#fic: home is where the heart is

[souenkun]

Larry's random conversarion lines 🍙

Pokémon Masters EX spoilers ahead!

Random conversation 1:

Ever since I met a certain individual, I now find myself gazing up at the sky every once in a while. There's scenery you'll never even notice if you stick to flat, well-trodden paths. Just something I've observed. I don't dislike the vast, clear sky... But I don't think I can reach it. It's nice to know that there's something like that out there, though.

Random conversation 2:

Pasio seems to have many good restaurants. Ah, I'm not asking for specific recommendations, though... I actually enjoy walking around and looking for a place I might like. That's part of the experience. I seek the exceptional only when it comes to food. Pasio has a variety of cuisines to choose from, so it's hard to stick to just one.

Random conversation 3:

(Player), which do you tend to favor: the exceptional or the average? I was thinking of inviting you to have a meal sometime. Casually figuring out your client's preferences is a special skill that you learn as a salaried employee.

Random conversation 4:

Lunchtime is one of the few things that a salaried employee like me can look forward to at work... We can decide whether to spend that precious time eating something familiar or trying out a new restaurant. It's not just about the meal. The decision-making process leading up to it is also something to look forward to.

Random conversation 5:

People, Pokémon... There's no need to overcomplicate things. Nowadays people only seem to want a shock factor. Something weird, something bizarre. When all's said and done, simplicity is strongest.

Random conversation 6:

You don't necessarily have to follow every instruction from your boss. But I pretend to follow them, at least, so I can avoid hassles later on. That's a technique you can use to get by in the workplace. Keep it in mind.

Random conversation 7:

I'm here in this famous tourist spot, but I can't really spread my wings while my boss has her eye on me. I guess I'll do what I usually do on my lunch break and find a spot to Roost...

[anniesworld69]

game joel miller come back to me 😞

[scham-wcan]

Chapters: 7/8

Fandom: RWBY

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Cinder Fall/Winter Schnee, Ruby Rose/Weiss Schnee

Characters: Cinder Fall, Winter Schnee, Ruby Rose (RWBY), Weiss Schnee

Additional Tags: Post Salem AU, Vytal Festival Prompt List, Cinder Fall Redemption, Winter does her best, Weiss is panicked as usual, Ruby is here for a good time

Summary:

The Schnee home manor is such an amazing place to come, enjoy a gala, appreciate ancient art and sculpture, or have your sister or sister-figure tear your heart out and show it to you to make you feel better.

Day 7 of @remnants-of-rwby-events ‘ Vytal Festival and it is just flying by! Amazing work by everyone involved holy crap!

Day 7’s Prompts were Home/Away

[shannonsketches]

something something foils moving in opposite directions Goku's always happy to seek and fight stronger opponents because he spent most of his life being the strongest guy in the room and Vegeta wants to be the strongest/is always exhausted to find stronger opponents because he spent most of his life having to navigate his survival around the whims of the strongest guy in the universe room and so Goku has a foundation of safety and stability and so spends his time craving challenge and adventure and Vegeta has a foundation of challenge and adventure and spends his time craving safety and stability and the overlaid section of their venn diagram is that the only way they know how acquire and maintain those things is through battle

[gendervoid-zane]

[corpsentry]

have you played the newest loz game?? your fics for the series are my favourite ever

so here's the deal. i bought totk the day it released. i got it. i started playing it but then we went on our long awaited planned it for 3 years 1 week vacation and less then 48 hours after i'd returned from that BAM, i was in australia. and what was there to do now? we played taiko, dog, so much taiko, we lived together, 3 college kids in an apartment with a balcony with a view of the city skyline. it was the craziest thing i'd ever done. i loved and cried and fought and learned and grew and got so mf good at taiko and learned that there was still more to do and cooked and cut onions and ate obscene amounts of yogurt and then when it was over it was already august and we were standing at the airport sobbing into each other's shirts not wanting to let go but eventually we did we got on our planes home and then, only then, did i find the space in my heart and schedule and hands to play totk. three weeks later, i was in america

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the real problem at the heart of this affair is that i still haven't found my motherfucking glider. where the fuck is it. i've combed the map north to south east to west i've found every goddamn character in the game but purah. purah you selfish selfish lady. where are you? where are you??????

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and so it was that they would not finish totk not for another several months not for possibly years. which is not to say that i don't want to, i miss writing fanfiction, i missed the drama and the scope of our ambitions and the burning need to write write write but i was also madly depressed and anxious and not doing well and that's where the writing came from, yknow dog? it existed because there was nothing else i could do. it saved my life. and now i am no longer in need of saving, now i've saved myself, i've been searching for years and years for the place where i can have my friends and lovers and stories and also have this. i still haven't found it. but i'll let you know when i do

[huntermorgan]

Fanart for an amazing fic I’m reading!

This is a scene from chapter 9 of ‘home is where the heart is’ by setosdarkness on ao3! This scene was so soft, I had to draw it immediately <3

Fanfic link if you want to check it out: https://archiveofourown.org/works/9476237/chapters/21439829

full credit to the author for this wholesome scene, I did not come up with it myself! https://archiveofourown.org/users/setosdarkness/pseuds/setosdarkness

[sytoran]

do you have rec fic with g!p R or Nat?

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS 🙌🙌🙌

that's a series of my own, but for my fics there are SO MANY fics where R has a cock... browse the masterlist if you would 🫡

for other fics, i'm pretty sure i've reblogged all the amab!R fics i like, just scroll the fic rec tag!

[addie4ddie2005]

in my head wally’s hair is a solid mass on his head with yarn embroidery? i’m not sure how do describe it i don’t know anything about craft fabrics. it’s like the head of the doll from coraline, albiet his with more shape. i hope yall know what i mean.

[jrob64]

Her Heart’s Home - Part II of Where Her Heart Belongs (Killian’s POV)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY @kmomof4​!!!! 

I’m a day early, but since the story is finished & I won’t have time to post it tomorrow, you get an early present! As requested, here is a second part to Where Her Heart Belongs from Killian’s point of view. I hope it’s everything you wanted!

Extra special thanks to @winterbythesea for allowing me to use the beautiful artwork she created for WHHB to make the banner. Thanks also to @hookedmom​ for being the best beta once again. 

**I’ve taken the liberty of using two of the most iconic CS scenes in a different way for this story. I hope no one minds. 

Rating: M (because Mary insisted Krystal would want it that way!)

Words: 6262

Find Where Her Heart Belongs on Tumblr, Ao3 or ffn 

Find Her Heart’s Home on Ao3 or ffn

*********

“I’d say you’ve got your magic back,” Killian said, seeing the wand Emma was holding start to glow. “Now, shall we go?”

She closed her eyes and concentrated and he turned to see a portal beginning to open in the wall of the Dark One’s vault, then gestured for her to go through it ahead of him. When she didn’t do as he indicated, he turned back to face her again, but she wasn’t there. Glancing around the space with an increasing sense of panic, he didn’t see any sign of her.

The only thing he could figure was that she somehow slipped through the portal without him noticing, even though he didn’t know how that could have been possible. Realizing his only chance of escaping the vault was going to close soon, he jumped through it.

When he landed on the floor of the barn, he looked around, hoping to see a flash of blonde hair. His heart sank at the sight of the empty building. He quickly got to his feet and rushed out the door. Just beyond it, he heard a buzzing sound and spotted Emma’s talking phone laying on the ground. He tried to push aside the thought that she probably would have picked it up if she had come through here.

Stuffing it into his pocket, he continued to Granny’s, bursting through the door, breathing hard and scanning the diner for Emma.

“Hook, did you find her?” David asked, rising from the booth where he was seated with Mary Margaret and the infant prince.

“No, I…didn’t she come back here?” Killian asked. “I thought perhaps she made it through the portal and…”

“Portal?” Mary Margaret interjected with alarm. “What are you talking about?”

Killian took another quick look around and realized nothing had changed since he left to pursue Emma. Sighing heavily, he began relating the story of being sucked into Zelena’s portal and their adventure in the Enchanted Forest.

*********

Emma didn’t return that night or the next, or the one after that. For four days, Killian, her family and friends searched everywhere for her, but she seemed to have vanished.

As they sat strategizing in the loft the evening of the fourth day, Regina rose from her seat abruptly and went to stand in front of the mirror where they had witnessed the reunion of Ariel and Eric.

“What is it, Regina?” Mary Margaret questioned, crossing the room to stand beside her.

Regina continued to study the mirror. “I thought I saw…yes! There it is again! Do you see it?”

Henry knocked his chair over in his rush to join his mother, with Killian and David right behind him. “What, Mom? What do you see?”

“It…it’s Emma!” Killian shouted, seeing a blurry image on the surface of the mirror.

The room filled with noise as each of them began to see the same thing as Regina and Killian.

“Regina, can you do anything to let us see her more clearly?” David asked.” Maybe we would be able to identify where she is.”

“You know I can’t perform mirror magic,” Regina snapped. “Obviously, there’s some residual magic left in it from Emma and that’s why we can see her.”

“Can you please try, Mom?” begged Henry. “Please?”

Regina’s eyes softened as she looked at her distraught son. Turning her attention back to the mirror, she held both hands out in front of her, closed her eyes, and concentrated.

“It’s working!” Mary Margaret cried. “Regina, you did it!”

Killian stepped closer, trying to determine Emma’s location. “Do any of you recognize that place?” he asked.

All of them stared at the image, shaking their heads one-by-one, before Henry suddenly shouted, “She’s going into what looks like a library! What does the sign say over the door?”

David squinted. “Columbus Public Library,” he read slowly. “Columbus? Where is that?”

“There are lots of different Columbuses in the country,” Henry informed him, running to get his phone. He Googled ‘Columbus’ and read, “There are twenty-three states with a city of Columbus in them.” His shoulders sagged and he looked up sadly. “How are we supposed to figure out which one it is?”

“Are you saying she’s in the land without magic, Lad?” Killian questioned.

“Yeah. She must be somewhere in the United States, we just don’t know where.”

“Well, we can narrow it down somehow, right?” Mary Margaret asked hopefully. “It looks like it’s pretty chilly there, so we can rule out warmer states.”

After Henry pulled up a map on his computer, he and Mary Margaret began checking off states like Texas and New Mexico. Meanwhile, the other three continued to examine the mirror for any more clues to Emma’s location.

The sick feeling in Killian’s stomach gnawed at him as he watched her browsing books in the library. Clearly, her memory had been wiped since she seemed to feel at home in the location and didn’t appear to be attempting to find her way back to them. To him.

“Henry, come here!” David suddenly shouted, noticing something on the wall behind the circulation desk.

The boy quickly did as told, casting his eyes on the spot where his grandfather was pointing. “What are you…oh! That’s a state flag! I think there’s only one that’s shaped like a pennant!”

Rushing back to his computer, his fingers flew over the keys as he typed in another search. “It’s Ohio!” he shouted. “Columbus, Ohio! That’s where she is!”

“How far away is it?” Killian asked. “Can we make it there tonight?”

“We’re not going there,” Regina said decisively.

“What the bloody hell do you mean?” Killian growled. “We have to go get her!”

“Look,” she said, turning haughty eyes on him, “you said you were in the Dark One’s vault right before Emma disappeared. That means he’s probably the one who sent her to that place and obviously wiped her memories. If we go swooping in there to rescue her, she’s not going to know who we are and we’ll never convince her to come back with us. We’re going to have to find another way.”

“And just how do you propose we do that?” Killian spat, stepping closer until he was toe-to-toe with the queen.

“I’m not sure, yet,” she countered, not backing down. “I’m going to have to think about it.”

“Well, think fast, because Emma has already been gone too long!” he stated venomously. “Unless you have another reason for not wanting to bring her back. Maybe you like being with Henry alone. Maybe you like not having Emma around!”

“Enough!” Mary Margaret interjected, cutting off Regina’s retort. “It’s getting late. Let’s all get some sleep so we are refreshed and can try to come up with a solution tomorrow. At least we know where Emma is and have a pretty good idea of what happened to her.”

“Belle might be able to help,” Henry suggested hopefully. “We can ask her in the morning.”

“Aye, and perhaps she can get the bloody crocodile to admit what he did and make him undo it,” Killian snarled.

Regina and Henry said their goodbyes, but Killian was loath to leave the mirror as long as Emma’s image was visible. Stepping in front of it, he was frustrated to see it was blurry once again.

Mary Margaret looked at his forlorn expression and handed the baby to David. “Could you please change his diaper and get him into his sleeper? I’ll be in to feed him in a few minutes.”

David put the fussing infant up against his shoulder, glanced over at Killian, then gave Mary Margaret a nod and went into their bedroom.

“Hook?” Mary Margaret said softly, placing her hand on his forearm. “I know you’re worried about her, but there’s nothing more we can do tonight. Go to your ship, get some sleep, and we’ll get a fresh start in the morning.”

He swallowed hard, then turned sad eyes toward her. “I no longer have my ship.”

Mary Margaret’s brows raised in surprise. “What do you mean? Where is it?”

He studied his boots for several moments, before finally speaking in a low, tortured voice. “I…I had to find Emma and I needed a magic bean, so I…made a deal with Blackbeard.”

“You traded your ship for a bean so you could bring Emma back?” she asked incredulously.

“Aye,” he said simply, his eyes still fixed on the floor.

She stood stock still, digesting the shocking information, finally shaking herself out of her reverie to say, “Stay here. I…I’ll be right back.”

He was still standing in the same spot when she returned. “Here are some pajamas,” she said, holding them out when he turned to face her. “You can stay up in Emma’s room tonight.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “Pardon me?”

“Killian,” she began, and at the sound of his given name, his eyes grew even larger. “You sacrificed something very important to you to bring our daughter back to us. The least we can do is provide you a place to sleep.”

His lips turned up with a hint of a smile. “Thank you, Milady.”

“Please call me Mary Margaret or Snow,” she said warmly. “Now get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a very important day and we all need to be well rested…or as well rested as one can be with a newborn in the house. Goodnight, Killian.”

“Goodnight, Mary Margaret.”

After she left the room, he squinted into the mirror one more time, sighing when he was unable to distinguish Emma’s form within the cloudy surface.

He trudged up the stairs and changed into the pajamas, then settled into Emma’s narrow bed, finally relaxing as he was surrounded by her scent. “Tomorrow, Love,” he murmured. “We’ll bring you home tomorrow.” Yawning widely, he turned his face into her pillow and fell asleep.

*********

Unfortunately, nothing they tried brought Emma home the next day. Belle agreed to help and suggested a way to try to jog Emma’s memories. Aided by a spell Regina discovered, they were able to send the storybook through the mirror to Emma. Once she found it, they were relieved to see that her image in the mirror was clear as long as she was looking at the book.

 They also realized that people could be transported through the mirror and several were eager to help, each one hoping they would be the one to trigger the return of her memories. But when Killian attempted to pass through, he was met with a solid, impenetrable wall. He was horrified and furious, sure Rumplestiltskin was the person responsible for blocking him, but Gold claimed to have no memory of doing it.

“Bloody crocodile,” he ground out through gritted teeth, addressing Mary Margaret, David and Belle. “She would recognize me from the illustration in the book if I could just get through to her.”

Belle promised she would try to persuade Gold to remove the magical block, if he had indeed put one on. In the meantime, Killian had to watch one person after another interacting with Emma through the mirror, despairing that he was unable to be one of them.

They saw Emma beginning to put the pieces together little by little, but had no idea how long it would take for her to figure out who she was and where she belonged. As the days passed and everyone returned to their routines, Killian remained, watching her every move.

When the figures in the picture began to dance around the page, he was sure it was her magic causing it, even though she was in the land without magic.

Her parents, Henry, Regina and Belle were with him when Emma wore the red ball gown and pushed her fingers through the page. Killian swiped at them, attempting to make contact, but she pulled them back before he could. When he heard her murmur, “So close, Killian Jones. Someday I’ll make it to you,” his heart shattered.

The group decided to send Ashley and Marco through with the necessary things to complete Emma’s look, everyone hoping it would be enough to help refresh her memory. If not, they knew they had one last chance - sending Killian to her, provided Belle could get Gold to remove the block.

Killian took up his familiar position in front of the mirror, staring into the blank surface as he wondered if Ashley doing her hair and Marco giving her the jeweled headband would do the trick. Suddenly, her image materialized before him, looking exactly like she did in the illustration. His breath caught as she created ripples with her fingers, then he heard her whispered plea - “Please let me get through to you, Killian Jones.” A halo of white light appeared as her hand came through the mirror. Thinking quickly, he pushed his hook toward her searching fingers. As soon as she grasped it firmly, he pulled with all his might.

He caught her in his arms, the relief flooding through him like a tidal wave. “Swan. At last!” he exhaled.

Emma drew back to look at him for several seconds. Just as he was beginning to fear that her memories hadn’t returned, she tugged him to her, fusing her lips to his. His concern dissipated and then he was returning the kiss. She rarely let her walls down enough to give him any indication of her feelings for him, but in that moment, he was almost certain he could feel the love he was pouring into the kiss being reciprocated.

He spent the next several minutes after the kiss ended holding her and answering her questions about what happened. When she started to ask him why he hadn’t come to her like all the others, he could read the trepidation in her eyes and hurried to assure her how much he wanted to, but was blocked.

His heart swelled when she thanked him for never giving up on her, and felt like it was going to burst when she explained that she was talking about all of the times he encouraged her and stayed by her side. She noticed.

Then she told him she and her heart were back with him where they belonged, and he swore he had never felt happier in his entire life.

Far too soon, her family and numerous townspeople came rushing in the door, alerted to Emma’s return by the energy her magic sent through Storybrooke. Wearily, he sat down and watched the happy reunion, suddenly feeling the physical and mental exhaustion fully setting in.

When he glanced up and saw her send him a smile, his weariness lifted long enough to return it. He expected everyone to stay for a while, so he decided it would probably be best to head to Granny’s inn. He stayed there his first three nights back from their adventure in the Enchanted Forest, until Mary Margaret extended the invitation for him to stay with them.

He rose from the bar stool and made his way across the loft, speaking briefly to Belle and Henry before stopping in front of the door. Looking over his shoulder for one more glimpse of Emma, he noticed her giving a hug to August and thanking him for alerting her to the presence of the storybook in the library.

Quietly slipping out the door, he pulled it shut behind him, then started down the stairs. Two steps from the bottom, Emma’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “Killian, where are you going?”

The thrill of hearing his name roll off her tongue zipped through him before he turned to face her. “I thought I would give you time with your family and friends,” he explained.

“And you don’t think that includes you?”

He gave her a tired smile. “I’m happy to know that it does, Love. I just…I was going to get some sleep.”

“So you’re going to the Jolly Roger?”

Dropping his head, he scratched behind his ear. “Actually, I, um, I’m staying at Granny’s,” he admitted.

“Instead of your ship? Why?”

His ears reddened. “It…it’s a bit of a long story, Swan.”

“Well, hang around and once everyone leaves, you can tell me.”

Killian glanced toward the outside doors, then back up to Emma at the top of the stairs. He wasn’t keen to tell her the tale, but he couldn’t deny his Swan anything. “As you wish,” he responded, before climbing up the stairs to join her.

*********

Granny sent food over for the group, who lingered until early evening. When everyone said their goodbyes and left, Henry giving Emma a long hug before leaving with Regina, David cleaned up the kitchen while Mary Margaret got the baby ready for bed. Emma pulled Killian down on the couch with her and intertwined their fingers. They sat quietly for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts, simply happy to be together again.

“Mom told me you slept in front of the mirror nearly every night since I was sent away,” Emma finally said, speaking quietly as she stroked her thumb over his rings. “That couldn’t have been comfortable.”

“Your mother provided some bedding and pillows for me. I’ve slept in far worse places.”

“You could have slept in my bed, you know.”

He chuckled lightly. “I did, the first night, but once we were able to see you whenever you opened the book, I didn’t want to take the chance of missing you.”

“You can sleep in there tonight, if you want,” she whispered.

“In your bed?” he asked. Seeing her nod, he hurried to add, “No, Swan. I’ll not make you sleep somewhere…”

“I meant with me,” she interrupted, her eyes not meeting his.

His grip on her hand tightened. “I’m not sure your parents…”

“I’m an adult. I don’t need permission from my parents to have a man in my bed.”

“Even if that man is a pirate?”

She twisted around and placed her fingers under his chin to turn his face toward her. “Being a pirate doesn’t define you, Killian. You’re so much more than that.”

His left eyebrow quirked up. “You truly believe that?”

Placing both hands on either side of his face, she looked into his eyes intently for several seconds before answering with certainty, “All the help you gave us to rescue Henry from Neverland, then finding us in New York and bringing us back, not to mention everything you did to protect and help me after we fell through Zelena’s portal - that’s more than enough proof that you’re an honorable man.”

Killian wondered if she had any idea just how much those words meant to him. He opened his mouth to respond, but found he couldn’t get words past the lump in his throat. He settled for giving her a lopsided smile as his face turned a deep shade of red.

“So, yeah,” she said, “I want you to stay with me tonight, if that’s alright with you.”

He gave a slight nod, and she rewarded him with a smile, then stood and pulled him up beside her. Keeping her fingers threaded through his, she walked into the kitchen. “Hey, Dad,” she greeted.

David was just finishing up the dishes. He pulled the plug to let the water out of the sink, dried his hands, then turned and leaned against the counter, folding his arms over his chest. “Hi, Sweetheart,” he smiled. Shifting his gaze toward Killian, he said, “I guess you won’t need to sleep on the floor in front of the mirror tonight, huh Hook?”

“He’s going to sleep in my bed with me,” Emma said without hesitation.

Her father’s brows shot up and his mouth dropped open, then he cleared his throat. Killian prepared to defend himself, but the next words out of David’s mouth took him by surprise. “You…uh, you’ll need to borrow a pair of my pajamas again, I’m assuming?”

Killian blinked rapidly, trying to register the prince’s question. “Aye, if you don’t mind,” he finally responded.

David’s eyes darted between the two of them, taking in their linked hands, before sighing and leaving the kitchen.

“See? Nothing to worry about,” Emma said, but despite her confident words, Killian was sure he could hear relief in her voice.

Mary Margaret returned with David, going directly to her daughter and giving her a hug. “David tells me you’re heading off to bed.” When Emma affirmed it, her mother added, “The past couple of weeks have been very tiring for everyone. Sleep well, Sweetheart. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

Killian could see the tears shining in Mary Margaret’s eyes when Emma pulled away to go give her father a hug. He was sure the tears were in response to Emma easily calling her ‘Mom’, after struggling with it for so long. It seemed her time with her parents back in the Enchanted Forest had something to do with that.

David handed Killian the pajamas, then took his turn hugging his daughter, fixing the other man with an intimidating look after releasing her. Killian didn’t drop his eyes, meeting the prince’s gaze unwaveringly. After several moments, David finally gave him a nod, bade them both goodnight, and followed Mary Margaret into their bedroom.

Emma led Killian upstairs, each taking their turn to change into sleepwear. When he entered her bedroom, she was sitting on her bed waiting for him. “I didn’t know which side you wanted,” she explained.

He subconsciously ran his hand over his hook as he answered, “The left side would be fine, if you don’t mind.”

After pulling the covers back, she slid under them and scooted over, turning on her side to look at him. He unclicked his hook, removed it and laid it on the table beside her bed, then slowly pushed his sleeve up and unbuckled his brace. His hand wrapped around the leather covering his wrist, but he hesitated, looking up at her.

Locking eyes with him, Emma reassured him, “It’s alright, Killian. You don’t have to take it off if you’re not comfortable, but I promise you it’s not going to bother me.”

He paused another few seconds, before firmly grasping the brace and pulling it off, placing it beside his hook. Her eyes never left his as he did, not even glancing at his scarred wrist, despite having never seen it before.

Giving her a small smile, he laid down on the narrow bed, positioning himself so he was face to face with her. “I don’t think I ever want to take my eyes off of you again,” he said, bringing his hand up to rub his thumb along her jaw.

“I would despair if you did,” she smirked.

He grinned, recognizing his own words from their first meeting in the Enchanted Forest. “May I ask you something, Love?”

“Sure, but then I want you to tell me what happened to your ship.”

“If you insist,” he conceded.

“What did you want to ask me?”

“Were you happy in that Columbus place?”

She lifted her left shoulder in a shrug. “I guess, but I was all alone…again. I always had this feeling something was…off. Missing. Things just didn’t feel quite right, you know? And then when I found Henry’s book in the library, it was…” she paused, obviously trying to put her feelings into words. “It was like I had…hope. The stories felt like old friends, even though I’d never read them before; at least, I thought I hadn’t. I guess they were still deep in my memories, despite Rumplestiltskin trying to take them away.”

“We could tell by watching that you were beginning to recognize things.”

“Yeah, especially that picture of the two of us dancing. I couldn’t figure out how it was possible that I could be in there.”

“I knew you would work it out, Swan. You’re bloody brilliant.”

A blush filled her cheeks at his praise. A few beats passed, until she said, “Now, tell me about the Jolly Roger. What happened to her?”

Killian’s fingers switched from stroking her face to scratching behind his ear. “I, uh, she no longer belongs to me,” he admitted softly.

Emma’s eyes grew wide, her mouth forming an O in surprise. “Wh-what do you mean? Who has her?”

He swallowed hard, no longer able to meet her gaze. “Blackbeard.”

“He stole your ship from you?” she asked, anger seeping into her voice.

“No, I…I traded her to him,” he muttered.

She shifted backwards to look more fully into his face. “Why in the world would you do that?”

Licking his lips nervously, he considered how to answer. He hadn’t wanted to tell her all the details about how he found her and Henry after Pan’s curse; what he’d given up and why he made that choice. He was afraid it would overwhelm her to discover how desperate he was to have her back with him. She was just beginning to trust him enough to let down her walls for him, and he didn’t want to give her a reason to build them back up and shut him out.

Finally, he said, “I needed a magic bean and he had one. The only thing he would consider to trade for it was the Jolly.”

“But why would you need a…” she stopped and a strange look passed across her face. “You used the bean to get to New York and find us, didn’t you?”

He raised his eyes to hers. “Aye,” he replied simply.

“You traded your ship for me?” she whispered, her voice breaking.

“It was the only way, Emma. Your family needed you and your boy, and I…I couldn’t bear to be apart from you any longer, so when I got that message from the bird, I did the only thing I could. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have no regrets.”

“But Killian, it’s your home.”

“They say home is where your heart lies, and…” his voice trailed off, unsure of how she would receive his declaration of her being his home. Silence filled the room as they each got lost in their thoughts.

“I remember telling you that the only one who saves me is me,” Emma said at last, “but you seem to keep saving me again and again.”

He wrapped his right arm around her waist and pulled her into his chest, whispering his words into her hair. “You have saved me too, Emma, in more ways than you will ever know.”

She was quiet for a long while as he reveled in holding her close. “Do you think we might be able to catch a break and not have a crisis for the next few days?” she asked.

Killian chuckled. “I wouldn’t count on it, Swan. This town seems to attract every imaginable disaster.”

“And yet you chose to stay here when you could have sailed away and left it behind.”

“I stayed for one reason.”

“I know,” she stated. “To get your revenge.”

“That’s why I came here, but that’s not why I stayed.”

She leaned back to look at him. “Why then?”

“Don’t you know, Emma?” he asked in a hoarse whisper. “It’s you.”

He watched the look in her eyes change from wonder to disbelief to awestruck, as tears gathered in them. Then she leaned in and tentatively pressed her lips to his.

Killian slid his hand up to the back of her head, holding her to him as he returned the kiss. Their lips moved softly and languidly together, the tips of their tongues teasing and tasting.

The kiss they shared when she returned had been filled with relief and passion, and left him breathless. This tender kiss spoke of the deeper connection they now shared with one another; one built on trust, understanding, and another feeling neither of them was quite ready to express out loud.

It left him equally breathless.

When it ended, Emma snuggled into his chest, his arms encircling her and holding her tight. He knew she could probably feel his heart hammering in his chest, but if she did, she didn’t mention it.

They lay quietly for so long, he was sure she had fallen asleep, so her words murmured into his neck took him by surprise. “Killian, may I ask you something?”

“Of course, Love.”

She raised herself up to rest on her elbow and looked into his face. “Do you ever think about…taking our relationship…to the next level?”

“The next level?” he asked, hoping he understood what she meant.

“Yeah, you know…physically,” she said, a blush moving up her throat.

He reached up to brush his fingertips over her reddened cheek. “I have,” he affirmed. “It just…it never seems to be the right time.”

She ran her hand down his chest and teased the skin under the hem of the henley he was wearing. “Now seems like a pretty good time,” she whispered into his ear, sending shivers of excitement through his body.

“Are…are you sure? Your parents are right downstairs.”

“Despite the upstairs being open, sound in the loft doesn’t really travel; it’s almost as if it’s been soundproofed. I never hear them when they’re…being intimate. Thank the lord.”

A grin spread across his face, but faded almost as soon as it appeared. “Emma, are you really sure?”

Her eyes darted between his before she leaned in and kissed him again, her tongue demanding permission to explore the warmth of his mouth. When she pulled away, leaving him panting, she asked, “Does that answer your question? If not, maybe this will.”

Her hand moved lower to rub against the pronounced ridge of his cock through his flannel pajama pants. He groaned, closing his eyes as he felt his erection stiffen even more. “Gods, Emma!” he gasped.

“Shh, this place might be reasonably private, but I don’t want to test that theory,” she mumbled against his lips.

He would’ve been able to follow her instructions better if she hadn’t squeezed his cock at the same time she was admonishing him.

As she continued to move one hand up inside his borrowed shirt and give attention to his rapidly swelling shaft with the other, Killian began to lavish open-mouthed kisses from below her ear down to her collarbone.

“Too many clothes,” Emma murmured. “I need…”

“Need what, Love?” he asked, between licking at the small marks he had sucked under her clavicle.

“I need to feel your skin on mine,” she whispered. “I just…I need more.”

He nodded his understanding before reaching behind himself to grasp the collar of the shirt and yank it over his head. Her fingers went to work right away, skimming through the abundant hair on his chest and abdomen.

“Do you have any idea how often I’ve wanted to do this?” she sighed. “You and your aversion to buttoning your shirts has nearly driven me wild sometimes.”

Her light touches were doing the same to him at the moment, but he wasn’t about to complain. He spent the last two weeks yearning to bring her back. Being separated from her cemented his awareness that he had to have Emma Swan in his life.

“Your turn, Swan,” he said, pulling at the collar of her pajama top.

She sat up and gave him a sultry smirk, then slowly began undoing the buttons down the front of the shirt. His breath caught as her fingers pushed each one through the buttonhole, knowingly teasing him. He was sure it would be worth the wait.

His assumption was verified when she finally shrugged out of the shirt, exposing her splendid breasts to his hungry eyes. “Bloody hell,” he exhaled on a shaky breath, and then he was giving them the attention they deserved - fondling, licking and kissing them, while Emma closed her eyes and moaned with pleasure.

She fell back on the bed and he shifted to hover over her, his hand and wrist working their way down her ribcage to the top of her pajama pants. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he halted his movements.

“Is…is something wrong?” she questioned.

“What if I…impregnate you?” he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

“I’m using birth control.” At his quizzical look, she explained, “That means there’s hardly any chance I’ll get pregnant from…doing this.”

“Oh, I see. That’s good to know,” he replied. “Shall we, um, proceed?”

In response, she grinned and trailed her fingers down his stomach and under the waistband of his sleep pants. He inhaled sharply as her fingers wrapped around his girth, returning the favor by easing his hand down the back of her pants to squeeze her lovely backside.

Their pajama bottoms and underwear soon joined their shirts on the floor and they were completely bared to each other. He knew his Swan had nicely toned muscles on her trim form, but gods above, he could never have imagined how breathtaking she was, her body absolute perfection.

Killian took his time mapping her curves with his fingers, lips and tongue, while her hands roamed and stroked his physique. He didn’t know how much longer he would be able to hold himself back, but he was determined to let Emma be the initiator for every step.

When his fingers found their way to the heat between her legs, he could feel that she was very ready. He slid them through her sodden folds, his thumb finding her bundle of nerves. Her legs began trembling and her fingernails dug into his sides.

“K-Killian,” she stammered, voice low and sultry, “I…please say you’re ready.”

“Aye, Love,” he grunted, his cock so painfully erect, he was afraid he would explode as soon as he was inside her.

She arranged herself underneath him, widening her legs, and he settled between them. Looking up, his eyes met hers and he was awed by what he saw there. This wasn’t about satisfying lustful feelings for either of them; he could tell it was more than that. If he had to put into words what was shining in her eyes, he would say it was affection and trust, and a large part of him hoped he wasn’t reading too much into it by thinking he saw love there as well.

Bending her legs, she brought them up on either side of him, then reached down and aligned him at her entrance. He pushed into her slowly, watching her face for any sign of discomfort, but her eyes were closed in bliss as she ran her tongue across her bottom lip, puffing out short breaths.

When he was completely engulfed in her heat, he rested his forehead against hers, biting his lip to keep from saying the words that were on the tip of his tongue. She had said her heart was back with him where it belonged, but stopped short of saying those three little words. Even though he was completely in love with her, he wasn’t going to tell her, until she declared her love for him first. He couldn’t take the risk of making her run to avoid her feelings, as she was prone to do. For now, he was going to savor the feeling of being joined together with her.

 Once he was sure he could move without climaxing too soon, he slowly withdrew and pushed back in. “Faster, Killian,” Emma whimpered, digging her nails into his arse.

He complied, snapping his hips while trying to muffle his groans of pleasure. The pleading gasps she pressed into his chest spurred him to deepen his thrusts and she began lifting her hips to meet them.

Killian could tell she was getting close and started adding an extra grind with his pelvis, which quickly had the desired effect. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him to her tightly as her orgasm washed over her. He saw her biting her lip to keep from crying out, briefly wondering what it would be like the next time when they were in a more private setting - if there was a next time. Gods, he hoped there would be a next time.

Her walls squeezing his cock prompted his own release. He stilled within her as he spasmed, his breathing harsh and raspy in the crook of her neck.

Their sweat and breath mingled as they lay tangled together, neither ready to move away from the other yet. Her fingers kneaded the skin on his back as he scattered kisses over her shoulder and throat.

After several minutes, Emma finally spoke. “Do you remember when I told you it was a one-time thing after we kissed in Neverland?”

“Aye,” Killian assured her, wondering with a bit of apprehension where the conversation was heading.

“I won’t say that this time, because I’m really hoping it’s not,” she said, lightly trailing her fingertips along his jaw.

“I’m very happy to hear that,” he sighed, pushing up to look into her eyes.

She cupped his face between her hands. “You look exhausted, Killian. We should both get some sleep.”

“Aye, Love. I won’t argue with that, as long as I can stay here with you.”

She gave him a soft kiss. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

After using tissues from her bedside table to clean up, they redressed and settled into bed. He held her in his arms, her head on his chest and her legs tucked between his.

“Goodnight, Killian,” she whispered.

“Goodnight, Love,” he returned, then drifted off into his first restful sleep since she was pulled away from him, intent on never letting her go again.

*********

Please send @kmomof4​ some birthday love. If anyone deserves it, she certainly does! 

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[pinkyhaert]

❤️ HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS ❤️

A welcome Home Au

----

PROLOUGE

-------

"Alright, that should be everything."

The father of the house mused as he finished loading his truck. The mother and little Daughter all were preparing to move out of the big Red house. The little girl however was very reluctant to leave.

"But papa.. I don't wanna move. I don't wanna leave the house. What if it gets lonely since we're Gone..?"

*She asked, gently Gripping onto the little Stuffed Tiger she held with her, it's Golden Ribbon with little bells Jingling as she did so.*

"The house can't feel lonely because it isn't alive Darling."

The father responded as he helped the mother out of the house. The mother however Kindly smiled to her daughter as she gently stroked her hair out of her face with her hand.

" Our Poor Home have gotten Old and tired my Dear. And with a new little brother On the way, we need to have more space after all. But don't worry, Our Home has many memories of good times with us and our neighbors to keep it company for a long time."

She mused as the Little girl nodded to her mother. She didn't want to leave, but she knew she had too.

"Can we all at least say goodbye?"

She asked quietly. The mother gave a soft chuckled and Nodded to her as she glanced to her husband.

"I think we can arrange that. What do you think?"

"Alright- I don't see why not."

The father gave a small defeated laugh as he, The mother, and the daughter all held hands and walked up to the front of the house.

"So long house!"

" Rest well old friend."

"Bye bye Home! I'll miss you!"

They all shouted out their farewells before they all pulled up into the car. The little girl used her Tigers Paw to wave to the House one last time as they drove away to go on with their new lives.

-----

Once the family had driven out of sight, the House itself began to shake and shift, revealing two black dots in the widows for its eyes, and the door for its mouth and nose. It let out a heavy sigh as it lowered itself slightly in the ground.

"It's finally happened... the day my family moved out.. I knew it was coming- as I was the last building on the block to still have people inside.. but it doesn't change the fact it isn't any harder letting them go."

The House sighed as it closed its eyes, a small spirit like version of itself manifesting inside of its main frame. Everything felt so empty inside of it. Without the laughter of the little girl.. or the smell of freshly baked desserts from the mother.. or even the scattered envelopes the father would go through on a daily basis.

" I'm truly going to miss them.. but The Madame was right. With a new Little one ok the way, they needed the extra space.. still. I wish u could've made it work. I could've been the home of 4."

It sighed as it roamed its empty rooms, remembering fondly the display of butterflys I the hallways and the Plays they would all huddle together on the couch to watch.

The persona then entered in the Mother’s former nursery and play room. Many craft supplies and materials were still there, as they couldn't take all of them with them. The house laughed to itself as it remembered the little girl would bring in flowers and decorate his walls to put on little shows with her favorite Plushes and Puppets, each giving them names and personalities. She was very funny and would always put a smile on his face.

But alas. Those times were long since over. Or so it thought.

---

*hiccups..* *booohoo..*

The sound sounds of little cries caught the house's attention. What was that..? Everyone else had already left, so who was crying...? It glanced about before Cautiously approaching the source of the crying. Lifting up a blanket with a soft gust of wind from the windows, the House was surprised to see a little yellow puppet laying on the floor crying. He had remembered watching the mother stitching him together a while back.. but he couldn't recall what she had called him.

"Oh my... they've must've forgotten him and left him behind.."

It mused as the little puppet perked up, with tears in its eyes. It's eyes widened as it saw the spirit looking back at them.

" w-where am i..? W-Who are you.. Where did everybody go.. *boo hoo..* "

The little puppet boy asked and whimpers as he tried to dry his face with his hands, only making his fabric damp. The house was surprised the little puppet could see it, as nobody else could.

Perhaps it was because this puppet was not a living thing.. like it. Ever so gently, the cabinets l draws opened a bit and knocked over a toy bin, as a plastic apple rolled over to the crying puppet.

The puppet stopped its whimpering slightly as it looked down at the bright red toy apple at its feet with a little confusion. He picked it up before he heard the soft voice of the House speak to him as its spirit knelt down in front of him.

"Little puppet, why are you crying?"

The house asked as the little puppet held onto the apple.

"B..beacause.. I'm scared.. and alone.."

The puppet replied, gripping the apple.

"But you aren't alone. I am here. So you dont have to be afraid."

The house replied, tilting it's head slightly and attempting to give a smile, as much as it's features would let it.

"You are..? Why is it so hard to see you..?"

The puppet asked as it reached out to try and touch the spirit, only to have his hand go through it. The house could only Laugh.

" I am all around you. The floor you stand on, the roof over your head, and the walls that keep you safe. That is me."

The house replied as it's doors and windows moved and closed a little bit to make its point.

"Woah.. your all around me.."

The puppet repeated, amazed by the house's ability to be everywhere. The house found the innocence of this little puppet boy endearing. It perked up a little as it asked its next question.

"Do you have a name little puppet?"

The puppet glanced down to his feet and shook his head. The mother had made him, but had forgotten to give him his name. The House gave a thoughtful look to the puppet before nodding to itself.

" Then I shall give you one. From now on, your name will be Wally. What do you think darling?"

The Puppets eyes widened as he slowly repeated the name that this wonderful stranger had given him.

" W..Wally.. D-Darling.. Wally Darling.. Wally Darling! I'm Wally Darling!"

Wally perked up and gave a happy smile as he chanted out his new name in glee. He then looked to the house's spirit and gave a heartfelt laugh.

"Thank you!"

The house only smiled. It seems like it was still needed after all. Wally needed a place to stay since he was on his own. And The house planned on being there to provide that for him. He snapped back into reality. When he saw The little puppet inch closer to him in a shy manner.

?

"I have a name now.. but do you..?"

Wally asked as his big bright eyes looked to the house's spirit. The house stared at the little puppet for a few moments, before replying in a gentle tone.

" I do. You may Call me 'Home.' "

[pollylynn]

Title: Stockholm Syndrome WC: 850

“It wasn't a date. It was a study group.”  —Alexis Castle, Home is Where the Heart Stops (1 x 07)

This is not a relationship. It’s a hostage situation. That’s been her tagline for the last few months. When her dad asks, when Lanie smirks, when Ryan and Esposito exchange knowing looks and sip their tea, she slams things—phones and drawers and a coffee mug that she really liked that will never be the same—and fires off selections from her various tirades about the idle rich holding those who work for a living hostage. 

She reminds herself that it’s more than a tagline, though. She believes it. She resents the completely undeserved pull he has and the grotesquely manipulative way he wields it. He squanders it on making her life miserable. And isn’t that just typical of someone with his money, his influence, his maddeningly charmed life? It’s infuriating. Six or seven times a day, she reminds herself how infuriating it is—how yawn-worthily typical he is. 

She reminds herself. 

There’s an uh-oh lurking that fact, one she’d rather not contemplate. She’s the hostage here, and she refuses to expend any energy at all contemplating anything about him. Or anything about the energy she seems to be expending reminding herself that he’s a smug, rich, irritating man-child, fresh off the assembly line. 

She’s almost grateful for the assist when he flashes the fundraiser tickets. Almost, because, of course he has to flash them in front of Ryan and Esposito. It’s completely predictable posturing, but Ryan lights up like a child of divorce who thinks  mommy and daddy might get back together. And worse, Esposito, traitor that he is, acts like the idea is good police work, not yet another egregious example of him throwing his money around to get his way.  

There’s another almost grateful moment when the dress shows up. She hardly needs the assist at that point. She’s shivering and vulnerable in her terrycloth wrap, miserable in the light reflecting off the regrettable sea of sequins rising on the floor of her bedroom. She is furious at the position he’s maneuvered her into and beyond furious at herself for how eager she is for a lead—any lead. When the dress shows up, she hardly has any energy leftover to remind Lanie that she’s a hostage and he is absolutely the worst. 

But all the reminders in the world, to say nothing of timely assists from him, cannot ultimately stand up to their "night out on the town” and all its perplexing revelations. 

There’s his home and his family to start with. It’s a rookie mistake to let herself get drawn in there. His daughter’s down-to-earth sincerity and even his mother’s effusive hovering and reflexive generosity with her jewelry complicate the narrative. She remembers that it was his idea that she pick him up here. She’s almost convinced herself that this was yet another chess move, but then he’s disarmingly understated in his reaction to the dress in the flesh, as it were. Every response she’d had planned for the dress—from subtle barbs to fury unleashed—becomes impossible. She finds herself thanking him, and it’s improbable sincerity all around.

The gala itself is even more disruptive to the narrative she’s been working with. It’s appalling. She expected that. She was counting on that. She was just not counting on him thinking it’s appalling, too. 

Oh, it’s not entirely appalling to him the way it is to her. He certainly delights in sidling right up to the Mayor and introducing her with a flourish. But even there, he see-saws between the pointedly familiar Big Cheese and the slightly dorky Mr. Mayor, I’d like to present . . .  He is vain enough to want to workshop the sobriquet that Ruthie and the other girls “on the circuit” use for him, but he is genuinely unnerved and deeply shocked by the deep background “donor girl” has on him. 

It . . . flusters her. This wasn’t meant to be a learning experience. There’s nothing to learn about Richard Castle, right? He has her in his arms on the dance floor. It should be a brazen move right out of the hostage-takers playbook. She should be counting beats in her head to determine the best possible moment to drive her spiked heel into the most vulnerable part of his shin. 

Instead, she’s wondering how he fits in with the Ruthies and the Anne Greenes of the world. She’s wondering if Cheney is an entirely fictional character, deployed to identify the best angle of approach to the White Whale’s wallet.  She is re-evaluating him in the very scenario that should reveal him to be exactly as shallow, as simple, and as single-minded and predictably devious as she has been telling herself he is.

Not long after, she’s asking him something as a friend. Not long after, he’s offering her eggs in return for saving his life. He’s teasing his daughter about the boy she has a crush on. He and his mother are sniping at one another. He’s filling juice glasses and pouring coffee with a dish towel thrown over the shoulder of his well-worn shirt. 

He is not playing his part. Neither is she. 

A/N: Hmmm. After watching this episode a million times, I had never before picked up on Alexis and Castle both denying their dates . . . Liars!

images via homeofthenutty

[anduln]

home is where the heart is, ch. 3

So close, yet so far. As events unfold in the newly-discovered Dragon Isles, Wrathion and Anduin get used to the land. On such small isles, two people who share such heavy history are bound to find each other once again, aren't they?

hello! new chapter is up, & my plot is starting to shape up! please read the notes at the end 🩷 here is a preview of my new chapter:

---------------

“Wrathion? Are you alright?”

“Say, do you have any idea where—”

“—Anduin might be? No, I’m sorry,” He smiled apologetically.

“How did you…?”

“Jaina told me you’ve been looking for him. I take it you still haven’t found him, then?”

Wrathion sighs. “King Greymane seems to think Anduin won’t be found until he wants to be found. I just hope he’s alright,” the black dragon looks dejected. Tired.

Kalecgos smiles kindly. “I take it the king of the Alliance is quite special to you?” he asks without a hint of teasing, so Wrathion indulges him with an honest answer. As honest as he can manage.

“Yes… well… we’ve had our share of adventures a few years ago. Despite all that has happened since—” he stops himself. “What I’ve done… Anduin has remained an important person to me.”

Kalecgos listens, and nods. The moment stretches. Deep in comfortable silence, he speaks up. “I hope that wherever he is… he is safe. May he come home soon to more good times with friends.”

Wrathion’s throat closes. He nods.

---------------

☀️ read it here ☀️

[alectoperdita]

if "home is where the heart is" then we're all just fucked i can't remember i can't remember and i want it so bad i'd shoot the sunshine into my veins i can't remember the good old days

[heavencasteel420]

It’s a little hard for me to get on board with any fic that has Jonathan staying home indefinitely, going to community college (unless it’s for a finite time before going to a four-year school), or going to Emerson. Like, nothing against staying near home or community college or Emerson, but I feel like it’s missing the point of his character to present any of those as uncomplicatedly positive outcomes for him. He doesn’t want to do any of those things for himself; he’s acting out of fear and self-sacrifice. NYU is the obvious symbol of his moving beyond that, but there are other fine options: Indiana University if he wants to stay close to home, a Chicago school if he wants to stay close-ish to home, a Boston-area university that aligns with his interests more than Emerson if he wants to be in the same city as Nancy, one of the UC schools if he wants to go back to the West Coast, etc.