The City of Lights
A Captain Swan Fanfiction for @jrob64 as part of the CS Gift Exchange 2022.
Surprise! I am your gift exchange writer for this year’s exchange! I hope I nailed your request this year for a modern AU holiday fic! I am going to post this in two parts (because I am incapable of restraint, apparently). Part 2 will be posted on NYE!
Summary: Killian Jones has been waiting for the perfect opportunity to propose to the love of his life, Emma Swan. When he’s presented with the opportunity to whisk her away on a weekend trip to visit the Festival of Lights in Natchitoches, Louisiana, he’s confident that the perfect time will present itself. But even the best laid plans often go awry…
Tagging my usual crew: (want to be added? Let me know!) @xarandomdreamx @kmomof4 @snowbellewells @sotangledupinit @tiganasummertree @zaharadessert
Killian Jones opened the door of his apartment to the sound of his girlfriend, Emma “Swan” Nolan, quoting Steel Magnolias verbatim as the television blared in the background. Emma was spread out on the couch, trying to cover every square inch of its surface with her body, blankets, and pillows, eating peanut butter straight out of the jar and quoting lines as if she were Shelby Eatenton herself. He smiled at the sight she presented.
“You’re as bad as Mary Margaret, I hope you realize,” he called to the blonde, causing her to jump, as she didn’t hear the door open.
“You’re home early!” Emma exclaimed, smiling to see him but not moving from her spot on the couch. “Slow shift?”
“Aye, it was. I’m technically still on call for the next thirty minutes, but it should stay quiet.” Killian removed his Boston PD jacket and placed his radio on the counter, making sure to turn the dial on the volume loud enough to hear it should he get called out.
Emma hummed, turning her attention back to the movie for a moment, quoting the lines, “My colors are blush and bashful” with the practiced ease of someone who had seen the movie dozens of times before.
Killian moved to sit on the arm of the couch. “Would you want the colors of your wedding to be blush and bashful, love?”
Emma’s eyes widened and she made a shocked trilling sound in the back of her throat. “Woah, woah, woah,” she started, wholeheartedly engaging in the game of cat and mouse they always partook when the subject was brought up. Though Emma was not opposed to marriage (in fact, she was actually hoping that wedding bells would ring in the very near future), it was a running gag amongst all her friends and family that just the hint of white lace would set her running for the hills.
Killian held his hand up, cutting off her reply, and inserted, “Calm down, Swan, I’m not proposing.” His eyes were on the screen so he missed the disgusted, let down expression that crossed her face at his words. “I’m merely curious since this is your favorite movie if you would ever want to use the same color scheme.”
Emma huffed. “I like blush and bashful well enough, but I wouldn’t want them together,” she replied tersely, a little annoyed with her boyfriend of three years.
Killian had brushed off any mentions of their making their relationship legal, a fact which Emma played off in front of their friends (especially her brother and his wife, Mary Margaret) but Emma secretly loathed. She had been hinting for weeks and weeks that she was ready, but he either was playing dumb or he truly didn’t pick up on her hints. She was about ready to admit that maybe she needed to be a little less subtle in her desires, but she wasn’t quite ready to throw in the towel yet. What she didn’t realize was that Killian was very well-aware of her desires and was merely acting in that manner to make her less suspicious of his intentions.
“Too much pink, eh?” Killian smirked.
Emma shrugged and said, “Maybe for you.”
The two fell into a companionable silence as they watched the screen for a few more moments. When a shot of the town the movie was filmed in was shown, Emma said, “I’d love to see where they filmed this.”
Killian frowned. “Where did they film it?”
“I have no idea,” Emma said as she grabbed her phone. After a quick search, she announced, “It was filmed in a place called,” and she paused. “I don’t know how to say this.”
Killian looked at the screen “Natch-uh-toes-es?”
Emma shrugged and scrolled. “It’s in Louisiana, apparently. Just about an hour south of Shreveport on the western side of the state.”
Killian nodded. “You want to go one day?”
Emma scoffed. “There’s nothing there except trees and rednecks with jacked-up trucks, I’m sure.”
Killian took the phone from her and scrolled through some of the information. “It says they have a ‘Festival of Lights’ in December. It’s actually already started.”
Emma gave him a side-eyed look. “That’s just a way to draw tourists in to make money off the unsuspecting people who think there’s more there than there really is.”
Killian nodded in response absentmindedly. An idea was forming in his mind. He knew Emma actually would enjoy that trip, as they had done several like it in times past. She was just trying to downplay how badly she wanted to tour the town so as to cope with the disappointment of not being able to go. The best thing about her job is she could work from just about anywhere, as she worked in bail bonds, which required research online, and only paid her a check upon the successful delivery of the fugitive she was hunting. If she wanted to take a few days’ vacation, then she could with no issues. Killian had some time accumulated with the police force, and it would be nothing more than applying for a few days off.
He continued to look through the pictures of the festival. It looked quaint, with the lighted displays glinting off the water of the Cane River and accompanied by horse-drawn carriage rides. Killian could suddenly feel a hole burning in his pocket, so to speak, at the thought of being able to propose to Emma in that setting. He had bought the ring ages ago and was simply waiting for a moment when the time felt right. Perhaps that would be it? His mind suddenly made up, he handed her back her phone.
Emma took it absentmindedly, her attention already back on the movie. Killian got up and moved to grab his radio even though his shift would end in just a few minutes. He picked it up and carried it with him to the bedroom, where he closed the door and took out his phone to call his shift captain to arrange the vacation time.
Once he had the necessary arrangements made, he called David (who, besides being Emma’s brother, was his partner with the Boston PD) and asked him to help him look at hotels, flights, and other necessities. He also filled David in on his plan for proposing to his sister, a fact of which David was already aware. Within about forty minutes, Killian had plane tickets, a hotel room reserved, a rental car lined up, and was quickly looking up information on the Festival of Lights itself to plan out an itinerary.
He answered Emma when she called out to him wanting to know what he wanted for dinner, and then made his way to the shower to get rid of the dirt and grime that he often felt after a day spent upholding law and order. A satisfied smirk on his face, he began whistling as he turned on the water.
This was going to be a Christmas surprise that Emma would never forget.
After his shower, he discreetly printed the plane tickets, hotel confirmation, rental agreement for the car they would need, and placed all the documents in a Manila folder. Peeking into the living room, he saw that Emma was now sobbing in tears at the scene on the screen of Shelby’s funeral. He smiled at her show of emotion. Emma “Swan” Nolan may wear a layer of red leather as armor, but he knew she was a closet romantic and the sweetest soul he knew. The only person he knew that could even hold a candle to her purity was Mary Margaret, David’s wife and Emma’s sister-in-law, and even she wasn’t on Emma’s level in some ways.
Killian watched Emma watch the screen, appreciating this quiet moment that he never thought he’d get to have. After so many things had nearly torn them apart, from vengeful exes to their own stubbornness in admitting their feelings and then their sometimes dangerous jobs, he had never thought they would get here, but he now had everything he ever wanted.
Lost in his reverie, he didn’t notice when the movie ended and Emma stood up and sauntered over to him, a seductive smile on her face, though tear tracks stained her cheeks. He thought there was no better sight than Emma in sweats and no makeup coming towards him with that look in her eyes.
“Hey, Lieutenant, what’s a girl gotta do to get some company?” She wrapped her arms around him and he reciprocated the gesture, smiling as he did so. “What’s that you’ve got?” She nodded towards the folder.
He lifted it and handed it to her. “See for yourself.”
Emma took the folder and opened it, wondering what was in it. She studied the print-outs for a moment, her brow furrowed, before she realized what she was looking at. “Is this-” she started.
“A trip, fully booked and paid for, for us to go to this Natchitoches place to see where they filmed your second favorite movie in the whole wide world,” he finished for her. “Aye, love. It’s part of my Christmas gift to you.”
Emma’s eyes widened at what he said. “You really booked this for us?”
Killian nodded. “Just this evening. You can’t fool me, Swan, I know you’d love to make that trip. You’re always on about how beautiful the place looks on the screen.”
Emma smiled at him. “Do I want to make that trip?”
Killian smirked. “Well, you’re something of an open book.”
They both laughed and embraced for a long moment. FInally pulling apart, but not completely, Emma gave him a sly smile and a pointed look.
“I believe I should show my gratitude, don’t you think, Lieutenant?”
Killian tapped his lips and returned her sly smile. “Perhaps gratitude is in order now.”
Emma rose up and kissed him fiercely, grabbing his shirt to tug her closer. Dropping the folder, he picked her up to carry her into the bedroom. Everything else could wait. He had his Swan to ravish, first.
Several days later, Emma was desperately trying to pack her carry-on suitcase for their trip. Nothing seemed to be exactly right, though she didn’t know much about the Southern states’ climate having grown up only in the northern states. She had desperately called Mary Margaret over to help, and her sister-in-law had promptly arrived thirty minutes later bearing two hot chocolates in hand, ready to help Emma solve her latest crisis.
“What do you even wear in Louisiana in December?!” Emma shouted in frustration, tugging at her hair as she scanned the contents of her side of the closet. Their plane was set to leave from Logan International in the morning, and she was now only half packed. She had the essentials in her suitcase, like comfortable pajamas and her toiletries, but the actual outfits to wear during the day were still yet to be picked. It was the beginning of winter, and Boston had snow on the ground already, but Louisiana wasn’t a winter state. Did they even get snow? What was their average temperature this time of year? Did she need a swimsuit? Did they go swimming in December? Emma let her head thump against the frame of the closet door in frustration.
“Clothes might be the best option,” David replied, coming in to get Killian’s suitcase to help load it in Killian’s truck so they wouldn’t be lugging heavy bags around in the morning in a rush.
Emma rolled her eyes. “Nah, I think I’ll just wear my tattoo and a smile,” she snarled back at her brother. David grinned and grabbed the packed suitcase, walking out without replying.
Mary Margaret breezed in behind him after a bathroom break, replying as she did so, “Louisiana is usually around mid to low 70s or high 60s during the day at this time of year, and anywhere in the high forties or low 50s at night. They would be warmer or colder, but it usually won’t be by much. Jeans, sweaters, some lighter shirts, a jacket and maybe a hat and gloves and boots, should be all you’ll need for the temperatures.”
Emma looked at her best friend in disbelief, leaning her head against the closet door frame. “Seriously? When did you become an expert in climates of states you’ve never been to?”
Mary Margaret handed Emma her phone with a weather app pulled up that showed a graphic of the same information she just told Emma. “Since I Googled it.”
Emma smiled in response, rolling her eyes as she turned back to her closet. She settled on pulling out her favorite pair of jeans, a pair of leggings, and a skirt that she liked to wear for dates with Killian sometimes. She threw them haphazardly in her suitcase, which caused Mary Margaret to tut in exasperation at her sister-in-law’s messy habits as she grabbed the items to fold them properly.
“Do you want tights to go with this skirt,” Mary Margaret asked as Emma dug for her favorite white Aran knit sweater.
“Yes, can you grab me a pair of black ones?”
Mary Margaret moved to grab the item Emma would need, and when she turned back to place the item in the suitcase, she saw Emma holding a black leather dress with a thoughtful look on her face.
“New dress?” Mary Margaret asked, noticing the tags still on it.
“Yeah,” Emma replied, a little breathlessly. “I bought it as a surprise for Killian for a special celebration.”
The brunette smiled excitedly. “Do you think he’s going to propose on this trip?”
Emma shook her head slightly. “I don’t think he even realizes that’s what I want.”
“Then you should tell him! And pack that dress just in case! If nothing else, you can wear it to tell him you’re ready to take the next step.”
Emma winced a bit. “What if he doesn’t feel the same?” she whispered softly, fearful of the possibility that the answer was that Killian didn’t feel the same as she did.
“Emma!” Mary Margaret chided gently. “Of course he feels the same! He told David that he was ‘in this for the long haul.’ His exact words. A proposal is probably going to happen sooner than you think!”
Emma sighed. “I hope so. I never thought I would find what we have together. I don’t want to lose it.”
Mary Margaret hugged her close and Emma held on tightly to her sister-in-law. “You won’t. And you should bring that dress and a pair of red heels with you on your trip.”
Emma smiled and turned to place the dress in the suitcase. “I think I will.”
Feeling much more centered, Emma quickly grabbed the rest of her items and finished packing. She rolled her bag out to the living room and passed it off to David. Killian was just coming back inside from where he had walked downstairs with David to load up his luggage.
“All set, love?” He asked, taking her in his arms.
Emma nodded contentedly. “All set,” she sighed happily. She held onto him as tight as she could. She couldn’t wait for their next adventure together.
The roar of the planes taking off the next day could be heard in the background as Killian argued with the woman behind the counter at the car rental inside Dallas Fort-Worth International about the rental he had reserved. Emma stood a little ways down the concourse from him watching the planes arrive and depart through one of the windows, though she could still hear his frustration. It seemed that his information and reservation had been lost.
The plane ride from Boston to Dallas had been uneventful. Emma loved quick plane rides that didn’t involve any hassle. She just wanted to get where she needed to be. Having Killian be there to handle any problems they encountered was a blessing to her.
“Well, Swan, it seems we finally have a vehicle. The woman said the drive was a little under four hours if we hit traffic right.” Killian had moved behind her while she was ruminating on her thoughts. She turned and smiled.
“Lead the way.”
They walked out of the airport and to the location of the car. Once they located it, they loaded their luggage and began to make the next part of their journey. Killian sang along to the radio as Emma stared at the scenery. Everything looked very different from home, though it did grow monotonous after a while. After a couple of hours, they arrived in Shreveport and stopped for a quick lunch before continuing south on Interstate 49 to Natchitoches. They arrived at the Natchitoches exit around three in the afternoon. Emma looked at the hotels and fast food joints that surrounded Highway 6 and turned to Killian.
“Is our hotel here?”
He grinned in reply. “I thought we would stay at a more ‘on location’ site and booked us at the Saint Denis Hotel. It’s right along Front Street.”
Emma nodded in understanding and kept watch out of the window. As they came into the outskirts of the city, she noticed a university of some sort to the right.
“Is that Northwestern State University?” She asked.
Killian nodded. “I think so. We have tickets to a show their performing arts center is performing tomorrow night.”
Emma raised her eyebrows in mock disbelief. “Getting fancy on me, aren’t you?”
Killian laughed. “It’s called the Christmas Gala. We’re going to dinner before and then the show starts at 9. I hope you brought something appropriate to wear.” Killian shot her a sly look and licked his lips. Emma laughed in delight, grateful now that she had listened to Mary Margaret’s advice about packing her black leather dress.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She teased back. Killian grinned wider but didn’t say anything, instead turning his attention back to the road. They drove past the college, eventually turning left onto Jefferson Street.
Up until that point, there had been Christmas lights draped along light poles and various other points, but the moment they turned onto Jefferson, the lights started. As they drove, the road felt as if they were entering a tunnel of multicolored lights. Light strands zigzagged above them, and there were light-drawn figures on every telephone pole. As they drove, they could see some of the scenes that Natchitoches was famous for this time of year. It looked amazing, and it wasn’t even dusk yet.
After trawling through bumper to bumper traffic and getting turned around for a moment or two, they finally arrived. The hotel lobby was decorated in a modern Provencal style that Emma had seen once before during a brief trip to New Orleans during Marci Gras with Killian a couple of years before. Although not as ornate as other places Emma had seen, it still had a homey feel to the place. Check-in was much less of a hassle than getting their rental car was, too, Emma noticed. Once they made it into their room, which was decorated in a similar style, they set their luggage down and Emma flopped onto the bed. Killian sat on the edge, watching her in amusement.
“Tired, love?” He asked. It had been a long day of travel, after all.
Emma closed her eyes and nodded. “A little.”
“What do you think so far?”
“Emma opened her eyes and looked at him. “Well, you’re sitting too prim for me but at least you're on the bed.” Emma shrugged slightly, holding back a teasing grin.
Killian rolled his eyes. “I meant about the town, Swan.”
“I know what you meant,” Emma laughed before continuing, “honestly, it’s all a bit cheesy, but I can see why it’s a popular lights destination for this area. I’ve had fun so far.”
“I’m glad,” Killian replied and bent down to place a soft kiss on her lips, which she happily returned. After several moments, he pulled away and stood. “If you’ll get freshened up, we’ll go walk downtown and scope out the place. I’ve heard they have a lot of great food here.”
Emma smiled and got up and walked to the bathroom. “I’ll be right out,” she said, cocking her hips to the side sassily.
He laughed and returned, “I’ll be waiting.”
Once he was. certain she was ensconced in the shower, the door firmly closed behind her, he let out a shaky breath and put his hand in his pocket. Clasping it in his hand, he pulled out a black velvet box and opened it. The engagement ring was nestled safely inside, the huge center stone glistening in the light coming from the bedside lamps.
Killian wasn’t sure when exactly he was going to propose, but he hoped that tomorrow night might provide the most romantic scene. Surely there would be an opportunity sometime between dinner, the concert, and hopefully a nice stroll along the river taking in the lights. Maybe they would luck out and get to do a carriage ride on one of the horse-drawn carriages he had spotted as they arrived. All he knew was that he couldn't wait any longer. He had had the ring for several months now, but something always stopped him from asking her.
But not this time. When they flew back to Boston in three days’ time, they would be engaged. He knew Emma wanted it just as badly as he did, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn't do to help her have one of the best Christmas seasons of her life. He just hoped he didn’t chicken out once he found the right moment.
An hour later, they were strolling along Front Street taking in the sights. The lights were on, but the sun hadn’t yet set, and Killian knew they would be better once it was dark. The streets were busy, as the area drew in a lot of tourism and the college kids were still in class and would likely continue to be until around the 15th. Emma, in true Emma fashion, found a street vendor who was selling hot chocolate, and they bought a couple of to-go cups and sipped on them as they walked.
They passed a lot of shops, one of which was the Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store, which was a blast from the past that was apparently founded in 1838. They learned from a local working the cash register that the name of the town wasn’t pronounced how it looked.
“It’s pronounced ‘Nack-a-tish,” the friendly-faced woman laughed, seemingly not surprised by their lack of ability at pronouncing the name. “It was the name of a local Native American tribe. You’d actually be surprised how many people come here unable to pronounce it. And don’t even try to ask Siri anything about it. She doesn’t understand the word at all!”
Killian and Emma shared a glance of amazement at just how wrong they had gotten the name, quickly wrapping up their purchases. After they deposited their purchases in their room, it was late enough for them to grab dinner at one of the restaurants on Front Street, a place called Mama’s that was adjoined to another place called Papa’s. Dinner passed quickly with both enjoying the live music playing and being together in a place where they had no worries. Killian kept sneaking glances at her when she was watching the band, struck by how happy and relaxed she looked.
Perhaps this was the moment? Should he get down on one knee now? Though he hadn’t planned on asking for her hand tonight, it seemed as if this time could be the time. His hand drifted to the pocket of his leather jacket and gripped the black box residing in it. Emma laughed at something the lead singer said (what it was, Killian couldn’t have said, because nothing existed but Emma and this moment), and he pulled the box out.
“Emma?” He called, a little louder than normal so as to be heard over the din.
She turned and looked at him, smiling brightly. “Yeah, babe?”
He broke off for a moment as she looked at him expectantly. The words he wanted to say, of adoration and forever and will you be mine, got stuck in his throat. He cleared it, and grabbed her hand. “I love you,” he stated a little flatly, let down by his inability to say what he wanted.
Emma chuckled softly. “I love you, too,” she replied. “Are you okay? You looked almost nervous just now.”
“I’m fine, love.” He looked down at the table for a moment, caressing her hand with his thumb, before he looked up and caught her eyes again. “We’ve been together for a while, haven’t we? Shared many adventures together?” He asked, trying to buy some time to get his thoughts together.
Emma tilted her head a bit in confusion. “Aye,” she responded, teasing. “Why do you bring it up? You’re not breaking up with me are you?” Her face fell at the unpleasant thought, and Killian’s heart skipped a beat at her words.
“Of course not! I would never- I want you by my side always!”
Emma’s face relaxed from relief. “Oh, good. That’s good because I feel the same way.”
“I can’t believe you would think I’d take you all this way to break up with you,” Killian responded, momentarily derailed from the romantic speech he didn’t have planned to ask the question he knew that both of them wanted yet fully paralyzed him with fear at articulating to her.
Emma laughed and shrugged. “Stranger things have happened to me before.”
“Indeed, they have,” Killian responded, not continuing as the waitress came over to see if they needed anything else. Once they had settled the bill with her, they had silently agreed that it was a good time to head back to their room. Killian lamented that the moment had passed, but he also couldn’t help but feel some relief. If he couldn’t get out the question without botching it up, then he shouldn’t ask it until he could do so without making her question if he’s about to end their relationship.
After they had been walking for a moment or two, Emma said, “So why did you bring up how long we’ve been together?”
Killian looked out at the scene before them, of the glimmer of the lights on the Cane River and the romantic atmosphere of the quaint college town. “I was just thinking about how much we’ve seen and done,” he finally responded before looking at her. “There’s no one else I’d rather go through life with.”
Emma smiled and stopped them from walking any further. She leaned up and gave him a long, slow, soft kiss, one that Killian gladly returned. Their mouths moved in the perfect sync that came from years of devotion and adoration. Killian drew her further into his embrace, wrapping his arms around her as she moved one hand to clench in his hair and the other to cup the back of his neck. Neither carried the kiss much further, aware as they were of being in the middle of a public sidewalk with many other people around them for the festivities, but the heat that always seemed to simmer between them was stoked to a higher flame.
As they both pulled away from the kiss, Killian rested his forehead against hers. He looked into her eyes, asking a silent question, one that Emma responded to with a similar look. They both turned and quickly finished the trek back to their hotel room. Once inside, they gave into the passion and love that consumed them in the dance of lovers as old as time itself. After they lay sated and entwined, Killian briefly thought of asking her then, but when he turned his head to broach the subject, he saw that Emma lay peacefully asleep. Smiling, he tugged her closer and gave into the exhaustion that ebbed at his consciousness. There was always tomorrow, after all.