#cursed storybrooke au

[notonlymice]

She's coming for you, coming for me She's nothing but trouble She's walking like me, talking like me She's my body double

— She by Winona Oak

[agenttommykinard]

have some more of my OUAT 911 AU... part one here

* * *

The forest seems to move around them, the nature of its ancient depths unknown to all of them. This wasn't just an ordinary forest-

"Keep going!" Captain Gerard yells through the heavy storm. "We're not leaving until we find the Queen!"

Their group continues on, their numbers now merely seven, when at the begining of their campaign they were twenty men strong. Its disenheartening, watching thier brothers in arms get picked off one by one, but their Captain was a hardened man and he didn't allow any of them to grieve.

It sits like a rock, heavy on his chest, but Thomas pushes forward.

If they don't complete this quest, then all of their deaths will be for nothing.

"I hate it here," Salvatore grumbles under his breath. "It's been nothing since rain and darkness. My armor is rusting-"

Thomas smiles despite himself, shaking his head at his closest friend. He bumps his shoulder into Salvatore's own and gets the other man to smile. Even in the dark, Thomas can see it as a challenge.

Salvatore pushes back and for a moment they're both just young men who grew up together, finding joy when they can when their world was hard. Thomas almost laughs, but he restrains himself from doing so.

"You'll get the Captain's attention," Thomas says, and what brief joy he had falls from his face. "We both know what he's like."

Salvatore looks at him, and nods his head solemly.

They know what their Captain is like when he gets an idea in his head, stubborn to the point of being dangerous. The King sent them on this quest, to capture the Queen of the Fae so that the King could control magic. So that their country could never be in danger again.

It's the ultimate honor, to die for their King and Kingdom.

But looking around at what's left of the people Thomas had grown up with, withering away from the months of travel, shaking from the cold and jumping at their own shadows in fear-

He's starting to have his doubts.

"Come on Men!" Gerard yells. "We're so close! We can get that Fairy, put and end to this quest and come home as heroes!"

The men all cheer as much as they can, their voices carrying throughout the trees. It feels like a battle cry of sort, though Thomas doubts they would win in any fights with how exhuasted they all are.

And still, Thomas joined in their cheers.

***

The forest twists endlessly in front of them, blocking their view. Thomas swears they've been walking in circles. It feels endless.

They're tired, exhausted and in such poor spirits that even Gerard agrees they should try and camp out for the night.

They find an area where the forest is so dense, that they are covered from most of the rain, and Thomas is sent out to try and find anything dry enough to use for firewood. He gives Salvatore his sword to watch after and grabs an axe. Gerard won't let any of them go in pairs with how few of them are left.

"Come back," Salvatore says grips Thomas' forearm weakly. Thomas has noticed how he had begun to visibly shiver hours ago, and that he was hiding his coughs from the others. "Don't make me come save your bastard ass."

"I can handle myself." He promises. "I always do." Thomas smiles and sits his friend down, giving him his waterskin. Salvatore tries to push it back but Thomas is stronger and they've both been taught never to show weakness and Salvatore gives up and takes the water. "Rest. Please." Thomas urges quietly.

"Fine," Salvatore huffs. "If only so I have the strength to cary you out of this cursed forest." He gives Thomas's arm another squeeze.

Then Thomas is off.

Alone.

[pensbridgertons]

SWANFIRE OUTLANDER AU YOU SAY????

first of all LOVE that we all understand The Vision and Genious of this au. second of all you guys really are gonna make me do something w this huh 😂

[neverland-king]

@swanprincessodette

"Thank you." The older teen spoke sincere before her. His hands wrapped around the warm hot cocoa. He's shy, and the fact that someone as beautiful as her is hanging out with him? He kept thinking there was some sort of catch. Robbie was the nerd, the quiet one who didn't belong. He had bullies like Parker (Felix) who would threaten him, shove him into a locker, take his backpack and let everything scatter along the hallway of the building while the rest of them laughed. Robbie didn't fight back, he didn't want to. He'd give a few smiles, and the would have a few laughs mostly on stupid Parker. There's a moment of silence and he glances outside. "I should really get home." His sister lingering there, most likely wondering where he's at. It's been hard since their parents are never home. Some sort of business trip. "I..just got this crazy idea." He leans in further, not wanting anyone else to hear. Since after all, they are at Granny's but more close to the door then to the jukebox. "How about we sneak into the Rabbit Hole and take some alcohol?" No harm in stealing a bottle or two.

[eirian-houpe]

Time's Curse - Chapter 6

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold Characters: Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Belle (Once Upon a Time), Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Baelfire | Neal Cassidy, Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale Additional Tags: AU, Original Character(s), Non Storybrooke, London, The Enchanted Forest (Once Upon a Time), Angst, Pining, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, Murder, will add others as necessary Summary:

Never fall in love - such is the admonition given to Rumplestiltskin. Blue sees fit to interfere with his plan to reach a world without magic by sending him there herself so that he can pursue his quest to find his son, but he is not alone in this world without magic, nor does it appear that he is entirely free to live his life as he would wish. In the course of his seemingly fruitless search for Baelfire, Rumplestiltskin takes a job as a history teacher at an exclusive private school, and there meets Isabelle - the French teacher. All of a sudden that interdiction against falling in love seems to be really important.

Read Previous chapters on AO3

Chapter 6 - Gus

Modern London

People will tell you that fresh sea air does wonders for the constitution.  All it did for Gold was force him to remember his past, his pain.  Walking away from the docks his head throbbed with a dull ache that lived behind his eyes, and he felt weak… sick… lonely as he turned his path for home.

From the docks it was a fairly easy journey, but for some reason, Gold kept walking past the turning that would take him there, ending up on a wide and fairly busy thoroughfare along the side of the park.  He could still get home from there, but something had called to him, and had staved off the rising attack of anxiety and melancholy that the memories always brought. 

He made one more turn, and blinked at the building that was standing in front of him: The Dalton Animal Shelter. It wasn’t actually the kind of place he usually considered, let alone frequented.  He glanced at his watch - it had stopped three hours ago, not long after the time his interview at the school began - and then up and down the street as if he were about to pull off some kind of heist of the bank down the way, where a nervous looking man was at the ATM. He avoided the man’s eyes when he looked up.

The door of the shelter opened and an older man with a miniature poodle emerged from the dark interior.  The poodle, an off white little thing, not so old bounced slightly up and down. When it wasn’t, the dog looked up at the man with something akin to adoration. Even from such a distance it touched Gold’s icy heart, and in the next instance he found himself crossing the road.

There was a cacophony of animal sounds even in the foyer, and the man at the front desk gave an apologetic expression as he looked up as Gold came to a halt in front of the desk.

“I’d… like…” Gold began faltering, not really sure why he had entered the building other than curiosity. “I’d like to see the dogs that are available for adoption please.” When he began again the words came from him in a rush as though they were trying to escape before he could stop them.

The receptionist pointed to a ring binder atop the counter, “Go ahead and fill out your details, and then you head on through.  If you see an animal you like, bring the slip card back to the desk and we can arrange a meet and greet.”

“Really?” Gold felt his heart lift and reached for the pen to fill out the form before the man changed his mind; made it as difficult as Gold had feared it would be.

“Really, yes.  We want our dogs to find loving forever homes,” the man said, but Gold barely heard further than the affirmation. He was too focused on entering his details on the form, and then he hurried away in the direction indicated, into the inner sanctum of the shelter.

Beyond the door, rows of enclosures stood, each one home to some variety of dog, and each and every one of them was barking, most in a high, desperate pitch, trying to attract the attention of a potential adopter.  All save one.

The poor creature was lying half out of a bed that was far too small for its large size. It looked depressed, barely moving as Gold came closer to look at it - him, Gold corrected his thoughts as he saw the name on the enclosure: Gus. The dog looked up then. Eyes that looked ancient met his for just a second, pale but striking blue, like ice, and Gold thought he saw for barely a heartbeat, a glimmer of hope. Gold turned, but not to leave, rather to attract the attention of a nearby employee.

“Excuse me,” he asked. “Can you tell me what breed this is? It doesn’t say on the card.”

She came over, and Gold didn’t miss the similarities between her name tag, and the card on the front of Gus’ enclosure.  Her name was Louise.

“He a husky mix,” she said with a smile.

As he stood there, time became suddenly transparent, and Gold found himself standing in his home in the enchanted forest, watching as the dog that sometimes helped him herd his meager flock of sheep laid himself down in front of the fireplace, tolerant of Bae, when the boy came to rest there with him, head on the dog’s flank.

“How old is he?” He forced himself to banish the vision, the memory, with the question.

“Ten, perhaps older,” she said, “He’s our oldest rescue, and one of the reasons we haven’t found a home for him.  No one wants an older dog these days.”

“And he’s here because…?”

Louise shrugged, but said, “He was picked up on the balcony of a block of council homes. Had a rough life by the looks of it, see?” she pointed to a scar that ran the length of one of Gus’ legs. “He’s come on a pace though. He was in a sorry state when he first came to us.”

“He looks so depressed,” Gold remarked, and Louise nodded with a sigh.

“Yes,” she said.

Gold sighed, and looked down at Gus, who stood and came toward the glass of the enclosure door. The dog looked up again and took Gold’s gaze into his own, sharing almost a look of understanding, of sympathy - no not sympathy - empathy.

“I’d like to take him home,” Gold said, surprising himself with how much he suddenly wanted the companionship of the dog.

“Gus? Really?” Louise seemed surprised, and Gold frowned.

“Yes, please.” Then with a worried expression he continued, “Is that a problem?”

“What?” Louise reacted as if he had asked something outrageous, and then almost shaking herself she added, “No, no of course not, it’s just…”

“Yes?”

“Well, you haven’t seen the others.”

It was, to Gold, an absurd thing to say.  It didn’t matter that he’d not seen the others.  He shared an understanding with this dog. They shared a common pain.  At that, Gold looked at the scar on the dog’s leg, where the fur had not grown back, and the other few patchy spots here and there on he body, and he knew… knew without a shadow of doubt that he was meant to find this dog.

Louise took the card from the enclosure, and Gold crouched down for a moment to assure Gus that he would be back, before following the shelter employee out to the front desk.  Her sleeve rose up on her arm when she passed the card over to the man behind the front desk and he noticed that her arm was sore - eczema obviously - and he found himself, once again, thrown back into a past that he would rather forget.

When the curse brought him to this place and not, as he expected, to some other magically constructed cage in this world without magic, his appearance had not been quite as normal as he would have liked.  The Dark One’s scaly skin had yet to flake away; to reveal the tanned, smooth complexion that he now enjoyed, and in his anxiousness to be rid of it, he had been foolish enough to seek out a doctor who might help him.

The doctor he found, however, was not as much as stranger to him as he expected, but more of a stranger than he might have hoped, and still deeply lost beneath a cursed persona, the doctor - Victor Frankenstein - had been resistant to his attempts to awaken him. 

[thestraggletag]

Dark!Rumbelle Fic Recs

Golden Cuffs by @kelyon. This is like... dark smut. Like BDSM and lots of psychological introspection on it. The sequel is set in Season 1 and pre-Season 1 Storybrooke and explores Gold and Lacey in such a setting. It's definitely got a dark romance sort of vibe.

Nothing is Innocent by @0ceanofdarkness. "The Dark One seeks his son in a land without magic, but he must obtain an elusive beast before the Dark Curse that will take him there can be cast."

Pride and Other Poisons by Hikari_no_Chibi. A Dark Victorian Rumbelle AU. "Gold is haunted by the First Carlist War, and Belle embodies everything he hates from his past. Expectations will crumble like the foundations of an old house, and it will be up to them to build something new on the rubble. Rated M for violence and substance abuse."

Shadow Manor by @suchadearie. "Mr. Gold sets out to find himself a wife that will bear him an heir for his estate. But his marriage to Belle French turns out to be a little more complicated than the mere business arrangement he had in mind."

Trading for Touch by @suchadearie. Set in cursed!SB, Belle enters into a "sordid" relationship of sorts with Mr Gold.

@suchadearie in general wrote a lot of fics where Belle and Gold have a sort of dark-ish dynamic.

In the Blood by Megara Bee. A vampire AU. "Belle French will never be able to settle her father's debts; of that she is certain. But she is hopeful that Mr. Gold, the most feared creature in Storybrooke, will accept her blood in trade. Unfortunately for her, he has something much more devious in mind…" Warning for sexual content that might not be everyone's cup of tea.

Endless by @mareyshelley. Vampire AU. "Unable to pass up the opportunity to attend one of Storybrooke’s annual balls, Belle finds herself drawn to the old manor’s library and her unusual host."

Honestly most of her fics have a dark vibe I really like, so I would recommend anything she's written.

The Haunted Man by @nerdrumple. "When her father tries to arrange a marriage for her, Belle decides to take fate into her own hands - but seeking the help of Mr. Gold is its own winding, mysterious path. Gothic Romance Rumbelle AU."

Will update this Rec List as I remember new fics. Hope it helps anon!

[lilisouless]

Ouat Grishaverse au concept only (because I have only ideas and no action) part one

Was going to elaborate in the concept but it was too much information so only listing the characters (i can elaborate if someone asks)

-Alina Starkova not born in Storybrook.A lonely orphaned illustrator in the real world that finds out she is “The greatest light” (aka Emma’s role) in fantasy land she was a fairy born from a ray of sun,she was sent to the real world by the dark fairy as a baby.Coming to Storybrook she takes the role of getting people back with their loved ones and solving the mystery of the town. She also doubles as red ridding hood

-Zoya Nazyalensky, in Storybrook she is the mayor’s assistant who is looking forward being the next mayor. In fantasy land,she was at first the blue fairy but a terrible deal turned her into the wicked fairy. She remembers the curse and tries to stop Alina from breaking it in fear of becoming the evil fairy again. (Sort of like Regina but way less villainous)

-Mal Oretsev, a barista in Storybrook , gets Henry’s role of being the one to go and find the greatest light. In Storybrook he is the hunter.

-Aleksander Morozov , the sheriff of Storybrook. The wicked witch of the west in fantasy land (flying monkeys as the volkra) also, his dynamic in trying to trick Alina into trusting him gives him traits of the big bad wolf and is also the Dark One (what Rumplestilskin’s role on the show is,even if he is NOT Rumple)

-Baghra Morozova, a senile blind old lady in Storybrook, the dark fairy in fantasy land.

-Genya Safin , a hairdresser in Storybrook that befriends Alina, Snow White in fantasy land

-Nikolai Lanstov, doubles as Captain Hook and The happy prince,he is trapped as a golden statue in Storybrook

-Kaz Brekker,the owner of an antique shop in Storybrook, doubles as The fairy godmother and the “good”witch of the north in fantasy land

-Inej Ghafa, in Storybrook she actually remembers and she is trapped in the asylum. Cruelly nickamed “Cinderella” in fantasyland by her evil adoptive mother , also doubles as the tin (wo)man

-Jesper Fahey, like Inej he is held in the asylum against his will while remembering everything. Was Pinocchio in fantasy land,then the scarecrow in their trip to Oz

-Wylan Van Eck, same situation as the previous two. Was turned into the golden harp in fantasy land,then played as the cowardly lion in their trip to Oz.

-Nina Zenik,once again,same situation as the other three. Plays Alice and then Dorothy in fantasy land

-Matthias Helvar , in fantasy land he was the knave of hearts then cursed to turn into a baby wolf , making him pretty much Toto in the travel to Oz.Not in Storybrook since he died before the curse,his ashes held by Nina Zenik in her cell

-Other villains: Pekka Rollins is a honorable tailor and a gentle parent for his son until night when he gets in criminal business, in Fantasy land he was Rumplestilskin. Jan Van Eck,poses as the town’s major ,he actually remembers the curse,in fairy land he was King midas and then the wizard of Oz. Heleen Van Houten was the evil step (adoptive) mother,not in Storybrook since she was killed before the curse by Inej, Jarl Brum is the town priest,leader of a secret cult, was the king of hearts in fantasy land, he remembers the curse because he made it as a way to get rid of magic.

[stayevildarling]

Wilhemina Venable x Regina Mills x Reader- Burying our memories Part 2

A/N: This is the second and last part to this. I had originally planned to write this ending but the first one was so long and considering everyone asked ❣️ Also wanna say again this is quite different to the plot and storyline in ouat, so more of an AU.

tw: mention of sickness, cursing, heartache, angst, happy ending

word count: 12k

taglist: (added some people who commented on part one so you could find this again- dw I won't add you to the permanent taglist, just for this)

@lunaticwhittaker, @billiebeanhoward, @lanawinters-ily, @kenzbro, @minaslittleone, @httpfiftyshadesofgay , @whitelotus00 , @ninaahs , @vintagepaulson , @isle-of-earle , @paulsonsratched , @stepintomyworld , @grilledcheeseandguavajelly , @lucyintheskywithxanax , @fanfics4world , @mymiraclewitch , @hazard-to-myself , @awritersometime , @ohrwurm26 , @wastdstime , @gayestswiftie , @marvelwoman-sugarbaby , @blu3dimples , @thesamesweetie , @fanfiction-24824

The morning sun casts a warm glow over Storybrooke as you step out into the garden, a sense of tranquility and normality washing over you. Her garden is your sanctuary and had always been for as long as you can remember, a place where you can escape the worries of the world and lose yourself in the beauty of nature. As you begin laying out your tools and getting started for the day, the large white mansion behind you, the sun shies on the several hedges and bushes as well as the vegetable garden and fruit trees.

As you begin tending to the flowers and lush greenery, you hear the sound of footsteps approaching, her heels echoing through the air. Turning around, you see Regina stepping out onto the patio, her expression neutral. ,,Good morning Madam Mayor'' you greet her as she inspects your work carefully, unable to ignore the way your tank top exposed your muscles. She can't help but smirk, having told you several times in the past that you could call her Regina, considering you had worked for her for several years at this point. ,,How are you today?'' you ask almost absentmindedly as you tend to your work.

The brunette returns your smile, her eyes lighting up as she takes in the beauty of her garden, despite you not being able to see her expression. ,,Good morning dear'' she replies ,,Quite well, how about you?'' she speaks, which wasn't really like her. You knew she was respected in the town, especially given she was the mayor and took that role seriously but you could tell she was considerably softer with you, unsure why. She had offered you multiple times that she would be happy to offer you other housing other than her pool house but you had refused every single time, content with your living situation and being so close to your work.

,,How's the garden coming along?'' she asks and you gesture proudly to the array of flowers and plants around you. ,,It's coming along beautifully'' you say, excitement evident in your voice. ,,The roses are in full bloom and the lilies are starting to open up. Oh and your apples should be ready for picking'' you explain proudly. You notice then how her eyes sparkle with genuine interest as she listens to you talk about the garden, her admiration for your work evident. ,,It's truly remarkable what you have done here'' she remarks, her voice filled with admiration.

As the brunette continues to watch over your work, occasionally glancing at her phone to check for any new emails regarding work, your gaze drifts over to the neighbouring house, where Wilhemina lives. You catch a glimpse of her exiting her house and walking towards her car, assuming she was heading of to work. Her demeanour was much lighter, despite you not remembering an ounce of the woman you had met in a different version of reality before. She was different now, much lighter than she used to be, the dark purple replaced by a soft lilac. You can't help but smile at the sight of her, feeling an odd sense of warmth and affection wash over you, despite not understanding remotely why but you accepted it as it had been that way for as long as you can remember.

Regina follows your gaze and notices Wilhemina as well, rolling her eyes a little, tugging at her lips, seeing her ex-wife. And then with a swift motion, she leaves you be, getting ready for her day ahead. You watch as Wilhemina enters her car, catching a glimpse of her eyes finding you, her demeanour the usual one before driving off, leaving you to finish your workday. And then you spent your day the way you usually would, working til around lunchtime before taking a quick lunch break. In the afternoon, heading to some shops for some more supplies and materials, before finishing for the day. Your days were monotone really, always the same and sometimes you felt a little trapped with how the days always looked similar. But nevertheless you enjoyed it, not really having the option to do much about it and knowing you should be grateful working for Regina, considering the kindness and generosity she has been showing you since you can remember.

When Regina returns in the evening, she finds a basket with picked beautiful red ripe apples and she can't help but smile, even a little smirk tugged at her lips as she carries it inside, for a second feeling the strange urge of finding you and thanking you. In the end she decides against it, considering how late it was but you had pleased her today and she already knew just how she was going to thank you for it. And so as the next morning approaches, the sun illuminating the town of Storybrooke and her beautiful rich garden, Regina is up early, looking forward to the weekend. Today, you decided to sleep in a little, as you usually would on the weekend. By the time you make it outside, watering some plants, you already find your boss on the same patio. And you can't help but think about how beautiful she looked, in a blue silk blouse, some long black pants, exposing her heels.

,,Miss Y/L/N'' her voice rings through the garden, her heels echoing as she makes her way over to you. As you look up you take in her features, sensing that she was in a good mood today, wondering whether her work week had been good or whether it was due to some other factor. ,,Good morning'' you greet her before she begins speaking again ,,Are you free tonight?''. Her words take you by surprise before you open your mouth but the words get caught in your throat, your brain feeling a little empty. And so all you can do is nod, hoping that response would be sufficient. ,,How would you feel about joining me for dinner tonight?'' she asks, a small smirk tugged in the corner of her lips. Your mouth is slightly agape, having expected a few things but definitely not this and so again you simply nod, before she walks away, swaying her hips a little more than necessary as she walks back into the house.

And through your daze you had failed to notice, a certain redhead watching the scene unfold, not necessarily understanding every single word but the woman smart enough to connect the pieces. Furiously she balances on her cane, walking from her balcony back into her house, that unfortunately overlooks her ex wife's gardens, meaning she would often be able to see you working or Regina very obviously flirting with you. Her features are over washed with anger as the glass door bangs shut, startling you a little in the process as your eyebrows furrow, not understanding the extent of your situation yet.

As the day progresses, you find yourself lost in a whirlwind of emotions and tasks, your thoughts consumed by Regina's unexpected invitation to dinner. You go about your tasks in a daze, unable to shake off the feeling of anticipation that courses through you. And eventually evening falls and the sun dips below the horizon as you make your way towards Regina's mansion, opting for the front door as entering through the patio seemed a little off to you. You knock on the door, your palms sweating as you wait for her to answer.

Regina opens the door, her smile radiant as she welcomes you inside, she is dressed elegantly, wearing a beige dress, exposing her beautiful curves and legs, her hair styled perfectly and a hint of expensive perfume lingering in the air. ,,I'm so glad you could make it'' she says, her voice smooth and inviting.

As you step into the mansion, taking in the expensive surroundings you try hard to hide your wide eyes. Regina leads you to the dining room, where a table is set with candles, soft music playing in the background, almost making the atmosphere romantic but you quickly brush the thought of considering she was your boss, mayor to Storybrooke and definitely not interested in her gardener.

,,How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you have ever tasted?'' she asks suggestively and you simply nod, watching her leave for a moment before returning moments later. As you sit down, Regina begins pouring you both a glass, her eyes never leaving yours. ,,To us'' she says, raising her glass in a toast. You clink your glass against hers, feeling a rush of warmth at the gesture, unable to hide the trembling of your hands and how loud your heart was beating against your chest, sure that she could hear it too at this point.

Throughout the meal, Regina engages you in conversation, her wit and charm captivating you. You find yourself laughing and smiling, enjoying her company more than you ever thought possible. You aren't oblivious and you had heard the town gossip of course, often spending your free time in town, strolling through some shops or the occasional meal at granny's. You had heard about the awful gossip, that she only had her own intentions at heart, not the towns, how she was cruel. However you never saw her like that and especially tonight you don't see an inch of it in her features or her behaviour but the thought keeps crossing your mind why she was so interested in you and why she had been from the beginning, you often tried thinking back to the earlier days in Storybrooke but whenever you tried that, your brain blanked, not remembering as everything had always been the way it had been.

,,Do you have any room for some delicious apple turnovers?'' she asks and you nod, feeling full from the meal but not wanting to be rude. As she gets up to leave, you quickly reach for her own and your plate, wanting to at least make yourself useful, feeling bad for her having done all the preparations and cooking. ,,Let me'' you offer and she simply nods as the two of you carry the dishes and remaining dinner into the kitchen. You are captivated by the beauty of her house, the interior both luxurious and fancy, matching the woman currently standing by the oven. You watch as she reaches for some oven mitts, the smell instantly filling the air.

,,Smells delicious'' you praise, watching as she smiles at you before putting some on both yours and her own plate. ,,Certainly, they are after all from our garden'' she chuckles, leading you back into the dining room. And you picked it up, of course you do ,,our garden?'' you think to yourself, a little unsure if you maybe misunderstood the brunette.

The evening eventually draws to a close, the two of you in light conversation throughout several hours, more apple cider consumed, laughing with each other and smiling. And as Regina walks you to the door, a smile playing on her lips ,,Thank you for tonight'' she says, her voice soft ,,I had a wonderful time''. You can't help but return the smile, feeling a flutter of excitement in your chest. ,,Me too, thank you'' you reply, your voice barely above a whisper as you meet her eyes.

As you step outside into the cool night air, you can't help but feel a sense of longing. Regina watches you go, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. She knows she is playing with fire, but she can't resist the pull you have on her. Meanwhile, Wilhemina watches from her window, her heart breaking as she sees you leaving Regina's mansion and the smile playing on both of your faces. She knows she should let go, having fought for several years but the sight of you with someone else fills her with a fierce jealousy she can't ignore, especially it coming from the woman who had caused her to lose you in the first place. With a heavy sigh, she turns away, her eyes filled with tears as she retreats into the darkness of her own thoughts. Missing how Regina caught a glimpse of her at the window, almost a cruel smirk playing on her lips, her head tilted upwards a little, almost smug and proud of her actions.

A few day had passed since your dinner with Regina and you had noticed how she had been even more talkative than usually, even a little touchy and you couldn't deny how beautiful she was and how kind she was treating you and had been for as long as you can remember. You had also noticed barely seeing Wilhemina since the weekend and it had worried you, wondering whether she may be sick as you hadn't seen her leave or arrive from work at her usual time and you had thought about checking in on her but you felt like you couldn't as you really didn't know the woman all that well, despite feeling like you had known her for a lifetime, unaware that you had even loved her in a different one.

Fate decides to play into your hands though as Regina finds you in the garden, working hard as usually before smiling warmly at you. As your eyes meet hers, you are taken back a little bit, looking beautiful today, wearing a silk blouse, long skirt and you couldn't help yourself and stare. ,,Would you mind doing me a favour Y/N?'' she asks and you set down your tools in order to give her your full attention ,,Of course'' you reply with a warm smile before she hands you a letter. ,,I found this in my letterbox this morning, would you mind taking it over?'' she asks, gesturing towards her ex wife's house and you take the letter despite your eyebrows furrowing a little. ,,Of course'' you announce and the brunette, ever perceptive, notices the question marks very visible on your features. But before she begins to speak you gesture her that you didn't need to know further and she appreciates it nevertheless before she heads to work, wishing you a good day in the process.

And so after finishing most of your work, your break approaching, you decide to quickly change, considering the sun had caused you to sweat a lot and change your clothes. With a slightly increased heart rate due to feeling strangely nervous, you make your way over to her house, stopping in front of her door before ringing the doorbell. And it doesn't take long before you can hear the sound of her cane tapping against the floor, approaching you, a sound that seems so familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time. As she opens the door, you take a moment to take in her features, dressed in a lilac long skirt, similar to Regina's, the same shade for her heels and matching her suit jacket. Even the collar of her shirt matches the outfit and you can't help but wonder where the purple fetish came from. You quickly brush the thought away as her brown eyes pierce straight through you, one eyebrow raised ever so slightly.

,,Yes?'' her voice rings through the air, pulling you out of your thoughts as you can clearly sense the annoyance in her tone. ,,Um-'' you blank a moment, completely mesmerised by the redhead and forgetting your initial task. ,,Letter'' you mutter out, holding out the letter to the woman in front of you ,,Sorry- Ms Venable, I have a letter for you'' you quickly compose yourself, clearing your throat. ,,It was delivered to Regina's house'' and you can't help but notice how her eyebrows knit before she takes the letter from your shaking hands. ,,And how come you are the one delivering it?'' she questions, her voice almost laced with a hint of curiosity. ,,Um-'' you pause again, unsure what to reply before she carries on talking ,,I thought you are her gardener not her slave'' she remarks, her voice now laced with some sarcasm and you couldn't quite tell whether she was being serious or not, never really having talked to her before in this version of reality.

,,I don't mind helping out'' you announce and if Wilhemina wasn't so good at composing herself, she would have faltered at your statement, again your true kindness showing and her heart turning angry thinking about how Regina was using you, possibly even manipulating you. ,,Do you now?'' she questions with a suggestive smirk before you nod. ,,How would you feel about joining me for some errands?'' she questions suddenly, taking you by surprise as your mouth is slightly agape, your eyebrows raised in confusion. ,,Sure Ms Venable'' you announce, before she tuts ,,Call me Wilhemina'' she offers and you smile at her, before you watch her leave for a moment. Catching a glimpse of her hallway, you notice almost the same luxury, similar to Regina's home, despite it looking more homey and comfortable. She abandons the letter before grabbing her purse and balancing on her cane as she makes her way over.

As the two of you make it to her car, you are relieved that you in fact changed as otherwise this would be slightly uncomfortable. And so she begins driving towards town, some music playing in the background as you take in the scenery, always having loved this town. She parks closely to some shops and you kind of follow her pathetically like a lost puppy as she wanders through a grocery store with you, picking up some things you assume she needed for dinner, before she makes a brief stop at the pharmacy. This time you could tell she wanted you to wait outside and you simply do just that, offering to hold her bags in the meantime. You aren't quite sure about her condition, as you try to think back whether Regina had mentioned it to you before, having noticed it must be her back due to her posture and the obvious signs of pain lingering behind her brown eyes. ,,All done?'' you ask as you warmly smile at her and she nods before taking you back to her car where you help her put the bags into her trunk. ,,How would you feel about some lunch?'' she asks, again taking you by surprise, before you nod as she gestures towards granny's and you accept, loving that place and especially the grilled cheese sandwiches with all of your heart.

It doesn't take long before the two of you are seated and having food in front of you, Wilhemina going for a healthy salad and you could see the little smirk on her face when you had ordered your usual and you could tell she was judging you for the choice. ,,So tell me do you enjoy this little life of yours?'' and as you swallow your food, you can't help but wonder why she chose her words around you in such a specific way. ,,I do'' you announce happily before continuing to munch your food. ,,May I ask what you do for work?'' you ask cautiously before she fills you in for the company she works for out of town. And then you think to yourself how you never really have been out of this place, despite enjoying it. And for the remainder of lunch, you get to know the woman a little more, making her feel like much less of a stranger than she had before. You fill her in on your days and how the gardening was going and she listens intently, hiding the way every single word and being in your presence hurt in her heart as she remembered you so vividly before the curse.

,,Can I get you two anything else?'' Ruby asks before you both shake your head and you get ready to pay. ,,I've got it'' she announces as she retracts her purple wallet. As the two of you walk back towards her car you stop in your tracks as you suddenly see Regina walk over, her face unreadable, however the pace of her walk announcing she wasn't too pleased about this. ,,Well well Ms Venable'' she addresses the redhead ,,And Miss Y/L/N what a surprise'' she announces, her eyebrow raised. Wilhemina sighs and you watch as she rolls her eyes, clearly not in the mood for the brunettes antics today. You can't help but notice how the two of you were on a first name basis until now and you could tell she was annoyed. ,,I was just helping Wilhemina with some errands'' you quickly explain yourself, feeling bad as technically it was still your workday and you for sure didn't want to get in their business. ,,My my helping Wilhemina with errands'' she remarks and you quickly shut your mouth, realising no matter what you would say, you are only making this worse. ,,Save it Regina'' the redhead quickly remarks before she walks back over to her car and gestures you to follow.

,,I'll be back at work at once Regina'' you reassure before nodding politely and following Wilhemina. The mayor watches as the two of you drive off, her features angry, nostrils flaring as her plan had failed. She wanted you to go over to Wilhemina yes, hoping that maybe seeing and talking to you would send further heartache to the redhead but she for sure didn't expect the two of you actually spending time together. And so furiously, she makes her way back to work. The remainder of the drive is mostly silent and you could tell that the redhead was annoyed and you can't help but feeling bad, feeling like you are responsible for this. ,,Let me help you with these'' you offer as you reach for the shopping bags. ,,I can manage'' she announces but you are already by her door, placing them neatly on the wooden bench near her front door so she wouldn't need to bend down in order to reach them. ,,Thank you for lunch and today, I really enjoyed myself'' you thank her before overlooking the gardens and knowing you needed to head back to work. ,,Likewise'' she smirks before watching you leave.

It had been a few days since your awkward encounter with Regina and you could tell she had been avoiding you. However as you kneel in front of your work today, you hear the urgent clicking of heels approach. ,,What the hell are you doing?'' she questions, overlooking a little patch of lavender that you had been planting in the last few days. As you look up at her you can tell that she didn't approve. But she could tell by your genuine confused and shocked reaction that you had no intention of upsetting her. ,,I'm sorry Ms Mills, I thought adding some lavender might be a nice addition, I can get rid of it at once if you don't like it'' you apologise but she softens then, realising that you had no idea about the connection to her ex wife. ,,No- I'm sorry'' she apologises as you watch her internally scold herself for the unnecessary outburst. ,,I'm sorry about the other day too'' she apologises, taking you by surprise as you really didn't take her for being the one to apologise. ,,It's okay Ms-'' you begin but she cuts you off ,,None of that'' she ushers and you nod then, smiling warmly at her before she overlooks her garden, pleased with the result before catching a glimpse of Wilhemina's house. ,,How would you feel about dinner tonight?'' she offers and you find yourself smiling again, your cheeks coated in a slight red shade.

As you approach her house a few hours later, you are surprised when she opens the door and you find her fully dressed, including a jacket and handbag and you wonder whether something may have come up or whether she had forgotten. ,,Regina I-'' you begin but she can tell by your reaction that insecurity washes over you. ,,I booked us a table somewhere nice dear'' she announces and you simply smile, glad that you dressed appropriately before following her towards her car. And again Wilhemina watches, lingering by the window watching you two walk towards Regina's car before driving towards the darkness of the night, leaving her feeling empty and lonely. The brunette and you end up spending the evening over dinner, chatting, laughing and talking some more and you are so mesmerised by her presence that you fail to notice the knowing glances from some of the people in town, equally as the two of you make it back to her car as Regina takes you by surprise and wraps an arm around you. It was all playing right into the older woman's cards but yet you remained so taken back by her beauty and affection towards you that you missed it all.

,,I really enjoyed this Regina'' you smile at her as you walk her back to her house a little while later. ,,Me too dear'' she smiles and before you know it, time seems to stop for a moment as you look into her brown eyes and hers lock with yours. You lose yourself in the depths of her eyes, a beautiful tone of brown reminding you of autumn, warmth and strangely home. She startles you a little when she moves towards you, your faces now inches apart as your eyes flicker from her eyes to her lips and then she closes the gap as she takes your lips into her own. The kiss causes you to almost melt into her, your heart aching for her, glad you didn't read this wrong, wanting this moment to never stop as your life suddenly felt like it got meaning. The two of you pull away in search for oxygen and you can't help but smile as you lose yourself in her eyes again. ,,Good night dear'' she whispers before winking and leaving you outside her door, your thoughts racing as she smirks and closes her front door. Like a drunk teenager, you make your way home, again oblivious that Wilhemina had watched the scene unfold, her heart breaking at the sight despite her inner rage.

The next day, you begin work early, the sun barely having risen, the birds already singing their tunes. But you hadn't been able to sleep much since the night prior, the kiss replaying over and over again in your mind and you needed to make sure to be outside early enough to catch a glimpse of Regina. However as you watch her rush out of her front door, you can tell that something was bothering her, the phone clutched to her ears and you assume it meant some kind of town emergency as those kinda things happened regularly and something needed the mayors attention. Hours pass and you lose yourself again in your work, putting your attention on her fruit trees and the vegetable field, some of them finally ready for harvesting which you had been excited for. Meanwhile it was Wilhemina's day off and it looked like any other day off for her as she strolls through town, picking up her medication and purchasing some groceries. ,,Did you hear the mayor and gardener went on a date last night'' she overhears one of the towns gossips and she can't help but sigh heavily, hastily paying for her things before leaving, her cane echoing loudly.

And then as she begins driving home, a wave of rage and anger washes over her as she abruptly stops her car, just passing city hall and ultimately Regina's office. With angry and heavy steps she approaches her office, not caring about knocking as she enters holding onto her cane hard. Meanwhile the mayor is sitting at her desk, reading over some documents before she finds a very visible shaken Wilhemina in front of her and she can't help but smirk. ,,Well to what do I owe this pleasure?'' she begins, only infuriating the redhead further with her antics. ,,Save it Regina'' she snaps, her cane banging on the floor once. ,,What are you playing at?'' her voice rings through the office, before Regina composes herself, tilting her head a little and blinking innocently at the redhead. ,,I have no idea what you are referring to dear'' she huffs, averting her gaze but Wilhemina was far from done.

,,Why the sudden interest? why take her on a date, in town of all places?'' the redhead snaps, her anger bubbling out of her. ,,Jealous are we?'' Regina remarks with a raised eyebrows before Wilhemina fights back the lump in her throat. She couldn't believe the brunette at times, after everything that happened, after all the pain that she had caused the redhead. Regina's curse broke the redhead, despite the former evil queen predicting every piece of her curse, making every single person forget despite her and Wilhemina, even blessing them with a beautiful house, even making them share a life together, marriage. But Regina had taken everything from the redhead as she was utterly in love with you and that eventually broke them both including their marriage, despite the breaking of that coming slowly and over several years, before you eventually joined the picture and Regina decided to move you into their lives, making you her gardener of all things despite the irony of it.

,,You know I could break this pathetic curse of yours in an instant?'' Wilhemina remarks, now feeling like she has the upper hand all things considered. Regina pauses, reading the redheads features carefully, scoffing, acting as if she had no idea what her ex wife was talking about, despite knowing ever so well. ,,If I kiss her, true love's kiss will break it and she will remember'' the redhead remarks, causing Regina's eyes to widen, not remotely understanding how she could possibly know this. ,,It would never work my dear'' Regina scoffs, pretending to carry on with her work. ,,And why is that?'' Wilhemina scoffs, before the brunette fills her in. ,,She doesn't love you, she doesn't remember you'' the mayor hisses, enjoying the little power play, her eyes burning with desire. ,,Well she doesn't love you either because nothing happened last night when you kissed'' the redhead remarks in annoyance, each statement of them, causing the other one feeling more powerful.

They are both unaware that you just walked into the hallway, planning to bring Regina some lunch, figuring that she probably wouldn't get the time today, considering her busy schedule and wanting to be nice after not seeing her this morning and at the same time longing to see her again. You halt as you see the opened door and hearing raised voices, carrying a bottle and the lunch in your now shaking hands. ,,Wrong dear, I kissed her yes but I don't love her, I don't care for her'' Regina proudly smirks before Wilhemina turns on her heels, not being able to stand being in her presence for a second longer. And as the redhead leaves her office she halts in her steps as she sees your presence, visibly shaken and she worries which parts of the conversation you had heard. ,,Y/N'' she remarks, seeing your heart breaking in front of her. But she quickly understands that you must have only overheard the last one as you seem more hurt than confused.

Regina reaches the door, seeing the tears swell in your eyes before you glance at them both and leave, dropping the lunchbox and bottle in the process. ,,Shit'' she mutters under her breath and Wilhemina's eyes land on the evidence of your true kindness and heart as she figures you must have wanted to bring her ex wife some lunch and it kills her, seeing how Regina was using you like a pawn in some kind of game. ,,If you hurt her again, you will face consequences you can't even begin to imagine'' she warns, glancing at Regina, and if looks could kill, the former evil queen would be on the floor right now. Regina watches as the redhead leaves, her steps rushed as her cane bangs loudly against the marble flooring.

Despite the redheads best efforts of finding you she couldn't, knowing this must have broken you and despite feeling so angry and overtaken with jealousy, she can't even blame you as you had no fault in how Regina was playing and using you. Meanwhile you had returned home, a sobbing mess, the brunettes words repeating in your head again and again ,,I don't love her, I don't care for her''. As you sob into your pillow you couldn't believe how foolish you had been, thinking you are just a piece in their game of jealousy and knowing you should have never gotten between them considering they had been married before, not understanding the full extend of the situation yet. As Wilhemina returned home, she had attempted of finding you but it was hopeless as you didn't open the door, assuming it was Regina, who only tried hours later, feeling remorse for you overhearing what happened as her words weren't exactly true, simply wanting to annoy her ex lover in the process and confused herself as why the kiss never broke the curse.

And so as a result, you spend the next few days inside, working on the garden in the night, not wanting all your hard work go to waste as you hadn't been able to sleep either way, but not in the mood to see anyone, especially not Regina given her words and equally Wilhemina, feeling embarrassed and pathetic for her witnessing your heart breaking in front of her. Somehow it seems as the days continue passing, that your emotions are connected to the weather as the temperature had dropped significantly, causing you to be left shivering and shaking at night, unable to sleep and the heating in Regina's guest/pool house certainly wasn't sufficient to keep you warm. On the third day since the incident, Regina grows increasingly worried, not having seen you but noticing the garden in perfect shape and finding fruit and vegetables still harvested and neatly packed in baskets on her patio every night. And as the next morning approaches, she really begins feeling remorse, feeling terrible for having hurt you with her sharp words.

Pathetically she tries knocking on the door, even calling you a few times but it was pointless and as she makes her way back to her patio she sighs heavily before catching a glimpse of Wilhemina in her garden, the redhead watching the scene unfold and deciding to investigate for herself as she had been worried about you, not having seen you for a few days and any attempt of finding you unsuccessful so far. ,,Is everything okay?'' the redhead voices startles the mayor as she hastily glances from her phone to her ex wife. The brunette huffs then, stressed and not necessarily in the mood to fill her in but the concern for you causing her to give in. ,,I haven't seen Y/N in days and I'm worried'' she begins before glancing at her phone again ,,But I need to get to the office urgently'' she speaks, another incoming call ringing through the air. ,,Let me take care of it'' Wilhemina offers, her features matching the brunettes concern before the brunette for the first time in a long time, genuinely smiles warmly at her and muttering a quick ,,Thank you''. She turns on her heels, reaching for her handbag that she abandoned on her patio ,,You know where the spare keys are'' she ushers before leaving.

And so Wilhemina retreats the spare keys, walking over to the guest house before overlooking the gardens and finding a lavender patch, the sight warming her heart. She knocks a few times, her knocks eventually growing more impatient, the concern lingering on her features ,,Y/N it's me open the door'' she instructs but it's hopeless and so she unlocks the door, stepping inside carefully. She almost didn't remember what the place looked like but she couldn't deny that it was nice, small but you kept it tidy, neat and comfortable. As she glances around the corner, she catches a glimpse of you on the sofa and she can feel the cold prick on her skin and run a shiver down her spine. As she takes another step, abandoning the spare keys on the small kitchen counter, she finds you on the sofa, bundled in several blankets as you shiver uncontrollably. The sight almost kills her and she is quick to rush over, before calling out your name again.

Struggling, you manage to open your eyes and see a glimpse of the redhead, brushing it off as another fever dream as you expected anyone but her. The back of her hand softly comes into contact with your forehead and she gasps then, feeling the temperature and by your pale expression being able to tell that you had fallen ill. ,,Y/N can you hear me?'' she tries softly, the worry gnawing at her insides at the lack of your response before. And then your eyes snap open, realising this wasn't another fever dream and that the redhead was standing there ,,Wilhemina'' you whisper, your voice sounding broken, tired and small. ,,I think I'm a bit sick'' you struggle to mutter out and the redhead can't help but chuckle at your statement, finding you so adorable despite your vulnerability. ,,A bit little one?'' she repeats your statement, her eyes showing genuine concern. ,,Let me get some things I'll be right back''.

And so Wilhemina is quick to go back to her house, returning moments later with a thermometer and some cold medicine. She ushers you to sit and take the medication, checking your temperature and seeing how high it is. In the meantime she had messaged Regina, letting her know that you are sick, somehow feeling the urge to let her know all things considered. It doesn't take long before the effects of the medicine mixed with your symptoms cause you to fall asleep again but the redhead remains by your side for a while, deciding to check on you a little while later again. Meanwhile Regina had finished work a little early, making her way over to you immediately, Wilhemina having left the door unlocked as you didn't really seem in the right state to open it yourself. As Regina enters, she can feel the cold and she finds you sitting on the sofa, having woken up a little while ago. Her features are tense as this was the first time since seeing you at her office the other day. ,,Y/N are you okay?'' she asks, almost a little nervously, trying her best to cover up her own anxiety.

,,I'm fine'' you mutter, despite the pounding headache making it a little hard to concentrate, her words still linger on your mind and you are confused as to what she was doing there considering she made it so clearly that she didn't care for you. ,,Y/N it's freezing in here'' she remarks, shivering a little herself but you ignore her statement, feeling both nauseous and heartbroken. ,,Please let me put you in one of my guest rooms, it will be much warmer than in here'' she tries but you simply look at her before muttering ,,I said I'm fine'' and she leaves you be then, glancing at you one more time before leaving, feeling awful. The door opens again five minutes later and you can't help but sigh ,,Regina- I said I'm fine'' you huff but you quickly stop yourself when seeing Wilhemina walk inside, carrying a container of soup and a spoon in her hands. Your features soften, feeling bad about your statement and bad that she was going through such lengths for you as of right now you didn't feel like you deserved it.

,,Here'' she offers warmly, before taking a seat beside you and you hesitate, not remotely feeling hungry but you didn't want the gesture to go to waste so you carefully begin eating some spoons and instantly feeling relief as the warm liquid begins warming you a little. ,,How are you feeling?'' she smiles warmly at you as her concerned eyes meet yours. ,,Better, thank you'' you return the smile before the room fills with silence. And you can't help but notice her shivering a little as well ,,Typical of Regina to let you stay in here without central heating'' she remarks and you don't say anything, not wanting any part in their play anymore. ,,Why don't you come stay with me til it gets warmer?'' she offers and your eyes meet hers, appreciating the gesture. ,,Thank you but I'm okay'' you reassure, leading the spoon with warm soup to your mouth again. ,,Y/N you are sick and it's freezing in here'' she remarks sternly. ,,The least I can do is offer you a warm room'' she adds before you stop her ,,Wilhemina I appreciate it but Regina has already offered the same'' you explain before her eyebrow shoots up in surprise.

,,Then why on earth would you want to stay in this cold place?'' she questions and you gulp then ,,I don't want to stay with Regina'' you explain, before the events from a few days ago linger on her mind, the concern over you from today almost causing her to forget but she nods understandingly before her eyebrows furrow. ,,Why won't you stay with me?'' she asks before you avert your gaze. ,,I don't want to intrude'' you explain before she scoffs. ,,Y/N you couldn't ever intrude, now come on, get some things'' she ushers and this time you can't even fight her, feeling both sick, exhausted and terribly cold. And so on shaky legs, you put some things in a bag before following her to her house, the moon illuminating the now quiet town of Storybrooke. Almost in a daze you follow her, feeling the pounding headache return, your body shaking uncontrollably as she leads you upstairs, towards a room and you are quick to sit on the bed, feeling like your legs would give in any moment.

Wilhemina is quick to turn the heating on in the room, walking downstairs to fetch some water and more medication for you and as she returns she finds you on the bed, already asleep still shivering and shaking. She can't help but frown at the sight, quickly tugging you in and making you comfortable before opting for an armchair by the window, her back feeling a little sore after all the moving and bending. And as her eyes land upon you, she can't help but feel her heart aching, having her little one so close but you had no idea who she was truly, how she loved you, how she was an enemy to you at first but you captivated her heart and the memories of holding you close linger on her mind just before the curse, when she whispered her love confessions, begging you to remember no matter what happens but you didn't remember and it broke her, causing some tears to stream down her tired features as she continues looking over your shaking sleeping form. As the night wears on, Wilhemina doesn't move an inch, sincerly hoping that you wouldn't wake and find her staring at you but she couldn't help herself, having missed you so much that it nearly killed her and she didn't mind the pain in her back as long as she could spend one more night with you, despite you being so incredibly far away.

And as the next morning arrives, you wake up, your eyes slowly opening at the bright sensation from the sunrise, beautiful shades of yellow and orange coating the room. At first your eyebrows furrow a little, unfamiliar with the surroundings until your eyes land upon the redhead woman sitting asleep in an armchair at the other corner of the room and you then remember the events from the night prior. ,,Wilhemina?'' you ask a little confused before she instantly wakes, her breath hitching before she composes herself. ,,Y/N, are you okay?'' she almost mumbles, before balancing on her cane and walks over to you. ,,Yes but what are you doing here?'' you whisper as you look into her brown eyes as she hovers nearby the bed. ,,Well this is my house you know'' she remarks, causing you to raise an eyebrow. ,,I know but-'' you pause then looking at the armchair where she was sleeping but choosing to remain quiet. ,,How are you feeling?'' she asks, her hand travelling to your forehead and noticing how you still feel a little warm but a lot better, as well as the colour now back on your beautiful face.

,,Much better thank you'' you remark before quickly standing up, again feeling like an intruder in her home. ,,What are you doing?'' she asks a little confused before you whisper ,,I'm just leaving, I'm sorry for intruding'' but she is having none of that. ,,Nonsense Y/N, you are staying with me until that heating situation gets fixed'' and before you can open your mouth to protest she gives you a look, almost a scolding one and you knew no matter what you would say she wouldn't allow it so you simply smile thankfully at her. The following week you spend with the redhead woman, at first having a hard time to adjust and not feel like an intruder in her home but you couldn't shake the feeling that she enjoyed your company and so you allowed it, you working in Regina's garden throughout the day as soon as you feel better, Wilhemina working and returning to you in the evening, you often providing her with a meal either from granny's or asking if you could use her kitchen. And she got so lost in it all that sometimes when she returned in the evening, it almost seemed normal, having you by her side, smiling warmly at her as you asked about her day.

As the weekend approaches, any remainder of the sickness now gone and Wilhemina successfully getting Regina to install some heating and that being done, you know you needed to move back, still feeling a little strange with the whole thing considering she was Regina's ex wife and you still feeling like a lost piece in their game and only adding to their very obvious issues. And so by Saturday, you stand downstairs with the remainder of your belongings in your bag, seeing as Wilhemina walks from the kitchen towards the hallway, her features neutral despite her heart breaking, wanting nothing more than to have you close, than to have you stay with her. ,,Thank you so much for letting me stay here again'' you remark, meeting her eyes from across the hallway. She moves closer then before speaking ,,You are welcome li- Y/N''. You hesitate, not wanting to just leave like that and feeling the strange urge to say something else, despite unsure what. ,,I hope you won't be a stranger'' she announces and her features almost seem bitter then and you still couldn't tell her true intentions, despite the kindness she had been showing you this week.

,,Definitely not'' you chuckle before thinking about it for a moment ,,Maybe I could cook for you again soon?'' you offer and she nods then, having loved your cooking this past week. ,,I would love that'' she remarks and with those words she watches you leave, her heart breaking as she feels like losing you all over again. And she considered the entire week, of filling you in, of taking you across the border of town, of kissing you, anything to have you back in her life but she couldn't, not wanting to rip you out of your life and making your whole reality fall apart, knowing there was a risk that you wouldn't remember, Regina's words still lingering on her mind how you don't love her, how you could never love her. And so she retreats back into the darkness of her loneliness, you retreating back to your home, only in the afternoon making it outside again and beginning on some work that you had missed this week due to being ill before.

And the remainder of your weekend and the week following is almost as monotone as it had been before, working in the garden, avoiding Regina, not seeing Wilhemina a lot as she had been working but whenever you did you couldn't help but smile, feeling much closer to her than before. Towards the middle of the week, you decide to make a brief stop at the shops, feeling the odd sense to thank the woman for letting her stay with you. You had texted her whether you could maybe cook for her on the weekend and she agreed gladly. And as you browse through town in your lunchbreak, the sound of a cane startles you, thinking it was Wilhemina at first but quickly finding Mr. Gold standing in front of you with a slight smirk, not really knowing him all that much, knowing about his store and really only seeing him from time to time and greeting him but nothing more than that. ,,Good day Miss Y/L/N'' he greets you and it takes you by surprise, greeting him in return. ,,I have heard you have grown closer to mayor mills and her ex-wife lately'' he remarks, causing you to raise an eyebrow, not expecting the man to be involved in town gossip of all things.

You don't say anything, simply staring at him before he speaks again ,,I find it fascinating, how true love can break any curse, don't you?'' he remarks before leaving you standing a little dumbfounded, trying to figure out what his statement meant, wondering if he possibly meant their marriage by the curse? You brush the thought off quickly, making your way back home and continue your working. And by the time the weekend finally approaches, you are beyond excited, even buzzing as you had missed Wilhemina terribly. And you knew you shouldn't as you could feel your heart rate increasing whenever you thought about her and it reminds you of the feeling you had towards Regina, barely two weeks ago and you knew you shouldn't play with fire but you couldn't help it, considering how they equally had you captivated. As soon as the evening arrives, you find yourself in front of her front door, a basket with dinner you had already prepared.

As she opens the door, her features are soft and welcoming as she leads you into the kitchen, her house now familiar as you had stayed with her for a week. In a swift motion, you serve dinner for her, opening the bottle of wine you had equally brought over, before the two of you make it into her dining room and ease into conversation, filling each other in about your weeks. ,,This was delicious thank you Y/N'' she praises after dessert and you cleaning all the dishes. ,,I have one more thing for you'' you remark, before walking back into the kitchen ,,Now if it's any more food I think I'm gonna explode'' she chuckles and you quickly shake your head before handing her an item, wrapped in some paper. Her eyes meet yours, questioning the gesture before you encourage her to open it up and reluctantly she does, the paper exposing some lavender soap, the smell instantly hitting both of your senses. ,,I made this'' you exclaim excitedly and her shocked eyes meet yours, taken back and deeply touched by your gesture.

,,You made this?'' she repeats your words before you nod excitedly and her heart melts at the gesture, watching as your eyes sparkle almost the way they had before. She wasn't one to recieve gifts often and she for sure didn't know how to handle it and so she simply smiles gratefully at you before the two of you make it to her living room, easing into some conversation, sitting on her sofa by the fireplace, each with a glass of wine in your hands. ,,I enjoy having you around'' she admits, taking you by surprise a little, almost feeling a strange sense of a deja vu that you really only could brush off for now. As time flees by, the two of you move in evidently closer, and before you know it your faces are inches apart, the redhead woman definitely the one taking the initiative as she longed for you, longed to feel your lips on hers, longed to have her little one close. And you hesitated, Regina's words and actions still lingering on your mind, wanting to kiss the redhead with all your being but unable to think about anything else but the consequences.

The butterflies return in your stomach as her eyes travel from yours to your lips and so you close your eyes, ignoring your thoughts before moving closer but now Wilhemina is the reluctant one, Regina's words suddenly lingering on her mind ,,She doesn't love you, she could never love you''. Her own insecurities get a hold of her as she pulls away, leaving you there in front of her, eyes closed and expecting her to kiss you any moment and it breaks her as you open your eyes and she sees your heart breaking again ,,Y/N I'm sorry'' she whispers, fighting back her own tears. ,,I don't think we should'' she admits, her features filled with guilt as you fight back your tears and the lump in your throat, the pain of rejection hitting you like a slap in the face by reality. ,,It's okay Wilhemina, I understand'' you muster up your best smile, trying to compose yourself before setting down the glass of wine and reaching for your coat. ,,Y/N- wait'' she tries, as she catches up with you in her hallway. ,,It's okay really, thank you for tonight'' you mutter and with those words you leave, tears streaming down your cheeks as you make it back home, now definitely understanding you should have never became a part in their twisted game of jealousy and their once perfect marriage.

As the night wears on, you find yourself unable to sleep, your thoughts circling around both women, your eyes traveling around your home, trying to think of anything that could rid the heartache. And then your eyes fall upon a crate of apple cider, that you assume Regina had left for you and you can't help it, shrugging before retreating the bottle and walking outside, sitting down in the garden before drowning your sorrows while staring at the bright moon. Ironically the sense of lavender hangs in the air and it almost makes you sick, seeing the redhead woman in your memory, the almost kiss and her rejection. Equally, Regina had been unable to sleep, eventually also abandoning the thought of getting any sleep as she retreats to the kitchen for some water before seeing your shadow in the garden and as she steps onto her patio, she feels the strange longing to see you, talk to you as you had been avoiding her for weeks now.

,,Y/N?'' she whispers softly, before kneeling down, finding you sitting in between the lavender patches, bottle of apple cider in your hands. You don't say anything, the effects from the several glasses of wine, the apple cider and your loneliness all mixing into one, slightly unaware of your surroundings and not caring about her presence. ,,Are you okay?'' she asks as she decides to sit beside you, hating the thought of her favourite satin pyjamas possibly staining with grass and mud but brushing it off for now. ,,Not really Gina'' you sigh heavily, definitely unaware of anything as you had never called her that before and wouldn't in any clear state of mind. ,,What's wrong darling?'' she asks, the genuine concern lingering on her beautiful features. ,,I thought she liked me'' you huff before her eyebrows furrow, placing a comforting hand on your tired shoulders. ,,Who?'' she asks a little confused, her ego causing her to believe you had been talking about her before. ,,Wilhemina'' you mutter out, a stray tear streaming down your cheek. ,,We almost kissed tonight'' you admit which causes her eyes to widen ,,You what?!'' she questions, her heart beating fast thinking about the possibly consequences of that.

,,But she doesn't like me and neither do you'' you sigh in defeat, your shoulders slumping as you down the rest of the bottle. Despite feeling relief at your statement and the two of you not kissing, she can't help but frown, feeling bad seeing you like this and despite it all not wanting to cause you any pain because unlike her behaviour lately and her actions, Regina did have feelings for you. ,,I do like you Y/N'' she tries, hooking her finger under your chin to make you look at her. And as you look at her, you meet her brown eyes, the way they ached for your pain and how she wanted to make it all go away. ,,You do?'' you ask almost hopelessly and confused. ,,Yes honey and I think-'' she hesitates then, assuming you wouldn't remember any of this in the morning anyway ,,And I'm sure Wilhemina does too, in fact I know she does'' she smiles warmly at you, causing you to smile and close your eyes as sleepiness and a sense of fatigue washes over you. ,,Come on, let's get you inside'' she offers and with an arm wrapped around her, she leads you back inside, getting you comfortable in your bed, before tugging you in, leaving some painkillers and water with you, knowing there was a hangover coming for sure.

And the hangover definitely greeted you in the morning, a pounding headache and instantly closing your eyes again as soon as you opened them, swallowing the painkillers beside you before sleep washes over you again. And when you wake again, the memories from last night slowly creep back into your mind, remembering the evening with Wilhemina, almost kissing her, and a brief encounter with Regina despite not remembering anything from the conversation with her. And so as the days continue in its monotone way, you decide to focus more on yourself, your work, polite with each of them whenever you saw them but wanting to focus more on yourself. But despite your best efforts, the only thing lingering on your mind was them, their marriage and how you had become between that lately. And for some reason the words from Mr. Gold had replayed on your mind a lot ,,True love can break any curse'' still thinking he was talking about their marriage. And so within the last few days as another weekend approached, you had decided to take matters into your own hands, to fix this, fix the damage you had caused.

It was cheeky really, texting both Wilhemina and Regina to meet you at your place tonight, both of them surprised and hopeful for your forgiveness and wanting to see you. But you couldn't shake the feeling that they needed to talk this out and so after Wilhemina walked into your home, finding it empty, only the dining table set with some fresh dinner, the smell making her mouth water, you were quick to sneak around the back, watching as Regina walked in before locking the door, hoping to give them a few hours this way to talk things through, to bring them closer again, Mr. Gold words still on your mind. ,,What is this?'' Regina hisses as she sees the redhead sitting by the dining table, the same confused expression on her face. ,,Y/N asked me to meet her here'' Wilhemina remarks before Regina's eyebrow raises. ,,Me too'' she announces, holding up her phone exposing the text message. ,,Screw this'' Regina hisses, quickly abandoning the redhead and walking towards the door only to find it locked.

,,What game is she playing at?'' Regina remarks annoyed, not wanting to spend her evening with her ex wife under any circumstances. Wilhemina can't help but smirk, her features much softer than usual before she remarks ,,You do have to admit, it's funny of her to parent trap us like this'' she chuckles lowly before the brunette simply rolls her eyes, trying to find another exit, even considering of breaking out through a window but Wilhemina stopping her. ,,Come on, you really can't spend two hours with me?'' the redhead asks, some seriousness in her question after all. And so the two of them eat, feeling both hungry as they both enjoyed your cooking, despite the death glances they exchanged, Wilhemina finding the whole thing rather amusing and so much like you. ,,Tell me, why didn't you kiss her?'' Regina asks after a long silence, causing the redhead to meet her eyes, not expecting her to know about it. ,,I-'' Wilhemina begins speaking but the words get caught in her throat. ,,You could have broken the curse you know? she loves you'' Regina remarks, causing some tears to swell in the redheads eyes. ,,I can see it in her features, just like before'' the mayor recalls and this causes Wilhemina to falter, sighing heavy as her heart aches with regret and longing.

,,And what would you have done if that happened? killed us both?'' Wilhemina questions, causing the brunette to scoff. ,,Of course not'' she huffs, the comment hurting her as since and even before the curse she had tried her hardest to redeem herself with the people she had hurt in the past. The room fills with silence, you meanwhile sitting on Regina's patio, hoping sincerly your plan would work and that they wouldn't murder you afterwards. ,,For what it's worth I'm sorry'' the mayor sighs, knowing at this point the curse was mere days away from breaking by the feelings you and the redhead had developed. ,,You are?'' Wilhemina questions, almost sarcastically with a raised eyebrow and Regina nods then. ,,All I ever wanted was for you to be happy'' the former evil queen admits, causing the redhead to lock eyes as they now sit beside each other on the sofa. ,,If that's true then why all this? why this curse?'' she questions, unsure whether she could believe her ex wife. ,,It was too late by the time we developed feelings for her, the curse was done'' she admits before pausing ,,I wanted us to be happy here together but I thought I was losing you because I know you love her'' Regina admits, for the first time in years truly laying out her true feelings.

And Wilhemina could tell how much time had passed and how much Regina had changed, considering she once believed that love was nothing more than weakness. ,,But she loves you too and she did back then'' Wilhemina remarks, causing a stray tear to run down the brunettes features. ,,Do you really think that would have worked, with us three?'' Regina questions before Wilhemina's features soften again, wiping the brunettes tears before nodding. And yet their eyes lock again, time seeming to stop as after all had been said and done, they suddenly feel drawn to each other, Wilhemina for the first time since it all, really seeing Regina again and not the things she had done and the pain she had caused her and in return the brunette truly feels remorse, knowing now the three of you could have led a life together if she only allowed it to happen. And as it had been several hours, you walk back towards the door, beginning to feel incredibly sorry and wanting to unlock the door. However as you approach, you watch as they are inches apart, smiling at yourself for having achieved what you wanted as their lips slowly meet and despite it hurting a little, you knew you could probably move on, happy to at least have fixed their relationship or at least given it a start.

However, as their lips meet, a bright yellow sensation washes over you, over all of town as you blink for a few times, suddenly a wave of memories crashing through your body, causing you to almost lose your balance. Equally their eyes widen, never expecting them to be true love after all but their admissions tonight, enough proof of just that and that their love for each other and you was stronger than Regina's curse. Wilhemina's eyes widen as she watches the brunettes fear, knowing that despite her best efforts pre curse and in Storybrooke, a lot of people would be after her and despite the redhead efforts to calm her, the only thing she wants to do is find you. And so with a swift motion she balances on her cane, finding you in the darkness of the night, standing in the garden, the door long unlocked as she finds you ,,Y/N'' she calls out, hoping with her whole being that you would remember. And of course you do, seeing her so vividly before the curse broke and her words as she hold you close ,,Mina'' you almost whimper, tears streaming down your cheeks as you almost run into her arms, wrapping around her and she doesn't let go, having waited for this moment for a lifetime. ,,Oh little one'' she breathes out, quick to catch your lips in a kiss before wrapping her arms around you again.

The two of you lose each other in the moment, holding onto each other as if making up for all the years that you had missed each other. Your hearts beat loudly against your chests as she holds her darling girl close, before she senses you tensing in her arms, letting go of you to see your scared expression as your eyes land upon Regina, who stands by your house, her face filled with guilt and remorse. Reluctantly, Wilhemina shields you a little, unsure what Regina's response would be like to the curse breaking, worried that this meant the return of the evil queen but to her surprise it doesn't, the brunette taking some steps closer before meeting your eyes. ,,I am so sorry'' she whispers, tears streaming down her features before brushing past you, almost defeatedly walking towards her house to brace for the impact of her actions. ,,Regina wait'' you call out, leaving Wilhemina's grasp for a moment as she turns to face you. ,,Where are you going?'' you ask almost confused before she chuckles lowly through tears ,,Await my fate, I assume a lot of people will want me dead'' she remarks, not in fear more in acceptance of her own actions.

,,I truly hope you two get the happy ending you deserve'' she smiles painfully but her words and eyes filled with honesty. You glance at Wilhemina behind you, who listens to her words in pain and despite it all, despite the pain she had caused and despite a part of you scared of her dark side, over the last years you had gotten to know her, even lover her and see her true colours. ,,There is no happy ending without you Regina'' you remark, causing for her to meet your eyes with a shocked expression, her mouth open as if she was going to speak before she glances at Wilhemina. The redhead simply stands behind you with the proudest expression, so utterly in love with your kindness and the events from tonight reminding her of the love she once had and still has for Regina. But the brunette couldn't trust your words, knowing you may be forgiving but worried Wilhemina could never trust her again despite their kiss breaking the curse. ,,I agree little one'' she remarks, catching Regina by surprise. ,,Let's get inside and figure this out'' the redhead instructs.

And so at last, the three of you get a chance to reveal your true feelings, Regina talking about what led her to cast the curse, the genuine remorse she was feeling for you both and the town and how she wanted to make amends. And as the three of you lay in each other's arms, holding each other close and drying each other's tears, you knew that this would be a long road ahead. Knowing that in fact the town was going to want to find Regina and hold her responsible but you and Wilhemina already had a plan for dealing with that. And you knew tonight wasn't merely enough to heal, to forgive and forget but all you had wanted all along was to be in their arms and so for now all you can do is enjoy just that, burying the painful memories in the back of your mind and letting go to replace them with new ones, happy ones with the love's of your life.

[his-lost-one]

my favourite hypothetical ouat au will always be one where pan/neverland also got cursed in season one bc the potential is just so juicy tbh, especially if the focus is on the cursed versions a lot

like first of all the lost boys as just some teenagers who cause trouble in storybrooke? that sounds so fun. i need to see the shenanigans pan would make felix cause !!! the pranks devin would play on their teachers !!! just in general all the bullshit they’d do xD

because i feel like most of that would just be harmless pranks, but sometimes the facade of what they were like on neverland would shine through when they’d take some pranks too far and there wouldn’t be any remorse - i mean, it’s pan, so duh - but you know?? that could be turned into something edgy so easily !!!

and maybe wendy would be in the same class as them and she’d like try to stay out of the guys’ way maybe out of self preservation or fear or just instinct from memories she doesn’t remember.

and maybe at the end of it all, they’d just be classmates during the curse. or maybe they would sense that something’s off, there’s more to all of this - just like when graham started remembering bits and pieces before he died. maybe pan would’ve expected all this and somehow implemented a way to get his memories back like rumple.

i mean imagine that- some random high school delinquent suddenly remembers that he’s a magical supervillain infamous across realms. the CHAOS potential. (and henry would be in so much danger lmao)

or maybe pan didn’t anticipate anything and so rumple has to live at least a few weeks or months just knowing that this random trouble making high school student is… well. you know. his dad lmao.

like that would throw off the whole dynamic in s1 so much. especially because i can imagine rumple almost assuming that pan knows (regardless if he actually does).

and then there’s tinkerbell. who would she be in storybrooke? what would her name be? maybe she’d be a former nun (*cough cough*) who then got a job at the school? or maybe she’d have a house somewhere in the woods, a bit away from the main part of town. maybe a bit like zelena’s farm house. i could imagine tink being an author and a loner. who would try to stay away from most people in town, but especially the nuns and mother superior.

maybe someone would ask her at some point why she’s not a nun anymore and like with others when asked about their curse past, she’d be surprised that she’s struggling to remember- it’s all fuzzy. she’s not sure. all she knows is… there was something with the mayor and then she was thrown out of the covenant. she barely even questions why she doesn’t remember.

and actually i want to get back to the lost boys + wendy. bc like to have them be students at storybrooke’s local high school as their cursed selves is one thing, but that’s not enough. where would they actually live? i was thinking, maybe in this au the nuns run a local orphanage and they all live there. obviously pan wouldn’t be happy there, so he’d cause even more trouble i think, but i think wendy would be even more miserable there. she probably doesn’t know why, but for some reason, she’s just always on edge and somewhat scared around pan and his “friends” (are they even friends??? who’s to say?). ofc it’d be because of their past on neverland but none of them would know that and idk. i just think it’d be a fun dynamic.

anyway- i feel like felix, devin and wendy would keep their own names in storybrooke, but idk what tink and pan would be called.

well. hm. maybe tink would get something something like Kelly Bell? kelly because green (which is what the blue fairy called her) and bell bc. yk. tinkerBELL. not exactly the most creative name, but it’s a start ig. idk- shdjjdkdjf

pan might get his name malcolm back and maybe he’d just be malcolm pan- even if that’s kinda a weird last name. or maybe pan and rumple’s cursed selves would be related just like their original selves, just in a different way ofc- so maybe he’d be malcolm gold? but then what would the relation actually be?

i think it’d be funny if it was just the other way around - like malcolm is mr gold’s “son” lmfao. rumple would be SO upset about that when he gets his memories back and it would honestly make the family tree even messier. or maybe it’d be left vague like malcolm is just some distant relative but beyond the name they have nothing in common? that would have potential too but it feels like a more distant idea so idk shdkbskfhf

and one more thing. rufio and hook would ofc not be there in storybrooke, since we all know that hook was with cora and rufio is presumed dead, but maybe they would be present in some cursed memories? like the lost boys have memories of a guy who used to be a classmate of theirs or even a friend called rufio who eventually died because of a one handed drunk driver lol. obviously when they’d get asked about the details no one would quite know, just like always with the curse. but snippets like that could be there. maybe pan would remember some sailor he talked to vaguely and maybe he’d even recognise hook, but he also couldn’t recall any details. also the sailor part would fit bc storybrooke does actually have docks and the like. idk i think the curse giving them such funky and fuzzy memories has potential too. especially if the timeline got changed even more so that maybe hook and cora end up in storybrooke before the curse is even broken. wouldn’t that be fun?

[bestjeanistmonster]

Sonic au summary list

Just to give a rundown of each one!

DC (Sonadow Harlivy) AU- Sonic and crew take on the roles of DC comics heroes and villains, shenanigans ensue as i pick and choose what i want to include and/or change from the multitude of dc comics timelines and continuities and mixing it with Sonic stuff for fun. The most significant roles are Sonic as Harley Quinn and Shadow as Poison ivy

SONIC & TAILS SWAP AU- Tails is the adventuring hero of mobius while Sonic is a pilot/mechanic who's a low-key genius

But along with the role swap I'm also changing Sonic's relationship with his own speed. I'm thinking that Sonic is insecure about his speed due to bullying and other jerks calling him a freak, he acts like it doesn't bother him and laughs it off but he doesn't run and if he has to run he deliberately slows himself down

His boots are even weighted down so that it's harder for him to reach high speeds

They have the same abilities, but because of how different their lives have been they utilise them in different way and have different interests and stuff like Tails’s smarts are targeted towards something different, he’s more interested in ancient ruins and learning about different cultures and stuff which leads him to go on some wacky adventures OZ AU- a sonic storybook situation but Shadow is the one being transported out of nowhere to the land of oz where he must travel great lengths to meet with the wizard of oz and find a way back home and face off against Oz's greatest threat, the wicked witch of the west who is... Sonic??? ROADTRIP AU- a coming of age, slice of life au where Amy makes an ill advised purchase while sleep deprived. She buys a bus. She buys a yellow school bus and for reasons (yet to be revealed) she decides to go on a trip to get away from home for a while. She ends up picking up a series of hitchhikers on the way, making friends, enemies and discovering things about herself on the way!

ONCE UPON A TIME (OUAT) AU- Eggman places an evil curse on the land which leaves our heroes stuck in a world with no chaos energy, no powers, no way out, stripped of their heroic deeds. Our world. They now reside in a town called storybrooke with no memory of their past lives, trapped and robbed of their happy endings, doomed to live in misery. Time is frozen in this town until someone special comes to visit, a saviour to rescue the fallen heroes and undo this evil curse.

Then all the way in station square, Cream the Rabbit is gifted a mysterious storybook by her mother on her 6th birthday, something her father left behind for her, and Vanilla informs her daughter that they will be moving into her Father’s old family house as per his final wishes, located in a town called ‘Storybrooke’.

And Cream will soon find that the town’s residents seem awfully similar to the characters in her new book…

[introvertedexhuastedpigeon]

i had an idea for a non-curse swanqueen au but didnt have the energy to write it so i decided to map it out with picture/moodboard thingis. so, in this au, emma is a new york detective who was offered a transfer to storybrooke maine after a traumatic workplace injury - she was shot in her shoulder. she decides to check the town out with her son one weekend. henry falls in love with the place, specifically the horse ranch, where regina works. he's sad when they return to new york and that makes up emma's mind about the transfer and she accepts it immediately. turns out the town needed a sheriff not a detective, which is a bit of an adjustment for her, but not really because it's a really tiny town. she gets her badge, her house and henry is overjoyed. at the diner one morning they run into regina and her newly adopted son. henry insists she walk with them to his new school, regina obliges. she and emma start talking, and [this is the part i got stuck on and therefore could not write] eventually fall in love [i dont know how to write the falling in love part]

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Fluffy Fridays--Chapter 176: The Intervention

Fluffy Fridays—Chapter 176: The Intervention

Summary:   A series of unrelated, fluffy one shots featuring Killian Jones and  Emma Swan and the relationship that makes us all swoon. Will contain  both canon and AU stories. My contribution to Operation Rainbow Kisses  and Unicorn Stickers (aka, my attempt to drown out the season 4 finale  angst with ridiculous levels of fluff.)

Other Chapters: (from the beginning) (previous chapter)

Tagging a few people who may be interested (Let me know if you want to be added or taken off the list): @sailormew4 @annaamell @flslp87 @emmateo26 @bethacaciakay 

@ultraluckycatnd @effulgent-mind @ilovemesomekillianjones @kat2609 @brooke-to-broch 

@missgymgirl @galadriel26 @the-lady-of-misthaven @charmingturkeysandwich @jennjenn615 

@laschatzi @kimmy46 @snowbellewells @iamanneenigma @daxx04 

@nickillian  @gillie  @britishguyslover @ginnyjinxedandhanshotritafirst @kmomof4

 @linda8084 @golfgirld @captain-swan-coffee @searchingwardrobes @hollyethecurious 

@laughswaytoomuch  @allyourdarlingswans  @winterbaby89 @facesiousbutton82 @therooksshiningknight 

@lfh1226-linda @tiganasummertree @jrob64  @anmylica @booksteaandtoomuchtv

 @i-will-sing-no-requiem @bluewildcatfanatic @laianely

(ao3) (ff.net)

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

Notes:  A little over a year since my last installment of fluff?  Sorry about that!  All I can say is that the muse has been a fickle mistress.  Happy (belated) 4th of July to all that celebrate it.  Enjoy some holiday themed CS-enjoying-their-happy-beginning fluff!

Emma swiveled back and forth in her chair at the sheriff’s station before bringing her mug of hot cocoa with cinnamon to her smiling lips.  She couldn’t seem to stop smiling.  She was so happy it almost–but not quite–scared her.

Two months ago she’d won the final battle with the Black Fairy, and the next day, she and Killian had headed out on their honeymoon.  With the town finally at peace, she and her brand new husband decided to take a long overdue and much needed break for some of the steamiest and most romantic R & R she’d ever experienced.

They’d had no real destination in mind, no specific plans.  They’d simply boarded the Jolly Roger and set sail (after Emma had once again put a cloaking spell on the magnificent vessel.  After all, they might get some stares sailing an eighteenth century vessel around the Land Without Magic.)  They’d largely followed the East coast, Killian after all, being fascinated to learn of the journeys and stories of this realm’s pirates of old, and had ended up in the Caribbean.

Emma’s smile widened as she remembered the couple of days they’d spent in Savannah, and in particular, Killian's reaction to the famous Pirate’s House restaurant.  He’d been fascinated with the history and pirate memorabilia, of course, until he’d learned that the institution bragged of its connection to Captain Flint.

“That absolute ponce?” Killian had scoffed. “He’s the one they idolize?  He makes bloody Blackbeard look like a worthy opponent.”

He’d been so adorably flummoxed by the reaction to Flint, that she’d immediately taken him back to the Jolly and had her wicked way with him.  (Not that she really needed much of an excuse.  This was their honeymoon after all.)

They’d returned to Storybrooke last Friday, taken the weekend to settle back in and returned to normal life this morning.

Normal life.

They actually had a normal life.  They’d had a full two month honeymoon with no frantic calls from Storybrooke talking about a new villain in town.  They’d returned to a normal, sleepy little town that wasn’t under a curse, a memory spell or any other enchantment.  Life was just…normal.

In fact, it was so normal that Regina had instituted monthly town meetings, and in the last one, the town had made plans for Storybrooke’s first annual Independence Day celebration, as the Fourth of July was right around the corner.

“If we’re gonna be a part of the Land Without Magic now,” Granny had argued, “we best start doing normal Land Without Magic things.”

“Maybe start by not calling it the Land Without Magic, sister,” Leroy had grumbled.

There was to be a parade, a big town festival, fireworks.  The whole patriotic thing.

Emma had so much work to do in order to coordinate security for all of it, but she couldn’t be happier.

(Maybe a certain husband who she couldn’t seem to get enough of had something to do with that happiness, but who could blame her, really?)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Two days later, Emma was awoken by a sweet and rather passionate kiss from her husband.  Outside their window came the boom of a firework exploding.

“They’re still at it?” Emma asked, pulling slightly away and shaking her head.  “I don’t know who’s setting off those fireworks, but this is getting to be overkill.  The whole big display last night–and the night before–were kind of understandable given the time of year, but it seems like they never stop.”

“Aye,” Killian agreed.  “It would seem we have a veritable pyromaniac within our midst.”

“Well at least the 4th is tomorrow, so maybe they’ll knock it off after that.”

“Perhaps so,” Killian said with one final, lingering kiss, punctuated by another loud boom from outside. “At any rate, we’d best be up and at ‘em.”

Emma gave him a heavy lidded look.  “You sure about that?  I was kind of thinking we might need a little more….rest…this morning.  After all, last night was pretty….acrobatic.”

His grin turned wicked, before he leaned down and kissed her again. (Boom! from outside)  “Something tells me if I returned to our bed, we wouldn’t be leaving it until noon–but we wouldn’t be getting much rest.”

She shrugged and grinned.  “What’s wrong with that?”

He laughed.  “What’s wrong with that is that Regina will have our heads if we don’t attend the mandatory town meeting she called for nine a.m. sharp.”

Emma pushed herself up and tossed off the covers.  “I suppose you’re right,” she grumbled. “But I say, the minute we’re free, we pick up where we left off last night.”

“You’ll have no complaints from me, love.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The first thing Emma noticed when she and Killian arrived at Town Hall hand in hand, was that someone had strung a big sign over the raised podium that said “Intervention.”

Was it just her, or was this town getting even weirder?

The second thing she noticed was that when they sat down beside her parents, David and Mary Margaret wouldn’t even meet their eyes.

“Okay, you guys, what is going on?” she asked.

Her mom gave her a big–way too big–smile, and simply said “Guess you’ll…I mean we’ll…find out.”

Emma was on the point of asking for further clarification, when Regina walked briskly to the podium and banged the gavel.

“I think we all know why we’re here,” she said grimly.  “We have a problem, and something needs to be done about it.”

Emma and Killian gave each other a bewildered look.

“Are we missing something?” he asked.

“The fireworks,” Leroy said.  “We’re here about the constant, round the clock, fireworks.”

For some reason, the dwarf glared at them ferociously while saying it.

Yeah, this town was definitely getting weirder.

“We were just talking about that this morning,” Emma said.  “Please tell me we don’t have some new, patriotic villain in town.”

“Nothing quite so dramatic, Mrs. Swan-Jones,” Regina said.

“So you found the culprit?” Emma asked.  “Why not just confront him–or have me arrest him?  What’s with the whole big town meeting?  And what’s with the ‘intervention’ sign?”

“That’s why we’re here, honey,” Snow said, her voice far too sunny.  “We…um…we think we figured out what’s going on.”

For some odd reason, beside her, David groaned, loudly, and muttered something like “I don’t want to be talking about this!”

“Okay….” Emma said, drawing out the word.  “Anybody want to elaborate?”

“It’s quite simple,” Rumple said, from the far side of the room. “We’ve noticed that you and your pirate have been exhibiting nauseating levels of affection.  PDA, if you will.  We believe the results have been rather magical and explosive and, in short, have led to our dilemma today.”

“You believe we are to blame for the festive displays all day and night?” Killian asked.

“Wait, this is an intervention for us?” Emma asked at the same time.

“We first noticed the fireworks after you came home from your honeymoon,” Aurora said.  “Small things at first–sparklers when you kissed her cheek, escalating up to…well…”

“What precisely were the two of you doing last night at approximately 10:15 pm?” Regina asked crisply.

Emma’s face flamed while Killian’s grin turned positively sinful and David…well, David turned a sickly shade of green.

“We were… we were,” Emma spluttered.  “Come on, Regina! We’re newlyweds!  What do you think we were doing?”

“Would you like all the sordid details, Your Majesty, or would a summary suffice?” Killian asked cheekily.

Beside them, David put his head in his hands muttering “Make it stop!”

“That’s what we thought,” Regina stated matter-of-factly, ignoring Killian’s question altogether.  “And did you notice when the fireworks display started last night?  Did you notice how it grew in intensity about half an hour later?”

“Oh my gods,” Emma muttered, imitating her dad, and burying her face in her hands, wanting nothing more than for the floor to swallow her and her husband whole.

“We aren’t blaming you, honey,” Mary Margaret said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.  “We all remember what it was like to be newlyweds.  Your dad and I couldn’t get enough of each other.”

Surely this had to be in the most awkward town hall meeting in the history of the world.

“But,” Zelena said, “we need to find a way to put a stop to it.  If my toddler is awoken in the middle of the night, one more time, I might have to turn wicked again.”

“If I’m understanding correctly,” Killian said, “you believe that when my wife and I show each other physical signs of affection–when we’re intimate–we create magical fireworks?”

“Indeed,” Regina said.  “And thus the intervention.”

“Ridiculous!” he stated.  “Surely my wife would realize it if she were performing magic.”

“Maybe not,” Granny said, reaching into her bag for a fresh skein of yarn to continue her latest knitting project.  “You both seem so consumed with each other, you don’t notice anything else around you.”

“There is a way we could test the theory,” Belle suggested.  “An experiment, if you will.”

Killian’s eyebrows rose.  “Surely you aren’t suggesting we engage in…relations…right here in town hall?”

Belle’s face flamed.  “Of course not!  A simple peck on the lips would do.”

Leroy began tapping his water bottle with his pen in the way wedding guests do when they want the newlyweds to kiss at a wedding reception.

Killian gave her a glance, and she shrugged.  “I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

He leaned down and gave her a quick, chaste kiss.  At the front of the hall, a sparkler materialized and began buzzing through the room.

“Whelp, I guess that gives us our answer,” Leroy said.  “The question is what are we gonna do about it?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that night, Emma lay in Killian’s arms, idly stroking his bare chest.  “Well that had to be one of the most embarrassing mornings of my life,” she said.

Killian nodded and then chuckled.  “Did you get a gander at your father’s face throughout the ‘intervention’?  I thought he would keel over from apoplexy.”

Emma laughed.  “Serves him right after my mom’s comment about their own activities as newlyweds.   So, do you think the town’s solution actually worked?”

Following Leroy’s question this morning, Killian had stated vociferously that under no circumstances would he stop making love to his wife, short of her refusing his advances.  Emma had then further traumatized her father by insisting–equally vociferously–that she didn’t see that happening any time soon–probably never.

Several rather ridiculous suggestions had been tossed out, including Zelena not-so-helpfully stating she’d have been more than willing to curse Killian’s lips again if only she still had her magic.  

Finally, a workable solution had been agreed upon.

Regina would put a magic dampening spell on both Emma’s and Killian’s lips until they had left the honeymoon period behind.

“Just their lips?” Leroy scoffed.  “I think you ought to curse their nether regions too, just to be sure.”

Fortunately, Regina had stated in no uncertain terms that she had no intention of getting anywhere near either of their “nether regions”.

And as soon as the spell was applied the town hall meeting had mercifully come to a close.

“Pardon, love?” Killian asked, bringing her back to the present.

“The magic dampening spell,” she said.  “Do you think it worked?

“There’s only one way to find out,” he said, swooping in with a kiss for the ages, the kind that made her knees weak and had her forgetting her own name.

When the kiss ended, he pulled away, and they both listened closely.

Silence.

“Looks like we’re in the clear,” Emma muttered, reaching up to bring him back to her.  “And now that we don’t have an entire town of voyeurs knowing exactly what we’re up to, I’d say it’s way past time we get back to the fun.”

[notonlymice]

90 RUMBELLE + 10 ANYELLE/ANYEM FICS I THINK ABOUT A LOT

I enjoy finding interesting fics to read through rec lists, so I decided to make one myself. I've only been in the fandom for less than two years and I still have a lot to read, but these are some of my favourites so far.

1. Acceptance by Silential

Storybrooke, 9537 words, E

Rumple has gained some weight and feels self-conscious about it. Belle shows him that she loves him anyway.

2. Accord by sira_underhill

Creature AU, 7546 words, M

Rumplestiltskin is a dragon.

3. A Little Help by Crysania

Dark Castle, 2025 words, E

Table sex (poor table).

4. All I Want For Christmas Is You by lizandletdie

Non-magical AU, 16919 words, T

Neal asks Belle to pretend to be his terrible girlfriend so that his father would say please date anyone but not this one. This doesn’t go as planned.

5. Alone In My Tower by Crysania

Enchanted Forest AU, 8450 words, E

Belle’s father locks her up in the tower until she agrees to marry one of her suitors. She summons the Dark One to help her.

6. Always One More Time by Bad_Faery

Non-magical AU, 54001 words, E

Due to certain reasons Gold has excelled in oral sex and puts an online ad offering his services.

7. Any Just Cause or Impediment by suchadearie

Non-magical AU, 15287 words, E

Belle is about to marry Whale and thinks his best man, Gold, hates her (it’s actually the opposite).

8. Anything by whereismygarden

Enchanted Forest AU, 2719 words, E

A deal with the Dark One turns into friendship and then into something else.

9. A Streak of Luck by WorryinglyInnocent

Enchanted Forest AU, 27998 words, T

Belle is cursed, and she goes looking for the Dark One hoping he could help her.

10. Baby It's Cold Outside by rowofstars

Non-magical AU, 14407 words, E

Gold and his housekeeper Belle are stuck in his house due to a blizzard.

11. Balancing the Books by BarPurple

Non-magical AU, 3302 words, E

Angry oral sex in the library.

12. Braided Leather and Smooth Skin by ZionAngel

Storybrooke, 5010 words, E, Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Rumple has nightmares about Belle being whipped, and she suggests to fight fire with fire.

13. Buried Treasure by Emospritelet

Storybrooke, 19860 words, E

Lacey decides to distract Gold from his thoughts about Belle and hides his ring in an interesting place.

14. Buttoned Up by nerdrumple

Non-magical AU, 24343 words, E

Belle doesn’t feel beautiful, but it doesn't stop her from masturbating at her workplace. Gold accidentally witnesses it.

15. Chevalier by oceanofdarkness

Dark Castle, 2363 words, E

Gaston comes to rescue his fiancee and sees something unexpected.

16. Dark Castle series by extree

Dark Castle, 23354 words, G, T

Dark Castle fluff.

17. Darkest by ScarletteStarlett

Dark Castle, 1847 words, E, Rape/Non-Con

Rumplestiltskin is as dark as he claims to be.

18. Dark Heart by Emospritelet

Non-magical AU, 122667 words, E

Two years ago Gold and Belle broke up, and she left town. Now she is back, and apparently she has a baby.

+ 19. Twisted Fate by Emospritelet

Non-magical AU, 110565 words, E

Everything pre-breakup is the same as in "Dark Heart", but at some point Belle manages to tell Gold she is pregnant.

20. Dark Lover by woodelf

Storybrooke, 2932 words, E

Rumbelle roleplay (with dirty talk).

21. Desperate Souls by rowofstars

Non-magical AU, 25227 words (7/? chapters), E

Belle needs money, so she agrees to do some lingerie modelling for Gold.

22. Discreet by whereismygarden

Dark Castle, 1721 words, E

Rumple catches Belle masturbating.

23. Double the Meaning by BarPurple

Dark Castle, 1936 words, E

Flirting through double entendres.

24. Essays by RosexKnight

Non-magical AU, 3977 words, E

Instead of an essay Belle turns in an erotic fairytale retelling.

25. Fair Trade by Anonymous

Enchanted Forest AU, 3233 words, M, Rape/Non-Con

Villagers make a virgin sacrifice to Rumplestiltskin.

26. Five Times series by lizandletdie

Non-magical AU, 11644 words, T, E

Belle has a crush on her new neighbour but constantly makes a fool of herself in front of him.

27. For a Good Cause by rowofstars

Non-magical AU, 5968 words, E

Chubby Belle and the green dress.

28. From Shattered Places by lizandletdie

Historical AU (non-magical), 124553 words, E, Rape/Non-Con 

Lady Belle was raped by Nottingham. Mr. Gold offers her his hand in marriage of convenience.

29. Hang On Me by nerdrumple

Non-magical AU, 2930 words (1/2 chapters), E

Gold is going to hang himself when suddenly he sees Belle through the window.

30. Head over Heels by B_does_the_write_thing

Non-magical AU, 7338 words, E

Belle finds out that her boss Gold has never received a blow job.

31. Her Angel by Kelyon

Enchanted Forest AU, 8475 words, G

Belle flees from her own wedding and comes across a spinner and his son.

32. Homecoming by rowofstars

Enchanted Forest AU, 5850 words, G

Rumple goes home from the war and wonders if he would be welcomed by Belle and their newborn son.

33. Hot Cocoa and Stolen Kisses by Kelyon

Non-magical AU, 19715 words, E

Lacey tries to connect with Mr. Gold through hot chocolate.

34. In Dreams of Him by mareyshelley

Creature AU, 14958 words, E

Gold is an incubus.

35. In the Blood!Verse series by Megara Bee (Megara_Bee)

Vampire AU, 48780 words, E

Belle makes a deal with Gold, a local vampire, and he drinks her blood, but not in a usual for vampires way.

36. Layered by TheStraggletag

Non-magical AU, 9017 words, E

Mary Margaret, a famous actress, wants her wedding dress to be made by Gold, a famous designer, but doesn’t want paparazzi to know she’s getting married, so she asks her friend Belle for a favour.

37. Legal Binding by Of_Princes_and_Savages

Non-magical AU, 3375 words, E

Lawyer!Gold and his secretary Belle have fun in the car.

38. like an open book. by SerenaLyon

Dark Castle, 7782 words, E

Light BDSM in the Dark Castle.

39. Liminal Space by rufeepeach

Non-magical AU, 18997 words, E

Midnight bonding of two broken hearts through an act of vandalism in a parking lot.

40. Lipstick Kisses by mareyshelley

Non-magical AU, 39060 words, E

Lacey has broken up their secret relationship with Gold, but now she has another secret.

41. Love Me Before The Last Petal Falls by DeliriumsDelight7

Hanahaki Disease AU, 5697 words (1/4 chapters), M

Unrequited love makes Belle cough up flower petals.

42. Married to the Magic by Crysania

Dark Castle, 11076 words, E

Accidental marriage through drinking some strange tea.

43. Midnight Rides by Maplesyrup

Non-magical AU, 8406 words, E

Belle and Gold often take night rides in his car, both thinking that the other isn’t really interested.

44. Mr. Good Mood series by lizandletdie

Non-magical AU, 23250 words, G, M, E

Belle spends a night with an older man and soon realises he is her friend's father.

45. Necessary Roughness by Shipperqueen

Storybrooke, 8598 words, E

Belle pretends to be Lacey so that Rumple could be rougher with her.

46. Neverland by Emospritelet

Non-magical AU, 79107 words, E

Belle wants her first time to be special, so she hires an escort. She definitely doesn't expect her teacher to show up.

47. Nightcap by Mrs_Stiltskin (Lady_Belles_Teacup)

Storybrooke, 2616 words, E

PWP with lactation kink.

48. Not A Prince by LicieOIC

Storybrooke s2, 2515 words, E

At least someone comes to the library to unchain Belle...

49. Of Greasepaint and Flyers by Bad_Faery

Non-magical AU, 14041 words, E

Circus AU.

50. Old Names and New Titles by rufeepeach

Storybrooke, 4277 words, T

Belle and Gold babysit Henry.

51. One Small Spark by Bad_Faery

Dark Castle, 5471 words, E, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con 

Regina didn’t lie about the clerics.

52. On the Shores of Loch Katrine by PhoenixTalon

Non-magical AU, 53036 words, E

To inherit his grandfather’s estate in Scotland, Gold needs to get married.

53. Our Way to Fall by nerdrumple

Non-magical AU, 17670 words, E

Belle wants her mother’s necklace back, and Gold suggests her to do something shocking for it. He doesn’t expect her to agree.

54. Pages of Reverie by chippedcupwrites

Dark Castle, 2002 words, T

Belle stumbles upon a book with a sleeping curse and sees strange fairytailish dreams of herself and someone else.

55. Red Lights by rufeepeach

Non-magical AU, 30855 words, E

Gold is a 45-year-old virgin and hires an escort to finally experience sex.

56. Refuge by Fyre

Dark Castle, 13024 words, M, Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Belle, desperate and scared, comes knocking at the Dark Castle doors.

57. Representation by AngelofDarkness1605

Storybrooke, 18711 words, M

Watching porn together turns out to be good for the relashionship.

58. Room to Breathe by Bad_Faery

Non-magical AU, 10124 words, M

Gold is a hoarder, Neal hires Belle to help him declutter.

59. Sacrifice by guinevere_grey

Dark Castle, 4755 words, E

When Rumplestiltskin claims her as his price, Belle expects him to have sex with her, but time goes by, nothing’s happening, and she loses her patience.

60. Santa Baby by lizandletdie

Storybrooke, 3859 words, E

Gold and Lacey celebrate Christmas with anal sex.

61. She Can't Help It by wonderwoundedhearers

Enchanted Forest AU, 7453 words, E

Ella Enchanted AU.

62. Shelter From the Storm by lizandletdie

Non-magical AU, 49605 words, M, Graphic Depictions Of Violence

They meet at a domestic violence shelter.

63. Sparks by Emospritelet

Dark Castle, 9291 words (5/? chapters), E

Rumple, Belle, and a little dragon in the Dark Castle.

64. Swipe Right by B_does_the_write_thing

Non-magical AU, 1972 words, M

Annoying loved ones make Belle and Gold try online dating.

65. Tattercloak by DeliriumsDelight7

Enchanted Forest AU, 41320 words, T

Retelling of the fairytale “Allerleirauh”.

66. Temptation by MelissaBosquez

Dark Castle, 6157 words, E

Rumple is like, be careful with my things, maid, or I’ll spank you! Belle is like, hope this doesn’t awaken anything in me…

67. The Best Ideas are Found in Books by JediAnnieScrambler

Enchanted Forest AU, 977 words, E

Belle masturbates to a picture of the Dark One and accidentally summons him.

68. The Big Tease by TheNaughtyScandalousScorpio

Dark Castle, 14537 words, E

Belle finds an interesting book.

69. The Caretaker by TheStraggletag

Non-magical AU, 23093 words, E

Sugar Daddy AU.

70. the course of our fate by bayloriffic

Non-magical AU, 53445 words, E, Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Belle is a prostitute, Gold is a cop, Gaston is the worst.

71. The Cradle Will Rock by Bad_Faery

Non-magical AU, 4251 words, E

All Gold wanted was a child, not to fall in love with the surrogate mother.

72. The Enchanted Florists by B_does_the_write_thing

Non-magical AU, 4339 words, T

Belle asks her boss Gold to go to her ex’s wedding with her.

73. The Essence of Life by Bad_Faery

Enchanted Forest AU, 8727 words, E

Belle is unhappily married to Gaston and wants a child. The Dark One can help.

74. The Finfolk's Bride series by chippedcupwrites

Creature AU, 3397 words, G, T

Rumple is a merman.

75. The Future's So Bright by ThatRavenclawBitch

Storybrooke, 46183 words, E

Belle and Rumple got divorced after s6. Three years later Belle wants another baby.

76. The Gods of Our Shores by Lady_Therion

Creature AU, 9054 words, E

Belle makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin. Who lives in the sea and has tentacles.

77. The Nanny by ThatRavenclawBitch

Storybrooke, 16511 words, E

Belle and Rumple are divorced, and Belle is looking for a nanny for their daughter. Rumple sees an opportunity.

78. The One Where Belle is a Real Estate Agent and Gold is a Ghost by RosexKnight

Ghost AU, 2901 words (2/? chapters), G

Belle, a real estate agent, tries to sell Mr. Gold’s house, but it’s hard because Mr. Gold is still kinda there.

79. The Pages In Between by ThatRavenclawBitch

Non-magical AU, 30395 words, E

Gold has a crush on his new tenant. Finding a lingerie magazine with her half-naked photos doesn't make it easier.

80. The Queen's Request by B_does_the_write_thing

Enchanted Forest AU, 8550 words, E

Queen Belle has witnessed an act of oral sex between her handmaidens and wants to experience that herself. Her useless husband Gaston sends to her a peasant from a local village.

81. The Rare Books Crises by tinytorso

Non-magical AU, 3731 words, E

Books help Belle attract Mr. Gold’s attention.

82. The Safest Place by TheStraggletag

Dark Castle, 5184 words, T

Due to some timey-wimey baby Gideon appears in the Dark Castle.

83. The Spirit of the Trees by woodelf 

Creature AU, 7320 words, E

Rumple is a tree spirit, and Belle is a curious woman.

84. To Have and to Hold by ThatRavenclawBitch

Non-magical AU, 36632 words, E

Belle and Gold want to divorce but have to pretend to be together for the sake of Neal’s wedding.

85. Travelling Light by francoeurs

Enchanted Forest, 12847 words, E

During her adventures Belle meets Rumple again, and they continue the journey together.

86. True Scotsman by WorryinglyInnocent

Non-magical AU, 1559 words, E

Wearing a kilt has certain advantages.

87. Virgin's Blood by lizandletdie

Dark Castle, 5542 words, E

Belle finding an interesting book is the best premise for PWP (with BDSM).

88. Waiting Game by Emospritelet

Non-magical AU, 29842 words, E

Lacey offers Gold (her college friend Neal’s father) to wait for Neal in her room.

89. you owe me. I own you. series by SerenaLyon

Storybrooke s6, 7052 words, E

Jealous Belle decides that Rumple owes her 42 orgasms.

90. Your Mileage May Vary by Endangered_Slug

Non-magical AU, 3557 words, T

At Neal’s wedding Milah is annoyed by a loud couple in the hotel room next door.

ANYEMS

(I definitely need to read more of that lol😅)

1. Beast!Rush series by Bad_Faery

SGU, 40325 words, E

Rush has pricked himself with some alien bush and starts acting like an animal.

2. Breaking Cycles by DeliriumsDelight7

California Solo, 154826 words, E

Lachlan returns to Scotland and meets a pretty librarian (who turns out to have a lot of inner demons too).

3. Fragile by Emospritelet

SGU, 6689 words, E, Underage

Rush goes to a bar before starting a new job at a school and meets Belle. Nothing can go wrong, right?

4. How Do You Sleep? 'Verse series by ifishouldvanish

California Solo, 56286 words, M

Threatened with deportation, Lachlan contacts his estranged wife Lacey he married some years ago.

5. If Only for a Moment by ifishouldvanish

Hamish MacBeth, 5320 words, E

Cockblock brigades exist everywhere including Lochdubh, and Belle has to fabricate a crime to get some time alone with Hamish.

6. Let's Spend the Night Together by ifishouldvanish

SGU, 10334 words, E

Lacey is Rush’s roommate. Rush can repair stargates but can't repair heaters, so they have to find a way to keep warm.

7. The Books That Bind by TheScholarlyStrumpet (equipoise)

Hamish MacBeth, 3525 words, T

Belle, a new librarian, and Hamish find a shared interest in books.

8. The Fractures Within Us by Lady_Therion

Summer, 4880 words, M

Shaun is prescribed physical therapy. Belle is his therapist, and she is mute.

9. The Oldest Profession by orphan_account

The Legend of Barney Thomson, 10067 words, E

Belle is a prostitute who needs a haircut.

10. The Sweetest of Sins by snafumoofins

Operation: Endgame, The Tournament, 3220 words, E, Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Hiero has a crush on a local priest.

[rumbelleshowdown]

-

Question: How many unused prompts were left after the Showdown?

Answer: 170! And here they are! (Under the cut, b/c long.)

You’re not like me. 

Trust isn’t everything. 

Liberties. 

Teeth.

The light’s gone out. 

Sweet or savory. 

Worst patient. 

Flower of fate. 

Workplace romance. 

Cinderella AU. 

Wake the prince. 

Runaway bride. 

Little Gideon, shop, Weaver. 

Leather and steel. 

Magical exhaustion. 

Near-death. 

Fluffy clouds, shapes, sunlight. 

Dark, darker, darkest. 

The Book of Kells. 

The Long Room. 

Irish pub with music. 

Historical AU – Victorian. 

Sharing a dreamscape. 

Milestones. 

First kisses. 

Last time. 

Tea shop. 

Hedge maze. 

Heist gone wrong. 

Last of the teabags. 

Phone battery low. 

Is the ghost friendly? 

A bad book. 

Uglier than you are.

Talking in your sleep. 

Modern pop culture references

Soulmate au -seeing colors

Overhears talking to self

Plus size belle

Chatroom/catfishing

Matchmaker henry

Appearance glamor

Blind/deaf main character 

Talking tea pots

Dreaming of maidens and monsters. 

Whispers of desire. 

Belle kicks Zelena’s ass. 

TikTok trends. 

Twister game night. 

This isn’t your Uber. 

Adopting a new pet. 

Deck of cards. 

Aquarium, coffee, washing machine. 

Preparing for something big. 

Words on your skin. 

Enchanted Forest. 

High School Musical. 

Station 19. 

Hyperion Heights. 

Little girl named Rose. 

Storm, poison, tears, light. 

Sacrifice, True Love, healing. 

Weaver doesn’t make it. 

Nurse Belle. 

Please help my Papa. 

Please, wake up. 

Sacrifice, pain, light, laugh. 

Don’t leave me alone. 

Whiskey in a teacup. 

Night talk. 

Butler!Gold. 

The Light One!Belle. 

Let’s just pretend. 

Blood went cold.

Greenhouse, museum. 

Twirling in his arms. 

Crushed wedding. 

Flirting at a ball. 

“I forgot to shave?” 

“There is only me.” 

Forget-me-nots. 

Candyshop, Baelfire, awkward. 

Creature of darkness. 

Bird in a cage. 

Yearning for adventures.

Turn no into maybe.

I have school tomorrow. 

Some bathing suits shouldn’t…

Let’s keep this one. 

Younger and younger. 

My bag of tricks. 

Slowly yet surely. 

weaver. 

Warm and cozy. 

Library, lingerie, desk, defile. 

Ravenous, coverage, squirting. 

Moving out. 

Moving in. 

Cat sitting. 

“Well, this is awkward.” 

Red wine. 

Storybrooke’s incumbent mayor. 

Hiring Mr. Cassidy. 

Dagger, snow, fire. 

Arrows, magic, curse. 

Curse, awakening, assassin. 

Heroes.

The witching hour. 

Salt. 

Touch. 

Honeymoon. 

Cloud gazing. 

Spontaneous presents. 

Handcuffs. 

Stroking the hair. 

Soothing caress. 

Selfie. 

One last taste 

“Please don’t go.” 

Blood and tears. 

Wedding on the run. 

Werewolves, bake bread, family. 

Detective, curious, strange. 

Amnesia, photographs, scent, blankets. 

Bird in a cage. 

Secret garden. 

Fairy, mischief, music-box, mist.

Empty, street lamp, snow. 

Ball dancing, imp, tease. 

The girl is drunk. 

Golden hour. 

Lantern, fright, cloak. 

Crooked teeth. 

Magic ritual. 

Magical flower. 

White sheets, bright light. 

Lonely night. 

Stuck in my brain. 

Ski/Skateboard. 

Surfing. 

Dreadful weather. 

Strange love, trouble, ghost. 

Heaven in hiding, garden. 

Gardener. 

3 am, drive, hurricane. 

Dress made of gold. 

Dizzy, truth or dare. 

Suffocating, night, walk, breath. 

Running away. 

Ocean waves. 

Haunted house. 

Witch!Belle, magical library, Salem. 

Insane. 

Gloom. 

Goose, attack, hug. 

Strawberry shortcake, tongue, blood. 

Horrid sight, “How dear.” 

Liminal space. 

Hatred, “You saved me.” 

Poetry, smoking, naked, paintings. 

“It’s our secret, then.” 

Forest spirit. 

Jeweler!Gold. 

Misty town, secrets. 

Something to uncover. 

Mermaid/merman. 

Fall through the ice. 

Forest is my home. 

Dumb and dumber. 

You don’t know everything. 

-

[killiansprincss]

TIMELESS A CAPTAIN SWAN AU - CHAPTER 6/19

Summary: Season 3 divergence - When Zelenas time portal works, Henry wakes up alone in Storybrooke and must travel to the Enchanted Forest to get his family back. Only once he gets there he quickly realises its not like the one in his book, theres no Evil Queen and his mother Emma wasn't put through a wardrobe, theres even a poster inviting the entire kingdom to her engagement ball, to Hook. What will happen once Henry gets them to break this new curse and they get their memories back?

In which every chapter is inspired by a different Taylor Swift song.

Previous chapters

AO3 Link

Just want to send a huge love to everyone who has sent me love on this fic! It means the world that people are seeing and reading the fic that has made me fall back in love with writing! The best it yet to come so please keep reading!!!

_____

CHAPTER 6 - BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM

Now I'm running with my dress unbuttoned

Screaming "But Daddy I love him!"

I'm having his baby

No, I'm not, but you should see your faces

I'm telling him to floor it through the fences

No, I'm not coming to my senses

I know he's crazy but he's the one I want

~~

It had been two weeks since Emma last went to the tavern, since her night with Captain Hook. While it didn't lead to anything more than some flirting while drinking and then fumbled kisses towards the back of the tavern before she had to run back, she missed him. 

Every time she fell asleep her mind wandered to his scruffy face and his piercing blue eyes. They’d promised to meet back in 2 weeks, her parents were away on a diplomatic mission in a kingdom that was a four day journey out of Misthaven. This allowed her to see his ship and stay the night. Truly pretend she wasn’t a princess for a night. 

She had everything planned out. She told her ladies she would be going to bed early as she intended to wake early and go riding, that way they wouldn’t be alarmed when they go to wake her and find her not in her bed. While this wasn’t her first time sneaking out to stay with a man overnight, it was the first time with a Pirate. 

Captain Hook. Most fearsome pirate in all the lands. Supposedly. He was anything but fearsome. Sure a little cocky and arrogant, but not fearsome. He made her smile and laugh more than she had in a while. Emma had no clue what was going to happen tonight, but she didn’t care, as long as she got to see him again. 

When she gets to the tavern where they agreed to meet, Emma is practically shaking with nerves. Why was she so nervous? She orders a drink and sits at her usual table, waiting and waiting for the Pirate. 

“Swan. You came back?” Emma looks up to find the Pirate grinning at her. 

“You came.” She was so worried he wouldn’t come, that he would forget about her, but here he is standing in front of her in his Pirate leathers and a smile that makes her feel warm inside. 

“Of course I came back, I wouldn’t forget about you that easy Swan.” He tells her with a smirk on his face. “I couldn’t let a lady drink alone now could I?” 

The Pirate and the Princess. Who would’ve thought? But Emma didn’t care. What people at the Castle would think was the last thing on her mind right now.

That night was an incredible night. The famous Jolly Roger fastest ship in all the realms wasn’t Emma’s first choice to make love but it was better than an alley behind the tavern. 

Pirates had reputations. And Emma wasn’t so sure what to expect, she was used to casual fucking behind the tavern or bent over in the servants kitchens when nobody was around. It had been quick and only slightly pleasurable, more uncomfortable because of the awkward spaces and the fear of getting caught. But it was a totally different experience.

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want.” He says as they enter his quarters, it was small but still large enough to host a bed and a desk. He was being a gentleman, but tonight she didn’t want a gentleman.

“I want you.” She tells him, grabbing him by the lapels of his coat and kissing him hungrily the way she had been imagining for the past 2 weeks. No man had ever kissed her like this, with such passion, no man had made her moan as his lips travel up her neck, biting that spot behind her ear. 

They had no fear of getting caught, Hook had told his men not to bother their captain. They had all the time in the world to slowly explore one another’s bodies. It was passionate, hungry and nothing like Emma had experienced before. Every night for 2 weeks she saw his face as she touched herself imagining what it would be like when it was his fingers instead of her own. 

That night, and the next few nights with Hook was just like she always imagined sex would be. Passionate and hungry for more. It’s like he knew exactly what to do with her body and what touches would make her moan and scream his name over and over again. She was never going back to fucking behind an alley with a stranger again now she knew Hook and how he made her feel.

____

5 years pass by in the blink of an eye and suddenly Princess Emma of Misthaven is in love with the infamous Pirate Captain. Of course nobody knows besides the two of them. Merlin forbid if her parents found out, they would kill her. And him.

Neither planned for it to turn into a secret relationship. But time passed and their feelings for one another only grew deeper. Hook couldn’t believe it either, the last woman Killian Jones loved was Milah and that was over 300 years ago. But Emma made him feel alive again, she didn’t judge him for his past and he felt connected to her in a way he couldn’t explain. 

They tried to stay apart for a while, a pirate and a princess couldn’t be together. But it lasted five days before Emma snuck out to see him. Being apart from him hurt more than anything. It was worth the risk. She loved him and couldn’t imagine loving anyone else even half as much. 

“Run away with me.” Killian whispers one night as he strokes Emma’s hair as she stirs in his arms. 

Emma isn’t sure if she heard him right. “What?”

“Run away with me.” He tells her again. 

Emma turns her body over to face him. “You’re crazy.”

Had she thought about running away before? Of course. But to actually go through with it was another story. 

“Am I?” He asks, looking into her eyes, Emma feels him look into her soul. “I love you, Emma. And as much as I love that you sneak out and risk everything to see me, I don’t want this to go on forever. I want to have you by my side always and parade the market without you having to hide. I want to show you there is a world outside of Misthaven.” 

She wanted that. More than anything. “I can’t. Killian I love you so much, but I can’t.”

“What are you saying?” 

“I’m saying that we can’t run away and be together. It won’t work. I can’t leave everything and run like you can.” They didn’t argue often, but this was serious. 

“Emma, you have been telling me for years that you never wanted this life, that being royal meant nothing to you. Why all of a sudden are you not willing to drop it all when what we have is so good and could be amazing?” 

“Look just because you don’t have any family left doesn’t mean I have to completely let go of mine.” She regretted it as soon as she said it. 

“I think you should go.” He tells her, and she doesn’t argue.

She lies awake that night considering his offer. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, she had no doubt about it. But at the same time, she would be giving up so much. 

She didn’t want to be Queen. Even being a princess was exhausting, it wasn’t the life for her. When she was with Killian she had seen a life she wanted, travelling across the realm and not having to play a role she didn’t know how to do. She was an extension of her parents, couldn’t get too political with the other members of the royal court, couldn’t express her true thoughts or feelings. She didn’t have to bite her tongue around Killian, she could speak freely and joke with his crew. She could walk around the market stalls and talk to people and they had no idea who she was. 

If she were to leave though, would she be able to see her family again? She didn’t want this life but she wanted her family. If she were to have a family with Killian, she would want their child to know its grandparents. 

Emma had been the responsible Princess for years now, she was careful with her steps and tracks with her sneaking around. She had a whole other life that her parents had no idea about. The Emma they thought they knew was nothing like the Emma she truly was.

So she sneaks out again a few nights later, when she is sure it's safe. She didn’t like leaving Killian after an argument, it didn’t feel right. And she had a plan. She would test the waters with her parents. Leave them a note and let Killian show her what he could for 2 weeks before returning. It would show she was serious about this, and serious about her future. When she tells Killian the news, he spins her around and kisses her. She knew this was the right decision.

____

That night she plans on leaving, Emma bids goodnight to her parents insisting she is tired and needs to rest. Instead once she begins to pack a bag. Just a few undergarments, shirts and loose pants she stole from her father a while ago.

“You’re leaving. For good this time.” Emma turns around to find her little brother-well not so little anymore- standing in the fireplace, a secret tunnel between the siblings' rooms. 

It’s not a question, but a statement, he knows. Leo is perceptive, he sees a lot more than people think. 

“The stranger you’ve been courting all these years. Mother and Father won’t allow you to marry him so you’re running away.” Leo was smart, he picked up on Emma’s more frequent running away and he also noticed her more frequently turning down suitors from their parents.  

“Yes.” She admits. She couldn’t lie to her brother. “But it’s not forever. I’ll be back in a few weeks , it’s to prove to mother and father this is what I want.”

“You’re leaving.” Is all Leo can say, Emma can see the hurt in his eyes-she doesn't like hurting him. 

“Leo. In a few years mother and father will step down as rulers of the land, and for years they have been training me and teaching me because I’m the eldest. But here’s the thing, it’s not gonna be me, I don’t care that it’s my birthright. Leo you will be an amazing King one day, I’m certain.”

She wraps her arms around her brother who, despite being ten years younger, was the same height as her. “I love you kid. And I’m not gonna leave you, I’ll still be here-just not in the Castle.” 

“He makes you happy.” Again it’s not a question. “I’ve never seen you happier. I can tell when he’s not around because you’re grumpy and moody but when he’s around you have that sparkle in your eye.” 

Emma can’t help but shed a tear as she wraps her arms around him tighter. 

Handing Leo an envelope, she tells him,” Give mother and father this in a few days. Not right away, let me get a head start first.” 

When Leo is back in his room and her parents are sure to be asleep, Emma climbs down her balcony for the last time and heads down to the docks, to her future. 

____

“Where are the rest of your crew?” Emma asks as she climbs aboard the ship to find it empty apart from Killian waiting for her.

His face lights up when he hears her voice, she’s his forever. “I gave them the night off. I intend to celebrate tonight.”

“And what exactly are we celebrating?” 

“The start of forever.” He says as he takes her hand and brings her closer to him. He takes her bag and tosses it aside. 

Killian gets down on one knee and Emma’s heart begins to race as he pulls out a ring. “Emma. I love you, meeting you all those years ago was the best thing that ever happened to me. Before I met you, there was a hole in my heart and every moment we have spent together has helped heal that hole. I don’t know what is going to happen, if we run away forever or not, but all I know is I want you by my side. Will you marry me?” 

Tears are streaming down Emma’s face, she hadn’t expected this at all. She loved Killian and while the thought of marrying him had crossed her mind a few times, she never expected Killian to actually propose. She can barely get her words out but she does manage to say “yes!” 

Killian slips the ring on her finger as he gets up and takes his fiancées face and kisses her. “I love you so much.” 

Wiping the tears from her face, she admires her ring. “This is your brother's ring, isn’t it?”

Killian nods. “Aye. It’s kept me safe all these years, and now it’s your turn.” 

Killian and Emma spend their first night as a newly engaged couple just wrapped in another’s arms, not quite believing what had happened. But they were happy. Both of them. Happier than they’d been in a long time.

___

Snow and Charming didn’t realise their daughter was missing a few mornings later. Leo didn’t say anything-keeping the promise to his sister. 

“She’s gone.” Leo eventually says, holding the note she gave him.

‘Dearest Mother, Father and Leo.

I must confess I have been hiding a secret for some time. I have been courting someone very important to me for years, and I wish I could have confided in you about it, but I feared the worst.

For you see the man I’ve been courting in secret is a Pirate. And I know what you’re thinking, Princess’ don’t marry Pirates. Well I guess you’re right, which is why I’m abdicating my line of succession. Leopold is the name of a King, and he will be a better ruler than I could ever be. 

I won’t be gone forever. This isn’t a note to say I’m running away and you’ll never see me again-well no it is a note so say I’m running away, but I plan on coming back. Just not as a Princess. 

All my love

Emma ‘

“Did you know about this?” Snow asks her son once they’ve taken in the letter.

Leo shakes his head. “All I knew is she was sneaking off to a tavern, but I had no idea about any of this.” It was a smooth lie, he didn’t know about the Pirate technically until last night.

“Tavern?” David asks. “What Tavern?”

Fuck. He shouldn’t have said anything. “I don’t know, all I know is she came back smelling of whiskey and rum and assumed that’s where she was.”

“The Tavern by the docks, in the village we used to live in.” Snow has practically a lightbulb moment. “I bet that’s where it is. Plus it’s the perfect place for a Pirate to steal her away.” 

The King and Queen send for their carriage almost immediately, wishing they aren’t too late, and Leo wishing they were.

“We’re closed!” A male voice screams from behind the door after David had knocked on it for a fair few minutes.

David knocks on it again, and it opens to reveal a rugged man with a stern face. “I said we’re closed didn’t you h-“ Suddenly the look of realisation hits the man as he apologises. “King David, your highness, I am so sorry. What, uh, what did you need this fine morning?” 

“Wait a second.” Snow interrupts before her husband can say a word, looking intently at the rugged man in front of them, searching for the reason she recognised him. Then it hits her. “Pinocchio?”

The rugged man smiles. “I’m shocked you recognise me, I am no longer made of wood, nor a boy. I go by August now.” 

Snow smiles at him fondly. He and Emma were best friends growing up, neighbours in their village. His father, Geppetto was a carpenter and managed to bring his son made of wood alive with the help of magic. But standing in front of them was no longer that little boy made of wood. No wonder Emma was able to sneak in here without being recognised.

“It’s about Emma. She’s run away. I assume you know her whereabouts.” Snow says, a mix of paranoid mother and Queen in her voice.

“Why don’t you come inside and we can talk.” He tells them, opening the door wide enough so they can squeeze in without him unlocking it properly. 

“Emma first came here about seven years ago.” He begins, pouring some water into a goblet for his King and Queen. “She didn’t know I worked here then, but when she knew I was protecting her identity she would come by every couple of weeks. Growing up we always said we would go to the Tavern together when we were of age, but that never happened so I guess it’s nice we kind of had that experience a few years later than planned.”

“But why?” Snow interrupts, desperate to know if they did something wrong. 

August just shrugs. “I can’t say for certain, but I’m fairly sure she wanted a night of freedom whenever she could get it. A few nights a month where she wasn’t Princess Emma, and didn’t have all these duties and requirements. It’s nothing against the two of you, she just wanted a chance to be normal again.”

“And what of the Pirate she’s run away with?” David asks with a sneer on his face, he’d never liked pirates and the fact his daughter had run off with one made him sick.

August chuckles as he takes a sip of water. “I was wondering when Hook was going to come up.”

“Wait, Hook- As in-“ Snow asks, terrified. 

“Captain Hook. The one and only yes.” 

Snow goes pale. The most fearsome Pirate in all the land, was the man their daughter had run away with?

“If I’m honest I never saw it coming.” August continues. “He has a reputation, but it continued for weeks, then weeks turned into months and months into years. I don’t know much about their relationship but all I know is I have never seen Emma as happy as she has been the past few years.” 

“Where is she?” David asks, worrying they’re too late.

“All the Pirate ships were gone from the harbour this morning, I have no idea where they are, truthfully, I'm sorry.” August couldn’t lie, Snow and David knew this, but it didn’t mean it hurt any less. 

“Do you know when they might be back?” Snow asks, holding back her tears. 

“Could be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.” August tells them. “Look I know Emma, she won’t be gone forever, I think she wants to prove a point to herself and to you two that she is serious, the moment she’s back I will send word if Emma doesn’t do it herself first.” 

___

The King and Queen wait every day for the word that their daughter has returned but it doesn’t come and evening falls and they wait again. It’s two weeks later they get word from August a large Pirate ship had docked, and sure enough a few hours later Emma returns home. 

Well it’s Emma for sure. But gone was the Princess with her hair braided back into her tiara, now it was wild and in a loose ponytail with a headband gracing her forehead. And no longer was she wearing a gown made from the finest silk, now a white blouse with a brown corset covered her top half with leather pants and a brown belt with a scabbard for a rather large sword across her waist. 

“Hello mother, father, brother.” Emma says, making a point not to curtsey. 

“Emma.” Is all her mother can let out, taking in the sight of her daughter.

“Emma, you look incredible!” Leo blurts out, he knew their parents wouldn’t be happy but he knew his sister and she looked right in this moment.

She wasn’t alone, she was with the Pirate with a Hook in place of his left hand. He stood slightly behind Emma, but there was no doubt they had arrived together. 

The Pirate stepped forward and Emma took his right hand and laced their fingers together and smiled. “Mother, Father. This is Killian, my fiancée.”

“Excuse me, what did you just say?” David jumps up from where he was sitting at this news-his daughter couldn’t be engaged to a Pirate.

But Emma held her ground. “You heard me. We’re engaged to be married. And there is nothing you can do about it.”

“Are you pregnant? Is that what this is about?” He turns towards the pirate his daughter had locked hands with, “Have you impregnated my innocent daughter and come here begging us for permission to marry her so the child isn’t a bastard?”

“I’m not pregnant father. That has nothing to do with my love for him.” Emma was standing her ground, this was what she wanted, she needed to stay strong.

“Oh and you’re sure of that?” David questions, not recognising the woman standing in front of him, she couldn’t be his daughter, she just couldn’t. His baby girl was curious and quesuoned everything, but she wouldn’t hide this from them, 

“You wouldn’t.” Emma scoffs, knowing exactly her fathers next movement. 

“Guards. Take this Pirate away from my family.” David practically spits at the word ‘Pirate’. 

“Grumpy, stand down.” Emma commands, only leading to David telling him to take him away, and they repeat this until the head Dwarf gets very confused.

The other Dwarves come running in, ready to take an order from their King. 

“You can’t tell them to stand down, I thought you weren’t a Princess anymore?” Her father seers. He’s right, and this tells the Dwarfs they can seize the Pirate.

“If you’re taking him, you’re taking me too. We go together.” Emma tells her father.

“Emma, love, don’t worry.” Hook says from behind her, “they can take me, you need to stay here. You know where I’ll be.” With a wink, if they take him to the dungeons he can easily escape. 

The Dwarfs take the Pirate down in shackles and go down to the dungeon, much to Emma’s pleas not to. “What is your plan for me then Father dearest? Keep me prisoner?” I love him, is that such a crime?”

The King doesn’t say anything tot his daughter or even answer her, instead he turns to his son. “Leo, show your sister to her room. I believe the new amendments should be ready.”

Leo goes to object, seeing the pain his sister is clearly in, but his father stops him. “If you want to be a King one day, you shall listen to what your current King has to say.”

Emma doesn’t allow herself to cry in front of her father, he wouldn’t get to her like this. She needed to be strong, and figure out an escape. Her father threw Killian in the dungeon that he managed to get out of once before, he could do it again with ease.

 Am I truly a prisoner in my own room?” Emma comments upon entering her room to see a lock on her window, and extra guards posted right below the balcony.

“I’m sorry Emma. Mother and Father were so worried, I let slip that you would sneak out, it’s my fault.” Her brother says, also seeing the current state of the room for the first time. 

Emma wraps her arms around her little brother. “This is not your fault Leo. And I don’t care that you told them, they were sure to figure it out somehow.”

Emma doesn’t cry until Leo leaves the room and she knows she’s alone. This was meant to be the beginning of the rest of her life, but instead trying to prove she was able to live the life she wanted.

[eirian-houpe]

Time’s Curse - Chapter 5

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Belle/Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold

Characters: Blue Fairy | Mother Superior, Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Belle (Once Upon a Time), Mad Hatter | Jefferson, Baelfire | Neal Cassidy, Victor Frankenstein | Dr. Whale

Additional Tags: AU, Original Character(s), Non Storybrooke, London, The Enchanted Forest (Once Upon a Time), Angst, Pining, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, Murder, will add others as necessary

Summary: Never fall in love - such is the admonition given to Rumplestiltskin. Blue sees fit to interfere with his plan to reach a world without magic by sending him there herself so that he can pursue his quest to find his son, but he is not alone in this world without magic, nor does it appear that he is entirely free to live his life as he would wish. In the course of his seemingly fruitless search for Baelfire, Rumplestiltskin takes a job as a history teacher at an exclusive private school, and there meets Isabelle - the French teacher. All of a sudden that interdiction against falling in love seems to be really important.

Read previous chapters on AO3

Chapter 5 - Hoisted

The Enchanted Forest

Once upon a time, Rumplestiltskin was in love. Not the kind of love that breaks curses; nor the kind that transcends realms, but one that made a husband and father of him. She came to him, a young woman in trouble, and his kind heart; his saviors heart was moved to take her in. She was with child, without home or respectability - he gave her the latter when they married. He fed her, clothed her, provided for the child to come as was a husband’s duty, but more than that, because it was what he wanted… and she let him.

Weeks passed, and in spite of spending all that he had earned on the care of a healer, his wife’s child was lost, and he grieved. Milah regretted. Regretted, but did not leave. Perhaps, he thought, she had decided to make it work in spite of their difficult beginnings, and indeed love grew between the two of them as they worked to make a living. Weaving, sewing, meager as it was, good honest work brought them together. It made him want to do better by her… for his family. Losing a child - even one not his - made him want to be a father all the more.

The shadow of war descended on the region, and with it the shadow of his father’s cowardice. Rumplestiltskin’s dreams were troubled with fear, and the self loathing began to grip tight to his gentle heart until it seemed that fate intervened to grant him solace and his dearest wish.

“Milah!” He could not keep the excitement, the hope from radiating through the whole of him as he pushed in through the ill fitting door of the simple cottage they shared.

“ I'm nearly finished,” she answered, holding up her work for him to see.

“Oh, you learn quickly.” It was a proud heart that brought him closer. Not the need to inspect what she had done.

“I have a good teacher,” she told him, and reached for him as he reached for her to share a soft kiss. These moments gave him hope, and his excitement bubbled over. “What is it? What brings you home so early?”

“Milah,” he laughed, “My weaving days are behind us. I've been called to the front.” His bubbling excitement moved his feet in a small dance before he showed her a piece of paper. Rumplestiltskin, you have been drafted into the king’s army. Worry and shock filled Milah’s face.

“The Ogres War.” 

Ogres… 

Fierce, greedy, superstitious. No one could tell what began the conflict, but it seemed that without an end in sight, all people of the realms would know danger and destruction. It was his chance… his way to prove that he was nothing like his own father; that he was no coward, and would be the kind of father a boy could be proud of.

“I report for training in the morning,”  he all but sang.

“No. Rumple,” Milah protested, reaching for him. “I've heard the stories. The front, it's a brutal place.”

“Oh, Milah, I know, I know,” he took her hands, and moved to sit with her, “and I can't say I won't be frightened, but this is the chance I've been waiting for. All my life, you know, I've lived under the shadow of my father's actions for far too long now.”

Her face softened. “Just because you father was a coward doesn't mean you are.”

“Oh, I know that. As do you, but to the world…?”  His eyes implored her understanding. “Fighting in this war finally gives me the chance to prove that to everyone else.”

She must have seen it in his eyes, for her answer, “Go. Be brave. Fight honorably,” warmed him to the core.

“Oh, god, I love you,” he said, meaning every sound of the words with all his heart, and no hint of the hate that love would become.

“I love you, too,” she said, and embraced him tightly, and then as if opening the idea to the magic of the universe told him, “and when you return, we can live the life we've always dreamed of. We can have a family.”

It didn’t last.

War is a cruel disruptor of everything right and good, and when magic is involved the price is usually the steepest when it matters most. The prophecy of the seer stole Rumplestiltskin’s resolve, and with his desire for fatherhood stronger than ever, hobbling himself seemed a small price to pay for his life… and hang the consequences, but they bit at him, and Milah’s love became resentment, and her words a weapon.

“You left because you were afraid,” she spat. “You became what everyone thought you were—a coward.”

“Stop.” he pleaded.

She didn’t. “Just like your father!”

Pain and anger settled inside of him, beginning to fester as surely as Milah’s shame and resentment began to drive the wedge between them. “I am nothing like my father. He tried to abandon me. I will never, ever do that to my son. That's why I did this...” He pointed to his leg, crudely wrapped, and he knew - if she did not - the extent of his own physical pain in what he’d done to survive. “...for him. All for the boy. To save him from the same fate I suffered, growing up without a father.”

“You sentence him to a fate much worse,” she said bitterly, “growing up as your son.”

Days became weeks, became years, and nothing changed for the better, only for the worse. Milah’s shame and resentment festered. More and more time she spent away from the house, turning to the tavern for comfort, too much like his father. Ironic really, that she named him as alike, when she was more so. However, irony became tragedy.

As if the war was not enough, a second horseman rode upon the town, and then a third. War, and pestilence, and death.  It came so subtly, so unexpected…

He knew he shouldn’t have taken the boy with him.  He was almost certain he knew exactly where to find Milah.  His labored footsteps took him to the docks, and sure enough he could see the privateers were in port, no doubt the tavern was filled with ribald revelry, enough to make anyone lose track of time, as he’d assured Bae was what had happened to his mother.

He bid him wait outside, and then Rumplestiltskin pushed open the door and went into the tavern. He could almost taste the debauchery on the air, as the soft murmuring of the usual clientèle had been replaced by wild laughter, shouts of glee, and the sound of dice rattling against a tabletop. 

He saw her then, mouth puckered on the heels of the drink she’d just taken, leaning over the table toward a leather clad, dark hair man - a pirate without a doubt.

“Milah.”  She looked over at him then, her face souring from the smiles of the moment before. “Milah, it’s time to go.”

“Good,” she replied sarcastically as she sat and poured herself another drink. Rumplestiltskin’s heart twisted in his chest to see it. “So go.”

“Who’s this?” the pirate asked.

“Eh, it’s no one,” she said pointedly, and he knew the barbs were meant to hurt. “It’s just my husband.”

He gripped tighter to his walking stick as if squeezing the wood could be a protection against the scorn she lavished on him.

“Ah,” the pirate said, joining in the ridicule heaped Rumplestiltskin’s way. “Well he’s a tad taller than you described.”

His assembled crewmen all joined in the ensuing laughter, and for just a second as he looked away, Rumplestiltskin considered simply leaving her, but his next thought was of Bae, and how he needed his mother, no matter how inattentive she had been.

“Please,” he appealed, “You have responsibilities.”

“You mean like being a man and fighting in the ogre wars?” Milah answered cruelly. “Other wives became honored widows while I became lashed to the village coward.” She picked up the flagon and poured herself yet another drink, her voice falling with derision as she declared, “I need a break.” Her cup refilled, she looked up at him and almost sang, “Run home, Rumple. It's what you're good at.”

At a loss for what to say or do next, Rumplestilskin’s heart sank even more when a small voice sounded from behind.

“Mama?”

“Bae,” he said worriedly, and turned to see their son looking over at his mother, “you were supposed to wait outside, son.”

At least at that, Milah displayed some concern; some contrition, and without another word, stood up from the table, gathered herself, straightening her shawl just enough, and guided Baelfire from the inn, leaving Rumplestiltskin to limp along behind.

The journey home was made in silence, at least between Milah and Rumplestiltskin. Occasionally she would lean down to murmur something to Bae, but it was too quiet for him to hear, and he was certain it was meant that way.  All through the meal, it persisted, until, finally, Milah took to bed not long after Baelfire went to his own.

Rumplestiltskin thought she looked a little peaky, but she had been drinking quite a lot, and he put it down to that.  Nothing a good cup of strong tea couldn’t help. He sat on the hearth stones, and carefully lifted the kettle from the hook, pouring the hot water atop the herbs in the cup. Milah’s head was turned away, as if she couldn’t stand the sight of him.

“You don’t,” he began as he poured, “really wish I’d died…” He took a breath, wondering why he was asking a question to which he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. “...during the ogre wars, do you?”

Milah finally turned to face him, and spoke for the first time. She sounded tired, more than tired.

“I wish you’d fought,” she said and sighed. “Don’t you?”

“Well, I…” he answered, “I’m alive, and I'm here with you, with Bae.” He didn’t answer the question. He didn’t want to. He hated the war, and everything to do with it. He came to sit on the side of the bed, bringing the cup with him. As he did, she looked away again.

“This isn't a life, not for me,” she moaned softly, and looked back up at him. “Why can't we just leave?”

“We... we've talked about that.” He held the cup out toward her, and exasperated, she crossed her hands, rejecting the tea.

“You don't have to be the village coward.” She spoke as if through gritted teeth. “ We could start again, go somewhere no one knows us, see... the whole world beyond this village.” 

Her voice was rough, broken and he couldn’t tell whether it was the effects of the alcohol, or emotion.  He sighed in apology, and standing said, “I know this wasn't the life you wanted, but it- it can be good here.” He moved to take a seat at the table in front of the fire.  She wasn’t going to take the tea, and he wasn’t about to force it on her.  Perhaps suffering the aftereffects of too much alcohol would give her pause to avoid it. “At least try, if not for me, then... for Bae.”

“Okay. I'll try,” she whispered, and covered her face with her arm.

The fire hadn’t even begun to burn down before it was clear that what ailed Milah was not the alcohol. Rumplestiltskin could almost see the color fading from her cheeks, and when he went to her again, he didn’t need to touch her to feel the heat streaming from her fevered body.  He tried to talk to her, but she barely made sense as he carefully spooned warmed water between her suddenly parched lips.

By dawn, delirium pulled at her, and she began to turn her head aside from his attempts to give her water; refused the warmed broth he’d managed to make with their meager supplies. Morning brought the stark reality as he ventured out to the market, to add to those supplies with herbs and medicines that could help with Milah’s fever.

She wasn’t the only one to have sickened overnight.

Miriam, who worked in the tavern as a serving maid, William Bucker, and his neighbor’s wife, both were stricken with it also. Worst of all, little Amadine, who only the day before had been running and playing with the other children of the village lay dead in the meeting house, her ailing mother - also fevered to the point of delirium - weeping at the side of her bier.

He hurried home as soon as he had what he needed, back to Milah; back to make certain Bae was all right. 

When he opened the door, the sickly stench of sickness assaulted his senses, and the heat in the hovel was almost overwhelming.

“Milah!” he cried as he saw her slumped in front of the fire, shivering. “Milah, what are you doing out of bed?”

“C…cold,” she stammered, and he shook his head.

“It’s the fever,” he told her, “Come on… let’s get you back to bed.”

He set down the basket he had over his arm, and as best he could helped Milah to shuffle back to the bed, and covered her with the blankets, and fetched another from the chest in the corner of the room.

“Where’s Bae?” he asked, taking advantage of Milah’s lucidity. He doubted it would last.

“I… sent him… outside,” she said. 

Rumplestiltskin nodded, and went to fetch some of the warmed water from the hearth, beginning to spoon some carefully between Milah’s lips. He told her as he did what he’d learned of the fate of the village, making a decision as he did.

“I’m going to ask Lissa to come and sit with you,” he told her, “Take Bae to my aunts until this runs its course.  I don’t want him catching this.” Milah nodded weakly, and turned her head away from the next spoonful of water.

His aunts of course, very elderly now, were more than happy to see Rumplestiltskin, and even more so to care for Baelfire.  They promised pies, and Rumplestiltskin became lost for a time in fond memories, but he couldn’t linger. He needed to return to Milah’s side.

The journey home became one of anxiety, hateful fears that pulled at his soul and questioned his every decision.  He shouldn’t have left.  What if Lissa sickened too? How could he have been so selfish as to even ask her to mind his wife?  Wasn’t that his job as her husband? As the man who loved her?

It had only been days, three at most, but when he returned to the village he found the way barred - crossed pieces of some farmer’s fence had been erected across the narrow roadway, and painted with a sickly red hue. It was worse than he imagined.

He paid no heed, and ducked under the wooden sign, for sign it truly was, and no real barrier, making his way past the many houses with similarly painted, red x marks marring the doors. His would be one, he knew.

For many long moments he stood outside of his door, staring at the mark; he even stepped back to check that smoke was still issuing from the chimney. He was there so long that he brought the attention of the village watchman.

“It’s a marked house,” Godfried called out, halting a goodly way away.

“Yes,” Rumplestiltskin answered, and only half turned to address the man. “I know that.”

“Then you’ll know you mustn’t go in,” Godfriend said. “It isn’t safe.”

“Godfried,” he half sang, half laughed, though without humor. “I know you. You know me, you know this is my house.  I have to go inside. I have to take care of Milah.”

Godfried shook his head. “I can’t let you, Rumplestiltskin. Stay away.” The man put a hand to a knife at his belt.

“I.. I’ve already been exposed,” Rumplestiltskin said quickly, thinking faster still, and took a step of appeal in Godfried’s direction. The other man stepped back as if the pair were engaged in some elaborate dance. “Just let me go inside, and you’ll be safe, eh?”

Godfried looked unsure.

“Where else would I go?” Rumplestiltskin asked. “How many other people might I infect if I can’t stay here?"

Godfried sighed. “There’s water and bread brought to the doorway every other day - so long as the baker and his family are still uninfected. Lock the door when you get within.”

If he had been afraid before, Rumplestiltskin’s fear magnified like darkness creeping across the land before a storm.  He lifted a hand to the latch, but the door did not budge. Of course, Milah must have locked it as he’d been told to do.

“Milah,” he called out, “It’s me… Rumple.”

It was a while. Several strained heartbeats until he heard the shuffled footsteps from within.

“Rumple?” she questioned through the wood of the door, not even sounding like herself.

“Yes. It’s me,” he said. “Open the door, Milah. I need to see you.”

“I… I can’t,” she stammered, “I’m sick. I’m not supposed to let you in.”

“I know, but I can help you.  I won’t catch it.  I’d be sick already if I could,” he said, and in some part of his mind he knew it must have been true. Bae too. And for a moment he began to fear for his aunts. Gods, what had he done?

After longer still, Rumplestiltskin heard the bar that fit across the door scrape against the wood of it. He could only imagine - as weak as she had been when he left - how much of an effort it was taking. He heard it fall to the ground, and managed, though barely, to push open the door enough to get inside. Milah was slumped against the wood.

“Oh, Milah,” he hated that they’d made her do this. “Where’s Lissa?  Didn’t she come?”

He wrapped his arms around her, and began to lift her, his leg screaming out in protest at the added strain, even though, as he hoisted her into his arms, she felt to him no lighter than a scrap of paper. He set her down on the bed; the sheets stained, and he did not much care to imagine with what. He would have to change them, but not just now. Now he would simply make her comfortable. Encourage her to take a little water - maybe eat a little bread.

“I don’t… I don’t remember,” Milah said in answer to his question. “I remember someone but… there’s been no one for days.”

“Well I’m here now,” he said, and pulled the covers up to her chin.  “I’ll warm you some water. Maybe make some tea, eh?”

“Tea would be nice,” she rasped.

He blinked away the tears that filled his eyes as he turned his back on her to fill the kettle, searched the supplies for the bread that Godfried had said was delivered. It had been left out of the wooden bread box, and in places badly nibbled on by mice, but it was still good, and not too stale. Perhaps with a bit of warming…

“You should just go,” Milah told him.

He shook his head, coming to her again and knelt beside the bed - leaned over to kiss her brow.

“No,” he told her. “It will be all right. You’ll see.”

“Rumple,” she breathed out a heavy, tired sigh. “We… could have been happy, couldn’t we? If I hadn’t–”

“Sssh, now, Milah,” he soothed her, fetching a bowl of clean water and a cloth to bathe her face, cool her fevered brow. “Let’s not think about that now.”

“Bae?” she asked.

“Safe,” he said, and hoped it was the truth. “He’s with my aunties. They’re gonna make him meat pies.  They used to be my favorite, you know?”

“Tell me,” she whispered, and closed her eyes.

Slowly, softly, quietly he began to recount the tale. Some of it she’d heard before, he knew, and other parts he’d never spoken of, leaving them out before, but there seemed little point now.  In his heart of hearts he knew… he knew that it would take a miracle to see her well from this sickness.  All he could do now would be to keep her comfortable.

He made the tea, when the kettle boiled, sweetened it with what was left of the honey from that year, and spooned it carefully between her cracked and swollen lips, and coaxed her to eat some of the bread soaked in the same, warm, honeyed tea, but it was too little, too late, and he knew it.

What little color was left in her faded with the light of the day, and her breaths came shallow and more labored. By the time he had the candles lit, there was nothing left at all, just a cold and graying empty shell that he wrapped in a fresh, clean sheet for a shroud, burning the soiled one and cursing himself for a fool to have taken so long to get his boy away from the sickness, even though he knew, too, that that had been the right thing to do.

In the morning, he opened the door and the shutters, mindlessly going about the necessities of cleaning the house… of making the home safe and rid of any lingering sickness.  When the undertakers cart came past, he carried out Milah’s wrapped body, placing it delicately - carefully - among the others. So many dead, so many lost… and all for what?

As quickly as it had come, the sickness ended. It was as if it had been a blight on those with sins to repay because, as much as anyone could figure it, the plague had been brought to them on the ships, and carried from the docks to the taverns by the many merchants - so said news from the king’s herald. But no merchants had called at their port, only pirates who knew what they carried in their hold, along with their stolen, plundered baubles… and Rumplestiltskin vowed to see to it that they paid for that.

It was a promise that, in time, he would keep and in the meanwhile, all he could do was tell a grieving son that his mother had died. That she wasn’t coming back.