#Location: Storybrooke Sheriff's Department

[lifeinahole27]

CS ff: “Walking the Tightrope” (Chapter 1/10) (au)

Summary: Killian's daily routines are a matter of habit. When he wakes up late one morning, his routines all change for the better. Emma doesn't care about routines, but she does care about Killian, no matter how reluctant she is to admit it to herself. 

Rating: E (much later in the story)

Content Warnings: There will be a part where pictures are posted without permission. It happens much later in the fic but if that’s not your thing, I want to put it out there now. And, of course, sexual content will be present. I will update these warnings for each chapter to pinpoint those sections!

A Special Thank You: Oh man, how do I put my gratitude into words? There are two constants in my CS fic writing life that I am so incredibly lucky to have. Thank you @captainstudmuffin for just downright prodding me in the ass to keep me moving when I wanted to give up. You were always there in the right capacity to keep me going. You did that reverse psychology thing with me that I always do to you with “Well, if you want to give up, that’s your choice...” and it worked. And then there’s @phiralovesloki who has listened to me self-depreciate for hours on end and still keeps me moving forward. And then you both turned your attentions to helping me get this thing edited and proofread. You handled all my tantrums, all my fits, all my problems. I love you both to the moon and back. 

And of course, thank you to the @captainswanbigbang for going with this rewrite idea. All of you modding this and putting shit in line and answering questions and being awesome and informative and helpful... my eternal gratitude for helping get this, my possible magnum opus, finished and out to the fandom. Much love to you all!

A/N: I wrote a lot of notes above here to start. Because of that, I’ll keep this line brief. Enjoy!

Find it on Ao3 & FFN!

-x-

Chapter 1: The Art of Routines

September 30: Monday

Every day, Killian Jones walks from his respectable dwelling by the Storybrooke Harbor to where he works, located right off the main drag. Storybrooke is nearly the definition of small-town America, but it houses a quaint-sized office of a British publishing firm that opened a branch over here last year. Three months ago, Killian took a chance to upend his whole life and applied for a junior editing position.

From a life in the Navy to a redirection of passions towards the fine art of literature, Killian has used a rigorous set of routines to get through every major upheaval in his life, including but not limited to the aforementioned relocation from London to a small speck on the map.

He uses his daily habits from the moment his alarm sounds in the morning until he shuts his eyes at night – operating his life in a tidy way and controlling what he can control while doing his best to accept whatever tries to throw him off.

Because of his method to build up his regimens, he knows that anything that lasts beyond two weeks becomes more likely to stick.

And for six weeks, Emma Swan has been part of his routines. Monday through Friday they cross the street together. They never speak. Sometimes they’ll smile and nod in greeting, but it’s enough in Killian’s book. Or at least, they’ve come to some unspoken agreement that it’s enough. Since the middle of August, this has been his norm, and thus it is now just another thing that marks time throughout his days.

The only reason he knows her name is because of the star-shaped badge she wears on her hip. That and being the sister of the sheriff are dead-giveaways to an identity. He’d heard of Emma long before he saw her as Will Scarlet filled him in on the townies. She, on the other hand, probably doesn’t even know his name. But he’s okay with that. He’s not out to meet the love of his life – not after what he went through with his last major relationship – but to enjoy a walk across the street with an ease he doesn’t understand and doesn’t have to. 

Day after day, he continues on, never looking back to see if she’s still looking at him. He’s afraid of what he might find if he does: either she’s also glancing back and this immediately becomes something different, or she isn’t and he’s effectively found himself with some kind of rejection complex. Both ideas are ridiculous. At the mere thought, Killian snorts and picks up his pace. 

On October 1st, Killian discovers how easy it is to throw off the delicate balance of a routine as strong as his. The alarm never goes off, or if it does, Killian either doesn’t hear it or turns it off in his sleep. He wakes, instead, to the sound of his text messages going off in quick succession, followed by the phone ringing and Will’s chirpy voice alerting him as he answers that he’s going to be late. 

With that, his eyes shoot fully open and he throws himself into action, hoping to get out the door in record time. He skips the coffee and the shower, throwing on the clothes he set out last night and hoping his hair stays in place with the water he combs through it. He’s out the door fifteen minutes late. His boss, Robin, will hopefully understand - he’s one of the most easy-going people Killian has ever met. Will is going to take the piss out of him, but that’s no different from any other day. Killian knew it was a mistake to share his location with his friend but in this case, with Will able to see that he was still at home when he should already be making his journey, he wasn’t going to complain about it. 

Instead, what he’s most upset about is that he’s going to miss Deputy Swan standing at their corner. 

And he’s right: she’s not there when he gets to the intersection. He pushes the button and diligently waits until it turns before crossing, just as he always does. It’s when he gets a full view of the patio in front of Granny’s that his steps suddenly halt. There she is, checking her phone and sipping from a to-go cup, standing at the table closest to the entrance. She glances up and sees him on the other side of the small fence that surrounds the front of the patio, and her eyes go wide. 

Quickly, she jams her phone in her pocket and exits the patio with two cups in hand, heading towards the sheriff’s station and away from him until she stops just as suddenly. She turns around to where he’s still glued in spot, knowing that each extra minute is asking for more torture from Will, but she walks up to him and he wouldn’t move if a bus came careening down the sidewalk at him. 

“Hi. This might be weird but… nevermind. Forget it.” She turns again, but Killian hastens after her. 

“What seems to be the problem, love?”

She spins around to face him again, a perturbed look on her face. He doesn’t know if it’s at him or herself, though, so he waits for her response.

“I’m not…” The words trail off, but she redirects. “I thought you might need coffee. You’re always so punctual. Figured if you were running late, you didn’t have any. But that’s probably ridiculous and just…” she trails off again, turning to dump the to-go cup into the bin nearby but Killian lunges for it. 

“No no, wait!” He catches the cup just before it leaves her grip, smiling wide when he successfully rescues it. “Thank you, Deputy. I appreciate it.”

“Swan. Emma Swan.”

“Oh, I know,” he responds, surprised at the devilish tone to the words. The only time he flirts anymore is when he’s two pints in at The Rabbit Hole on a rare night out with Will, and even then it’s with no intent behind it. His watch buzzes and Killian glances down to see Will is calling him again. When he sees the time, he can understand why. “Bloody hell. I’m incredibly late,” he says quickly, moving to continue his journey to the office and forgetting all his manners. 

“Is there something else I can call you, Incredibly Late?”

“Killian Jones!” he calls out as he gets to the corner by the post office. He spins on his heels to turn back to her, lifting the coffee again in thanks.

There’s an odd little smile on her face when he says it, but he’s still moving and has no time to wonder what it’s all about. “See you tomorrow, Jones!” 

Her words follow him around the corner and he grins as he picks up the pace to the office.

He’s amazed at how quickly his day turns around after officially meeting Emma Swan. Robin isn’t even mad when he shows up late, just happy that he’s finally sitting in front of his computer working on the endless edits he’s been helping with for a new book by an established writer. One that has terrible punctuation skills, apparently. And spelling. And grammar.

It’s barely been a half hour when he finds his thoughts drifting to the woman he only knows by name and reputation, and knows that somehow, his daily routines will never look quite the same. He wonders how much this little interaction means to her, too, if she looked so out of sorts when he was late today. And startlingly, he realizes that it did turn into something.

Running a hand over his face, Killian looks back at the page he’s supposed to be proofreading. He’s read the same sentence at least three times and still can’t figure out why it doesn’t feel right. It’s too early in the day to shut his office door and start reading everything out loud, however, so instead he saves his changes and closes the file, opening up a rain app on his phone and letting the sound soothe him while he stands up and stretches. 

“If you’re playing the calming sounds, I feel like you’re ready for more coffee,” Will says from his doorway. 

“You’re probably right,” Killian says, finishing his current stretch and turning off the app. “Shall we?”

“Ask Robin what he wants. Your treat since you were so late this morning,” his friend adds as he turns from the doorway. 

Killian makes a noise of aggravation, but still walks the short length to Robin’s office to inquire. 

Robin is locked in his own work, looking back and forth between three cover mockups that Will’s department would’ve sent over when they were ready. He glances up when Killian enters but only barely. “Coffee run?” the other man asks as he nudges each design around. 

This, too, is like clockwork in his life, which is why Robin already knows why he’s standing in his doorway. “Aye. Would you like me to bring back the usual or will you need something stronger today?”

“The usual is fine. Else I’ll be tempted to add liquor to it and no one at the home office will appreciate what I think of their last company email.”

“I have that whole rant recorded. You’d better make sure I don’t have anything stronger today or else they’ll get it verbatim.”

“Remind me to have you killed later this week after that chapter is edited.”

“I’ll pass it on to your secretary to be added to your calendar,” Killian mentions offhandedly while he leaves Robin’s office. This isn’t the first time Robin has scheduled to kill him for information he has on his superior. Killian’s sure it won’t be the last, either. 

As he leaves, Killian catches sight of the pictures on the wall. There’s a few scattered around his office, mostly of Robin’s adorable son Roland and his late wife. Marian passed just after Roland was born, making Robin’s decision to head up the American branch of NeverEndings Publishing House an easy one. The reason he’s stayed so long is also evident in the pictures of Regina Mills, the mayor of Storybrooke, scattered among the others. Regina was his “diamond in the rough” - the woman he never expected to meet and fall in love with shortly after he set up shop here. 

Along with pictures, there are paintings and his degrees, an antique wall clock that matches everything else, and a vintage bow and arrow hung behind the mahogany desk he nearly lives in some days. The whole thing feels like the den of some expensive cabin in the woods, but Killian knows for a fact that Robin put most of this together on the cheap. 

He passes his own little office again, noting the blank walls, the tidy desk, the single chair on the opposite side for small one-on-one meetings. He’s never really gotten around to decorating his work area. His degrees are still in one of the boxes in his flat, as are all the pictures of his friends and family from back home. 

There’s a single frame on his desk - just a picture of him and Liam at graduation that was packed into his luggage when he moved. Liam is beaming with pride while Killian looks like he’s about to bolt from the courtyard they had all gathered in after the ceremony. His left arm is tucked close by his side, and he knows for a fact it’s because he was trying to hide the prosthetic hook he wears from being in the pictures.

“So, why were you late today?” Will asks when they reach the doors and head outside.

“Alarm malfunctions,” Killian responds, as if there could be something besides human error to blame. Will just nods as they make the short trek down the street to Granny’s. Foolishly, Killian hopes to find his favorite deputy out patrolling or stopping for her own midday caffeine, but the only blonde in the diner is Ashley, the attentive but clumsy young server. 

Well, the only blonde woman. Dr. Whale, trying his best to flirt with Ruby, doesn’t count. 

“Have you heard anything I’ve said in the last three minutes?” Will asks, a touch of exasperation in his voice but humor lighting up his eyes. Instead of answering, Killian just pushes him forward to place his order. He pulls Killian up next to him and presents him to Ruby. “Tell Jones here that he has to come out with us on Friday.”

“The only thing I have to tell Jones is to place his damn order,” Ruby responds, her expression challenging Will in the way that only Ruby can. She looks back to Killian with a sweet smile. “You paying for all three?” He nods as he hands over the cash. Ruby winks at him, processing the change and handing it back before spinning from the register to make their drinks.

“Come on, mate. Come out this Friday.”

“I still have things I’m trying to unpack.”

“You’ve been saying you were going to unpack those things for the last three months.” He throws air quotes when he says “things” as if they’re fictitious items Killian invented for the sake of an excuse. He almost invites Will over to see what he’s talking about but feels like that would somehow turn into a standing invitation for his colleague to come over whenever he pleases.

“Yeah? And now I might mean it,” Killian retorts instead. Ruby places their drinks down on the counter before Will can press any further, and Killian spends an extra moment thanking the younger Lucas for exceptional service, as always.

“Kiss ass,” Ruby says as they gather their drinks and leave. There’s a smile on her face, though, and Killian knows that her days would be infinitely less exciting without him and Will pestering her at least once an afternoon. 

When they get back, Will takes Robin his coffee without having to be asked, which Killian is grateful for. But he’s barely seated in front of his computer again before Will is popping back up in his doorway.

“You’ve been summoned to the dungeons, mate.”

Killian drops his head for a second, trying to gather the energy to just… get up and go see if suddenly his benevolent boss has had a change in heart regarding his tardiness this morning. But Robin just waves him in and motions for him to sit down. 

“As you know, we originally hired you to be a junior editor to collaborate on projects.”

“Aye, that was the explanation I was given when I interviewed.”

“Well, we’ve gotten a new project that I’d like to see you take on. This isn’t quite a promotion, but it’s a test to see if I can trust you with something bigger than just standard edits to a pompous arse that doesn’t know his p’s from his q’s… literally.”

“I’m definitely interested. What is this project?”

“A young author has written a novella that twists fairy tales. It’s short but it’s deep, and I want your best on proofreading, but also on suggesting edits. He’ll be in to discuss the project at the end of this month, so keep working on your current progress until then. I’ll send all the files your way this weekend so you can start reviewing them whenever you’d like. Sound good?”

“Sounds excellent,” Killian says, genuine enthusiasm coloring his answer. “I look forward to it.”

Another disruption to the orderly life he’s been living, but honestly, this is almost as good as meeting Emma Swan. At least this feels like his disastrous start to October is no indication on how the rest of the month will go. 

-x- October 2: Wednesday

The next morning, Killian is back to his impeccable schedule, so he’s calm and collected when he strolls up to the crosswalk. Only minutes later, Emma walks up, eyes trained on her phone, earbuds playing music that she nods her head in time with. He takes a moment before she notices him to appreciate the view, to take in the dark jeans she likes to wear instead of a uniform, with black boots up to her knees. Her red leather jacket is half-zipped. Soon the weather is going to grow colder and he wonders if she’ll be warm enough on her walks.

She looks up, then, and smiles at Killian while he raises a hand in greeting. She hesitantly waves back, moving to stand next to him while they wait. 

“Good morning, Swan,” he greets just as the light changes and they start to cross. Her response is mumbled as she pulls the earbud from one ear.

“Have a good day, Jones,” she says, dipping her head as a parting gesture. There’s a smile pulling at his cheeks, and he turns to look at where he’s going instead of risking the possibility of running into something and ruining his mood.

For the rest of the week, they get to the crosswalk and he greets her. They part ways at the diner with her sending salutations before she walks up the path. In a way, it becomes a new routine for them. It’s one of the only changes to his days that he’s accepted as a normal progression instead of an uninvited intrusion.

On Friday, hours after his daily dose of Emma, he’s in the middle of the last chapter he has to edit when Will pops into his doorway in the afternoon. He goes to save the files and start the coffee routine, but Will enters the room fully and places two coffees and a bag with lunch on the corner of his desk.

“I hear you’ve got a bigger project coming up. Figured I’d be a good mate for once and encourage hard work instead of mucking around like we usually do on Fridays.”

The times that Will has been genuinely kind to him are definitely countable on his hand, so he’s almost afraid to ask if there’s a “but” included somewhere in there. However, Will just gives him a cheeky grin and heads right back out the door. 

When he’s made the final change and checked over the whole chapter again, it’s beyond the time that he normally leaves, even when he stays late. His eyes are burning and his stomach is growling again, but there’s a sense of victory when he sends the files back to Robin and shuts down his office for the weekend. 

He’s surprised to find Will on the couch in the reception area, asleep by the looks of it, and Killian is this tempted to leave him there because he knows exactly why his friend is still there. But the man brought him lunch and still owes him a beer for repayment of some good deed or another, so he knocks into one of Will’s shoes and snorts as he startles awake. 

“Come on, then. Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Damn right, you are.” Will’s response is groggy and expected.

Killian makes sure the building is locked up tight before they walk the few blocks over to The Rabbit Hole. He’d rather be in bed, or watching whatever his neglected Netflix queue has in store for him. While Will obviously went home and changed into something more casual, Killian is still stuck in his suit from work. It’ll have to do.

One drink, that’s all he’s promised, and then he’s going home to get the sleep he deserves and return to his normal order of events.

They’re barely through the door when he realizes his plan is going straight into the bin. There, in all her blonde glory, is Emma Swan. She’s parked near the end of the bar waiting for Jefferson to take her order. As he moves towards her, he hears Will greeting other acquaintances, but he’s too focused on getting to interact with Emma outside of their usual crosswalk that he doesn’t veer off course. 

“Fancy meeting you here, Swan,” he greets as he props up next to her. 

She jumps a little, clearly not expecting him to be there beside her, but regains her speech far easier than he would’ve if the situation were reversed.

“I’m sorry, you’re that figment of my imagination that only lives on Main Street. What are you doing here?”

He chuckles at her description of him and rubs behind his ear in a nervous gesture. Two more sentences and this will officially be the longest he’s ever spoken with Emma, and he’s enjoying it far more than he should.

“Out for a drink with my mate Will to celebrate a project ending.”

“Scarlet? See, I always thought you had better taste than that,” she says, a smirk on her face and her eyes shifting over Killian’s shoulder to where Will must’ve come up behind him. 

“Oy, just because I’m romancing your friend doesn’t mean you have to insult me.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what it means,” Emma responds to him, but there’s lightness and sarcasm in the whole exchange. 

“Romancing? You mean you finally worked up the nerve to tell Belle you fancy her?”

“Like three weeks ago, mate. This is why I tell you to come out more often.” Will claps Killian on the shoulder with those words, accepting the beer that Jefferson deposits on the bar for him, and walking back to the large gathering of people in the middle of the room that Killian is just realizing are mostly people he knows.

“Not one for socializing very often?” Emma asks, following his line of sight and waving to her brother at the table. Killian swallows a little harder when David sizes him up, eyes scrutinizing the whole time. 

“Not as much as I used to. Will and I usually make our ventures out earlier in the evening and in the middle of the week when we do.”

“So is it the expat club or something? You and Will, Robin, Belle. I think Tink stops in and drinks with them every couple weeks or so, too.”

“Will and I work at NeverEndings with Robin. The rest is all just coincidence.”

She hums in consideration, sipping slowly from her drink. “There’s room at the table. Wanna come join us, too?”

“That depends.”

“On?”

“Is your brother going to murder me for speaking to you for longer than three and a half minutes?”

She glances back at David, who turns back to the group suddenly, clearly pretending he wasn’t watching them.

“Listen, he’s overprotective but he’s yet to kill anyone I had a conversation with. People I’ve dated, on the other hand…” she trails off, lifting her eyebrows to emphasize with a little shrug. 

He can’t help the laughter that erupts from him at that. She’s delightful. He could spend all his days having frivolous conversations with her and probably never grow tired of it.

“Come on, I promise he doesn’t bite unless you ask. Which is unfortunately more than I ever wanted to know but that’s what happens when you become best friends with your brother’s wife.”

“Thanks for sharing your pain with me. I hope it eases the burden of your knowledge,” he says low enough so only she can hear as he pulls out one of the remaining chairs for her. Her thank you is a quiet and pleased murmur, and he has to remind his heart to stop the constant drumroll so he can get through this evening with his dignity intact. He drops into the seat next to Emma and tries to bury the way his skin itches at the sudden change in his routine. 

A chorus of introductions goes around, with Emma giving names to random faces as she goes. He does know a majority of the people at the table, even if just by reputation. It’s nice to meet the kind schoolteacher that is David’s aforementioned wife, though he’s seen her in the library more than a handful of times since his arrival in town. 

“Everyone calls me Snow,” she explains after Emma calls her Mary Margaret. “Less syllables, more Disney Princess-ish.” When the topic shifts from greetings to the usual breakdown of everyone’s days, Killian seizes the moment no one is paying attention to them. 

“A Disney Princess that enjoys a little kink in the bedroom. Good to know,” Killian whispers in Emma’s ear, and her hushed laughter is music he wants to play again and again. 

When the conversation really starts flowing, he finds he’s less interested in drinking away his week and happier to engage with the people around the table. David still regards him with suspicion, but it probably helps that he doesn’t look like he’s trying to crawl into Emma’s knickers as the night continues on. He finished his singular beer ages ago but opts for water during his next trip up to the bar, along with food because Emma bursts out laughing when his stomach growls in the middle of her talking about a digital filing system they’re implementing. 

Emma nurses her one drink, and so he’s relieved to find her willingness to talk is due to genuine interest instead of alcohol’s influence. Of course, it may be because he’s supplying her in onion rings until she finally orders her own.

Their group slowly begins to break up, starting with the people who have someone home waiting on them. Then the couples start to leave, and Killian is pleasantly surprised when Emma all but shoves David out the door with Snow, insisting that she’s more than capable of taking care of herself. 

They talk of all things small: she tells him about working law enforcement in a small town, and he shares his experiences in Storybrooke since moving. She asks about his job and actually listens when he starts talking. 

“What’s this then?” Killian asks when Emma pushes up her sleeves. 

She looks down at it, scoffing a little. “A dumb symbol of youth and rebellion,” she replies. “I got it when I was sixteen because James and I got in an argument about how perfectly behaved I was.”

“James?”

“Oh, David has a twin brother. You know how people joke about having an evil twin? David actually has one.”

“Your family is delightful,” he comments, wanting to reach out and touch the heavy lines of the flower on her wrist. “Why this?”

“Buttercups are my favorite flower.” He’s learned so many new things about her so very quickly, but he files this information away in the event he has a chance to use it.

It’s when their whole group has officially departed that they realize the rest of the establishment is similarly abandoned, with only Jefferson wiping down bottles behind the bar. 

“Sorry about that, mate. Time for us to clear out?”

“I was gonna wait until I was done cleaning to see if you even noticed the place was empty,” Jefferson responds when Killian sets the last few glasses on the counter. Emma is behind him at the table still, gathering the smattering of bottles and the rest of the stuff to be washed. “Been a while since I’ve seen her talk that much to anyone she didn’t grow up with,” the other man remarks, nodding his head towards Emma. 

“My favorite bartender back home would probably say the same of me,” Killian admits, placing a few extra bills on the bar as a tip and wandering back over to help Emma get the last of the dishes from his late dinner and her ridiculously large pile of onion rings, of which she ate every last one.

“Thanks Jeff. Have a safe trip home,” Emma tells him as she hands him the items.

As they start walking, he expects anything but for Emma to fall back into casual conversation with him about the moving process he went through. He takes it in stride as they slowly amble down the street and back to their crosswalk. 

“I’m this way,” Emma says, indicating the direction she normally arrives from in the mornings. 

“I know,” Killian responds, his tone soft and content. “It was lovely getting to meet you, Emma.”

He holds out his hand, giving hers a firm shake. Once upon a time he was a lad who could court a woman without blinking an eye. It’s that thought that has him turning her hand and bringing it to his lips, eyeing her playfully from beneath his lashes as he looks up at her. This small gesture feels so foreign, but he likes the way she’s giving him a puzzled little smile.

“Goodnight, Swan.”

“See you Monday, Jones,” she almost whispers as he releases her hand. 

They head off in their separate directions, with Killian gently brushing his lips in wonder. 

Routines be damned, this is much better than a casual wave in the mornings.

-x-

Chapter 2

#cs ff #cs ff au #sarah writes ff #csrt

[swanqueeneverafter]

Sins of the Past Pt.17

Storybrooke. Sheriff's Station. (Grif sits alone inside one of the cells while Hook and David talk in the Sheriff's office.) David: "I'm the one who caught him, so I should be the one who gets to talk to him first." Hook: "That's all very well and good, mate, but you're not the one who's wife and daughter are missing. In fact, they're both sitting outside this office. So why don't you go and be with your family because lord knows I would if I could!" Rumplestiltskin: (Leaning in the door way:) "Do you really think he's going to tell either of you anything? Even if he did there's no way of verifying the information." Hook: "Rumple's right. Lily and Mal don't have that kind of time." David: "Then what do you suggest?" Rumplestiltskin: "A simple truth serum ought to do the trick. I believe I still have a vial or two knocking around in the shop." David: "Great, get it. Ordinarily I wouldn't approve of such measures but Grif's our only lead and he's not talking. (Rumple nods and leaves to fetch the serum. Sighs:) I'm sorry, Hook. Of course you should be the one to interrogate him. It's just..." Hook: (Nods:) "I know, mate. Powerful as she might be, your daughter's being hunted. Speaking as a man who's face has been on his fair share of wanted posters, I know exactly how she feels." Bullpen. (Snow watches David and Hook shake hands from afar.) Snow White: "Oh, look at them, two concerned fathers." Regina: "Yes, they're a credit to all men who re-enter their daughter's lives when they're in their late twenties. Now can we please concentrate on what our next move is? If Lily and Maleficent weren't in the dungeons of Camelot, where could they be?" Elsa: (Standing by Lily's desk:) "We don't know they weren't there. (Turns to face them:) Guinevere said Morgana had separated the prisoners as much as possible. The dungeons are vast." Emma: "Well it's not like I can go in there with a search warrant." Snow White: "You're not going anywhere near Camelot, not with two sorceresses out for blood." Regina: "Hey, if it comes to a magic fight, I think we know who'd win. But yes, Snow's right, we can't go back to Camelot right now. If possible we need to face them on neutral territory." Elsa: "You may not be able to go, but I most certainly am." Regina: "And what are you going to do, sing them into submission?" Elsa: (Ignoring this:) "Whenever one of our allies names a new leader, it is customary to send an envoy with words of congratulations. Well, as Queen of Arendelle, I can think of no one better suited to formally welcome Morgana." Emma: (Knowingly:) "And to snoop around her dungeons." Elsa: "Precisely."

Cave. Location Unknown. (Lily continues to pace inside her cage, slamming her hands against the walls as Balinor, her captor, calmly watches. The sound of hoof beats is heard outside. A man, dressed all in black, drives a horse-drawn carriage with a cage in the back. Stopping at the mouth of the cave, the man jumps down and walks slowly towards them.) Aredian: "Did you miss me?" Balinor: "Where have you been?" Aredian: "Dealing with this one's mother. She's proving to be much more... spirited. We were right to keep them separated." Lily: (Shaking the bars of the cage:) "If you've harmed her in any way I swear I'll-" Aredian: "How does it feel to be in a cage? It's where you belong, you know. In a cage where civilised people can come and stare at you. Along with all the other freaks of nature." Balinor: "Aredian, please. I don't like this. Why must we wait so long?" Aredian: "I have not yet been able to procure a buyer for our latest stock. Apparently in these parts, dragons are to be feared, revered and respected. (Scoffs:) Tolerance of magical creatures is almost as dangerous as the beasts themselves. Unchecked, it spreads like a disease. It seeks out the young and the old, the weak and the able, the fair and the foul of heart alike. The people of the realms have grown lazy, Balinor. They’ve grown idle. They stand on the brink of dark oblivion. (Putting his arm around Balinor:) It is up to us, my friend, to remind the world that man is superior to these creatures in every way. The thought that these half-breeds can be considered our equals must be extinguished. (Slapping him on the back:) Now, I’ve had a long journey, so what’s for dinner?” (Lily watches their interaction carefully, taking note of the power dynamic between her two captors. Storing away the information to use to her advantage, Lily decides to bide her time until the chance to escape presents itself.) Wonderland. (Ella and Will hurry through the forest. Since the early hours of the morning, they've been tracked.) Ella: “Someone's following us.” Will: “By the sounds of things, I'd say several someones.” (They duck down behind some bushes.) Ella: “Do you recognize them?” Will: (Peering out:) “They work for the Caterpillar. They're Collectors.” Ella: “What are our options?” Will: “Well, basically, we could die, or we could run.” Ella: “I don't particularly care for the first one.” Will: “Me, neither. Left or right?” Ella: “Left.” Will: “Okay.” (They run. The Collectors right behind them.) Collector 1: “Where'd he go?!” Collector 2: “After him!” Collector 3: “He's getting away!” (Will and Ella run, jumping over tree branches and along uneven terrain. Will tosses a knife at one of the Collectors, taking him down and causing others to trip over the fallen man.) Collector 2: “He’s getting away!” (Will and Ella hide inside a large tree trunk.) Will: “I'm the one they want. We should split up.” Ella: “We should stay and fight.” Will: “Or, better idea you stay, I go. (Stands and calls out to the Collectors:) Oi! Over here!” Ella: “Will, no!” Will: “I'll be fine. I know these woods like the back of my hand. (He immediately turns and falls over a branch. Jumps back up:) I'm fine! Meet you back in Tulgey.” (He runs off, the Collectors following hot on his heels.) Ella: “Will! (Clasping her necklace:) It's okay, Mother, This is just a detour. I'll be with you soon.”

Storybrooke. Sheriff's Station. (Hook stands arguing with Grif.) Grif: "For the last time, I don't know what you're talking about." Hook: "You're a terrible liar." Grif: "Why would the Queen let me in on her plans? I'm just a lowly soldier." Hook: "You know more than you're letting on." Grif: (Smiles:) "Do I?" Hook: "Where are my wife and daughter you son of a bitch?!" David: (Stepping in:) "Hey, Killian, easy. I know you're upset but don't let him rattle you." Regina: "You could let me talk to him. I can be very persuasive." David: "Oh, no. Using a truth serum is one thing but I won't allow the use of torture." Regina: "Won't allow? I’m sorry, I don't remember you rejoining the sheriff's department." Emma: "She's right, Dad. You're not a cop anymore." David: "Maybe not, but emotions are running high here and I'm not about to leave that man alone right now." Regina: "So you don't trust me, is that it?" Emma: "Dad!" David: (Defensively:) "That's not what I meant. I just think someone who's not prone to flying off the handle might be useful at this time." Regina: "And you chasing a man down in your pickup truck was being level-headed was it?" Emma: (Standing between them:) "All right, let's just take it easy." David: "I agree. Look, Snow's already taken Maria for the afternoon, why don't you two go and enjoy yourselves for a few hours?" Emma: (Shrugs:) "We are still technically on vacation." Regina: (Motions toward Grif:) "What about him?" David: "Rumplestiltskin will be back soon with the potion and we'll know for sure if he's telling the truth. I'm just going to be here to make sure Hook doesn't do anything he'll regret." Hook: (Glaring at Grif:) "Trust me, mate, I won't regret it." Emma: (Trying to keep the peace:) "See? sounds like a plan to me. Killian? I know this isn’t too much of a comfort right now, but I wouldn’t worry about Maleficent. Robin said she personally saw Mal kick three pretty powerful witches out of the bar not too long ago. I think she can handle two without too much problem. ‘Gina, shall we?” Regina: "All right. (Walks over to David so they are face to face:) But make no mistake, I'm leaving because I want to, not for any other reason." David: (Knowingly:) "Of course." Regina: (Keeps her eyes on him for a long moment before turning to leave:) "Come on, Emma. Let's go home... (She takes Emma's hand and, pivoting on her heel, speaks into Emma's ear while looking at David:) and see if I can't make you call me 'Daddy'." (Turning scarlet, Emma gives one mortified glance backwards while allowing herself to be lead out of the station.) Wonderland. Grendel's House. (Amongst the wreckage, the Grendel sits alone at the dining room table. He doesn’t even move at the sound of footsteps coming towards him.)

Morgause: (Now standing before him:) “Good evening. You're looking well. Just like I left you. Although, (Looks around:) what happened here?” Grendel: “Bandersnatch attacked.” Morgause: “Did you kill it?” Grendel: “No.” Morgause: “Who did?” Grendel: “I had guests.” Morgause: “Guests? More than one? Tell me who. Tell me who, and I can help you.” Grendel: (Slowly looks up at her:) “You can bring back my wife?” Morgause: “Perhaps.” Grendel: (Stands:) “But that is impossible.” Morgause: “There is no such thing as impossible.” Grendel: (Hesitates:) “It was a young woman. And a man.” Morgause: “Who was this man?” Grendel: “She called him ‘Knave.’” Morgause: “Thank you for your honesty. You've been of great assistance.” Grendel: “Now... You will reunite me with my wife?” Morgause: “With pleasure.” (Morgause draws her sword and stabs him through the heart. The Grendel falls to the floor, dead.) Camelot. Throne Room. (Aredian stands before Morgana with a proposal.) Morgana: "Dragons?" Aredian: "Yes, Your Highness." Morgana: "You wish for me to purchase dragons, from you?" Aredian: "Why, yes. Just think of the grandeur their presence will bring to your coronation. Really start your reign off with a bang." Morgana: "You mean send it crashing down in flames, more like. You are aware of my father's legacy? How he sought to rid this land of all magical creatures and those who wielded it?" Aredian: "I am, My Lady. I'm also aware of how you seek to distance yourself from that legacy." Morgana: "And you believe the best way to do that is to have fire-breathing dragons under my command?" Aredian: "What better way, Your Majesty? Let the people marvel at their new leader's supremacy. Queen Morgana: She who walks with dragons." Morgana: "You would have me show dominance over these creatures? To have them be seen as nothing more than pets for my amusement?" Aredian: "Well, I-" Morgana: "You disgust me. (Stands:) As Queen I seek to heal the wounds inflicted upon the people of Camelot by my father and his heartless nature. I shall welcome all those who practice magic, everyone who has ever been ostracized and belittled by those too blinded by fear and hatred. Camelot shall be a haven to every man, woman, child or beast." Aredian: "My Lady, if I have upset you then please forgive me. I merely-" Morgana: "Guards! (Two guards close ranks on Aredian:) These men will accompany you to wherever it is you are holding the dragons and you will release them immediately. (Aredian begins to protest:) If you do not, mark my words, you shall have me to answer to. Now go!" (Aredian glares at Morgana while he is escorted from the room.) The Enchanted Forest...Pub. (Henry and Richard enter.) Richard: “Oh, this place is fabulous! It's all men. A real gentleman's club. (Waving:) Hello. (To Henry:) Get used to the attention, son. This is what happens when you hit the mainland with King Rich.”

Patron: (To Henry:) “Haven't seen you around here before. Trust me... I'd remember. The Queen's gonna want to get a look at this one.” Queen: (From the staircase:) “I do!” Richard: “Oh, no.” (Dance music plays as the Queen emerges from behind several men.) Queen: ♪ You trespassed upon my kingdom ♪ ♪ And now you are in my sway ♪ (Descends the stairs assisted by two men:) ♪ Which basic'ly means, as the queen of all queens ♪ ♪ I'm going to make you pay ♪ Patron: ♪ Will we be throwing him in the dungeon? ♪ (Two men, dressed in leather, dance inside a very small cage.) Patron 2: ♪ Or tossing him to the bear? ♪ (A stout, hairy man lifts his tankard and winks.) Queen: ♪ Well, one thing for sure ♪ ♪ We'll settle the score ♪ ♪ And trust me, it's more than fair ♪ (Runs to stand directly before Henry:) ♪ Off with his shirt ♪ Men: ♪ Yeah! ♪ (Two men remove Henry’s doublet:) ♪ Strip him down ♪ ♪ Don't be shy, boys, go to town ♪ ♪ I'll bet that chest is heaven-blessed ♪ ♪ So firm and pert ♪ (The Queen is lifted back towards the stairs:) ♪ Off with his top ♪ Men: ♪ Yeah! ♪ (Henry’s shirt is stripped away from his body:) ♪ Let it fly ♪ ♪ Check that six-pack, it's to die ♪ ♪ Tell ev'ry Lance and Bruce and curt ♪ ♪ Off with his shirt ♪ Richard: “Oh, this is so fun! I want to fly like her, too. (Spreading his arms:) Someone pick me up.” (Instead, the men pick up Henry, carrying him to the bar, which they deposit him behind.)  Queen: ♪ Ooh, so now that you're in my power ♪ (The men flood the bar asking for drinks and Henry serves them:) ♪ We'll put you behind these bars ♪ ♪ And there you will stay, taking orders all day ♪ ♪ Till Mars is aligned with Mars ♪ ♪ And for our pleasure, we'll keep you waiting ♪ ♪ Who knows just how long you'll serve ♪ ♪ But, baby, you bet ♪ ♪ You're gonna get ♪ ♪ The punishment we deserve ♪ ♪ Off with his shirt ♪ Men: ♪ Yeah! ♪ Queen: ♪ That's the deal ♪ ♪ You're our beefcake happy meal ♪ ♪ Go on, you guys ♪ ♪ Just feast your eyes ♪ ♪ Until they hurt ♪ ♪ Off with his shirt ♪ Men: ♪ Yeah! ♪ Queen: ♪ Till the dawn ♪ ♪ Dig that lush pectoral lawn ♪ ♪ Drink in those lats and traps and delts ♪ And after that, who knows what else? ♪ ♪ So save some room, boys, for dessert ♪ ♪ Oh, off with his shirt ♪ Men: ♪ Yeah! ♪ Richard: (Tosses Henry his shirt:) “Put this back on. You'll catch your death.” Henry: “Well, I have had a blast. You know, I've never been to one of these places before.” Richard: “What, a pub? Oh, don't be stupid. You've been to a pub before.” Henry: (To Patrons:) “Anyway, uh, I'm gonna head out. Got to get him back to his kingdom. I've got to return to finding my one true love. She's, uh...” Men: “Awwww!” Henry: “Yeah, she's waiting for me, but thank you for everything. And thank you for not feeding us to the bear. Goodbye, Bear.” Bear: (Waves:) “Laters.” Henry: “Richard, vamos.” Richard: “Sí.” Queen: “Where do you think you're going?” Henry: “Uh...” Queen: “We just had our best night in years. You'll be staying here forever. Or at least until those abs go soft.” Henry: (Chuckles:) “But...” Queen: “Guards!” (Henry and Richard are surrounded by guards.) Richard: (Chuckles:) “At least Bear seems happy.” Storybrooke. Recent Past. The Dragon's Lair. (On a rowdy night at the bar, Emma, Regina, Lily and Zelena are having a girls night out.) Emma: (Downing a shot:) "Woo! Another round!" Barman: "Are you sure?" Lily: "Hey! You heard the Sheriff, another round!" Emma: "We are armed and dangerous!" (Emma and Lily break down into a fit of giggles.) A Short Time Later... (As their drunken state worsens, all four women find themselves laying on their backs on top of the bar, allowing the barman to pour shots directly into their mouths. To the delight of all the male patrons watching, the women begin dancing with each other on top of the bar.) Happy: "Yeah! Ladies, take it off!" (Putting their arms around each other, the four women stand in a line on the bar and proceed to can-can. The resulting kicks hitting Happy square in the face as he's knocked back and forth.) Much, Much Later. (With the bar mostly cleared out, Regina bursts through the doors, riding a motorbike with Emma on her back. Lily, waving her top in front of them like a red rag to a bull, sidesteps them at the last moment as Regina revs the engine and drives by. Zelena, for her part, has taken to sliding across the floor on her back under tables, with her bra on her head.)

The Final Straw. (With Lily looking on, though barely conscious, Emma pours a bottle of tequila over Regina's chest and is about to start licking it off, when she is grabbed by her hair and pulled upright.) Maleficent: "That's enough!" Emma: (On wobbly legs:) "Whassa matter? (hic) Jealous?" Regina: "Yeah, Mal... Jealous? (Chuckles, before falling off her bar stool. From the floor:) Whoopsie. Ow!" (Regina rubs her head, having collided with Zelena on her 10th sweep of the bar floor. Mustering all the patience she has, Maleficent picks up Lily's shirt from the bar and throws it to her daughter.) Maleficent: "Cover yourself up. And as for the rest of you, since I very much doubt you're going to remember this night anyway... (Suddenly, Maleficent grabs Emma and pulls her into a deep, steamy kiss. Releasing her after a long moment, Maleficent watches Emma stumble, a dazed expression on her face. Shrugging:) I'm sorry, honey. I just don't see what all the fuss is about." (With that, Maleficent walks away. Blinking rapidly, Emma stands confused and looks down at Regina who's also in shock. Before either of them can process what just happened however, Emma's feet are taken out from her by Zelena and she falls, landing in a Mills sister heap on the floor. Unable to get up, the three women soon find themselves drifting off to sleep. Halfway through pulling her top back on, Lily stumbles backwards, crashing upside down in one of the comfortable leather chairs by the fireplace before she too dozes off.) Wonderland. Present. Forest. (Will ducks down behind another tree trunk, in an attempt to evade capture.) Collector 1: "We must have missed him! You go this way! I'll go the back! Look along the bank!" (Will smiles at this, then hears sounds of men being beaten. Peering through the trunk, Will sees the Collectors all lying on the ground unconscious. Stepping out from behind the tree, he stares at the carnage.) Will: "Ella?" Anastasia: (Standing behind him:) "Did you really think that she could do this all by herself?" Will: "Bloody hell." Anastasia: "Hello, Will." Elsewhere. (Morgause stands talking to an unseen person.) Morgause: "I hear from the Caterpillar that you're one of his finest Collectors. Well I happen to have a very special job in mind for you." (Morgause's eyes glow as she casts a spell over the person in front of her.)

Storybrooke. Swan-Mills House. (Regina and Emma arrive home.) Emma: "I wish you wouldn't give people the wrong impression about our sex life. Especially my father." Regina: (Chuckles:) "He was asking for it, shooing us out of the station so the men could handle things. (Tossing her keys into the bowl beside the door:) I mean since when have they managed to solve anything by themselves?" Emma: "Well, that may be true, but I was referring to who calls whom, Daddy." Regina: (Scoffs, removing her coat:) "I was trying to make a point." (Suddenly, Regina feels a harsh slap to her backside.) Emma: (Whispering in Regina's ear:) "So am I. (Proceeding to nibble on the brunette's ear, begins unbuttoning her blouse:) I want you to walk to the living room while removing all your clothes. (Moving to Regina's other side to nibble her other earlobe:) If you don't do it in such a way that pleases me. (Another slap to Regina's behind:) There will be consequences. Do you understand? (Silently, Regina nods:) Now go." (On shaky legs, Regina begins to walk across the hall, removing items of clothing along the way. After a few paces, Emma begins to follow her, removing her own clothes as well. Peppering the relatively short walk with words of approval, Emma enjoys the sway of her wife's hips as she makes it to the couch. Standing in her underwear, leaning against the door frame, Emma watches as Regina turns to her for instruction.) Emma: "Sit. (Regina obeys. With a slight lift of her chin:) Show me. (When Regina reaches behind to unclasp her bra:) No. Not yet." (Regina nods and moves her hands down to her waist, lifting her hips to slowly ease her panties down her legs. Leaning back against the couch, Regina allows her underwear to slip down over her ankles and onto the floor. Smiling to herself when she hears Emma's footsteps coming towards her, Regina closes her eyes and waits patiently for Emma's next command.) Sheriff's Station. (Rumplestiltskin returns to the station holding a bottle.) David: "Is that it?" Rumplestiltskin: "The strongest truth serum there is." Grif: (Now worried:) "Drug me with whatever you wish, I still don't know anything, I swear!" Hook: "Well we'll soon find out." Rumplestiltskin: (Approaching the bars:) "I need you to drink this." (Rumplestiltskin opens his hand a little, revealing the luminous green substance contained in the bottle. Recognition dawns on Grif's face.) Grif: "There must be some other way." Rumplestiltskin: "I wish there was. Truly, I do. You told me you always dreamed of sitting at the round table one day. Well, now I'm offering you something greater. Your death will be the cornerstone of a great new kingdom. If you take this." David: "His death? What are you-" Grif: (Snatching the bottle:) "For Camelot." (Grif takes the potion. Gagging, he falls to the floor and disappears in a cloud of green smoke.) Hook: "What the hell was that?!" Rumplestiltskin: "Poison from the Agrabah vipers." (Before their eyes, Rumplestiltskin transforms into Sir Mordred.) Mordred: "Something your Mayor is very familiar with and would have prevented me from using, if you hadn't sent her away.” (With one last satisfied grin, Mordred disappears.)

#sq #swanqueen #swan queen

[jarienn972]

Weathering the Storm - Part One

I dreamed up the crazy idea for this story a couple of weeks ago (yes, this was actually a dream) and I finally found some motivation to start writing it.  The basic premise is that it’s a pretty lousy day in Storybrooke.  A severe thunderstorm is looming, vandals are on the loose and Killian makes a ill-fated error while trying to be a Good Samaritan that leaves him relying on an unlikely ally for his very survival.

I haven’t written a multi-chapter whump story in a while so @hookaroo, this one is right up your alley.  Lots of whumpy fun (and a little comedy thrown in too).  And I’m sorry @killian-whump if I’m overloading your to read lists this month.

You can also find this on AO3 and FF.net

Peering through the windshield at the darkening horizon, Killian's brow furrowed. He was still getting accustomed to driving the Sheriff's vehicle himself and while it wasn't entirely unlike manning the helm of the Jolly Roger, he'd learned that the automobile responded much faster to course adjustments. He was becoming increasingly comfortable driving on dry roads, but he didn't yet have much experience driving on rain-slickened asphalt so he was hoping that the forecast storm would hold off for a tad longer.

With Emma occupied assisting Henry locate the proper attire for some sort of ball called homecoming, Killian had volunteered to take this morning's call on his own. It was a case that seemed innocuous enough on the surface - the now magic-less former Wicked Witch had phoned in a complaint to the station after someone threw a brick through her living room window. Neither she nor her child had been harmed but she was livid and wanted the vandal caught. She was quite vocal that she preferred Emma be the one to respond but after being advised that Emma wasn't available - and several minutes of unsuccessful argument, she resigned to the fact that it would be Killian coming to investigate. There had been two similar attacks in town and he had a pretty good idea who was responsible already but more evidence was always welcome.

So now he found himself driving to the outskirts of town, on his way to Zelena's farmhouse with a thunderstorm looming. At least the weather was keeping the traffic light as most in town chose to stay off of the highway with a severe storm threatening. But it was the very lack of cars on the road that made the vehicle pulled off to the berm stand out so starkly. It wasn't a vehicle he recognized, much newer and sleeker than the majority of the cars in Storybrooke, although he had seen similar ones when Emma had taken him on visits to nearby cities.

He could tell that there was a driver still seated behind the steering wheel and at quick glance, nothing appeared to be amiss. It was possible that the vehicle had broken down, as he'd learned they were prone to do. So, as Deputy Sheriff of this town, the neighborly thing to do was to see if the motorist was in need of assistance. He slowed down after passing the parked car which was facing opposite of his direction, flipped on the lights and made a slightly awkward three point turn in the middle of the road. (There were still a few maneuvers that weren't particularly easy for a man with a hook for a hand.)

He eased his vehicle to the side of the road, stopping a few feet behind the dusty black sedan that displayed New Hampshire license plates. Before exiting the vehicle, he made sure that his badge was properly displayed, clipped to the chest pocket of his hip length leather coat. He also double checked that the little camera mounted on the vehicle's dashboard was recording just as Emma had insisted. She'd had the device installed so that they would have video of every traffic stop, saying that it was for everyone's protection although Killian had scoffed at it. Wasn't like it would be hard to manipulate it with a little magic, but if Emma wanted the camera used, he'd use the bloody camera.

He turned off the cruiser's engine and stepped out into the road, approaching the vehicle cautiously, but trying not to project a threatening air. He was merely offering aid if needed and noted that the driver was already rolling down the window as he neared.

"'Afternoon, mate," Killian greeted the motorist with a welcoming smile. "I'm Deputy Jones with the Storybrooke Sheriff's Department. I noticed you pulled over here and I was wondering if I could be of any assistance?"

The dark haired driver raised his chin to glance up at Killian, or at least Killian thought the man was looking at him. It was impossible to be certain as he couldn't see the driver's eyes behind his mirrored sunglasses, a strange accessory to be wearing in such overcast weather.

"All's good, Deputy," the man replied. "Just had to pull over to try to make a call but it seems cell phone service kinda sucks around here."

"So I've been told," Killian chuckled. "You'll likely get a better signal about three miles or so ahead, on the other side of the county line."

"That's good to know. Thanks." It was a valid reason to be parked here and the driver seemed courteous enough but Killian's keen intuition sensed something was off. His gaze drifted unconsciously past the driver where he caught a glimpse of a map of Maine with a meandering route plotted in yellow highlights, one that avoided all major highways and towns. Something was telling him that this person wasn't the scenic backroads type.

"Well, I'll not waste any more of your time. Enjoy your drive, mate." Killian gave a little nod to the driver as he made a mental note to run the license plate number with the state police as soon as he returned to the cruiser, chastising himself for not doing that in the first place. He barely had time to take a single step back from the sedan before he found himself staring at the muzzle of a pistol trained on him through the car window. The driver had brandished it so rapidly that Killian had no time to draw his own weapon.

He heard the gun go off and time seemed to slow. The bullet struck his right side, entering somewhere around the bottom of his rib cage. The pain didn't hit him immediately as he staggered back a few steps before his legs gave out beneath him and he dropped to the asphalt. He watched the driver lean out of the window and fire a second shot at the cruiser, hitting the front tire and flattening it. By now, a searing heat was spreading through his torso but as he lay there in the middle of the empty highway, Killian noticed that there was a pair of feet visible beneath the car and his ears picked up a second voice shouting.

"What the hell did you do that for?" the second, deeper voice demanded. "We weren't supposed to draw attention!"

"You were the one who had to take a piss," the driver's voice responded defensively as a car door squeaked open and then slammed closed seconds later. "I told you we shouldn't have stopped."

"You didn't have to shoot a cop!"

"He saw the map...What if he ran the plate?"

That was the last of the conversation that Killian could make out as the sedan's engine roared to life and the vehicle sped away, kicking up a cloud of dust and gravel in its wake.

Clutching his wounded flank, Killian lay unmoving in the road for a few minutes but to him, it felt like hours had passed. Get moving, Jones his head urged but his body was less willing to comply. He practically dragged himself back to the cruiser, using the front bumper to support himself as he managed to raise up to his knees. Beneath his layers of leather, he could already feel the sticky dampness of blood, warm against his skin. He knew he should get to the radio. He should call for help, but who would answer? There was no one at the station to hear his plea and he didn't know if any other law enforcement would get the transmission as Storybrooke wasn't exactly on any regular patrol route.

Maybe he could call Emma? If he could get a signal on that infernal device, maybe she could get to him? She could teleport. He couldn't.

Trying to ignore the increasing pain, he pulled his hand away from the wound, patting his coat pocket for his phone, hoping it was still inside. As he'd become more adept with the technology, Emma had upgraded his phone to a fancier version she'd felt would be simpler to operate one-handed. The new device had proven easier to access features other than what he still referred to as the Emma button, but he was about to rue the change. The new device was covered in a shiny sheet of glass that he'd initially questioned the durability of but he was assured this was typical of newer devices. As he slipped his bloodstained hand into the pocket, his fingertips came in contact with his phone - and the razor sharp edges of the shattered glass screen.

He drew it from his pocket carefully and confirmed the damage. He must have landed on it when he'd fallen. He tried in vain to press the power button, hoping the device would light up but it barely flickered in his hand, leading Killian to quickly realize the dire predicament he was in. He was on his own out here in the middle of nowhere and he needed to think of a plan right now or he'd bleed to death before anyone was likely to find him. His closest option to get assistance was to head to Zelena's farmhouse which was approximately another half a mile up the road. With a flat tire, he couldn't easily drive there and he doubted that he had the strength or the dexterity to change it. Could he feasibly make his way to the witch's home on foot?

Clenching his jaw tightly, he swung his hook up onto the hood of the cruiser, anchoring it into the narrow gap above the headlight. He grimaced and cried out in agony as he pulled himself upright. He rested against the vehicle for a few moments, willing himself to move. He could make it a half a mile. He had to make it, he kept telling himself as he pushed away from the car, leaving behind a sizable smear of crimson on the vehicle's white paint.

**********

Thankful that she'd located the bright blue tarp in the decrepit barn behind the house, Zelena was trying hard to work while ignoring the pleas of her cranky toddler. She currently stood atop a sturdy chair attempting to nail that plastic sheet over the shattered living room window. It was a hasty fix that wouldn't last long, and it had her once again lamenting her lack of magical powers. She had hoped to convince Jones to assist with the temporary repairs by covering the window with a few boards salvaged from the barn - after he finished up with whatever he needed to do to locate the little cretin who'd vandalized her home. It would have been a stronger repair until she could get someone who still possessed magic out here to take care of the glass, but since he hadn't shown up yet and unfortunately, the rain had, she had to wing it.

The plastic wasn't keeping all of the weather out but it was holding up better than she'd anticipated as the wind whipped up out of the west. She'd already tried calling Emma to see where her ne'er do well husband might be but found phone lines down even before the power went out. Cell phones rarely worked out here so she wasn't surprised to see No Service on the device screen. Maybe she should start thinking about moving closer to town…

Before it got too dark inside the house, she tossed a few logs into the fireplace and got a nice, warm fire going. From the kitchen, Robin continued to wail in her play yard but Zelena needed to find more candles and flashlights first. This storm was forecast to be a severe one. The arrival of the thunderclaps and lightning flashes ahead of the rain had the child screeching but the weather was only partially responsible for the child's tantrum. She was also vocally protesting that mum had put her into this restrictive baby prison when she wanted to explore and see why mummy was making so much noise in the other room. She didn't like the play yard and she was going to make sure that everyone within earshot knew it.

"I know you don't like it in there, my little pistachio," an exasperated Zelena called out to her daughter. "Mummy just has to finish up some work and then I promise, we'll go snuggle and I'll read you a story. Does that sound good?" She didn't wait for the child's response as she placed the four candles and two flashlights she'd located onto the kitchen counter then stepped over to the stove and turned on the front burner, thankful that the gas was still working. With one hand, she placed the tea kettle atop the blue flames while her other hand opened the cupboard to her left and retrieved a bright pink sippy cup. "How about I get you some juice while I finish up?"

The mention of juice tempered the toddler's mood momentarily as she intently watched her mother pour a few ounces of white grape juice into the cup and twist the lid onto it. Robin greedily snatched it from her mother's hand, the thunderstorm momentarily forgotten as she swallowed her sweet treat, plopping herself down next to a fluffy stuffed rabbit. Exhaling a sigh of relief, Zelena was about to return to the tea kettle when she heard a thud against her front door. Had something blown into the door or was that a knock? Had that miserable pirate turned deputy finally shown up?

"Is that you, Jones?" she asked loudly as she crossed the room to answer the door. "It's about bloody time you showed up… What's your…" She was going to say excuse but stopped herself mid-utterance as she swung open the door to find her door frame smeared with a mixture of blood and mud and a barely conscious Killian Jones collapsed on her front porch. He was laying face down, head resting on her woven straw welcome mat and clothes dripping wet as though he'd been out in the elements for a while. "What the devil happened to you? Where's your car?" Her eyes quickly scanned the gravel drive that led up to her house but saw no sign of a vehicle and realized she'd not heard a car approaching either.

She lowered herself to one knee in the doorway and took hold of his arm, wanting to help him get up and out of the storm. Her gaze caught sight of the series of puddles on the steps leading up to her door noticing that they were all tinged with reddish swirls.

"Are you injured?" she queried. He groaned what must have been an affirmative as he made a feeble attempt to raise his head, managing to force open one dull blue eye that pleaded for help. "Okay - we've got to get you inside. I have no idea what's happened but even I can't leave you out here in this awful weather. He pushed himself up onto his elbows and Zelena grasped his shoulders, feeling him shaking as if his strength would give out at any moment. "Think you can get to your feet with a little help?"

Killian nodded in response as she stood up, extending her arms towards him. His hand was slick with rainwater and blood as he clasped onto hers, hindering him from getting a secure grasp.

"Let's try something different…," she said as she shifted her position, stooping over and sliding her hands beneath his arms then wrapping her own arms around his upper torso. "I can't believe I'm doing this…" she muttered but at least he understood her actions. He scrambled to get his wobbly legs beneath him and pushed himself upward while she steadied his upper body. He caught his hook on the doorframe, using it to help balance himself once he was standing until she could move next to him, placing an arm around his back to guide him through the opening and over to her solid wood kitchen table. She let him brace against it while she kicked the door closed, the slam drawing a shriek from the startled Robin.

"Hang in there, little one. Mummy's got a bit of an emergency here…" As the tea kettle whistle drowned out the toddler, Zelena turned off the flame beneath it before turning her attention back to the ailing pirate dripping blood and water all over her floor and table. "I'm going to get you over to the sofa where you can lay down but first, we need to get you out of that sopping wet coat. It must weigh a ton with all the water it soaked up." Killian offered little resistance as she slid the heavy, rainwater laden leather off of his right arm and then repeated the process on his left, easing the sleeve over his brace and hook before allowing the coat to drop to the floor. She'd worry about it later.

With the burden of the leather coat now off of his shoulders, he huffed out a little sigh followed by a pained moan while nearly toppling over. Zelena caught him and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she let him fall against her. "Okay, Jones - just a few more steps, okay?" She led him slowly, nearly dragging him at times, into the living room to her floral print sofa and let him flop onto it. "Lie down and I'll be right back. I'll get some blankets out of the closet and I have some first aid supplies in the cabinet in the loo…"

"Thank...you…" he stuttered through chattering teeth as she pulled the colorful crocheted afghan off the back of the sofa and draped it over his shivering form. She hadn't expected an answer since he could scarcely keep his eyes open so his response caught her off guard.

"You're welcome. Now, just rest a minute." What the devil am I doing? She had this and so many other questions swirling about in her overwhelmed head. Was she actually trying to save the life of the very same man she'd nearly killed just a few short years ago? And he was really trusting her to do this? Had becoming a mother changed her that much? Had sacrificing her magic helped her earn back her humanity? Okay - maybe not that since she'd kill to get her magic back. Well, that probably wasn't the best choice of words…

She shook off the barrage of unanswerable questions as she yanked open the linen closet door to collect some necessary items. She gathered up a pillow from the top shelf, two more blankets and a stack of towels and threw them all into an empty laundry basket. Before closing the door, she reached back in and grabbed a handful of washcloths too, then headed into the bathroom to see what first aid supplies she could locate. With Robin now walking, she'd stocked up on bandages and antiseptic but most of what she had on hand was sized for a child so she might have to improvise a bit. She tossed anything that might be useful into the basket with the linens and then hurried back to the living room.

"Alright, Jones - are you still with me?" He mumbled something unintelligible in his semi-conscious state that she took as a yes. "Okay, first thing we've got to do is get you out of some of these wet clothes and see where all of this blood is coming from…" He seemed to understand what she meant. His jeans were thoroughly soaked, covered in mud from when he'd fallen while trudging up her driveway and they were plastered to his chilled skin. He'd be able to warm up faster without the dampened clothing in the way. There was nothing gratuitous about it, but it didn't mean that Zelena was going to enjoy this part.

There was no pretense of modesty as she unbuckled his belt and unfastened the buttons on his trousers, keeping her eyes squeezed shut the whole time. She tugged the heavy, uncooperative fabric over his hips, praying that the pirate wasn't going commando. It wasn't that she hadn't seen male anatomy before; she just had no desire to see a former enemy's private parts.

Once she'd managed to get the denim pulled down to his knees, she quickly threw the afghan back over his hips before daring to open her eyes. Seeing Captain Hook's bare knees and shins was something she could handle as long as the rest of his lower extremities were covered. She did immediately come to the realization that she'd forgotten a step - she'd neglected to remove his boots. Thankfully for her, even though the black leather boots were as waterlogged as his matching coat, they were only ankle height with elastic sides to make them easier to slip on and off. She barely managed to stifle a giggle as she yanked them off of his feet and uncovered his navy blue socks that had tiny white sailboats printed on them. Novelty socks were not something she would have thought him to sport, but she kept any commentary to herself as she finished removing his jeans and set them aside on the hardwood floor.

Now came the hard part. She had to get a look at the wound.

He flinched and writhed in pain as she began to undo the buttons on his leather waistcoat and the midnight blue shirt beneath. She picked up one of the towels and held it at the ready while she peeled the layers of leather and fabric away. He hissed and then howled in agony as she raised the shirt and pressed the towel to the deep crimson puddle pooling on his abdomen, allowing the cotton to soak up some of the blood before taking a second glance at the hole in his side. She raised the towel slightly so she could see it better - small, but bleeding profusely. Keep pressure on it, her brain reminded her as she held the towel firmly in place and Killian cried out in protest.

"I'm so sorry. I know this has to hurt but we need to slow the bleeding," she insisted. "Is this a bullet wound?" She had limited experience with pistols, preferring fireballs to firearms, but she couldn't think of any other weapon that would have inflicted this sort of wound.

Killian gave a slight nod of his head as his body trembled through another resurgent wave of pain. "Call...Emma…" he begged, words coming out in staccato through tightly clenched teeth.

"I would if I could," she informed him. "The storm knocked out the power and the phone lines. Wouldn't be a problem if I still had magic, but you've got a pathetic waste of a witch here… Anyway, I had already tried calling her earlier when you hadn't shown up. I thought you'd blown me off…"

"Would...be...bad...form...Got...shot…" he explained what had already been obvious.

"I know that now. I have a tendency to think the worst of people, you know?"

He tried to crack a smile but found it hurt too much. "The…bullet…? Did…it… go...through?"

"I hadn't checked that just yet. Think you can roll onto your left side a bit?" He nodded and did his best to shift his weight to his left hip and turn his body towards the rear of the sofa, giving her a clearer view of his back to search for an exit wound. She raised the hem of his shirt higher and located the slightly wider hole where the bullet had passed through his flesh. "I see where it came out," she told him as she picked up another towel to cover the exit point. She sensed a little relief from him at this revelation. "Is that a good thing?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Better than... a chunk of lead… bouncing around… inside my chest," he grimaced, bracing himself for what he had to ask of her next. "Do you… have anything… to disinfect…?"

He didn't need to finish the sentence as she answered right away. "I do have antiseptic, but you should know, this is going to sting." He didn't really need the warning. He knew and his breath was already hitching in his throat in anticipation as she picked up the bottle that presumably contained the antiseptic she spoke of. It conveniently had an aerosol sprayer for easier application but there was no amount of preparation that could halt the primal, guttural scream that escaped his lungs the moment the substance came in contact with tender skin. The tidal wave of sensations proved to be more than his weakened body could bear as he allowed himself to succumb to the blissful peace of unconsciousness.

Zelena watched him go limp as the dueling howling of the wind and wailing of her daughter echoed through the farmhouse. She could still hear his labored breathing indicating he was alive but there wasn't much else she could do for him. She did her best to patch up the wounds by covering them with clean folded washcloths that she'd sprayed with the antiseptic solution before securing them in place with strips of cloth tape from her medicine cabinet. She tucked the pillow under his head and layered the two additional blankets over top of him to protect him from the drafts making their way around the blue tarp. She could only keep her fingers crossed that her improvised window covering would hold.

It wasn't perfect but it would have to do until the storm passed, she reminded herself as she gathered up the bloody towels and his dripping wet jeans, placing everything into the laundry basket for now. She kicked the basket off to the side as she stood up and headed to the kitchen to wash up, tossing another log onto the flickering fire as she passed by. Once she'd scrubbed away the blood and dried off, she scooped up her teary-eyed daughter who vocalized her displeasure once more as a flash of lighting and an instant rumble of thunder shook the house. Bouncing the toddler on her hip to ease her sobbing, Zelena stared out of her kitchen window watching the rain pelting against the glass.

This was turning into one very long day.

#ouat ff #whump fic #killian whump #cs ff #weathering the storm #tagging this cs even though emma doesnt come in until part 2 #and wanted to keep it in my main tags #is there a friendship name for Killian and Zelena?

[lilacmoon83]

A Darker Curse

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 19: Walking the Wire

Cora sat in her car in her driveway and she dialed a number on her cell phone.

"Sheriff," Graham answered.

"Did you do what I requested?" she asked sternly.

"I did...it was wrong and I still don't know why I did that for you. But it's done," Graham answered. She smirked and got into her car.

"Good boy," she cooed condescendingly, before she started the car and turned the radio into tune into the bug that she had forced the Sheriff to plant for her. If they wanted a fight...then they were going to get one.

"With this," she heard a man say and it sounded like August.

"This is quite bold. You need to be ready for the backlash," that was unmistakably Rumple's voice and though she had no idea what he was warning them of, he was absolutely right.

"You have no idea, Rumple...and you'll be among those I take revenge on now," she said, as she looked over the files that Sidney had dug up for her. She smirked and continued to listen.

"We are. You once told us that the final battle would begin as soon as the curse was broken and we're going to be ready for it," that voice gave Cora pause. It was definitely the prince, but this talk of the final battle was odd. Unless…

"Which begs another question. The curse is very specifically designed so that the product of your true love is the only thing that can break it," it was Rumple's voice and he was definitely talking to the Prince. A Prince that was very much awake.

"There are only a few ways I can think of that could restore your memories beforehand," she heard Rumple speak again, confirming such.

"It was our sapling...a true love sapling that we didn't even know about," that was Snow's voice and it made her clench her teeth. That little retch had been a thorn in her side for far too long and just when she thought she'd been rid of her, she had returned to foil Cora's happy ending.

"No one knew about it...but after you mentioned it last night, I think I went into one of my author trances, because this was in the book this morning," that voice was the puppet again, but she had no idea what this author nonsense was about.

"Remarkable...for all the things I see, I didn't see this one," she heard Rumple say. She didn't know exactly what he was looking at, but she planned to find out.

"Does Cora have any inkling that this sapling exists?" Rumple asked.

"We don't think so...it's safe for now," the Prince answered. Cora smirked.

"Not anymore, Prince Charming," she cooed.

"You need to keep it that way. This sapling is pure magic...true love's magic," Rumple said, making Cora chuckle.

"Well...thank you for the information, Rumple. It will be invaluable," she said.

"Do you think...the sapling could break the curse?" she heard Snow ask.

"As powerful as it is...the curse is written with very specific language. I must confess that I bottled a potion made of your true love and hid it...for a rainy day," Rumple answered.

"Oh Rumple...I'm disappointed in you. Putting all your cards on true love...especially Snow White and Prince Charming's is foolish," she said quietly.

"I know...my son is the author," she heard Snow say. The author...she didn't know of what significance that was, but she knew texts in her collection that probably could tell her something.

"Wait...that was what was in the golden egg you made me hide in Maleficent?" Charming exclaimed. Cora smirked.

"Bingo...so Maleficent is here somewhere in Storybrooke. That was a very nice touch getting that one past me, Rumple," she mused.

"But there's no dragon in Storybrooke,"

"Sure about that, dearie?"

"You brought a dragon to Storybrooke?"

"No...but the curse did. She's...asleep, for now,"

"Okay...so I think the question I'd like to know is, how do I break the curse? Cause we've been here for a while and I still have no idea how to get it done,"

"Sorry dearie...I didn't foresee how you do it. I only saw that you did."

"We'll see about that, Rumple," she mused, as she turned off the radio as her phone rang and she answered.

"Hello," she said.

"Is this Mayor Cora Mills?" a voice asked.

"It is...to whom am I speaking?" she asked.

"This is the Portland Police Department. I'm Captain Selvig. What can I do for you?" he asked.

"I think I may have a couple of persons of interest responsible for crimes in your area here in my very nice, small town," she said.

"Really? And how did you become aware that they may be suspects?" he questioned.

"Like I said, Captain...I run a very small, quiet town. We don't get many new people, but when we do, I take the protection of my people very seriously and I had my Sheriff run their names through the database. I realize it's not exactly ethical, but I must see that my town is protected," she explained.

"I understand that. I assume they popped up in the criminal system?" he asked.

"They did. Neal Cassidy and Emma Swan," she replied.

"Cassidy? Cassidy is in your town?" he asked in surprise.

"Yes...then you remember his case?" Cora asked.

"He's wanted for Grand Larceny here and in Phoenix. I'm going to have to fight them for who gets to prosecute him," the Captain replied.

"Well, if I'm correct, it would be whoever gets to him first gets to throw him in their jail and I don't plan on calling Phoenix if you send a couple detectives to come pick him up," Cora said.

"That's good of you, Madam Mayor. I will dispatch a couple of my detectives. Where are you located?" he asked.

"A very small town in Maine. In fact, it's so small that we often get left off most maps. However, I have taken the liberty of mailing a special map to you so your detectives can find us. It should be in your mail today hopefully," Cora replied.

"That's helpful of you...I'll look for it and dispatch my best," he said.

"Oh, you have no idea how much at ease that puts me, but there is the matter of his accomplice, Emma Swan. Her records show that she has an association with Mr. Cassidy," Cora replied.

"Yes...we suspected she was helping him knock off convenience stores, but we could never prove anything other than guilt by association. The district attorney wanted more than that to bring her in," the Captain answered.

"Well, she is definitely in association with him. She had his child, after all. Isn't that enough to at least extradite her for questioning?" Cora asked.

"That I didn't know and it may very well be. I will be in touch," he answered, as they ended the call. Letting outsiders into Storybrooke would be risky, but if they could take the Savior away and she could ensure she was tossed in jail, then it would ensure her curse wouldn't be broken. And getting Baelfire put in jail beside her was the perfect revenge against Rumple for his betrayal of her. She smirked and dialed a number on her phone.

"Now to keep tabs on the two idiots," she murmured.

"Hello," Sidney answered.

"Mr. Glass...I have a job for you," she said.

"I thought I was supposed to be laying low. Deputy Swan will arrest me if she sees me," he argued.

"You're going to do what I tell you to do!" Cora snapped.

"And you'll not worry about Deputy Swan...I'll be handling her," she added.

"What can I do for you, Madam Mayor?" he asked.

"As we speak, Mary Margaret Swan and her boy toy are leaving the station. I want you to follow, unnoticed of course, and take photos of any and all exploits they may engage in. Then report back to me and do not get caught," she said sternly.

"Of course," he answered, as the line went dead.

"You think you've all won...but this battle has just begun," Cora muttered.

~*~

Snow and Charming got out of his truck, as he parked it near the troll bridge. They shared a smile and joined hands, as they trekked toward the cave.

"Just when I thought this place couldn't have more meaning to us," she said wistfully.

"It's the place we fell in love. The place we first talked...I mean really talked when I was still cursed," he said. She nodded.

"And it's the place where I got you back," she said, as they stopped outside the cave.

"And now we're here...just a prince and a princess on an adventure," he mused. She smiled and her eyes fluttered closed, as he leaned in to kiss her tenderly. She slipped her arms around his neck and their lips parted briefly, as they stared at each, before they came crashing together again. She mewled into his kiss, as he moved his lips passionately over hers. When they finally parted, they pressed their foreheads together, as they attempted to get their breath. As usual, he left her feeling breathless and unhinged, in the most euphoric way possible. He smiled at her, as they joined hands again and went inside the cave.

"It's amazing...there's no sunlight or water in this cave and it's survived all these years," Snow mentioned. He smiled at her.

"Just like our love," he said, as a green glow was cast upon them, breaking through the darkness of the cave. He stepped closer and cupped her face in his hands, as he kissed her passionately. Snow slipped her arms around his neck, as he kissed her deeply and she lost herself in him once again. Her breathing came in ragged gasps, as his lips slipped to her throat and he nipped purposefully. She was beside herself in pleasure, as the hands and lips she had craved for twenty-years were kissing her and touching her. He gently backed her against the wall, as her hands skated all over his strong back and he alternated between kissing her lips and her throat. She thrilled, as he sucked at her pulse point, ensuring she'd be wearing his mark. So like her Charming to mark her for all to see. Their lips finally parted and they panted together, as he pressed his forehead against hers, their faces only lit by the dim green glow of their true love sapling.

"I want to be with you…" he confessed, through gasps of air, as he gazed into her eyes. She bit her bottom lip to keep a scream of pure joy from escaping her lips and swallowed.

"You know that I'll wait as long as you need. I get it if you're not ready…" she promised. He smiled gently at her and nuzzled her nose with his.

"I know...and if it was anyone except you, then I'd probably have no interest in sex," he admitted.

"But it is you and I'm always going to want you, Snow. Not just because you're my wife...my real wife, but also because it's never just been sex between us," he said softly. She smiled coyly.

"That's very true," she replied.

"With us...it's just so much more than that. I'm not even sure lovemaking quite describes it," he said, as they looked at their sapling.

"I guess it's no wonder though if just our touch could create that," he said, nodding to it. She giggled and kissed him soundly.

"We make magic, my love," she said, with a giddiness she hadn't experienced in twenty-years. He smiled at that.

"Yeah...magic is a good way to describe what's between us," he said, as they gently picked up the sapling.

"This will be safe with us tonight and we can take it to Gold in the morning. Let's go home," he said, as they with their sapling in hand and arms around each other.

~*~

"Mama…" little David whined in his highchair.

"All right, buddy...I think the fries are cool enough now," Emma said, as she put some fries on his tray. Neal smiled, as he watched their son pick up the french fries with his chubby little fingers and start chowing down.

"He's a good eater...just like his mom," Neal teased. She looked at him in mock outrage and then dissolved into a smile, with a shrug of acknowledgement.

"So true," she agreed.

"I remember...anything with a high sugar content or deep fried and breaded," he teased again.

"I find it hard to believe that Snow would let you eat all that junk," Regina commented.

"She didn't, but she didn't know I usually used my milk money for the vending machine," Emma said.

"And she definitely doesn't know about your stash of junk food you keep in the drawer at the station," Neal said, as she looked at him incredulously.

"You better replace anything you took," she said seriously and he rolled his eyes. Emma really took her pop-tarts seriously.

"Fine, I owe you a box of blueberry," he admitted, as Regina got a text.

"It's Snow...they got the sapling and they're heading back to the loft," she said.

"I thought they were coming here for dinner?" Emma asked, as she munched on her onion rings. Regina chuckled.

"Yeah, something tells me that those two are going to have each other for dinner," she said bluntly, causing Emma to choke.

"Seriously? I do not need those kind of mental images, ugh…" she complained.

"I'm really happy my parents are finally together, but there are things a daughter should not know," she added.

"I agree, but you might want to wait a bit to go back to the loft tonight," she mused.

"Great…" Emma muttered.

"Don't worry...you can come to my house and I'll make us cocoa. I'd love to spend a bit more time with my grand nephew," she cooed, as she lifted the little boy into her arms.

"Okay...as long as you have cinnamon and I guess if anyone deserves a night alone, it's definitely my parents," she agreed, as they got up and put their coats on.

"You coming?" Emma asked to Neal.

"I wasn't sure I was invited," he replied. She rolled her eyes.

"You're little David's father...so it's implied now. Let's go," she said. He smiled and joined them, as Regina paid the check and they left the diner.

~*~

When they arrived home at the loft, Snow placed the sapling on the bedside table, while he hung up their coats. For twenty years, this moment hadn't been far from her mind. Naturally, she was nervous, because she was older and there were changes in her body. He was still the same though, young and handsome. He would always be handsome though, she was sure, even when he did get older. And he insisted she was still as beautiful as they day he met her. Still, there were a lot of people out there that would tell them that they couldn't work anymore. Most people would say that they had each been through too much for this to ever work. And she knew how narrow minded it was of those people to think that something like a number could come between a love like they had, but their words still gnawed at those insecurities she had in the back of her mind.

"They don't know us," she heard him say, as she turned to see him come through the curtain she had around the bed.

"What?" she asked in surprise and he smiled at her.

"I don't care what people say, Snow. Something like an age gap can't sully what we have," he said.

"How…" she started to say and then stopped. She knew how. Many things may have changed, but his ability to read her like a book was not one of those.

"My love for you is...boundless. It's in my blood and sinew," he said passionately, as he gazed down at her.

"It goes beyond our world and this world. I told you once that we have eternal love that transcends any realm...even death someday. If you remember, that whole death do us part thing wasn't in our vows, at least not in the first time when Lancelot married us," he reminded. She smiled and tears welled in her eyes at the memory. It was such a bittersweet day. It had been just them, their very dear friend Lancelot, and his dying mother.

"Having you back in my life is a blessing I will not take for granted, nor will I let idle gossip intrude and make a mockery of our vows," he added. A tear slipped down her cheek.

"Nothing could do that. They can try...but they can't tear asunder what they do not understand. I'm just still getting used to it," she said. He smiled gently, urging her to continue, for he sensed that she needed to say a few things as well.

"Life was always so hard out there and I knew it was hard, because I didn't have you. I got used to everything being so hard," she said.

"I lost hope once in my life, when I was on the run from Cora, but then I met you and it was awakened in me again," she added, as her face became sad and her eyes watery.

"And then when I had to leave you behind, it almost died in me again. Emma and August are the only reason I had any hope at all during those years," she cried.

"Every time our daughter smiled...there you were and the tiny flicker inside my heart reminded me that hope was still alive and that I would find you. I had to, because I knew my heart would eventually give way without you. It would have long ago without my kids," she confessed.

"And now that I have you back, it's still taking some getting used to the fact that I'm not alone anymore and I have you back; someone that understands me like no one else does," she sniffed.

"I know that we still have a lot to face and that none of it is going to be easy. All the stuff around us has never been easy...but our love is. My love for you is as easy as breathing and I know that we'll face it all together," he said. She smiled.

"My love for you is as easy as breathing too and now that I have you again, I'm never letting you go," she replied.

"Good...because I'm not letting go either," he agreed, as they stared deeply into each other's eyes and their lips crashed together in a passionate coupling.

"You're sure?" she asked breathlessly, as their lips parted.

"Oh yeah…" he breathed, as he kissed her again.

"Are you?" he asked, just to be sure when their lips parted again. She gave him a sultry smirk.

"What do you think, handsome?" she asked coyly. He smiled and their lips met again and he slowly backed her toward the bed for what would be a reunion that they had waited twenty-years for…

Snow breathed in ragged gasps, as her husband kissed his way down her throat and to her collarbone. She struggled with the buttons on his shirt, but finally managed to undo them all and eagerly let the garment fall from his shoulders and become a puddle on the floor.

"Ohhh…" she moaned internally, as she bit her bottom lip again. She'd seen him like this hundreds of times, but she had been without him for so long too so having him like this again was almost overwhelming. In the very best way though. She licked her lips gently palmed her hands along his bare, muscled torso. He kissed her deeply and grasped the hem of her shirt. Their lips parted and she held her breath, as he pulled her shirt over her head. She looked into his eyes and saw nothing but love and desire shining in them. Their lips crashed together again and she pulled at his belt, as he went for the button her jeans. They managed to find their way out of their jeans and she gasped, as she felt his arousal pressing against her belly. She panted, as he kissed his way down her throat and to the tops of her breasts.

"Charming…" she pleaded and she felt his hands go to her thighs. She locked her arms around his neck and her body thrilled, as he lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist, as they tumbled to the bed. Intense making out resumed and hands roamed, their bodies responding in kind as they always did when they were intimate. It had been a very long time, but it seemed their bodies had not forgotten each other's touch or feel. His strong hands caressed her shoulders and pulled her bra straps down as they did, until they finally traveled to her breasts, cupping them gently and earning an impassioned cry from her. Snow managed to unhook her bra for him and he tossed it away, as touched her there with his hands and his mouth.

"Charming…" she whimpered, lost in a haze of pleasure, as she arched her hips against his. He groaned, as she rubbed her sex against his and he slipped her panties down her shapely legs.

"I love you…" he managed to say, his voice husky and full of passion.

"I love you...I need you…" she begged, as she finally rid them of the last barrier between them and his hard shaft was freed from the confines of his boxers. She licked her lips and mewled, as her eyes devoured his bare form. He was even more gorgeous than she remembered. He finally pushed inside her, slowly at first, until he was all the way in. He stopped briefly, as they breathed together and stared into each other's eyes. He braced himself, palms on either side of her head, as he began to move. She lost herself in him, as he brought her pure ecstasy with his languid thrusts. Their lips crashed together, as they took and gave pleasure to each other in equal synchronization. His cock pulsed inside her and her walls hugged him tightly, as he pumped his hips, faster and faster. Their skin glistened with perspiration and Snow kissed him passionately, moving her lips over his, just as he moved inside her. She released his lips, as her climax drew closer and pressed her forehead against his, as he sought to make her come. She cried out for him, as he made love to her and as he always did, he held her as she came. It was incredible and beautiful as always, with stars exploding behind her eyes and her insides quaking in the storm of pleasure. He was seconds behind her, as he came inside her, and she welcomed in her arms when he collapsed atop her. She kissed his forehead and caressed his face, as he pressed his lips to hers again and finally managed to pull himself from her hot depths. He rolled onto his back and pulled her with him, as she now lay atop his glistening chest. Oh how she had missed their lovemaking and now they would cuddle and he would hold her in his arms; something else she missed desperately as well.

"I love you…" he whispered, as he entwined his fingers with hers. She smiled up at him.

"I love you too...and I'm never letting you go again," she promised.

~*~

Cora sat in her house and idly looked through the photos Sidney had gotten developed for her. She groaned and downed more alcohol as she was forced to see the two idiots in all kind of intimate embraces and kisses. But that wasn't all she saw and she took curious note of this mysterious sapling that she had heard about. Now that she was seeing it, she wanted to scoff at the ridiculousness of it. But the glowing in it was unmistakable. This thing was magic and Sidney had been very confused by what he had seen, as his cursed mind had a lot of trouble comprehending it. She had brushed him off and told him it was none of his concern. She really didn't have a clear plan to combat this yet, but she knew that this sapling had to be destroyed. Once she did that and neutralized the threat of their daughter, then she'd take great pleasure in making these two pay for all their trouble. She smirked and took another drink.

"Enjoy your time with him, dear Snow. I took him away once...and I can take him away again...

#Snowing #SnowxCharming #Charming family #Emma Swan #August W Booth #AU #CORA cast the curse #evil Cora #Outlaw Queen #Regina and Snow are sisters #warning #mentions of abuse #nothing graphic #romance #adventure #angst #family #a darker curse

[winterbaby89]

Dark Hook Comes to Storybrooke - Chapter Seven

A Captain Swan, Season 1 Canon Divergence Collaboration by: @hollyethecurious, and @winterbaby89

Beta’d by: @ilovemesomekillianjones

Amazing Artwork by: @xhookswenchx

Rated M for language and dark themes (and maybe (probably) some sexy times… later ;o)

Summary: Moments before the Evil Queen’s Dark Curse whisks our beloved fairytale characters to Storybrooke, Captain Hook finally gets his revenge on the Crocodile. Twenty-eight years later, Killian Jones awakes in Storybrooke expecting just another ordinary day, that is until a number of abnormal occurrences disrupts his otherwise scheduled life. The greatest of which is a new face in town. A young woman by the name of Emma. Emma. What a lovely name…

Disclaimer: Canon dialogue and scenes from various episodes will appear within this fic. To Adam, Eddie, and the OUAT writers goes all the credit.

Line breaks indicate change in POV or Scene.

Also available on ao3, my fic page, and Hollye′s fic page And if you want to catch up on the last chapter.

Chapter Seven

Killian groaned as he rolled onto his back, his pulse pounding at a spot along his forehead above his left eye. Only vaguely aware that he was lying on the floor, he cursed himself for imbibing in too much rum before he remembered that he hadn’t had a drop. Then why the devil am I… the young woman!

Opening his eyes, grimacing against the brightness of the lights, he tentatively sat up and began assessing the room around him. The lass was long gone, and his office had been thoroughly ransacked. What had she been looking for? Did she locate whatever it was that was so important she’d break into my home and accost me? Killian wasn’t even sure he’d know if anything was missing. He hadn’t really considered any of the items within the office as his actual possessions since he’d been woken from the curse.

There must have been something of great importance hidden away in there, though. Why else would the woman take such a risk?

‘Changing my life.’

What could he possibly possess that would have any bearing on the life of a woman he didn’t even know?

One thing was for certain, the lass was scared, and in some sort of trouble. She needed help. Help she clearly wouldn’t accept from him, and Killian wasn’t about to involve the Sheriff. For one, he didn’t need the man snooping among his things as he investigated a home invasion, and two, Killian had a better option. Emma. If anyone could find and help the lass, he knew Swan could, she was The Saviour after all, and bloody brilliant to boot.

After taking a few moments to look around the office, just in case anything sparked a memory or idea of what the woman had been looking for, nothing did, Killian got cleaned up and headed out towards Ms. Blanchard’s loft. Still a tad unsure as to what he was going to say, Killian rapped at the door and waited for either Emma or Mary Margaret to open it.

“Thanks again for letting me have my stuff sent here, I’m so glad to finally have it.” Emma knelt before her meager possessions and basked in the small comfort she felt at being surrounded by something familiar.

“It’s no problem,” Mary Margaret replied as she brought over a plate and handed it off to a thankful Emma before she asked. “Is that all of your stuff?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is the rest in storage until you decide whether or not you’re going to accept Mr. Jones’ offer?”

“No. This is all of it.” The sad look on her new friend’s face had Emma feeling self-conscious, and she tried to tamp down the haunting thoughts and emotions that had plagued her for so much of her life. “I’m not sentimental.”

Perhaps sensing that she’d struck some kind of a nerve, Mary Margaret encouragingly added, “Well, it must make things easier when you have to move.” Small, understanding smiles passed between them as Mary Margaret sat herself down at the table to eat her breakfast, prompting Emma to do the same.

“So have you made a decision about which job offer to accept?”

“Maybe,” she shrugged nonchalantly as she took a bite of her breakfast.

“You know you can stay here, right?” Mary Margaret affirmed. “No matter which option you choose. I know it isn’t a house overlooking the ocean with an attractive man, who all but devours you with his eyes every time he sees you, living next door, but-”

Emma started to choke on her eggs as heat rushed to her cheeks. “He does not-”

“Oh, yes. He does.” Mary Margaret smirked behind the rim of her mug as Emma stared slack jawed.

A knock at the door provided a much needed interruption, and Emma was able to compose herself as Mary Margaret answered it. Composure she struggled to maintain as she heard the lilting tones of the very man her friend had just teased her about.

“Morning, Ms. Blanchard. Is Ms. Swan available?”

Emma stood and straightened her shoulders as she made her way to the door. Calling upon her defenses of sarcasm and wit, Emma rounded the door and teased, “Quick, Mary Margaret. Hide all the hot beverages.”

Killian attempted to give her an unamused smirk but hissed when his brow began to lift. Emma noticed a cut just above his brow and the bruising that had started to bloom around it.

“Jones! What happened?” she questioned as she gently swiped his hair aside to get a better look at the wound before she could think better of it.

Killian gave her a brief wide-eyed stare at the contact before he schooled his features and replied, “That’s why I’ve come, Swan. I need your help with something.”

Emma led him into the loft and offered him a seat. She saw him give Mary Margaret a pointed look that had the woman declaring that she’d be in the bath, though Emma knew that didn’t mean their conversation would actually be a private one.

“Someone broke into my house last night,” he began as he rubbed his hand along his jaw, and over his mouth. Discomfort over the invasion, or maybe at having been caught off guard in his own home, radiating off him in waves.

“Did you get a look at them?”

“Aye, it was a young woman. Very pregnant, and very insistent on finding something in my office. Something that she hoped would, and I quote, ‘change her life’.”

Astonished and overcome with a mixture of guilt, dread, and utter confusion as she realized that he could only be describing Ashley, the maid at the B&B she’d met the day before, Emma inquired, “Why didn’t you report this to the police?”

“I think you know the answer to that question quite well, love,” he clipped. “The Sheriff would spend more time investigating me, seeing as he’d finally have legal reason to search my premises, and less time finding the girl.”

Emma’s brows raised at the admission of not wishing to have his home searched, and started to wonder just how shady Jones’ business was. Something she probably should have questioned before now, but had allowed Henry’s fondness for him, and probably her own reactions, to blind her to the more nefarious side of Mr. Killian Jones.

“She’s a scared young woman, Swan. She’s pregnant, and going about searching for something that she’s willing to attack people over. I don’t want to make things harder on her by involving the police, not when I have every hope that you can find and help her.”

Emma could hardly keep up with the puzzle of a man that sat before her. Shady and potentially dangerous, as well as concerned and caring for others he saw as vulnerable and hurting. People like Ashley. People like Henry. She knew he was being honest in his motives, even if she did suspect that there was more he wasn’t telling her. She’d let that go for now, though. He was right, Ashley needed help, and Emma couldn’t help but feel guilty that the mess was partly her fault.

“Will you help me, love?” Killian’s question snapped Emma from her guilt induced musings.

Still a bit confused with why he seemed so eager to find and help some woman he didn’t know, a woman who had attacked him in his own home, she replied, “I’ll help her.”

Killian gave her an expression of being taken aback by her change in mood and demeanor, but before he could ask her about it the loft door swung open to reveal Henry.

“Hey, Emma. I thought we could… Killian!”

“Hello, Henry, my boy,” Killian beamed at the kid’s presence, spinning Emma’s perceptions of him once again.

“What are you doing here?” Henry asked.

“Oh, I was just enlisting Emma’s aid in a matter I needed help with.”

“Henry, what are you doing here?” Emma asked.

“My mom’s gone ‘til five, so I thought we could hang out. Wanna join us Killian?”

Emma was about to voice a protest when Killian responded, “Would that I could, lad. Unfortunately, I’ve other business to see to today.”

He stood and made his way to the door, ruffling Henry’s hair as he passed, which did absolutely nothing to Emma’s heart and stomach. Before leaving he turned back and said, “Good luck, Swan. Let me know when you’ve got everything sorted, yeah?”

“Yeah. Later, Jones.” A rigid tone clipped her words causing him to shoot a look of confusion and concern her way before he nodded and exited the loft.

Emma was left reeling as she departed from the Herman house. He’d played her. Sat right across from her in the loft and lied straight to her face. How did she not pick up on that? He’d made it seem as if he’d had no idea who the woman was, or why she attacked him, but now she knew the truth. Killian Jones had played her for a fool, and she wasn’t going to let him get away with it.

“I don’t get it,” Henry said as they made their way back to the diner to question Ruby once more. “Killian wouldn’t do something like this. It doesn’t make any sense. It has to be something to do with the curse.”

Emma could feel her anger rising to new levels at the mention of the curse, but she maintained some semblance of control before she could lash out at Henry. This wasn’t his fault. Jones had fooled them all, and he’d be lucky to get away with just a punch in the face from her, for what the truth about him would do to poor Henry.

“Curse or no curse, we are not going to allow Jones to take Ashley’s baby,” Emma stated emphatically. “Anyone who wants to be a mother should damn well be allowed to be one.” Her growing agitation made her miss the appreciative look Henry had cast her way.

Parking out front of Granny’s, Emma stormed up the walk toward the diner. Finding Ruby behind the counter Emma questioned, “Why didn't you tell me she sold the baby?”

“Because I didn't think it was important,” the brunette murmured as she skirted along the counter away from her and Henry.

“Really, considering that's why she's running away?”

Ruby continued to project an aloof air of indifference towards Emma’s pursuits, but begrudgingly replied, “Look, Ashley’s my friend. I don't like the idea of people judging her.”

A retort got caught in the back of Emma’s throat as she spied the red, glass wolf she’d seen hanging from the rearview mirror of Ruby’s car earlier now sitting on the ledge of the pass through window. Lifting it from its new resting place Emma shot a look out the front window and realized the vehicle was no longer there.

“Ruby, where's your car?” The guilty looked that passed over the woman’s face made everything fall into place. “You didn't send me to Sean to find her. You sent me there to give her a head start.”

“Look, I'm only trying to help her,” Ruby answered defensively.

“Yeah, so am I. Ashley's in more trouble than you know, Ruby. Where is she? Don't make her deal with Jones without me,” Emma pleaded.

Despite the lies and disgraceful business dealings, Emma didn’t think Killian would actually hurt Ashley, but she could admit that she’d been wrong about him before and couldn’t take the chance that she was wrong about him now. Not with a child at stake.

“I can't talk in front of him,” Ruby said as she glanced towards Henry. “He's the mayor's kid.”

“Hey, I'm on your side,” Henry argued as Emma could see Ruby’s resolve crumble in the face of her friend going up against Killian Jones alone.

“Henry,” Emma began as she turned to him and lowered her voice in a serious tone, “I need to find this woman, and in order to do that, I need you to go home, okay? So please listen to me, seriously. She's not gonna tell me anything if you're around.”

“Okay,” Henry agreed, surprising Emma with his quick compliance.

“Thank you.” She smiled after him as he headed out the door before she turned back to Ruby.

Time to get some answers and find Ashley, then I’ll deal with Killian Jones.

After leaving the matter of the young, pregnant woman in Swan’s capable hands, Killian made his way back to his home and began collecting all the paperwork he’d come across since waking from the curse. He boxed up a number of documents and transported them to the Jolly Roger where he could look them over in the familiar comfort of his cabin.

He knew from his cursed memories that he owned a substantial amount of land and properties within the town.  A number of deeds and leases were in his name and he’d exerted his authority as landlord over the wretched souls under his thumb for the entirety of his cursed state. These documents seemed to be different, however, and Killian was eager to try and uncover what possible treasures might be buried within their contents.

As he began sorting the stack he heard Henry calling out for him from above deck. Had he come with news? Did Emma send him to relay a message about the young woman?

“Down here, lad,” he responded, and carefully placed the papers back into the box for later inspection.

Henry’s usual bright and exuberant expression was clouded with a shroud of confusion and hurt.

“Henry, lad. What’s the matter?”

“Are you really going to take away Ashley’s baby?” Henry asked mournfully, making Killian’s brows knit together in utter confusion.

“Come again?”

“Ashley,” Henry stated as if the name should mean something to him. “You’re trying to take her baby.”

Who the blazes is Ashley? Was she the pregnant lass? Her baby?

“What in the bloody hell would I want with a baby?”

Completely confounded by the entire exchange, and doing a piss poor job of disguising it, Killian noticed a questioning glimmer flash behind the lad’s eyes as a look of suspicion overtook his features. Suspicion that seeped into his next words and made Killian wary that the lad was suspecting something amiss in his behavior.

“But Mr. Herman said he made a deal with you. That there’s a contract saying Ashley has to give her baby to you once its born.”

Concerns of Henry’s speculations aside, this news further added to Killian’s bewilderment. A contract? For a baby? That didn’t sound like one of his tactics pre or post curse. He was a pirate. He swindled, and cheated, and threatened in order to get what he wanted, and he most certainly did not want a baby. Not like this, anyway.

Contracts were too legal, too binding, too… too much like something The Dark One would do.

Bloody Crocodile.

This had to be his doing. A deal made long before the curse which left Ashley, or whoever she truly was, beholden to the imp, and now him. The curse using its dark magic to manipulate those things that had once been in Rumplestiltskin’s name and replaced it with the name of the new Dark One. Him.

Before Killian’s thoughts could become too befuddled with the mind-fuck that was Regina’s curse - Had the poor lass been nine months pregnant for the past twenty-eight years? - his phone rang, causing both he and Henry to jump at the noise.

“Jones,” he snapped as way of greeting as he answered.

“Mr. Jones, this is Nurse Gladys at Storybrooke Hospital. I’m calling to let you know that we’ve received word from a Ms. Emma Swan that Ashley Boyd is in labor, and on her way in. As Ms. Boyd’s listed emergency contact, we wanted you to be aware.”

Killian pinched the bridge of his nose as he replied, “Aye. Of course. Thank you for the notification.”

Very aware of Henry’s look of suspicion, and resigned to the fact that Emma must think him the worst kind of monster for his perceived involvement in such a dishonorable scheme, Killian ran his hand along his jaw as he determined how to proceed. He in no way intended to take a babe from its mother’s arms, but everyone believed that he had a deal in place, and no one gets out of a deal with Killian Jones. His reputation in town was built upon that fact. A plan started to form in his mind as he made his way above deck, Henry following closely at his heels.

“Was that about Ashley?”

“Aye. She’s in labor. Your mother is taking her to the hospital as we speak.”

“I’m coming with you,” Henry declared, and Killian had not the time nor the energy to argue with the lad. Killian grabbed the helmet from his bike, and thrust it in Henry’s direction, “If you ride, you wear a helmet. Your mother is liable to kill me regardless, but I’ll not risk your safety.”

Killian and Henry made it to the hospital in record time and were approaching the entrance as they caught sight of Ashley being wheeled in by an orderly with Emma following behind. Ashley turned back, presumably to say something to Emma, when she caught sight of Killian and visibly paled. Seeing the woman’s distress, Emma looked over her shoulder and stiffened as Ashley gave voice to her fear.

“He's gonna take my baby.”

Killian halted, shame washing over him that he should inspire such trepidation in an innocent, young woman. He looked over at Henry who shared his downcast gaze and felt sure this was the beginning of the end. Emma would never allow her son to associate with someone like him, not this version of him. The pirate. The villain.

Emma stopped the orderly and crouched down next to Ashley as she assured, “I won't let that happen, but do you know what you're asking for? If you keep this child, are you really ready?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure? Because I wasn't.”

Killian saw Henry’s head snap up at her words and he couldn’t imagine how Henry was feeling. The weight of the entire ordeal fully settled upon him as Killian continued to listen to Emma’s confession.

“If you want to give this kid its best chance, it's gonna be with someone who's ready, so know what that means. Your whole life is gonna change, and once you decide that it's yours, running away can't happen. You have to grow up, and you can't ever leave. Understand?”

“Yes. I want my baby.”

Emma gave the orderly a nod to continue on before she rounded on Killian.

“Henry, go and wait for me in the lobby,” she commanded.

Henry gave Killian one last look before he departed. A look that still held an edge of speculation amid the concern and melancholy. After the lad was well inside, and unable to overhear the imminent confrontation Killian broke the silent standoff.

“You found her, I see.” He continued in his approach though she barred him from the hospital entrance, placing a hand against his chest to stop him from entering.

Just as they had in the pawn shop, visions began to overtake him. Memories of the girl, Ashley... no, that wasn’t her name, her true name was Ella. She was Cinderella, and she had made a deal. A deal she had not fully understood. A deal she had gone back on with dire consequences.

“Why didn't you tell me? Why did you pretend to not know who she was?” Emma’s question pulled him from the memory and he could tell that she was doing her best to keep the hurt from his perceived lies to her out her voice. Projecting her abject anger at the repulsive nature of the situation, and his role in it.

“I was honest with you about not knowing who she was, Swan, truly.” Using the newly acquired information the memory provided him, Killian began to craft a plausible, half-truth explanation. “The deal was brokered by a third party. I wasn’t given the woman’s name. The deal was that she would receive compensation in exchange for the child. Once the child was in my possession I’d be charged with finding it a suitable home.”

“You're not getting that kid.” Killian had no intention of leaving the hospital with the child, but it seemed Swan already had him pegged as a villain.

“Actually, we have an agreement.” Killian decided that in order to maintain his cover as his cursed self he’d have to play his part. If it’s a villain she wants, then so be it, “And there’s a contract that must be honored.”

“Tear it up.”

“That's not what I do, love.” Unable to resist some theatrics, Killian flourished a bit as he added, “But, I’m not a heartless man. How about I let Ms. Boyd keep her baby, and you’ll simply owe me a favor.”  

“I’m not going to work for you, Jones. I’ve already accepted the Deputy position.” 

“Have you now?” Flippant in his response, he tried to mask how much the news hurt him.

“Yeah.”

“Well then it seems the better man has won,” he declared, a softer tone lacing his words as he became tired of the facade. “For what it’s worth, Swan, I think you’ll make a brilliant Deputy.” Hope stirred in the back of his chest as she seemed to lose a bit of her bite at his words. A slight blush tinted her cheeks and she gave him a mixed look of disbelief and gratitude at the compliment. It lasted only a moment before she fixed him again with a hard stare.

“I’ll just owe you a favor?” she clarified with lifted brow

“Aye, love.”

“Deal.” Killian’s skin crawled, but he was heartened at their accord and the chance it might give him to redeem himself in her eyes.

The nurse picked that moment to walk outside to notify them of the successful birth of Ashley’s baby. “I guess I’ll take my leave. Please do pass along my congratulations to Ms. Boyd.” Killian turned, and headed back to his bike before Emma even had the chance to respond.

“You know, Emma, you're different.” The comment sounded odd coming  from Henry, as they made their way to drop him off at Regina’s before she could get home and notice he had been gone.

“What's that?”

“You're the only one who can do it.”

She tried to not get frustrated with Henry and his love of being cryptic. An unintended touch of agitation seeped into her voice as she retorted, “Break the curse? Yes, I know. You keep telling me that.”

“No,” Henry paused to roll his eyes at her, before continuing, “leave. You're the only one who can leave Storybrooke.”

Unsure of where he was headed with this conversation Emma replied, “You left, and found me in Boston.”

“But I came back. I'm 10. I had no choice, but if anyone else tried to go, bad things would happen.” Henry sounded as though that was the most obvious thing in the world, the verbal equivalent of rolling his eyes. Cheeky little kid.

“Nobody? Except Me?”

“You're The Saviour. You can do whatever you want. You can leave.”

Why is he telling me this? Is he testing me? Trying to tell me to leave? She stopped that train of thought there, she was getting way ahead of herself. Henry wouldn’t have tracked her down in Boston if he didn’t want her to be there. Unless he’s tired of me already, realized how much of a mistake it was to find me, how broken I am. No! No, that can’t be, just this morning he came to me, wanting to spend the day together. She knew she was working herself up into a frenzy and needed a new topic to fixate on, so she decided to ask Henry about the other thing she’d been stewing over all day.

“By the way, I meant to ask you earlier. What were you doing with Killian Jones at the hospital?” Genuinely curious about his response, Emma looked at Henry as much as she could manage as she drove.

“I was with him when he got the call about Ashley.”

Emma tried to not sound as confused as she felt, and quickly questioned, “Why? Why do you spend so much time with the guy and invite him along everywhere?”

“He’s my friend.”

“Your friend?”

“Yeah, my best friend… my only friend, actually.”

Emma’s heart broke at his response, and the melancholic tone he couldn’t disguise in his voice. After Henry’s statement about his friendship with Killian, they both turned within themselves. Emma was still trying to figure Killian out, she knew now that he didn’t exactly lie to her. But she couldn’t reconcile the man who would buy and sell a child with the man who had befriended her son and shown such care and consideration in other matters. She may not be able to get a handle on her thoughts and feelings for Jones, but she was willing to try and accept him for Henry’s sake.

"Pumpkin,” Emma offered, wanting to break the introspective tension in the car. “My code name,” she clarified at Henry’s confused look. “I was thinking, in honor of Cinderella, Pumpkin.” Henry shook his head. “You got a better one in mind?”

“Yep.”

Yeah, this kid loves to be cryptic, she thought sardonically. “Well?”

“I'm not sure you're ready yet.” After the words were spoken, Henry got out of the car and headed for the gate, but before he could run up the walk Emma called out to him.

“Henry! About what you said… about me being able to leave.”

“Yeah?”

“See you tomorrow.” Henry’s face split into the biggest grin she’d seen on him yet at her promise of tomorrow.

She pulled the bug a few blocks away, wanting to make sure that Regina wouldn’t be able to see her once she got home. Emma turned off the bug and called Graham to accept the job offer, figuring she ought to, seeing as how she’d already told Killian that she had.

“Hello? Graham, it's Emma. That deputy job still open?”

“Absolutely.” Graham’s response came through the phone not even a second after she finished her question. Has he been dreading me working with Jones that much?

“Then I'm in.” Feeling the need to ask, but not overly concerned with the answer, since this was her life to do as she pleases, Emma continued, “Regina gonna be okay with this?”

“I don't care. It's my department. I'll see you Monday morning.”

Oh yeah, this is gonna be interesting. “I'll see ya.”

Killian stopped at Granny’s before heading back to the Jolly Roger and placed an order to-go before making use of the facilities. As he turned the corner towards the restroom he practically ran into Regina as she exited the back stairs. Obviously startled by his presence it took her a moment to regain her cool facade before issuing him an overly civil, “Mr. Jones,” before she swept past him and out the back door.

Strange. Henry said she’d be gone all day, what on earth was she doing up there?

The answer to that question came as he exited the restroom moments later only to run into Sheriff Humbert. Sheriff Humbert and traces of the Mayor’s shade of lipstick along his neck and jaw.

“Not really your shade, mate,” Killian smirked as he pointedly glanced at the smudge of lipstick on the man’s neck.

Eyes wide, Graham rubbed at the traitorous mark as Killian quipped, “I hear congratulations are in order.”  

“For what?” Graham eyed him warily.

“Your new deputy.”  

“How could you possibly know that already?” Graham questioned scathingly. “She just called me.”

Graham’s confirmation that Emma had not been altogether truthful at the hospital earlier, but had decided to accept the position anyway, added to Killian’s growing agitation with the entire blasted day. A day that had cost him precious ground with Emma, and left him on a precarious perch with Henry. It hadn’t been a total loss, however, not in light of the new morsel of information he’d just stumbled across. The Mayor and the Sheriff. What would Emma and Henry have to say about their illicit rendezvous?

“That’s not all I know, mate.” Killian winked as he smirked at the red faced Sheriff, before brushing past him to collect his take out.

No, indeed. The day hadn’t been a complete loss. Emma owed him a favor, Regina and Graham were going to have to pay up if they wanted Killian’s discretion, and, as Killian was about to learn, the stack of documents awaiting him on the Jolly Roger provided him even greater leverage and property within Storybrooke. Property that included the pawn shop, and all that it held.

Chapter Eight

Tagging some lovelies that have asked to be tagged, as well as some we believe might enjoy. Please let us know if you do, or don’t wish to be tagged.

@abeylin1982 @aprilqueen84 @artistic-writer @ashar663 @bschratter @captain-k-jones @captain-swan-coffee @downeystarkjr @flipperbrain @florenzu @freakassbuthunter @gingerchangeling @golfgirld @greenleaf777 @i-island-breeze @ilovemesomekillianjones @jennjenn615 @kmomof4 @laschatzi @leiaswanjoneskid @like-waves-on-the-beach @mcbrideannemgt @rookiehookie @seriouslyhooked @smutqueen27 @teamhook @ultraluckycatnd @xhookswenchx @yayimallamaagain

#cs ff #cs canon divergent #cursed killian #dark hook #season 1 #Dark Hook Comes to Storybrooke #cs #cs fanfic #cs fan fic #cs fanfiction #Captain Swan #captain swan fic #captain swan fan fiction #captain swan fan fic #captain swan fanfiction #winterbaby89writes #words by hollye

[unfolded73]

This Graceful Path (3/19)

Summary: Emma has just moved in with Mary Margaret and started working as a deputy in the Storybrooke sheriff’s department when she meets Killian Jones, the town’s introverted harbormaster. When a prominent Storybrooke resident is found murdered, Emma tries to juggle solving the case with new friendships, parenthood, and romance. A Season 1 Cursed!Killian AU.

Rating: Explicit per CSBB guidelines (violence, sex). If you are someone who uses my usual distinction between M and E to decide whether to read something I wrote, this is more of an M on unfolded73’s scale. The sex, when we get there, is not extremely graphic in nature. Same with the violence.

Content Warning: This fic contains two major character deaths, one of which is S1 canon (in this chapter) and one of which is not but happens in Chapter 2. This chapter contains descriptions of violence.

Total word count: ~ 75,000

Acknowledgements: Thank you to @j-philly-b for betaing this monstrosity. Thank you to @caprelloidea for all of the read-throughs and cheerleading; not sure I could have written it without your excitement early on. Thank you to @teruel-a-witch for the original prompt on tumblr which sparked this fic. Thanks to the CSBB mods ( @sambethe in particular, who had to look at my check-ins) for your support and for enduring my neuroses.

ART! The first of @pompeiiablaze’s wonderful art pieces accompanies this chapter and is included below in the text. Also go give her some love.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 – AO3 Link

Chapter 3

The phone on Emma’s desk rang, the jangly sound of an actual bell inside the workings of the ancient telephone. She jumped, then picked up the receiver.

“Sheriff’s station.”

“Emma, it’s Graham. I’ve found… I need your help.” She could hear his breaths panting down the phone line.

“Are you hurt? Where are you, are you sick?” she asked, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. She should never have let him go, Emma thought. She should have followed him.

“Not me, I… There’s been a murder. We need to…” He cleared his throat, and when he spoke again, he sounded calmer, more professional. “I’ve found a body in the woods. About a quarter mile west of trail marker 47. Bring a trail map so that you can locate me. Also, there should be some evidence kits in the storage room, do you remember I showed you? Pack up some evidence kits and get down here as soon as you can. Also flashlights; it will be dark soon.”

“Okay, got it.” Hanging up, Emma jerked up out of her chair, out of the comforting pool of light from her desk lamp, and made for the storage closet. Maybe it was a bear attack or something, she thought, and not a murder. Graham himself had laughed at the idea of a murder happening in Storybrooke. He’d found the very idea hilarious.

In mere minutes, she was behind the wheel of the squad car. Flipping on the lights and the siren for the first time since Graham had shown her where the switches were, she peeled out of the parking space.

By the time she parked along the side of the road at the closest hiking trail crossing to marker 47, the remaining daylight was gone and a damp, foggy chill had settled in the air. Shouldering the bag of evidence kits and clicking on her flashlight, Emma set off down the trail. At marker 47, she stopped and pulled her phone out, opening the compass app. “West,” she muttered, setting off in the right direction once she had confirmed what the right direction was.

She was so focused on the compass and not tripping over any fallen tree limbs, she almost collided with Graham where he was standing and waiting for her. His hands reached out and gripped her arms to steady them both.

“Over here,” he said, pointing. Emma stopped and reached into the bag, producing the other flashlight to give to him.

They made their way carefully forward. “Emma, have you seen a dead body before?” Graham asked.

She thought back to the days when she’d been living rough, on the run for jumping bail on a couple of minor thefts. She thought of Cleo. “Yeah, I’ve seen a dead body.”

“Just to warn you, the scene is bad.” He glanced back at her. “I’ve called the coroner, but we should have enough time to investigate before they get here to pick up the body.”

Heart racing, Emma continued to follow him. She didn’t know the first thing about a proper crime scene investigation; she hoped Graham did.

“Before you touch anything, put on gloves,” Graham said.

Emma rolled her eyes. Well, she knew that much. Dropping her bag on the ground, she stepped forward.

The first thing she saw were men’s dress shoes, the toes pointed up to the air. She walked closer, moving the flashlight up the body; when she got to the torso, her gorge rose and she had to swallow, breathing sharply through her nose. It was hard to tell because the suit was dark, but the entire front of the man’s suit appeared to be soaked with blood. Underneath the shredded fabric, she caught a glimpse what she feared were partially exposed organs. Averting her eyes from that sight, she jerked her flashlight up to the face.

(x)

“Holy shit, this is Mr. Gold.”

“Yeah,” Graham agreed.

“Could an animal have done this?”

Graham had put on gloves from the bag she’d brought, and he knelt down and carefully moved Mr. Gold’s tie aside before undoing a few of his shirt buttons. “These look like stab wounds to me. Definitely not claw or teeth marks.”

Her mouth seemed suddenly full of saliva, and she swallowed again. “Is there a weapon?”

“Not that I’ve found.” He gestured to the side. “There’s a shovel, but it didn’t do this.”

Emma went over and looked at the shovel where it lay next to a shallow hole. “Did you check to see if something was buried here?”

Graham shook his head. “The ground below seems to be undisturbed. Like Gold was in the process of digging the hole when he was killed, not that he was filling one in.”

“Or maybe the killer was digging the hole?” she asked.

“Perhaps.”

Emma pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the shovel and the hole. “Should I take pictures of the body?”

“Be my guest.”

Trying her best for professional detachment, Emma took a series of photos of Mr. Gold’s corpse. “Did you find anything else?” she asked Graham.

He circled the small clearing, examining the ground. “Before I lost the light, I could tell that two people came from that direction,” he said, pointing.

“Wow, you’re quite the tracker.”

He flinched. “I couldn’t make out any clear footprints, though. The earth is too dry.” Graham began to work, wrapping one of the evidence bags around the blade of the shovel and another around the handle, despite dismissing it as a possible murder weapon. Emma looked around, at a loss for how she could help. There didn’t seem to be any other evidence, and short of pulling plants out of the ground and putting them in evidence bags, all she could do was stand there and continue to avert her eyes from the body.

“Are you feeling any better?” she asked Graham. “I really think you’re coming down with something.”

“I’ll be fine,” he grunted, but he still looked pale to her.

She heard a crashing through the underbrush, making her jump and swing her flashlight around toward the sound.

Two paramedics approached, carrying a stretcher with a black body bag slung over it. And with them—

“Regina,” Emma said.

“I expect to be notified when a dead body is found in the woods, Sheriff,” she said, addressing Graham and ignoring Emma completely. Regina wore an immaculate cream-colored suit and heels, looking completely incongruous as she stood there in the woods with her hands on her hips. “Why do I have to hear about it from Doctor Whale?”

“I was planning to let you know first thing in the morning,” Graham said, stepping forward and blocking her view of the body.

“That’s not good enough. Who is it?” Regina made to walk around Graham, and he stopped her with a hand on your shoulder.

“It’s quite gruesome, Madam Mayor,” he said, but she pushed him aside and marched over to where the paramedics were going through the motions of looking for life signs from the corpse.

It was Regina’s silence when she saw Gold that told the tale of how shocked she was, rather than any kind of exclamation she might have made. She was still as a stone, staring down at him, and when she spoke, her voice was like ground-up glass.

“Who did this?”

“We don’t know,” Graham answered. “But rest assured—”

“I don’t want your assurances!” Regina said, turning on a dime to white-hot anger. “Do you have any idea…?” She stopped herself and exhaled. “We have to find who did this immediately.”

“We will,” Emma said, trying to sound confident. She didn’t know if the source of Regina’s emotion was due to the loss of control of her town or some feeling she had toward Gold, but whatever it was, it was laced with something Emma had never seen from Regina before: fear.

Finally and mercifully, the paramedics began the process of putting the corpse inside the body bag and zipping it closed.

“The dag— the murder weapon, did you find it?”

“It wasn’t left at the crime scene,” Graham said, “but once Doctor Whale has examined the entry wounds, we should have a better idea of what we’re looking for.”

Regina opened her mouth, only to snap it closed again.

“You knew Mr. Gold pretty well, Regina,” Emma said. “Did he have any enemies?”

Regina laughed darkly. “Who in this town wasn’t his enemy?” She started to pace but stopped short after only two steps. “Killian Jones.”

“The harbormaster?” Emma asked.

“He hated Gold more than most,” Regina said.

The paramedics had the body strapped to the stretcher and started making their way back toward the hiking trail. With nothing left that they could do in the woods, Graham, Emma, and Regina followed.

“I’ve never heard of any bad blood between Gold and Jones,” Graham said.

“It was a long time ago, but it still festered,” Regina said. “Bring Killian in and question him. Search his apartment, search his office, search every boat in the harbor. Believe me, Killian Jones should be your number one suspect.”

~*~

“What can you tell me about Gold’s death?” Sidney asked in a rush, jumping in front of Emma as she tried to make her way through the crowd at Granny’s and get an infusion of caffeine. It was her second night in a row working late, and it was taking its toll. All she wanted was a simple coffee, but with the chaos currently swirling in the diner, there wasn’t going to be anything simple about it. She stared at the lapels of Sidney’s immaculate suit, feeling slightly nauseated by the overwhelming scent of his cologne.

“If you think I’m going to talk to you after—”

“Come on, Deputy Swan, this is the biggest story to ever hit this one-horse town. You have to give me something. What was the state of the body? Do you have any suspects?” Sidney tried to give her a disarming smile. With a glance, Emma could tell that he wasn’t the only one in the crowded diner waiting for her to speak.

“Sheriff Humbert gave his official statement earlier, and that’s all we’re going to say about it during an open investigation.” She pushed her way toward the counter, as the patrons around her grumbled and reluctantly moved aside.

“The question I have is, who’s going to inherit all of his property?” Granny said, both to her and to anyone standing within earshot.

“Did he have any family?” Emma asked.

“There were rumors of an estranged son, but no one in town’s ever met him, far as I know.”

“Well, someone that rich must’ve had a lawyer. Maybe more than one. I’m sure they’ll sort it out. That part of it’s not really my job,” Emma said.

“It’s your job if somebody killed him to inherit his money,” Ruby pointed out, tapping on the counter with a long, red fingernail.

She had a point. There was so little Emma knew about Gold that it was hard to know where to begin. She had hoped Graham would have some ideas of how to investigate this killing, but he’d been holed up in his office for most of the day.

Returning to the station, she eyed him through the glass wall that separated his office from the rest of the room. Taking a deep breath, she approached.

“Did you hear from Dr. Whale?”

Graham was staring into space and didn’t answer her.

“Graham?” Still no response. “Graham!”

Finally, he looked up. The only word she could call up to describe his facial expression was haunted. “What is it, Emma?”

“I asked if you heard from Dr. Whale about the medical examination of Gold.”

“Oh, yeah.” He picked up a report from his desk, almost as if he’d forgotten about it. “Cause of death, puncture of the right ventricle of the heart. Other stab wounds to the chest and abdomen, fourteen in all. Wounds are consistent with a short sword or dagger of at least a twelve inches in length. Markings on three ribs consistent with a curved or irregularly-shaped blade.”

“Wow, okay, that’s useful. Although, sword? Really?”

Graham shrugged.

She huffed in frustration. “Graham, I know you’re… I don’t know, going through some stuff and maybe aren’t feeling a hundred percent. But isn’t this kind of a big deal? Don’t we need to be out… investigating?”

He scrubbed his hands over his face, and then stood up and brushed past her, continuing through the station and out the door. Emma chased after him. She found him standing on the sidewalk outside, looking around in confusion at the darkened street.

“Graham?” Emma said, approaching him slowly.

“It’s my heart. I need to find it,” he muttered.

“What? Wait, is this another way of saying you can’t feel anything?”

“If I follow the wolf, I’ll find my heart,” he said, turning to face her. His eyes were fever-bright, she noticed now that she was close to him. She wondered if he would heed her if she insisted he go home and rest.

“Okay, you’ve lost me,” she said in as calm a voice as she could muster. “What does the wolf represent?”

He shook his head in frustration, his hand reaching out to grip her arm. “If I follow the wolf from my dreams, it will help me find my heart. I saw it in Henry’s book.”

“You’ve been talking to Henry about this?” She replayed what he had just said in her mind. “Hang on. Graham, you really think you don’t have a heart?”

“It’s the only thing that makes any sense. It’s the only thing that explains why I don’t feel anything.”

“Listen to me, Graham: you have a heart. If you didn’t, you’d be… you know. Dead.”

He shook his head as she spoke. “I don’t, she took it. She’s keeping it somewhere and I have to find it.”

“Look, I can prove it to you.” Emma reached for his hand, and as she took it she could feel him trembling. Bringing their joined hands together to his chest, she pressed his hand down, her splayed fingers fitting between his. There it was, the rhythmic thump-thump of his heart. Other than his pulse being quick, his heartbeat seemed normal to her untrained senses. They stood close, knees almost touching, and Emma looked into his eyes. “Feel that? It’s your heart.”

“It’s a trick.”

“Graham, let me take you to the hospital; you’re not well.”

A white flash of movement in the dark street caught Emma’s eye, and she turned to look. Staring back at her, at them, was a large white wolf.

“What the fuck.”

Graham’s gaze followed hers. “There it is, I’ve seen it before. I saw it in the woods last night.” “When you found Gold?”

“Come on,” he said as the wolf loped away. Graham chased after it, and there was nothing for Emma to do but chase after Graham.

“He better not lead us into the woods,” she muttered, glancing down at her boots. “I’m not exactly prepared for long-distance running.”

Pushing aside the thought that she was currently chasing an animal like this was some kind of Harry Potter story, she focused on what Graham had said about seeing the wolf in the woods the night before. She’d wondered how Graham had come across Gold’s body in the first place; now it seemed he’d come across it following a wolf. She wondered why he hadn’t mentioned it last night when she’d suggested an animal attack, not that wolves were in the habit of using twelve-inch blades.

The wolf led them across the grass of the cemetery, its green color fading as fall was beginning to turn into winter. The animal stopped in front of a stone crypt and sat on its haunches.

“This is Regina’s,” Graham said, still approaching.

“Graham, be careful.”

“The wolf won’t hurt us.” He looked up, seeming to focus on the symbol over the door. Was it tree branches? No, she thought, squinting at it. It was deer antlers.

“Why are we here?” Emma asked.

“Because of my heart. It’s in there,” he said, gesturing toward the crypt.

“Graham,” she said helplessly. How do you convince someone that their heart hasn’t been stolen from their chest? He was already pulling uselessly at the door to the crypt. “Okay, you know what? Let’s find out.” Maybe if she could show him there was nothing here, then he would let her take him to the hospital. Positioning herself at his side, she gave the door a sharp kick, forcing it open.

The inside of the mausoleum was small, dominated by a sarcophagus in the center. There really wasn’t much to the space: some recesses in the walls, one containing an urn but the rest with nothing in them. Emma turned on a flashlight as Graham fumbled around, getting more and more frantic.

“There has to be something here. A hidden door. Something.”

“Graham, there isn’t. It’s just what it looks like.”

“So, first you try to take my son,” came a steely voice behind them, and Emma whirled around to face Regina in the doorway, “and then you try to take my lover, and then you defile my father’s grave?”

“Take your who now?” Emma blurted. This hardly seemed the time or place to explain that she and Graham weren't like that, but it was tempting to do so.

“Don’t blame Emma, it was my idea. It’s my fault we’re in here looking,” Graham said.

“And what, pray tell, are you looking for?” Regina asked. Her red lips were a violent slash across her face in the dim light.

Graham seemed to shrink under her gaze. “Nothing.”

“Graham, you look unwell,” Regina said, taking his arm and steering him out of the mausoleum. “Let’s get you in bed so you can rest.” Emma followed, unsure of what to do.

Graham pulled away from Regina, taking two stumbling steps backward. “I’m not going with you.”

“Oh, but you’ll go with Miss Swan?” Regina said viciously, gesturing at Emma.

“Nuh-uh,” Emma said, her hands up. “Don’t bring me into this.”

“It has nothing to do with her.” He pulled himself taller, looking down at Regina calmly. “I thought the reason I couldn’t feel anything was because of me, but it’s you, Regina.”

Regina shook her head, her eyes narrowing. “And so you’re leaving me for her?”

“I’m leaving you for me. It’s over between us.”

“I don’t know what I ever did to you to deserve this,” Regina said, stalking toward Emma. “To have you keep coming after everything I hold dear.”

“I told you, Regina, it’s not her.” Graham sounded more lucid than he had all day, Emma couldn’t help but notice.

“None of this started happening until she got here,” Regina shouted, her hair whipping against her cheek as she jerked her head around from Emma to Graham. “Can you honestly tell me she’s not to blame for your sudden change of heart?”

Emma had had enough. “Regina, did you ever stop to think that maybe the problem isn’t with me, but with you? Henry came and found me. Graham asked for help from me. Both were miserable. Maybe, Madam Mayor, you need to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why that is. Why is everyone trying to get away from you?”

Regina’s eyes flashed with rage. “Both of you need to get out of my sight.” “Gladly,” Emma said, backing away. “Come on, Graham.” With one last look at Regina, he joined Emma and they walked out of the cemetery together.

They walked in silence for awhile until Graham broke the silence. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I kind of lost my mind.”

“It’s okay. You were sick and stressed out… And kind of heartbroken.”

“I don’t know why I let myself get mixed up with her,” he said.

“Because it was easy. Not feeling anything’s an attractive option when what you feel sucks.” She crossed her arms over her chest, shivering against the chilly, damp air.

“I guess,” he said. “Still, it feels a little bit like I’m waking up from a nightmare, and none of the things I did in the nightmare make sense now that I’m awake.”

Emma chuckled softly. “I’ve been there.” She reached out and tentatively patted his upper arm, the sleeve of his leather jacket smooth under her hand. “You’re gonna be okay, though. You believe that, right?”

He shook his head. “I honestly don’t know.” They came to the sidewalk and started back toward the sheriff’s station.

“There’s one thing I don’t understand, though,” Emma said. “Hmm?”

“What the hell was up with that wolf?”

Graham shook his head. “I still have all these memories in my head, or what feel like memories. I have dreams that seem so real when I wake up. Dreams of this world where I’ve…” He stopped and turned to face her. “Dreams where Regina is a queen, and where she orders me to murder…” He frowned, his brow wrinkling. “I think it’s Mary Margaret, Regina wants me to cut out her heart…” His breaths have started to come quick and shallow, beads of sweat breaking out on his brow.

“Okay, calm down, let’s not go down this road again, not until you’ve had some rest—”

Graham gasped, his hand going to his chest.

“Graham? What’s wrong?”

He fell; Emma had never seen a human being topple over like a dead tree, but that’s what Graham’s body did. She made a grab for him, trying to slow his fall, but his head hit the pavement hard.

“Graham!” She dropped to his side, her fingers going to the pulse point of his neck, but she was too cold and scared to tell why she wasn’t feeling anything. “Graham, please wake up. Please.” Fumbling for the phone in her pocket, Emma pulled it out and dialed 911.

Chapter 4

#csbb #cs ff #captain swan ff #cs s1 au #this graceful path fic #my fic #cw: character death #cw: violence

[timelordthirteen]

Once Upon a Time Meme | Locations [5/7] | Storybrooke Sheriff's Department

Glad to see the sheriff's station's now a family business.

#emma swan #emmaswanedit #storybrooke sheriff's office #ouatedit #fantasyedit #sheriff swan #once upon a time #my stuff #my gifs #mine: ouat #ouat meme #ouat meme locations

[stcrmwxrning-groupsaa]

New Beginnings — Locations

19 Regions of the United Realms: There is a total of 19 regions in the United Realms, the main region being Storybrooke.

1. Agrabah

Capital of Agrabah

Cave of Wonders

Lower Agrabah

Marketplaces

Taverns

Well of Wonders

2. Arendelle

Marketplaces

North Valley

Rock Trolls Valley

3. Camelot

Brocéliande (Forest of Eternal Night)

Caledonian Forest

Middlemist Field

Oxleigh

4. DunBroch

Ivory Sea

Southern Moor

Taverns

5. Enchanted Forest

Bald Mountain

Beanstalk

Bottomless Sea

Demon’s Bluff

Dwarf Mines

Firefly Hill

Forest Hideaway

Forest of the Dead

Frontlands

Hamelin

Hill of Stones

Infinite Forest

Lake Nostos

Lake Onondaga

Leviathan Shoals

Longbourn

Marketplaces

Pleasure Island

Poseidon’s Boneyard

Safe Haven

Sherwood Forest

Taverns

Temple of Prometheus

Troll Bridge

Vault of the Dark One

6. Land of Untold Stories

Marketplaces

Mr. Hyde’s Hospital

7. Neverland

Dark Hollow

Dead Man’s Peak

Echo Caves

Pixie Woods

Skull Rock

Spring of Neverland

8. New Agrabah

9. New Enchanted Forest

Cave of the Departed

Memento Mori

Resistance Camp

Taverns

10. New Wonderland

11. Oz

12. Mount Olympus

13. Wish Realm

Marketplaces

Taverns

14. Wonderland

Boiling Sea

Boro Grave

Great Divide

Taverns

Underland

Well of Wonders

Wonderland Maze

Wonderland Vault

15. Victorian England

Bethlem Asylum

16. Storybrooke

Æsop’s Tables

Any Given Sundae

Bean Fields

Castle Playground

Convent of the Sisters of Saint Meissa

Dark Star Pharmacy

Game of Thorns

Granny’s Bed and Breakfast

Granny’s Diner

Hopper Psychiatry Office

Marco’s Handyman & Woodworking Services

Marine Garage (Seppo’s Automative)

Mills Mausoleum

Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer

Snow Lair

Storybrooke Cannery

Storybrooke Free Public Library

Storybrooke General Hospital

Storybrooke Graveyard

Storybrooke Harbor

Storybrooke Heritage Park

Storybrooke Mines

Storybrooke Pet Shelter

Storybrooke Power Inc.

Storybrooke Pumpkin Farm

Storybrooke Schools

Storybrooke Sheriff’s Department

Storybrooke Shipyard

Storybrooke Town Hall

Storybrooke Town Line

Storybrooke Wilderness Park

Storybrooke Wishing Well

The Rabbit Hole

The Toll Bridge

17. Hyperion Heights (Seattle, Washington)

Aurora Bridge

Community Gardens

Flynn’s Barcade

Hyperion Heights 42nd Precinct Police Station

Hyperion Heights Cemetery

Hyperion Heights Community Center

Hyperion Heights Greenhouse

Mr. Cluck’s Chicken Shack

Roni’s

Samdi Holdings

The Bakery @ Hyperion Heights

The Hyperion

The Vault

Hyperion Heights Hospital

18. Underworld (Underbrooke)

Acheron (River of Lost Souls)

Ambrosia Temple

Fiery Cave

Lethe (River of Forgetfulness)

Mordred’s Bar

Underbrooke Diner

Underbrooke Harbor

Underbrooke Library

Underbrooke Mills Mausoleum

Underbrooke Pawnshop

Underbrooke Town Hall

Underbrooke Woods

Underbrooke Sheriff’s Department

Underbrooke Cemetery

19. Edge of Realms

#new beginnings gv

[cursed-hq-blog1]

STORYBROOKE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

owner : The City of Storybrooke

employees : Matthew Graham (Sheriff), Emma Swan (Deputy), Isaiah Smith (Officer)

operating hours : 24/7

ABOUT THIS LOCATION

The Storybrooke Sheriff’s Department is the only law enforcement facility in town. It is located at 4979 Queen Street, behind the commercial building that houses the Rabbit Hole and Modern Fashions. The facility remains moderately busy, primarily assisting with house calls and supervising public events.

#cursed: locations #cursed: matthew #cursed: emma #cursed: isaiah #storybrooke #storybrooke sheriff's department #ouat #once upon a time #ouat rpg #fantasy #ouat rp

[jarienn972]

A Simple Spell - Chapter Three

A Captain Swan Supernatural Summer Tale

Tonight, I’m finally getting around to posting the third chapter of my @cssns story.  I’m going to give this chapter a little preface that this chapter and the next will be a little light on the actual supernatural elements as the relationships develop.  There will be plenty more magical shenanigans coming as more is revealed about Emma’s mysterious past and her powers.  But first, Emma is going to face some immediate repercussions from her spell - and discover that it may come with some unexpected complications...

As always, thank you to the event organizers for putting together this event again this year for lots more fun!  And special huge thank yous to my beta, @lassluna and to @cocohook38 for her lovely art!

From the beginning on Tumblr:  One  Two   FF.net   AO3

Well, Emma's disorderly conduct case could officially be considered closed. After her conversation with Captain Jones, she'd managed to track down the harbormaster and needed to speak only briefly with him to verify that the captain had already settled the matter, just as he'd advised. Reparations had been made for the harbormaster's losses and he'd received a sincere apology from the captain himself so he no longer wished to pursue charges against the drunken Mr. Parsons, even if the sailor had made quite a mess of things last night.

She probably should have called David to ensure that Mr. Parsons wouldn't be facing any additional charges from the town, but in truth, she didn't want to bother with it. She simply didn't feel that it would be worth the effort. She probably should arrest the sailor and let him spend the night in the station's holding cell but since he was already confined to (and sobering up in) his own ship's brig, it seemed pointless to take him from one form of custody into another - and she definitely didn't want to take any chances of having to clean vomit out of the cruiser.

As far as Emma was concerned, the matter was closed. It was simply useless to push this any further, especially when a certain handsome, modern-day pirate captain would probably just show up and bail out his crew member anyway. She empowered herself to make the decision to inform Captain Jones that all charges against his crewman had been dropped and that Mr. Parsons was free to go...wherever it was that merchant sailors went off to.

Despite her eagerness to put this case behind her, Emma was still harboring a lingering interest in the enigmatic Captain Killian Jones. As smug as he was articulate, he'd captured her attention with his boyish charm. He was perhaps a tad overconfident and maybe even a little bit vain, but Emma's personal superpower sensed no deception from Captain Jones. She'd always felt that she had a sixth sense when it came to reading people (and maybe it had something to do with her newfound magic), but she'd simply had a knack for knowing when people weren't being truthful with her. Granted, her power wasn't always infallible, but only when she let her heart cloud her head - and only one person had ever completely evaded her powers. And even that was probably because she let him…

She figure she owed David at least a quick text message to inform him that the case was closed and she'd be back to the station shortly, needing only to visit the Jolly Roger to give an official "you're off the hook for now, but don't get caught screwing up in my town again" speech to Captain Jones and crew. She'd have everything wrapped up nicely and would be back at her desk to type up her report long before Graham returned from his vandalism case. No way his case was going to be as easy to put away as this one.

When she finally clambered back out of the cruiser, deciding she was now fully mentally prepared to go toe to toe with Captain Jones and his piercing blue eyes, she immediately noticed that the sea breeze had picked up since she'd spoken to the harbormaster just a few minutes ago. Her lip curled into a frown as she dug through her pockets to see if she could locate anything she could use to secure her unruly blonde locks. Long hair and wind simply didn't mix and she absolutely did not want to be spitting strands of hair out of her mouth while trying to look like a professional Sheriff's deputy in front of a ship full of sailors - especially not the one she was finding herself attracted to. Her fingertips finally found a matte black hair elastic tucked inside a nearly empty pack of wintergreen chewing gum. She extracted the hair tie, shoved the gum back into her jeans pocket and pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail all while resetting her composure.

In her battle to tame her wild locks, she'd barely noticed that another car had joined hers on the harbor front. There wasn't anything particularly special about the car - it was just a nondescript black sedan parked maybe fifty yards from her. Nothing flashy. But there was something that drew her attention away from the Jolly Roger and towards that common sedan. It took her a moment to realize that it wasn't really the vehicle she was drawn to, but rather its driver. It had everything to do with the tall, sandy-haired man sporting a charcoal grey pinstripe suit who had climbed out and was now standing next to that black sedan. Something was vaguely familiar about his build and his stance, but it wasn't from anyone she knew in Storybrooke. The moment he turned his head so she could make out his profile, she knew - an old friend, er… boyfriend? Someone from back in Boston whom she'd not seen or spoken to in a couple of years but still recognized immediately.

"Walsh?" she called out to her former acquaintance whose back was still to her. "Walsh Gibbons? Is that you?"

The man turned toward her to see Emma standing beside the sheriff's cruiser smiling broadly at him. He squinted for a moment as his eyes adjusted to the glare but reciprocated the welcoming expression as he recognized the familiar red leather garment and long, golden hair of his former flame.

"Emma Swan. I heard that you'd moved up here to Storybrooke but I wasn't sure until just now."

"Well, it's been what - two years since we last spoke?" Emma queried with a grin as she closed the door on the cruiser and took a few steps toward Gibbons.

"Something like that, I guess," he replied with a shrug, closing the distance between them with several long strides. "Joined the Sheriff's Department, I see…"

"Had to earn an honest wage somehow," she chuckled. "What on Earth brings you up this way?" She recalled from their brief relationship that he owned some sort of import-export business back in Boston. Storybrooke seemed a bit off of the beaten path for that line of work. "This is hardly the kind of place that would suit your business."

"You might be surprised," Walsh countered. "Storybrooke is a wonderful source for some of the more eclectic finds. You have some very unique merchandise here in your little town. I'm actually here checking on a shipment that's arriving for a client of mine. I was just on my way to check with the harbormaster to see if the ship it's coming in on has arrived yet."

"Well, unless that ship is the Jolly Roger, it's not here yet. That's the only one in port," she informed him with a nod towards the ship docked a few hundred yards away. "And at least if your cargo was delayed, it was spared from possibly ending up in the bay…"

"I'd certainly hope so…," he responded nervously, a scowl scrunching his brow as he contemplated her statement. "Is there something I should know…?"

"Sorry… nothing earth shattering," she laughed. "Just a drunken sailor who went on a rampage and threw a bunch of stuff into the harbor. A few barrels, a couple of buoys and a whole lot of rum apparently. Nothing really valuable and the harbormaster was already reimbursed for his losses."

"Certainly good to know that the ship I'm awaiting has yet to arrive in port. Doesn't seem that anything of extreme value was lost," he commented, trying to disguise his previous unease over her off-hand statement, although he doubted Emma would grasp the actual of the value of the package he was awaiting. At least if she had sensed his prior discomfort, she made no mention of it, nor did she let it show.

"Well, I was just on my way over to that ship to inform the captain that his crewman won't be facing any official charges," she explained. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I think I'd better get back to work before my brother starts calling and telling me to get my ass back to the station."

"Then, by all means, don't let me keep you from your duties, Deputy," he said, flashing a huge smile that brought memories flooding back as to why she'd been drawn to him in the first place. He was still just as charming as ever and she found herself feeling the little flutter of butterflies in her stomach again. She also couldn't help but let her mind drift back to the spell she'd cast last night. Was it possible that she might have already met her destined love but simply hadn't recognized it before?

"It was really great to see you, Walsh," she grinned, suddenly gushing like a silly schoolgirl. "Maybe our paths will cross again… How long will you be in town?"

"I suppose that depends on how soon my shipment arrives, but I'd already planned to spend a couple of days here. I have a room reserved at Granny's bed and breakfast and I would definitely love to see you again, so, if I'm not being too forward, how about dinner? I saw what looked like a nice little Italian place in town… Would you join me?"

"Uh…," she hesitated a moment, her head swirling with potential answers as she found herself struggling with a bout of insecurity over being asked out by a handsome former flame, albeit a short-lived flame. Should she say yes? Should she decline? "You know what… Sure - why not? Unless there are riots in the streets tonight, I'll be happy to join you, but we're not calling this a date, okay?"

"Okay, just a nice dinner with an old friend. How's 8 o'clock sound? I can pick you up…"

"I'm off at 6 so 8 is fine, but I live a block away from Tony's restaurant. How about I just meet you there?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you tonight then, Emma."

"See you tonight," she repeated as she sensed a slight flush crossing her cheeks while she watched Walsh Gibbons stroll towards the harbormaster's shack. She knew she needed to snap out of this and regain her composure so she could get back to business, but she wanted to revel in this feeling for a minute or two.

Deputy mode, Emma, she reminded herself. She still had a ship's captain to speak to and heaven only knew what else David was going to throw at her today… Of course, right now, her duty meant heading from having this little one on one with a good looking, charming man to conducting a professional debriefing with another suave, attractive man. Could be worse…

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

With a trace of redness (that she intended to blame on the sun if asked) still visible on her face, Emma scaled the gangplank, hoping that the blush wouldn't be too obvious to a ship full of sailors. She stepped onto the deck under the watchful scrutiny of several crew members who appeared less than pleased to see the deputy aboard their ship again, although she sensed that there were likely just as many leering stares as disapproving ones but she didn't have time to care. That wasn't pertinent to her job.

She spotted the familiar red knit cap of the first mate, Mr. Smee, and shouted the man's name in an attempt to garner his attention. "Mr. Smee - is your captain free?" she asked once the easily sidetracked man acknowledged her presence.

"The captain, ma'am?"

"Yes, I have some new information to pass on to him relating to Mr. Parsons' case."

"Oh, yes, yes. He'll be quite pleased to see you, Miz… Swan, was it? He's below desk overseeing the inventory since some of the stores came up a bit short this week. Cap'n wanted to make sure there were no sticky fingers… You know… Let me go fetch him…"

"Thank you, Mr. Smee," Emma replied with an exhausted sigh after receiving far more information than was necessary.

"Of course. Just stick around here if you would, please."

Emma nodded her confirmation and thankfully, her wait was brief as she spied Captain Jones emerging from beneath a hatch on the opposite side of the deck from where she stood. The starboard side maybe? She wasn't particularly versed in nautical terms and never could remember whether starboard was right or left but this seemed an awkward time for her brain to tease her with nautical words. Did her head really want to make her appear a fool in front of a handsome sailor by tempting her to use the wrong word or phrase?

As he made his way topside, she noticed that Captain Jones had shed his outer layer of black leather but it really wasn't his lack of a jacket that captured her attention - rather it was his apparent lack of a visible hand at the end of his left arm. Her eyes were drawn to a glint of steel shining in the late morning sunlight and even though she tried not to stare, she couldn't stop herself from trying to identify whatever was in place of normal flesh and bone. What the hell was it?

"Deputy Swan," the captain addressed her from across the deck. "I knew you'd be returning expeditiously." The bastard flashed a self-assured grin at her while crossing the deck to meet her by the gangplank. She almost expected him to conceal his abnormal arm from her view again, but he didn't, nor did he react to her obvious interest. "Am I to surmise that matters have now been settled?"

"I do believe that you were quite certain of that earlier, weren't you, Captain?" She responded to his brash self-confidence with a hint of irritation in her voice. She'd never really been the type to appreciate someone being so overly certain of an outcome before she'd been given chance to deliver her conclusions.

"Well, I pride myself on resolving situations before the reach a problematic stage. It can be quite a necessity while at sea for long periods of time on a vessel such as this," he explained with a confident smirk. "But I digress… I was informed that you had some news for me?"

"As you've already figured out by now, since you've settled the damages with the harbormaster, he's chosen not to press charges against Mr. Parsons. Don't suppose he's sobered up yet?"

"Last my security officer checked on him, he was still soundly sleeping it off."

"Well, you can inform him when he's conscious that he's free to go, but he'd better stay out of trouble or there will be charges filed by my department."

"You needn't worry about Mr. Parsons inciting any more ruckus, Deputy Swan," Captain Jones assured her. "He's to be confined to quarters for the duration of our stay in this port and will be assigned additional duties once we set sail. We may look like a bunch of rowdy pirates to the untrained eye, but I run a tight ship here. Mr. Parsons' actions did not provide a proper representation of my crew."

"I certainly hope not, Captain, or I'll run the lot of you out of my harbor," she threatened, although it was mostly posturing as she didn't even know if she had the legal authority to do so.

"I will keep that in mind," he smirked, giving a little nod of his head as he arched an eyebrow, body language speaking loudly that he knew she was bluffing but that he was enjoying the challenge. He'd also decided it was time to comment on her drifting gaze that kept returning to his missing left hand. "I've noticed that your attention keeps being drawn to my prosthetic. Is there something that you would like to ask me, Deputy? There's no secret here…"

Emma's face immediately flushed crimson again as her rudeness in staring at his disabled limb was revealed. "I'm sorry, I noticed it earlier when you came up out of the hatch and I was trying to figure out what it was, which I now can see is a hook… I'm sure there's a story behind it…" She was genuinely curious even if part of her was screaming at her to bolt down the gangplank and not look back.

"Unfortunate result of a run in with an angry crocodile years back," he replied, reciting the tale with little emotion. "He took my hand, but he made a very nice pair of boots."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have…"

"It's fine, Love. It was a long time ago and I've long since come to terms, although one does have to be quite cautious when scratching an itch…" His warm smile eased some of her embarrassment. Clearly, he'd been in this situation before, but she was still feeling like an ass.

"Can I ask - why a hook?"

Jones laughed heartily at the query. "I do have a proper prosthetic hand, but when shipboard, a hook is far more functional. It serves many purposes."

"I suppose that makes you Captain Hook then, doesn't it?" she teased, instantly regretting the quip when he groaned in annoyance - until she realized he was taunting her right back.

"That would be my more colorful moniker, Deputy, but Killian will suffice. Now, since we've put all of these legal formalities behind us, I would like to offer a personal gesture of goodwill to recompense the time you've spent contending with this petty matter. I would be honored if you'd join me for dinner this evening."

Emma blinked in momentary disbelief. Had this handsome, blue-eyed devil just asked her out? And just minutes after Walsh had done the same? More than three weeks without a date and suddenly she casts a single spell and she has too incredibly good looking men both inviting her to dinner?

Oh - there was that. She'd already agreed to dinner with Walsh…

"Captain Jones… Killian, as much as I appreciate the offer, I actually already have plans for tonight…"

"Perhaps another evening then?" he pressed. She could hear the disappointment in his voice, but there was still a hopeful tone that she'd agree to his offer. "Perhaps another night would better suit your schedule?"

"You know, I'm not sure how appropriate this is, but sure - why not?" She shoved her right hand into the inside pocket of her jacket and fished out a slightly bent and lint-covered business card that contained both her Sheriff's Department phone number as well as her personal cell number. "Here," she began as she passed the card to him, "I'll check my schedule and we can plan for another night. Call me tomorrow at that second number on the card."

Killian accepted the card from her with a broad, genuine smile, giving her a peek at the man behind the bravado and innuendo. He glanced briefly at the card before slipping it into the breast pocket of his vest. "I will call you tomorrow then, Emma. Until then, enjoy your time with whomever the lucky party may be who'll be in your company tonight."

"I will," she responded sheepishly, cheeks flushing anew as she contemplated the sheer absurdity of this morning. Here she was, blushing like a fool, with two eligible men fawning over her. Just what the hell had she done?

#cssns #captain swan supernatural summer #cs ff #cs au ff #cs ff au #witch emma #a simple spell

[swanqueeneverafter]

49. Souls of the Departed, Pt.1

Storybrooke. Present. (Regina is headed to her car as Emma follows.) Emma: “Regina, where are you going?” Regina: “Where do you think? I'm going to find Henry.” Emma: “I know but we have to be smart about this.” Regina: (Scoffs:) “We? Do you think Henry wants the Dark One coming after him?” Emma: “Even if I knew how to find him? (Regina sighs and turns back to face her:) Help me out, turn me back to how I used to look, so we can find our son.” Regina: (Using her magic, she transforms Emma back to her more familiar look. Sighs, pleased with her work:) “All right, Sheriff Swan... where is he?” Emma: “You think after all those times he ran away, I wouldn't put a GPS app on his phone? We'll take my car. We have to catch up to him.” Regina: “Where's he headed?” Emma: “Boston.” (Together, Regina and Emma drive out of town in Emma’s bug.) Storybrooke. Main Street. (Mary Margaret and David accompany Zelena as she walks her baby.) Zelena: “Well isn’t this nice, one big happy family.” Mary Margaret: “Regina asked us to keep an eye on you while she’s out of town.” Zelena: “Oh, I’ll bet she did.” David: “After everything that’s happened, we’re willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, Zelena. But gaining our trust isn’t going to happen overnight.” (Walking towards them is Merida, carrying her bow.) Merida: “Is it true? Magic might disappear?” David: “Only if Henry succeeds. Which he won't, not with Emma and Regina searching for him.” Merida: “Yeah, but what if they don't find him in time? How will I get home without magic?” Mary Margaret: (Pulling the Apprentice’s wand from her coat pocket:) “It won't be a problem if we send you home now.”

Zelena: “We? I think you mean me, dear.” Mary Margaret: “You want us to trust you, this can be your first test. (Hands Zelena the wand:) But this time, summon the portal without the twister?” Zelena: “You heroes ruin all the fun. Very well.” (Zelena raises and points the wand towards the middle of the street where a door appears. Wasting no time, Merida moves quickly over to it, steps inside and vanishes.) The Land Without Magic. Boston. (Regina holds up a picture of Henry on her phone for the bus driver.) Regina: “What do you mean he wasn't on the bus?” Bus Driver: “Lady, I don't know what to tell you. Everyone got off.” Regina: “Then why does the GPS tracker still say he's on it?” Emma: (Stepping off the bus:) “Because Henry hid his phone under one of the seats. He wanted us to think he came to Boston.” Bus Driver: “Ladies, if you don't mind, it's my lunch.” (The bus driver walks away as Regina snatches Henry’s phone.) Regina: “Got any more bright ideas?” Emma: “Regina...” (Regina tosses the phone into a trash can which then catches fire.)

Regina: “Well... that's new.” Emma: “How's that even possible? We're in the land without magic.” Regina: (Turns and thinks:) “And so is Henry, with Excalibur.” Emma: “You really think Henry managed to bring a sword with him on public transport?” Regina: “Well what else would explain it?” Emma: (Considers:) “It was forged from the Holy Grail. Plenty of people in this world believe in its power.” Regina: (Waves her hand to put out the fire:) “We have to find him before something bad happens.” Emma: “Well, if he's not in Boston, then (Sighs:) where is he?”  New York City. (Henry and Violet step off the bus onto the sidewalk.) Violet: (Staring up at the skyscrapers:) “I thought the spires of Camelot were tall.” Henry: “Welcome to New York City.” (They laugh and, holding hands, walk off into the city.) Storybrooke. Storybrooke Heritage Park. (The Charmings walk with Zelena, pushing two baby strollers side by side.) Mary Margaret: “What would make Henry decide to do this?” David: “I guess he thinks that if there’s no magic, then Emma won’t be the Dark One any more.” Zelena: “Well that’s just moronic. (As the Charmings stare at her:) Magic isn’t something you can just snuff out. It’s all around us in every land, in every realm.” Mary Margaret: “But before Gold brought magic to Storybrooke, there wasn’t any here.” Zelena: “Of course there was. What do you think made that storybook suddenly appear in your closet? How do you think the Snow Queen managed to enter the town? Even if Henry somehow manages to destroy magic in this world, it will still exist in others. If you ask me, the boy’s just delaying the inevitable.” Mary Margaret: “The inevitable? What do you mean?” Zelena: “My sister didn’t tell you?” David: “Tell us what?” Zelena: “It seems your daughter is still determined to destroy the Darkness. And after failing to use me as her chosen vessel, she really only has one choice left.” Mary Margaret: (Shocked:) “She’s going to use Excalibur on herself. David?” David: (Nods:) “We have to stop her.”

The Land Without Magic. Boston. Bus Station. (Emma and Regina search through Emma’s car.) Emma: “There has to be something in here that belongs to Henry.” Regina: “I assume you have a map somewhere in this pigsty of yours.” Emma: “In the glove box. By the way, it was your idea to go to Hardee's.” Regina: (Finds the map:) “Give me your hand.” Emma: “Why? What is that?” Regina: (Holding a needle:) “What? Worried I might make you take an eternal nap on a bus bench?” Emma: “Well, it would be one way to subdue the Dark One.” Regina: (Rolls her eyes:) “If you want to help Henry, you're just gonna have to trust me.” Emma: (Takes off her glove and holds out her hand. Regina pricks her finger:) “Ow!” Regina: “Now that there's magic in this world... this just might work. (Takes Emma’s hand and holds it over the map:) And if it does, you're going to lead us right to him.” (A drop of blood falls on the map and, after Regina waves her hand over it, the blood trail points them to Henry’s location.) Emma: “Of course. New York.”

New York. (Mr. Gold drives up to a toll booth.) Toll Booth Attendant: “Welcome to New York. It'll be $15.” (Mr. Gold merely shakes his head. Waving his hand, the barrier raises and Mr. Gold drives on, leaving the attendant confused and dismayed.) Elsewhere In New York. (Henry and Violet walk through the streets, each with a slice of pizza in their hands.) Violet: “I can't imagine living here. It's overwhelming.” Henry: “I thought the same thing when I first went to Camelot, until you showed me around.” Violet: “Well, I want to see this place, Henry, truly, but... but what does it have to do with destroying magic?” Henry: “It's got to do with my Dad. Magic tore apart his family, too, when my Grandpa became the Dark One.” Violet: “And did he want to destroy magic, too?” Henry: “The truth is... yes, for a really long time. No one else knows this, not even my moms. He made me promise not to tell anyone.” Violet: “It's safe with me, I promise.” Henry: “See, that's why he was in New York. He was trying to find a way to protect himself in case his dad found him.” Violet: “Right, and he thought the best way of doing that was by destroying magic. Did he ever figure it out?” Henry: “He died before he could, but I know he got close. He kept everything he found in a journal. It's got to be in my Dad's apartment. Come on.” Neal/Robin’s Apartment. Some Time Later. (Regina and Emma have arrived at the apartment but Henry and Violet have already been and gone.) Emma: “Looks like Henry was here, but I don't think he was alone. (Picks up a record:) This is, uh, Henry and Violet's song.” Regina: “They have a song?” Emma: “He really likes her. She's a nice girl.” Regina: “You're just saying that because you feel bad about ripping her heart out in Camelot. (At Emma’s look:) I'll like her a lot better when I know where she's taken my son.” Emma: (Walks over to the desk:) “Well, I think I might be able to figure that out. (Checks the computer:) Yes. He has definitely been here. He tried to wipe the search history clean. (Inserts something into the computer:) Luckily, I can get it back.” Regina: “I won't hold my breath. (Emma rolls her eyes:) Maybe there's something else in here that can tell us where they've gone.”

Emma: “Well being pissy at me won’t help matters.” Regina: (Scoffs:) “Well if that’s true then we’re really in trouble.” Emma: “All right, this is more than about finding Henry. Clearly you’re picking for a fight, so let’s get on with it.” Regina: “And what good will that do? Your mind is already made up. Once we find Henry, you still want me to use Excalibur on you.” Emma: “Regina, we talked about this.” Regina: “No, we didn’t. You’ve just decided to give up. You’re leaving me, leaving Henry because you feel like you’re losing yourself to the Darkness.” Emma: “That isn’t such a small thing, you know? When I reforged Excalibur, I became the most powerful Dark One to ever live. I cannot allow that kind of power to continue to exist.” Regina: “Please, Emma, if you're gonna try to make this easier on me, don’t.” Emma: “No, I know that I can't, and I won't. I'm... sorry about everything. I... I shut you out and I know that hurt you.” Regina: “You want to know why I’m so angry? Because I know exactly how you feel. The Evil Queen... is inside me... always trying to get out. (Scoffs:) I can't expect you to get it.” Emma: “What are you talking about? I’m the Dark One, you know I understand.” Regina: “All due respect, but you don't. When you killed Arthur, he left you no choice. You went up to the precipice with Zelena, but you got pulled back before it consumed you. I was consumed. For years. And I have to live with it every day.”

Emma: “We... we’ve never really spoken about your past at length, I just thought it’d be too painful for you talk about.” Regina: “It's exhausting. I'm constantly at war with my instincts. It’s because of that war that the Darkness chose me. It was about to take me as its own before you stepped in. You sacrificed yourself for me and now here we are. (Sighs:) I do good... and hate every moment of it.�� Emma: “You hate doing good?” Regina: “Yes. It's complicated. I know it's right, but it always leads to loss for me. Yet I keep doing it now, and I keep suffering. But I know the Evil Queen can't return, so... that's how it has to be. I'll never be at peace with myself.” Emma: “That's not true. You fell in love, we were happy.” Regina: “Yeah, and look what happened. I should be the Dark One, I should be the one who pays the price. (As Emma starts to protest:) I am what I am. I did what I did. Many years ago, I had a choice. Snow White told a secret and I could have chosen to forgive her. Instead... I did terrible things. Unspeakable things. That will always hang over me. I've tried to be the hero.” Emma: “And you have been.” Regina: “And it doesn't matter, one way or another I lose the ones I love to the Darkness. There's no redemption for me. There's only suffering. I’m cursed with knowing the difference between good and evil. And I'm caught between them. If I revert, I lose everyone I love. Henry... You... everyone. And if I go forward trying to be good, I have to live with my past darkness and all its well-deserved consequences.” Emma: “I don't believe that. I believe in you.” Regina: “This is my fate. I'm trapped.” Emma: “No, listen to me. If there is another way to destroy the Darkness then I promise you we will find it. But whatever happens, none of this will change who you’ve fought so hard to become. (Computer beeps:) He's at the Midtown Library.” Regina: “What are they doing there?” (Unbeknownst to Regina and Emma, Mr. Gold stands listening outside the door.)

#sq #swanqueen #swan queen

[swanqueeneverafter]

41. Queens of Darkness, Pt.4

Enchanted Forest. Past. (Snow White and Prince Charming are riding towards their castle.) Charming: “Should I be worried you're this excited for our honeymoon to be over?” Snow White: “Look, the summer palace was wonderful, but it's time to face reality. The Queen is still out there. We have to figure out a way to deal with it.” Charming: “And we will. Whatever she throws at us, we'll find a way to overcome it.” (They dismount their horses and approach on foot.) Snow White: (Notices the sleeping guard:) “I thought I told the dwarves not to put Sleepy on guard duty.” Charming: “Snow, it's not just Sleepy.” Snow White: “A sleeping curse.” Charming: (Draws his sword:) “Regina.” (They enter in the castle to find everyone asleep.) Snow White: “Regina!” Charming: “Show yourself!” Maleficent: (Appearing behind them:) “No one's hiding.” Charming: “Maleficent.” Maleficent: “I was afraid you wouldn't recognize me. Have you met my associates, Cruella and Ursula?” Charming: “What do you want with us?” Maleficent: “Relax, dear prince. We're not here to fight. We're here to make a deal.” Storybrooke. Present. Granny's Diner. (David and Mary Margaret sit at a booth keeping a close eye on Storybrooke’s newest residents.) Cruella: (To Granny, who is rudely ignoring them:) “Uh, darling, how much longer for those drinks?” (Will enters.) Will: “Hello, mum. Usual, please.” Granny: “Ah. You betcha.” (Quickly hands Will his order.) Will: “Cheers.” Cruella: (To Ursula:) “You know, if that old bag still wolfed out, I'd turn her into a coat for my collection.” (Regina and Henry enter the diner.) Ursula: “Regina! We could use a heart rip over here. Granny needs a little encouragement in taking our order.” Cruella: “Yes, a very effective tactic. (Regina reaches for Henry’s hand and holds it:) Didn't you once rip out the heart of every villager in the north woods?” Ursula: “Or was it the south?” Regina: (Turns to her son:) “Uh, why don't you head to my office, get started on the book?” Henry: “Sure. Make sure to get chocolate frosted doughnuts, not chocolate doughnuts, okay?” Regina: “Mm-hmm. (Henry leaves:) Let me be clear, ladies. If you bring up my former sins around my son again, you'll find yourselves across that town line faster than you can say ‘costume jewellery.’” Cruella: “These are blood diamonds, I'll have you know.” Ursula: “Come on, let's take our business elsewhere.” (Cruella and Ursula leave the restaurant.)

(The Charmings walk over to talk with Regina.) David: “So what's the plan here?” Mary Margaret: “To deal with our... Latest crisis.” Regina: “Those two might be tactless morons, but... They couldn't magic their way out of a paper bag. I wouldn't worry. And they're here to seek redemption.” Mary Margaret: “You don't actually believe that?” Regina: “If I didn't think it was a distinct possibility, I wouldn't have let them in town in the first place.” David: “Now that they're here, we have to be certain, which means keeping eyes on them 24/7.” Regina: “Which sounds like a job for the sheriff's department. I have bigger things to worry about.” Outside Granny’s. (Emma is about to enter the diner when David exits.) David: “Emma. I'm glad you're here. We have to go.” Emma: “What? Now? I've been dying for a grilled cheese all day.” David: “It'll have to wait. You're aware we have two new friends in town. They're up to something. If we hurry, we can pick up the trail.” Mr. Gold’s Shop. (Cruella and Ursula enter the shop and Belle is not pleased to see them.) Belle: “Try anything, (Holds up a potion bottle:) and both of you will hop out of here as toads.” Cruella: “Well, hello to you, too, darling.” Ursula: “Nice place you got here. Sure beats sweeping the castle.” Belle: “Why are you here? Have you come to kidnap me again?” Cruella: “Oh, did we do that? Oh, they all blur together. No, we've come to offer you our congratulations in defeating the Dark One. (As Cruella talks, Ursula uses one of her tentacles to covertly reach into the back room:) I mean, who would've thought it? A simple chambermaid takes down the most powerful sorcerer in the land. You did... Quite a number on him, darling.” Belle: “So you've... Seen him?” Cruella: “Yes, he's a mess, darling. A bum. Reduced to his old cowardly self.” Ursula: (As she retrieves a box from the back room:) “It makes sense, really, why he was so terrified of losing his magic.” Cruella: “Tell me, is there not a part of you revelling in all of this?” Belle: “No! I would never take comfort in his suffering. (Ursula retracts her tentacle without Belle noticing a thing:) Now do you intend to buy something? Or did you just come here to be cruel?” Cruella: (At Ursula’s nod, she turns and texts Mr. Gold:) “Well, as a matter of fact, I was hoping you'd have a... Hood ornament for my vehicle. Something with a little glitz.” Belle: “I'll check the inventory.” 

Beneath The Library. (In the cave under the library, Mr. Gold receives Cruella’s message.) Mr. Gold: “Won't be long now, Maleficent, my dear. (Using his powers, he draws Maleficent’s ashes into a pile. Running his fingers through them:) Your slumber is nearly over.” The Mayor’s Office. (Henry reads through the storybook as Regina places a box of doughnuts on the desk.) Regina: “Chocolate frosted doughnuts. How are we doing? You find anything?” Henry: “Not yet. But if the Author left clues in the book like Mother Superior said, we'll find them. How about you, Mom? How are you doing?” Regina: “I'm fine, Henry.” Henry: “You didn't seem fine when we ran into Ursula and Cruella.” Regina: “Well... I suppose that's because they remind me of a time in my life I'd rather forget. A time when I was a true villain. It makes me doubt if I’m worthy even to have my happy ending.” Henry: “You can't think like that.” Regina: “I know, but sometimes I wonder.” Henry: “Emma loves you and I love you. And I’m pretty sure we’re not under any kind of spell. Or are we?” Regina: (Mock scowls at him:) “Very funny.” Henry: “You’ve earned this, Mom. We're gonna find the Author, and when he begins a new book, everything will be the way you want it to be.” (Henry takes a big bite of a doughnut as Regina smiles at him.) Regina: (Grabbing some napkins and moving to stand beside him:) “Careful, Henry. You're getting crumbs all over the book.” Henry: “Mm. Right.” (Brushes the crumbs off.) Regina: (Notices something:) “That's strange. This paper, it's... It's different than the rest.” Henry: “That's because it's Pinocchio's story.” Regina: “Why would that story be any different from the others?” Henry: “Because August added it to the book. He wanted Emma to know he was Pinocchio as a boy. He wanted her to believe.” Regina: “If August took the book apart, he might know something about it that we don't.” Henry: “Too bad he isn't around to ask.” Regina: (Thinks:) “August might not be, but Pinocchio is.” (They share a hopeful smile.) Outside. Stakeout. (David and Emma are waiting for Cruella and Ursula in their car.) Emma: “I get that you're not a fan of Ursula and Cruella, but am I missing something? Did you know them back in the Enchanted Forest?” David: “Your mother and I had some run-ins with them. They weren't pretty.” Emma: “And?” David: “And what?” Emma: “I just feel like you're leaving stuff out. Are you?” (Luckily for David, Cruella and Ursula exit Gold’s shop.) David: “Wait. Here they come. (Cruella and Ursula get in Cruella's car and drive away. David and Emma follow them:) Call Belle. I wanna know exactly what happened in that shop.” 

Enchanted Forest. Snow & Charming’s Castle. Past. (Snow and Charming stand at the round table while the Queens of Darkness stand opposite.) Snow White: “I don't understand. Why did you come to us?” Maleficent: “That threat Regina made at your wedding, about ruining your happiness? It wasn't all bluster. She has a way to make it happen.” Charming: “How do you know?” Maleficent: “Because Regina just stole the darkest of curses from me.” Cruella: “It's the dark curse, and it makes that poison apple thing she did to you look like child's play.” Ursula: “It will punish all of the Enchanted Forest, including us.” Charming: “So what are you suggesting, that we storm the Evil Queen's castle together?” Cruella: “Ohh. If only your wits matched your looks.” Maleficent: “There is a magical tree deep within the forest. The fairies call it the tree of wisdom. It will answer any question asked of it.” Cruella: “Including a query about how to defeat the Queen and her curse.” Snow White: “So why don't you ask it yourselves?” Maleficent: “The tree's knowledge is protected. Its wisdom can only be unlocked by two of the most Valiant heroes.” Charming: “Which is why you need us.” (Maleficent produces a map from thin air.) Maleficent: “The map to its location. We will escort you there, for all of our safety.” (Snow and Charming talk amongst themselves.) Snow White: “This tree... If what they say is true...” Charming: “We'll be able to defeat the Evil Queen once and for all.” Snow White: “But can we trust them? They're almost as bad as Regina.” Charming: “If she really has a curse as dark as they say, the entire kingdom is in danger. What choice do we have?” Storybrooke. Present. (David and Emma follow Ursula and Cruella.) Emma: “Belle said she checked the back. She's pretty sure there's a wooden box missing.” David: “What was inside it?” Emma: “She doesn't know.” David: “Well, let's find out.” (David turns on the siren and pulls Cruella and Ursula over.) Cruella: “Is there a problem, Sheriff chiselled chin?” David: “Step out of the vehicle, please.” (David searches the car for the box as Emma stands with the diabolical duo. Finding the box in a secret compartment, David opens it and stares at its contents.) Emma: “Anything?” David: (Standing up:) “Car's clean.” (Ursula and Cruella exchange knowing looks.) Emma: “Weird. You think Belle just misplaced that box?” David: “Who knows? But we can't arrest them for speculation.” Emma: (Turns back:) “Looks like you guys are off the hook. (Realising what she said:) Sorry.” Ursula: (Walking back to the car:) “It would be nice if at least one of the Charmings lived up to their family name.” (They drive away.) Emma: “Maybe we should go back to the sheriff's station, check out any security footage of Gold's, make sure they didn't take anything.” David: “Why don't you go ahead? I wanna check on your mother. Mind dropping me at the loft on the way back?” Emma: “Dad... Are you sure everything's okay?” David: “Emma, of course. (Forces a smile:) Let's go.” (As Emma heads to the squad car, David looks down at the item from the box and pockets it discreetly.)

Blanchard Loft. (David holds up the item from the box.) Mary Margaret: “You found that in Cruella's car? David, that belonged to Maleficent, you know how much that meant to her.” David: “I do. And I can only think of one reason why those two witches would wanna steal a totem of hers... A spell. A spell to resurrect her.” Mary Margaret: “Is that even possible?” David: “You know, it doesn't matter what their dark magic can or can't do. Now that we have this, it's not even an option.” Mary Margaret: “But what if they discover it's missing? Won't they just find something else?” David: “Then we take the one thing that Cruella and Ursula can't do without... Maleficent's remains.” Mary Margaret: “Under the library.” David: “That's right. We find them, we dump them in the harbour, then she's gone forever. And once Ursula and Cruella realize that, maybe they'll leave town, too.” Mary Margaret: “And hopefully they'll take our secret with them.” Enchanted Forest. Past. (Charming speaks with some guards on a bridge as the others wait.) Maleficent: (As he returns:) “Well, are they going to let us cross or not?” Charming: “Unfortunately not.” Cruella: “You'd think travelling with Snow White and Prince Charming would open some doors. Do they know who you are?” Snow White: “Yes, and they also know who you are, so now we're just going to have to find another route to the tree of wisdom.” Charming: “If we walk south, we can circumvent the ravine.” Ursula: “That will set us back two days.” Cruella: “Perhaps you should show those guards just how skilled you are with your blade.” Snow White: “Now those men are just trying to do their duty. And frankly, I would do exactly the same. Where's Maleficent?” (A dragon flies in.) Charming: “No!” (The dragon swoops in and burns the soldiers alive.) Snow White: “No!” Maleficent: (Returning to her human form:) “I don't believe that detour will be necessary.” Charming: “You should've given us another chance to talk to them.” Maleficent: “Talk, talk, talk. You weren't willing to do what was needed. I was.” Cruella: “Oh, well done, darling.” Maleficent: “I'm sorry. Is there a problem? (Snow and Charming remain silent:) I didn't think so.” 

Storybrooke Sheriff’s Station. Present. (Emma sits at her desk waiting for the surveillance footage to download, when Hook arrives.) Hook: “I hear Storybrooke has two new residents.” Emma: “You hear right. I’m just waiting for A.T.M. Security footage to download. We're trying to figure out if Ursula and Cruella stole something from Gold's shop.” Hook: “Hmm.” Emma: “Did you know them, back in the Enchanted Forest?” Hook: “Cruella? Can’t say I had the pleasure.” Emma: “Ursula then?” Hook: “There can’t be a pirate alive who hasn’t heard of the Sea Goddess.” Emma: “Yes, but did you know her personally?” Hook: (Unconvincingly:) “She's... just one of the many sea monsters who crossed my path in my pirating days.” Emma: “What exactly does that mean?” Hook: “Honestly, I don't recall.” Emma: (Folds her arms and leans back in her chair:) “Uh-huh. Why the interest anyway?” Hook: “Swan, we just managed to rid ourselves of the Dark One and now two more nefarious creatures arrive in town. As a resident of Storybrooke, I feel I have the right to know what’s going on.” Emma: “So that’s it huh. You’re just a concerned citizen? You're holding something back.” Hook: (Shrugs:) “I don't know what else to say.” Emma: (Deciding to let it drop, for now:) “Well, I should get back to it.” Hook: (Nods:) “Enjoy your witch hunt.” (He leaves.) Storybrooke. Main Street. (Mary Margaret brings a flashlight as David loads up his truck.) David: “Good. That'll do. We can get to the cavern through the mines.” Emma: (Approaching:) “Hey! Where you guys headed?” Mary Margaret: “Emma.” David: “What are you doing here?” Emma: “I found something on those women. Look. (Holds out her phone and plays the footage:) Looks like Belle was right. I think that's the box that's missing. It's enough to drag them into the station, at least.” David: “Well, let's not jump the gun. We don't even know what that is.” Emma: “Wait. What? Two hours ago, you guys were so amped up about these divas, you didn't even let me eat lunch, and now you're g...” Mary Margaret: “Going for a hike. We got Ashley to babysit Neal.” Emma: “So... Now the crisis doesn't matter. What the hell is going on today?” David: “Emma, your mother and I realized that we needed to take a step back from our crusade. The truth is, we've been going about this all wrong.” Mary Margaret: “When we knew those women back in the Enchanted Forest, they were villains. And ever since they set foot in this town, that is exactly how we've treated them.” David: “Yeah, we chose to see the worst in them. But, Emma, if they're gonna have a shot at redeeming themselves, we have to choose to see the best.” Emma: “You guys are seriously going for a hike?” David: “I know it might be hard to believe that we've backed off Ursula and Cruella, but your mother and I think it's the right thing to do.” Emma: “Well... If you need me, I will... be at the Mayor’s office.” (Emma walks on and they watch her go.) Mary Margaret: “David, is this really the right thing to do?” David: “It's the only way to make sure Emma doesn't find out the truth.”

The Mayor's Office. (Pinocchio stands looking at the storybook.) Regina: “Is anything coming back to you, Pinocchio? (The boy shakes his head:) Maybe if you look at the pages again. (Emma enters, much to Regina’s relief:) Where have you been?” Emma: “On witch watch. I was on the way here when I had a weird conversation with my parents.” Regina: “Since when is a conversation with those two not weird.” Emma: (Letting this go:) “How's it going here?” Regina: “It's not. He can't remember anything. But since you and August spent so much time together, I thought seeing you would... Jog his memory.” Emma: “Yeah. I guess I could give it a shot. (She walks over to the boy:) Hey. Come here. (They move to sit on the couch:) You remember me, right?” Pinocchio: “You're Emma, the sheriff.” Emma: “But you know that back when you were... O-older... We were friends. You were a really smart grown-up. So smart you knew how to take (Points to the book:) that entire thing apart and add a story to it. And then you put it all back together. Do you remember doing that? Or anything else about the book?” Pinocchio: (Looks to Regina and Marco:) “I know everybody wants me to remember, but... I just don't.” Regina: (Barely controlling her temper:) “You went to Phuket. You rode a motorcycle. (Now shouting:) You wore leather and didn't shave!” Emma: “Regina.” Regina: “No, he's not trying hard enough. All you need to do is concentrate and think! Or is that head of yours still made out of wood?” Marco: “Whoa, stop!” Henry: “Mom.” Marco: “I won't have you speak that way to my boy.” Regina: “Maybe what your boy needs is some motivation.” Emma: “Okay, Regina, that's enough. (Gets up and leads the boy away:) Let's go down to the vending machine and get a snack. Henry, come on.” (They leave.) Marco: “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe this, uh, quest of yours is ill-fated? After ruining everyone else's happy ending, what makes you think you deserve one of your own?” Regina: “Oh, I can ask you the same question, toy maker, considering you lied about the wardrobe so you could send Pinocchio to this world.” Marco: “I wouldn't have needed to if it wasn't for your curse! I had to save him! You stay away from my boy.” (He walks away, leaving Regina to think about his words.)

#sq #swanqueen #swan queen