#lenfaz fics

[lenfaz]

Separate Lives, 40/39

Author's note:

It's been 84 years.... this is unbetaed, I haven't written in more 5 years or more and need I remind you, English is not my first language. Since we last saw each other, I actually moved to Italy, so that means I'm juggling 3 languages in my daily life, and failing miserably at those 3.

this is a pick-me-up moment, as it was mostly for me, after losing my beloved 14 year old cat this past week. But in case any of you wants to read it, here it is.

Ao3, FF.net

The Boys are Back in Town

“Lieutenant Sanders, in my office. Now.”

Mac sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he watched Killian retreat into his office. He knew this was coming and in all fair honesty, his former partner and current captain had delayed the inevitable for quite some time. But alas, it was what it was and he would have to suck it up and deal with it. Taking a deep breath, he went into the office and closed the door.

Killian was sitting behind his desk, head bent over a flimsy piece of paper. Mac took a few seconds to study him. He looked good. Fatherhood and family life suited him. He’d taken to co-parent a teenager with little to no effort - granted, Henry was a great kid with good instincts who barely got into trouble - and he was amazing at raising his little boy. Liam’s tantrums came to an end the moment his father took him into his arms and soothed him.

Everything was finally going well in his friend’s life. Which made this entire situation all the hardest to deal with. Mac took a deep breath and sat on the chair.

“Alright, sunshine, let me have it.”

“They’re not happy, Mac.” Killian ran a hand through his hair.

“I know”, Mac shrugged noncomitantly. There wasn’t much he could do at this point. His fate was sealed by the powers to be above them. Mac needed to hear it and then accept it. Probably with the help of a shot of rum. If only he hadn’t finally quit smoking….

Killian leaned into the back of his chair and shook his head. “Willis is a good kid. I would not have assigned him as your partner if not. You should give him a chance.”

And there lied Mac’s predicament with the running list of partners that had been assigned to him in the past few years, marking one failure after another that quickly ended in transfers and requests for partner change. Willis was a kid. Young, eager, ready to take onto the world.  Willis was in a completely different place than Mac. He couldn’t relate even if he tried. Willis and his friends from the academy went clubbing and hit high-end bars that served sophisticated drinks. They met girls over the internet and had weeks of chatting online before meeting directly for hookups. There was almost next to nothing to build a rapport with his assigned partner. Mac didn’t even contemplate inviting him to Sunday lunch. Willis was a great young man, a quite capable detective who had good instincts and could read suspects like no other… but he wasn’t Mac’s partner.

Mac got up and paced the room back and forth, trying to find the correct words. But in the end, it didn’t matter how he said it. This was Killian. He would understand. 

“It’s not working, Killian….and I’m not sure I could ever make it work,” he admitted.

“That’s what you thought about us in the beginning, remember?” Killian cocked an eyebrow at him.  

It was true. Mac hadn’t liked partnering with Killian at first. But it had nothing to do with Killian and everything to do with Mac fighting his own demons. It had taken 24 hours, a pack of cigarettes, and a couple of bottles of rum for them to become more than just partners. 

“It’s not the same and you know it, mate.”.   

Killian averted his eyes as his hand fidgeted on the surface of his desk. “Aye… then you leave me no choice.”

Mac shrugged and gave Killian a sad smile. “Just do what you have to do.”

Killian retrieved something from his desk drawer and threw it in his direction. Mac quickly caught it with both hands and looked at it. His heart skipped a beat at the shiny new badge. Mac lifted his head dumbfounded and gave Killian a curious look. 

“Congratulations, Captain Sanders.” 

Killian’s heart filled with glee when Mac’s eyebrows shot up in his face as he was trying to find words. He slowly stood up, given the moment all the flourish and persona it deserved. “When the Commissioner called, I calmly explained to him the reason it was not working was because no department in its right mind would still have you as a lieutenant when you’re clearly overqualified for the role. Let’s face it, a detective of your poise and skills deserves better than that lousy rank they subjected you to for years.”

Mac was finally able to articulate a few words, “Killian… I don't know what to say.”

Killian lifted his hand to stop him. “Don’t say anything yet, because you might not be happy about what comes next.” He cleared his throat. “As a captain, you need to be assigned an equal-ranked partner. Unfortunately for you, there is only one captain in this precinct currently without a partner.”

He squared his shoulders and looked at Mac as he put his hand out. “Captain Sanders, I’m Captain Killian Jones and I’ll be your partner starting today.”

Mac chuckled as he shook Killian's hand before pulling him into a hug. 

“Congratulations, mate,” Killian smirked as they pulled away. “Are you ok with teaming up with me again?”

“As if there were any other partner for me.”

“You’re stuck with me. And this is going to be so much better now that we’re captains,” Killian rubbed his hands, resisting the urge to do a tiny jump of glee.  

“Until you get promoted again,” Mac tilted his head in his know-it-all attitude.

“Please, no one in their right mind will make me Commissioner…”

“You never know, mate. They made you captain fairly quickly after all.”

Killian shrugged. His rise in the police ranks was not on the list of things to worry about at the moment. “Go clean up your desk. You’re moving to the adjacent office.”

“I need to call Laura first.”

“You do that. Tell her we are celebrating at our house on Saturday. Barbeque is on us”

“They won’t let you…” Mac started to protest but Killian cut him off.

“That was part of the deal I cut with Marty for your promotion. You tell her that.”

“As if it would make any difference….” Mac smirked as he exited the office, pausing at the very last minute. “See you later, partner.”

Killian perched on his desk with a goofy grin on his face.  

Everything was finally perfect.

#lenfaz fics #separate lives #this is just a silly thing #but it helped me a lot this past week #killian jones #i had forgotten what a pain it is to post on FF #it's 2024 people #one would think the UX would have improved #but alas... no

[snowbellewells]

For the fic title ask:

We could have had it all

Tell me Lies

I'll be there

@lenfaz I'm really glad you sent me an ask. This looked like a fun ask game, and I hoped I would get a few. Sorry it took me a couple days to answer.

Here goes:

"We Could Have Had it All" In my mind that's either a whole different way to diverge from the 3a midseason finale. I wanted to see Killian take Emma and Henry back to their family, but in the Enchanted Forest - Emma getting a chance to be a Princess in her homeland, but still be herself, Henry to get to be a knight, all of that. The Wish Realm also gave it to us and then like threw it in a blender and mixed it all up.

The other way I might go with that, would be having LIam in the Underworld marry Killian and Emma by the wishing well there, in a small wedding - maybe with just Henry? - like Snow and Charming's first little wedding performed by Lancelot. That would have been a much better use of having him there in 5x15, in my humble opinion.

"Tell Me Lies" I've had an idea in my mind for some time that somehow Hyde (or some other baddie) doses Emma with either the splitting serum or a truth serum. All the painful, hard truths that Emma doesn't dig up or rub in people's faces in canon to keep the peace come flooding out almost against her wishes. But in the end, she has to get it under control, find a balance, find a way to accept or make peace with those who've wronged her. She can't force it all done and just shoulder all that's happened to her, but she has to forgive and protect those she loves when she's able as well.

"I'll Be There" My first thought on this one is a modern AU where Emma and Killian meet at some sort of support group or recover group meeting. They bond, share a lot with each other, and begin to help each other heal, and the vow is made. Whatever happens, they will be there for each other. And when the time comes, when one or the other is in need, the other is there for them, just like they said they would be.

#fic title ask game #fic writer asks #snowbellewells answers asks #answers for @lenfaz

[cssns]

CSSNS23 IS A GO!!!!!

Alright y’all!!!! Get ready!!!! Sounds like there’s still PLENTY of interest in another year of the Captain Swan Supernatural Summer!!! I have to admit, I’m AMAZED AND SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!! 

THANK Y’ALL SO MUCH!!!!!

So here are the deets...

Sign ups will be open from February 20- March 1.

Get To Know Me’s will start dropping in late April or early May.

Posting Dates will be in July, stretching into August if needed.

For those new shipmates not familiar with the Captain Swan Supernatural Summer, this is an event I created back in 2018 to address the woeful lack of Werewolf Killian fics. And we have succeeded many times over!!! The event is open to everyone. The only requirement is the fic or artwork has to be CS focused and supernatural in nature. In past years we’ve had werewolf, vampire, fae, selkie, soulmate, shapeshifter, witch, ghost, and many, many others!! 

All of the past years fics can be found on ao3 here.

Any fic length is fine, from a 100 word Drabble to a 250,000 word epic MC. Any rating is fine. Any type of artwork is fine, from using traditional mediums of paint and drawing, to digital artwork to videos to gifs. Artists can elect to do their own original artwork and/or they can be paired with a fic writer to do artwork for the fic being written. And we certainly hope to have enough artists sign up that we can pair every author with an artist that wants to be paired. So please! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

Signups open a week from tomorrow, and this post will be reblogged daily on this blog as well as this years mods’ blogs in order for the most people to see the announcement!!

Any questions, you can leave an ask here, or get in touch with me or one of our other mods- @kmomof4​ @winterbaby89​ @jrob64​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @stahlop​ - either on Tumblr or discord.

Come join us!!! It’s gonna be another great SUPERNATURAL SUMMER!!!!

Tagging all former participants to help spread the word!!! Under the cut unless Tumblr ate it.

@kymbersmith-90 @hollyethecurious @hookedonapirate @searchingwardrobes @emmaswanchoosesyou @justbecauseyoubelievesomething @shireness-says @the-corsair-and-her-quill @youre-not-a-cat-youre-a-rat @everlastingcaptainswan @resident-of-storybrooke @donteattheappleshook @artistic-writer @winterbythesea @awkwardnessandbaseball  @branlovestowrite​ @natascha-remi-ronin @distant-rose @pirateherokillian @flipperbrain @snidgetsafan @thejollyroger-writer @seriouslyhooked @doodlelolly0910 @courtorderedcake @delightfully-difficult-pirate @nerdyhuntress @rouhn @drowned-dreamer @stubble-sandwich @its-imperator-furiosa @technicallysizzlingcloud @spartanguard  @captainstudmuffin @andyousaidtruelovedidntexsist @wordsmith-storyweaver @snowbellewells @initiala @ilovemesomekillianjones @jarienn972 @coaldustcanary @gingerchangeling @blessed-but-distressed @mahstatins @jennifer-morrison @polarbearmorgan @teamhook @totheendoftheworldortime @stubble-sandwich @winterbaby89 @lenfaz @yayimallamaagain @tehgreeneyes​ @cocohook38 @eastwesthomeisbest​  @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @forestiyari @abeylin1982 @shipsxahoy @seastarved​ @wingedlioness @the-irish-mayhem @katie-dub @shady-swan-jones @bleebug​ @blackwidownat2814​ @darkcolinodonorgasm @djlbg​ @emeraldwitches @faerytold @huffleporg @idristardis @lassluna @let-it-raines​ @lizzyc807shipscaptainswan @wistfulcynic​ @thislassishooked @ultraluckycatnd @welllpthisishappening​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose @wyntereyez​ @demisexualemmaswan​ @imlaxdris71​ @ohmightydevviepuu​ @shardminds​ @thisonesatellite​ @stahlop​ @lovelivingmydreams​ @iamstartraveller776​ @goforlaunchcee​ @carpedzem​ @mariakov81​ @clockadile​ @eirabach​ @thesschesthair​ @tornadoamy​ @justanother-unluckysoul​ @killianjones-twopointoh​ @veryverynotgoodwrites​ @everything-person​ @myfearless-love​ @zaharadessert​ @deckerstarblanche​ @killiansprincss​ @wefoundloveunderthelight​ @th3capta1n​ @sotangledupinit​ @grimmswan​ @motherkatereloyshipper​ @mie779​ @o-wild-west-wind​ @whatevenisthisbloganymore​ @romanceapologist​ @undercaffinatednightmare​ @tintedfl0wers​ @tennant-the-tigger​ @piinfeathers​ @freechoicedreamer​ @purplehawkcaptain​ @jonesfandomfanatic​ @jrob64​ 

#cssns23 #announcement #cssns23 is a go!!! #come join us!!!

[kmomof4]

The Rest of the Answer for the Anon Ask Tumblr Wouldn't Let Me Post...

Tumblr was being ornery- what's new, right?- so I had to cut five fics and authors from the other list and put them here. After the first five, are fics from authors who've either moved on from CS or real life has taken over... I couldn't leave them out, because their fics are just too good...

Now Updated at the bottom of this post to include Tumblr link to the first post.

@cocohook38 I'll Be Waiting For You By the Blood Moon

@iverna Love In Times of War I don't know why Tumblr won't let me tag her...

@justanother-unluckysoul Take Your Innocence

@everything-person Little Red Riding OH!

@pirateherokillian Iridescent Blue and its sequel Shades of Blue

@wistfulcynic What Dreams May Come series

@thisonesatellite Break Me

@wefoundloveunderthelight Marco's Home for Lost Boys series

@swanslieutenant A Place In Time

@onceuponsomechaos Leaving Neverland and sequel Missing Pieces

@thesschesthair Snow Sees

@let-it-raines Walking the Baseline

@darkcolinodonorgasm One Day

@lenfaz Old Habits, Die Hard

@onceuponataarna White Light on a Black Sea

@alexandralyman Between Heaven and Hell

@wordsmith-storyweaver Hunger

@doodlelolly0910 Envy

@resident-of-storybrooke It's Amore

@gingerchangeling Disasters series

@xerxes-rises Wrecked

@flslp87 The Beach House

@seriouslyhooked Within Your Ocean Eyes

@ilovemesomekillianjones In the Still of the Night

@courtorderedcake Riptide

@singingisfun Changing Tides

@pocket-anon A Fairytale Beginning

@karlyfr13s One Love, One Lifetime

@wingedlioness Waiting to Be Stolen

@apiratewhopines In the Offing

Alright... How many is that? For both posts?

I quit counting at 74 fics...

wow... 😳

Here is the link to the first post, just so the recs can all be found on one post!

PLEASE forgive me if I left you off, and enjoy this really long list of HIGHLY RECOMMENDED fics!!!

#anon ask #that Tumblr wouldn't let me post #pt2 #favorite fics

[cs-rylie]

What I've read, 8/10/23 - 8/24/23 (and I topped my last two-week reading word count)

So, life is rude, and I'm so glad Captain Swan fics are in abundance. It's beautiful to just take a vacation in a good story.

My reading list is dwindling though. I originally asked for recs because of a super bad day, and unfortunately that bad day seems to keep going into weeks and I'm ready for things to settle back down, now. Good vibes are always welcome!

I'm adding an 'RR', which literally means I reread something because my brain helpfully wouldn't focus on anything until I did. Thanks, brain. (It's okay, I'd happily reread any of these amazing authors!)

RR Some Cupid Kills With Arrows - donteattheappleshook @donteattheappleshook - 58k words

Killian, Persuaded - APirateWhoPines @apiratewhopines - 68k words

Of Darkness, Vampires, and Soulmates - kmomof4 @kmomof4 - 41k words

Old Habits Die Hard - lenfaz @lenfaz - 34k words

Never Tear Us Apart - Kjb2609 (tumbr tag? anyone?) - 35k words

The One - teamhook @teamhook - 21k words

The Heart of the Saviour - ZaharaDessert @zaharadessert - 133k words

Lullaby - cosette141 @cosette141 - 3k words

RR Catch Me If You Can - LetItRaines @let-it-raines - 218k words

Somebody that I used to know - I_should_be_doing_other_things @ishoulddefbedoingotherthings - 69k words

Arrangements - xhookswenchx (ReluctantPrincess) @xhookswenchx - 13k words

No Wives, No Mothers, No Lovers - searchingwardrobes @searchingwardrobes - 13k words

Uhm. I topped my last two-week reading binge - I read 706k words this time.

#cs library #fic journal #captain swan #once upon a time #ouat

[beckettj]

Writing Patterns

Tagged by: @kmomof4

Rules: List the first line of your last ten posted fics and see if there's a pattern.

The Heart of a Villan “Mom, Mom, look! Look! There it is! Isn’t it amazing?”

Rum and Wagers “I hate Valentine’s Day! It’s nothing but a huge corporate scam!”

Dry as a Bone "Three!" "Two!" "One!" "Happy New Year!"

There's No Harm in Repeating A flask of coffee in hand, Killian Jones stepped out of his crappy apartment, into the just as crappy hallway, to the oh-so-familiar sweet sound of arguing travelling up the stairwell from the entrance hall below.

In the Blood "Killian!" The unexpected shout, originating from upstairs, was enough to make his head shoot out of the book in his hand, a small frown crossing his brow.

I'll Miss This One This Year "Bah Humbug!"

The Huntsman Resistance Headquarters, 2029 "We move out in T-minus sixty minutes!"

So apparently I have a pattern of opening fics with dialogue.

Tagging: @laianely @belovedcreation @lenfaz

#tag game

[stahlop]

Candy based Holidays are the bomb!

Back to CS things. Or not, really hahaha

What is the fic/whateverotherfandomthing you're most proud of and why?

Do you have a favourite fic someone else has written, or is it impossible for you to narrow down to just one?

Happy Holidays!

Santa x

My favorite fic I’ve written was my first CSSS fic back in 2019. Where the Love Light Gleams was a 3a canon divergence where Pan’s curse didn’t happen at the last minute and now Emma has to deal with her feelings regarding Hook and Neal. Also, the first time I ever wrote Emma outing Neal’s past misdeeds to her family (at Thanksgiving no less).

There are so many good fics out there. I guess I’d have to say my two favorites are See You Again (cursed Killian s1 rewrite) by @goldengirlschildhood and Separate Lives (s3b canon divergence) by @lenfaz , solely because any time I recommend them I have to go and read them again. There are a ton more, but these are the two I’ve read the most.

#csss 2022 #csss22 #captain swan secret santa 22

[captainswanbigbang]

CSBB: Sea Squad

Posting for Sea Squad by @lenfaz, with artwork by @clockadile, is now complete!

Summary: Killian Jones has always managed tough spots in his con life… but never like this one. His brother is out of jail and convinced the only way to win his name back is to heist the casino of a major Vegas mogul, leaving Killian to do the planning. He now has to deal with a half-brother desperate to gain a name of his own, an ex-fling that carries her own torch against the casino mogul, his brother losing his mind over his ex-wife,  his former mentor’s depression and the one woman he can’t get out of his mind giving him chase. Ocean’s Eleven AU

Rating: M

Read it on ao3, FFN, and tumblr: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Artwork: 1 | 2 | 3 

#captain swan #cs ff #cs fic rec #cs art #cs fan art #csbb #captain swan big bang #sea squad #lenfaz #clockadile

[secret-captain-swan-blog]

CS JJ Day 20: First Snow

"It’s just starting to snow the day that Killian Jones meets Emma Swan for the first time." // In which Emma and Killian meet and save each other during the first snow of the season. (A Lieutenant Duckling-ish Fic)

Word Count: 7026

Ao3

Many thanks to @lenfaz for organizing this wonderful month of fic! Wonderful job to everyone who participated. Sending all the cozy hygge vibes to everyone out that reading!

It’s just starting to snow the day that Killian Jones meets Emma Swan for the first time.

It’s past curfew and he knows it. As an indentured servant, Killian has few joys in life. Watching the sunset on deck each night, listening to sound of birds calling overhead, and exploring each port they stop in are among the scant few. And right now, they’ve just stopped in in the charming port of Misthaven. The jewel of the Enchanted Forest kingdom, the city is known for its Old World architecture. Killian carries with him a tiny sketchbook and kohl, a gift from Liam for his birthday three years ago. Killian only sketches out his very favorite of buildings he’s encountered on his travels. So far, Killian has sketched three in Misthaven, more than he ever has been before.

And this, of course, is why he is in trouble. 

There are several rules to being an indentured servant and the first is to be on time. He knows, absolutely knows, that being late is going to delay the ship and he is going to have to answer for that. And it’s going to hurt.

If he doesn’t get skinned alive by Captain Silver (and Killian knows he will be), he’ll have Liam’s disappointment to answer to as well. He knows that his older brother just wants to be free of the cruel captain’s command and reckons that avoiding trouble is probably the best way. Killian agrees, but that doesn’t mean that he’s actually good at avoiding trouble. Sometimes, he thinks it finds him.

All of this considered, Killian thinks his adventure today is worth it. Not just for the pictures tucked in his notebook, but because of her.

He had been sketching one of the row houses, an hour or so ago, just as a few flakes of snow were starting to fall, filling in details of the complicated roof, when a voice pipped up, “That’s rather good.”

He had turned to see her a lovely looking girl, 12 or 13 maybe, about his age, with dark green kerchief pulled over soft blond curls. Killian’s only experience with women has bar wenches at taverns they visited. Not that Killian talked to these women at all, but well, he supposed he liked to look at them. But this girl, she was something else all-together. Lovely in every single way.

“Thank you,” He stammered.

“How did you learn that?” She asked, tucking one of the wrapped Christmas presents she was carrying under her arm.

“I taught myself,” Killian admitted.

“Did you really?” She asked. “I’ve been dying for art lessons, but my parents say they aren’t practical. May I look through your book?”

“Of course,” Killian said, passing over his book.

The girl flipped through the sketchbook, pausing first a sketch of a bazar in Agraba, “Have you really seen this?”

He nodded.

“And this?” She asked at a picture of the Arundel Palace covered in ice.

He nodded again.

“What sort of life do you have where you get to see so many lovely places and draw them?” She asked, leafing through the book.

Killian couldn’t find it in himself to be honest. Saying, “I’m an indentured servant,” didn’t seem particularly attractive. So instead he said, “I work on a ship.”

“Do you really?” The girl asked. “I think I love that kind of thing. I keep begging Papa to take on me on his next sea journey, but I don’t think he’d ever allow that. He says that young women don’t belong on ships. He says the voyage would make me sick.”

Killian thought of the depraved antics of some of the sailors on his ship and silent agreed with this girl’s father.

“Maybe one day you’ll get to see the world,” He said, softly.

“Thanks for the sentiment, but I doubt so,” The girl told him.

“I’m Emma,” She said.

“Killian,” He introduced.

“Safe travels,” The girl said turning, walking back towards a distant figure which he supposed must be one of her parents.

This encounter with the mysterious and charming women caused Killian tardiness and what he supposes will be his eventual demise. Which is why he is currently hustling through the docks as fast as he can.

The docks are always chaos, boats coming and going, various ruffians and thugs lingering around, trying to see black market items and the like. While the cities that Killian visits change at each port, the docks are always the same mayhem and baboonery.

He hurries faster when he sees Silver’s ship, the gruff captain standing at the gangplank, checking a pocket watch.

“You’re late,” He says. “You horrible, piece of scum. You’re not just my property, but you’re a burden too.”

“I’m sorry, Captain,” Killian says, ducking his head.

The cruel man lets out a long laugh. “As if an apology would spare my hand.”

Killian shrugs, “I didn’t really think it would.”

The captain raises his hand and delivered a strike against Killian’s cheek. Killian flinches at the pain, which burns sharply against his skin.

“I’m not done with you, but we do need to leave this dock. There will be more once we are out at sea,” Captain Silver reprimands. A bit of dread begins to fester in Killian’s stomach at the thought of more beatings- and Liam’s disappointment.

“Stop,” A voice shouts suddenly.

Both Killian and Captain Silver turn to the source of the voice, it’s feminine trill out of place in the raucous docks.

It’s Emma, the girl from earlier. There is a fierceness in her emerald eyes as she looks between Killian and his Captain.

“Stop,” She repeats. “Don’t hurt him.”

Captain Silver turns and glares at the young girl.

“And just who are you? His girlfriend?” The man snarls.

There is something lecherous in his face as he looks at her that makes Killian’s blood curdle.

“Leave her alone,” Killian says.

“Are you talking back to me now?” The captain asks, raising his hand again.

“Stop. As Her Royal Highness Emma Swan, Princess of Misthaven, I order you to stop,” The girl shouts.

She brushes the kerchief off her head to reveal a small tiara in a hair beneath it.

Captain Silver’s face twists grotesquely. “I don’t care you are missy. This boy belongs to me.”

“He can’t belong to you,” She says, her voice still defiant. “Slavery is illegal in the Enchanted Forest.”

“He’s my servant, indentured, because his father needed to repay a debt,” Captain Silver explains. “He’s to work for me until the debt is repaid.”

Princess Emma doesn’t pause for a moment, “Fine, I’ll pay it. How much is it?”

She removes a pouch of coins from inside her coat.

“20,000,” The man says. “You got that much little lady?”

Killian watches, dumbfounded, as she extracts two coins and passes them over to the man. He spins them in fingers and rubs at them.

“I didn’t even know they made 10,000 dubloon coins,” The captain mutters.

“Well, they do,” the Princess tells him. “Will that suffice?”

Killian is in shock. His entire childhood, since his father left them, as been servitude. He’s spent hour upon grueling hour toiling aboard the ship, abused by the Captain, taunted by the sailors, and now just like that, with literally two coins- he’s free.

He’s free.

He’s free.

He’s in shock.

It’s so surreal and fast, but in moments his entire life has changed.

Except, wait. What about Liam? He can’t be free without Liam. They’re a package deal. Shipmates, bothers. He can’t take off into a new life of freedom without his brother.

“What about Liam?” Killian finally says.

“Liam?” The Princess asks.

“My brother,” Killian explains. “He’s also a servant. I can’t leave him.”

The Princess glares at the Captain before passing him two more coins.

“Get your brother and let’s go,” The Princess says.

Killian is pretty sure that his legs are shaking. He doesn’t know how to react to this abrupt and beautiful change. He walks up the gangplank to find his brother. He can hardly imagine what he will tell him. There is no way that he will believe him.

He finds Liam below deck, working on getting supplies ready to leave port.

“There you are little brother,” he says. “Are you just getting here now? Silver is going to have your hide for this.”

Killian swallows, trying to find the words.

“By the look of your cheek, it seems he already has. I’m sure they’ll be more of that once we get out at sea. Why don’t you start moving these supplies and I will look for some sort of salve for you?”

All in all, Killian decides that Liam is being far more kind than he deserves given his tardiness.

“Earth to Killian. Come on, take this rope,” He says. “Why were you so late anyway? Head in the clouds?”

He has to say it. He really has to cough up the words.

“Liam, we are free,” He says.

His brother looks up from where he is busy with the ropes and looks at him.

“Sorry, what did you say little brother?”

“It’s younger brother,” Killian corrects, finding his voice. “And we’re free. We’re done here. With Silver, with this bloody merchant ship, all of it. We’re free.”

Liam blinks a few times, disbelief painted across his face. “How could this have possibly happened?”

“The princess, my sketchbook, Silver-“ Killian tries to string words together to explain it all. But he can hardly find the words. “It’s a long story.”

“Right,” Liam says, dropping the rope. “What do we do now?”

“I suppose we should go thank the princess,” Killian says.

“Sounds like a good idea,” Liam says.

The two brothers walk out from below deck, snow fluttering all around them. The light washes over them and they feel it, something they haven’t felt in their bones since childhood- freedom, possibility.

They walk down the gangplank to where the princess is standing beside a still shell-shook Silver.

“There you are,” She says. “Do you not have belongings?”

Killian bites a lip, “Forced servitude doesn’t lead to a lot of belongings.”

Liam gives a bow, “Thank you so much, your royal highness, for this gift. There is no way to repay you.”

“Oh,” She blushes. Killian feels a tendril of jealousy arise in him. “Well, it was my pleasure. I couldn’t let Killian, or you, stay on this dreadful ship.”

“We don’t know how to repay you,” Liam says.

“Please don’t,” Emma says. “Human dignity isn’t the kind of thing you repay.”

Dammit, not only is she gorgeous and kind, but she’s also well-spoken.

“Do you have somewhere to go? Why don’t you come home with me?” The Princess says. “At least for dinner and someplace warm to sleep tonight while you make your plans. After all, I’d hate for you to sleep in the snow.”

“Why not?” Killian agrees.

So, they follow the Princess of Misthaven through the town to a large castle, the castle. It’s grey and elegant and Killian’s never been in a castle before. His eyes are wide, taking notice of stain-glass, gold leaf, and all the things he’s only read about in books.

She takes them to a small guest room with two beds and tells them that she’ll “leave them to get settled.” Both Liam and Killian try not giggle. They have nothing to settle. They haven’t slept in an actual bed since they were children, memories they barely have.

“Shall I send up things for you to bathe?” She asks. “I can’t imagine what I’d want after years of servitude, but I suppose I think I’d like a bath.”

“That would be nice, your royal highness,” Liam agrees.

“Honestly, you can call me Emma,” She says. “We normally dine at sunset if that suits you.”

“That suits us kindly, Emma,” Killian says.

The whole thing is surreal- bathing in warm, perfumed water. Killian has only ever bathed in cold seawater himself and even this small thing is a luxury. A few servants arrive with fresh clothes. They are simple, but they are clean and new and Killian doesn’t know how to react to it all.

As the sun lowers in the sky, Princess Emma arrives to invite them down to dinner. They follow her down the corridors to a lavish dining hall. There is already a feast spread on the table, roast chicken, potatoes, broccoli and squash, and tartes. Just looking at the spread, Killian feels tears prick his eyes. He’s never eaten so well in all his life. Emma looks over and sees his tears, reaching out to squeeze his hand. He feels a sense of comfort lodge itself there.

“Mama, Papa,” Emma says, referring the older, extravagantly dressed adults at the head of the table. “These are my new friends, Killian and Liam.”

“We are very grateful for your generosity and hospitality, your majesties,” Liam says. He’s good at this.

“Nonsense,” The queen says. “When Emma told us about what she witnessed at the docks, we knew she made the right decision. You are welcome to stay with us as long as you need.”

“Thank you, your majesties,” Liam says.

They begin to have their feast. Killian is very self-conscious about trying not to stuff his face, even though he has never seen so much fresh food in all his life. He can’t believe that Emma eats like this all the time.

After dinner, Liam bids Killian to go to bed and get an early rest. After all, he deserves one after securing their freedom. Liam says he wants to thank the king and queen personally. Killian agrees, too tired from the meal to argue. He heads to bed, someone bringing up a healing balm for his cheek. It must contain some sort of magic, because it takes away the sting and removes the redness of the angry mark. He falls asleep, curled on the miraculously soft bed.

He awakens when Liam comes in a few hours later. In the dim light, Killian can see him moving around the room, preparing for bed. He hears his brother sniffle.

“Is everything okay?” Killian asks him.

“Yes,” Liam says, sitting on the side of his bed, rubbing a hand through his brother’s hair.

“Were the king and queen nice?” Killian asks.

“Very nice,” Liam says.

“Is something wrong?” Killian asks, sleepily trying to read his brother.

Liam pauses, searching for words. “I’ve made an agreement with the king and the queen.”

Killian feels like something is off. “What is it?”

“I’m going to join the Royal Navy,” Liam tells him. “And in exchange, you’ll stay here in and learn from the royal tutor with Princess Emma.”

“What? Why would you do that?” Killian gasps, sitting up. “We won’t be together.”

“Killian,” Liam says. “I don’t want us to be separated, but I want the best for you. You’ll get to learn, really learn and better yourself. You’re bright, I’ve always thought that. You taught yourself to read. You taught yourself art. Just think what you could learn if you had the chance to get a real education. And you’ll be able to live here, finally in comfort, with good food and a family, the royal family, to take care of you.”

“But-“ Killian protests.

“The decision has been made, Killian,” Liam says. “Please be on your best behavior with the king and queen. We won’t ever get another chance like this.”

Killian sobers. He thinks of years of hard labor and cruel punishments aboard the ship. He thinks of hammock beds and hard tack. He know that he has been given the gift of a much better life. And as much as he’ll miss his brother, as much as he’s furious at his brother- he knows that he can’t ruin this opportunity. He can’t disappoint his brother or the king and queen or Princess Emma.

“Okay, good night,” Killian says, rolling over. He buries his face in the pillow, muffling his second round of tears of the day. He knows his brother made a brave and good decision, but that doesn’t mean he is going to miss him like heck.

When he wakes up the follow morning, Liam is already gone. There is note written on Killian’s bed that he explains that he’ll be back in six months after training and his first voyage. He reminds Killian to be good and gracious to the king and queen for their generosity.

Killian finds himself tearing up again, the room feeling so empty and cold already.

There is suddenly a knock on the door. He supposes it must be someone with breakfast or a bath or whatever royals have people come with.

“Come in,” He says.

It’s Princess Emma.

She’s dressed in a plain leaf green day dress, not as elegant as her traveling clothes or dinner dress from the day before. She seems like an ordinary girl, though a beautiful one.

Killian sniffles, “Oh hi Emma.”

“Hey,” She says, smiling. “I thought you might be lonely. So I wanted to go show you something. Get dressed and follow me.”

Killian realizes he’s just dressed in his large chemise, so he pulls on stockings, breeches and what is apparently a cravat. He runs a hand a through is hair to tidy it, to very little avail.

Emma giggles, “You look like a prince. Follow me.”

She leads the way through more ornate corridors. Killian takes notes of suits of armor (13) and tapestries (5). He already wants to write Liam a letter about them. Just the thought of Liam brings a pang to his throat. He tries not to cry again, especially in front of Emma.

“This is my room,” She tells him, opening a door.

Her room is extravagant, a large bed with curtains around it, a large vanity in the corner for dressing. She leads the way across the room and to the doors to the balcony.

“Here,” She says, thrusting some furs at him, “You’ll need this.”

She opens the door and it’s cold, but his mouth gasps a little at the sight. The grounds of the palace are coated in snow. It lines the trees. It covers the softly rolling hills. Even the small lake is iced.

“I have this tradition,” Princess Emma explains, “where I always take my breakfast on the terrace on the morning of the first snow. I’ve never shared it with anyone before, but I thought you might like to see it.”

Killian feels a burst of happiness. The princess finds him special enough to share this tradition with him. She keeps giving him gift after gift. He wonders if he’ll ever, ever, be able to repay her.

“Thank you,” He says. “This is really beautiful.”

So are you, he wants to add.

They eat breakfast on the terrace, warm cocoa with cinnamon and croissants. Princess Emma tells him about the royal tutor and what he’s like- brilliant, but jolly good to play pranks on. She tells him about the first time her father left for a very long voyage that lasted months and how much she missed him. She gives him a smile and tells him how good the palace’s carrier pigeons are and if he wants to write to his brother, the message will get there that very day. Emma always knows what to say.

Eventually, he takes out his sketchbook and uses his kohl to draw the way that the palace grounds look glistening after the first snow.

“It’s really good,” She says. “I’m glad you live here now.”

Like snow falling, the years begin to fluttery by. There are adventures through the palace- late night feasts in the kitchens and ice skating on the frozen lake. Emma teaches Killian how to horseback ride and waltz. Killian teaches her how to sketch and tie knots. She starts to develop powers, sparks that come out of her finger tips. In their lessons, they learn about maps and Killian shows her all the places he’s traveled and they make plans to take their own trip one day. Liam visits often, every few months when he is in port, but writes almost every day. Even though he is far away, Killian knows he’s proud of him for learning in the palace- reading Great Books, learning advanced arithmetic, and relations between kingdoms. The king and queen become like parents to Killian. Every year, of course, Emma and Killian celebrate the First Snow by having breakfast together on her terrace. Every day, he is grateful for the life that he has found and know he’ll never, ever, be able to repay Emma for what she’s given him.

He still thinks she’s beautiful, and brilliant, and kind. He starts to think he might love her.

Yet, it’s four years later when things change. She’s seventeen, nearly eighteen, when she runs his room in a flutter.

“Killian, Killian,” She babbles, “I’m going on a voyage. I’m going to travel.”

“Emma, darling, that’s amazing,” His face is bright with delight for her, but knows what this means. It means weeks upon weeks of no communication, of him lonely in the castle without her or Liam.

“Where are you going?” He asks.

“Arundel,” She tells him. “Just for a few weeks to visit my cousins. It’s not very dangerous or adventurous, but I’ll get to see mountains and fjords.”

“Emma, that’s amazing,” Killian says, because he can see the joy making her cheeks rosy and he doesn’t want to do anything to mar that.

“Of course, I’ll write to you every day,” Emma promises.

“I’d expect nothing less,” Killian says. “I’ll tell you if I plan any pranks on our tutor without you.”

“Oh, I hope you do,” Emma giggles. “Can you come help me pack?”

“Yes, let’s go,” Killian says.

Killian has been to Arundel once before when he was a boy. He remembered it was very cold, so he helps Emma packs her warmest furs and thick wool socks.

He goes with the King and the Queen to help send Emma off. While she’s gone, he works diligently on his lessons. He’s been working the past few weeks to put together a large volume of research he’s done on the history of art. It’s something he’s truly loved to learn. Before coming the palace, he’d hardly had the opportunity to see great art, but now it surrounds him and he loves it. He’s left the palace a few times to go to the museum in town and see Misthaven’s most famous artists. He likes to try to imitate their drawings in his sketchbook, a much larger one, a gift from the royal family.

He knows that most people expect that he will follow in his brother’s footsteps and go on to join the Royal Navy when he turns eighteen next year. But he isn’t certain. His brother and the royal family gave him the amazing opportunity to study and learn these past few years. He wonders if he would be throwing it away to join the navy. He still has a lot of bad memories of being at sea- of beatings by Captain Silver, and sometimes worse. He misses the adventure, the smell of salt water, navigating by the stars, the sunsets- but he’s not sure he wants to go back to hammock beds and hard tack. Sometimes he thinks he would prefer to study at a nearby university. Which would be closer to Emma. Not that he’d want to admit that.

They send each other letters each day that she’s gone. She tells him about how funny the ship feels beneath her feet, but how much she enjoys the sunrises on the ship. “I wish you were with me,” she writes, “You would be able to teach me so much about this ship, about navigation and knots and sea legs.”

She writes about arriving in Arundel. “My cousin Elsa has even more incredible powers than I do, but she’s going to teach me how to control mine. She told me she is going to show me how to make a palace using my powers alone. How crazy is that?” Emma writes. Killian spends the whole day doodling ice palaces in his sketchbook.

A week later she writes, “Today we climbed one of the highest mountains in Arundel. It was so amazing to look down at the kingdom from the top, the fjords spread out beneath us.” This day Killian spends the afternoon in the library flipping through book after book about Arundel, looking at paintings made of the fjords. He starts work on a painting of his own based on it. He wants to give it to Emma, maybe a Christmas gift, when she returns.

All of a sudden, one day, the letters stop. Killian tries to ignore the weird feel that nestles in his stomach. She must be very busy. He tries not to think that maybe she met a kind Prince or a Duke of a wealthy kingdom. He tries not to think of what he’d do if she came back with a suitor.

The King and Queen speak in hushed voices to each and Killian feels uncomfortable, knowing that they are keeping a secret from him.

One night it starts snowing, Killian watches the flakes fall and wonders if it will stick. It doesn’t. He’s relieved.

A week passes without a message from the princess. Killian is really starting to worry. This has got to mean that she’s engaged, right? Why else wouldn’t the king and queen tell him what the worry is?

He even writes to Liam about it, admitting his vulnerability and worry that she may love another.

“I have been in contact with the princess,” writes Liam. “I cannot say much other than that she will be coming home soon and she is not betrothed to another.”

Frustrated with more questions than answers, Killian decides it is time to approach the King and the Queen.

That afternoon, he tears into the throne room. “Where is she? What’s happened?” Killian demands. “You have to stop keeping this from me. Where is Emma? Why hasn’t she written? Why isn’t she home?”

Killian has always had the awful habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve and a tear appears in his eye.

The queen gives him a look of pain and pity, before nodding at the king.

“Killian, we haven’t wanted to worry you unnecessarily, but we are sorry for keeping this from you,” The queen begins.

“What?” Killian asks. “Keeping what?”

“There’s been an accident,” The king says slowly.

Killian’s stomach lurches, fear curling around his shoulders, down his spine.

“With Emma?” Killian asks.

The king nods gravely. “She was out in the mountains with her cousins when they were attacked by a foreign army. Both Emma and her cousin, Elsa, were able to use their powers to fight back against the foreign soldiers. But unfortunately, Emma was struck by Elsa’s powers and it froze her heart.”

Killian swallows, trying to keep down his worry. “What does that mean?”

“It means that she’s been on her way home for the last few days,” The queen answers. “Liam’s ship has been taking her. She doesn’t have much more time before the curse freezes her solid.”

“When will she be home?” Killian asks.

“Tomorrow night,” The queen replies.

“We should be researching,” Killian says, “We should be researching what to do save her.”

“We’ve sent for the best doctors, the best healers, the best magic wielders,” The queen explains. “We have some ideas, but we can only wait for her to return home to see if we can heal her. Liam is taking good care of her, as I’m sure you know.”

Killian nods. He trusts his brother, even if no one has been honest with him.

“I’m going to see what I can do,” Killian says, leaving for the library.

He finds a table full of books about ice curses and reads on. He read about how an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart, however, it’s not always that straight forward. The curses can learn from the past, not always responding the same way to similar acts of true love. Just like a disease, a curse strain can become resistant. Killian doesn’t know what will save her. He just wants her home so he can see for himself.

He doesn’t sleep that night, tossing and turning. He wonders how she is doing. When he gives up on sleeping, he goes to her terrace and watches the snow begin to fall fiercely. It’s starting to stick. He wonders if it is a sign that she is getting closer. It almost seems to be mocking him now.

It’s nearly a blizzard when Liam arrives just after lunch, with Princess Emma cradled in his arms. Killian follows the solemn procession of family and guests as he carries her to her bedchambers. A fire has been lit, blankets have been warmed, and hot cocoa waits for her in a magical self-warming mug. It’s all for naught.

Emma is shivering uncontrollably, her body thin and pale against her sheets. Her hair has even turned white, a seeming reaction to her heart condition.

“Killian,” She says, her voice quaking, reaching for his hand. “I’m so glad you are here.”

Unfortunately, just after that, the King and Queen ask for the room to cleared of visitors, Killian and Liam included, so that they can have the array of doctors, healers, and magic wielders try to save Emma.

Killian and Liam retreat back to their old room.

“She doesn’t look good,” Killian says. He wants to be angry at his brother for keeping Emma’s condition from him, but essentially, he wants her better. He just wants her to be okay.

“It’s been hard, she’s been getting worse and worse every day,” Liam admits. “When we first picked her up, she was mostly fine, walking around the ship. She just needed a blanket and a cup of tea to stay warm. But now, she’s really taken a turn for the worst.”

“What do you think? How much longer?” Killian whispers.

Liam shakes his head, “If she isn’t cured by tonight, I can’t see her lasting longer than the morning.”

Killian sinks onto the bed, burying his face in his hands.

“I don’t know how to live without her,” Killian whispers. “She’s my one true friend. She’s my savior. I don’t know, Liam. I honestly think I might love her. I don’t know how what I’ll do without her.”

“Tell her,” Liam says, quickly. “Tell her how you feel before you lose the chance. We might lose our princess, but don’t lose the opportunity to tell her how you feel.”

“You seem pretty adamant about that,” Killian says. “What if that’s not what to tell her? What if it causes her more stress at a fragile time?”

Liam shakes her head. “Her highness and I had time to talk while on our voyage back, especially the last few days when her health got much worse. I think you should tell her. I think it’s the kind of thing that might give her strength.”

Killian agrees. They dine with the royal family as normal. Hardly anyone eats. Emma isn’t there. They all wonder if this is their last night with their Princess.

The healers resume their work after dinner. Killian goes the library and sees if he can find out anything more about her curse. It’s dead end after dead end.

Liam comes in when Killian’s candlelight is beginning to wane.

“The doctors have been asked to leave,” He tells his brother. “They’re out of options. The king and queen are telling the princess ‘good night.’”

Killian nods, stacking up the books, understanding the implicit message in that statement.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Liam says softly.

Killian walks down the corridor slowly, realizing this might be his last time to go visit Princess Emma in her room. He knocks on her door.

“Come in,” her voice says, now small.

He pushes the door open and sees her in bed like before. She’s still shivering. With her white hair and deep circles under her eyes, she looks skull-like against her sheets.

“Oh, Emma,” He hushes, moving her side. “Oh, love.”

“Hey,” She says softly.

He reaches forward to run a hand through her hair. Even her hair feels ice between her fingers. She lets out a soft sigh.

“I take it your first trip could have gone better?” Killian asks, gently.

“It honestly was really fun,” Emma admits, “Before I got cursed.”

He laughs, wrapping his hands around hers. He can feel them shaking.

“You’ll have to meet my cousins sometime,” Emma says. “They are a lot of fun. And Arundel is beautiful. I wish I could take you there.”

“Maybe one day we can go there together,” Killian says, lifting her hands to mouth to blow soft warm air on them.

Emma shakes her head. “Killian, not to be morbid, but there really isn’t going to be a one day. My parents have tried everything.”

“Even true love’s kiss?” He asks.

“Of course, true love’s kiss,” Emma replies. “I must have some strain of the curse that doesn’t respond to it. You know like when you get a sickness and even medicine doesn’t make you better? It’s like that. But it’s a curse. And it’s going to turn me into a giant icicle.”

Killian feels pressure build at his throat.

“Well here, let me do what I can for you,” He says. “Maybe I can keep you warm and give you a little bit more time.”

Emma looks at him with a face of gratitude. He pulls back the blankets and slides under the blankets.

“Is this alright, love?” He asks.

“Yes,” She replies.

He wraps her arms around her, her quivering body stilling slightly held in his strong arms. She snuggles into him, her head falling to the crook of his neck.

He’s dreamt of this moment, taking the princess into his arms, holding her like the precious light she is to him. However, in all his imaginings of this moment, it wasn’t as terribly heartbreaking as it is now.

“I wish I could take you everywhere,” He says. “Maybe if you could lie in the Agrabah sunshine, you’d feel better.”

She says, “Tell me about it.”

“It’s so warm, you can’t spend too much time in it. It’s a dry heat, not humid. It makes your skin looks tan and sun kissed after you’ve spent time in it. And there are beautiful market places, you can buy rugs and silk scarves and spiced sandwiches,” He says.

“I wish I was there,” She says.

“Another time,” He tells her. He wants to give her all these experiences. He wants to give her the world. “Another time, I visited a jungle far away. It was the opposite, hot, but sticky. There were all sorts of snakes and lizards and crawling bugs. I think I saw a tiger while I was there, but I’m not sure.”

“I don’t know if I’d like tigers,” Emma admits.

“They’d be no match for you with your magic,” Killian tells her.

“We’re never going to get to see all the places we want to see together,” She says sadly.

“I know,” Killian says. “But at least you’ve imagined them.”

“Do you miss it?” Emma asks. “The adventure? Do you wish I hadn’t swooped in that day?”

“Oh Emma,” Killian says. “I would never, ever wish that. My life was so pitifully miserable. You gave me a chance to learn, to spend a few years in a real home. You saved me. I would never regret that.”

“Selfishly, I’m glad you’ve been here,” She tells him, snuggling closer. “You’ve made my days much for colorful.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do here without you,” Killian struggles to stay, tears pooling in his eyes.

“You’ll keep taking classes, keep making art, keep dreaming, keeping being happy,” She says.

“I don’t be happy without you,” He says, his own voice shaking. “My days will be too bleak without you. I couldn’t- I can’t. Oh Emma, what will I do?”

He starts to sob and Emma does too. Their bodies shake together, her tears cold against his neck.

“I’m going to miss every bit of you with every bit of me,” He whispers.

“I’m going to always, always wish for more days with you,” She says.

A tear drips down Killian’s nose, wetting his lips and summoning the words he needs to say.

“I love you,” He says.

Emma moves her head slightly to look up at him.

“My darling, I love you too.”

He lowers her lips on to hers and all of sudden everything is warm. It starts at his lips, pure warmth and it moves through his whole body, till it reaches her toes. And it’s not just warmth, but bright light and it’s everywhere.

And then nowhere. But Emma is there and flushed and warm. And alive. And uncursed.

“Killian!” She says, sitting up, her now-blond curls dancing down her back, suddenly no longer weak. “Killian, you did it!”

“Me? Not me? Us, we. We did it,” He says.

Emma hugs him again, pulling him close, kissing him once, twice, three times.

“We did it,” She echoes.

His hands tangle in her hair.

“It’s blond again,” He says, kissing her forehead, her nose, before his lips touch her hair. “Your hair is blond again.”

She flings her arms around him. “We did it. I’m not cold. I’m not shivering.”

There is banging at the door.

“Emma, what was that?” Asks her father.

“Are you alright?” Her mother asks.

“I’m fine,” She cries in the direction of the door. “I’m fine, I’m okay, the curse is gone.”

“Oh darling,” the queen says. “Let me in! I must see you at once.”

Emma kisses Killian again. “Can’t this wait till morning? I’ve had quite a nice true love’s kiss and I’m not keen on sharing.”

“Emma, what are you even talking about? Open up,” The king demands.

“Stay,” She whispers to Killian.

She reluctantly extracts herself from bed, runs to door and opens it. Killian can see Emma’s parents looking in from the corridor, quite baffled.

“Look, okay, I’m fine. Killian broke the curse. Apparently, we are true love,” She says, lingering in the doorway. “I’d quite like to keep kissing him.”

“That sounds very inappropriate,” The queen remarks.

“He just saved my life,” Emma admonishes. “I think you could find a bit more compassion.”

“I suppose we are very happy that you are well,” The king grunts.

“Yes, I’m sorry,” The queen says, coming in to give Emma a hug. “We are simply in shock that you are well again. We really thought you were lost from us forever.”

“And we’d be lying to say we are surprised that Killian is your true love,” The king adds. “We’ve thought this ourselves for a while.”

“Yes, come here, Killian,” The queen insists.

And that’s how Killian finds himself tucked inside a Charming family hug. Killian’s never felt so warm and happy and satisfied.

And loved.

Emma loves him.

True love.

Eventually hot chocolate is ordered and the whole family sits on the floor of Emma’s room to drink it. Liam is summoned and claps Killian on the shoulder, thanking him for his service to the country and gives him a wink.

Emma can’t stop touching Killian, and he doesn’t mind a bit. She’s safe and she’s alive and she’s his.

It’s late when everyone creeps into their bedrooms. Once the castle is silent again, Killian sneaks back out to Emma’s room. She grins at him as he climbs in her bed.

When they wake in the morning, the room is bright, filled with light reflecting off of the snow. It’s already starting to melt now that Emma’s curse is broken, but it’s beautiful none-the-less.

They order breakfast to the room and sit out on the terrace, wrapped in furs.

“You saved me,” Emma says.

“You saved me,” Killian says.

“I guess we are good at that,” Emma says.

“First snows, saving each other,” Killian teases.

“Exactly,” Emma replies, “And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

It’s two years later when Emma and Killian find themselves sitting on the same terrace taking in the first snow. Killian is on his holiday break from university, having just finished his exams in Art and Art History. After studying for weeks, he’s happy to be back at the palace and with the woman he loves.

Emma is home from her first voyage with the Royal Navy. After much reluctance from her parents and many promises to keep good watch over her from Liam, Emma was made a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Killian loves to watch her talk about it, her eyes bright as she describes her travels.

But there is nothing better than the two of them being back together. In fact, this was something that Killian realized months ago, when he left for university. He loved that they could have their own adventures and chase their own dreams, but he also longed for Emma by his side. Which was how he decided to purchase a small silver ring.

As he takes out his sketch book to sketch the snowy trees, Emma tugs at his sketchbook, wanting to look at the art he’s made so far at university. He smiles as he watches her flip through some portraits of herself, others of different parts of the university. She lets out a little gasp as she opens the final page where “Marry Me?” is written in beautiful writing.

Killian has the ring in hand as she looks up.

“How would you feel about spending every first snow with me?” He asks. “How would you feel if we kept on saving each other?”

Her lips are on his before he can even ask any more questions.

“Yes, yes!” She exclaims.

And so with the first snow as their witness, Killian and Emma were finally, happily engaged.

#csjj #cs jj #lenfaz #captain swan #cs ff #cs lieutenant duckling #cs au #emma swan #killian jones #cs ff au #CS fic

[alexandralyman]

safe harbour (frozen jewel)

Some Liam x Elsa Frozen Jewel smutty fun, for @lenfaz who needs a little pick me up tonight. 

His jacket hung unbuttoned, his cravat was draped over a bust of some hatchet-faced former king or queen (Liam couldn’t tell the gender, just that the individual in question had some very unfortunate features) and his mouth was currently occupied with the full breasts of the platinum-haired lass who’d lured him into the darkened and deserted corridor during a royal ball.

She might be a siren, all big blue eyes and a singing voice that a goddess herself would envy, though he’d never encountered one so far inland before.

“Hurry, Liam!” she gasped, and whether she was leading him to his own destruction or not, he didn’t bloody care one whit.

The shimmering silver dress she wore was low-cut enough that it had only taken a tiny tug to free the swells that had him googling like a green lad when he’d first caught sight of her across the room. Liam sucked on one firm nipple and then the other, his scruff turning the snow-pale skin pink and leaving marks that would hopefully be hidden by the fan that hung from one slender wrist by a blue ribbon. It slipped off and fell to the stone floor as Elsa fumbled with his trousers, opening them and reaching inside to wrap around his cock. Her palm was shockingly cool on his heated flesh, and the contrast in sensation almost made his knees buckle while his head swam with pleasure, his hands fisting in the folds of her fine gown. He had the silk bunched to her waist in a flash, stocking-clad legs wrapping around his hips as he tore furiously at the lace that was the last barrier between them. It gave way at last and then he was nudging at her entrance, her arms around his neck and her breath in his ear.

“Is this what you want, milady?”

His voice was rougher than a stormy sea, all his carefully nurtured decorum shattered right to pieces by the woman in his arms. Liam Jones was a gentleman now, a captain of the Royal Navy, but he’d grown up among common sailors who wouldn’t hesitate to fuck a beautiful woman against a wall (and he’d seen it done more than once, in dark alleys outside seedy taverns when the crew was in port) and Elsa was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. The fact that she was clearly of high enough birth that it was probably a crime for him to bed her wasn’t a deterrent, not when he could feel the dampness between her trembling thighs and the Jewel was to set sail in the morning.

“Yes!”

One thrust and he was inside, two and his face was pressed to her neck. Liam took his pleasure quickly, hips snapping like a sail in high winds even as he wished he could go slow, draw it out for hours until they were both too spent to move, but there was no time for that, he could hear the music and the laughter from the ballroom and it wouldn’t be long before their absence was noticed (if it hadn’t been already). Her knees were hooked over his elbows and his hipbones pressed to the backs of her thighs, her needy whimpers spurring him on. Liam lifted her higher, changing the angle and the effect was immediate. A cold draft hit his exposed backside while Elsa jerked, nails digging into his shoulders through the velvet of his jacket and a new rush of wetness that let him sink in just a tiny bit further so that he was buried to the hilt. His groan of satisfaction was far too loud while hers was a silent scream he felt all the way down to his toes, her head thrown back to the wall and her quim squeezing him tight. The candles flickered around them while Liam fastened his trousers and Elsa fixed her gown back into place, their eyes not meeting and silence stretching between them for long moments. Liam reached for his cravat, pulling it off the bust and ignoring what he imagined to be frowning disappointment on the carved face.

“We’d best get back,” Elsa said at last, smoothing out the wrinkles in her skirt.

“Aye,” Liam agreed, bending down to pick up her discarded fan. He tied the ribbon back around her wrist, before lifting her hand and brushing his lips over the pale skin that had warmed at last.

(in the morning the Jewel set sail as planned, the sails raised high as she slowly drew out of the harbour with a full cargo hold and a single stowaway hidden away in the captain’s quarters, where his exasperated little younger brother found her two days later, after entering without knocking upon hearing rather unexpected noises coming from the room at night.)

#lenfaz #frozen jewel #frozen jewel fic #my fic #liam x elsa

[elizabeethan]

So for the Anon looking for a fic. Sounds like Separate Lives by Lenfaz

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3259703/chapters/7108157

Thank you!! Everyone seems to love this fic- I can’t believe I haven’t read it. I just downloaded it so I can read it on my flight!

#ask #sparlecorn93

[lenfaz]

Fic titles:

Across the sea

Form 173-B

Ring around the moon

ohhhhh

Across the sea The heartwrenching tale of Captain Liam Jones, as he battles the sea, pirates and magical forces to reach his beloved princess Elsa. Lots of angst and ripped bodices.

Form 173 - B Never piss off a bureaucreat because they will make your life miserable. That is the lesson crime journalist Will Scarlet learned the hard way when he tried to access some old files from the library without Form 173 - B and faced the anger of librarian Belle French. Sparks ensued. He turned in the filled form. She rejected it on the basis of missing one stamp from an unknown office that only opens one day a week for 75 minutes. He turned in the form again. She rejected it again because the date was not in the correct format. It was only after he turned it in for the 5th time, his body pressing hers against the bookshelves while her moans filled the room, that she finally accepted it.

Ring around the moon As Storybrooke's prepares for its coldest season yet, Sheriff Emma Swan makes it a point to drop by (former) Captain Killian Jones' boat and convince him to seek shelter in Grannys. He's a fit of a grumpy loner, you'll see, and he refuses every time she asks, claiming he has weathered worse storms. But Emma won't give up... and she will insist and insist and insist... until finally he seeks warmer shelter. In her bed. Hey, whatever it takes to keep the citizens safe, right?

#ussjellyfish #lenfaz replies #mini fics #I think #ohhh this was so much fun #captain swan #frozen jewel #scarlet beauty

[snowbellewells]

CS Fic Rec Monday: "The Pirate Chef" by: @lenfaz

Oh my goodness, maybe I should partially blame my abiding adoration for The Great British Bake Show for how much I adored this story, but wow did I love this SO MUCH! I realize this one is not new and I may well be preaching to a choir of folks who were already aware of this lovely fic, but I just found it and had to make sure others knew what fun it was to read. :)

Emma helps to produce a cooking show for her mentor and dear friend Granny Lucas, and when Granny's rival pulls out of their televised challenge, Emma instead finds herself faced with Killian Jones, "The Pirate Chef". She is determined to resist him and simply do her job, but he and his entire delightful crew prove pretty hard to resist! Pardon my pun, but this modern au that @lenfaz has put together is ridiculously delicious. Don't miss it!!

"The Pirate Chef" by: @lenfaz

#cs fic monday #csfrm #the pirate chef #cs modern au #chef killian #tv producer emma #major cs fic rec #such a talented shipmate #by @lenfaz

[cssns]

Get to Know Me 2022!

Say hello to the lovely @lenfaz​ !

How long have you been in the CS/OUAT fandom?

It's been 84 years... just kidding! I think I started at some point in 2013.... 

When did you start shipping Captain Swan?

Pretty much at the same time

What drew you to this event?

I've been meaning to pick up writing and I felt nostalgic.... So it was a good chance to finish the original CSSNS that I never got to write fully

What inspired your topic?

I think it was for one of the pretzel weeks, that the topic was Fake Dating Trope in a Shapeshifter AU that I wrote the idea for Fake the Mate and it was too good not to write it!

If you would like to share a snippet/sneak peek/summary of your fic or artwork, please use the space below.

“You can’t possibly expect me to believe that you actually have any type of attraction towards her.” 

Killian raised his eyebrows in surprise. Granted, he wasn’t really dating Emma Swan, but she was quite the catch. She was breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly smart, and had more wit than half of his own pack  - and David’s. But he couldn’t say all that. So he went for the one thing he knew would drive the alpha through the edge. It would serve him right for not seeing how amazing his sister was. 

 “Why wouldn't I? She’s a fine piece of tail.” 

He playfully swatted Emma’s ass to complete the crass scene and hoped against hope that she wouldn’t maim him for it afterward. 

What are you looking forward to most about participating in this event? Just find some of the motivation to finish this story, because it was a good idea. I also miss hanging out with the tumblr fandom folks!

Be sure to send some love here or on discord! Thanks for participating!

#cssns #cssns 2022 #gtkm #author

[kmomof4]

Writing Patterns

Tagged by @iamstartraveller776 and @searchingwardrobes Thanks, ladies!!!

Rules: List the first line of your last 10 posted fics and see if there's a pattern

Orphan Girl:

September 19, 1849, Westport Workhouse, County Mayo, Ireland

A Swan Family Christmas:

Christmas was just a couple of days away.

A Christmas Surprise:

“Emma!” her co-worker and Henry’s 4th grade teacher, Elsa exclaimed, rushing to where Emma kneeled on the stage cutting out the last of the costumes she had to get made for the school Christmas program this coming Friday.

Into the Light:

Liam Jones opened the front door of the house he and his family would soon be calling home.

Cave Cruises, Cabin Capers, & Cracked Craniums: A collab fic, but I don't care...

Emma Swan and her girlfriends–Mary Margaret Blanchard, Ruby Lucas, Regina Mills, Belle French, and Elsa Arendelle–were on the first day of their yearly, week-long girls trip. 

Say It With Flowers:

The bell above the door rang, and Killian Jones looked up from the bouquet of roses he was arranging and made his way out to the front of his shop, The Jolly Rhododendron. 

A Mistress to No One:

Emma Swan was a bastard.

Apologies, Dr. Jones:

"Where were you?" Ruby asked, sitting down across from Emma at their usual coffee and breakfast spot.

A Very Disney Proposal:

“Granny? Are you here?” Killian Jones called as he and his best friend David entered the costuming and makeup area behind the scenes of Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom.

Stupid Questions... (And the Stupid Men Who Ask Them):

Group Chat

Killian, David, Robin, Will, Liam, 

Victor, Neal

Don't really see a pattern, personally...

Tagging: @snowbellewells @whimsicallyenchantedrose @hollyethecurious @winterbaby89 @jrob64 @zaharadessert @lenfaz @belovedcreation @beckettj

#tag games #writing patterns #krystal writes

[distant-rose-archive-blog]

Epic Fics that Rose is in Love With: Separate Lives by @lenfaz

Set after 3x20 "Kansas". After saving the town one more time, Emma decided to return to New York, leaving her past behind. Three years later, she realizes that might be not have been the best decision.

#captain swan #cs fic #cs ff #cs fic rec #my fic recs #fic rec #cs aesthetic series #my aesthetics #my shit #I think of stephanie plum every time I read this series #but I love this fic and it's out shoots #laura and mac and killian's italian fam really make it #lenfaz #separate lives