For all her parents’ talk of True Love and love at first sight, Emma couldn’t help but be taken aback as they spoke the dreaded words she had been fearing her entire life.
“An arranged marriage? No, father, you cannot make me!”
She had protested and cried, yelled and begged but it had been decided. The match had been made, the future of the family assured.
But what of her happiness?
Blue eyes met hers as they walked down the aisle, anchored her as she spoke with a quivering voice the words that would tie them together for the rest of eternity.
In the confines of their bedchamber, he touched her for the first time, a hesitating, slightly trembling caress on the pale skin of her cheek.
“I did not want this either, but Emma, I will try and make you the happiest person on this earth as if my life depends on it.”
And he had.
Once again @swanandapirate is made of awesome-sauce! Thank for the caption bb! ❤
For the 2018 CS Little Bang! Word count ~13,400;Also on AO3
* Let’s say 17 year old Emma got away from the cops when Neal set her up. * Let’s say the Brothers Jones joined the Circus instead of the Royal Navy. Let’s also say they can shape-shift into big, black jaguars. * What kind of antics can teenage!CS get into in a modern world where magic is real? Can a lost girl find her home among the “Circus Freaks”?
Grab your popcorn – the show’s about to start!
Rating/Warnings: T for swearing, sexual innuendo, brief non-graphic description of character/animal injury
Other pairings: Jewel Queen (Liam/Regina) and slight mentions of Ruby/Mulan
Many (MANY!!!) thanks to
the wonderful people I worked with on this project: my beta @blackwidownat2814 who was so encouraging when I wanted to throw my laptop out the window, and artist @amorecolorfulmoniker who made such beautiful, beautiful pictures for the story! {artwork link coming soon} You have both been a pleasure and a delight.
“Have you actually attended one of our performances, Miss…?”
“Swan. Emma Swan. And no.”
“Miss Swan. This Circus is unique. It’s a safe haven for individuals with unique abilities.”
“You mean freaks and weirdos?”
The Ringmaster scowled. “Not quite. More accurately, our performers are not exactly of this world. Sometimes they come here knowing what they are, sometimes the talent is latent, and yet this place draws them like a beacon.”
Emma held up a hand to stop the monologue. She’d heard people talking in town about this amazing circus where the magic almost seemed real, but she didn’t need a sales pitch. She needed a place to hide.
It All Starts With a Dance 