Notes: And here it is! My Captain Swan fanfiction debut. (And Tumblr debut, you can thank @distant-rose for walking me through posting step by step since I’m hopeless) I’d like to say a big thank you to @captainswanbigbang and to everyone who was a part of CSLB, you were all amazing and so so supportive, it was so great to be a part of this experience with you all! I’ve had a busy few weeks but I’m off now and I fully intend to immerse myself in all your fabulous work!
I’d also like to say an extra thank you to @givemelovelikecs for being my beta, for keeping me right and cheering me on. And also to @gingerchangeling for not only bringing this story to life with her artwork (here) but for also being the third pair of eyes this story needed to keep from totally embarrassing me.
Summary: Emma Swan doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to relationships. And now, fresh out of prison and with a baby in her arms, the opposite sex is really the last thing on her mind. At least until Killian Jones. He becomes her most loyal and trusted friend, but Emma’s unsure if friendship will be enough for him. Or for her. Will she be brave enough to risk her heart again? And how will things change when they find themselves amongst the meddling folks of Storybooke, Maine?
In retrospect, the day she met Killian Jones had to have been the unluckiest day of Emma Swan’s life to date. Not in major ways, mind you, but in regards to smaller misfortunes, December 6th was definitely up there. It was the day Emma decided that despite the common belief, bad things did not in fact happen in threes, they came by the freaking bus load, one after the other after the other in the crappiest game of dominos ever.
When they’d met she’d been the epitome of a frazzled teenage mom, her hair had been pulled up in a messy bun that wasn’t so much a deliberate messy bun as it was a greasy matt that hadn’t been brushed in two days… maybe three days? She’d been dressed in ill fitting thrift store clothes and spit up and had smelled rather unpleasantly of sour milk. Henry had been screaming, her breast pads had been leaking… Basically she was just in desperate need of a shower and a lie down.
All in all, it wasn’t the best first impression she could have given.
“Please,” she leans back in her chair, tucked as they are in the corner of the bar, her knee brushing his beneath the table. She licks at the rum that lingers on her bottom lip and feels the tug of heat low in her belly when his gaze lingers. When he presses his foot forward until his boot tucks up against hers. “You couldn’t handle it.”
He hums, reaching forward and curling his fingers around her wrist, his thumb tracing back and forth along the tattoo sitting pretty at her pulse point. They’ve been dancing around whatever this is for months – and she doesn’t know if it’s the rum or the shadowed corner they’ve found themselves in or him – but she’s suddenly very tired of acting like she doesn’t care.
“Would you like to make a wager on that, darling?”
She smiles, flipping her hand until her fingers tangle with his. He looks surprised, but he hides it admirably with a smirk – his thumb ring cool against her skin.
“i would, actually.”
“Is that so?”
She leans forward into his space and lets her nose bump his. She can smell the rum on his breath, that bit of orange he had in his old fashioned earlier. “If you can kiss me without – “ she places her hand on his thigh beneath the table, delighting when he jumps and the whole damned thing jolts. “ – getting excited, then you win.”
He tilts his head, lips brushing hers the barest amount. “What do I win?”
She shrugs. “Whatever you’d like.”
He hums, hand releasing her wrist to drag up her arm instead, tangling in the ends of her hair before curling around her neck, nudging her closer. “And say I do, get excited, as you say,” he thumbs the space just under her ear and her breath catches in her throat. “What do you win?”
“Where have you been?” He comes crashing through the jungle like a man possessed, his hair half a mess and his coat twirling about his ankles. He has his sword drawn like he intends to do battle, his entire body hurdling to a stop when he finally take her in – pants rolled to her knees and feet dangling in the water.
“I, um,” she wiggles her toes in the water, suddenly feeling stupid for the indulgence. But the jungle was just so damn humid, and she hasn’t been able to breathe for a second, and –
“I found a waterfall,” she explains.
He drops his sword by his side, blinking at her. Silence stretches between them and she looks over her shoulder for her boots, suddenly feeling like crying, though she doesn’t know why. The exhaustion, probably. Worrying about Henry and – god, Henry. He could be anywhere and here she is – sitting with her feet in the water. Lounging like she’s on a holiday vacation.
“I’ll just be a minute,” she mumbles, pulling her legs from the water. “I need to get my – “
His hand is gentle on her shoulder, his sword back in it’s sheath and his leather jacket in a neatly folded bundle next to her boots. He looks smaller without the coat. Less pirate captain, and more –
More Killian.
“Nonsense, Swan,” he doesn’t toe off his boots, but he does sit next to her, angling his face into the cool spray of the water. She’s never noticed the line of his jaw before, the flip of his dark hair at the nape of his neck. “We can spare a moment more.”
They sit in the silence together, and she doesn’t overthink it when her head finds his shoulder.
While Nova takes after her mother in looks, she is her father’s daughter in temperament – prone to eye rolls and smirks and wheedling her way out of bedtime. Emma finds the whole matter utterly hilarious, and he imagines Liam is somewhere in the afterlife having a right laugh to himself. After all, he had been far from a delight to raise.
He’s just managed to wrangle the little scoundrel into her pajamas and into her bed when she turns those big green eyes up at him, the little dent in her chin a perfect reflection of her mother’s. He melts every single time she looks at him like that, and she bloody well knows it.
Summary: Queen Emma of the Underworld enlists the help of a magical healer when her son falls deathly ill. Killian Jones, one of the best healers alive, is Emma’s last hope. But with so many people who need him, he can’t stay down in the Underworld forever. With the help of a few pomegranate seeds, he may not have a choice. Hades and Persephone!AU.
Rating: M
Content Warnings: Light sexual situations, mentions of death and loss.
Artwork by the ever talented @prongsie ! You can reblog the original piece here!
At last! My contribution to the Captain Swan Little Bang. A HUGE thank you goes to my fabulous beta reader, @accio-ambition who really couldn’t have been better to me if she tried. From her endless support to her patience with my frequent typos, she had my back through this process and I am so appreciative for everything she did for me! Without her, this would be a mess! Also, a big thank you to @hencethebravery who gave me some great pep talks. ♥ My love and gratitude Prongsie who created the most beautiful piece of artwork I’ve ever seen! She’s such a kind and talented soul. Make sure to shower all these wonderful ladies with love and support. Finally, a sincere thanks to all the hardworking mods at @captainswanbigbang who made this event happen.
Seed I
They called him Healer of the Sea because the seas seemed to calm their agonized rage when he stepped on the shoreline. With one dip of his hand into the cool waves, he could bring restoration in the form of clear water. Where the man sailed, the ocean saw peace. And perhaps he did heal the ocean of its torments in the form of hurricanes and storms, but the true meaning of his name went beyond its shores.
Those who met him knew him as a healer of people, and soon, those who merely heard of him knew him this way as well. Testimonies arose from across the seas and back of a man whose touch enchanted water with magical properties that could heal any ailment. He was a humble man, yet carried his compassion on strong shoulders and gentle hands.
Not that Emma would know. She’d traveled all this way to this sickly bright land to call upon him, only to find his ship, The Jewel of the Realm, departing from the harbor.
Links are a work in progress! I will be updating them as they are posted! 🙂
Story summary:
After her husband’s passing, Emma finds herself living on the run, hoping to protect her son from his greedy grandfather. She and Henry finally settle in the town of Storybrooke, where they begin to build their home. When they’re discovered and their livelihood is threatened, Emma accepts help from the town’s lighthouse keeper: Killian Jones.
Story ratingContent and trigger warnings: T
Credit: Thank you so much to my beta @icecubelotr44 and to my amazing artists @clockadile and @honeybadgerhook
The scene outside the Red Wolf Inn hadn’t changed much since the last time Killian had come into town. A group of children played outside, taking full advantage of the favorable midday weather. Those he’d seen before had grown some, and a few new children had joined their ranks.
They all stared at him as he dismounted. Killian laughed, knowing what came next. As expected, a small crowd surrounded him with their hands out. He chuckled, then called for a small boy towards the back.
“Do you know where the livery is, lad?” he asked as the crowd began to clear begrudgingly.
The boy nodded, his gaze turning towards the dirt he was kicking around. Killian smiled and crouched down in front of him. “Tell you what. If you can take my horse there, there’s a little money in it for you.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a shiny coin.
“Really?” the boy asked, disbelievingly. His voice was almost a whisper, but he looked up at Killian and grinned.
“Aye,” Killian promised.
“Okay, Mister!”
Killian handed over the reins and watched for a moment to make sure the child didn’t have any difficulty with the horse. Then, he turned and made his way into the tavern.
“Jones,” Ruby greeted him when he sat at the bar.
“Ruby,” he nodded back.
She stood in front of him and leaned over the bar, flashing one of her flirtatious smiles. “What’re you interested in?”
“Just a room,” he replied, chuckling when she grumbled. “Perhaps something to eat as well. It’s been a long day.”
“I’m guessing you’ll take your meal upstairs?” Ruby asked.
“You would be correct.”
“It wouldn’t hurt you to have company once in awhile,” Ruby muttered as she took his money.
“Noted,” he mumbled when she handed over a key. He frowned when he looked at it. “This isn’t my usual room.”
“It’s occupied. Stop complaining and get upstairs. You’re lucky we house you at all.” Ruby rolled her eyes, but there was no bite in her words. “I’ll send someone up with your food.”
Summary: Queen Emma of the Underworld enlists the help of a magical healer when her son falls deathly ill. Killian Jones, one of the best healers alive, is Emma’s last hope. But with so many people who need him, he can’t stay down in the Underworld forever. With the help of a few pomegranate seeds, he may not have a choice. Hades and Persephone!AU.
Rating: M
Content Warnings: Light sexual situations, mentions of death and loss.
Artwork by the ever talented @prongsie ! I’ll be adding the link where you can reblog the beautiful art for this story soon!
At last! My contribution to the Captain Swan Little Bang. A HUGE thank you goes to my fabulous beta reader, @accio-ambition who really couldn’t have been better to me if she tried. From her endless support to her patience with my frequent typos, she had my back through this process and I am so appreciative for everything she did for me! Without her, this would be a mess! Also, a big thank you to @hencethebravery who gave me some great pep talks. ♥ My love and gratitude Prongsie who created the most beautiful piece of artwork I’ve ever seen! She’s such a kind and talented soul. Make sure to shower all these wonderful ladies with love and support. Finally, a sincere thanks to all the hardworking mods at @captainswanbigbang who made this event happen.
Seed I
They called him Healer of the Sea because the seas seemed to calm their agonized rage when he stepped on the shoreline. With one dip of his hand into the cool waves, he could bring restoration in the form of clear water. Where the man sailed, the ocean saw peace. And perhaps he did heal the ocean of its torments in the form of hurricanes and storms, but the true meaning of his name went beyond its shores.
Those who met him knew him as a healer of people, and soon, those who merely heard of him knew him this way as well. Testimonies arose from across the seas and back of a man whose touch enchanted water with magical properties that could heal any ailment. He was a humble man, yet carried his compassion on strong shoulders and gentle hands.
Not that Emma would know. She’d traveled all this way to this sickly bright land to call upon him, only to find his ship, The Jewel of the Realm, departing from the harbor.
Emma Swan, reluctant goddess of the underworld has accepted her fate as the ruler of Hades, but what she refuses to accept is that Henry’s fate is to be sealed with hers in death. Hoping to find a cure for his sickness, she seeks out a man she’s only heard of in a whisper. A man who can heal anyone, but as we all know, nothing is ever that simple. So strap in for this mournful tale of death and despair, but fear not, for where Killian Jones, ‘Healer of the Sea’ goes, hope follows!
Merry Christmas Courtney! You mentioned you liked Neverland hidden feelings and that got me thinking about what would have happened if we got a chance to see Killian reacting to Emma almost drowning during the storm. I hope you like it!!!!
He wished he could silence the demons that were haunting him, but not even the strongest rum was doing the trick this night. He closed his eyes, the image of Emma sinking into the sea coming to him again. Killian fisted his hand and was tempted to punch the wall of his cabin, but he knew it was futile to fight the feelings that were invading him.
He sensed more than heard the soft steps outside his cabin, the creak of the wooden planks as familiar as his own heartbeat. Without even thinking, he opened the door, his eyes finding her standing in front of him. She was wearing one of his old white linen shirts, the ones he’d stashed on the cabin crew the day he’d left his lieutenant days behind. She looked like a vision and he took it as such until the sight of her still wet blonde hair reminded him of how close he’d been to lose her. To lose yet another one he’d come to care about.
Without thinking, he pulled her into the cabin and closed the door. He pressed her against the wall, his forehead resting against hers, his lips murmuring against her skin.
“Don’t you ever do that again…”
“Hook, it was the only way.”
He closed his eyes. “I could have lost you… I can’t – I can’t bear it.”
The soft caress of her fingers on his cheek undid him and it was all it took for his lips to find hers in a searing kiss, for his hand to reach and undo the buttons of the shirt she was wearing, for him to lose himself in the soft curves of her body. For him to feel Emma Swan’s pulse thrumming as he brought her to the brink of pleasure, for him to feel her alive and writhing under him.
For Killian Jones’ heart to feel alive again, after so many centuries being dormant.
So this had started out as a small idea as a birthday gift for my friend but then spiraled out of control. I wanna thank @captainswanbigbang that gave me this opportunity to finally complete this piece.
Lots of gratitude and love for Nicola ( @alocin209 ) for beta reading, providing insights and being patient throughout the craziness of my schedule. Thank you so much for this. It was such a joy interacting with you.
And a huge shout out to Sophie ( @shady-swan-jones ) for selecting this story to bestow her creativity. I have been a huge admirer of her art and working with her was such a beautiful experience. Thank You So Much.
Summary:
Killian Jones was one story away from establishing himself as a successful writer – that is what his publisher said and he completely believed it. He knew he should be pouring his heart out but his muse had other ideas, it seemed.
Emma Swan used to love her job but the monotony of the routine had finally caught up with her and she no longer enjoyed the job she once loved.
Can the two lost souls find what they were looking for when they meet each other at a restaurant and end up striking a deal that could change how they were?
The fierceness with which Killian was hitting the keys of his laptop instantly transported him to his college days when a paper was due. Or the time when he was writing his first novel and his muse had generously bestowed him with its presence. In both instances he had been in the same place, the corner booth of Granny’s bistro, where he could surreptitiously watch everyone. He loved the place, having spent years harboring the dream to make it big in the literary world. He’d thought he made it back then, he’d reached out and grabbed his dream. Now, he wasn’t so sure he’d made it at all.
He hit the Backspace button again, annihilating his last hours hard work. It just didn’t fit. He groaned in frustration, running his fingers through his hair. It had been almost a year since he had last published but Robin, his publisher/manager, insisted that he start working again. According to him, Killian needed just one more bestseller to carve his niche in the cutthroat world of writing. While Killian couldn’t help but agree, it didn’t mean that he was happy about it. He loved writing – fleshing out characters, charting down their minute traits that made them them, and then finally breathing life in the roles he had envisioned. He just hated the times when the slippery muse would desert him and it was happening more nowadays. He sighed, rubbing his face in frustration when a cappuccino with a smiley face was put in front of him.
“Thanks Granny,” Killian smiled. He was agitated, frustrated beyond measures but somehow the old woman always made him smile.
“It seemed like you needed it,” she spoke, a twinkle in her eye as she sat next to him.
There is not much to do but burn. The core of you swirls and twists in knots of heat and light, your whole being filled with and surrounded by the fire of your existence. Burning, burning, always burning but only ever lighting up a tiny corner of an endless sky.
Such is the life of Killian Jones– though he isn’t called that anymore. He has been here for hundreds of years now, blinked quietly into existence one night and become a part of a thousand different skies, given names and stories under each one.
He had been a man once. But it has been too long since he has been skin and bones, muscle and sinew. His thoughts and memories have spread across the breadth of his sparking, spitting, smouldering existence. He can only remember things in flashes of forgotten feeling, every sensation dulled over the eons that he has spent in this breathless emptiness.
He spends his neverending nights wandering through strange skies, watching over lives and loves and stories he can never live, cursed to spend eternity alone.
But everything changes one night when he leans a little too close to watch a woman look up at him, her back against a brick wall, her feet gripping at the wood beneath her. He sees her mumble a wish, a desperate ask for something but he can’t make out what it is, his eyes too caught in the rush of electricity that seems to come out from around her, stretching up and out to him. Higher and higher, her words caught in the crackling heat, coming up and around him, surrounding him until it is all he can hear.
It All Starts With a Dance 