A/N: for @yuvalbleich. Merry Swan Queen Christmas. I hope you like it. It was fun working on this and getting to know you over the weeks.
Fandom: Once Upon A Time (TV Series)
Pairing: SwanQueen (Because of reasons)
Rating: T
Links: Coming Soon
Warnings: Angst. God the angst. Major Character Death. Fix-it
Summary: With Hook’s plan revealed Emma struggles with her conflicting feelings. She always felt like she was being pulled into different directions. And now Hook is making choose between her family and the man she’s given her heart to. The decision seems simple but this is Storybrooke so…
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, universes or situations. They belong to Disney, ABC etc, etc. I claim no rights to copyrighted material and this story is purely for entertainment purposes.
“There is thing keeping everyone's lungs and lips locked;
It is called fear and it's seeing a great renaissance.”
― The Dresden Dolls, Sing
Killian smirks, triumphantly; his gaze rolling upward to take in the moon as it rises higher in the night sky. Soon he will have his revenge. The Crocodile. The Outlaw. Snow White and her Prince Charming. The Evil Queen. He isn’t a complete monster. The boy, Henry will join the mother who never gave him up in the Afterlife. And then Emma will soon regret that she hadn’t let him die.
“Come to turn me away from my dark path, Crocodile?”
“No,” he hears Rumple’s gravely voice as he limps to edge of the lake. The Former Dark One hobbles over to him, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Pirate. They don’t look at each other; Rumple’s gaze fixed on the horizon. “I may not be the Dark One anymore. But I am no longer a coward either. I’ve cheated death enough, I think. Don’t you?”
“Aye,” Killian says with a nod. “If you would have only showed this kind of heart, maybe Milah wouldn’t’ve come running to me.”
He almost smiles at the way the Crocodile’s jaw still clenches at the sound of his first wife’s name. Killian fights the urge to bring up his lost son. It doesn’t matter. Rumple would be with his son finally. Perhaps he could in death do what he couldn’t do in life. Be there for his child.
“It’s almost time,” the Pirate begins. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Rumple replies.
“Where’s the fight in you, Crocodile?” Killian asks.
“There’s no fighting fate,” he tells him. “The Reaper always gets his man.”
The Dark One chuckles. “Aye. No, fighting fate.”
Rumple extends his hand and Killian eyed him suspiciously. “I can’t kill you, Captain. It’s just a simple handshake. Nothing to fear from me.”
“Fair enough, at least you know you’ve been beaten, mate.” With his intact half, Killian shakes hands with mortal enemy. “And you know who’s won.”
As soon as their palms touch he feels a slight pinch. Like a tiny pin prick. He hisses, his hand shooting out to wrap around the neck of the former Dark One. “I’ll kill you for that.”
“I don’t think you will,” Rumble says as a plume of grey smoke engulfs his being. It’s not black like it normally is. Or purple. No, grey is Emma’s color and that’s who’s staring back at him as the smoke clears. He tries to move but he can’t. He can’t even speak.
“Squid ink,” Emma informs him. “One of our only weaknesses. You should know. You used it on me.”
If he could speak he would have told her to piss off. But since he can’t, he just stands there as she takes the sword from him.
“Now you know who’s won… Me.” She holds up the sword and collects the essence of the Dark Ones, banishing them back to the Underworld. “It’s over, Killian. I’m so sorry.”
Excalibur glows with the Darkness and Killian feels his neck burn; the same way it burned when he was cut with the sword. His life force is seeping out of the tiny wound, weakening him. His body feels heavy and if isn’t for the ink works through his veins he’d be fighting to keep his eyes open right now.
A wave of acceptance washes of him. He wants this to just be over. He’s so tired. And it becomes obvious to him.
He’s a villain. And villains don’t get happy endings.
Do it, Swan. End this.
Almost as if she can read his thoughts, Emma raises the sword above her head. She’s going to kill him. And he’s ready, welcoming, even. He lived by the sword for so long, stayed alive in the name of love and revenge. It’s fitting that he dies this way. It has a certain kind of poetry to it.
“EMMA STOP!”
His Dark Swan freezes at those words. Killian doesn’t need to look to know that it’s Regina. The Former Evil Queen is the only person that has that kind of hold on her. Not Henry. Not her parents. Not even him. But Regina.
Figures. Don’t listen to her. Just do it. End this. Snuff out the light, love. Please.
“This is the only way, Regina,” Emma says, her eyes still fixed on his. With tears in her eyes she looks less the Dark One and more like the Emma Swan that confessed to August in the woods that being the Savior, being the person that is supposed to bring back “the happy endings” for everyone was too much pressure. It's hard for her not to think about that, especially considering it is that same mission that put her on the path that lead her to becoming the Dark One. How could she allow Regina to become the Dark One? Why wouldn’t she fight for that woman to get her happy endings? Last time Emma checked Regina is on the list that includes everyone. Why wouldn’t she trade places with a woman that has worked harder than everyone else to be… “good?”
“I told myself the same thing about Zelena,” Regina confesses. “I was going to send her off to OZ. I was going to rip a mother away from her child the way I did with you and your parents. But I didn’t do it, Emma. I couldn’t. You don’t have to do this. There is always another way.”
“Not this time…” Eyes the color of a dark storm on choppy waters burrow into him. “I’m sorry.”
Nothing. That’s what Killian feels when the blade sinks into his stomach. He always wondered if dying would hurt. Now he has his answer. He’s been stabbed before. Shot. Nearly drowned. Remembers the pain that came with each of his scars. But the only thing he feels as the hilt hits his sternum is sincerity. He's finally at peace.
Thank you, Swan.
And then he’s gone.
Emma pulls the sword free and gently eases his body down to the ground where it evaporates into red smoke, leaving behind only his hook. Her tears are flowing in steady streams down her cheeks. Loving her is a death sentence, she reminds herself. She should have let him die in Camelot when he was still Killian. Still hers. But the fear of lost compelled her to turn him into a monster. And while she could fight the Darkness, Killian who could barely kept his demons at bay as a mortal, couldn’t. He gave in. And now he’s dead. She killed him.
“Emma…” Regina’s voice his soft; her hand on her shoulder, softer. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too,” the blond whispers, rising to her feet. She turns to Regina, her eyes bloodshot and puffy. She looks as tired as Killian did at the end. And with a shaky hand, she tried to pass off Excalibur to former Evil Queen.
“Emma, I won’t do this,” she declares, backing away from her.
“You promised,” Emma reminds her. “This is the only way. You have to save them.”
“I can't,” Regina reiterates, adding, “Our son needs us both.”
“Henry will understand,” the Dark One explains. “He has his grandparents. He has you. He’ll be loved. I’m giving him his best chance.”
“We’ll be trading in one Dark One for another, Emma,” the brunette puts forth. “You won’t be saving him. You’ll be condemning this town. I’m not as strong as you, Emma. I won’t be able to resist the Darkness a second time.”
“The dagger doesn’t have a hold on the Darkness anymore,” the blond says. “You won’t become the Dark One. You’ll be banishing the Darkness once and for all.”
When Regina hesitates, Emma reminds her once more, “I saved you. Now you save me. And if you can’t save me, destroy me.”
“Emma…” her name is like a plea. “Don’t make me do this.”
“You have to, Regina.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not? You promised me.”
“That was before.”
“Before?”
But Regina is silent. And Emma is confused. The Darkness is it trying to break free. She can feel all of the Dark Ones trying to tear her apart from inside out. She’s fighting but she doesn’t know how long she can hold them off.
The Dark Swan huffs. “Fine,” she sighs. “I’ll do it.”
Emma takes the sword from Regina and with a wave of her hand it’s suspended in the air, aimed at her heart. She looks at Regina, whose expression one of muted horror.
“Emma, don’t do this,” she pleads, her voice cracking, and tears welling her dark eyes. “Please, don’t do this.”
“I have to, Regina,” the Dark One replies. “It’s the only way. I’m going to make this right. Once it’s finished, it’ll be like I never existed.”
“Is that what you think we all want?” Regina asks, stepping forward despite there being a sword now pointed at her back. She looks into Emma’s eyes, searching for any glimmer of hope, any sign that her Emma is still there. “Without you, Storybrooke wouldn’t be the way it is now. Henry would have grown up to hate me. I would have turned into my mother and drove him away. Who knows where your parents would be. You changed our lives for the better. Don’t throw it all away.”
They aren’t friends. Regina knows enough about friendship to know that whatever is between the two of them, isn’t that. Friends hugged, friends joked. Friends don’t share long looks across the room. Friends don’t fight so hard for one another. Friends don’t constantly give up their chances for true happiness for each other. Whatever they are, they aren’t friends. In the four years they have known each other, Regina can count on one hand the number of times they even touched. So it makes this first and possibly only hug even more poignant.
“Please…” Regina breathes, throwing her arms around Emma and holding on for dear life. Then she whispers, “Don’t leave me.”
Emma pulls away just enough to see Regina’s face but not enough to break contact. Now she’s just all out of sorts; out of all of the things Regina could have said, she chooses those three words. “Leave you? What do you mean?”
“Emma…”
“Please, Regina… Just tell me.”
“I’m not good at this.”
“Good at what?” Emma asks, still not breaking contact.
“Being the Savior,” is Regina’s reply. “This whole time all I’ve been thinking is ‘What would Emma do?’ ‘How would Emma handle this?’ ‘Why did Emma save me?’ And it’s all too much. I can’t be like you. I can’t be the Savior. But I can save you. I can save you if you’ll let me.”
“What are you talking about?”
Regina meets Emma’s gaze, take a deep breath, and almost as if she mentally says, ‘fuck it,’ she throws caution to the wind and surges forward. Her lips crash into Emma’s who is taken by surprise by the move but quickly acclimates herself, wrapping her arms around Regina and keeping her close. And Emma kisses Regina back like she is a man drowning and Regina is her salvation.
Light bursts out from where they are standing and the sword falls to the ground with a loud thud. Emma can feel the Darkness seep out of her soul; her heart and dissolve in the morning light of dawn. And then it’s gone.
“Regina…” Emma whispers against her lips. “You did it.”
“What?” the former Evil Queen asks as she pulls away. Then she sees Emma, dressed in that horrible red jacket, jeans, and loose fitting boots. Color has returned to her. Her white hair has returned to it’s straw color. Her eyes are once again that sparkling sea green. And her cheeks are flushed. Regina chuckles, softly, cupping Emma’s face in her hands. “True Love’s Kiss can really break any curse.”
“You love me?” the blond asks.
Regina nods. “And you love me.”
Emma gives her a lopsided grin. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything. I just couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. I’ve lost love once. I won’t do it again.”
Snow begin to fall around them, soft and light. Despite the cold, they stand there for a moment, just holding each other, swaying as the sun rose.
Summary: Swan Queen Secret Santa gift for @grrlinthefireplace. What happens when Emma rebuilds the bridges she's burnt? Eventual SQ. Mostly canon up until the last 10 minutes of 5x11, only major difference being Zelena was never Marian, and therefore Robin never came back from NY. Set after Hook's death.
Dear Sex Muffin, @cutelikemurder - this piece is for you. I’ve enjoyed writing it, I really (really) hope you’ll enjoy this as well. I’ve loved being your Secret Santa. Please don’t hesitate to send me a message or an ask or whatever you want! And let me know how did you like your gift. I wish you a good life like you deserve and good luck with everything that’s going on. Merry Christmas!
Title: Of Doubt and Darkness.
Rating: T.
Fandom: Once Upon a Time. Swan Queen.
Summary: Why did Emma sacrifice her own life for Regina's sake? Regina refuses to talk about the events of that night. It doesn't mean Emma isn't trying to explain herself. An alternative storyline in Camelot.
Link: Read it on FFN.
Merry Christmas @scribeofthevirus ! I’m your swan queen secret santa! Thank you so much for the fun prompt-writing this was an awesome challenge and I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I did writing. Have a fantastic Christmas ❤️
Emma’s body was trembling as she wiped the sweat off her forehead, her hands literally burning as magic coursed through her veins.
“Regina, can we please stop for today? Or at least take a break?”
“Come on Swan, you asked me to teach you how to do this, now do you want to learn or not?” Regina’s dark eyes went hard but softened again as she saw the hurt come across Emma’s face at the use of the brunette’s old frenemy nickname for the blonde. Emma knew she didn’t mean anything by it-and besides, Regina was right. She had to man up and just push through the pain.
Emma remembered how nervous she had been to pose the question for Regina to teach her how to make her infamous fireballs, expecting the brunette to laugh and tell her she should stick to fireworks. Instead, Regina took her very seriously and asked her if she was sure she wanted to try something that had originally been born out of dark magic. Emma simply reminded her that she and Elsa had tried a similar spell to trap Ingrid way back when their biggest problem was heartbroken ice queens. Now, they battled with jealous ex-boyfriends and wedding plans (the Charmings’ doting over Regina seriously had the brunette rethinking her priorities). But Emma was worth it-she was so worth it. Regina remembered the moment Emma had broken down, stating that she was chasing what was easy because what she truly wanted was insane-she was in love with Regina. It had been emotional, and Regina had taken some time to console her own feelings before deciding that it was time she had her real happy ending-and so the two planned to marry in the upcoming summer. Screw “fairytale” endings. And now, they escaped it all in Regina’s vault. Just the two of them and their all-powerful magic.
“Like this, right?” Regina was pulled out of her thoughts as a small flame quickly grew into a well-sized fire in the palm of Emma’s right hand.
“Yes, now don’t forget what I told you-round as in a globe, not a circle.”
She tried not to beam as unbridled determination flashed in her love’s blue-green eyes-she imagined the blonde having the same expression as a five year old taking on a dare to do something undoubtedly dangerous and stupid. But of course, Emma would do it anyway. Emma would do anything to prove herself-she was too proud for her own good. Finally, a smile broke across both their faces as a large fireball-about the size of a soccer ball-was burning in Emma’s hand. Without warning, Emma brought her opposite hand over it and clapped it to her palm quickly, causing Regina to jump back as light and smoke flickered as the ball was extinguished.
“Who taught you that?” The brunette asked, impressed. Emma just quirked her eyebrow at her,
“Guess.”
‘Elsa. Should have guessed.’
Regina smiled again, a flutter of jealousy making itself known in her chest.
“You blondes and your light magic.”
“Jealous? You shouldn’t be-you know you’ve made light magic before. You’ve even made true love-twice!” Emma’s voice became that high pitched tone that used to drive Regina nuts but now made her heart melt.
“Please, Emma you’re starting to sound like your parents. Besides, true love is overrated. Even you and Elsa made true love-it’s not like it’s hard or anything…”
Emma came into her personal space and let her gaze go up and down Regina’s-just as it had a thousand times before. Both their eyes dilated as Regina closed the minimal remaining space between them
“Just keep telling yourself that.”
Emma’s kisses were always so soft, even tentative at first. It was amazing because the woman was tough as nails and strong as hell, but all her walls went down when she kissed Regina. It didn’t take long before Regina’s tongue was sliding into Emma’s mouth-the blonde was like a drug, and Regina was beyond addicted. Slowly, Emma backed Regina into a large shelf along the south wall of the vault, Regina gasping as Emma’s mouth moved to her neck, her knee snaking between Regina’s thighs-just as it had a thousand times over. It was always the same dance with them-Emma would grow frustrated which would fuel her determination, she would make Regina proud and then the two would melt into one another-the only place they’d ever felt like everything was right. Regina snapped her fingers and with a puff of purple smoke they were in their bedroom in the mansion-and Emma was pleased to find that all their clothes were gone. They collapsed onto the bed, never breaking apart, as Emma straddled Regina’s thigh, her caramel skin becoming coated in her lover’s slick juices. Emma was good though-and pretty soon her knee was moving in a practiced rhythm against Regina’s sex. The brunette dug her fingernails in their usual spots on Emma’s back, a whole different kind of fire rushing through them both as they came to orgasm. Emma was much happier to be covered in sweat after this particular activity-she once joked that no matter the situation, sex with Regina was always worth it. That remark then led to Henry covering his ears and running up to his room, Snow being as red as a tomato, and Charming threatening to bring out his sword. Thinking before speaking wasn’t one of Emma’s strong suits.
Regina pressed a kiss to Emma’s shoulder as the blonde started to settle in on top of Regina, both of them looking out the window at the snowy night. Emma jumped up suddenly, “Regina, it’s Christmas Eve!”
Regina simply giggled, “Why yes, it is dear. Merry Christmas Eve.”
Emma smiled and pressed a kiss to Regina’s lips before sliding out from under the sheets, tugging on an oversized shirt that had been lazily thrown on the floor the previous night, and started to stomp down the stairs.
“Emma! Where are you going?” Regina called after her, a twinge of anxiety in her stomach.
“I’ll be right back up! One second!” The younger woman pretty much screamed at the top of her lungs, and Regina figured she was in the living room. Sure enough, not two minutes later, Emma was back in the room, flipping the overhead light on, a small wrapped present in her hand. Regina looked at her questioningly,
“Now Emma, I’m not sure how you grew up, but I’m pretty sure you open gifts on Christmas day.”
Emma ignored her, climbing back onto the bed. “I couldn’t wait to give this to you. Go on, open it. I think we’ve broken enough rules as it is-what’s one more going to do?”
‘Fair point.’ Regina tugged the bow off, then carefully undid the wrapping-she always liked to challenge herself and get it all off in one piece. A small black box was left, and she slowly took the top off. A pair of sparkling, purple amethyst earrings with silver accents glimmered in her hand.
“Emma! The earrings from the shop….how did you get these? I thought they all sold out!”
Emma shrugged as she watched the brunette fall in love all over again with the earrings. “I pulled some strings. Besides, they’re perfect-you had to have them one way or another.”
Regina felt a lump catch in her throat as she made eye contact with Emma,
“Thank you so much-I do love them, and I love you. You’re the best.”
Emma pulled her into a tight hug, “You’re welcome, ‘Gina. I love you too-to the next world and back.”
‘To the next world and back.’
OKAY SO. The good news is I had a great idea about a S5 retcon fic that basically erases all the crappy stuff and replaces it with the season we actually wanted (no Hook! no Zelena/Hood baby! Dark Emma being actually dark and having shit out with her parents! Regina and Rumple being the light magic Saviors who figure out how to rescue her! Regina + Emma TLK FTW!). The bad news is it's going to be HUGE (well that's not really bad news) and will not be ready by Christmas. SOOOOOOO (continued)
Well, I never received part 2… but I am excited for that fic! Could you possibly resend part 2, if you remember what you were going to say?
SQSS here. Sorry I haven't popped on as often. I'm putting the final touches on your present. I hope you like it. But I'm not here for that. I'm here to ask you want you thought of the AHS: Hotel. The ending killed me. Too funny. And now I can't listen to that Drake song without giggling.
OMG IT WAS THE FUNNIEST EPISODE EVER WTF,?!And Ms. Evers makes me LMAO!!!Hotline Bling will never be the same again… ♪♫
Well, it's our first week with no new OUAT, which is both a blessing and a curse. I had friends over tonight for a movie party and one of the guys there watches the show and we had a SUPER CATHARTIC shoutfest about that hot mess of a midseason finale together, so that was very healing and wonderful. How are you? How are you coping? Are you planning to skip 5B? Watch it with some fragments of hope in your heart? Enthusiastically hate-watch? All/none of the above? HUGS, Swen Secret Santa
Hi there friend! I am so deep into finals that it’s a miracle I’m alive right now. I was reading math books for 8 hours straight today, and I barely made a dent on my final project. The next three days are going to be a wild ride. But in terms of OUAT, I’ve sorta shut down the portion of my brain which cares about canon, because it’s such a shit show. But I’ve been coping via fanfic, and metas, and the great Regina Mills top/bottom debate of 2k15. Which do you think Regina Mills is? A top? A bottom? A switch? A power bottom? (There is a correct answer and we can’t be friends anymore if you chose the wrong one) (Just kidding, I’d love you either way, but there is still a correct answer) As for 5B, I think I’ll continue hate-watching it, but never live, not that I’ve watched live for the past two years anyway, but I digress. I miss having friends irl who watch OUAT, all of them either don’t live close enough to me for it to be feasible to talk about it with them in any way other than via the internet, or we don’t talk anymore, or a combination of the two. All of my friends out here are too self-respecting and socially conscious to watch a show that treats its POC and women as poorly as OUAT does as of the moment, so they’ve either stopped watching or won’t start watching now, and I wish I were them. Lots of hugs to you! I want an answer to this question!
