Adopting a Pet Together (OUAT Preference)
Characters: Emma, Killian, Regina, Charming, Snow, Rumplestiltskin, Belle, Robin
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Emma insists on visiting every shelter within driving distance before either of you even thinks about making a decision.
“You don’t pick family,” she says with a small smile. “Sometimes… they pick you.”
She kneels beside every nervous dog hiding in the back of their kennel, speaks softly to frightened cats who refuse to come out of their carriers, and somehow remembers every single name. She refuses to rush the process, believing that every animal deserves someone willing to wait for them.
After a few quiet hours, it finally happens. A shy, timid dog slowly walks over, pauses for a moment, then leans their whole body against your leg with a sigh, as if they’ve decided it’s safe now. Emma notices before you do. She just smiles, giving you that warm, relieved look she saves for the people she loves. “There you are,” she whispers. “Guess they made the decision for us.”
The drive home is filled with excited conversations about beds, toys, treats, and where your newest family member will sleep.
Emma insists she’s the practical one. “No table scraps. No sleeping in our bed. No buying every toy in the pet store.”
The rules last less than forty-eight hours, and then they start slipping away.
Soon she’s crouched beside your pet in the kitchen, whispering, “Don’t tell them I gave you another treat.” She baby-talks them constantly whenever she thinks you’re out of earshot, insisting they’re “the bravest little hero in the world.”
Some of your happiest evenings become the quietest ones, and they begin like this: the three of you walk through Storybrooke together, your fingers intertwined with Emma’s while the leash rests comfortably in your other hand. She watches you laugh as your pet happily explores every new scent, and she can’t stop smiling.
For someone who spent so much of her life believing family wasn’t meant for her, moments like these feel almost unreal.
A home. A partner. A pet that adores both of you. It’s simple. It’s peaceful. It’s everything she’d secretly wished for.
The moment you mention adopting a pet, Hook is already brainstorming names. “Captain.” You stare. “Admiral.” Another stare. “…Your Majesty?”
You laugh so hard you nearly fall over. “Killian,” you say patiently, “it’s a six-week-old kitten.”
He places a hand dramatically against his chest. “And greatness begins young.”
Eventually, after a lot of negotiation and several rejected pirate-themed suggestions, you both agree on a much more reasonable name. Hook pretends to accept defeat, but he definitely does not.
Within a week, he’s affectionately calling your pet “First Mate” anyway, and spoiling them becomes his newest favourite pastime. Every trip into town somehow ends with another toy. Another blanket. Another scratching post. Another ridiculously expensive bed.
When you point out that your pet already has everything they could possibly need, he simply grins: “Aye… but they wanted this one.” “They’re asleep.” or “They wanted it in spirit.”
Of course, despite all his efforts, your pet inevitably decides that your lap is the best place in the entire house. Hook watches as they curl into your arms, purring contentedly. He gasps in exaggerated horror. “So…” He points accusingly at the tiny traitor. “…mutiny.” Your laughter fills the room.
Moments later, your pet climbs into his lap anyway, and his entire expression softens. He gently scratches behind their ears, pretending not to notice you smiling at him.
After centuries of loneliness, building a home with you feels almost unbelievable. Seeing the little family you’ve created, filled with laughter, warmth, and one very spoiled pet, means more to him than any treasure he ever searched for.
Before you’ve even scheduled a shelter visit, Regina already has a binder—an entire binder, not just a folder.
Inside are carefully organised sections covering nutrition, training methods, veterinary clinics, emergency contacts, pet insurance, grooming schedules, and recommendations for the best food brands.
You flip through page after page before looking at her with an amused smile. “…You’ve colour-coded everything.”
“They’re alphabetical.” You tease her about it, and she pretends to roll her eyes. When your new pet arrives home frightened and overwhelmed, Regina’s preparation suddenly makes perfect sense. She already knows exactly how to make them feel safe: she dims the lights, creates a quiet space, keeps voices soft, lets them explore at their own pace, and never forces affection. Instead, she patiently waits until they decide they trust her.
When they finally curl beside her on the couch for the first time, she freezes, afraid to scare them away. You catch the smallest smile spreading across her face. “I’ve been chosen,” she whispers proudly.
Soon, she begins speaking to them with impossible elegance: “Would Her Majesty care for another blanket?” “Perhaps Her Royal Highness requires a snack?” She insists she’s only joking. You know better.
One evening, you come home and find Regina asleep on the sofa, your pet curled up comfortably at her side with a book resting forgotten in her lap. She looks more peaceful than you’ve ever seen her. After fighting so hard for happiness, this quiet life feels like one of her greatest victories.
David Nolan (Prince Charming)
David barely lets you finish saying, “Maybe we should adopt a pet,” before he’s enthusiastically suggesting a dog.
“Think about it! Hiking. Camping. Playing fetch. Morning walks. Family photos.”
He’s already planning adventures before you’ve even reached the shelter, and that enthusiasm carries into training once your dog comes home.
When you finally bring your dog home, David treats training like it’s the most exciting challenge he’s ever had. He patiently practices every command and meets every mistake with encouragement, not frustration. When your dog sits on command for the first time, David cheers loud enough for the neighbors to hear. “You did it!” he says, then adds, “Who’s the smartest dog in Storybrooke?”
You laugh. “I think you’re more excited than they are.”
He celebrates every milestone: First successful walk, first game of fetch, first trip to the lake and the first time they come running the moment you call their name. Watching you kneel to praise your dog fills David with quiet pride. He loves seeing how kindness comes naturally to you, the way you celebrate every small victory, and how your voice softens whenever your pet looks nervous. Every moment reminds him why he fell in love with you.u.
At the end of long days, he’ll wrap one arm around your shoulders while your dog sleeps at your feet. Looking at the two of you together, David can’t help but think this is exactly what happily ever after was always supposed to look like.
Mary Margaret Blanchard (Snow White)
Mary Margaret starts tearing up before you’ve even finished signing the adoption papers. She keeps laughing through her happy tears, apologising every few seconds because she’s just so overwhelmed. To her, bringing another little soul into your family feels like a miracle.
The drive home is filled with excited chatter as she imagines every milestone ahead. She wonders what your pet’s favourite toy will be, whether they’ll love belly rubs or cuddles, and how they’ll react to seeing snow for the first time. Her imagination runs wild with dreams of family picnics, lazy Sundays, and cosy evenings by the fireplace.
Within days, the house feels even warmer than before. Soft blankets show up in every room, baskets of toys sit in every corner, and homemade treats cool on the kitchen counter. She believes every family member deserves to feel safe and loved, no matter how many legs they have.
Mary Margaret takes an endless number of photographs. Pictures of you asleep on the couch with your pet curled against your chest. Pictures of them following you around the kitchen. Pictures of them looking up at you with complete trust. Every single one earns an enthusiastic, “Oh, that’s absolutely too precious not to frame!”
Soon, the walls begin filling with family photos, each one telling another chapter of your growing life together.
Watching you gently care for your pet fills her with pride. She loves seeing the patience in your voice, the affection in every touch, and the quiet happiness that settles over your home. Family has always meant everything to her, and seeing yours grow, even by one tiny heartbeat, feels like living in one of the happiest chapters of her own fairy tale.
Rumple loudly insists he couldn’t care less what kind of pet you bring home.
“A dog? A cat? A rabbit? Honestly, dearie, what difference does it make to me?”
Five minutes later, he’s secretly enchanting a ball so it always bounces back, muttering that it’s simply to keep the creature from making too much noise.
Whenever your pet climbs into his favourite chair, he sighs dramatically and launches into a theatrical complaint about the “utter disrespect shown to the Dark One.”
Yet somehow he never actually moves them, and the scene simply continues.
Instead, he settles into another chair with a grumble that’s far less convincing than he thinks it is.
Late at night, you’ll find him reading an ancient spellbook with your pet curled beside him. Without even realising it, his fingers drift down to gently scratch behind their ears. The moment he notices you watching, he immediately stops.
You simply smile. “Of course you weren’t.”
Your pet quickly learns it can get away with almost anything around Rumple. They steal bits of his cloak, nap in his lap, and occasionally interrupt his work by demanding attention. He complains every single time… while secretly giving them exactly what they want. And somehow, that makes everything feel complete.
If anyone threatened your pet, even by accident, they would quickly learn just how dangerous Rumplestiltskin can be. His playful smirk disappears in an instant. To him, family isn’t always chosen by blood. It’s chosen by love, loyalty, and the people who become part of his world. Once your pet earns that place, they are under the protection of the Dark One forever.
Before the two of you even visit the shelter, Belle has already borrowed several books about animal care.
She spends evenings curled up beside you with notebooks full of information, carefully comparing breeds, temperaments, exercise needs, and dietary requirements. She wants to make sure whichever pet joins your family will be happy, healthy, and truly suited to your home.
She smiles every time you ask another question. Learning together becomes one of her favourite parts of the experience.
When you finally bring your pet home, Belle makes sure they never feel frightened or alone. She speaks softly, moves patiently, and lets them adjust at their own pace, celebrating every tiny sign of trust they offer.
One evening, she picks up a favourite novel and begins reading aloud. To everyone’s surprise, your pet curls up beside the two of you and quietly falls asleep.
From that day on, storytime becomes a nightly tradition. Whether she’s reading fairy tales, classic literature, adventure stories, or poetry, your pet always finds their place between the two of you, listening to the comforting rhythm of her voice.
Belle treasures those peaceful evenings more than words can describe. She especially loves watching you care for your pet. The way you kneel to refill their water, patiently teach them new things, comfort them during storms, and celebrate every little success fills her heart with warmth.
Every gentle gesture reminds her exactly why she fell in love with you. It’s never about grand heroic moments; it’s the quiet kindness you show when nobody expects anything from you that makes her love you more every single day.
Robin believes every family adventure becomes better with one more companion tagging along. The moment your pet settles into your home, they’re included in nearly everything the two of you do.
Morning walks become longer because your pet insists on stopping to sniff every tree. Weekend hikes turn into playful explorations through the forest, where Robin laughs every time they excitedly chase butterflies or race ahead before circling back to make sure both of you are still following.
Camping quickly becomes a favourite tradition. Robin carefully sets up camp while your pet investigates every nearby stick, pinecone, and rustling bush. By the time night falls, all three of you are gathered around the fire, sharing quiet moments beneath the stars. Your pet usually ends up asleep with their head resting in your lap while Robin wraps an arm around your shoulders. He can’t imagine a more peaceful evening.
Robin also finds endless amusement in how quickly your pet starts copying your habits. If you stretch after waking up, so do they. If you wander into the kitchen looking for a snack, they’re right behind you. Sometimes they even sit exactly the way you do, earning a laugh from Robin every single time.
“They’ve definitely been watching you,” he teases with a grin.
Over time, your pet becomes more than just a companion. They’re part of the family he’s spent so many years searching for.
After a lifetime of uncertainty and loss, seeing you walk beside him with your loyal little shadow happily trotting between you makes Robin realize he’s finally found the home he always dreamed of. It’s a place filled with love, laughter, and people worth protecting.
