Sneak peek of a new story for @apiratewhopines (and whoever else wants to read it!)
Today is the birthday of one of my favorite people in the CS fandom, @apiratewhopines! I hoped to have this story finished for her and it’s very close, but I can only post the sneak peek this morning. The art and story are a result of a conversation we had about glass blowing and what it would be like to see Killian Jones in a glass hot shop. It was meant to be a short one-shot, but it’s already nearing 10,000 words! I hope you love it, my sweet friend!
Find the sneak peek under the cut.
*********
As she drove to Portland Wednesday afternoon, Emma worried her bottom lip between her teeth. She was excited but also nervous, not only about learning something new, but also about meeting the man behind the sexy voice. She had actually dreamed about him the night after their conversation on the phone, as if her subconscious was trying to put a face with the voice that was still echoing in her ears.
Parking her bug in front of the warehouse her GPS declared was her destination, she drew in a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Then she grabbed the gift certificate off the seat, flung her car door open and stepped out.
She approached the building and pulled open the creaky metal door, looking around as she entered, but not seeing Killian Jones. Smiling at the glassblowing equipment spread around the large space, she mentally named things she recognized from watching the Netflix show and numerous YouTube videos.
Turning her attention to several blown glass pieces sitting on a table beside the door, she carefully picked up each one to study them.
“You must be Emma Swan.”
The words spoken close behind her startled her so much, she almost dropped the beautiful aqua colored bowl she was holding. Letting out a gasp, she quickly set it back on the table and turned around, saying, “Oh, I didn’t know you were…”
Her words trailed off as she got a look at her instructor. Her first thought was that her dreams of him didn’t do him justice, and her second was that his looks certainly equaled the sexiness of his voice. He appeared to be about her age, was a few inches taller than her, with dark, disheveled hair, a strong, scruff-covered jaw, piercing blue eyes and a gleaming white smile. His hands grasped both ends of a towel slung around his neck, making his biceps bulge under the sleeves of his tight, white T-shirt, the V-neck allowing her to see dark hair peeking out.
While he waited for her to speak again, he used the end of the towel to wipe away the sweat on his forehead. A few strands of hair flopped down over it once he finished and her hand inadvertently reached forward, intending to brush them away. Suddenly realizing what she was doing, she jerked her hand back and ran it through her own hair instead.
He looked at her with his head cocked and a raised eyebrow, his roguish grin convincing her he knew the effect he was having on her. She cleared her throat and said, “Uh, yeah. I’m Emma.” Holding out her hand, she added, “It’s nice to meet you, Killian.”
He took her hand, squeezing it lightly as he shook it. “Likewise. Have you been waiting long?”
“Not at all. I just got here and was admiring your work,” she said, sweeping her arm toward the glass works on the table. “They’re very good.”
“Thank you,” he replied with a smile. “Hopefully, by the end of your lessons, you’ll be able to make some nice pieces, too.”
“That would be great!” she said, her voice bubbling with excitement.
“Shall we get started?” he asked.
“Oh, do you need this?” She held out the crumpled gift certificate.
“Aye,” he said, taking the paper, folding it and sticking it in his back pocket. Then he gestured for her to go ahead of him.
“You didn’t check it. Are you just gonna take my word for it that it’s worth ten lessons?” she asked teasingly.
“Well, you haven’t lied to me thus far.”
She turned to look at him over her shoulder and saw the smirk on his face. She was enjoying the banter with him and already felt at ease.
*********
Hopefully, the full story will be posted within the week. Happiest of birthdays Beth!
Thank you guys for all the likes and reblogs, it really makes my day when I see that people are enjoying my stories. If you guys have any thoughts or feedback, feel free to message me on here or on Instagram and I will take them into account. 😊
I hope you have recovered from last week's chapter. Poor Henry really tugs at the heartstrings, doesn't he? This chapter is a little lighter and a lot more hopeful, and I hope you enjoy it!
My thanks to @hookedmom and @spartanguard, as always.
Story Summary: Killian Jones is a third grade teacher concerned about one of his students, Henry Cassidy. When he has to make a report to the Office of Child and Family Services about the possible neglect and abuse of the boy, the person sent to investigate is Emma Swan. While both of them have Henry’s welfare at heart, there may be other matters of the heart involved neither one expected.
Rating: M
Words: 6408
Chapters on Tumblr: Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4 Ch5 Ch6
Story on Ao3 and ffn
*********
Comfort
Killian stood looking out his classroom window the next day, watching the vehicles go through the drop-off line and wondering if Ingrid’s car would appear. When the students began filtering in and only a couple of minutes remained until the tardy bell rang, he turned away from the window with a sigh.
He didn’t really expect Henry to be at school, but he was hoping to receive some sort of update about how he was doing. After checking his email and finding nothing there, he took attendance and entered it into his computer, noting Henry’s absence.
None of his students asked about their classmate because there had been a stomach bug going around, so they were used to a student or two being out every day. They dove right into their math lesson, and the next hour-and-a-half passed quickly.
When the students were dismissed for recess, Killian sat down at his desk and checked his email again. There were three new ones, but none were about Henry.
“Hi, Mr. Jones,” came a familiar little voice, and Killian’s head snapped up. Henry was standing uncertainly in the doorway, with Ingrid right behind him, a ‘visitor’ sticker stuck onto the front of her blouse. The boy seemed smaller somehow, like he had shrunken into himself a little.
“Good morning, Henry…and Ms. Fisher,” he greeted, rising from his seat and maneuvering through the maze of desks.
“Oh, please - it’s Ingrid,” the foster mother said, putting a hand on Henry’s shoulder to encourage him to step into the room.
“The class just left for morning recess. Would you like to join them?” Killian asked.
“Um, okay. Should I unpack my bookbag first?”
“Why don’t you let me take care of that, so you can go enjoy some sunshine and fresh air with your friends?” Ingrid said.
Henry nodded and glanced at Killian once more, then gave his foster mother a hug, before turning and heading down the hall toward the recess doors.
“Do you have a few minutes?” Ingrid asked.
“Of course, please come in and have a seat. I’m afraid the chairs aren’t very comfortable for adults.”
Ingrid chuckled. “No problem. I think I can manage sitting on one for a little while.”
Killian pulled two chairs out from the reading table and they settled into them. “How is he doing?”
“I couldn’t get him to eat any supper last night and I heard him crying until I went to bed at ten-thirty. I checked on him a few times and he kept telling me he just wanted to be alone.”
Killian pressed his lips together and dropped his head, sad to hear how much the boy was hurting, even though he expected nothing less.
“I let him sleep this morning because I figured he had to be exhausted from all the emotions he experienced yesterday. When he woke up, he came bounding into the kitchen, wondering why I didn’t wake him up for school. I told him he didn’t have to come today, and do you know what he said?”
“No, what did he say?”
“He said, ‘I have to go. Mr. Jones will miss me if I don’t.’ That’s the influence you have on him, Mr. Jones. He knows how much you care about him and doesn’t want to worry you or let you down.”
Suddenly, Killian’s decision about becoming Henry’s foster parent became a lot easier.
*********
Killian tried to watch Henry discretely as the day went on and, although he had moments where tears were close to the surface and a few found their way down his cheeks, he seemed to be handling things fairly well. Killian didn’t think Henry had told any of his classmates about what happened to his dad.
After lunch, they had writer’s workshop, which was Henry’s favorite time of the day. Killian provided prompts for those students who had trouble coming up with a topic, but Henry rarely needed one as he always seemed to be bursting with stories to be written. His teacher was convinced the boy would be an author someday.
Killian spent the forty-five minute block of time circulating around the room, checking in on those struggling to get words down, keeping students on task, and correcting grammatical and punctuation errors for what he felt was the thousandth time.
Just as he was preparing to wrap up writing time so they could move on to science, Henry approached him with his notebook in his hands. “Mr. Jones, could I…um, I wrote something I’d like to share with the class. Is that alright?”
Normally, Killian would have been hesitant to let a student share something they had written without reading it over beforehand himself, but he could see how important this was to the boy. “Of course, Henry. Go to the front of the room and as soon as everyone is settled, you can read your story.”
It took a couple of minutes for the other students to clear their desks and direct their attention to their classmate who was standing nervously in front of the smartboard. When they were finally ready, Killian gave a nod to Henry, who cleared his throat and fastened his eyes on his notebook.
“When I was in first grade, the teacher told us to write about our hero. I chose my dad. My mom had died the year before, and my dad was sad like me, but he took very good care of me. He was a good dad up until when he got a girlfriend and started having parties. Then he didn’t pay much attention to me, and I didn’t know if he even loved me anymore.”
He paused to turn the page and Killian glanced around at the other students, who were listening intently.
“I had to go live somewhere else because my dad wasn’t taking care of me, and I really missed him. A few weeks ago, I was able to have visits with him and he told me he was sorry and that I would be going home to live with him again soon.”
Killian’s throat began to constrict, knowing what Henry was going to say next.
“But yesterday my dad died, and now I’ll never get to see him again. I’m sad all over again, and now I have to find a new hero.”
Complete silence fell over the room as he finished and Killian wasn’t sure how they were going to move past such an emotional moment. Then Nicholas Zimmer got up from his seat and walked toward Henry, stopping in front of him for a beat or two, before giving him a big hug.
Grace and Violet rose and joined in, and Killian choked up further, watching as every student in his class surrounded their grieving classmate, giving him their support in the best way they knew how. He had never been as proud of any of his classes as he was of this one as they shared a silent group hug. He pulled out his phone and snapped a quick photo, wanting to commemorate the moment that his class taught him more in one minute than he had taught them in an entire school year.
*********
Emma’s soothing voice came across the phone line. “How was your day?”
Killian sat back in his desk chair, swiveling it to look over his classroom, now empty of students. “It was…a bit emotional, honestly.”
“Was Henry there?”
“He came in mid-morning. Ingrid was going to let him stay home, but he insisted on coming because he didn’t want me to worry about him.”
“You have quite a connection with him, don’t you?”
“Aye, and I think it’s pretty clear what decision I should make about being his foster parent.”
“I agree. If he’s placed somewhere away from here, you’re always going to wonder how he’s doing.” She heard him sigh on the other end. “You sound tired.”
“I am.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t come over tonight and let you get…”
“I need you, Swan.”
“Then I’ll be there.”
*********
Emma picked up Chinese food on the way to Killian’s, and while they were eating, he told her about Henry’s story and his classmates’ reaction to it. When he showed her the picture he took, she had no trouble understanding why it was such an emotional day.
After dinner, they took the dogs for a long walk along the beach. As they walked, she tried to steer the conversation away from either of their jobs and Henry, because she could tell he needed a break from everything.
It was a warm and breezy evening, so after strolling for almost half-an-hour, Emma pulled him down to sit with her on the dry, hard-packed sand. Since there were no other people around, they let Minnie and Coco off their leashes to explore amid the rocks and grass surrounding them.
Killian fixed his eyes on the horizon in front of him, mesmerized by the gently rolling waves of the bay. Meanwhile, Emma’s gaze was focused on her boyfriend’s profile and she couldn’t keep her fingers from straying to the fringes of hair at the nape of his neck. “I love you,” she hummed.
He reached over to run his hand up and down the calf of her left leg. “I love you too, Emma. I’m very glad to have your love and support right now.”
Grasping his hand, she pulled it over her shoulder and snuggled into his side. “You’re such a good man, Killian Jones.”
She felt the vibration of his responding chuckle against her cheek. “Why do you say that?”
“Because you care so much, for one thing; for your students, your friends, Minnie…”
“You.”
“Yeah, me. You’re strong, sweet, kind and passionate, and Ruby hit the nail on the head when she said you’re drop-dead gorgeous.”
This time he laughed out loud. “When did Ruby say that?”
“The first night you came to the bar. That day I went to investigate your report, she played twenty questions with me afterwards and found out Henry had a male teacher. Of course, she had to ask if you were an old codger…”
Killian’s laugh boomed out once more. “Well, at least the ‘old’ part is right!”
“Hush! You’re far from old, my love.”
They watched Coco follow Minnie toward the water, then come streaking back to them once it splashed onto his feet, causing both of them to laugh. “He’s such a chicken,” Killian commented.
“Hey, watch it, buster! That’s my baby you’re talking about!”
“He’s a baby, all right,” he quipped, watching the little dog run behind his owner and peek out at the offending waves.
Several more minutes passed peacefully while they let the ocean work its magic to relax them. When the sky began to darken, Emma glanced around, pressed a kiss to Killian’s cheek and jumped up.
His eyes followed her curiously as she kicked at the tufts of grass amongst the rocks, until she bent down and picked up a stick about three feet long. “Aha!” she crowed triumphantly, then turned and grabbed his hand to tug him to his feet. “Come on!”
“Where are we going, Love?”
“You’ll see. I’ve always wanted to do this.”
She led them onto the soft, wet band of beach, just beyond the reach of the tide, and looked at him with a twinkle in her eye. Without letting go of his hand, she used the stick to scratch a large heart into the sand, adding ‘E + K’ in the center of it.
When she finished, he reached for the stick and added ‘4 ever’ underneath the letters. Then he wrapped her up in his arms, kissing her with abandon until the light completely faded away, leaving them to walk back to the house in the dark; arms wound tightly around each other with their pets dancing playfully around their feet.
*********
“Are you asleep?” Emma asked, already knowing the answer as she laid across Killian, their bodies still cooling from making love. It hadn’t taken them long to fall into bed once they were home, the need to express their feelings overwhelming them.
“Mmm, not yet,” he murmured. “Something on your mind?”
She raised her head, settling her chin on his breastbone to look into his face. “When you wrote ‘forever’ in the sand, did you really mean that?”
His fingers brushed some strands of hair away from her face. “I don’t know about you, Emma, but I’m in this for the long haul. Perhaps it’s because of our similar backgrounds, or maybe we were just meant to be together, but almost from the moment I met you, I felt a connection between us.”
“I know what you mean. I tried to talk myself out of the attraction I felt for you, but failed. You’re it for me.”
He beamed at her, before his brow furrowed in seriousness. “We’re going to face some challenges in the coming months, if Henry comes to live here.”
“Are you afraid we won’t be able to make it work?”
“No, I’m just saying that it could get complicated.”
“It’ll be worth it, though. Henry deserves a good home and that’s what you’ll provide for him. He seems very accepting and has already met me, so I don’t think having me around is going to bother him.”
“I’m sure you’re right about that.” His fingers scratched along her scalp, causing her to lay her head back down on his chest, almost purring with contentment. A couple of minutes passed before he spoke again. “Ingrid said there won’t be any services for Neal, but Ruby is going to take Henry to the house in a couple of days to collect his remaining possessions. At least he’ll get a little bit of closure that way.”
“She’s been trying to go through closets and cupboards to see if they contain anything Henry might want. She told me they’re gonna have to have professional cleaners come in to try to make the house livable again, even though Neal was making an effort to clean it up so he could get his son back.”
“I wonder why he relapsed?” he asked thoughtfully.
“Ruby thinks it was because of his girlfriend. She just had too much influence over him, and it cost him his life.”
“Aye,” he sighed, “what a waste.”
Emma reached over to pluck her phone off of the nightstand. “It’s almost eleven o’clock, Babe. We better get cleaned up and get some sleep.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he groaned, reluctantly rolling them onto their sides, then kissing the tip of her nose just to see it scrunch up. “You’re adorable, Swan.”
“And you’re a charmer, Jones.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Most definitely not, as long as you don’t use your charm on any other women.”
“Are there other women in the world besides you? I hadn’t noticed,” he smirked.
Her responding giggle widened his grin and he couldn’t resist peppering kisses along her exposed throat, which turned her giggles into moans of pleasure.
It was after midnight before they finally settled in to sleep, completely sated after losing themselves in their love for each other once again.
*********
Emma hadn’t mentioned anything to Ruby about Killian’s intention to be Henry’s foster father, knowing it wasn’t her place to bring it up. He planned to speak to the caseworker at the beginning of the second week in May, since there would only be a month remaining in the school year and he wanted to allow both Henry and himself a chance to get used to the idea.
Henry had collected his remaining belongings from his house and was continuing therapy sessions with Mr. Hopper, now focusing on getting over the death of his father. As the days passed, Killian started to see glimmers of the happy little boy Henry had the potential to be more often, and he was eager to see the effect time and a healthy environment would have on him in the future.
When he arrived at the office of Child and Family Services in Augusta at the appointed time on Monday afternoon, he couldn’t keep from asking the receptionist if Emma Swan was in. She informed him that she was and hopped up from her desk to lead him to Emma’s cubicle, chattering away as she did.
“Emma, there’s someone here to see you,” the lady chirped, pointing him toward an opening in the partition.
“Is it an emergency, Anna? Because I really need to…”
“It’s just me, Love. I have an appointment with Ruby today, remember?”
“Oh, that’s right! It kind of slipped my mind. I got a new case a couple of hours ago and I’m trying to get some research done for it.” She stood and stretched, giving him a tantalizing peek of her bare midriff when her top rode up. Seeing where his eyes went, she winked at him, then turned to address the receptionist. “Anna, this is my boyfriend, Killian Jones. He’s here…”
“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Jones! I’ve heard Emma mention you from time to time and I was really hoping I would get to meet you eventually. I remember seeing your name down on Ruby’s schedule. Would you like for me to let her know you’re here? Or would you prefer to have some time with Emma first? What am I saying? Of course you would like to be with your girlfriend for a little while! Maybe I can tell Ruby you’ll be with her in a few minutes. Would that be okay?”
“Umm…”
“That’s what I’ll do - I’ll just tell her you’ll be along after you’re finished, uh, talking to Emma.” She giggled behind her hand, then pivoted and scurried off.
Killian turned wide eyes toward his girlfriend, who was struggling not to burst out laughing at the look on his face. “So, that’s Anna,” she said. “It took us a while to get her to come out of her shell.”
“Has anyone ever timed her to figure out how many words she speaks per minute?” he asked, still in slight shock from the verbal onslaught.
This time, Emma couldn’t hold back her laugh. “Sometimes when I’m around her for an hour or so, I go sit in my car just to let my ears rest.”
It was his turn to chuckle, before taking her hands and leaning forward to briefly press his lips to hers. “I got here a bit early so I could see my beautiful girlfriend, but I probably should go so I’m not late for my appointment with Ruby.”
“Mmm, Ruby can wait,” she murmured, and pulled him back down for a longer, more ardent kiss.
“She most certainly can not! You know what a stickler I am for punctuality!”
Emma groaned as Ruby’s voice caused them to break apart. “Seriously, Rubes? When have you ever been punctual for anything?”
“Apparently I have impeccable timing for keeping the two of you from doing it right here on your desk.”
“Oh, my god! We weren’t…you know what? Just go have your meeting with Killian; I’ve got to get back to work anyway. Some of us don’t have time to lurk around other people’s cubicles.”
Killian stood grinning at the exchange between the two friends, before Emma heaved a sigh and brushed her lips across his stubbled cheek. “See you later, Babe.”
“Come on, Babe. Let’s go see if we can figure out how to keep Jeff and Emma from finding out about our passionate affair,” Ruby spouted, linking her arm through Killian’s.
He threw one last look back at his girlfriend, who mouthed, ‘Good luck’.
“So what’s cookin’, good lookin’?” Ruby inquired, once they were seated on opposite sides of her desk.
Killian leaned forward, resting his forearms on the surface and linking his fingers with those of his prosthetic. “I want to be Henry’s foster parent when the school year is over.”
A grin stretched across her face. “You would be perfect for him! Do you want it to be short-term or long-term?”
“Actually, I’m hoping this would lead to adoption.”
Ruby sat up straighter in her chair. “You’re serious?”
“Aye. He and I already have rapport built with each other and I’d like to offer him a good, stable home. I don’t want him to get lost in the system.”
“What are Emma’s thoughts on the subject? I assume you’ve talked to her about it.”
“Of course we’ve discussed it, since it affects her, too. We’re aware that this will change the dynamics of our relationship, but Henry’s story is very similar to both of ours. We know what it’s like to wonder where we belong and we don’t want that for him.”
“Would you be open to having him over for a weekend visit to your house?” she asked, tapping some keys on her computer to bring up a form.
“Absolutely. I want to make sure he’s comfortable with me, well, with us. Emma isn’t planning on spending the night when he’s there, at least not for a while, but she and Coco will be frequent visitors.”
“It’s a good thing she’s not involved with his case anymore. That could raise some ethical issues.”
“She’s planning on talking to her supervisor, so there won’t be any questions about her intentions when she removed him from his house.”
“I hadn’t thought about it, but that’s a good idea. You don’t want any loose ends hanging around that could come back to bite you in the ass.” Her eyes focused on the screen while she spoke. “Did you want to get the paperwork started today?”
“I was hoping to. I figured it would take a couple of weeks to get the ball rolling.”
“Yeah, but there really aren’t any complications. No parental rights, no siblings or relatives found, no medical conditions or special needs. I shouldn’t list those as complications, but they do tend to make some extra accommodations necessary.”
Killian nodded in acknowledgement. “Do you think it will be a pretty smooth process, then?”
“I do. He’s not an infant, which most people who are waiting to adopt request, and if you foster him first, adopting him will be fairly easy.”
“I really appreciate your help, Ruby.”
“Hey, I’m the one who appreciates you. He’s a great kid and I was really hoping to get him a good placement, but this is even better than I imagined. I’m already picturing the Christmas photos with the three of you and your dogs!”
Killian chuckled, then settled back in his seat as Ruby began firing questions at him so she could start filling in the foster parenting form.
*********
After finishing with Ruby, Killian stopped by Emma’s cubicle again. She was engrossed in the paperwork spread out on her desk and startled when he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head.
“I’m sorry, Love,” he apologized.
“Don’t be. I welcome your surprise kisses anytime. How did things go?”
“Good. Ruby got the paperwork started and she’s going to arrange a weekend visit for Henry with us. I want to start looking for some furniture to put into that spare bedroom.”
“The one on the south side of the living room?”
“Aye. It’s a little larger than the other one, and I thought it would give him more privacy when he gets older.”
Emma hummed. “That makes sense. Was Ruby surprised?”
“Perhaps a bit, but she thinks it’s a great idea.”
“I figured she would. She hasn’t come right out and said it, but I know she’s been worried about where Henry would be placed once his time with Ingrid comes to an end.”
“This seems like a perfect solution for all of us.” He glanced at the time in the corner of her computer. “How much longer will you be working?”
“I’m almost finished with what I need for tomorrow morning, so maybe another fifteen minutes?”
“How about if I go to your place and take care of Coconut, then we can go out to eat before I leave for home?”
“That sounds good. Do you want us to come to your house afterwards?”
“Of course I want you to, but I know you like to get to work early when you have a new case.”
“I don’t mind getting up early to drive back; I would be less tired doing that, than staying at my place. For some reason, I have trouble sleeping when your arms aren’t wrapped around me.”
“I have that same problem too, although I wouldn’t really call it a problem,” he chuckled.
“Maybe we should start spending some nights apart, so we can get used to it before Henry comes to live with you.”
“Or perhaps,” he began, leaning down to nuzzle his nose behind her ear, “we should spend every night together until then.”
“Mmm, I like your plan better,” she murmured, tilting her head to encourage his caresses.
*********
“Mr. Hopper tells me your counseling sessions are going very well,” Ruby told Henry when she met with him the week after Killian came to her office.
“Yeah, I guess so,” he sighed.
“Is something bothering you?” she asked, sliding into a seat at Ingrid’s kitchen table, where Henry was sitting with his chin resting on his crossed arms.
His shoulders raised and lowered. “School is almost over for the summer.”
“You don’t sound very happy about that. Most kids are really excited about the end of the school year.”
He shrugged again. “Ingrid said I’m staying with her until school is out. What will happen to me then?”
“Well, that’s why I came to talk to you and Ingrid today.”
Ingrid placed the glass of milk and plate of apple slices with peanut butter in front of Henry, and sat down to join them at the table. “Have you found a place for him?” she asked, smoothing Henry’s hair fondly.
“Someone came to see me last week and asked if he could become your foster father.”
He perked up and fixed her with an eager look. “Who?”
“Mr. Jones.”
“My teacher?”
“That’s the one.”
“He really wants me to stay with him?” he asked, bouncing with excitement.
“Yes, he does. In fact, he wants to have you over for a visit this weekend, if that’s okay with you and Ingrid.”
He turned toward his foster mother. “Can I?”
“Of course you can, Henry.”
He whipped his eyes back to Ruby. “Will it be for a sleepover?”
“That’s the plan.”
Henry jumped up and started running toward the hallway leading to his bedroom. “I’m gonna go start packing my bag!”
“It’s only Tuesday!” Ingrid laughed, shaking her head at his antics. Then she directed her attention to Ruby. “I’ve been concerned about where he will go, and this seems like a good solution. How long does he want to keep him?”
Ruby lowered her voice. “He’s seriously considering adopting him, but I’m not going to share that with Henry.”
“I can understand that, but oh, wouldn’t that be wonderful? Henry thinks the world of Mr. Jones, and I’m sure he would be very happy with him.”
“Killian has quite a connection to him and hated the idea of Henry being shuffled around in the system.”
“I know, and I really wish I could offer him a permanent home, but…”
“Don’t worry about that, Ingrid. We knew from the day Emma brought him here that it was a temporary solution, and I can’t thank you enough for taking him. It’s clear from what happened to his dad that he was in a terrible situation and you helped him escape it.”
“I’m glad he won’t be going far so I can still see him from time to time. He’s such a sweet little boy, and I’ve grown very attached to him. I always say I won’t, but I just can’t help myself.”
Ruby gave her a beaming smile. “That’s what makes you such a great foster parent, Ingrid.”
“I packed my toothbrush so I wouldn’t forget it!” Henry announced, skidding back into the room.
“That’s the only toothbrush you have, Sweetheart. How are you going to brush your teeth until then?” Ingrid chuckled.
A thoughtful look crossed his face, then his eyes widened as he thought of a solution. “I’ll just put toothpaste on my finger!”
“Oh, Henry!” Ingrid laughed. “I’ll remind you to put it in your bag before you leave. Now go put it back in the bathroom!”
“Okay,” he muttered, then brightened again as he asked Ruby, “When will I be going to Mr. Jones’s house?”
“He’s planning to pick you up on Saturday morning and bring you back Sunday evening.”
He suddenly grew serious. “Am I allowed to talk to him about it at school?”
“I think so,” Ruby said, “but maybe you should do it when other kids aren’t around.”
He nodded his head enthusiastically and turned toward Ingrid. “Can you take me to school early tomorrow. Please?”
“Of course I can, as long as you don’t dawdle.”
“I won’t!” he practically shouted. “I’m gonna go do my homework right now so I can go to bed early!” He threw his arms around Ingrid first and then Ruby, before scurrying out of the room again.
“Well, that’s one way to get him to agree to an early bedtime,” Ingrid said, her voice laced with laughter.
“I figured he would be excited.”
“That’s putting it mildly! I’ll be surprised if he gets any sleep at all tonight.”
“Did you, uh, did you know that Killian and Emma Swan are dating?”
“The investigator? No, I didn’t. Did they know each other before she worked on Henry’s case?”
“No, they met because of it and started dating after her role was wrapped up.”
“I think they would make a very nice couple.”
“They do and I’m really happy for Emma. She deserves a good guy like him.”
“I’m sure Henry will like seeing her again when he’s there this weekend.”
“Actually, I don’t think she’s planning on being there,” Ruby said with a slight frown. “She thinks Killian and Henry should have the weekend to themselves.”
“I don’t think Henry would mind, do you?”
“No, and I tried to tell her that, but both of them want to make sure he’s comfortable at Killian’s.”
“Well, it’s their choice, but I get the impression that Mr. Jones could have Big Foot living at his house and Henry would still be comfortable there!”
Ruby laughed as she nodded her agreement.
*********
Killian knew Ruby was going to talk to Henry and Ingrid Tuesday afternoon, so he was wondering how the little boy would act when he got to school the next morning. He didn’t have to wait long to find out, as Henry came bounding into the room a full ten minutes before he usually arrived.
“Mr. Jones! Ms. Lucas told me you’re gonna be my new foster parent and that I get to come stay with you this weekend!”
“Aye, is that alright with you, lad?”
“It’s great! I can’t wait! What time will you pick me up on Saturday?”
“I haven’t decided yet. What time do you get up?”
“I can be up anytime! How about seven o’clock?”
Killian chuckled. “I don’t think it will be quite that early! After getting up at five-thirty every day, I enjoy having a bit of a lay-in on the weekend.”
Henry’s face scrunched up in confusion. “Lay-in?”
“I mean I like to sleep in a little later.”
“Oh.” Henry’s face fell.
“How does nine o’clock sound?”
His countenance brightened. “Sure, that sounds good!”
“My house is close to the bay, so you might want to bring your swim trunks along. The water will still be chilly, but we can wade in it a bit.”
The cloud passed over his face again. “I don’t have any,” he admitted.
“Well, that’s no problem. We’ll just go shopping to find some for you.”
“Cool! I can hardly wait until Saturday!”
Their conversation came to an end when Grace and Violet entered the room, giggling together about something.
*********
Ingrid thought Henry was going to wear a path into her kitchen tile as he waited for Killian to arrive on Saturday morning. He had gotten up early, was completely ready by 8:20, and spent the next forty minutes pacing and looking out the window. She knew it would be pointless telling him to sit down, so she just sat at the table, sipping her coffee with an amused look on her face.
When Killian’s car pulled into the driveway, Henry nearly deafened her by shouting, “He’s here!” at the top of his lungs.
Before he yanked the door open and dashed outside, Ingrid quickly stood and put her hands on his shoulders. “Henry, I know you’re very excited, but you need to calm down a little bit, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll try,” he agreed. “Can I go now?”
“Go ahead, but keep your voice down. Some people in the neighborhood might still be sleeping.”
She barely got the words out of her mouth before he was tearing out of the door at breakneck speed. Picking up his forgotten duffle bag, she followed him at a more leisurely pace.
“Ready, Henry?” Killian was asking when she reached the driveway.
“Yeah! Oh, wait! I forgot my…”
“Here’s your bag, Henry,” Ingrid said, holding it out to him.
“Thanks, Ingrid,” he replied and flung his arms around her waist before taking it.
“Now, you behave for Mr. Jones,” she said, stepping back when he released his hold on her.
“I will! See you tomorrow night!”
Killian opened the passenger door and folded the front seat down so Henry could climb into the back. “It’s safer for you to ride in the back, okay buddy?”
“Sure! Are we gonna go shopping now?”
“Yes, that’s the plan. Fasten your seat belt.”
After closing the door, he turned to give Ingrid a wave. “I’ll bring him back after supper tomorrow, so he’s not late for his bedtime.”
“Okay. Have fun!” she responded.
He threw her a grin and walked around to the driver’s side. She watched him check over his shoulder to make sure Henry was buckled in, start the car, and back out onto the road. After one last wave, she went back into her suddenly much quieter house.
*********
It didn’t take them long to find a pair of swim trunks for Henry, and soon they were on their way to Killian’s house. He could practically feel the energy and excitement rolling off the boy as he tried to sit still in the back seat.
“I can’t wait to meet your dog!” he exclaimed. Killian had told his class stories about Minnie and had a picture of her as his wallpaper on the home screen of his computer, which the students saw whenever he hooked it up to the smartboard.
“Wow, cool house!” Henry said, craning his neck to look at it through the car window beside him.
“Thanks, I’m glad you like it.” As soon as he put the car in park and turned off the engine, the boy was unbuckling his seatbelt and grabbing his duffle bag. Killian hurried around to open the door and tilt the passenger seat forward for Henry to exit.
Scrambling out, he gave Killian a grin that had a lump lodging in his throat. To know that he could make this boy, who had been through far too much in his young life, so happy by offering him a home, confirmed the decision he made was the right one.
“Watch out for Minnie’s tail,” he warned as they climbed the steps to the front porch. “When she’s excited, it’s like a whip!”
He unlocked the door and used his arm to gently brush Henry back a couple of steps, knowing that his pet would come barreling outside like a whirlwind. Sure enough, Minnie dashed out of the house, barking joyfully and wagging her tail madly.
When she noticed Henry, she began sniffing his tennis shoes, then moved her wet nose up his legs. He giggled at the tickling sensation and dropped to his knees in front of her, encircling her neck with his skinny arms. Minnie accepted his hug gratefully, her body wiggling so hard, she almost knocked him over.
“I think she likes you,” Killian chuckled.
“I’ve always wanted a dog,” he admitted, looking up with a wide grin, “but…” Killian saw the grin fade and a flash of sadness wash over his face, “my…my dad always said dogs were too much work and that I wouldn’t be responsible enough to take care of one.”
“Well, Minnie does require a bit of work, but the happiness she brings me is worth it. I’ll teach you her routine so you can help take care of her, too.” Killian was happy to see the moment of pain pass as Henry’s smile returned.
The three of them went into the house and Killian allowed Henry to wander around, taking in his new surroundings. When he reached the window overlooking the bay, his mouth dropped open. “Wow! You almost live right on the beach! Cool!”
“Would you like to see your bedroom?”
“Sure!”
Killian led him into the room off to the right side of the living room. Emma had helped him choose some furniture they thought a boy Henry’s age would like. The bedroom set had a rustic finish that made it appear to be the worn wood of a ship. The twin-sized headboard looked like a captain’s wheel, while the dresser and nightstand had metal handles in the shape of anchors.
A lamp sitting on the nightstand looked like a large, old-fashioned lantern - the kind which would light the way along passages below a ship’s deck. The comforter and sheet set were light blue decorated with a nautical theme, and Killian had hung two pictures of ships sailing on the ocean on the wall above the bed.
Henry drank it all in with an awed expression on his face. “This is for me?” he squeaked.
“Aye, but if you don’t like the sailing theme or you want different colors…”
“It’s awesome! I love it! Thank you, Mr. Jones!” He dropped his bag on the floor and flung his arms around Killian’s waist.
Killian rubbed the boy’s head, thinking about how he hoped to change Henry’s life by taking him in; but suddenly realizing that Henry was going to change his life just as much. Possibly more.
*********
Thank you once again for the love you’re showing for this story!
"Your majesty, the invaders have breached the castle walls – you must flee!"
Emma had tears in her eyes at the thought of leaving her parents even if she knew that they are both great warriors. Killian was already informing the knights of their aprubt departure, while Emma pleaded with her parents.
"But father-", But Charming was having none of it."Emma please, you can't stay here, it's too dangerous and we won't risk it."
She knew it was the right choice but that didn't mean she had to like it. She was a great warrior, her father thaught how to fight with a sword since she was three years old, was thaught by her mother how to work with a bow and arrow but she couldn't think about herself anymore.
When she told Killian she was with child, they were both delighted and couldn't wait for their child to be born. They were already wed for a year and the news of their little one, the product of their love, were the best they could have gotten.
She lay her hand on top of her three month belly and knew they had to flee. She glanced at Killian who was already speaking with Lancalot, her fathers best knight and companion, who would go with them and protect them if needed. He had Leo in his arms, her two year old brother, who had no idea what was going on.
She turned back to her father, tears in her eyes, bottom lip trembling.
"Daddy, I'm scared." And as he looked into the eyes of his oldest child, he saw the fear and worry, not only for her own little family but for him and Snow too. She was worried they wouldn't make it out alive.
"Oh my darling," he pulled her into his arms and held her head as if she were still an infant. he too had tears in his eyes but he had to be strong, not only for his family but for his kingdom too. He couldn't show weakness, not when he knows what will come.
Emma buried her head in the crook of his neck, relishing this last moment. Her father pulled away and cupped her cheeks, staring directly into her eyes."I can't promise you that everything will be alright," she swallowed, concentraiting on his next words."But I can promise you you will find your way back to us because that's what our family does, we find each other.
Emma smiled and closed her eyes, her father kissing her forehead.
There was a loud noise, the guards drawing their swords.
Charming turned back to his daughter, gripped her shoulders and let one single tear fall.
"You have to go now it won't be long until they are here. Killian and Lancelot will bring you and your brother to safety." He kissed her forehead one last time and looked directly into her eyes.
"I love you. We both love you so much, don't you ever forget that."
Emma let out a sob and hugged him." I love you too."
Killian came running and grabbed her arm."Emma, we have to go. They are almost here." He gripped her hand and lay his hand on top of her belly.
Charming looked at Killian and clapped him on the shoulder."Bring them to safety." Killian looked at Emma, tears streaming down her face, then back to the king."I will, I won't let them get hurt." Charming nodded and watched them flee. When they rode so far that he couldn't see them anymore, he released the tears he couldn't hold back anymore.
~~~
The sun was setting when they came upon a clearing and decided to take a break. They have been riding for hours and were near the kingdom of Arendelle.
Lancalot and Killian were searching for firewood while Emma entertained little Neal, who had fun with his little wooden toy. He will probably miss their parents dearly in a few hours, he never was away from them for longer than two hours.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice Killian coming up from behind. He laid his hand on her upper arm, the other tickling Neal in the ribs, while the toddler laughed.
She smiled at him and laid her head on his shoulder."You alright, love?"
She sighed."Yes I just .. I don't even know."
He kissed her forehead, caressing her belly."And the little one?" Emma looked down at her little bump and laid her hand on top of his."He's alright, just making me a bit sick", Emma laughed.
Killian frowned. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No it's okay, this is all just a bit... overwhelming?"Lancalot took little Neal from her arms so she could stand up and take a seat near the fire.
"Well, this situation isn't ideal but we'll get through this, together. As we always do." She cuddled into him, grabbing a few berries and popping them into her mouth.
She stared into the distance, the full moon giving them enough light to look at the path ahead.
Suddenly there was a rustling in the bushes next to them, telling them that they were not alone.
Killian and Lancelot drew their swords, pushing Emma and little Leo behind them. She was a little annoyed to be represented as weak even as she knew that that wasn't their intention. They knew she was capable of handling herself, the dagger in her boot proof of that.
She didn't know if she should be relieved or annoyed that the person behind the bushes was no other than Neal, the idiot that pretended to be in love with her and played with her teenage mind.
Emma couldn't say she had missed his stupid idiot face more than the awful flu she had when she was fourteen.
"Not you again," she sighed, Killian giving her a confused look.
She sighed again, this time more dramatic."Killian, this is Neal. Neal this is Killian. My Husband." She could't help but put ephasis on the word husband. Just to annoy Neal. Just let her have a little bit of fun in this shitty situation.
She could see when the confusion cleared away in Killian's eyes and was replaced by understanding.
"So this is the bastard that broke your heart and never came back?" he stated as if Neal wasn't even there.
Neal couldn't help but look offended."Hey! I have feelings you know." He crossed his arms and actually pouted.
Emma couldn't even hide her annoyence and sat back on the ground.
"That was really hurtful. I wish you would apologise," he huffed and turned away.
She rolled her eyes and dropped her hands back into her lap.
"Sorry," Neal smiled, "for the mean, awful, accurate things I said." He rolled his eyes and sat down on the ground by the fire. "You still have your sarcasm I see."
"Me?Sarcastic? Never. And I'm not sarcastic. I'm just intellegent beyond you understanding."
"Who invited you to sit here?" Killian narrowed his eyes. He didn't like this Neal bloke, especially after what he did to Emma so excuse him if doesn't want to "dine" with him.
Neal didn't even flinch at his harsh tone."I'm tired obviously. Robbing people takes a lot of strengh so if you'll excuse me I need my beauty sleep." He closed his eyes and snuggled into the tree behind him, not expecting the shoe that flew his way.
"Oh come on!" he cried.
"What? You seriously believe you get to sleep here while-"
"Okay!" Emma cried, preventing an eyeroll. "No one will get any rest if you two continue bickering so you", she pointed to Neal," will stay where you are and don't even think about stealing anything, while you and me will go over there."
She tugged at his arm and pulled him over to another tree.
"Knew I could count on you Em's," Neal threw in.
"Oh I may look calm, but in my head I've killed you three times." That shut him up.
She cuddled up to Killian, who pulled her into his emrace. Leo was already asleep in Lancelot's arms, who was keeping the first watch.
"You're not worried about him?" he asked.
Emma yawned, pulling her cloak and tighter around her."No, what is the worst thing he can do? But let's not talk about him, baby needs sleep and so do you." He smiled and finally closed his eyes, dreaming of Emma and their little baby and that everything would be okay.
~~~
When they woke in the morning, Neal was already gone and they continued their way to Arendelle.
~~~
2 weeks later
The war in Mishaven was finally over and it was safe to go back home.
Emma couldn't be happier, especially since she knew that her parents and so many other people in her kingdom were unharmed.
It took them two days to get back to Misthaven and when she saw her parents standing near the bridge to greet them, the tears she tried to hold back broke loose.
'You have no idea what personal space is and it's really distracting when your face is two inches away from mine, what if I turn my head and accidentally kiss you'
Emma slammed her locker close, trying to balance her books in one arm and drinking her water with the other hand.
She had a shitty day. Literally. This morning her bus was late so she missed 20 minutes of her first class and had to listen to Professor Mills lecture about being late. Then she noticed she didn't pack a lunch and had to sit through three periods with a growling stomach and couldn't even text her friends because she also forgot her phone at home.
And no she wouldn't go to the school cafeteria because even if she wasn't one of these rich bitches who complain about everything, her day was bad enough already, she didn't want to get food poisoning too, thank you very much.
What a great day.
So now here she was, already grumpy and it wasn't even sixth period yet.
Suddenly there was something warm at her back and she didn't have to turn her head to know who that was.
"Hello, Swan," he greeted, helping her with some of her books. She immediately felt her arm relax a little bit and gave him a grin in return.
"Hey, Jones. What's up?"
"I'm currently trying to stay alive because I'm pretty sure Professor Gold will kill me when he finds out my essay isn't finished yet but anyway, how's your day?" He titled his head down a bit and she could feel his warm breath on her face. He's distracting her but she would never tell him that.
"Ehm, bad. Glad to know I'm not the only one who has a shitty day." If she turned her head just a tiny bit their lips would touch and she's not sure if she is ready to find out how soft his lips are.
Killian was her first real friend when she came to this school, cheering her up with his ridiculous self and adorable personality. And since that day they are best friends and practically inseparably.
And no she never thought that they could be more than friends. No, she never imagined what their children would look like and NO she never wrote the names of their imaginary children in her notebook when she should have listened to Professor Gold's boring history lecture about Napoleon.
Nope, she isn't that screwed.
Yet.
At least that's what she tells herself.
Killian looked into her eyes and she could see the way his eyes dropped down to her lips. And their faces were so close but she didn't know if-
Oh, fuck it.
She titled her head up and her lips found his in a soft yet deep kiss. The bell rang and students made their way to their classes but they were completely absorbed in their kiss.
She heard a few book clatter to the ground but ignored them, her arms encircled his neck and she raised herself onto her tiptoes to deepen the kiss. His hand at the small of her back pressed her more firmly into him and his other was in her hair, holding her softly in place. Neither of them wanted this to end.
And damn, he tasted of cinammon and cocoa.
But once the loss of Oxygen became a problem, their lips parted but their bodies stayed close.
Both breathless, the only sounds in the quiet hallway were their breaths.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked up. He was already looking at her and she noticed the small smirk on his face.
And no there was absoloutley no smile on her face after that.
And no, they didn't kiss again.
She was never good at lying anyway.
And later when they lay in his bed at his parents house, naked and basking in the afterglow, a thought came to her mind.
"You really don't know what personal space is, do you,Jones?"
Probably oneof my favourite stories... A little gift for my sweet and lovely @laschatzi
Summary:Post Underworld: Emma and Killian try to settle in and pick up a normal life, including enjoyable activities. The only problem is (and everyone's aware of it but them) that every time they do engage in those activities, the electricity in Storybrooke goes nuts...
Read here: http://archiveofourown.org/works/6326800
Hello guys! Since today I have my day off, I decided to share some of my favourite stories and writers. This is not a real reccomendation, these are just some favs, that I’m in love with.
1. A Salilor’s Tale by @dreamtalker1 I love this story, it’s strong, it’s very strong. This not a story where Emma falls in love with Killian because he is devishly handsome, he is not a man who has a lot of women, it’s just a real story between two real people. Sometimes the destiny is cruel to all of them, but this is the best of the story because it’s like reading a real book about real people. I’m in love his crew, adore the way they react on everything that happens on board and I I love the way that Killian is represented here, with all his scars and demons… Check the warning before reading.
2. On of my favourites is also @xerxesrises with her Fragile Design / Make You Feel My Love / 6 Probably all her stories are great but my favs are these 3. “FD” is great because I love how vulnerable Emma is, an element that I needed and still need in the show. I like how Killian is patient with her… “6” was actually my first story of and guys she is a smutty queen, damn, it’s pretty hot and detailed there, but it’s simply amazing, def favourite!
3.@laschatzi with her more than 40 amazing stories! I love all of them! I’ve translated some in russian and believe me, all of her stories are full of feelings. The way she describes Emma and Killi in unique. Probably one of my favouire is She is a Marvel because It contains a perfect CaptainCharming and a perfect CaptainCobra and a perfect CaptainSwan! So read her and won’t regret it!
4. @alexandralyman is a an adventure Queen! Her Beyond the Horizon hooked me from the very beginning! I mean guys, she has everything there! Amazing captain, fearless princess, amazing crew and a LOT of adventures! And now I’m patiently waiting the story to be updated *yuhu*
5. @nowforruin and her Midnight Grilled Cheese is one more amazing story, I love David! I mean poor man xD his daughter and his mate on his… KITCHEN! Love it!
6. I’ve found some weeks ago a great author who is @@wtvoc and I’ve quite everything, now I’m patiently waiting for Theoretical to be updated *hothothot*
7. One of my favourites is A Hell of a Lover by @oubliette14 and woah I love it! I’ve read it, I don’t know, 25 times? Probably because I have a thing for drag queens xD
Hey guy I’m looking for some CS stories:
1. Struggling Emma who needs help may be without money and with Henry, maybe homless.
2. Princess/Pirate, I want him to be very dangerous and dark. Pleeeeeaseeee 🙋🙋🙋
