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booksteaandtoomuchtv · 9 months

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Witchy Woman (0.5/10)

AO3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

LOOK AT THIS STUNNING ARTWORK BY @cocohook38

Summary: When Emma came into her position as Storybrooke Coven Leader, she ended things with the powerful Vampire Overlord, Killian Jones. She’s spent over a decade working alongside him and ignoring the growing tension between them.

During his best mate’s wedding, Killian decides he is done waiting. He is ready to have his mate back in his arms (and bed) again. Emma is not an easy woman to woo, but Killian has never backed down from a challenge.

When Emma’s jilted ex-boyfriend returns to town and Emma goes missing, Killian will stop at nothing to get her back and ensure that nothing can ever separate them again.

Rating: E

CW: Mention of domestic abuse, blood and blood drinking (vampires), threatening situations, minor violence, death, mention of parental death

Entry for Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 2023 (@cssns)

Tagging: @kmomof4, @undercaffinatednightmare, @jrob64, @zaharadessert, @elfiola, @anmylica, @tiganasummertree, @stahlop, @xarandomdreamx, @teamhook

Author Notes: Some aspects of this are based on the Stay a Spell series by Juliette Cross. If you haven’t read them, the books are very fun paranormal romance novels that you can devour in a week and apparently keep thinking about them for a few years until you do a rewrite and make it your CSSNS fic. (For clarity: The storyline is new, but the relationship arc is loosely Ruben and Jules.) I hope everyone has had an incredible Captain Swan Supernatural Summer. It has been such a treat reading everyone's amazing stories and seeing all the lovely art.

I could not have written this without the cheering and support of @kmomof4 and many other ladies on the CSMM Discord. They continue to be the most encouraging group. I am always excited to share my silly words and little sketches with them.

A massive thank you to @ultraluckycatnd for her time, patience, and feedback. Beta-ing is always hard work. Beta-ing for a self-conscious tinkerer is all the more challenging. Thank you!

A tremendous thank you to @cocohook38 for the beautiful artwork. I have always adored your work and having something drawn by you that was ‘inspired’ by my silly words is a bit of a dream come true. (I squealed with utter delight upon seeing your initial sketches the first time. AMAZING!!) Thank you! <3 <3 <3

As always, a thank you is owed to my spouse for being "volunteered" to be the alpha-reader and writing partner for this fic and for bringing so many cups of hot tea and snack plates at odd hours.

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Fifteen Years Ago…

Emma’s breath caught at the beauty of the vampire before her; the waves of his dark hair begged her to run her hands through it, his sharp jaw, framed by auburn stubble, was softened by a crooked smile that was melting her resolve. She didn’t think she would ever get used to the way just the sight of him affected her. It wouldn’t be a problem much longer.

They’d only been together for a few weeks, but Emma felt lost in the depth of the connection that she shared with Killian. He seemed to read her moods and her thoughts as naturally as breathing and she felt him as if he were an extension of her own heart and mind.

As she approached where he worked, she tucked those thoughts away.

When he looked up at her and cocked his head, eyebrow raised, she savoured the adoration and openness that she saw in his eyes. She wasn’t ready for him to stop looking at her as if she were the most incredible thing that had ever happened to him. Just rip off the band-aid, Emma.

His expression changed to one of concern as he took in her erratic heartbeat and the sour scent of stress radiating from her. “Swan?”

The gentleness of his voice and the worry in his tone made her eyes prickle. She held on tightly to the tears; she would not cry. Not yet.

“Killian, I can’t… we can’t…” Her voice was stronger than she expected, but the words tore at the depths of her soul and shattered her heart. She took a breath and stored her heart away - the burning and ripping sensation too much to bear - before she continued. “We’re done.”

“Do I get a say in this?” Killian asked. The words were mild and light as if he were asking after their supper plans, but his eyes were narrowed- gauging the situation and seeking out alternate avenues.

Emma let out a humourless laugh. “It won’t change anything. We can’t be together.”

He stared at her for a long moment, before he replied. When he did speak, his voice was broken with emotion, “One day, Emma, you will have to open your heart for someone. If ever you are done playing the coward, I hope that you will find whatever it is that I couldn’t give you. And, I truly hope that you never feel even a quarter of the pain that I feel now.”

A storm of emotions flashed in his eyes, but he quickly hid it away beneath the calm and collected demeanour he had honed over the centuries of his long life. He kissed her gently on the forehead before he vanished into the evening.

Once he was too far for her to sense, her knees buckled and the ground rushed to catch her. His warm embrace was replaced by the damp grass soaking through her jeans. As her tears fell heavily down her face, she balled up against the sobs slamming through her. She was in too many pieces scattered about too effectively to ever be whole again.

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virtual-winter · 6 months

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Frozen memories #001

My Frozen story - Part 1

It's the end of October which means it's time for me to reminisce about another year of experiences with the Frozen franchise. What's extra special this time though is of course the upcoming Frozen 10th anniversary as well as an opportunity to share it with more than just a few close friends 🙂

I never saw the original Frozen in theatres. Back then in late 2013, I was relatively fresh out of school, unemployed and didn’t have much time or interest to engage in media fandoms of any kind. Things got better the following year as I attended university, beginning my studies in structural engineering and urban planning. Despite having to travel a lot every day and trying to keep up with my studies, life was relatively simple. You did the same thing every day. I was not the most sociable person but I was making good progress getting to know and working together with my fellow peers. Most of them were fresh from high school while I had been studying a bit before applying for uni so I was a little bit older than most of them.

Being in my early twenties, animation or Disney wasn't exactly anything I was paying attention to. I couldn't remember the last time I watched a Disney movie and I think I was feeling a bit out of touch with fandom culture in general.

Entering October, I happened to notice that ABC's fantasy TV-series Once upon a time was coming back for a fourth season. This wasn’t anything out of the ordinary and I had actually never watched the show before (only briefly in an ad and I remember the CGI looked really bad 🤣) but thanks to my local newspaper, I learned that actor Georgina Haig was gonna play a new role in the show. I was very fond of this Aussie gal since her small role as Henrietta in the sci-fi series Fringe 2012-2013 so I was very excited to see what her new character was about.

With hindsight, I know for sure that without Georgina’s involvement, the show would have never caught my attention. And my goodness, did this change my life 😃

Oh, and that newspaper highlight? I rediscovered it a couple of years ago👇

For those of you who (shockingly) can't read Swedish, here's what it said:

Ask about TV Elsa, queen of ice, shows up and it gets cold in Storybrooke.

Will there be new episodes of the fairy tale series? In "Once upon a time" we got to know several fairy tale characters. In the last season, Emma and Hook travelled through time which messed things up for Snow White and the Prince, and Robin Hood and Lady Marion were reunited. When the series is back in Channel 11 on October 20th, a recap episode will be broadcasted at 7PM before the saga continues at 8PM. Queen Elsa of Arendelle (Georgina Haig) shows up.

I obviously had no idea who Queen Elsa of Arendelle was (I barely even knew what story she was from). I was aware that the movie Frozen was a thing and I had seen the teaser with Olaf and Sven around Christmas 2013 but it had left no impression on me whatsoever. I had a vague idea that the song Let it go had become very popular but I didn't understand the fuss behind it. Yet.

October 20th, 2014. My first introduction to the Arendelle sisters👇

It’s hard to describe exactly what my initial reaction to watching the first few episodes was. In general (since I had no experience with the show) I was of course confused about what was going on but the consistency of the Frozen-story definitely helped. Much later on, having seen the entire series, I understood much better how the characters and their story tied into the main plot and especially Emma Swan’s character development. But at the time, it was just cool to take part of some new and (to me) pretty unique fantasy storytelling in a modern setting. For any true Oncers out there, regardless of the quality of the show as a whole, I'm sure you would agree that it was a heck of a fun ride while it lasted!

I knew for sure that I had found something that I truly loved and that was pretty rare for me. Several years back I had been pretty passionate about other franchises like Star Wars, Stargate, Fringe and Hannibal but this modern fairy-tale world was truly something different. And I know a lot of that can be said to be thanks to the Frozen-story. No offence to the main cast, but I would be lying if I didn't credit Georgina, Elizabeth Lail (Anna), Scott Michael Foster (Kristoff) and Elizabeth Mitchell (Ingrid) as the true stars of the fourth season for me! They truly helped bring their characters to life and I still can’t picture anyone else playing them outside of animation (looking at you, Frozen live action-rumours). It should also be said that compared to the rest of the show’s characters, the Frozen characters did have a very strong presence on screen, a look and a feel that was carried over beautifully to the small live-action screen. I may not have known it at the time, but it would be equally true for the original movie.

About four weeks into the season, I knew for sure that I had found something that truly resonated with med and I knew I had to watch the "source material". But that will be a thing to cover in Part 2. 😉

See ya soon!

#Frozen memories #Frozen observations #Frozen #Disney Frozen #Queen Elsa #Princess Anna #Once upon a time #frozen fandom #personal #ouat elsa #ouat anna #arendelle archives #ouat #ouat s4 #Georgina Haig #Elizabeth Lail #frozen 10

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skeletonbxnny · 3 months

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Ingrid's costume design is soooo beautiful and intricate, but Anna and Elsa's are so... cosplayer. they look like they're cosplaying frozen 😭 so clearly they still ARE putting in effort for the outfits, so why do Elsa and Anna look so baddd

#once upon a time #the snow queen #ouat elsa #ouat anna #ouat s4

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thepunkmuppet · 3 months

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girl I bet elsa is so fucking stinky girlie hasn’t changed her clothes in like two weeks. GIVE THAT WOMAN A HOODIE AND SOME COMFY TROUSERS FFS

#ouat elsa #ouat #once upon a time #danny watches ouat

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ladystrallan · 1 year

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Once Upon a Time season 4A thoughts

I’m rewatching OUAT and I wanted to share some of my opinions on each season!

- Funny story about this season, back in the day when I was watching OUAT for the first time, me and my dad watched it on netflix, and when we finished season 3, season 4 wasn’t on netflix yet, so we bought a box set and then a week later (no joke) it was put on netflix lol

- It’s beck from You!

- That cgi ice…

- I mean marian is a little bit right (even though I don’t like her)

- I feel like Regina’s redemption was a bit fast, and her only motivation for being good is Henry (not her having actual remorse for her actions)

- Rumple visiting Neal’s grave :(

- The ogre wars are the funniest thing in this show

- How long did they last? How did they start?

- I guess we’ll never know

- Regina… girl… just turning evil at the smallest inconvenience

- RUMBELLE HONEYMOON

- They are so adorable omg

- Him trusting her with the dagger… awww

- Aaaaaaaa! The beauty and the beast dance

- This is too cute

- “Maybe we should have gone with baelfire” yeah if you want him to get bullied

- Sidney is so thirsty for Regina lol

- THE SORCERERS HAT

- I’m sorry but the enchanted forest also being called misthaven??? I kinda hate it

- “Anna, I will find you” would you say… you will always find her? Lol

- LONG HAIR DAVID

- Omg he looks like he should be riding a horse on the cover of a romance novel

- “They call her bo peep” aka the least menacing name ever

- What are your intentions with my daughter???

- I forgot they made bo peep a lowkey mafia boss

- Not David calling her a warlord lol

- “When I was six years old, one morning I woke up hearing my father and mother going at it” yikes

- Ohhhh they were fighting… I thought they were doing something else

- Nooooo he died from drunk driving

- Ok I think I’m a full on captainswan shipper now

- “I don’t like to say such a name out loud” he’s not voldemort

- I’d know that giggle anywhere…

- INGRID

- This is the frozen 2 we deserved

- Oooooooo she got the white streak

- Ponytail Regina looks kinda fruity ngl…

- That painting clashes so bad

- Marian looks like she ate a blue popsicle

- Why don’t they disguise Elsa? She’s not exactly looking inconspicuous like that

- WILL SCARLET (For some reason I called him will roland for the longest time)

- Wait but didn’t he literally switch it out with the real dagger though???

- The way he hooked her arm!!!

- It’s zoso

- Ooh has rumple not “succumbed to darkness in his heart”?

- Captainswan date!!!

- “I don’t pillage and plunder on the first date” lol

- Awwww that’s cute that he wants to hold her

- But the hook is kinda sexy

- “Captain hand” that’s so funny

- “Is there something wrong with your skin?” Please—

- Wait… granny’s ISN’T the only restaurant in town?

- His old self is coming back to haunt him…

- Those brooms in fantasia used to give me nightmares

- Placebo hand

- Should I watch OUAT in Wonderland?

- LILY

- Awwww they’re cute

- I like how she poofs away in a little blizzard

- Ooh this is like the broken glass curse

- The Neal picture…

- Omg plot twist (I actually remember this lol) Ingrid was Emma’s foster mom

- THAT OGRE IS SO SCARY

- Ogres killed my mom…

- OAKEN

- “I pray you never have to cross paths with that twisted man” she’s married to him lol

- Omg the duke’s moves lol

- Rumple is in every single story

- This man is everywhere

- Ew the duke of weselton is such a creep

- Oh no she froze her heart

- Yikes what happened to focus on your wife???

- Zelena actually could have been the sister Ingrid was look for

- She was born with magic and misunderstood

- Why does Robin dress like a lumberjack???

- I forgot about the whole rumple stealing Emma’s magic thing

- Why doesn’t Ingrid wear shoes?

- Why do they hate happy? What did he do?

- I really like the emma/elsa friendship

- Rumple stop being evil and just be married to belle!!!

- At least for a season

- My plan to resist the curse: wear goggles

- Noooooo the vows before they die

- That is so sad

- Honestly serves blue right

- Hey, at least the curse looks pretty

- Alternate plan: tear out everyone’s hearts (the curse didn’t work on hook because he didn’t have his heart)

- Everyone fighting each other is really funny

- Awwwww that’s actually so cute (Ingrid adopting Emma)

- Why does anyone bother running when they can just poof away

- Henry? More like Kevin McAllister

- And… she ruined it

- That’s sad :(

- Rip Ingrid

- Finally a villain that shows ACTUAL REMORSE for their actions

- “Don’t you sneeze on me, you son of a—“ lol

- Oh, rumple. When will you learn?

How I feel about the characters this season

Love: Belle, Emma, Anna, Hook

Like: Rumple, Elsa, Ingrid, Kristoff, David

Neutral: Regina, Snow, Henry

Dislike: Marian, Robin

Hate: Hans, the duke

Season rating: 7/10

I liked this season more than I remembered liking it! The beginning felt a little slow, but it got really good towards the end. I like Ingrid and I think she is the best ‘misunderstood’ villain in the whole show. Her sacrifice was so sad but such a payoff! I’m just not a fan of the Marian plot and Rumple being evil for the sake of it (he didn’t really have a strong motivation for his actions imo)

#ouat thoughts #once upon a time season 4 #once upon a time #once upon a time season 4a #emma swan #elsa of arendelle #anna of arendelle #ouat elsa #ouat anna #regina mills #rumplestiltskin #belle french #rumbelle #captain swan #killian jones #ouat frozen #shattered sight #ouat ingrid #outlaw queen

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harcourt-maeve-stan · 2 years

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Heres progress on ouat Elsa!

@corinthussy @hcrogasm @witchofthemidlands @lonnson

#work in progress #elsa of arendelle #ouat #ouat elsa #digital art

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bakedspoonie · 1 year

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It sucks that that the true glory of Elsa’s dress and cape couldn’t be properly captured in live action

#baked rewatch #ouat #ouat elsa #once upon a time #don’t get me wrong it’s beautiful but I always imagined it made of literal ice it should look like ice

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wicked-storybrooke · 2 years

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@dinneratgrannys day 6 - july 15 - favorite spell: Ice Magic / Cryokinesis

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intothewickedwood · 2 years

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Ouattober 2022 Day 22 - Death

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booksteaandtoomuchtv · 9 months

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Witchy Woman (1/10)

art by @cocohook38

0.5 | A03 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

When Emma’s jilted ex-boyfriend returns to town and Emma goes missing, Killian will stop at nothing to get her back and ensure that nothing can ever separate them again.

Rating: E

CW: Mention of domestic abuse, blood and blood drinking (vampires), threatening situations, minor violence, death, mention of parental death

Entry for Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 2023 (@cssns)

Tagging: @kmomof4 , @undercaffinatednightmare , @jrob64, @zaharadessert, @elfiola, @anmylica, @tiganasummertree, @stahlop, @xarandomdreamx, @teamhook

Author Note: Thank you, again, to @ultraluckycatnd for her time, patience, and feedback.

"Let us welcome, for the very first time as husband and wife, David and Mary Margaret Nolan."

The crowd erupted with applause, hoots, and whistles as the newlyweds appeared in the middle of the grand garden, where the large stone patio had been transformed into a romantic dance floor for their reception. David's smile radiated boundless joy as he gazed at his new bride as if she were all of his dreams come true. Mary Margaret was stunning as she smiled back at him, a princess pulled from the pages of a storybook. A soft, ethereal shimmer of light bathed the couple as their combined magic swirled and danced around them. The gentle glow was the outcome of the completed marriage bond between true soul mates. It was a sighting so rare that the guests quieted and stared in awe at the beautiful sight before them.

Emma felt the moisture gather in her eyes as she watched her younger sister and her new husband begin to dance together, the soft glow accompanying each of their movements. Until now, she had thought the True Love Aura was a myth. Seeing it in person, embracing her sister and David filled her with so much happiness for her sister. The smallest, deepest part of her heart ached with a stormy emotion that was lonely and tasted bitter.

“The bride and groom would like to invite the wedding party to join them on the dance floor.”

Mary Margaret had conveniently left this dance out of their wedding planning discussions. As the Maid of Honour, Emma would be paired with David’s Best Man, Killian Jones. If the familiar, powerful magical signature was not confirmation enough that he was behind her, the smell of sea and leather that filled her senses was. She took a steadying breath before she turned to face him.

He wore a dark blue suit with pinstripes of an even deeper blue, a white fitted shirt with the top few buttons undone, and a look in his pale blue eyes that made her heart stutter when she met his gaze. He offered her his arm to her with a small smile tugging at his lips. Rolling her eyes at him, she took it and led him to the dance floor.

“You look nervous,” he murmured.

“I don’t dance.”

“Don’t worry, Love. I do,” he murmured. He wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her in a slow, sweet dance. His graceful movements seemed to melt into each other in time with the music, a feat Emma seemed to be accomplishing as well by following his lead. She wanted to be annoyed at his pompous words, but he really was a good dancer.

Lulled by the romance in the air, the sighting of the aura earlier, or maybe the way their bodies seemed to be moving together so well, Emma relaxed into his hold. She let the music take her away to a time when he held her like this all the time. Their relationship had been short, but the way he held her was not something she could ever forget. She had never felt so safe or warm; and, she was unable to find that peace and security again. In a moment of weakness, before she could stop herself, she leaned her head on his chest, breathing him in and soaking in a quiet moment of pretend. A moment where they were together and he held her like this all the time.

Emma stiffened as the last chords faded into something more upbeat and the remaining guests started filling the dance floor. She couldn't quite pull herself away from him just yet.

"Time’s up, Swan,” Killian spoke, voice laced with predatory intent; the centuries-old vampire tired of waiting and ready to capture his prey. Emma’s skin prickled either in response to his words or perhaps to the warmth of his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he spoke, she wasn’t sure. Either way, she doubted that she was going to be able to resist him much longer - she wasn't sure she wanted to resist him any longer.

Mary Margaret's fairy tale was making her soft. She had a good reason to stay away from this vampire; she was sure she did. She would remember it once she got out of his warm embrace and the twinkling fairy lights. Wouldn't she?

His piercing blue eyes searched her own for any sign that she would not allow him to pursue her, a sensual smirk tugged at his lips when he found none. The hunger and determination in that gaze melted her resolve and filled her with an equal sense of longing.

A low chuckle rumbled from Killian, “We’re both more than ready, love.” Her stomach clenched as his words stirred delicious memories. And, her body recalled the way he touched her, the way only he was capable of making her feel, of the filthy words he would murmur in her ear while he did those things to her.

As if he could read her thoughts, he smiled wickedly, tongue darting out to wet his lips. Her eyes tracked the action and his own danced with delight, clearly aware of the impact his words and his nearness were having on her. She stiffened and pulled away from him - she needed to gain back control of herself. This was getting ridiculous.

And then, he just…walked away, leaving her alone in the midst of the other wedding guests. Her skin felt too hot and she felt too exposed, even knowing that no one else had witnessed their exchange. At least she hadn’t thought anyone had, but as she glanced around looking for the newlyweds, her eyes landed on Ruby’s.

What was that about? Ruby’s voice roared in her mind.

Emma shook her head and mouthed the word “later.” She wasn’t telepathic and she wasn’t going to speak to any of her sisters until she knew what she wanted. She didn’t need their insights regarding Killian just yet. She sighed and rolled her eyes. No, she knew exactly how encouraging they would be and she didn’t want that right now.

Right now, she wanted one of those deceptively fruity cocktail drinks which left her skin tingling after just a few sips. She wanted to escape into the shared joy of her family and their friends celebrating her sister’s wedding. Future Emma could sort out Killian’s declaration; Future Emma would be very good at that.

§§§§ §§§§ §§§§ §§§§

Smooth guitar chords and warm, yellow light poured out from the den’s open windows filling the porch behind it with a hopeful and relaxed energy that had been absent from this garden for far too long. Killian smiled as he recounted the fire he’d seen in Emma’s gaze before he left David’s wedding. It was confirmation of a hope he hadn’t dared breathe life into before tonight; she was almost as hungry for him as he was for her.

She’d buried her desire for him all these years under a thick foundation of cold professionalism, but he knew her and what he saw tonight was the same desperate desire that flooded his veins. Perhaps she no longer loved him the way he had always been lost for her; but, she had looked at him with a want with which he was intimately acquainted and that look gave him hope.

Since the day that she'd called it off between them, he had yearned for her as though she were a missing piece of his own soul. Perhaps, because she was a piece of him and he was of her.

He had held on to the belief that they would repair what had broken between them even as the weeks turned into months without any progress. He hoped she just needed time for him to prove to her that he was trustworthy and reliable, to show her how essential she was to his being, and to earn back her heart. Until that bloody walk home on that bloody evening when she had decided to move on from what they shared, to replace it with something new - someone new.

The evening had been warm and clear, the breeze ruffling his hair had carried on it the promise of colder days. Killian had once loved the way the world seemed to quiet and slow as the warmth of the summer sun faded into memory. This year, however, the lengthening nights were everlasting, voids between the hours that he could fill with distraction and work. Hell, the reason he walked home rather than tracing or driving was to shorten the time he would have to endure that entirely too-empty house.

The sounds of voices and the sweet smell of a wood-fired oven drifted toward him from Remy’s. A familiar voice rose above the rest. Before his mind could catch up, his focus had landed on the siren, her green eyes sparkling with joy and her lips pulled into a carefree smile. He was frozen in place, absorbing the beautiful sight. Had he ever seen her smile so freely?

A large hand covered hers on the table and she blushed, smiling wider but looking down at the contact. Killian felt as though he’d been punched in the stomach as he registered the scene before him; Emma was on a date. A good date.

The darkness he’d leashed long ago rose from the depths of his mind, demanding that he rip the hand off the arm of the filthy werewolf touching Emma. Killian fought against the cruel urges as they continued to flood his thoughts. Teeth clenched so tight that he thought he might break a tooth, he forced his body forward.

No longer toward his house, but to the nearest vampire den. He had to quench his sudden thirst and for that, he needed fresh blood.

The vibration of his phone against his leg dispersed the memory, leaving only the bitter taste of Milah's blood from that night thick on his tongue.

He pulled the phone from his pocket and checked the screen in a fluid movement, a small frown of concern on his face as he answered. “It’s a bit late, Smee.” His voice sounded rough, perhaps the memory still had some claws. He took a soothing sip of whiskey.

“Yes, sire,” the serious tone in his Head of Security’s voice had him sitting up, alert and ready for whatever warranted this phone call. “A minor threat has entered the city, sire. Erm, I mean to say, well, he has come back.”

“Continue to monitor his movements for now. No need for alarm. Keep this between us.”

“Got it, Captain,” Smee replied. “Sorry to disturb your evening, sire.”

As they ended the call, Killian’s mood darkened. This was an annoyance he would rather do without.

§§§§ §§§§ §§§§ §§§§

Emma decided to enjoy the warm summer night and walk home from the festivities. The sweet smells of honeysuckle and night-blooming jasmine calmed her better than Mary Margaret’s magic. Crickets and cicadas filled the air with bright songs to accompany her short journey home. She kept replaying Killian’s words to her at the wedding.

Time's up, Swan. We're both more than ready.

Alone, in the stillness of the night, she allowed herself a moment to enjoy the prospect of being with him again.

He still had the power to destroy her, but she was more confident in herself, more confident in her powers and ability, and less afraid of losing herself, of him taking what she could not give. He’d spent the last fifteen years respecting her boundaries and had been the definition of a perfect gentleman; he’d proven over and over again that he would be there for her without expecting anything from her in return. She could trust he’d never take more than she would freely give.

Her skin prickled moments before she became aware of another magical signature nearby. Vampire, she thought automatically. As the head of the coven, she was always on alert to anything that may be a threat to her sisters or those they were charged with protecting. This vampire felt familiar, her stomach twisted in warning. “Anyone but him,” she pleaded with the spirits.

“Ems.”

Dread filled her at the sound of a name only he called her. He’d appeared by her side, seemingly out of nowhere. A few decades on and his presence felt as oppressive and oily as she’d remembered. She flinched inwardly but was glad that he didn’t appear to have noticed. He threw her a lopsided smile, boyish and disarming; her mind sounded every alarm.

“Heard Mary Margaret finally married that warlock, James?”

“What are you doing here?” Emma demanded, ignoring his question and his - likely intentional - mix-up of her brother-in-law with his vile twin brother.

“Oh, how I’ve missed you,” Neal said. He threw his arms around her shoulders. He tried to pull her into his side, but she pushed him back. “Go away, Neal.”

“Don’t be like that, Emma.” Neal was the very picture of a petulant boy. “I just wanted to say hello to my old friend on her sister’s big day.”

Her body felt charged, her power wrapped closely around her acting as both a comfort and a reminder. She was no longer young and insecure in her powers; she’d come into her powers and her position as the head of the coven in the decades since they’d last met, since he tried to…

“We are not friends,” Emma’s voice was low, dangerous.

Neal looked surprised but must have read the threat in her voice because he traced away as fast as his heightened speed could manage. She imagined she heard his voice on the wind - you’ll regret this - before she shook off the exasperating exchange and continued home, her pace quickened and her shawl pulled tight against the sudden chill in the air.

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