Hey, @rebelcxptain I’m your Secret Santa! It’s been so nice getting to know you Zoe and I’m glad to have made a new friend! ♥
So we talked a lot about how much we both love Season 3, so I’ve whipped up a season 3A Canon Divergence for you. It was really fun to write, and I really hope you like it! 😊
Happy Holidays! Enjoy! xx
Season 3A Canon Divergence where they make it back to Storybrooke from Neverland, Pan is not in Henry’s body, and they stop Pan’s curse, so no Missing Year either.
They’ve just made it back on land, leaving the nightmare of Neverland behind. Immediately, they’re swept up in hugs and Emma can’t help but feel relieved to be back in Storybrooke with Henry safe by her side.
The group moves toward Granny’s to celebrate their return when she hears Henry ask, “What is that?” Looking toward what her son pointed to, she sees a swirling vortex that she recognizes to be a portal.
Really? They haven’t even been back five minutes and there’s already another crisis. Emma lets out an exasperated sigh and makes her way toward where she’d seen the portal open. She notices Hook step behind her and the treacherous voice that’s taken over more and more lately whispers that she knows he always has her back.
Ignoring the voice she continues forward; her parents, Hook, Henry, Regina, Gold, Neal, and Belle following.
As they get closer, she hears a panicked voice yell out “LIAM!” and quickens her pace. It sounds like whoever is in trouble needs help. They finally get to Main Street, where they saw the portal open, and find a man and woman lying on the ground, their heads turned away.
Emma rushes to help them up but before she can reach them, the woman lifts her head, and when she does, it makes Emma freeze in place. An identical pair of emerald eyes stare back at her and all Emma can see is her face.
Her face on the other woman.
How is this possible?
Suddenly, the man lets out a groan and sits up. Momentarily distracted she flicks her eyes over to him. Emma didn’t think she could be more shocked, but then she finds herself looking into Hook’s face.
Emma knows Hook is behind her, but she’s looking at him (or another version of him apparently) right in front of her. Turning back, sure enough, Hook is standing there, mouth hanging open and brows furrowed in confusion.
“What the hell?” is all Emma manages to say. She looks around to see confused looks on everyone’s faces as well.
At Emma’s exclamation, the Other Emma snaps her head toward her and mutters an “oh shit.”
The Other Hook lets out another groan and winces when he touches the gash at his temple. Emma sees the other version of herself gently move his hand away, and cup his cheek tenderly. “Here, let me heal it,” she says.
But Other Hook shakes his head, “You can heal me later, Swan. We have to go.”
“No, I’m going to heal it now,” Other Emma insists. “You’ll be no help with a bleeding wound.”
She hears Other Hook mutter, “bloody, stubborn woman,” but acquiesces to her request.
This Emma has magic. Just like her. She obviously knows how to use it. Unlike her.
The Other Hook gives the woman in front of him a loving smile, as they rise from the ground. “Thanks, love.”
“Killian, he has Liam,” Other Emma says with tears gathering in her eyes.
“We’re going to find him, Swan. I promise, we won’t let anything happen to him,” Other Killian tries to reassure her.
Emma can’t even think straight right now. All she sees in front of her is a version of herself and Hook, holding onto each other as if giving the other strength, and talking about some boy. She can’t wrap her mind around it all. You know exactly what this looks like, the pesky voice says to her.
“Find who?” Henry asks, looking at the newcomers in fascination. She can see the curious and excited glint he gets in his eyes every time something new is revealed about fairy tales and magic. She’d be proud he’s the first one brave enough to speak if she still wasn’t in a state of shock.
Other Emma and Other Hook seem to break out of their bubble and notice the whole group in front of them for the first time. When their eyes land on Henry, the look they give him can only be described as nostalgic.
“Henry,” Other Emma whispers in reverence. “You’re so young,” she lets out a quiet laugh.
Henry gives her a confused look, but she clears her throat before he can ask what she means. As she takes a deep breath, the Other Killian wraps his arm around her waist. And then she says the last thing Emma would have expected to hear.
“We need to find Liam,” she says. Then looking directly at her she continues, “our son.”
Future Emma POV
She thinks she’s going to give her past self a heart attack by the expression on her face. And Killian’s past self doesn’t look any better. They haven’t even explained anything yet, and the two look like they’re about to pass out.
Killian tightens his hold around her waist and she draws strength from him. She remembers herself at this point of her life, how guarded and closed off she was. But right now she doesn’t have time to placate the past version of herself. They need to find Liam and get him away from Pan’s clutches. Her heart constricts painfully at the thought of her baby boy in the hands of that psychotic teenager.
Sensing her restlessness, Killian takes matters into his own hands.
“We know this is a shock, and we will explain everything once we get our boy back,” he begins. “Right now what you need to know is that we’re from the future.
“And yes crocodile, I know it’s not possible. But that’s in your time. Obviously there is a way since we’re here,” Killian explains when he sees Gold about to interrupt.
Everyone listens carefully, and Emma nods for Killian to continue.
“Our son, Liam was kidnapped by Pan. A few days after we made it back to Storybrooke after saving Henry, we discovered Pan had followed us back. He almost cast a curse where we would forget our memories and he would rule Storybrooke. Regina was going to stop it by sending everyone back to the Enchanted Forest except for Emma and Henry, who had to stay here in order for it to work.”
At this she sees her parents flick their eyes to Past Emma, and Regina places her hand on Henry’s shoulder, as if he’s going to be taken away from her.
“We were able to stop him before his curse could take effect and imprisoned him in Pandora’s box. In our time he’s found a way to get out, kidnapping Liam.” Killian’s voice cracks as he speaks. She places her hand over his heart to soothe him. They’re both about to lose their minds if they don’t get a move on.
“We need your help to get our son back because now there’s two Pan’s running around Storybrooke,” Killian finishes.
“Good job bringing another Pan over,” Regina glares at them.
“We didn’t bring him here, your majesty,” Killian replies in a clipped tone. “Pan kidnapped our son and opened the portal. This was part of his plan. He wants to change the past and cast his curse. Obviously when he had our son, we jumped in after them.”
“Why does he need to come back to cast the curse? Can’t he just do it in your time?” asks Henry.
“As we all know, to cast the dark curse you need the heart of the thing you love most. Since we stopped Pan’s curse after it was already enacted, he already used a heart. Felix’s. Which means in our time Felix is dead. And since he’s been stuck in Pandora’s box all these years, he hasn’t had a chance to make new friends,” Emma explains.
Any other explanations could wait, they were wasting time. Emma was never a patient person and with her son’s life on the line she’s not waiting any longer.
“Enough talking. We need to find Liam. Now.”
Past Emma POV
Gold and Belle make their way to his shop to get squid ink that will help freeze Pan long enough for them to entrap him in Pandora’s Box once again. They need to check they have enough for both Pan’s. Gold, as much as anyone, wants his father gone and most definitely does not want to deal with two of them for long.
Regina’s gone off to prepare in case Pan manages to cast the curse quicker this time, following the instructions Future Emma and Hook gave her to stop it. Regina wondered whether Pan would do something different this time around, but they assured her he didn’t know how they stopped him.
Her parents left to fetch their swords and bow and arrows to help in the fight. As they were walking away she could see them talking in furtive whispers, no doubt Mary Margaret lamenting over the fact she doesn’t get back together with Neal, and David trying not to freak out that a pirate ends up marrying his daughter.
Future Emma and Killian are at the front of the group, leading them to the well where Pan cast the curse the first time. They’re holding hands as Henry walks next to Future Emma, talking a mile a minute.
She’d smile at her son’s enthusiasm if she wasn’t so caught up in her own thoughts.
Neal left with his father and Belle, his shoulders hunched and a frown on his face. Honestly, she’s not surprised she doesn’t get back together with Neal. She can’t see herself trusting him that way again after what he did to her. As messed up as this situation is, it’s solved one problem for her - getting Neal off her back.
But it’s created a new one with Hook. She can feel his gaze on her, but since the arrival of their future selves she hasn’t been able to meet his eye. She’s sure she’d see the yearning look that’s been etched on his face since their first kiss in Neverland. That was the best - and hottest - kiss she’d had in her life. She shakes her head as if the act could rid her of such thoughts.
But seriously, she and Hook? Married? And with a son? She has another son. With Captain Hook. It’s not that hard to believe. Stop it! Great, now she’s yelling at herself. This is what living in Storybrooke (and pushing away feelings for a certain pirate) does to a person.
Emma lifts her eyes from the pavement to look at her future self. She looks the same, yet different. Her smiles come more easily, less guarded.
Actually not guarded at all. She just seems open.
Happy.
Even with the worry etched on her face, she can see happiness underneath it. It’s all Emma’s wanted her whole life; to find happiness. And this Emma has it.
The answer to her unhappiness is on her left side, still trying to catch her eye. And she can literally see it right in front of her. It’s her future. With Hook.
But as much as she wants it, and as how obvious it is that it works, Emma still can’t take that last step. She’s still too afraid to open up her heart again.
Future Emma POV
They finally make it to the well and Emma hurries her steps, clutching Killian’s hand tighter to lead him to the clearing. She can hear voices and she looks around anxiously for any sign of Liam.
She sees him curled up on a log on the forest floor, crying softly with fear in his blue eyes.
“Killian,” Emma says with a sob stuck in her throat.
“I know.” She sees his jaw clench in anger.
Storybrooke is relatively peaceful now, and they will get a random creature here or a magical mishap there. But since Zelena (who’s now on good terms with her sister), this is the biggest threat her baby boy has faced in his five short years. Her heart breaks seeing him like this, but she takes a deep breath to focus.
She turns on her “Savior Mode,” as Henry likes to call it. Okay, they can’t just barge in. They need a plan.
It’s time to face her past self directly. She hasn’t talked to her this whole time, knowing she needs time to process (and probably still hasn’t finished processing) everything, but she needs her help to get her son back.
She glances quickly and sees both Pan’s and Felix talking. She turns back to her past self.
“I’m going to need your magic to help me,” she says.
Past Emma looks at her with wide eyes. “I ca- can’t use magic,” she stutters. “Not well.”
“Well you’re going to have to tap into it,” she says a bit harshly.
She can see her past self’s eyes harden so she softens her voice. “Please, I can’t do this without your help. You just need to believe in yourself and in whom you’re protecting,” she looks at Past Emma imploringly. “I know you don’t know him, but that’s your son over there. And you just came back from Neverland, we both know how it feels to have our son taken by that psycho teenager. Think back to how you felt when he had Henry and use that to activate your magic.”
She sees Past Emma relax, sympathizing with her. She nods to herself and closes her eyes in concentration. She holds her hand up, but nothing happens. Taking a deep breath, she tries again. Past Killian comes up and whispers, “you can do this, Swan” and then a white light finally hovers in her palm.
Emma smiles to herself, knowing Killian’s encouragement is a big source of her strength, even back when she had her walls up. Her past self looks at the white light in her hand in awe.
“Good job, mom!” Henry tells her.
Past Emma gives him a warm smile. “Thanks, kid.”
Then Past Emma looks at her. “You’re a good teacher.”
“I have to be, I’m the one who teaches Liam how to control his magic.”
“He has magic?” Past Emma asks surprised.
Emma nods. “Being the son of the savior and the product of True Love will do that,” she says carefully.
Past Emma and Killian’s eyes widen and they gape at her, but she can deal with them later. When she sees her parents make their way toward them, she turns to her past self.
“Are you ready?”
Past Emma snaps out of her thoughts, giving her a firm nod.
Alright @favoritefandoms, I’m your CSSV! I’m so sorry I’m posting this late! I really liked talking to you and getting to know you! It was great to make a new friend! I hope it’s worth the wait!
You mentioned you like AU’s so here’s a Coffee Shop AU. You also said you like friends/enemies to lovers, so I did a frenemies to lovers story! I hope you like it and I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day! xx :D
Every Saturday morning for the last year, Emma comes to the quaint coffee shop a few blocks away from her apartment building. Her days as a deputy keep her busy, but Saturday mornings are reserved for her chance to wind down and take a break. Enjoy her one hour of solitude away from work.
That is until the black-haired, blue-eyed nuisance started to show up.
Every time.
She still doesn’t know his name, hasn’t even spoken to him. The only form of acknowledgment is a nod and small smile when he walks through the door and sits at the table across from hers. (And the hint of mischief in his smile when it meets hers at the little game they’re playing).
All she knows is he came sweeping in one day, with his cocky nature and flirty attitude (he hasn’t flirted with her, but she’s seen the way he acts with the other women fawning over him), disturbing her peace. He deliberately chooses to come at the same time and day she’s there. She has thought about coming in at a different day to avoid him all together, but Emma Swan is not one step down, she was here first. This was her routine.
Plus, she found their little game too fun to stop.
She doesn’t even know how, but somehow he managed to learn what she orders.
And that’s when it begins.
The first time he walked in, she paid him no mind. Didn’t even look at him. The second time, their eyes met when he sat at the table across from hers, but then she looked back down at the book she was reading.
The third time, she couldn’t help it. Her eyes wandered up from her phone to sneak a glance at him. Then another. And another. She’d noticed how attractive he was the first moment he’d swaggered in, but this was the first time she allowed herself to really look at him.
Damn.
That disheveled black hair and those tight black pants. She could tell he had a strong, lean body by the way his shirt stretched between his shoulders.
Suddenly, Emma is aware she isn’t just glancing anymore when he looks up at her with those piercing blue eyes rimmed with eyeliner (that only makes him look hotter), a quirked eyebrow, and smug smirk on his face.
She looks down immediately and feels herself blush. Quickly, she grabs her things and makes a dash toward the exit.
The fourth time, Emma is making her way to her usual table when she’s confused to find a cup already waiting for her. She looks up to find Mr. Smug Face had arrived before her, looking at her with an expectant look and a smile that makes her feel wary. She sits down and takes the cup, uncovering the lid. It’s hot cocoa alright, the drink she orders every time, but it’s missing something.
The whipped cream and cinnamon.
How he knows her order is a mystery, but he knows about the whipped cream because he’d made a show of pointing out she had some on the side of her mouth last time before he’d caught her sneaking glances at him. (She doesn’t know he only caught it because he was doing the same).
Her face must have shown all sorts of offended for not having the perfect addition to her drink because she can hear snickering. Looking up, she finds that he’s trying (and failing) to hold back his laughter.
Emma narrows her eyes at him. Two can play at this game. Emma was never one to back down from a challenge.
And that’s how this back and forth started between them.
After his little stunt with her hot chocolate, the next time Emma makes sure to get there before him. She goes to the barista she always orders from and asks her if she remembers his order. She gives her a knowing smile, she doesn’t know why, and tells her he usually orders a coffee with cream and sugar.
Perfect.
Emma orders a black coffee and after checking to see he was nowhere in sight, she goes to place it in his spot. Smiling triumphantly, Emma sits back and waits for him to show up.
He walks in a few minutes later and she can’t help but admire his wind swept hair, the urge to brush it away from his eyes too strong.
As he takes a seat he spots her, then looks down at the cup in front of him. He raises an eyebrow in question, but she simply shrugs nonchalantly while smiling innocently. She can tell he doesn’t believe her act, picking up his drink anyway and tentatively takes a sip.
His face scrunches up in distaste immediately from the bitter taste and she can’t help the quiet giggles she isn’t even trying to hide.
And this continues on for the next few weeks. There’s always something missing from her drink, and she responds in kind. Once he really took her by surprise and managed to hide in the kitchen until she came. She was a bit disappointed to find her table empty, but waved the feeling away. He wasn’t important to her. She should be happy, now her Saturdays could go back to being peaceful.
She decided to order something other than her hot cocoa that day. She asked for a Frappuccino with caramel. The kind barista who always serves her hands her the drink and for some odd reason she looks like she’s trying to hold back a laugh. Unfazed, Emma takes a sip and notices that something is missing. Her caramel. She hears a chuckle and turns around to find him standing behind his chair. All she can do is gape at him. How could he have known her order? And it was different this time!
Both of them know what to expect when they come into the shop, but both continue to show up.
Every time.
It’s another Saturday morning and Emma walks with a light in her step, knowing she’s going to see her… friend… enemy… frenemy? She doesn’t even know what he is and suddenly she stops as she realizes something. She no longer sees him as the annoyance he once was. She now looks forward to their “meetings.” She doesn’t know what to think about it. He’s handsome, she can’t deny it. It’s the first thing she noticed about him. But she doesn’t know him. Should she ask him out? Simply talk to him and get to know him? Change the whole dynamic of how things are between them?
Emma bites her lip, contemplating her next move. She runs when she’s scared, it’s what she’s always done. It’s what she’s had to learn to do after growing up with no one to love her and the one time she thought someone did, he sent her to prison for his crimes.
It’s what’s protected her. But it’s also what’s kept out love and pushed any potential friendships away. This is the first real “friend” she’s made and although she’s scared to break whatever it is they have going on here…
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, making a decision. For once in her life she’s going to be brave and not let her fear rule her. She’s not going to ask him out, she doesn’t want to seem too forward or eager. But she does want to talk to him, to have an actual conversation in hopes of becoming friends at the very least.
She continues walking, making her way toward the shop in anticipation. It’s packed with more people than usual. As Emma makes her way to her table she notices that although it’s empty, no one is sitting there because there are no chairs. She furrows her brows in confusion and looks around to find there are no other available spots, when a cough catches her attention. She meets the amused stare of her “friend.”
Of course, the only other available chair is at his table. This time instead of a missing ingredient, it’s a missing chair. She rolls her eyes, but takes a seat.
Well this is convenient, she thinks since she wanted to sit down with him anyway and he’s just given her the perfect opportunity.
He perks up once she’s seated since he probably thought she would decline his invitation. She smiles at him shyly and looks down, finding a hot cocoa waiting for her. When she looks at him, he just nods encouragingly and she tastes it, finding that it’s perfect and just the way she likes it. After giving him a questioning look, she takes another sip enjoying her drink.
He clears his throat, “I couldn’t give you a drink you don’t like on our tenth date. It’s quite the milestone.”
Emma chokes on her hot cocoa for a moment. Once she can breathe she asks, “Tenth date? Did I miss the first nine?”
“Aye, your hot cocoa with no whipped cream and cinnamon’s the first, my greatly distasteful black coffee’s the second, and well I’m sure you remember the rest, lass,” he jokes.
His accent. It makes her want to swoon. Hold yourself together, Emma.
All humor disappears when he continues, “In all seriousness, love, I was hoping to ask you out. To dinner, or something,” he mumbles shyly.
It’s so different to see the man that oozed confidence, suddenly become this shy person whose cheeks have reddened. He’s rubbing his finger behind his ear, a nervous tick she’s sure.
“Oh,” is all she says.
Honestly he caught her off guard. She came in here, finally brave enough to speak to him, hoping he’d at least be her friend. He must think she’s not interested by the way his face falls so she quickly continues.
“It’s just you surprised me. I finally found the confidence to talk to you today, but you beat me to it,” she says with a reassuring smile.
Her words and smile have the desired effect. His face quickly changes from disappointed to relieved and a bright smile that reaches his eyes spreads across his face and she can’t help it when her smile widens just the same.
“Killian Jones, at your service,” he says as he reaches his hand out.
“Emma. Emma Swan,” she replies, placing her hand in his. He surprises her when he brings it closer, placing a kiss on the back of her hand, only giving her a cheeky wink when she shakes her head, but her smile never wavers.
It turns out Killian’s brother, Liam, owns the coffee shop which is how he knew her orders. The friendly barista is his sister-in-law, Elsa, who knew of Killian’s interest in her and the little game he started in the hopes of getting her attention, which explains those looks she’d give her.
She learns he works at the docks, he is good with ships, and moved to Boston a few months ago to be closer to his brother and sister-in-law as they are the only family he has. His mother died in childbirth and his father abandoned them when he was a child.
They sat talking for hours, getting to know one another. When Emma finally had to go home, reluctantly they said goodbye to each other and Killian told her he’d text her so they can set up a time for their first actual date.
She didn’t have to wait long since he texted her only ten minutes after she left and she laughed at how adorable he is.
Their first date is wonderful, both expected and unexpected. When they talked in the coffee shop, he seemed to be a gentleman and that’s how he acted on their date. When they played their game however, he was a different person. He was a mix of both on their date and she was happy to see that, see all of him. She also saw how easily she could fall for this man. And for once, the thought of falling in love didn’t scare her.
Many more dates follow and soon they find themselves celebrating their two year anniversary. Emma’s come a long way in the past two years. Not only did she find a man she loves and who loves her in return, she also found a family and friends.
Liam and Elsa were very welcoming, she and Elsa hitting it off straight away. When she didn’t have plans with Killian, she was with Elsa.
Since it’s their anniversary, Killian has a special surprise to mark the occasion.
He proposes that night. With an empty box.
“Seriously?”
He gives her a mischievous grin, then pulls out the ring from his pocket and places it on her finger.
She sighs exasperatedly, but he just kisses her while pulling her close. She can’t help but wrap her arms around his neck, eventually smiling into the kiss.
If you asked Emma what’s missing from her life, she’d say nothing at all.
Hi guys! Here’s my story for @csjanuaryjoy! It’s a CS proposal with a bit of a twist! Thanks to CSJJ for setting this up! I really enjoyed writing this! I hope you guys like it and please let me know what you think! Enjoy! xx :D
Fairy lights hung above, illuminating the ship by casting a soft glow in the darkness of the night and twinkling like little stars.
Red rose petals are scattered, surrounding the small dinner table in the center of the deck. A red and white checkered table cloth draped over it, a candle in the middle, and a table is set for two.
The smell of the ocean wafts through the air from the faint summer breeze.
Killian adds a few rose petals on the table and stops to look, smiling at the perfect scene in front of him.
“Alright. I believe we’re finished,” he says, turning to Henry and David.
Killian has been planning this night for weeks, soon after they defeated the Evil Queen, dealt with Gideon, and Emma’s visions stopped, the town had been surprisingly quiet and now he finally has a chance to do it.
He’s going to propose.
He’s equal parts giddy and nervous. He loves her so much and he knows how much she loves him too. They’ve been through so many adventures and separations, but they always find their way back to each other. That must be the magic of True Love.
With the aid of Henry and David, the three of them had been able to set everything up just the way he had been picturing it. They are the only ones who know, even going as far as warning David not to speak a word of this to Snow. They all know she can’t keep a secret, even David begrudgingly agreed.
They’ve been planning everything secretly for weeks and the day has finally come. Killian decided to propose on his beloved Jolly Roger, the ship that’s been witness to all his heartbreak. But hopefully tonight, it would finally have a good memory to carry.
It’s going to be the best memory.
They helped him string up the fairy lights, Henry choosing to also wrap them around the crow’s nest, his age and agility helping him go up easier than he or David. He chose red rose petals, reminding him of the flower he’d purchased Emma on their first date. The table cloth was similar to the one they had at the restaurant they went to for their first date and that’s where their meal is from. When they found a quiet moment now and then in between the chaos that is their little town, they frequently revisited the restaurant. And of course, he couldn’t forget his rum. Although the occasion called for a more elegant beverage, he knows her favorite alcoholic beverage is rum and he saved his best kind for the occasion.
The boy had suggested he play music in the background and he thought it would be a great addition. So, Henry helped him choose a song and after listening to many versions of the waltz of this realm, Killian chose the one that sounded closest to the one he and his Swan danced to in their time in the past.
He kept everything simple, yet elegant, knowing this is what she liked, but still going a bit more romantic to show her how special she is to him.
He’s still worried she’ll say no and although Henry and David were both quick to reassure him she’d accept, he knows Emma. He knows how her past creeps up on her and how change frightens her.
She has been dropping hints lately, though. One morning she woke up with a smile on her face and a happy twinkle in her eye and she told him it’s because she had a “dream,” seeing their wedding. While they snuggled on the couch to watch a movie on the Netflix (there’s no ‘the,’) that played on the moving picture box (How many times do I have to tell you, it’s called a TV!) she’d “chosen” to watch a movie by the name of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (what an odd name). And one time, she’d been so absorbed in her task she hadn’t noticed he was behind her and he hadn’t said anything. He caught her looking at wedding dresses on her magic box (it’s a laptop!).
She’s been the one dropping hints, yet he can’t help but worry.
He sets his fears aside and looks at Henry and David, not knowing how to thank them enough.
“My sincerest gratitude to you both. I don’t think I would have been able to do all of this without you. Thank you, truly.”
“It was our pleasure,” David responded, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
“Should I start calling you ‘dad’ now, Dave?” Killian teased.
“Don’t push it,” David grumbled in mock sternness, making Killian laugh.
Henry then steps up to him and gives him a hug, “Don’t worry,” he tells him.
Killian simply nods, squeezing the lad’s shoulder and tries to give him a reassuring smile.
“And she’s going to love that ring,” Henry says.
“Aye, I hope so.”
Before they leave Killian asks Henry to send Emma a message on his talking phone telling her to meet him at the docks (because Henry is much faster at this texting nonsense). She replies, telling him she’d be there in half an hour. Killian thanks Henry once more before the lad follows his grandfather, leaving Killian alone.
He should probably check that everything is perfect one more time before his Swan arrives.
Half an hour feels like an eternity, but the time finally passes and he sees Emma making her way toward him. He was careful to have their meeting place close to the ship, yet far away enough she couldn’t see it yet.
“Hello, my love,” he greets her, giving her a chaste kiss.
When he releases her she rests her forehead against his, combing her fingers through his hair at the back of his head.
“I missed you today,” she whispers.
“I missed you too, lass. Now come, I have a surprise for you.”
“What is it?” she asks him curiously.
“How would it be a surprise if I told you, Swan? You’ll find out soon. Now, I need you to put this on,” he says as he pulls out a blindfold.
“Seriously?”
“Humor me for just a minute. Please?” he asks her, giving her his best puppy eyes and finishing it off with an adorable pout he knows she can’t refuse.
If we ever have kids and they inherit his eyes, I’m never going to say no to them, Emma thinks.
She sighs and takes the blindfold from his hand, slipping it to cover her eyes and securing it with a knot.
“You’re lucky I love you,” she mutters grumpily.
Killian lets out a chuckle at her childish behavior and kisses her cheek. He picks up her hand, intertwining their fingers as he carefully guides her to her surprise.
His heart is pounding, growing louder the closer they get to the ship. She’s probably guessed where he’s brought her but she remains silent. When they finally make it up the gangway and to the deck, he lets go of her hand then positions her facing everything from the perfect angle. Killian takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, wiping his sweaty palm on his jeans. He moves behind her, untying the knot.
Once Killian removed the scarf, Emma had to blink a few times so her eyes could adjust. She stands there, taking everything in and her breath catches in her throat. Her eyes roam around the whole ship, tears welling in her eyes at how beautiful everything looks.
“Killian…” she says. Nothing else comes out, she’s rendered speechless in the thought and time he put into doing all this for her.
She turns to look at him when she finds him kneeling on the floor and he looks up at her with a nervous smile and takes her hand in his.
“Emma,” his voice caresses her name in a tender rasp. “When we met, I was just a vengeful pirate that was lost and you were a lost girl with a safely guarded heart. Both of us had given up on love and yet, we’ve found it in each other. We both had walls, but slowly we healed each other’s broken hearts and you’ve helped me become a better man. You brought me out of my own darkness. It’s been an honor breaking down those walls of yours, one by one, and I promise you I will never do anything that will make you have to build them again. So, my love, will you bring down that final wall and do me the extraordinary honor of marrying me?”
Killian looks up at her with nervous, yet hopeful eyes and she has tears streaming down her face. She opens her mouth and answers.
“No.”
His face falls and his heart drops.
You bloody fool. You read all the signs wrong, he reprimands himself.
Before he can ask her why or brush it off or whatever the hell he was going to say, she jerks him up by the arm and the next thing he knows is he’s surrounded by white smoke. He looks up to see she brought them to their home and he’s about to ask her why they are here when he lifts his head looking around and he gasps in surprise.
They’re standing in their living room but he hardly recognizes it. All the furniture had been pushed back and in the center of the room there is a table set for two. The floor is covered in small, individual candles illuminating the dark area. There must be at least a hundred if not more. Carefully, he steps closer to the table and notices three more small candles rest in glasses, the glasses filled with water and pink rose petals, and the candle floating in each.
“No,” she repeats and he takes his eyes away from everything it seems she’s set up and looks at her.
“No, because I was supposed to be the one to propose!” she suddenly shouts loudly. “No, because I actually tried too cook. Cook! I had my mother help me because you know I can’t make anything and I made you that meal my mom made the other day when we had dinner at their place and you said it reminded you of your mother’s food! No, because for once I wanted to do something romantic for you! I wanted to surprise you! You always do everything and I wanted to show you how much I love you! No, beca-”
He stops her loud rambling in the only way he knows how. He steps forward, pulling her arms down, that she’d been flailing like a mad woman, and cups her cheek with his hand, slamming their lips together.
She is surprised by the interruption to her tirade, but she quickly responds by wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him even closer. They break the kiss for air, Killian placing a loving peck to her nose that makes her smile.
“If you wanted to propose, why in the bloody hell were you giving me hints?” he asks her.
“Because I wanted to know if you were open to the idea of marriage,” she answers.
“You’re impossible,” he mutters.
She flashes him a self-satisfied smirk, “And you love me for it.”
“Aye, I do.”
They stand wrapped in each other’s arms, staring at each other with love in their eyes.
“Will you marry me?” they both whisper at the same time, then break into laughter.
“Go ahead, Swan,” he tells her.
“Um, ok,” she says a bit nervously. “I had this whole speech, but things didn’t go as planned,” she lets out a chuckle.
She pulls out a ring and he’s surprised she got him one. It’s silver, encrusted with a flower pattern. She lifts it to him and asks him to read the inside of the ring. Gently, he takes the ring from her hand and looks at the inscription.
My Savior.
Killian’s eyes well up with tears and he looks up to her beautiful face.
“I might be the Savior, Killian, but you are my Savior. You helped me open my heart again and in a way you saved me from myself. Thank you.”
Killian allows a few tears to escape and she reaches out to wipe them away. He kisses her palm, handing the ring back to her so she can place it on his finger.
“Your turn,” she says.
Killian takes a deep breath so he can recover. “Well, you’ve already heard my speech, love. And deprived me of a dashing proposal,” he jokes.
She giggles and it’s music to his ears, “I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head, waving away her apology. “This was my mother’s ring,” he says as he pulls it out of his pocket and rubs behind his ear with his hook. “If you don’t like it, we can go choose another-”
“It’s beautiful,” she tells him as she runs her fingers over it reverently. Three bands are connected, with a pear cut emerald in the middle, outlined with small diamonds.
“The color reminded me of your eyes.”
She holds out her hand expectantly and he grins at her, slipping the ring on her finger, a heavy weight that’s been in his chest since he thought she refused finally lifted. He brings her hand up and places a kiss on the ring and her finger. She pulls him by the lapels of his jacket and kisses him hard and both try to pour everything into the kiss: love, gratitude, happiness.
“We’re getting married,” she says excitedly, jumping up and down a bit.
Since the whole ordeal with the Underworld, defeating Hyde and the Evil Queen, and successfully releasing Belle from Pandora’s Box, there is one thing that keeps a very pregnant Belle amused while still figuring things out with Rumple.
Killian’s reaction to pretty much every book she introduces to him.
Since both of them love to read and they now have time on their hands, they read a book each week. Killian has been curious to read the books of this realm and she sees this as a fun distraction to her problems.
Although Belle has already read all these books, she needs to reread them to refresh her memory when she and Killian sit down for their one on one book club meeting.
“This Twilight series is utter nonsense, love. A woman in love with a man that finds her appetizing? How is that romantic?”
“This Harry Potter bloke sounds like he could be useful. Perhaps he’s real too. Why don’t we do some research?”
“A wardrobe that acts as a portal, like the one Emma was sent through. If this is real, do you think there is a realm with a Lion ruler that speaks somewhere as well?”
“Belle! How could you introduce me to Outlander!? I’ve only perused the first two books and it’s already ripped my heart out of my chest. And you say there is a total of eight! How will I make it?”
Belle just finds it all highly amusing and she loves to give her friend books to read just so she can see what reaction will flare up once he’s finished with the book.
They’ve just finished their latest book meeting and Killian is about to leave to get lunch for Emma when Belle stops him.
“Killian?”
“Aye?”
She gives him a small smile and says, “thanks for being my friend.”
He gives her a soft smile and hugs her as best he can with her bulging stomach.
“It’s my pleasure. And thank you for being mine.” he replies.
He waves goodbye and is out the door when she opens it and shouts, “our next book is Peter Pan!”
“No it’s not!” he repeats for what must be the hundredth time behind his shoulder.
Belle just smirks to herself and promises she’ll find a way to get him to read that book.
