapping a fragile present, then wrapped the baby back up to preserve the warmth.

“We have another lass.” She proclaimed. Killian gave her a huge smile before kissing her.

“Born at 12:01.” Zelena announced.

“Looks like the kids were right to worry about this baby coming on Christmas.” Killian said, stroking the soft skin of his new daughter.

“I’m sure they won’t mind once they meet her.” Emma said. She couldn’t take her eyes off the precious bundle in her arms. The baby opened her eyes and where Emma had expected to see blue eyes, she was surprised to see green staring back at her.

“Did you two have a name picked out?” Regina asked, breaking the bubble she and Killian had been in. They hadn’t. They had only agreed on Margaret as the middle name in honor of her mother. A memory stirred in the back of Emma’s mind.

“I knew a girl once, we were in middle school together. We had to do a name project, researching the history of our name and why our parents chose it, and whatnot. Which made me depressed, of course. I could look up the meaning of Emma, but I had no parents, so I couldn’t find out why I’d been named that. Anyways, there was a girl in the class named Natalie and her name meant Christmas Day, and I always thought that was kind of neat. It kind of goes with the theme of our kids' names being significant.” Hope’s name had been a no-brainer, with her middle name after Killian’s mother. Dylan’s name had associations with the sea, with his middle name being for Killian’s brother.

“Natalie Margaret Jones.” Killian said, getting a feel for the name on his tongue. “It’s perfect, love. Hello Natalie. I’m your Papa. And this wonderful woman here is your Mama.” Natalie yawned in response.

“It’s been a tough day for her.” Emma quipped.

Regina decided she didn’t need to stay anymore and poofed herself away, telling Zelena to text her when she was done. Zelena wanted to stay for a few more hours to ensure everything was in the range of normal. She called Emma’s doctor and informed her of the baby’s early arrival. Emma shot off a text to her parents letting them know about Natalie’s arrival and that they’d FaceTime tomorrow, and to let them know their presents from Santa had been delivered, even if they weren’t at the house (now that Natalie had been born, she planned on using her magic to wrap all the presents and put them under the tree for the children’s arrival).

Zelena finally left when Emma and Killian could barely keep their eyes open anymore, promising to come back the next morning to check on them. Emma had to admit, the prospect of sleeping in her own bed with no nurses coming in to check on her sounded amazing. Natalie had drifted off to sleep, completely sated from Emma’s breast. Neither she nor Killian could stop looking at Natalie’s little fingers and toes.

“I guess there’s no going back now.” Killian whispered, careful not to wake their newborn daughter. Emma gave a small laugh which startled Natalie slightly, her hands coming to her face, then gently lowering down before settling down upon her chest.

“Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, sweet Natalie.” Emma said, rubbing her finger up and down the soft baby cheek.

‘Merry Christmas, love.” Killian said, giving Emma a kiss on her temple. “You’ve given me the greatest Christmas present ever.” He smiled before kissing his daughter on the top of her head.

“Merry Christmas, Killian.”

Tag List: (Let me know if you want to be added or removed)

@profdanglaisstuff @thisonesatellite @mariakov81 @hollyethecurious @winterbaby89 @jennjenn615 @kmomof4 @superchocovian @lfh1226-linda @ilovemesomekillianjones @itsfabianadocarmo @xsajx @qualitycoffeethings @snowbellewells @courtorderedcake @klynn-stormz @tiganasummertree @therooksshiningknight @teamhook @deckerstarblanche @onceratheart18 @the-darkdragonfly @wefoundloveunderthelight @earanemith @cssecretsanta2020

#csss2021 #cs fanfic #csff #cs canon divergence #cs fluff #captain swan secret santa 2021

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eddisfargo · 3 years ago

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Not a day will go by (1/?)

CSSS 2021 gift for @resident-of-storybrooke! HI!! Surprise, I am not in fact an author you know, I know this because I have never written anything! But perhaps you have seen my name on kudos lists! I have seen yours! Although yours, being related to the correct fandom, is probably more sticky-outy to me than mine is to you haha. Anyway, I really hope you enjoy!! Thank you for inspiring me to finally take the plunge and get one of these onto “paper”!

@cssecretsanta2020

(AO3)

Summary: Captain Hook wakes up in a strange bed, next to a woman he does not remember. He finds nothing particularly unusual about this situation. But the woman seems to know him very well.In Storybrooke, there's only one surefire way to get back a lost memory. And it's not going to work until he loves her.

Tags:

Amnesia

Post-S6

but Killian sure does not realize it's Post-S6

he remembers none of it

He knows who he is! but does not remember anyone he's met since the show started

A/N: I was pretty nervous about signing up for this Secret Santa, because I've never written an OUaT fic. In fact, I haven't written... anything... since I was a young teen. At least not outside of my head! Here's hoping it's a little bit... better than those were. Hope you'll bear with me!

I wasn't able to have a completed fic in time for Christmas, especially since this chapter got so long. No idea how long it'll be--I've kind of never done this before. But my giftee said one chapter was good for now! Thanks for having faith in me! I hope you like it! And I'll try to release the follow-up chapters in a timely manner! I know generally where I want it to go.

I rated this M just to be safe, but so you know there's a bit of a fade-to-black.

Chapter 1: Not for the first time

Not for the first time, and surely not for the last, Hook woke up in an unfamiliar bed. Light was beginning to filter in through a large, high window. Damn it, he’d fallen asleep. And someone warm, soft and very naked was pressed up against him.He took a moment to appreciate the sensation before setting himself to the problem of how to extricate himself without waking her.

How much had he had to drink last night? The inevitable headache had not yet set in, but he had no very clear memory of how he’d gotten into this bed with this—he managed to pull away far enough to take a glance—blonde creature. And he generally kept his wits enough about him to slip out once the evening’s selection had drifted off. He must have been very drunk indeed.

This was, of course, the exact situation he tried to avoid. She was far too close, her head against his chest, and somehow she’d finagled herself directly into his arms. More than likely, she was the clingy type, and he’d much rather avoid a conversation before he made his exit, and that meant stealth. Somehow his left arm had ended up under her neck. How the hell was he meant to get it out? She’d certainly wake if he accidentally stabbed her with his—his—

Wait. Where—

He lifted his head to look past hers at his left arm. It did not end in a hook. It simply ended. He suddenly felt far more naked than he had a moment ago. He did not remove his hook during a tryst. Women who found the blade’s danger exciting rarely felt similarly about a stump. And where was it? Even his brace had been removed. How drunk, indeed?

Slowly, he maneuvered himself out of the tangle of their limbs. There was a small, protesting sound when he finally made his escape, but she seemed a heavy sleeper.

Controlling his trepidation, Hook stepped onto a surprisingly deep carpet and began the search for his clothes. Perhaps his prosthetic would be somewhere nearby. There were two piles of clothes on the floor, apparently examined in haste, one of which appeared mostly black, although the light in the room remained rather dim. He bent to pick it up and stared at it in consternation. These were not his clothes. The material was softer. Lighter. The coat shorter. No, he’d never worn such a thing. And there was no telltale glint of metal nearby. He cursed in frustration, remembering his intention to be silent only when he heard the rustling of bedsheets behind him.

The woman in the bed groaned, and in a voice ragged from sleep, said, “Babe, what time is it?”

Still naked, didn’t have anything resembling a watch, and a quick glance at the walls did not reveal a clock. Attempting to salvage his quest not to wake her, he murmured, “Terribly early, love. Go back to sleep.”

Completely ignoring his instruction, she pulled herself up on one arm. The blanket slipped off of her chest. She didn’t seem at all embarrassed, after whatever had happened the previous night, so he took the opportunity to look her over. He did eventually even raise his eyes to her face. Her lips were full and looked well kissed-–likely he himself deserved the credit for that. Her eyes, a very pleasant green, sparkled with amusement—perhaps related to how long it had taken his gaze to reach them. Drunk as he’d been last night, he’d had excellent taste. He was beginning to sorely regret his lack of memory.

She smirked slightly at his frank appreciation. “Where you headed so terribly early ?”

He scowled, remembering exactly why he hadn’t left. “Nowhere, without my clothes,” he said, putting an intimidating edge into his voice that cowed near everyone he used it on.

All it earned from her was a full-on grin. “Well in that case, might as well come back to bed, huh?” She patted the bed next to her.

Hook weighed his options. He didn’t remember any pressing appointments he had this morning. On the one hand, the wench had hidden his clothes—and his bloody hook . Bad form. And now she was using his apparent lack of options to keep him in her bed? No, he ought not reward this blatant manipulation. He should demand his possessions and go.

She raised an eyebrow, enticing. He should go. In his current state of undress, there was no way of pretending disinterest. She was smiling as if she’d already won—she couldn’t be allowed the victory. But… it hardly seemed fair to have, presumably, so thoroughly pleasured this wench and not even get to remember it. He should, surely, be able to escape with a memory.

That was it. He fell onto the bed, onto her, to shake her self-assurance—to give her something that would make her miss him for the rest of her days.

_______

He understood his mistake by the time she was through. Having forgotten the previous night, he had supposed she was some woman he’d seduced. But no common woman–no noble one either–would’ve been capable of that . She could only have been a professional, at the peak of her trade. Like magic, she had known exactly what he wanted. It was as if she could read his mind, as if he’d told her exactly what he liked. She’d known his desires better than he’d known his own.

As they both lay panting, he tried to give her her due. “That was….”

She laughed, a bit breathlessly. “Worth waking up early for.”

It was now, he decided, well and truly time to take his leave. If she’d taken his clothes, and whatever coin he had in his pockets, she'd certainly earned them. But one thing he did need. “Where the devil is my hook?”

Her brow furrowed slightly. “Is it not in the drawer?” She gestured vaguely toward a table by the bed, just next to him on the side he’d been sleeping. Seeing a drawer, he opened it experimentally. A box rested in it, a dark wood with ornate carvings. Picking it up, he saw that the designs included a ship at sea, flying a skull and crossbones. It opened easily to reveal his hook, fitting perfectly in a compartment on one side, with his brace resting on the other.

He stared for a long moment, tracing the design with his hand, and trying to make sense of its existence. “This is quite the contrivance, love.” He found himself wanting to keep it more than he was willing to admit. What need could she have of such a thing, anyway? He looked at her carefully. “Where did you come upon it?”

She laughed. “What, are you trying to get clues about this year’s? Good effort, but not going to happen. You’ll find out when you see it under the tree. No cheating!”

Not a word of what she’d just said seemed to have any relevance to his question, or any obvious meaning at all. This had to be intentional, and he wasn’t rising to the bait. He dropped the subject entirely. “Well, it’s been a pleasure, love. But I do need to be going, and I’m not sure what I’m expected to wear.”

She grimaced. “OK, so I definitely did the laundry, and I was absolutely planning to put it into the drawers… soon. I know, I know, where you’re from laundry was an all-day activity, and with washing machines it’s so easy. I know when it’s your turn it gets done immediately. But look, it’s all right here in this basket!” With this somewhat baffling sentiment, she gestured to a basket full of clothes. “Here, I’ll just get something for you today and then I’ll put away the rest… later.”

Smiling sheepishly, she pulled some garments out of the basket that looked remarkably like the ones he’d found on the floor. Oh well, at least these ones were clean.

The clothing was simple enough to figure out, but he was more interested to see what she’d put on. Women of every class looked about the same once you got them naked, but how someone dressed gave you a bit more information.Once he had pieced together how his own strange garments were assembled, he turned to her and was… stymied. She wore blue trousers of a material he did not recognize, a tight shirt and a strange short coat of what might have been leather, dyed a shade of red.

Now that the sun had come out, he looked around the room for more hints. The bedsheets, he recalled, had been extraordinarily soft, as was the carpet. He’d have guessed she was a woman of some means, although her expertise indicated how she might have made her money. But he hadn’t a clue what manner of woman dressed like that . He’d have liked to solve this mystery, but it was past time for him to leave. “Well,” he said finally, “it’s been a pleasure, but I really must take my leave of you, Miss…” he waited to see if she’d supply a name.

“Nuh-uh,” she said. “Not without breakfast. Just because Henry’s not here doesn’t mean we stop being good examples.” She gave him a wink, as if that was supposed to mean something to him.

He wanted out , but… after this morning and, presumably, last night, he certainly needed to replenish his strength. Well, if the woman wanted to make him breakfast, he supposed he could accept.

She leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek–he really did need to leave, before the woman started having expectations— and bounded downstairs.

Hook followed more slowly, taking a moment to look around. There were pictures on the walls. One in particular arrested him. A wedding. Hers. Unmistakeable. Somehow, he hadn’t gotten the sense of infidelity from her. It certainly wasn’t something he had a particular problem with, but he could usually tell. The portrait was… strange. He couldn’t see brushstrokes. It was almost like looking through a window. She looked so… happy, in the picture. Reluctantly, he moved his eyes to the side, to her husband. He looked quickly away again, as if burned, after just a glimpse of dark hair and a pathetically besotted smile. The poor bastard. He’d certainly seen it before, but something about the man’s face, even briefly seen, made it difficult to gloat.

Perhaps she was a widow? Somehow, that didn’t feel right. There’d been no grief about her. He thought back to their interactions. Just because Henry’s not here … No, that was certainly it. The husband was away, and the wife hopped into bed with the first dashing pirate she saw. He didn’t normally judge a woman for such a thing, but in that brief glimpse of the wedding picture he’d allowed himself, he’d had a moment of…sympathy? No… pity. He didn’t seem a sniveling coward keeping his treasure of a wife in a hovel, cursing her with his own reputation. The woman in the picture had glowed with joy. He wondered briefly what had gone wrong in their marriage to cause her to sneak around. A woman like that was probably difficult to satisfy.

He considered taking another look at the picture, but something deep inside of him rebelled.

He allowed himself brief glances at a few more pictures. The blonde woman and another man and woman, unmistakably a couple. The blonde woman and a dark-haired woman he instantly disliked–he didn’t look at her for too long. Something about her face hit him the wrong way. The two of them were hugging a boy. He looked at the child a bit longer, something striking a chord in him. Was the blonde woman the mother, or the brunette? Suddenly, thoughts of Baelfire entered his mind, until he forcibly shook them out. Forget breakfast–he needed to leave.

But between him and the front door was the woman, who’d set a place for him at the table, and the aroma of bacon and eggs was difficult to ignore. He wasn’t sure how the bacon was ready so fast—perhaps the cook had been working on it while they’d been upstairs. He hoped her servants were discreet, although this likely wasn’t the first time. They’d certainly made themselves scarce–he hadn’t seen a hint of a person in the house other than the two of them. Perhaps they were changing the sheets before the husband returned.

He glanced around the room. No pictures in here, at least. The setup was strange—in this room, there were large box-shaped objects all around, one of which she had just closed, and in the room he’d just walked through there appeared to be a small tree with baubles on it. He supposed that was how they set up their houses in… his mind stopped short, unable to recall which port he was in.

The woman was smiling at him expectantly. Without conscious consideration, he sat down at the table and lifted a fork.

“So,” she said, “what are your big plans today that you absolutely had to wake up for?”

His big plans, as she put it, involved leaving port as soon as possible, but he was reluctant to say so. This woman seemed to think she had some sort of right to his plans. She might take offense to the fact that he’d be gone forever before the sun set again. “Just… checking on things,” he evaded.

Her eyes widened with interest. “Things related to a certain… event… a week away?”

He frowned. What was a week away? He tried to calculate. If today was… he stopped short. What was the date, again? Worry began to set in in earnest. He looked away from the woman, trying to remember… remember…

“Okay, I get it,” she said, laughing. “No hints from me means no hints from you.”

The woman was very pretty, Hook decided, but at least half of what she said was nonsense. And something was nagging at him about what she’d said during this morning’s festivities…He’d been too preoccupied with the sensations to take any particular note of her words, but…

He ate the food she’d set in front of him with his mind elsewhere.

When he became aware that she’d been speaking, it was clearly not the first time she’d spoken. “Hellooo? Earth to Killian? We got an early start but I am actually going to be late if I don’t head out.”

“Right,” he said, trying to shake himself from his reverie. Late to what , he wondered idly, but that wasn’t quite what had bothered him. “I’d best head out myself.” Good, something about this place was getting to him. The sooner he was back on the Jolly, the better.

He stepped out the door before her, so she could lock up, and looked around the world. There was a strange sense of wrongness to everything. The houses looked… unusual. There were one or two people on the street in strange garb, more or less like what the blonde wore–like what he wore. And there was a large yellow… thing in the yard that–

Hook cursed loudly as something sped by faster than anything had any right to go.

“Hey! You ok, babe?” the blonde woman asked.

She seemed so completely unfazed that he was loath to admit to a moment’s fear. “Of course,” he lied. There was a tense moment where she considered whether to accept his answer. With as wide of a smile as he could muster, he said “Well. Goodbye, then.”

She hesitated a moment longer, and finally leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Walking away from him as he stood, a bit dazed, she called “Love you!” over her shoulder, and opened what turned out to be a door on the yellow monstrosity. He watched as it started to move, and before he knew it, the thing was out of sight.

After another moment of standing still, looking after her, wondering what she’d meant by “love,” he finally started to make his way in a direction he hoped was toward the docks, staying to the side where the surprisingly large, incredibly loud, remarkably fast abominations were not.

It was just as he caught sight of the sea–indeed in the direction his instincts had taken him, that he figured it out. What was strange about her words in bed, and her words to him when he’d been distracted this morning.

She’d called him “Killian.”

#captain swan secret santa #captain swan secret santa 2021 #csss2021 #csss 2021 #Captain Swan #Killian Jones #Emma Swan #once upon a time #cs secret santa 2021 #fanfiction #ouat #have I covered every permutation of the secret santa tag #lol probably not #hope my giftee enjoys!!!#and maybe other people too??#that'd be wild #very nervous putting this into the world!#but excited too!

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klynn-stormz · 3 years ago

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Christmas Cheer - CS Secret Santa 2021

Merry Christmas @gloriousfemaleworrier!! I am your Secret Santa! I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you this past month. I hope you enjoy this present, it turned out a little differently than I was expecting it to be, but it’s a fun fluffy Christmas story. @cssecretsanta2020

AO3

Christmas Cheer:

When Emma had invited him to decorate for Christmas earlier in the month, he’d been ecstatic. Progress with her had been slow, but he wasn’t planning on giving up anytime soon. Killian had been through too much with her to give up. He knew now he’d wait a lifetime for her. Afterall, what was one lifetime when he’d lived so many over. Decorating had gone well. David had even joked with him a few times. He felt better knowing he was making progress there. Though Snow still seemed more aloof with him, he could tell he was softening her up. Henry had been, by far, the quickest to accept him. Perhaps it was because he’d been practicing sword fighting, or maybe it was the way he saw Killian cared for Emma, but he was more than willing to have the pirate around more often.

After helping decorate, Killian had gone to the library to research everything he could about Christmas. It wasn’t dissimilar to the winter solstice celebrations he had seen a time or two during his travels. The main component of the holiday that he’d found was gift giving. He’d begun compiling a list of items right away, and enlisted Ruby to help him shop. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to find much of what he was looking for, so he decided to make it instead. It had taken him a day or two to gather all the items needed. Then countless hours making each one. He’d been working nearly day and night for weeks to finish the presents in time, which meant less time with Emma. She had been concerned at first, till he’d assured her everything was all right and it would make sense soon. Finally the night was here and all of the presents were done. He packed them up carefully in a bag and headed to the Charming’s loft.

…

The tree was lit with the beautiful lights and ornaments Killian had helped hang earlier that month. He hadn’t set foot in the loft since the day they’d decorated, and the effect of seeing everything after a few weeks was spectacular. There were garlands hung on the walls with festive ornaments and stuffed cardinals along them. Across the stand that held the television was piles of wool made to look like snow, sitting on them were miniature houses covered with more Christmas decorations. It was warm, almost uncomfortably so, and bright. Killian was sure he’d never been in a place that felt so cozy and safe. Emma brought him a hot chocolate from the counter and showed him where to sit. Her soft smile at him reminded him of their kiss earlier that week. He could still feel the softness of her lips and curve of her smile, and longed for it again. Everyone gathered on the couches, laughter and jokes were thrown around as Henry handed everyone a small stocking filled with small wrapped presents. Baby Neal was asleep in the other room, having been worn out from all the excitement.

“On the count of three, everyone open only you’re stocking presents.” Henry declared, dumping his small pile on the floor in front of him. “One, two, three!”

As they all began to tear into them, Killian was concentrating on using his hook to unwrap the first item without damaging whatever was inside. The first gift was a thin black pencil. His brow creased as he studied it.

“It’s eyeliner.” Emma leaned over to whisper to him. “Mary Margret thought it might be easier, less messy, than using the kohl you have.”

He was touched at the thoughtfulness of such a small gift. Henry was whooping over toy cars and candy, while Emma had perfume and gum in hers. He also received some candy, though not any that Emma had made him try so far. He found most of the candy in this land too sweet, but he was looking forward to trying some, hopefully with Emma.

“Now for the real presents!” Henry rushed over to the tree and began handing out the gifts.

Killian was surprised to receive a gift from each of the other four. He hadn’t been expecting to receive any, except perhaps Emma. He wondered what they could be, eager to open them and find out. Henry was practically bouncing off the walls as he outlined his plan for them to open the presents. One at a time, they would go around the room and choose one present to open.

“Grandpa’s first.” Henry decided.

David chose the small package from Henry first. It was a mug with the words, “Keep Calm and Grandpa will Fix it”. He was beaming with pride as he set it down, and thanked Henry with a hug. Mary Margaret also chose Henry’s present, it seemed they would be opening a gift from the same person each round. She received a vase with hers and the dwarfs cartoon versions of themselves printed around it. Delighted, she got up and quickly put some of the flowered decorations in the home in it and set it on the table. Henry’s gift to Emma was a beautiful Swan Bowl engraved with “Love you Mom”. Her eyes misted and she gave Henry a big hug. Killian opened his to find a beautiful painting of a ship at sea, sailing through a harsh storm while a ray of light broke through the dark clouds to shine on the ship. He thought of his Jolly wistfully, holding the painting close.

He wasn’t sure if they’d planned it this way, but they were on the last round and only Killian’s presents were left to open. His last present was from Emma. He’d gotten a leather jacket from David and a small dagger from Mary Margaret. He opened the present carefully and found a simple note that said “tomorrow 2pm at the docks”, with a picture of a ship. He looked up at her confused, she seemed nervous and quickly explained.

“I made a deal with Leroy after his last call. He’s agreed to lend you his ship anytime you want. I thought tomorrow we could go for a quick sail. The weather probably won’t be the best but…” She trailed off, watching him carefully.

His throat closed and he reached to grasp her hand. “Thank you Swan.” His voice was rough with emotion, he’d never wanted to kiss her more than that moment, but with a room full of people, he’d have to resist.

David broke the moment by declaring it was his turn. He turned the long package from Killian over carefully, studying it and feeling it’s weight. When he opened it, surprise lit his eyes. He pulled the leather sheath from the box and held it up for everyone to see. The pattern in the leather was delicate and strong, twisting vines wrapped around a castle, through trees and met at the bottom. He quickly got up to grab his sword and test the sheath. He raised impressed and slightly awed eyes to Killian and thanked him.

“Look who’s awake to open his presents!” Mary Margret brought the baby out of the room and sat of the floor next to Henry. She grabbed Killian’s present for Neal and opened it. Inside was a small wooden boat, clearly hand carved and very well done.

“Did you make this?” She asked surprised.

“Aye.” Killian nodded. “All that I read suggested hand made presents would be acceptable if nothing could be found to buy.”

“It’s beautiful.” Emma commented, leaning closer to look at the boat.

“He’ll love it. As soon as he’s able to play with toys better.” Mary Margret set the boat aside and grabber her present.

Inside she found a hand made bow and a set of 5 arrows. The bow was carved with the same pattern that David had on his new sheath. It was beautifully made and she could tell from the feel that it would suite her perfectly.

Henry quickly ripped through his present. When he pulled out a very real sword, Emma’s brows creased in concern.

“He’s too young to have a real sword.” Killian had been expecting that and was ready with an answer.

“Aye, he is. But he’ll be practicing with David and I and be ready before you know it.” He turned to Henry. “It was your father’s sword when he was on my ship. I thought it right you have it. It’s one of the few things I took from my ship.”

Henry’s eyes filled, he didn’t have anything from his dad. Nothing to remember him by. It was easy to forget, with how young Killian looked, that his father had spent time aboard the Jolly Roger when he was Henry’s age. Now he had something that he could feel, something to remind him and help him remember him. A glint caught his eye from the box and he pulled out the other present that lay there. It was a compass. Though it was old, the brass glinted like new. He turned it over in the palm of his hand, fascinated by it.

“You’ll need something to guide your way when you’re on your own adventures.” Killian explained. Then startled as the young boy threw himself at him. Killian caught him and held tight while Henry whispered words of thanks into his vest. A glance at Emma revealed her soft smile, his heart thumped once and he hugged Henry a moment more before releasing him. This Christmas was turning out to be a perfect one.

“Guess it’s my turn.” Emma said, pickup up her box.

She ripped at the wrapping paper and tore open the box. She pulled out a large snow globe and stared. Everyone leaned forward to study the globe. Inside, seemingly floating through a light dusting of glitter, small objects spun around the glass. Each object was hand carved and painted. A small storybook, like the one henry had. A miniature replica of Storybrook. A ship that must have been the Jolly Roger. Her parents castle. In the middle of the globe, standing tall a proud, was a beanstalk, and on top of that beanstalk was a carved swan. Its neck bowed towards the bottom in an almost defiant stance. Emma finally looked up at Killian.

“How did you do this?” She asked, holding the globe against her chest.

“It wasn’t too difficult. Ruby was able to help me find all the supplies I needed.” His hand reached to scratch at his ear in embarrassment. “I just carved the figured and placed them in the globe. Tink was able to nick some fairy dust to help them float, that’s what the glitter is.

Emma looked back down at the globe, then back to him. Carefully, she handed the globe to Mary Margaret to hold, then stood up. Unsure, Killian stood up as well.

“If I’ve overstepped…” He began.

“Shut up Killian.” Emma interrupted. Then quickly grabbed his jacket and pulled him to her.

The kiss was sweet and long. The room fell away and it was only them. Emma’s arms wrapped around him as he grabbed her waist and kissed her back with everything he had. He put every emotion of love and happiness he could into it. Determined to show her just how much he cared about her in that one kiss. He wasn’t sure it worked until she pulled away and beamed at him. Maybe she wasn’t ready to admit it yet, but the love that shined in her eyes as she stared at him told him everything he needed to know. He would always fight for his Swan, she was worth everything to him. And in the Christmas lights and surrounded by a new kind of family, he knew he’d never fit anywhere more than here in his life.

#Captain Swan #gloriousfemaleworrier #csss2021 #klynn-stormz #christmas fluff

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delightfully-difficult-pirate · 3 years ago

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You Are Invited (1/2)

AN: Merry Christmas @killiansprincss!! I am your Secret Santa for CSSS 2021. Once again I apologize for the lateness of your gift. And apologize more since I will need to post this story in two parts, because as I was editing I realized that some of the earliest parts I wrote did not flow with the rest of the story, which took a path I had not originally planned. I do hope you enjoy it, though. I have tried to work in many of the things we talked about over the past month.

Rating: PG (for now)

~*~

The town center was bustling with far more people than usual, Emma noted as she dodged out of the way of a cart piled so high with bolts of fabric that the person pushing it could barely see where he was going. Poor lad, Emma thought, as she watched him stop in front of a tailor shop. Whether he was a tailor's apprentice or just delivering a new shipment of goods, there would be no rest for him today or for the next few days. Nor for anyone even tangentially involved in the creation of gowns, hats, fans, and other formal wear and accessories. Or food, either.

For her Mother was hosting a ball and the Kingdom seemed to love nothing more than one of Queen Snow's balls. They were renowned across the kingdoms; not because of how elegant or extravagant they were, but that anyone in the Kingdom could attend regardless of social standing. This scandalized the upper echelons of society thirty ago, she was told, but as the Kingdom grew to their new Queen, they also accepted her slightly eccentric ways.

What could one expect, after all, from a princess that was once a bandit?

Emma wasn't the greatest fan of balls, much to her mother's chagrin, but they were a good place for her to get a feel for the attitudes of the Kingdom's people as well as of any visiting royal or dignitaries. This was also the reason the Crown Princess was currently in town, dressed in a basic tunic, trousers, and cloak to blend in with the local populace. Balls provided some insight into local attitudes, but she'd long ago found that the best place to get the pulse of the Kingdom was to visit a local tavern.

Today her destination was a tavern called the Snuggly Duckling. Located by the dock, it was a favorite of visiting merchants, sailors, and those who wished to separate them from their hard-earned coin. Though only midday the tavern was already bustling with people. Even so, Emma spotted August seated at a table in the corner, two mugs already in front of him. When she sat, August pushed one toward her and Emma drank it great fully. The tavern's owner brewed a surprisingly good ale that Emma was rather fond of.

August smirked at her as she drained hate the mug. "Hard trip?"

"You know how the town gets in the days leading up to one of my mother's balls. I was nearly run down by no less than three times."

August's brows furrowed. “Your mother's ball?"

"Yes, didn't you hear? My mother insists on holding a ball to celebrate my birthday." Emma would have preferred a hunt.

Now August frowned. “Emma, your mother isn't hosting the ball," he said slowly. "You are."

Emma let out a loud laugh, drawing the attention of the people around them. She waved them off as she replied, “That is absurd! Where did you get such an idea?"

"The invitation." August rummaged in his satchel for a moment before producing a folded and bent piece of paper, which he handed to her.

It read:

Her Royal Highness Emma Ruth Leona Eva Odette Nolan

invites you to a ball to celebrate

the 28th anniversary of her birth.

Every eligible bachelor is encouraged to attend.

"Papa and I received that weeks ago," August told her as she stared at the invitation.

Emma sighed. Somehow, she wasn't that surprised. Not even with the “all eligible bachelors" bit. After all, Emma was turning twenty-eight. It was almost unheard of for a Princess, much less the Heir to the throne, to remain unwed at such an age. She was lucky that her parents hadn't pressed the issue sooner, seemingly content to let their only child choose when, and who, she wanted to wed. However, her mother's patience must be beginning to wear thin and Emma knew Snow would view a ball as the perfect place for her daughter to meet her own True Love.

After all, not everyone could be so lucky to meet theirs while committing highway robbery.

"You really weren’t aware?” Her friend asked, incredulous.

She shook her head, grabbed her mug of ale, and finished it off. Other than helping compose the guest list, Emma tended to avoid all the other aspects of organizing balls. It wouldn't have taken much effort for her mother to conceal the invitations before they were sent out.

What impressed Emma, though, was that her mother, notoriously bad at keeping secrets, managed to avoid spilling the beans.

August cleared his throat. "There is more...”

"I'm going to need another round before you tell me anything else." Emma signaled the tavern keeper and soon had a fresh mug of ale to help her deal with whatever else her oldest friend was about to reveal.

"Rumor has it that you are to dance with every eligible bachelor in attendance."

She was to… what?

Emma's head dropped to the table with an audible thump.

Her mother's scheme was truly above and beyond anything Emma thought her capable of. She would need to remember not to underestimate her in the future.

With the ball only days away, it was far too late to cancel it altogether. Royals from neighboring and distant kingdoms would already be en route. And short of faking illness or injury, which Emma refused to do, neither August nor Emma could come-up with a plan to avoid her dancing with every eligible bachelor who sought one.

It seemed that Princess Emma Ruth Leona Eva Odette Nolan was hosting a ball after all.

~*~

The following morning, during breakfast with her parents, Emma surprised them by volunteering to oversee the decorating of the castle's Grand Hall where the ball was being held.

“As this is the first royal ball I am hosting, I want to be sure that everything is perfect," she told her parents, staring directly at her mother as she did so.

For a moment, the room was completely silent. That was until her father let out a boisterous laugh.

“I told you she would find out, Snow," he said to his wife, who flushed red in embarrassment.

"Yes, well...'' her mother murmured, glaring at her husband before turning to face her daughter. "I simply thought that a ball hosted by you would encourage a more diverse attendance and not just the same people we always see."

"Like all those eligible bachelors I'm supposed to dance with."

Snow turned an ever deeper shade of red, which amused Emma. She'd never seen her mother this embarrassed before.

Temped as she was to enjoy her mother’s discomfort, Emma continued, "Since it is too late to change anything, I'll go along with this inane plan on one condition. After tonight, allow me to find a suitor in my own way."

"But darling..."

Emma knew exactly what objection her mother was about to make, so she interrupted her, "I swear I'll make a real effort. Perhaps I could spend part of the summer visiting other kingdoms."

Her mother grinned. "A fantastic idea!" she exclaimed. "I know Aurora and Philip would love to have you, as will Ariel and Eric."

Finished with her breakfast, Emma left her parents, her mother happily reminiscing about her visits to various royal courts, and headed toward the Grand Hall. A short time later her father found her engaged in a tedious discussion about where the flower arrangements were to be placed once they arrived on the morning of.

After that was settled, he casually guided her to the side where they were out of the way of the bustling staff before he said, "I'm sorry about not telling you about your mother's plan. I tried to talk her out of it, but obviously I failed." He gestured to the activity before them.

Emma studied her father for a moment. Though she wished he would of given her some type of warning regarding her mother's machinations, she also knew that her father was utterly devoted to his wife and would do almost anything to see her happy. In the grand scheme of things, an unhappy wife would be much more unpleasant than an annoyed daughter.

"However," he father cleared his throat, "Are you sure the bargain you struck with your mother is a wise idea?"

“No," Emma replied, shaking her head. "I am sure I will still have to endure an endless string of visits from Prince such-and-such who just happens to be passing through if I fail to return with a suitor."

Not that Emma strictly needed to marry a Prince. That was expected, of course, but she knew her parents would be just as happy if she brought home a commoner. After all, King David was the son of a farmer. Not that many people knew that. To most, he was Prince James, David being his regnal name, son of the late King George.

The truth was David was the twin brother of James that had been separated shortly after birth by the machinations of an evil imp. James was secretly adopted by King George and his wife and raised in luxury. When his untimely death jeopardized a profitable deal with King Midas, her father was forced to assume the identity of the brother he hadn't known about. So the farmer became a Prince, married a Princess-slash-bandit, and together they became King and Queen of David's “Kingdom” after deposing King George.

So while the aristocracy would be upset if she brought home a suitor of non-noble birth, she knew her parents wouldn't care.

If she could find a suitor she actually liked that is. There were hundreds of men who would happily marry her given half a chance, but having grown up with parents who were True Loves, Emma wanted more than a marriage of convenience. Even if she never found True Love herself, was it too much to hope for a normal love with the man she would share her life, and Kingdom, with?

Her father must have sensed the direction her thoughts were taking and wrapped his arm around her. "You don't have to get married, you know."

Emma looked at her father with a raised brow.

"I'll admit, it will certainly make things easier if you do, but neither your mother nor I are going to force you to marry if you do not wish to," he explained.

That brought up a topic Emma had wondered about. “Who would inherit the crown if I never have children?"

Her father scratched his beard. “A distant cousin of George's, I imagine."

Her nose wrinkled. “I could always adopt.”

Or have a child out of wedlock and declare them heir regardless of legitimacy, but that would likely fracture the Kingdom.

Before Emma could continue contemplating other options, a footman approached her father and herself.

After giving them a quick bow, he informed them, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Queen of Arendelle and her entourage will be arriving shortly."

Emma let out a very unregal squeal and rushed from the Grand Hall. If there was one aspect of balls that Emma did enjoy, it was seeing the friends that lived some distance away. The Queen of Arendelle, Elsa, her younger sister Anna, and Anna's husband Kristoff were some of Emma's closest friends, despite the distance between the kingdoms. They regularly exchanged letters but only saw each other once or twice a year, usually at balls.

She arrived at the front gate just as the group from Arendelle began to cross the long bridge to the castle, Elsa riding in the lead. Riding just behind and to the Queen's left was a man Emma had never seen before but read all about, Captain Liam Jones.

As excited as she was to finally meet the suitor willing to put in the time and work to get to know Elsa and not be intimidated, she frowned as she noticed that she hadn't spotted either Anna or Kristof. That was until she remembered from a letter this summer that Anna was expecting her first child and it wouldn't surprise anyone if Anna, and by extension Kristof, decided against traveling at this time. Emma would miss them, though, since Anna tended to bring excitement to any event.

When the group came to a stop in front of the castle, Emma watched as Liam swiftly dismounted before assisting Elsa off her horse. The smile the normally shy Queen gave him made Emma grin. It was great to see her friend so happy.

King David and Queen Snow, who joined Emma at the castle gates a few minutes ago, walked forward and greeted their fellow monarch. "Queen Elsa, welcome."

"It is always my pleasure to visit your lovely Kingdom," Elsa replied. “May I introduce my betrothed, Captain Liam Jones.”

‘Betrothed?’ Emma mouthed at Elsa as the curly haired man stepped forward and bowed deeply to her parents. Elsa blushed and nodded.

When the formalities were finally complete, Emma ran forward and wrapped her friend in a hug. Still not accustomed to physical displays of affection, it took a moment for Elsa to relax and return the hug.

“Congratulations,” Emma whispered in her friend’s ear. Elsa hugged her tighter.

Once Elsa released her, Emma turned to Liam. Elsa’s fiancé wasn’t a tall man, only half-a-head taller than Emma herself. His brunette curls shone in the fall sun and he was shaved clean of any facial hair. Though he was currently dressed in a formal outfit of pale blue in the Arendellian style, Emma knew from Elsa’s letters that Liam was not originally from the country. She couldn’t recall Elsa mentioning where he was originally from, though.

According to Elsa, he’d joined the Arendelle navy some years ago and slowly worked his way up the ranks until becoming Captain of his own ship. Last summer, Elsa had sailed on his ship for a trip to Agrabah to negotiate the creation of a new sea-based trade route. Apparently, Elsa, prone to insomnia, had spent many nights in Liam’s company and slowly a romantic attraction developed. After returning to Arendelle, Liam sought Elsa’s permission to formally court her, even though it meant leaving his current post in the Navy.

It was easy to see that Liam adored Elsa. It was visible in his eyes every time he looked upon her, which he did often. Emma noticed as the group was escorted through the castle toward the guest wing that he always kept Elsa within sight if she were not next to him, though she often was.

It sent a pang through Emma’s heart and made her realize that she wanted what the two of them had. She told herself that she would put a serious effort into finding a suitor during her travels next summer.

Maybe she would ask Elsa if Captain Jones had a brother.

TBC

@cssecretsanta2020

#CSSS2021 #captain swan secret santa #Lee writes #Captain swan #Captain Duckling #OUAT #CS fic

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motherkatereloyshipper · 3 years ago

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Merrily We Sail Along - my CSSS2021 gift @theweepingangels I am your Secret Santa in the @cssecretsanta2021 event

I really hope that, despite Tumblr not giving us much of a chance of getting to know each other via the Anon asks, this suits your tastes.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/35949103

(Did you write Numb?)

So this is an S2 canon divergence, you mentioned that you like whump which is, tbh, a long way out of my wheelhouse, I tend toward more the frothy comedy, so this is genuinely my first attempt, fingers crossed. S2 and S5 are imho the whumpiest seasons and I am already writing an S5 canon divergence so…

You said you liked to bop to musical theatre, and with the loss of the great Stephen Sondheim I have borrowed from the greats and titled this for Merrily We Roll Along, don’t fret, it doesn’t follow the plot, but there are definitely nods to the song from same, ‘Not a Day goes by’, very CS IMHO.

Not A Day Goes By by Bernadette Peters

So, you said go big or go home, well, I think I went pretty big here, and there are a few nods to Python (and certainly Wilde and the Ealing Comedies that were huge influences on the Python Crew).

Big thanks to @jonesfandomfanatic and UltraLuckycatND for all the editing assistance, best Elves ever, thanks for sticking with me even if I do fight for my extraneous letter U and continue to be way too find of commas.

(They tried to save you, I just fear spot plague)

#CSSS2021 #whump #captainswan #fanfic

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killiansprincss · 3 years ago

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THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS - My CSS2021 gift!

@ohmakemeahercules I am your Secret Santa in the @cssecretsanta2020 event!

I’m sorry it’s a couple days later, I couldn’t stop writing I really hope you enjoy it! It’s been a pleasure getting to know you the past few weeks, enjoy this Christmas fluff, also including some much needed Mamma Snow.

___________

AO3

Summary: Its Christmas in Storybrooke and Emma and Killian have been secretly dating for a months, but haven’t told her family as they will freak out. What they don’t know is that everyone already knows. So when the Storybrooke Secret Santa arrives, Ruby is rigging it so that the pirate and the savior get one another.

______

It had been almost 6 months since Pan, since Pans demise that is, and the Dark One too. Storybrooke was normal. Well as normal as a town filled with fairytale characters could be. But Mary Margaret went back to teaching, Henry went back to school with kids his age, and Emma and her father were working at the Sheriff's station. Granted their main ‘crime’ was coming to collect a very drunk and very grumpy Leroy. But Emma felt like she had a place that she belonged, even if it was working with her father.

There was also a Pirate involved in her normal but crazy life.

4 months ago

“Swan?” Hook asks as he sees the blonde climb aboard his ship. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but may I ask what this is about?”

“I need a break. My parents have been a lot these past few weeks. Asking if there’s something going on with Neal—which there isn’t and never will be by the way-or if I’m upset Henry’s spending too much time at Reginas, which again, I’m not.” She lets out a breath, even though there was no curse or danger, Emma felt like there was something missing. “I’m sorry, if you want me to leave just say.”

Killian just shakes his head, “not at all. I appreciate the company. I’ve been known to be a great listener.” He gives her a smile, and Emma feels as though it’s the first sincere moment they’ve had where he isn’t trying to desperately flirt.

That’s all it was for a few weeks, innocent and only talking involved. But the more time they spent together, the more Emma felt as though she missed him when they didn’t talk. She also began thinking about their kiss in Neverland, and how she maybe wanted to kiss him again.

So the next time she sees him on his ship, alone that is, she practically runs over to him.

“Swan, what’s the hurry?” He asks noticing her current haste.

“Just, shut up for 2 seconds.” As she did in Neverland, she grabs him by the lapels of his coat and crashes her lips to his, needing to see if he tasted how she remembered. His lips still tasted of the sea and rum, and she lets a moan escape her lips as she begins to enjoy it and having realised she should have done this a long time ago.

When they eventually break apart, Killian asks the dreaded question, “what was that?”

Emma kisses him again quickly before saying “something that felt too good to be a one time thing.”

They decided to keep their relationship a secret. Her parents seemed to have finally stopped pushing her towards Neal, but she didn’t feel ready to tell them about her new relationship. It was also nice to have something that was just between the two of them, they were still figuring it out and they did not need the entire town involved. Not to mention her father would hate their involvement. They were going to come clean, just not yet.

_____

“What is this Ruby?” Emma asks as she walks into Grannys for her morning coffee and bear claw. Ruby had approached her with a glass bowl with a ton of paper in it. She had just come from the Jolly, but if anybody asked, she was working the Night Shift.

“Secret Santa!” She says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

Emma groans. She had done Secret Santa a few times in the past when she was in Boston. She would always get the name of a sleaze and buy him a beer gift set, and in return it would be a very inappropriate gift, her personal favorite being the blow up boyfriend. She hated Secret Santa, and she dreaded who the possibilities could be. What would you even get for a dwarf or a fairy?

She admits defeat and places her hand inside the glass bowl, shuffling the papers around until she picks one. Opening up, she sees the name and can’t help but feel a small smile creeping onto her face. ‘Hook’

“Do you want to pick again? Did you get a bad one? Who did you get?” Ruby asks, eager to know.

“Isn’t the point of Secret Santa, I don’t know a secret?”

Ruby just shrugs, “yeah but I already know who Mary Margaret’s is. And I know by the look on her face that Ashley probably has her father in law, either him or Regina-not sure who she hates more.”

“I don’t want to pick again. I’m okay with who I picked.” Emma says, hoping it would sound as though she had her parents, or maybe someone she didn’t exactly hate.

“I’ll figure out who you have sooner or later.” Ruby says as she hands over her coffee.

____

Emma arrives back at the loft to find her mother rummaging through the cupboards. “You okay there?”

“Trying to find it. Don’t know.” Was all Emma could make out as Mary Margaret had her head in and out of the cupboards.

Hanging up her jacket, Emma goes over to her mother. “Mom! what is it you’re looking for?” It was still strange to be calling a woman exactly her age ‘mom’ but their relationship had changed over the last few months, they felt like a family.

“My cookbook. I remember having one when I was cursed, I would come home and bake sad cookies when I had really awful dates.”

“Did you and Dad just go on a really awful date?” Emma asks, trying to figure out how this is linked.

Her mother gives her a confused look, before realising she hadn’t filled her in on her thought process. “Oh no, we’re fine. Although speaking of date, we should really make some time to go out before Christmas.” She says mainly to herself.

“Mom, what do you want to make cookies for?” Emma finally asks.

“Well, not exactly cookies, maybe cakes or pastries too. When I was little, my mother and I would always bake together on the Winter Solstice, it was a holiday similar to Christmas back in our world.” She explains. “All the staff were given the day off, and we would spend hours in the kitchen baking and just talking. She said she always did it with her mother, and I wanted to keep that tradition going.”

Emma hesitates before saying anything, she had never had anyone to bake with in her life, not even with Ingrid. She didn’t know if she wanted to, but didn’t want to hurt her mother’s feelings. “Aren’t I a little old for that now?” It’s meant as a joke, but she can see the hurt she caused in her mother’s eye.

“Oh no it was a silly idea.” Snow says, and Emma curses herself for saying anything.

“I’ve never had a mother to bake cookies with.” Emma admits. “So I don’t know if I’ll be any good.”

The light returns to Snow's face. “I’ll let you in on a secret, neither am I.”

Baking with her mother, Emma assumed would be awkward and embarrassing, but once they realised they were both terrible they were able to relax and actually talk. Emma found herself opening up a little, something she never saw herself doing.

“You beat up a boy twice your size all because he said Santa wasn’t real?” Snow couldn’t contain her laughter, knowing how tough her daughter was now she wasn’t surprised she was always that way.

Emma smiles proudly as she licks the spoon of chocolate batter, “I was 7 years old and being told a magic man in a red suit was going to give you presents even if you’re in the foster system was great, I wasn’t going to let anyone take that from me.”

“You know, when I was on the run from Regina, to stop me getting caught stealing from a carriage I had to stab a guy in his leg so he wouldn’t follow me.” Seeing her daughters terrified face, she quickly adds, “I learnt where to stab so it hurts but doesn’t hit anywhere that’ll make them bleed out.”

Ever since the curse broke, Emma was telling herself she had nothing in common with her parents, they were royalty and had hundreds of people who loved them both. But hearing these stories about her mother, makes her realise she shouldn’t have been so quick to judge. She was also impressed but slightly scared about how street smart her mother was, or would it be forrest smart?

An hour later the brownies are done, they don’t look the most appetizing but with double chocolate chips sprinkled on them, they taste pretty good.

“Hey, what smells so good?” Dabid comes through the door with groceries, again feeling like a normal family.

“We have made Chocolate Brownies! Would you like one?” Snow asks, bringing the plate over to her husband and giving him a quick kiss in the process.

David takes a bite and is shocked at how good they are. “These are pretty good. Hey Emma, where were you last night? I didn't hear you get in this morning.”

“Oh I was working late and I fell asleep, so I went straight to Granny’s for a coffee this morning.” It’s a lie that rolls off her tongue. She felt bad for lying, but she couldn’t exactly tell them the truth that she was with Hook. “I also got roped into doing Secret Santa by Ruby, did she get you guys too?”

David groans, “I forgot about that.”

Mission accomplished.

“I’ve actually got to go do something with my Secret Santa, so I’ll see you guys later.” Emma grabs her coat and heads downstairs. If technically wasn’t a lie, if they took it as she was going to buy her Santa a present rather than going to see her secret Santa who also happened to be her secret boyfriend, then that wasn’t Emma’s fault.

She heads down to the docks and sits down on the bench near the Jolly. She couldn’t risk going onboard right away, if any of his crew saw her she doesn’t know what she would say.

“Swan.”

Emma turns and smiles at the Pirate now sitting next to her on the bench. “Hey.”

“I hope you’re hungry.” Killian says holding a brown paper bag that Emma can only assume is Grannys take out. “Come on Swan.” He leads her up the stairs to the ship and down to the Captains quarters where they spend their shared moments together. The table had been pushed into the center of the room with a candle and a single rose in a vase on top. It was beautiful.

“Ever the gentleman.” Killian pulls out the chair for Emma and empties the contents of Granny's bag. “I hope there's grilled cheese with fries in that.”

“Grilled Cheese yes, but with Onion Rings.” He smirks, she was testing him but he knew her too well at this point. “How has your morning been?”

Tucking into her grilled cheese, Emma practically moans. “Pretty good actually, I got a bear claw from Granny where I got roped into Secret Santa by Ruby. And then I actually had spent some time with my mom, we baked and told stories, It was nice.”

“Yes Ruby made me pick a name too this morning, I have to ask Swan, what are all these festivities about? What does the tree in Main Street and at Granny’s mean?”

Sometimes she forgets Killian wasn’t here in the first curse, and his confused face is adorable. “It’s Christmas. It’s a holiday we celebrate in this land. My mother was saying earlier that it’s similar to the Winter Solstice?” Trying to explain the difference between the religious holiday and the commercialized one would be extremely difficult.

“Ah yes. I know of the Winter Solstice. Although my celebration would be very different to the one your family likely celebrated.” There was a sad tone to his voice.

“So Secret Santa is a gift exchange, everyone has someone they have to buy a gift for in Secret and hope it’s a good one. The presents will all go under the tree in Grannys, the trees get decorated and you put all the presents under it, I’m not entirely sure where that tradition came from but it’s nice. This will actually be the first Christmas I’m excited for.”

“And why is that Swan? Because you have a dashing Pirate to celebrate it with?” He teases leaning across the table for a kiss.

“I wish we could do this outside of the Jolly.” It wasn’t the first time Killian had expressed wanting to go public with their relationship. “Not that I don't love these shared moments, but I’d love to hold your hand down Main Street and take you out to dinner rather than get a takeaway bag.”

Emma sighs. She knew it couldn’t last forever, hiding and going around in secret, but it was nice having a secret that was just hers to keep and one that brought her joy. She couldn’t deal with her parents' likely disapproval, especially that of her fathers, or her mother’s constant questioning. “I want that too. But maybe after the holidays, my parents have enough to deal with right now and I just-“

Interrupting her ranting, Killian simply grabs her hand and tells her. “It's fine, Swan. Whatever you desire, I’m fine with this being just between us for a while longer, just promise me you will come clean soon.”

Emma smiles, how did she get so lucky to have a boyfriend who was so understanding and made her feel safe.

___

It was currently a week until Christmas Eve and Emma still had far too much shopping to do, including her Secret Santa. Seeing as Killian still didn’t quite understand Christmas or it’s traditions, she was happy to get away with only buying him a Secret Santa gift. But the question still remained, what do you buy a 300 year old Pirate who doesn’t understand the modern world?

Deciding to look around Main Street for her gift would require a large cup of coffee so she heads into Granny’s where an overly eager Ruby greets her. “How’s the Secret Santa shopping going? Do you have a present for him yet?”

Emma raises her eyebrows, she had a feeling Ruby knew who she had, “Him?”

Ruby manages to shrug it off, “Him or Her. Sorry. But my question remains, it’s only a week you know.”

“Like you’d let me forget.” She mumbles as she grabs her coffee from the counter.

“By the way.” Ruby says as Emma is just about to leave, “I saw your boyfriend earlier, when is he going to embrace the modern world with modern clothing!”

She almost outs herself by saying ‘I’ve been telling him that for months but he won’t listen’, but catches herself so simply says, “he isn’t my boyfriend and I really don’t care what he wears.”

Ruby just raises her brow, “whatever you say sheriff.”

Fuck. Did Ruby know? If so-how? They were careful, any intimate moment was behind closed doors and they never arrived together or left together. No she must just assume they’re together because of how he flirts with her. They were keeping up a ruse, it would be strange if he had suddenly stopped flirting with her, but has she allowed it to happen so much that people have caught on?

No. Can’t be. Don’t overthink it. If her mother even thought for a second she was dating even anyone she would interrogate her, nevermind if it was a Pirate.

As soon as she’s in her car she pulls out her phone and dials Killian.

“Hello? Swan?” She had given him a phone when they started secretly dating, getting in contact with a Pirate was hard when he didn’t understand modern technology. It was a simple phone with only Emma as a contact, if anyone asked it was because she was sheriff and could get the help he needed. But it was also used for nights when Emma was lonely and needed to hear his voice.

“I think Ruby knows about us.” She trusted him completely and doesn’t think he would have accidentally said something, but she had to check.

“Are you sure Swan? How? I saw her earlier and she didn’t say anything other than being ready for Secret Santa. Surely if she did know she’d have said something to me.”

Of course, of course. She immediately feels bad for questioning Killian. “She made a comment about you being my boyfriend, but I feel like it could just be Ruby being Ruby. You’re right there’s no way she could know.”

“We can be more careful if you wish, we can talk on the phone maybe until you tell your parents? And see each other less?” His suggestions were so sweet, but Emma didn’t want to stop seeing him.

“Thank you, but I think we will be fine. I’m just over reacting. I will tell my family soon, I promise though. I’ll see you tonight?

“Can’t wait.”

She was overthinking the whole situation. If Ruby did suspect for a moment that they were dating, the entire town would know. Her father would have put Killian in jail by now.

However, Ruby's comment about him adopting to this world's clothing did give her an idea on a present. Yes the spending limit is technically $20, but he wasn’t just her Secret Santa and it could count as his present for being an incredible boyfriend too. Killing two birds with one stone.

There are a couple of clothing stores on Main Street, one being opposite Grannys. If she wants her present to stay a secret then that was not the one to go to. There are a few stores scattered around the town, so she goes to one nearer to the woods that not as many people shop in. The workers obviously know who she is, everyone in this town did, but they wouldn’t report to anyone what she was buying, which was nice.

She had debated in her mind as to what he would wear if he were to start dressing more modern. She couldn’t exactly imagine him in one of her fathers flannel shirts. But definitely jeans, tight skinny jeans that made him look good in certain areas. His leather coat could be upgraded to a leather jacket, and there was the perfect black one that Emma assumes is Killians size. And it was on sale.

It was perfect. She would give him the jacket as a start to his introduction to the modern look, she would buy jeans with him at a later date.

____

Christmas Eve morning was a strange one. A lot different to the ones she had celebrated before. Henry woke up more excited than normal, which Emma didn’t even think was possible. He was spending the morning with them and then heading over to Reginas before the entire town meet at Grannys for the secret Santa exchange.

“Are you sure Santa isn't real?” Despite being 12 and had stopped believing in Santa, he was convinced a version of him existed in the Enchanted Forest.

“No Henry.” His grandmother tells him for what must be the 100th time. “If there was even a slither of him being real we would tell you.”

Henry reluctantly gives up and helps set the table for their family breakfast.

“So are you going to tell me what you got me for Christmas yet?” Henry asks as they all begin to tuck into their pancakes and bacon.

Swallowing the bite of the pancake she had just shoveled into her mouth, she rolls her eyes “you really can’t wait another 24 hours? Sorry kid, you're not finding out unless you suddenly learn to read minds.”

Henry sighs, he really wanted a new video game and Regina had mentioned video games rotting his brain, so Emma or his grandparents were his only chance. Of course Emma had got him a bunch of video games because screw what Regina said, if the games that existed for Henry had existed for Emma growing up she would likely be the same.

“Speaking of presents, what did you end up getting your secret Santa?” Her mother asks, changing the subject so Henry did not go all angsty teenager.

“I can’t tell you that as it will give away who it is.” She says with a nervous laugh, why was her mother so interested in her Secret Santa?

Snow just shrugs, “just curious. I have an awful feeling Regina has me and I know it’s against the rules to know who has who but if I know what people’s gifts are maybe I can figure out who has me.”

“She’s not kidding.” David chimes in, “She even got Granny to admit she’s bought her Santa a pair of knives, we think she has Marco but then again people in this town keep secrets.” He said that last part with a strange tone to his voice, almost as if he was accusing her of keeping a secret. Of course she was, but she didn’t need her family knowing it.

“I know the person who has you. If you want to know.”

Emma’s eyes immediately darted to her mother, “how do you know?”

“Ruby told me. Don’t ask me how she knows, that girl just knows everything.”

Emma shakes her head. She couldn’t believe this. “I’ll find out who it is in a couple hours, so I think I’m good.”

____

Grannys was already packed by the time the Charmings got there, not a single table or bar stool was free, all the Dwarves were singing and drinking, clearly getting into the festive spirit. She takes a quick look around and doesn’t spy Killian yet. But she did see a ton of ugly Christmas sweaters.

Granny was yelling that there were too many people ordering food at once whilst Ruby was making her way round the diner spreading cheer.

There were a ton of presents already under the very large tree, and Emma didn’t quite understand how this was even going to happen. It seemed slightly chaotic and unorderly. But then again so was this whole town.

Emma subtly keeps watching the door waiting for her Pirate, but it’s more and more townspeople. Ashley and her family came in and made their way over to where they were standing, Snow was fawning over little Alexandra.

“She learnt to walk last week, we called it a Christmas miracle!” Ashley tells Snow and they launch into a whole story of how smart she was, and Emma slowly steps away towards her father, she didn’t really care for the baby talk.

“I need a drink.” She tells her father. It was nice, everyone at Grannys a whole community coming together for a holiday, but it was also a reminder that she had been alone for most of the holidays, the Christmas before Henry came and found her she ordered way too much Chinese food and watched a crime drama on TV, anything to distract herself from what was happening.

But she had to look at the situation right now. She wasn’t alone, she had a ton of people around that loved her, a family. This Christmas was going to be different, it would be special and Emma was actually looking forward to it.

The jingle of bells at Granny's door goes off again as someone else walks in. Emma has to do a double take, because instead of Killian being in his normal leather coat attire, he was wearing black skinny jeans and a red vest with long black sleeves under it. She didn’t care that she was looking too much, it was a shock to see him dressed so modern when she least expected it.

“Emma, you’re drooling.” She hears a voice beside her say, she turns her head away from her Pirate to see Ruby grinning.

“Line what you see?” She asks, raising her eyebrows as if to say she knows about them. Of course she did. How she knew was a question for another time.

“You did this?” Emma was still in shock, and slightly jealous, she had wanted to be the one to take him shopping.

Noting the hint of jealousy, Ruby tells her, “don’t worry, this is all I got him. I thought you might want to be the one to get him properly acquainted.”

Emma smiles at her friend as her eyes travel back to her boyfriend who was making his way over to her.

“You look…” she can’t even begin to say what he looks like, how he looks, well she wants to say how sexy his new look is but that will have to be later on when they’re alone.

He throws her his cocky smile, “I know.”

Emma wants nothing more than to kiss him, but instead she mumbles something about arrogant prick whilst rolling her eyes, needing to keep the ruse.

A few more people pile into Grannys and Ruby excitedly announces it’s time for Secret Santa. “I know this is the moment you have all been waiting for. When I announce someone's name, the person who had them had to come up to the tree and hand your present over. That clear?”

It starts off with a few of the dwarves getting presents they seem happy with, and then there was a few awkward moments where people clearly didn’t know what to get each other so they pretended they were happy with their hand creams and chocolates. David’s name gets called and turns out Belle had gotten him a new holster for his gun which he seemed really thankful for.

As Snow suspected, Regina had her, but rather than give her a poisoned apple she actually gave Snow a book she knew her father loved. Ruby was pleased with her new pair of red heels, and Ashley had gotten a cocktail making set-a girls night was getting planned for sure. The amount of people kept whistling down, some had left and some were tucking into their food not pairing attention. Emma still had not received her gift or given it to Killian, making her worry about what Ruby had planned. And it whistled down and down until there were only the two of them left.

“Ruby, what is this?” Emma groans, all she wished was to give her Pirate her gift then get out as quick as they could without being noticed.

Ruby grins, “well we’ll it seems we are down to our last two. Lovebirds won’t you exchange your gifs?”

Emma shoots Ruby a glare, “Ruby! For the last time he is not my boyfriend.”

Ruby just stands there arms crossed with a grin. “Give it up Emma, we all know.”

Killian and Emma’s cheeks both start to redden.

“Know what? What are you talking about?” Killian tries to act clueless in the hopes that it would work.

“You’re not the best at hiding it.” Her mother admits from behind her.

“I thought we were careful?” Emma was sure, so sure they would not be caught, never arriving or leaving together and keeping up their ruse pretty well.

Ruby practically snorts, “Oh I did love watching Hook leave Grannys and you watching his every movement and then looking at your watch every few minutes to make sure it wasn’t too much of a coincidence you were leaving at a similar time. Also, how many people in this town order Grilled Cheese substituting the fries for Onion Rings? Especially when the Pirate ordered 2 lots to go, never to eat in.”

“You also forget Ruby has a hypersensitive smell, as well as hearing.” That last part made them both go red

“I know everyone’s individual scent, and I know what Mary Margaret smells like after she’s been around David all day but he isn’t with her. So those first few weeks when you came into Grannys smelling like yourself but also of Hook, I kept my senses on you.” She explains, damn werewolf powers. “I can also hear your phone conversations in the bathrooms. Along with some other things I really wish I had not heard.”

Oh god this was bad. She looks at her parents, “Are you mad?”

Snow shakes her head, “Of course not. I’m mad you kept it a secret, but if you’re happy then we’re happy, right David?”

The couple look to her father nervously, he was the main person they were worried about telling. Since coming back from Neverland, David had become the most protective father and Emma feared how he would take the news that she’d been dating a Pirate in secret for months.

Folding his arms, David gives Killian a slight stare, which softens when he looks at his daughter. “I can’t say I’m enthralled. But your mother’s right, I can’t be angry if you’re happy.” The cold stare returns as he refers to the Pirate, “if you hurt her, you lose the other hand.”

“You don’t have to worry about that mate.” Killian tells him, “hurting Emma would be hurting me, I have encountered many cruel men in my lifetime and seen what they do to their women and it makes me sick to think of doing that to Emma.”

For the first time in public, Emma takes her boyfriend's hand, and it feels good.

“Well, are you going to open each other’s gifts?” Snow asks, she was glad Emma was happy, she deserved happiness.

Killian and Emma give one another their gift, Emma gives Killian a large gift bag, she was horrible at wrapping so just put everything in a bag and taped the top shut. Killian on the other hand had his wrapped very intricately, with a bow on top too. It was heavy whatever it was.

Killian opens his first, he rips the tape from the red gift bag and pulls out a black leather jacket, similar to Emma’s red one but just in a different colour.

“Before Ruby took you shopping, I thought this might be a nice introduction to modern fashion and show you that you can still wear leather.” She was nervous about giving him her gift, it was way over the spend allowance, but it was perfect for him. “I can take it back if you don’t like it, or we can get store credit and spend it on something else.”

Rather than telling Emma he loves it, he simply takes it out of the bag fully and puts it on. “Different to my coat, but I like it. Thank you Emma.” Just hearing her name on his lips feels like magic.

She rips open the paper of her gift and starts to laugh as she realises what it is. A black leather jacket. Pretty much identical to the one she bought Killian except in a women’s size. “When Ruby took me shopping, she mentioned if I’m wearing black leather then so should you.”

Emma immediately takes off her red jacket, her armour, and puts the new black one on. She felt safe with Killian, and she finally felt loved by the family she had finally gotten. “A perfect fit.” Whilst her red jacket would always be her armour, she was slowly accepting that she was at peace, she had a family and a home, and there was danger anymore. Emma was finally learning to enjoy what lift has to offer.

“What’s this I hear about a magic plant that you’re forced to kiss under Swan?” Emma rolls her eyes and pulls her Pirate well away from the Mistletoe and enjoys the rest of the day's festivities. The perfect Christmas at last.

#csss2021 #merry Christmas !#captain swan secret santa #cs secret santas #cs fanfics #my writing #csff

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snowbellewells · 3 years ago

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To My CS Secret Santa

***Santa: I don’t know if this will reach you or not, but I gathered you were not able to see that I was answering you, so I’m trying to send it again, and hope the tags do a better job reahing you this time around. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Hello again Santa!! I apologize for being slow to answer. It’s a busy time of year, but that’s no excuse for keeping you waiting. Thanks for your patience, though. Let’s see if I can provide some answers to your second set of questions…

I do indeed teach - high schoolers - and they are getting very stir crazy about this point in the semester, just as I am getting worried all of their papers won’t get graded in time. Somehow we always manage, but Christmas break always feels well-earned by the time it arrives!

I am psyched that you are planning to write my gift. I love reading new fic, and one written for me, with things I specifically enjoy is one of the best gifts I could get!

As far as particular likes and dislikes, I will read a wide variety of stories and enjoy them all. Anything from modern AUs, to supernatural to different historical time periods to simple missing moments in Storybrooke or slight canon divergences. I will admit that I have a particular fondness for Enchanted Forest set stories or somewhat medieval knights and ladies sorts of AUs. I am a big fan of Lieutenant Duckling stories, and I adored deckhand!Hook in the season four finale, so divergences that take off from there or give missing moments from that point in canon are fun. I also really like fics set in the earlier part of the Camelot 5a arc. It got so painful toward the end, but I loved the earlier episodes while they were there. The first five or so episodes of Season 5 are pretty high up on my rewatch list.

Also, and this may be because it’s around the time I seriously dove into reading OuaT fic, but I love fics that diverge from the season three midseason finale. There were many good stories written at that time imagining Emma and Henry somehow ending up in the Enchanted Forest where the rest of their family had been sent by Pan’s curse. I would have loved to see that in canon. Henry getting to experience that world and Emma getting to truly be the princess she should have been. It’s at least partially why I was so disappointed by Season Six’s wish!Emma and that odd Wish Realm version of Snow and Charming’s kingdom. I had wanted them to go back there for so long, and then they finally did, but it was all messed up and none of them were themselves.

I’m a big fan of some hurt/comfort in fics, and I don’t mind a fair dose of angst - or even being moved to tears - as long as it works out in the end. I love cute meetings in bookstores or coffee shops, and I like the stranded in a snowstorm or some other sort of weather or disaster type fics. About the only things I really can’t enjoy reading are fics where Regina and Graham are side characters (I’ve read some modern AUs where this does happen) and they are painted as friends with benefits or any sort of consensual relationship. Just no, not for me. I’m not really a fan of any painting Graham in a bad light (even as a small side character) but most people leave him out of stories altogether, so that isn’t an issue I have often. I’m also not a big fan of Liam being overly condescending or kind of a jerk in fics where he is still alive. That just isn’t how I saw his character. Those are really rather random things to have problems with, but those are the two that will make me hesitate to read right off.

As usual, I went overboard and probably told you way more than you needed to know, but hopefully it helps a little.

#csss2021 #cssecretsanta2021 #secret santa asks answered #snowbellewells answers asks #fic likes and dislikes

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piinfeathers · 3 years ago

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Hello, it is your Secret Santa again! Just wanted to let you know that I have started working on your gift. I have been inspired by two pieces of your artwork and am using them in a canon divergent inspired fic. It is very saccharine and overly sweet and I hope you will enjoy it when it is posted.

How are your holiday plans coming along? Does it snow where you are? We have been very behind in buying gifts and I can only hope that nothing is delayed due to our procrastination.

Omg that sounds amazing already 😍 I’m so excited, overly sweet and saccharine fics are my jam 💖💖💖

Holiday plans are going good! Hectic as usual, weirdly 4 of my family members have birthdays either on Christmas, Christmas Eve, or New Year’s Eve so Christmas is always a huuuge week long party for everyone. And yes we just had tons of snow! I’m up in Ontario, we usually get dumped with snow for months. Do you get snow at all? I’m always curious what Christmas is like for people that live warm places, it’s always freezing up here

Oh no I hope your gift buying works out! We try and avoid Amazon if we can, but they really have been great for quick delivery, even with all the shortages right now if you’re worried about finding anything last minute ❤️

#csss2021 #cssecretsanta2021 #asks

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klynn-stormz · 3 years ago

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OH MY GOSH!!! THIS WAS AMAZING! thank you so so so much, I absolutely adore it. The angst was perfect and Killian coming home was just beautiful 😭❤❤❤❤ thank you thank you thank you!!

The sea can't keep us apart - CSSS21 gift

Summary: Emma Swan is the girlfriend of a navyman, a man she sees only when he's on the shore. When she receives a piece of bad news about his regiment, she fears the worst has already happened... But Christmas wouldn't be the same without him, and now she's willing him to get home with everything she has left

[[ My giftee for @cssecretsanta2020 is the wonderful @klynn-stormz ! I've had a great time getting to know you this month, and I really hope you enjoy what I have to offer!]]

Merry Christmas!

"Mom, when's Killian coming back again?" Henry hauled a box onto his shoulder and descended the attic ladder slowly. He and Emma were pulling Christmas decorations out, and had been doing so for the past half hour.

Emma's brow furrowed as she tried to work it out, and she called back, "He's due back on shore in 2 weeks." The fact of the matter excited her, really. She couldn't wait to see him again; it had been a long few months apart, and something she was only just starting to get used to.

Henry wandered into the front room and dropped the boxes by the couch. He tore off the tape, pulling various pieces of greenery from the box. "Where do you want these?"

"Oh, up on the walls, that one goes on the front door. You can use tacks, it's fine."

Henry nodded dutifully and set about finding some tacks to use. He thought Emma's boyfriend Killian was a great upgrade from the last attempt she had at dating, even though she never got to see him. He was a charmer, that much could be credited, and they seemed to get along very well. They could share a good laugh, and even go as far as trusting each other to share troubles and the like. It was almost like they were perfectly matched, because Henry had kept count of how many people his mother had trusted in dating. That number was 2, including this sailor.

Emma strung the baubles on the tree, dotting them around the string of lights she'd already wrapped. This would be her first Christmas in a good half decade where she wasn't single. She'd met Killian some seven or eight months previously, and the two of them had fallen hard. She hadn't been one to believe in love at first sight usually, but Killian seemed to change all that.

"Hello, is this miss Emma Swan?"

Emma knew the number for the naval ship's main phone off by heart by now. Usually, she got the treat of hearing Killian's soft tone over the line, but this time, it was someone else. Someone more serious.

She swallowed back some nerve, and sighed. "Yeah, I'm Emma Swan... Who is this?"

"My name is Johnathan Powell, Lieutenant Jones is in my regiment... I'm afraid I come bearing bad news..."

"What's happened?"

"There was an ambush on the coast of Spain, miss Swan. We've suffered quite a loss, one of our ships was captured and the other sank. We've lost some supplies, and a good number of troops in the process. Lieutenant Jones hasn't been seen in some hours-"

Emma took in a breath. This news was hugely surprising, and made her heart sink. If Killian hadn't been seen for hours, that meant he was either dead or among the captured... And neither would be ideal at all, especially not this close to Christmas..

"Miss Swan?" Powell cleared his throat, counting through the few seconds of silence that endured. "I understand it must be a lot to process... We're working on negotiations, so if he's among the hostages, we should have him and the others freed before the holiday is through.."

"I- I understand..."

By the time Powell hung up the phone, Emma was close to tears. The weight of the situation hit her all at once, and she had to bite her lip to choke back the onset.

"God Killian, where are you?" She found herself whispering, thankful it was late at night and Henry was most likely not awake. Christmas was 11 days away and now that Killian was nowhere to be found? She was worried. Very worried. And it was only a slow countdown of days to go, as each dragged out longer than the last and no news of Killian was to be revealed...

By the time Christmas Eve fell, Emma had just about given up hope. Henry was making his preparations for the next day, but she could barely keep her thoughts in check. Killian promised he'd be home three days ago... He promised that she wouldn't have to spend Christmas alone again...

"He's not coming... Is he?" Henry was considerably good at reading people. He noticed Emma had been off all day; staring wistfully out of the window on occasion and looking more forlorn when nothing came of it.

Emma shook her head quietly. "There's been an ambush..." She muttered, avoiding Henry's concerned gaze. "Off the coast of Spain... Killian's... Killian's regiment was hit. They lost-"

"Two ships and seven crates of supplies."

Emma froze. Someone else had finished that sentence alongside her. She looked up at Henry, who was grinning as if he knew this was going to happen, then abruptly turned her head. Standing in the doorway, weathered as they came and bearing a smile despite being covered in bruises, was a man. Her man. The man she loved.

She stood up and rushed over with a relieved smile to pull him into a hug. "Killian!" She exclaimed, beyond delighted.

Killian chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her. The pair of them stayed like that for a long moment, until Emma pulled back slightly with a confused expression on her face.

"Did Henry know the whole time?" She asked.

Killian couldn't help but laugh. "He did. I'm surprised you didn't hear me come in, love.."

She glanced back at Henry, who started laughing but said nothing. It didn't really matter. He was there, and she wasn't entirely bothered how long he'd been standing there. "I missed you so much... It's so good to see you-!"

"Merry Christmas, Swan... I'm glad to be here of all places tonight..."

#klynnsanta #klynn stormz #csss2021

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cosette141 · 2 years ago

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Don't Let Go (Because I Can't Hold it Back Anymore) | OUAT fanfic

Because I apparently never put this fic on tumblr

Fandom: Once Upon A Time Pairing: Captain Swan Author: cosette141 Words: 26k Summary: (canon divergence for s4 episode "White Out") Rather than Emma and Elsa trapped in the ice cave, Emma is trapped with Killian. They have to keep warm and stay awake as they fight the frigid cold, or their first quiet moment together may very well be their last. h/c CS (CSSS 2021 gift for jrob64!)

AO3

Chapter One

Killian followed the ice wall, thankful that his heavycoat was keeping out most of the chill of the night.

After receiving Emma's… what do they call it? Talking call? He'd done as she asked, scoping out the mysterious wall that erected overnight. It was far too high and too icy to climb over, and the cold alone was enough to keep Killian from standing too close to it as he walked its length toward the town line where Emma said she and her father would be waiting.

He heard them before he saw them, and he couldn't help the little tilt of his lips when he heard the sound of her voice.

Stepping out from the trees, Killian saw her standing with her father, both of whom were regarding the ice wall.

"In case you were wondering," said Killian, gaining their attention, "it goes the whole way around."

Both of them looked over as he stepped out from the forest, a comfortable, perhaps slightly smug, smile on his face. He saw something flicker in Emma's eyes when she saw him, and he liked to think it was some brief contentment in his company.

Yet, the look on David's face was anything but.

It seemed like Killian had managed to do something to irritate the prince before even having arrived.

"Hook," said David, and Killian heard that irritation color his words thickly. "I didn't know you would be joining us."

Truthfully, Killian himself was less than pleased when Emma told him to meet her and her father, so he understood the feeling.

Because Killian had built quite the residence on David's nerves, he allowed his smugness to grow. "I get a distressed call from a fair maiden," he said with a flick of his eyes to Emma, seeing her brow raise in an unimpressed look the way he knew it would, "and I'm on the spot."

"I was not distressed," said Emma with a slight roll of her eyes. "And you're saying, what, this wall goes around the whole town?"

"That it does."

"So, once again," said David, "we can't leave Storybrooke."

"Doing more than keeping us inside, by the looks of it," said Killian, eyeing the wall distrustfully. It didn't look as if it were made from do-gooding fairies or any of the snuggly sort. Killian's gaze followed the ice and snow until he saw the large, crumpled metal structure lying in a heap on the ground, surrounded by tangled coils of black cords and broken glass. From what he's gleaned from this town, he's seen them spark what Emma coined electricity. "I guess that's what caused the loss of power?" He asked, looking to Emma for confirmation.

If he wasn't mistaken, her brows rose with surprise. "When did you become a twenty-first century man?" Killian did his best not to let onto the fact that impressing her pleased him. "Yeah," Emma went on. "It looks to me like whoever was putting up the wall wasn't trying to take out the lights, they were just… putting up the wall." That smile of hers faded, once again her attention taken by the endless strings of danger that seemed to follow her.

Her father's gaze followed hers. "To keep us in," he agreed. "Why?"

"Kill us all, one by one." Killian smiled goodnaturedly, even when both of them gave him looks. He shrugged. "It's what I'd do."

What I used to do.

For he wasn't that man anymore.

And the woman not a yard away from him was why.

Some garbled voice laced with static sounded from the driving vessel, and David turned back to go check it.

Perfect.

Killian stepped into the space David had once stood in, finding himself next to Emma. The indescribable urge to touch her, to kiss her welled in his entire being, but he attempted to keep it at bay.

Only days ago, they'd gotten back from their trip to the past.

Only days ago, he'd finally given up his secret to Emma—how he got to her. Trading his ship–his beloved ship–for the magic bean that would take him back to her realm.

And only days ago, Emma had kissed him.

Given into what Killian could only hope—only dream—she'd been fighting for as long as he had.

It was the second time they kissed, yet it was nothing like the first.

The first was desperate and fueled by passion and doomed to be what Emma had firmly said: a one-time thing.

But the second…

She'd proven herself wrong, and she'd kissed him again. Made the choice herself, for Killian knew by now, Emma was equal to that of a frightened animal when it came to anything emotional. He had to let her lead this all the way through. He was a patient man. And more than that…

She was worth it.

That recent kiss…

Killian could still taste her.

It was something soft and sweet and so unlike the persona that Emma puts out, this armor she wears. For as tough as she likes to be perceived, Emma is one of the most innocent souls he's ever met, and also one of the most damaged. And how anyone could damage someone as pure as Emma…

One day, he might ask her for some names, and decide to teach a few people a very painful lesson.

But the other day, their moment wasn't rushed.

It wasn't desperate.

She'd kissed him, and he'd felt himself melt.

Everything he's waited for.

All that time, after all of her attempts to push him away, he'd truly wondered if he was chasing after someone who simply would never want him in return.

She'd disappeared after they'd gotten back from the past, and he'd thought perhaps he misread it all. Even the moments trapped in the past… he could still feel her against his chest, could still feel her crumble into his embrace in a way that suggested she trusted him, in a way he might have fooled himself into thinking she needed him, even for just a moment.

He'd sat outside the diner that night while she and her family celebrated the baby, alone with his thoughts and rum, facing the terrifying thought of what if she doesn't want him? What the bloody hell was he to do then? He'd never call the time he spent chasing her, the things he'd done for her, the times he'd saved her as wasted time. To him, it was a dream, a gift, a privilege that he played any part in her life.

But the idea that she could want him back, that he could have her without having to chase her, without having to fight her walls every step of the way…

It was something he wanted so badly it hurt.

But that night, when that diner door opened, when she'd come outside with a gaze that was looking specifically for him….

His hope had flared, a dying firelight flickering in a windstorm.

"How did you do it? How did you get to me?"

He'd never intended to tell her.

The idea of telling her felt as vulnerably naked as when he'd been forced to reveal the depth of his feelings for her in the Echo Cave. When he knew that even if she'd felt an attraction for him, even if she felt something, it was too soon. No matter what feelings she might have had, she'd fight it to the bloody death before admitting it, especially to herself.

And this, this secret, how he'd gotten to her… it felt just as… revealing, if not so much more.

He'd, more than once, told her how much his ship meant to him.

His ship, for so many years, had been his one and only love, and ever since he and Liam had commandeered the Jewel and since she'd become the Jolly, had been his home.

Until…

Killian took a moment to look at Emma, even when her attention was drawn to the ice wall.

Home was no longer a place to him.

He felt something tug at his lips, looking at the only home he'll ever need for the rest of his days.

He'd been so afraid to tell her such a thing—for he already knew with a painful certainty that he was in love with this woman, far deeper even than Milah, which he once would have never, ever believed could be possible, and only recently admitted to himself—and it almost felt as if telling Emma how he managed to get to her realm was saying those three words all the same.

And after all the times she's pushed him away…

"How about you try cursing the lips of someone I'll actually kiss."

He knew she had been scared.

He knew that Emma knew admitting to Zelena that she felt anything for him was a dangerous move.

And Killian knew Emma didn't mean it.

But it didn't mean it didn't hurt.

And it also didn't mean it didn't make him worry that there was truth in those words.

If he told her what happened to his ship…

If he told her what he gave up for her…

If he told her before she was ready to accept her own feelings for him, if he told her before she even had any…

He was terrified it would scare her away for good.

He was bloody terrified that a rejection from her at this point would be a break his weathered heart finally couldn't take.

But that night outside the diner, that look in her eyes…

Something had changed, after they'd gone back in time.

He'd felt it, he knew it was finally mutual, and that look in her eyes as she waited for his response…

She was ready.

He could see it.

He could feel it.

She might still be as hesitant as a fawn alone in the woods, but…

She wanted it.

And that kiss…

Her choice…

That night was proof that his doubts were wrong.

It was proof that she did want him.

And what he felt from her in that glorious moment, a moment that he re-lived from the moment she'd left him that night to every moment since…

He finally had the answer to the terrifying question he's had since Neverland.

She wanted him.

He knew she did.

But right here, standing next to her amidst the newest town dilemma, he could see it in her face.

Her walls were as solid and imposing as the ice wall in question.

And now that he knew she wanted it, knew that she was only scared…

He was determined to take those walls down completely.

Unravel her, and heal as much of the damage that had been done to her in her life.

"Be patient."

He was a patient man.

But he had a feeling that Emma would only keep running if someone wasn't there to stop her.

"I ran. It's just what I did."

He'd follow her anywhere, but he was ready to not have to chase her.

So, gently, Killian took a breath, and attempted to try to hack at her walls, and reveal the Emma he knew and loved inside.

He treaded carefully, saying lightly, "Oh! I should have brought the champagne."

His abrupt change in subject grabbed her attention, and she looked at him like he was mental. "What?"

"To celebrate our second date," he said smoothly. "And… because we've got the world's largest ice bucket," he added, gesturing to the wall.

"Second date?" she asked, and he felt himself smile wider because she was playing along. "Did I miss the first?"

"Aye," he said. "Snow monster's the first, ice wall's the second." And treading even more carefully, yet rising to those imposing walls of hers, he said, "After all, if I only count the quiet dinners, we wouldn't even get one."

It was a push, he knew it, but he had quite the idea that Emma wasn't planning on making any move herself. It was a slightly firmer push than the more gentle ones he's made since that glorious moment, allowing her to avoid him, allowing her to take her own time.

But Killian knew it was only her fear, those damn walls keeping her from truly being with him.

A man unwilling to fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets.

He was ready to fight those walls of hers with everything he had, one scratch a time.

Killian watched her carefully as she looked away from him, shifting her stance like she was unsure, but then in pure Emma-fashion, her eyes caught hold of a distraction. And just like that, he and his attempts were forgotten with her whisper of, "Hang on, I think I see something behind the wall."

Killian let out a breath, hanging his head a little in defeat.

"Wait here with the ice bucket while I check that out," murmured Emma, still not looking at him, her full attention drawn to the supposed danger.

Emma started toward the wall, and Killian tried to think of another way to approach the subject in a way that wouldn't scare her off when David returned, stopping to stand beside him. "I think it's time you and I have a little chat about your intentions with my daughter."

Killian's brow rose. The tone of his voice suggested this was a long-time coming. Though at least now he understood the irritation from earlier.

Not exactly in the mood, because it seemed it would be years before anything even remotely happened with his daughter, Killian couldn't exactly hide the edge to his voice. "That's a little old fashioned, even by my standards," he muttered. "And I still pay with doubloons."

David swung the flashlight beam around, as if his full attention wasn't on his attempt to intimidate Killian, which was quite impossible. "Remember," said David, "I know your reputation. Emma's not some conquest."

Killian's brow hitched even higher at that, because did he honestly think that's what this was about? David has seen the amount of times Killian has risked his life for Emma, from Neverland to the Wicked Witch, to their trip to the past, where David had physically witnessed the lengths Killian would go for her. Killian would not have given up his revenge and traded his damn ship simply for a good time with a beautiful woman.

Feeling his own frustrated heat, he said firmly, "I wouldn't risk my life for someone I see as loot." David said nothing, and Killian went on, just as firmly, "Whatever we become, it's up to her as much as me." Killian kept his gaze firmly on David until the prince finally turned to look him in the face. Killian held his gaze, and when the prince was still silent, lifted his brow as if to dare David to contest the truth in his words.

David held his gaze, looking the slightest bit surprised at the amount of emotion in Killian's eyes. Perhaps David was only trying to make up for lost time as a father, perhaps it was just his way of trying to protect her when she was already all grown up, but the insinuation that Killian would use Emma was something that disgusted him. And after all this time, for David to even suggest it…

Hadn't he done enough to prove the lengths to which he'd go for Emma?

It seemed, unfortunately, that it was a constant battle to prove himself to both Emma and her family, no matter what he did.

David gave a little nod, but there was still a question in his eyes. Small, faint, but there.

Pirate.

Killian let out a breath.

He'd just have to prove himself.

Again.

But if he was being honest with himself, the life he led and the man they had met so long ago certainly warranted such distrust.

But he was really, really ready to be free of that curse.

Whether he brought it on himself or not.

"Oh–"

Both Killian and David looked over at the sound of Emma's quiet, startled voice.

They could faintly make out the conversation she seemed to have with someone else as both men rushed toward the wall. Was someone trapped in it?

"My sister. I need to find her."

It was another woman's voice.

And with it, a flurry of snow began to fly around the wall.

Killian exchanged a look with David as they ran.

Killian covered his face as the snow picked up with speed and power, making it hard to see and the temperature drop even lower. But Killian could see blond hair fly just beyond the few icy stalagmites Emma had climbed through.

Sudden fear seized Killian's chest, realizing that whomever Emma was speaking to must have created this wall, for they were also creating the sudden snowstorm.

Emma.

Killian exchanged another fearful glance with the prince who seemed to put two and two together just as he did, and David deftly drew his projectile weapon, aiming it toward the figure of the unfamiliar woman.

Emma was still beside her, and Killian could see her now, the fear in her eyes, hair flying wildly, but her hands were out toward himself and her father in a placating gesture. "No," said Emma quickly. "No, it's okay, you don't have to—"

The figure of the woman backed away even as the storm picked up around them, as if the magical ice witch was completely unaffected by the buffeting wind that made Emma, Killian and her father cover their faces from the icy wind.

But it was when the ground shook, the distinct sound of a crash and Emma's scream that Killian's eyes snapped open, panic like a dagger to his chest.

Something struck her, and she fell to the ground.

"Emma!" cried both Killian and David.

Killian watched in horror as ice fell from the wall, cascading down—

Emma.

It was going to crush her.

Killian ran before he could think.

He dove through the structure, hearing the prince's yell behind him but he didn't stop.

He reached Emma, covering her body with his just as the ice struck them both.

-.-.-.

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