#cs fic rec
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fanbinding: a fate woven in thread and ink
a second printing of @shireness-says masterwork a fate woven in thread and ink. a little quarto this time, otherwise identical to the design elements in the typeset i made for dev with artwork by @eirabach. since i had a smaller cover i went with this traced and painted design (never again)--a particularly creepy rendition of The Lovers, a major arcana tarot card.
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A Court of Vines and Shadow - for @cssns ‘23
SUMMARY: When Dark One Killian Jones makes Faerie Princess Emma of Misthaven spend 3 moon cycles a year with him to break a curse, Emma never expected to fall in love with him. Now she was walking down the aisle, meant to marry a man she doesn't love because she can never be with the one her heart wants. Or can she?
An ACOTAR Inspired fic written for Captain Swan Supernatural Summer 23. Also on A03
Also it’s July 9th and Speak Now Taylor’s Version just came out I feel like Speak Now is the perfect song to accompany this fic!!
Huge thanks to @cssns for this amazing event which allowed me to bring this to life! And special shoutouts to @hollyethecurious for the amazing art and also to my awesome beta @blonde-of-sherwood 💙💜
White dress. The Spring fallen gardens filled with flowers upon flowers, petals scattered all the way down the aisle and vines spiralling the chairs and arch. Flowers Emma had grown herself with her magic, snowbells and lilies, her mothers favourite flowers, the ones she first learnt how to grow using her magic when it first manifested all those years ago.
Her mother was who she was doing this for. Marrying someone she doesn’t love. Her mother worked so hard to arrange the various meetings with suitors, all noble Fae men, only the best for the Princess of Misthaven. Her mother never got to have a big wedding, she met Emma’s father and fell in love almost as quickly as she fell pregnant. As newly appointed King of Misthaven, they had to elope quickly so the Kingdom would be more accepting of their new Queen, who also happened to be a demi-fae. Her mother, who Emma dearly loved, so much so that she was marrying someone she had had just 3 conversations with all to appease the Kingdom and not go to Civil War because of the man she does love.
Killian. That’s who her mind wandered to. The Prince of Darkness as the rest of the Kingdom saw him. It had taken a while to see past his shadows and darkness, which she now understands was built from the loss of his family and the only people he had ever loved. But she loved him fiercely, anytime they were apart it broke her. Having to say goodbye for the final time was the closest Emma had felt to heartbreak.
So here she was, standing in her white dress, flowers in her hair and bouquet in her hands, where she would meet her father, take his arm and walk down the aisle to marry Lord Walsh. Pushing thoughts of Killian to the back of her mind as she walked towards the aisle to all the smiling faces of her Kingdom. She had to do this, she loved Killlian but they both knew they would never be together in the way they wanted. She just wished she had allowed herself to see past his darkness sooner and they could have had more time together.
“Emma.” An all too familiar voice calls her name from behind the aisle. He uses his power to bind the shadows to him, making him appear in a sort of smoke of darkness as he steps towards his lover. One of his other talents includes stopping time, just for a few minutes, but those few minutes were all he needed.
“Killian. What are you doing here?” As much as she loved him, it pained her to see him here. They had said their goodbyes a few nights prior. Seeing him here, in a white dress about to marry someone else, it wasn’t right.
“I have tried, Emma, truly I have tried to stay away. If it made you happy I would stand by and let you marry someone else, but I can feel your pain all the way in Neverland. It’s causing me pain too, and I think I understand now, it’s why I was so drawn to you the very first time we met, why, even when you hated me you could never really stay away.”
“Killan, you’re not making any sense, what are you saying?” It was painful seeing him, she was hurting, thinking of their time together and how fate was so cruel to not allow them more time.
“You’re my mate.”
His mate. Mates in this world were rare, her parents were never granted that luxury. She hadn’t known of anyone in the last 200 years who found their Mate. So why her? Why now?
Mates were equal in power and status, perfectly matched by the universe. A one true love, a soulmate. She never denied she loved Killian, but being his Mate was a whole other experience. It made sense in a way, they were drawn together at the ball when they first met. He could sense she was powerful, he recognised her untapped powers, something even her parents were unable to do. And she was never scared of him either, she had heard the rumours of course, and knew what he was capable of, but that didn't scare her.
_______________
Emma had been to hundreds of balls in her lifetime, even when she was a little girl, she would sneak into the ones at her palace, and watch everyone dance. They all shared a unique beauty about them, from the way the light reflected on the dresses worn or the chandeliers making rainbows across the walls, they were a thing of otherworldly beauty. But this ball in particular was nothing like those she was used to. It was hosted just outside Misthavens borders, an old castle known to be taken up residence by a Fae many years ago known as “The Dark One”. Rumours began to spiral that the Dark One was back. It had been years since he had been seen and random killings had stopped, but who knew. The invitations went to all the noble folk in Misthaven and surrounding kingdoms and the signature was empty, leaving more curious minds. There were many debates surrounding whether they should go or not, but the Royal Family of Misthaven had to attend to keep peace.
As she grew older the balls became a chance for her parents to find her a suitor to marry, she was now 21 and it was considered uncouth for the Crown Princess to be unmarried, even by Fae standards. So in an effort to avoid dancing with a Duke, she would practise her magic. Every Fae was gifted a power linked to the four elements, and Emma had inherited Earth from her mother. At times she thought it was a boring element to have, her younger brother Leo had water, which was useful for everyday life as well as pulling pranks (to which she was victim of lately). But as she got older she learnt to appreciate it, she enjoyed seeing what she could make grow, especially in situations like right now.
There would always be potted plants, pretty flowers surrounding the tables, she breathed into her powers and with a single touch could double the petals or even change their colours. Sometimes she would paint the pink flowers blue, or the white ones black just to test what she could do. Of course, her mother didn’t approve of using it for this. She was also gifted with the power of earth, but she preferred to make things grow or inject life back into a sunken plant, rather than mess with existing life.
“Not enjoying the festivities I see?” A voice from behind Emma startles her, she didn’t recognise him, dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Dressed in an all black leather suit, not the typical style the men wore. His pointed ears stick out from his dark hair, Emma had always felt self conscious of her ears, so made an effort to hide them, but this man, whoever he was, was the most beautiful man she’d ever laid eyes on.
“I come for the faerie wine and food only I’m afraid.” She tells him with a playful smile.
“Well if you’re here for the wine why aren’t you dancing? Most people get drunk off a few sips then don’t leave the dance floor all night.”
She leans in close, “I’m not like most women.” What was the harm in flirting, he was gorgeous and her parents would never approve which made him all the more exciting.
He holds out his hand to her, “Dance with me, I insist.”
Dancing with a handsome stranger was not how Emma expected the night to go, but he was a great partner, unlike some of the suitors her mother had forced upon her in the past. He led her around the room with grace and it was as though they flew through the dancefloor together, no stepping on toes and he even spun her around a couple times, feeling the wine go to her head a little more. “You’re really good at this.”
“There’s just one rule, pick a partner who knows what he’s doing.” He whispers into her ear as he dips her. “You’re very powerful, you know Emma.” He tells her as she comes up.
“How do you know my name?” Sure she was the Princess, and most people recognise her at these things, but it was strange the way he said it so casually.
“I know a lot of things Emma.” He whispers, his breath close to her neck, making Emma feel a sense of arousal. A moment later the mystery man turned into shadow and darkness, disappearing from her hold and reappearing out of shadows at the top of the staircase.
“Welcome to my lovely guests. I guess it’s time I introduce myself?”
All eyes were on the mystery man now, they all saw his shadow power. That wasn’t one of the four elements, this was some other worldly magic. Then, for Emma at least, it clicks. The charming lustful energy coming from him, his ability to know things he shouldn’t, and his shadow and darkness powers. He was the Dark One.
That should have made her terrified, but for some reason, it didn’t scare her. Who was he?
“My name is Killian Jones. But I believe your people have a few different names for me, Dark One, Wronged Fae, Prince of Darkness is a personal favourite-though I bore no royal blood or status.”
_____________
And that’s where it began, he said he held this ball because he was supposedly cursed and needed someone with light magic to resolve it. Not just any light magic though, a very specific kind. And of all the Fae in the land, he decided Emma, after one conversation and dance that she was the Fae he was looking for, only she could break the curse.
“All I request are 3 moon cycles with her every year until I decide otherwise, or my curse is broken, whichever comes first.” This was his deal, his bargain. As the Dark One, you would be a fool to refuse or dispute a bargain.
Her parents were outraged, and tried everything in their power to stop them. They were a royal family, if he were anyone else maybe that would have been enough, but as the Dark One, he bore no allegiance to royalty. So for 3 moon cycles, she was to live with him, in his castle, doing who knows what.
____
The first moon cycle was absurd, The Dark One didn’t mention a single thing about his supposed curse. He made her practise her magic every single day. Barely spoke to her. Her main source of contact was with one of the servants, Belle. She would show her to her room, which wasn’t a prison or a dungeon like she was expecting, but it had lush carpets. velvet curtains and the most gorgeous and comfortable king size bed in the centre of the room. She would also take her down to the grand dining room where she was to eat all meals. The food was exquisite, the spices used were unlike anything she’d eaten before, it made Misthavens cooks look like a child in the kitchen.
There was no sign of him for the first couple of days, he left Belle with a page of instructions for Emma to get on with while she was here. The only thing on the list:
Read: The Complete Earth Elemental Magic Volume I
Read about her magic. That was the only thing she would do all day. For the first two moon cycles this is all she does, she sees him in passing, at mealtimes mainly. He is pleasant and they make small talk.
When she arrives home, her parents pounce on her, needing to know everything. What she witnessed, who she spoke to and if he hurt her in any way. They were terrified, and it made Emma realise she wasn’t afraid of him the way others were.
“We have suitors lined up.” Her mother would tell her, desperate to get her married off in the strange fear the Dark One would whisk Emma away to be his bride before she could marry a noble born. She would play along and speak to the princes and lords her parents picked out for her. She tried, really tried to find something good in any of them, but her mind would wander back to the blue eyes and dark haired villain she would be seeing again very soon.
The next moon cycle comes along and her task is to again, read the magic book which she was now on volume III of. Enough was enough, she needed to know her place and what exactly he intended to do with her.
“I have read these volumes cover to cover. If I have to learn about the different ways a flower can be grown I think I will die of boredom. You mentioned a curse that first night. Tell me everything and I can look in those stupid books for something that might actually help.”
He smiles at her as she rambles on about being a useful Fae and powerful if he lets her see. He admired her courage and her passion. “Very well Emma.” The way he says her name makes Emma feel something inside her that she’s not sure is good or bad.
“Contrary to popular belief about the Dark One, I did not choose this power willingly. It was forced upon me by a former Dark One. You see, only one can exist at a moment in time, and the only way to steal the power is to steal the life that holds such power.” He then goes on to explain how many years ago, his brother’s wife had fallen sick from her pregnancy and they were not sure if the baby would survive, the three of them searched for a cure around different lands, different royal families, they had to find something to save her but had no such luck. “One night, we had grown tired and stopped to find shelter for the night, when Elsa, my brother's wife began to bleed, she was losing the baby. Liam cried out and an old man came to our aid, asked if we would do anything to help to which I naively responded yes to. He kills them both using a type of magic I didn’t know existed.’ He can barely get through his story without stopping every few moments, and it's clear he still has a heart. “He then tells me if I take the dagger and stab him in the heart, they will be revived and the baby safe.”
“He forced you to kill him so he would be free of his curse, and in turn it then cursed you?”
“Aye love. That night has haunted me for nearly 200 years, I was desperate and if I could go back and change things I would. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to free myself that doesn’t involve trickery. I also do not wish to burden another innocent life with this curse.” He then takes Emma’s hand and looks into her eyes, “That is where you come in, Emma Darling. I saw a seer and she shared with me a vision. A golden haired demi-fae with an earth element bearing an unyielding amount of light magic has the power to free me without hurting either party.”
“And of all the demi-fae with an earth element, you believe it's me because?”
“That’s why I held the ball. I wanted to see who I was drawn to, and as soon as I met you Emma, it was clear you were the one. You are special” The way he looked at her as she said this, made her feel warm inside. For a split second Emma also thought he was going to kiss her, and that if he did, she would let him.
That was the changing point. The more time they spent together going over her magic the more confident she felt. She learnt more things about her magic that she had known were possible. She could end life as quickly as she could revive it, well, the life of a flower anyway. She could drain the life from a lily and then when it was wilting, press life back into it. Emma guessed the more she practised this, maybe she would drain the darkness from Killian.
“Have you ever experimented with other elements, Emma Darling?” He asks one day, it was the last day of the moon cycle and she was to return home. She hadn’t realised how much she would miss his company.
“I was only gifted with the earth element, my mother shares it too. My brother inherited water from my father.” She explains, “I haven’t heard of any Fae who were gifted more than one element, wouldn’t that disrupt the power balance?”
She would also miss the way he would sit there and smile at her when she rambled, he really wasn't as bad as people said he was. They didn’t know him the way she did. “Emma, you’re special. You hold the element of earth, well all elements are connected to the earth, are they not? Why don’t you try to conjure fire?”
All Fae were granted one element, fire, air, earth or water, it was unheard of for someone to hold a double or even triple elemental magic, every scripture and teacher would tell you too much power would disrupt the power balance of the universe, and everyone would suffer. But then again if she were truly the Fae in his prophecy, she was already disrupting the power of the universe.
“I wouldn’t know where to start, I don’t know anyone with that power and even if I did I-.” He was already moving towards her before she could finish her train of thought.
“All power lives inside you Emma.” He stands behind her and places his hand on her shoulders, moving down to her abdomen, “you can feel it inside you, reach deep inside and find that extra source of power.” Emma had to focus on keeping her breathing normal, he was touching her and she was feeling very strange things at the moment. Still, she does as he instructs, she feels where she knows her earth power lies, she taps into it daily. But then she tries to focus on where that power was, and if she could feel anything else. At first she could only feel her earth, but then she felt something different, she wasn’t sure what it was but it was similar to the way her earth felt.
“That's it, love.” Killian says, hand still resting on her abdomen, “hone in on that. And think of something that makes you angry, feel the fire before you conjure it.”
Pushing the way his husky breath felt on her neck aside, she thought of her mother and how she orchestrated all these suitors that were supposedly so ‘perfect’ for her, how she never listened to what she wanted and how angry she felt when she would come home from her studies to see a Prince or a Duke in her sitting room.
“Open your eyes Emma.”
Fire. A small flame coming from her palm was the sight Emma was greeted with when she opened her eyes. It didn’t burn for very long once she realised what she had done and couldn’t figure out how to control it. But she did that.
“I conjured fire.” She says with a mix of shock and excitement plastering her face.
“I told you you were powerful Emma.”
He was still standing behind her, so she turns to see him grinning at her and his gaze fixed on her, in awe of her. They’re both silent for a moment, clearly having the same internal battle inside their head. Their heads moved closer and closer until their lips finally met and Emma felt her magic on fire. Every sense was heightened with this kiss, a merge of power and lust building up from their shared time together. Killian deepens the kiss as his hand settles on her cheek while Emma’s hands find his hair. She’s being pushed up against the wall after a while, and Emma leans her head back and moans as Killian pressees kisses onto her neck and then back to her lips.
Their time together was never the same after that. Being apart from one another became harder. Every time Emma would practise her newfound powers, her thoughts would wander back to Killian and how he made her feel.
When they were together, they were rarely apart. She possessed all four elements, and took the time to learn and explore what she could do with them. Of course she had to keep this quiet when she was away from Neverland and from Killian. Her family and her court would be wary of her newfound powers, likely brand her as dark as her ‘captor’ as they referred to Killian.
“I wish you would stop calling him that, he has a name.” She finally snaps back at her mother upon her return after listening to her rattling her newest ideas on how to get out of the contract.
“He forces you to be away from your family for a whole moon cycle. He is darkening your mind with his power if you do not see what is wrong with that my sweet child.”
That taught her to keep her mouth shut. They didn’t understand. Yes, as part of a bargain she was to spend time with him, but she looked forward to those moon cycles, he understood her, listened to her, she felt he was the only person she could be herself around. Worst of it was, she was falling in love with him. No, she was in love with him. And she had an inkling that he felt the same.
The next time she comes home, yet again there is a suitor sitting in her living room. She didn’t know who this one was and frankly, she didn’t care.
“Emma. I’m glad to see you’re home in one piece.” Her mother says, and Emma rolls her eyes, pretending she wasn’t practically seething that comment. She would never understand Killian or how she felt safe with him.
“Hello mother. Who is our guest?” She asks with a fake smile, knowing full well this was another suitor she was not interested in.
The suitor offers out his hand and bows, “Lord Walsh of Oz. it is a pleasure to finally meet you, your highness.”
He was an older man, older than she was, which was not uncommon for suitors as they had to be to have a title. He was average height, nothing particularly interesting about him was jumping out at her. Her mother clearly chose this one from the same place as all the others, he was polite and overly grateful to the Queen for inviting him. They would all sip on their tea whilst Emma made polite conversation with them and they would express their interest for children and make an awful comment about being the more powerful Fae and Emma would thank them for their time as she busied herself with something else to get away. She wondered how long this one would take to get rid of.
“Lord Walsh is to be your husband. We have been setting arrangements whilst you were being held hostage.” She rolls her eyes at the hostage comment and was about to argue, until it hits what she just said.
“I’m sorry, we’re to be married when?” This was a new low, even for her mother. “Mother, may I speak with you in private?”
“Excuse us.” Snow tells Walsh as she guides her daughter into the drawing room.
“I can’t believe this. I’m away for one moon cycle and you have me married off already? I keep telling you, I want to marry for love.” She didn’t know what to feel right now, angry yes, upset yes, and also confused, why now, when the topic of suitors had never felt imminent.
“Emma, every day you spend with the Dark One is a day closer to us never seeing you again.” She tells her as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
“If this is still about him corrupting my mind, you have to know I’m still the same person as I was before the bargain.” As the Crown Princess, Emma didn’t have many choices in terms of clothing, free speech or political opinion, but she deserved the freedom to choose and to marry whoever she liked.
Her mother touched her cheek, a way she did when Emma was younger. “Emma, the fact you don’t see it worries me. This is for the best. If we send a message you’re getting married, you can convince him to call off the bargain. This is a good thing Emma, things will go back to the way they were.”
She may have spent more moon cycles with the Dark One than planned, but she sure as hell was not dark herself, Killian couldn’t corrupt her when he was only trying to heal. She was different, she admits that, but it was a good different. She was powerful, confident in her abilities and her magic. Something that only came from being with Killian.
But she was the princess. Her parents, the King and Queen. She could fight with them about many things, but this was orchestrated by them. She could try to refuse this marriage, but she would need a valid reason, another prince or duke to replace Lord Walsh. It was a horrifying thought, but she didn’t have a choice. She was going to have to marry him.
What she wanted was to run away with Killian. She wanted to free him of his curse, help him heal. She did not want to be bound to him for a moon cycle at a time, she wished to spend as much time as she wished. But if she did that then her parents would come looking, they would send armies to search for her, it would cost the kingdom more money than they have. Running away would cause a civil war.
All because she fell in love with the wrong Fae.
________________________________________
“I know you feel it too. Please Emma, don’t deny it.” He pleads, keeping the shadows clouding around them for a little while longer.
“I don’t deny it. I’m just in shock.” She admits. Having a mate in this world was rare, but those who were lucky enough to be granted one would be damned for all eternity if they chose to reject their mate. She had grown up with a legend of a male who loved another for years before meeting his mate, they chose to be apart and he died of heartache. She isn’t sure how much of that was true, but there was a reason they were chosen to be mates by the universe. She couldn’t marry Lord Walsh, no matter how hard her mother worked, marrying someone she had no love for knowing her mate, her true love was just out of reach would be too painful a life to lead. “Killlian, if we’re doing this, it has to be right, we have to follow the rules. If I run away now, it will only start a war.”
Killian nods in understanding, “We do this the right way. I claim you in front of everyone, and if you claim me back there is nothing they can do to stop.” He gives her a quick kiss before disbanding the shadows around them and hides from onlookers until it's time.
The crowd are unaware anything happened as she begins her descent down the flowery aisle. She spies her family in the crowd, her mother looking so happy, her brother next to her smiling brightly and her father trying not to cry as she takes his arm. He was meant to be giving her away to Walsh, but he was indirectly handing his daughter over to the Dark One. This was going to break their hearts, but she hoped they would see that Killian made her happy, the life she was choosing for herself was far better than the one her family were choosing for her.
Walsh stands at the end of the aisle by the arch, his family were noble and would prosper from this union, more land and a grander estate. All of that was meaningless though, he didn’t love Emma either, it was his family pushing this marriage as much as it was her own. She was leaving a lot behind, her brother would become Crown Prince, and her mother would likely push a marriage for him too, likely to Princess Alexandra of the Western Kingdom to save the Kingdom from too much heartbreak of a runaway Princess. But it was worth it, the time spent with Killian made her feel alive for the first time in her life, she discovered things about her she didn’t know she could do.
“We are gathered today to witness the marital union between these two people. Lord Walsh of Oz, and Princess Emma of Misthaven.”
Emma spies Killians shadows from just beyond the arch, waiting for the right time.
“If there is any reason why these two should not be married, Speak Now or forever hold your peace.”
Silence from the crowd. Until shadows grow and at the other end of the aisle, Killian transfigures. “I object.”
The crowd begins to stir, chatter arises, some people even scream. “Under what grounds?”
“I have come to claim Emma. As my Mate.”
Shock horror from the crowd once again, she hears her parents cries and pleads not to go through with this, but she had no choice, this was for her own happiness, she was putting herself first for once.
“Do you claim me as I claim you?” He asks, knowing her answer.
“I claim you, Killian Jones, as my mate.”
Neither were sure exactly what would happen when they said those words, legend said mates had to claim one another in words, whether that be in public or in private. Considering mates were rare and neither had met or heard of anyone that had a mate, they were unaware if anything were meant to happen after they had claimed one another, whether it be lighting from the sky or if they would feel it in their hearts.
Neither were prepared for their right arms to suddenly have ink appear and spiral into a tattoo, matching with one another. Confirming their mateship and that they were now bound to one another, there was nothing anyone could do about it.
With a last look of pity and sorrow at her family, she runs into her new mates arms, and they disappear in a cloud of shadow.
Emma was going home.
#captain swan#captain swan fanfic#cs ff#cs fic rec#my writing#cssns23#captain swan supernatural summer
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Let's spread some love 😘. What are some of your top five favourite cs fics?
i love this oh gosh, also god i have too many ;;
ok in no particular order:
breathless by AcrobatElle - LINK
genuinely cannot emphasis enough how much EVERYONE needs to read this one. there is spice, but like the most heart wrenching, bring you to your knees, soul moving thing you've ever read. i won't spoil it but please, run don't walk to read this one
a uniquely portable magic by @wistfulcynic - LINK
listen, it actually pains to pick only one of saira's fics because i love them ALL. but if i HAD to, it would be this one. this is my desert island fic, the one i reread over and over. i can't even describe how beautifully she writes and how much every fic of hers feels like coming home, but they just do. cannot recommend highly enough just going through her archive <3
running home to your sweet nothings by @sotangledupinit - LINK
gonna be a little stinker and pick mary's most recent fic. i would have also said her run rogers run fic from christmas last year buuuuut, listen. i love her current fic. i am a sucker for EF lieutenant duckling AUs where Emma is actually given a sword and allowed to go buck wild (aka what should have actually happened in the wish realm episode SORRY) so this one really hits the spot so gooood
tactical magic by @iverna - LINK
my one true love in cs fics is witch!emma in a urban fantasy setting and i love, LOVE what svenja does in this fic. also i just love the way she writes emma and killian in all her fics, they always feel so true to the characters every single time, and she treats them both with such love and attention
iridescent blue by @pirateherokillian - LINK
listen only pip could write a werewolf story about a mauling for an event called january joy and still make it one of the sweetest things you've ever read ;; i love how she writes both emma and killian in all her fics, they always feel so real to me whenever i read her stuff
also massive shoutouts to the authors i first read when i got into the fandom and got me hooked @hollyethecurious , @the-darkdragonfly , @elizabeethan and @cosette141 please just go and raid their ao3's i'm so serious
#asks#oh god this is so long i'm SORRY#but also hey if you got witch emma fics please send them my way they're my favourite thing#cs fic rec
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HALLOWEEN RECS NOW OPEN!!!
Have a favorite Halloween (or spooky themed) CaptainSwan fanfiction/fanart/gifset/other fanwork? Now's the time to send them in!
Here's how it works:
From September 3-14th, you can go to this link and fill out the form!
From the 15th-31st, our mods will go over all the works sent in.
From October 1st-31st, we'll be sharing all the works sent in here on this page, so make sure to give us a follow!
Other rules and terms
🎃 All of the works submitted for this event must primarily feature Captain Swan, though the presence of other ships in a work does not disqualify it!
🎃 All of the works submitted for this event must primarily focus on Halloween, be in some way spooky, contain supernatural/monsters, or in some other way be Halloween related. If it doesn't fit one of the first three criteria, please specify at the end of the form why you think it should be included in this event.
🎃 This event does not require any kind of sign-up.
🎃 You may submit as many works as you would like, but if you choose to do so, fill out a separate form each time.
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🎃 Planning on posting something Halloween/Spooky themed this October and want us to share it? Just tag @captainswanholidayspecialreruns when you post it, and we'll share it here.
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🎃 If a work is referred by someone other than its original poster, we will be contacting the poster to ask if it's okay to share their work in this event.
🎃 The goal here is to spread positivity for a lot of the fanworks out there, not to spew hate. As such, anyone who responds to a posted work with negativity, hate, or unwarranted criticism will be blocked from this blog permanently.
🎃 We reserve the right to not share a requested work, even without a good reason. However, since our goal is to share as many works and as much CS love as possible, we will try to avoid doing this.
Stay spooky, loves!
👻 kazzy and the CSHSR crewmates!
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Let's spread some love 😘. What are some of your top five favourite cs fics?
Thanks for the ask, nonnie! However, I have to admit—I couldn't limit myself to just 5 fics! There's WAY too many good ones in this fandom.
So here's a rundown of some of my all-time faves, though I'm positive I'm missing some. Here goes, in no particular order:
break me by @thisonesatellite. Just—the coolest supernatural story and I just LOVE how she wrote Killian in this, as angsty as it is.
Given the Choice by @iverna. There are lots of good 3B canon divergence stories out there and this is hands-down my favorite.
The Path that Moonbeams Make by @madlymel. This one goes all the way back to S2 and is a fair bit angsty and whumpy, but just SO gorgeous. (If you like it, there's some great art for it here by @cocohook38.)
Dark Horse by @initiala. Absolutely stunning modern AU that is also so charming (with the right amount of perfectly done angst).
Days of Future's Past by @optomisticgirl. B is a master world builder and it shows here, with this absolutely incredible time-travel story.
The Masks We Wear by @katie-dub. CS Superhero AU wherein they both have to keep their secret identity from each other. Delicious and SO well done.
Make You Feel Good by @phiralovesloki. I could put so many more of hers on here (as goes for just about every author on this list) but this one is just so FUN. (Rated very M and probably the best magical gender swapping fic out there.)
The Librarian by @mryddinwilt. One of my FAVORITE Cursed!Killian stories, partly because she changed him more than you typically see with that trope, and also because she gave him GLASSES.
Acquainted with the Night by @caprelloidea. Absolutely swoon-worthy Dark CS in a no-curse AU. I LOVE ME some good Dark CS and this is IT, y'all.
The Fluffy Problem by @ineffablecolors. This one also goes back to S2(ish) and is, quite literally, pure fluff. Also proof that CS will fall in love in any way, shape, or form.
Not One of Those Stories, also by @ineffablecolors (she has SO MANY GOOD STORIES btw). The gold—er, silver—standard when it comes to older!Killian stories. Perfectly slipped into a modern setting. I just re-read it again and, ugh— YES.
I could honestly go on and on with more fics (especially older ones!). But if you don't mind some digging, there's a lot of good stuff in my CS fic rec and CSFRM tags.(like, ANCIENT stuff, and there were a good two years of fics before I got active in the fandom.) There are so many gems out there—keep on digging!
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Say It With Flowers
Killian Jones, owner of The Jolly Rhododendron, has a new customer who just wants to put a smile on his mom's face. Killian is quite happy to assist Henry Swan in his quest.
Read on A03 and send some fluffy love to @kmomof4
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Shipmates, anyone have any favorite fake dating AU fics for Captain Swan? 👀 I'm listening to an audiobook and the characters are giving me some vibes that led to an itch that must be scratched. Y'all know how it is.
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A Good Wife No More - a captain swan Modern AU
Ao3, Wattpad
Summary: Killian hasn't seen Emma since law school, when she broke his heart and left to marry another man. Now she's asking for a chance in practising law, when all her wants is to know why she left then.
a Good Wife inspired modern AU
(1/5)
The soft morning light from his office window dances against her hair, tenderly casting her profile in a warm glow, as the rays finally settle on her hand.
Correction, his haunted mind unhelpfully supplies. Her ringed hand.
-
When asked about his biggest regret by prying colleagues at happy hour, usually trying to fish sex-stories-gone-wrong from him, Killian always says Tink. An affair with a perky paralegal inadvertently resulting in his firing makes for a convincing tale of failure.
Yet no amount of work-related downfalls, as savage as they may be, can compare to the real thing. In a surprising turn of events, his biggest regret is a captivating mix of nerves and fearlessness.
And she’s sitting right in front of him. Emma
-/-
“Killian, stop! I’m going. It’s my decision and it’s final.”
Emma is shivering under her worn out red leather jacket. He doesn’t have a mind to appreciate the sight though, not with her casually mentioning she’s abandoning her career. Abandoning it before it even has a chance to start and following her prick of a boyfriend to Chicago right after graduation.
She’s leaving.
“Love, deny it all you want, but you’re an open book to me. Neal’s forcing you to follow him in his ridiculous quest to be the Wolf of Wall Street. You love the law. You’ve had a taste of it here. I have seen your eyes sparkle when you’re facing me in mock trials. You’re passionate. You’re bloody brilliant!”
He paused his desperate, last-chance speech to look her in the eye. His voice caught in his throat.
“Don’t abandon this, Swan.”
Don’t abandon me.
-/-
The next time he saw her was through a screen. She was standing tall, offering her support to people who didn’t deserve it. Robert Gold’s half-assed apology to his voters, essentially for having no soul and dignity, captured everyone’s attention in the office.
Emma captured his.
She was behind her father-in-law, as beautiful as he’d often dreamed, even though no amount of makeup could hide the pair of shining, red-rimmed eyes.
-/-
“I knew you’d find me, Swan.”
“Shut up, Jones.”
The roll of her eyes is another thing he missed about her.
“That’s Jones Esq to you, darling,” he supplies playfully, and fixes a smile on his face.
She doesn’t need to know how fast his heart is beating. How the gold tresses framing her face, make his fingers itch to tuck a lock behind her ear or how the sight of her, after all these years, is an image that will be permanently stitched on his brain.
But, she’s in his law firm after all. Which brings up the obvious question.
“What are you doing in my conference room? Not that I’m complaining to see an old friend,” the word friend bitter on his tongue as he forces it out, “but-”
“I’m here for the job, Jones.”
He goes to protest but she cuts him off expertly, “not for the pleasure of your company.”
Killian pouts and prays to an invisible god it affects her just a tad.
“Let’s get this over with so we can go to the part where you hire me, and I get an office. With a view.”
-/-
She won’t get an office, of course. First-year associates get a legal pad and a box of pens with the firm’s initials. His initials among them.
He selfishly thinks of her tracing his name with her fingers while she works.
-/-
Killian Jones doesn’t hire people on the spot. So he makes a great show of listening to all her reasons why she will be a valuable asset to his team. As though he hadn’t made up his mind the moment he saw her sitting nervously on the chair, touching the stem of her wrist tattoo.
He doesn’t need to hear why he should give her the job. Every scandal in the world couldn’t tarnish the image he has of her from their earlier days in college. “You bested me, Swan,” was his graceful admit of defeat when the professor paired them opposing each other for the mock trial. He’d lost the case to her, but it hadn’t felt like a loss at all.
He knows she has fought for everything she has in life -from the orphanage to Columbia Law School-, and this will be no different. Opposing counsel doesn’t stand a chance. Yet, he lets her speak, passionately and -dare he hope- a little flustered.
They avoid, masterfully, any heavy topics that could lead this reunion to rocky paths. They don’t talk about Gold or Neal but there is a brief mention of Henry, where he enjoys Emma’s genuine smile. Her first one this morning.
He tells himself he has all the time in the world now to learn her again. She’s here.
As Emma stands to leave, never one for pleasantries despite the political chaos she lives in, he braces himself and stops her. The flicker of hope in his heart matches the one in her eyes.
“Emma,” he breathes. “You should know, not a day went by that I didn’t think of you.”
She pauses. Her hand settles the loose strand of hair he had itched to touch, as her diamond ring catches the light painfully.
“Good.”
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CS Fic Rec Monday: “How Long, Love, Before You Go?” by: @donteattheappleshook
(Part Four of the “Lover of the Light” series)
Oh goodness, every segment of this four part CS story collection is brilliant. It’s honestly hard to even choose a favorite, but I just re-read this one recently, and it tugs at your heart so much that it is hard to resist. I also don’t want to spoil too much of the plot or the angst and comfort elements, but suffice it to say that the Evil Queen’s spell in 6a is played out for more than one version of our pirate and princess- and each one will have you wrapped around their fingers in a unique and unforgettable way. This one, with its older Killian Jones and its EF Princess Emma is nothing short of enchanting. You ache for them and smile at the same time. Read all four parts of this, but really, really don’t miss this one!!! ❤️❤️❤️
“How Long, Love, Before You Go?” by: @donteattheappleshook
#cs fic rec monday#csfrm#how long love before you go?#part three of Lover of the Light#cs ef fic#cs 6a divergent ff#alternate Emma#alternate Killian#cs fic rec#such a talented shipmate
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Let's spread some love 😘. What are some of your top five favourite cs fics?
Oh boy, I hope you're ready for some older fics because I have legitimately not read anything in months. These also aren't my top fics because there's just SO MUCH GOOD STUFF out there, look I know it's an older fandom but you gotta dig back because we have so many gems in this fandom and so many authors who blessed us with their writing.
STARTING OFF STRONG WITH:
Incarcerus by @qqueenofhades - Vampire AU, honestly breathtaking in scope and thought and just overall mastery of words. Everyone is seen to with the utmost care, be ready to cry at several points throughout for various and sundry reasons
In general, anything by AlexadraLyman. There's a lot of unfinished longfic but it's the kind where you're like "I'm just so glad I read what you've given, because it's amazing and I can use my imagination for the rest if you never do come back to these". It doesn't look like Beyond the Horizon is on AO3 but it's still up on FF.Net and all of those fics/side fics are also worth your time in the most wonderful way.
Beastly by xHookedonKillianx - I'm biased because I beta'd this during the CSSNS it was written for, but this was just so much fun.
Poem Without Words by @totheendoftheworldortime - another author whose other works I would also recommend, especially Heart by Heart. This and HbH just catch my imagination in lovely ways (outside of all the smut)
Lethologica by @lifeinahole27 - it makes me cry. It also makes me really fucking hungry. The DETAIL ABOUT FOOD THAT IS PROVIDED HERE IS UNFAIR. Also literally everything else Sar's written
Parcheesi by @unfolded73 - look, I'm nothing if not a slut for Lieutenant Duckling but this is one of the sweet spots for it. Also, again, literally anything by this author, she was one of our more prolific latecomers to CS fandom and we love her for it
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CS fics by @elizabeethan you must read!
Happy birthday @elizabeethan ! @snowbellewells and I had the same idea apparently but you deserve all the love for your fantastic stories on your birthday!
Elizabeth have so many amazing, beautiful fics and so I’ve struggled to narrow it down to my absolute forever favorites. If you haven’t read one of them yet you’re missing out and you need to rectify that ASAP - your life will be better for it, trust me
The Sad Baker Killian series
Never More Than I Can Take
holding my breath for you
From the Beginning
What can I even say about this series - there aren’t even words. It’s the softest, most painful, hearbreakingly beautiful love story. Sad Killian is always one of my favorites but who knew that adding baker to that would just magnify it tenfold. Ugh this story is just - I can’t - just gfjdakvdsagl. Read it.
Overboard series
Ao3
Here we have a beautiful example of our lovely talented shipmate thinking she could get away with only writing us a oneshot of this breathtaking universe. And here we are 6 installments in and if you don’t think I would devour a hundred thousand more you’re wrong. I need this as a whole damn novel that just never ever ends. The sad silver Killian and damaged Emma, the way you’ve written the emotion and the love between these two, the way you created such a full and complete world which feels so real and beautiful while still keeping our favorite ship so true to their characters - I’m in awe. Sometimes I’ll just start thinking about this fic and sit there for a good long while in amazement at your talent. Did I mention I’m obsessed with this series already? Perfection.
Watch the Sunlight Fade
UUUUGGGGHHHHHH this fic. It’s like you wrote everything I wished Sons of Anarchy had been and then multiplied the amazingness by a billion. This one is so so painful to read and so incredibly beautiful. Strap yourselves in for a hell of an angsty ride that will be 100% worth it. Prepare yourself to want to murder Neal like you never have before. Prepare yourself to want to give Killian a giant fucking hug and take care of him. The way you slow burned this fic too is just stunning too and I can’t even get my words to work right in saying how much I love this fic. Everyone needs to read it and give it the appreciation it deserves because WOW this story gives me life.
Steal Away
So there’s obviously a pattern starting here of @elizabeethan hurts me to the deepest part of my soul and I thank her for it. I was obsessed with this fic from the moment you suggested the premise and honestly apart from Overboard which will forever be one of my all time favorite fics, this might be my favorite of yours. This fic starts as a robery gone wrong and then becomes something so much more than I ever expected or knew I needed. It had me crying, like ugly cry in public but don’t stop reading because you need to know what happens next, and then just feeling so many things that I couldn’t do anything but yell at you about it and then I think this one just renewed my belief in love because you wrote their characters and their story and their emotions so perfectly and everything feels so REAL and heartbreaking and then so so hopeful. This fic is a masterpiece and I would (have?) read it a million times over.
Spaces Between Us
I remember this fic starting with “do you think people would be mad if...” and man I think that is how you need to approach everything you write forever lmao. Will it make them mad? I don’t know but it will absolutely make them rage at your horrible villains, want to cry for Emma and be begging you to let our babies have a torid affair and then maybe murder someone (disclaimer: there is no murder in this fic- but you’d consider it a reasonable choice if there were). You absolutely broke my heart with this story, poor Emma trapped in her relationship with Walsh, the second chance love story that felt so real that I was blown away. I’ve always found it hard to read those because I couldn’t get on board with my ship breaking up in the first place let alone how they’d end up together again but then you wrote this fic and I get it now. And you brought them together again in such a beautiful way with all the angst I could possibly handle. You write angst so well but you also have such a talent with bringing happiness and love and hope back to the story at the end of it all and this fic is a perfect example of that.
Between the Morning and the Night
Finally I had to throw this hilarious little fic in. I swear I’d have listed every single one of your shorter fics - there were so many I loved and everyone should go read them all but I had to narrow it down for this list and I ahve to say that this might be my absolute favorite of your standalones. The premise is so fucking funny - Will noticing the scratches on Killian’s back and Killian in full blown panic about David finding out just who gave them to him - dead. Of course, beautiful, talented, amazing author that you are you gave us feels like you wouldn’t believe turning this funny little oneshot into a truly stunning piece of writing. I love this fic so much. Like just:
“Good god, mate.”
He turns, surprise in his eyes when he faces his friend and colleague and is met with his shocked, horrified expression.
“What?”
He knows he’s red and sweaty after a workout, but it can’t be anything different from how he always looks when they return to the locker room.
“I mean, were you attacked?”
💀💀💀💀💀
Bless this fic and bless you for writing it
I hope you’ll all go and read the incredible fics that Slibby has written over the last couple years (she wrote 54 in like 2 years???? are you real though, girl??) and give her the love and appreciation she deserves on this the most special of days!
Happy birthday again @elizabeethan you’ve been the best pocket friend a girl could ask for and I’m forever grateful that the fandom brought us together
@kmomof4 @elizabeethan @the-darkdragonfly @undercaffinatednightmare @jennjenn615 @dramioneswan @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @batana54 @lfh1226-linda @csalltheway @xsajx @xarandomdreamx @onceratheart18 @ownedbycaptainswan @teamhook @pirateprincessofpizza @lostintheskyfaraway @zaharadessert @thejollyroger-writer @ultraluckycatnd @justanother-unluckysoul @spartanguard @jonesfandomfanatic @deckerstarblanche @jrob64 @klynn-stormz @wefoundloveunderthelight @sailtoafarawayland @tiganasummertree @winterbaby89 @hollyethecurious @stahlop @superchocovian @snowbellewells @xellewoods @sals86 @karlyfr13s @ouatpost @skairipakomtrikru @lonelyspectator12 @anmylica @alexa-fangirl-forever @inspiredbystardust @marcella2727 @paradiselady19 @koryandr @killiansprincss
#major cs fic rec#fic recs plural#cs fic rec#cs fanfic#cs ff#talented shipmate is talented#happy birthday my love!
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fanbinding: a fate woven in thread and ink
the story: A Fate Woven in Thread and Ink by @shireness-says, written for the Captain Swan Supernatural Summer @cssns in 2021 and finished earlier this summer. AU inspired by The Night Circus.
the art: by @eirabach, a true gift and friend. two of her pieces are spotlighted on the covers and each chapter has an art piece designed for it specifically. covered in lustre 220gsm cardstock. tarot images composited by me from stock at iStock. the rings and charm are inspired by scenes from the story.
the book: sewn boards sewn with orange DMC floss in a french link. tissue endpapers crinkled to look like flames (oh, the pain i went through pasting these endpapers. do not ever ask me how many times i had to re-paste them). printed on the church paper bookbinder's special. printed and bound for Fanfiction Writers Appreciation Day 2023 (lovingly)
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When Emma Falls in Love
SUMMARY: When Emma falls in love, it's all on her face. Hangs in the air like stars in outer space. Emma Nolan falls in love three times in her life. After experiencing heartbreak Emma is more wary of love, but when she moves across the hall to Killian Jones, an asshole she knew in college, things start to change and Emma begins to falls in love in a very different way than she did before.
Link to AO3
In honour of me getting Eras tour tickets for August 2024 I thought I would post this because if like me you’re obsessed with Captain Swan and Taylor Swift then this song has been on your mind since last week
When Emma falls in love, she paces the floor
Closes the blinds and locks the door
When Emma falls in love, she calls up her mom
Jokes about the ways that this one could go wrong
She waits and takes her time
'Cause Little Miss Sunshine always thinks it's gonna rain
Emma Nolan was 16 when she first fell in love. When she was young, her parents would read her a fairytale to get her to go to sleep, and when she started reading herself, it was always stories about princesses and dragons. So I guess you could say she was a hopeless romantic. Neal Gold was in her High School English class, and they would share notes and he would smile at her and Emma felt butterflies in her chest whenever he did. She would dream about him at night and hope that tomorrow would be the day he finally asked her out,
When he eventually asked her to Prom after months and months of wishing and waiting, she would tell her mom she was in love. Her mother would smile and listen to her daughter, hoping this boy would treat her right and love her the way she deserved to. She and her mother went dress shopping and Emma was sure it would be perfect, he would kiss her and they would start to date before going off to college together. He brings her a corsage that matches her dress, shakes hands with her father and promises to be home by midnight.
Prom night is as magical as Emma hopes it is. They dance, they laugh and she gets her very first kiss that night. Emma can’t help but feel like a Princess. He asks her to be his girlfriend and Emma feels like she is living her fairytale life. This was her prince charming, and she was going to live happily ever after.
“I can’t do this anymore.” He tells her 6 months later. He’s leaving for college early, and didn’t want to be tied down with a girl back home. So he leaves for the big city, away from their small town and she never sees him again. She can’t help but hope she might see him for the holidays, but that never happened. He was a ghost and that was when Emma experienced heartbreak for the first time. It was then that she grew up and stopped believing in fairytales.
___________
When Emma leaves for college, she kisses her mother and father goodbye and promises to come home for Christmas. College is the next place that Emma falls in love. Graham. She’s invited to her roommates party one night and he’s there and Emma swears she feels her heart flutter. They get talking and realise they have a lot in common, they both come from a small town and want to go to Law School and are majoring in English. Of course that means she sees him in her classes, and she makes a point of sitting next to him as much as she can.
They’re at another party and Emma isn’t sure if she was feeling brave or it was the liquid courage doing that, but she grabs his face and kisses him. His lips tasted of whisky and her heart did the butterfly thing again. She didn’t want to fall in love again, but oh was she falling.
“There's a guy.” She tells her mother when she calls. Her mother was her best friend, she wanted to tell her everything about college (well maybe not everything, but a new guy she was falling for was top of her list)
“What’s his name? Where is he from? Have you kissed him yet?” She asks eagerly, her mother lost her own mother when she was ten, so she made a real effort in the years she was lucky to have with her daughter,
“His name is Graham, I met him at a party and we have a lot of classes together. Don’t get your hopes up though mom, who knows how it’s going to end.” Since getting her heart broken, she had a new perspective on life. Didn’t want to fall in love if it only ended in heartbreak.
“Don’t rain too hard on the sun.” Is her mother’s advice. Forever the optimist.
But she takes her advice still, and pursues a relationship with Graham. And it’s amazing. She was a lot more mature now, they would debate about things and they would ask each other about the future. She knew this love was different to the one she had with Neal. He’s on the soccer team and she gets to watch his games and be his cheerleader. He blows her a kiss when he sees her in the crowd and her heart is wild. She’s invited to all the after parties, and most of his team are nice, she becomes fast friends with Ruby, one of the other players' girlfriends. It’s also where she meets the most arrogant and aggravating man ever. Killian Jones. Captain of the soccer team, a total asshole. Thought everyone should worship the ground he walked on. “He’s a bloody bastard.” Graham tells her, “gets angry and takes it out on us. Gives me especially a hard time considering we're both from the same bloody country.”
When Emma falls apart, it's when she's alone
She takes on the pain and bears it on her own
‘Cause when Emma falls in love, she's in it for keeps
She won't walk away unless she knows she absolutely has to leave
Emma has one more year left of college. Boston has been great but she does miss her small town and its quirks. She brings home Graham to meet her family and they love him. Her mother gives him extra potatoes and stuffing at Thanksgiving and tells him he’s welcome at Christmas. He appreciates the offer but has to decline as he has a paper he hasn’t even started yet. Emma knew family was a difficult thing for him as he was raised by foster families, so she understands why he isn’t jumping at the chance to spend time with his girlfriend's family.
In between Christmas and New Years Emma decides to go back to campus early and surprise him. Which is when Emma experiences heartbreak for a second time. She walks into their shared apartment expecting to find her boyfriend surrounded by books and coffee as he works on his paper, not in their bed with a naked brunette.
“Emma, this isn’t what it looks like.” He tells her as she grabs her stuff, if this is how he treated a three year relationship then she was very wrong about him.
“Oh please enlighten me on how your dick fell onto Regina,” She trusted him, told him her fears and how she was terrified of getting her heart broken again. She let him into her home, he ate with her family. She had visions of them moving in together for real after college, imagining starting a life with him. Three years of love down the drain. And Emma reminded herself trusting men was a bad idea and falling in love was a trap.
She avoids Graham as much as she can when they have an almost identical class schedule. But somehow she fights through it and graduates with honours. But no job prospects unfortunately. So unable to afford rent in the city she grew to love, she moves back home to her parents house. Her dad is sheriff of their small town and she helps out when she can, whether it be filing paperwork or trying desperately to update their ancient computers.
The only perk of living in a small town was the dating scene was practically non-existent. Everyone knew everyone, she knew who dated who in high school and who to avoid. Being back here felt like she was in high school, broken hearted after a boy she trusted and loved broke everything in her. Emma didn’t cry much, never in front of other people, she thought it made her look weak. But when she’s alone, she lets it all out, cries herself to sleep because what was the point of love if it only brought torment and heartbreak.
Emma met a boy with eyes like a man
Turns out her heart fits right in the palm of his hand
Now he'll be her shelter when it rains
Little does he know, his whole world's about to change
Finding a dream job is hard, just because you graduated college didn’t mean employers were lining up to employ her. She had failed interviews and was questioned why she didn’t take certain lectures or why she didn’t land an internship when she was already up to her limits in work. It was rough as hell. But eventually she finds success. Bail bonds. Not her first choice in careers, but she was desperate to get out of her small town.
Her apartment in Boston is a shithole. There is no other way to describe a studio apartment on the outskirts of the city centre. It’s small and dingy and the previous owners must have eaten fish every single night as that scent clung to the wallpaper, forcing her to open the tiny window to breathe fresh air. But it was all she could afford on her crappy salary. Her job also doesn’t consist of much other than coffee runs for the first year. She felt like an overpaid intern. But she works hard, she stays late to research the assholes and what could be used to bring them down, and it helps out. When she’s assigned her first case, she kicks ass. Brings the guy down and she earns respect from her colleagues. She realises she doesn’t hate bail bonds as much as she thought, she originally wanted to study law to help people but realised quickly into her second year she didn’t want to be a lawyer. But this was still helping people and as her paycheck got bigger and bigger each month she was able to move out of her crappy studio apartment and into a one bed apartment in a nicer area of the city.
She has a neighbour across the hall. She sees the back of his head occasionally but has never had a conversation with him but he doesn’t make much noise or hold late night parties so she’s happy with that.
The one night she does meet him, everything changes from that point.
She’s carrying two paper bags from the grocery store, she had a craving for pasta and realised she had no marinara sauce, and going to the grocery store when you were hungry was always a bad idea. So here she was, two brown bags covering her face whilst struggling to get her key in the door.
“Here let me help you.” A stranger's voice says, reliving her struggle and taking one of the bags so she can open her door.
“Thank you.” And that’s when she gets a proper look at the stranger, who she presumes is her neighbour. “Killian Jones?
“Emma. Emma Nolan”
Killian Jones, captain of the soccer team. Total asshole and Graham's friend. Great. This was fucking perfect.
“Small world huh.” He comments and Emma wanted to roll her eyes at how small it fucking was. She hadn’t seen him in years, since she ended things with Graham, she stopped going to his games or parties with his friends. Of all the people to end up living next to.
“How long have you lived here? Do you live with your girlfriend?” She briefly remembers Killian having a girlfriend, dark curly hair.
He cringes at the mention of a girlfriend, clearly a touchy subject. “No uh, it’s just me. Been here around a year now.”
They make polite conversation about what they were doing in the city, and he lets her get back to unpacking her groceries, but at the door he turns and says, “I wanted to tell you Graham was a complete dickhead, you were too good for him anyway.”
She doesn’t know why he says it, but she’s grateful anyway.
The next few months pass in a blur, she sees Killian in the corridor in the mornings and says hello, she holds the apartment building door open for him when he's coming back from a run. One night though Emma decides to impulsively start baking brownies because she was bored and craving something sweet. So after googling a recipe she gets her ingredients and mixing bowl out, and begins the messy process of combining flour, eggs and chocolate. It’s only when the mix is ready to be put into a dish does Emma realise she has nothing to add the mixture to. And only after rifling through her cupboards does she knock on her neighbours door. Hair up in a messy ponytail, no makeup and possibly flour on her face. Great.
He opens the door looking almost as dishevelled as she was, grey sweatpants and a loosely fitted white t-shirt, which is where she also notices something she didn’t before. A stump in place of his left hand. She rattles her brain trying to think of when it could’ve happened, he had to have two hands in college-right? “I’m sorry, this is so random but do you happen to have a baking pan I could borrow? I had a craving to make them and I realise now that I don’t have anything to bake them with.”
The corners of his mouth turn upright as he smiles at her, and that goodman smile made Emma's stomach flutter again, she didn’t deny she found him attractive but she wouldn’t go there. “Say I do have one, do I get to try the brownies once they’re done?”
“Well that depends on how good your brownie dish is. Every good baker knows it's the tools that make them delicious.” There was no harm in flirting a little, he was her type too-dark hair, light eyes and an accent that made her weak at the knees.
This makes him laugh as he goes into his apartment which is an identical layout to Emmas, to grab his brownie dish. “I expect great things from this.”
She walks back into her apartment with a giddy smile on her face. This man across the hall from her was different to the boy she thought she knew in college. So maybe she adds extra chocolate to the brownies to make them extra fudgy and then tops them with extra chocolate chips and brings them over to his apartment and waits eagerly for him to open the door.
“These are easily the best brownies I have tasted in my life.” Emma doesn’t know if he means it or if he's just saying it to be nice, but either way she can’t help the smile on her face growing as he takes a bite.
Emma sits in his apartment for hours that night. They chat about college and how it felt like a lifetime ago yet also not that long ago. They speak about their lives now and she learns Killian is a high school teacher, a History teacher specifically, she learns he has a passion for mythology, and Cleopatra is his favourite story. And she tells him about how she fell into bail bonds but actually enjoys it. She learns that he moved from London when he was 17 and misses very few things about his home, “except for tea, you bloody Americans put shame on the drink.”
“You can ask about it, I won’t get offended.” He says, referencing his hand which she now sees is a prosthetic.
“When did it happen? Am I a bad person for not realising in college?” She asks, hoping he won’t be pissed off.
He just shakes his head, “don’t worry, it happened just a few months before graduation. It was a terrible storm and me and my ex-girlfriend had just had a huge fight and I wasn’t in the right headspace so I was driving alone and out of nowhere a truck hit me and my car spun and spun. I’m lucky to be alive considering I was in hospital for 3 months, the doctors tried to save my hand but it got stuck in the steering wheel and it could’ve led to a bad infection so now I have to wear a prosthetic.” He says unclipping his hand and re-clipping it in. He then goes on to explain that he ended up graduating later than planned as he missed a semester due to hospital and rehabilitation.
When Emma is back in her apartment that night, she feels like something has changed. There was something about her that made her want to keep getting to know him and tell him everything about her. Whenever they see one another in the hall now, they chat about their plans for the day and he lets her vent when she’s had a stressful day or no luck catching a perp. She makes sure to buy more baking pans so she can keep bringing him baked goods when he’s working late grading homework. She isn’t sure what they are exactly, there has been flirting but nothing more, she knows he doesn't have a girlfriend and he knows she hasn’t dated anyone since Graham.
So she decides to be bold, to take charge. She knocks on his apartment door and almost as soon as he opens his door, she pounces and kisses him. She thinks she’s made a huge mistake but then she feels his hand push the back of her head forward as he engages in the kiss and deepens it. His lips taste of rum and salt, and the kiss feels right , and it was so different to how she felt when she kissed Graham or even Neal.
Things escalate pretty quickly, and one moment she’s up against the wall on the inside of his apartment with her legs around his waist as he places kisses down the side of her neck causing a moan to escape her lips. Clothes are being torn off and scattered across the apartment as they make their way to his bedroom. Every touch was hungry, wanting to taste more of one another, scratchings of pleasure and wanting to make sure this was actually happening. The sex was something else, it was energetic and the way he made her feel felt like fireworks were going off in her head. His touches were soft when they needed to be, and rough and fast when she asked. Their bodies were like two puzzle pieces that had finally fit together.
That night was a catalyst for everything good that happened. The very next night he takes her out to dinner, a small Italian restaurant which did the best pasta. They walk hand in hand and they’re both happy. They talk about life, they tell each other things they wouldn’t tell anyone else. Emma tells him her fears of being left alone and how she used to dream of a fairytale but grew out of it when she got older, to which Killian tells her his mother used to read him fairytales as a bedtime story and they always remind him of her.
“Whose Liam?” She asks one night. They were lying in bed together and she notices there is a tattoo on his chest, of that name surrounded by a wave. He had a few tattoos but this one was different, hidden, tucked away, sentimental. She had noticed it a few times but felt like it was never the right time.
“He was my brother.” Was . Oh. Shit. “He died about ten years ago.”
“Will you tell me about him?” They had been together almost every day, and she loved learning all she could about him, she knew little about his family, just that his mom died and his dad was an alcoholic and he didn’t have a relationship with him.
“Liam was my best friend. He practically raised me after our mother died and our fathers drinking got worse. He wasn't the best in school so he dropped out early and joined the Royal Navy. He wanted to rise up through the ranks and make a name for himself. There were a lot of people who didn’t agree with the royals and the money being spent on the Navy, he got into quite a few bar fights when those kinds of people liked to pick fights. He’d come out battered and bruised, but one night he got into a fight with a big bloke who hit with-That he didn’t-the force that Liam got hit with.” This was the first time she had seen him get emotional and flustered, and she could figure out the end of that story, so she laces her fingers with his and let him recover. “It's why I came to the states rather than pick a uni closer to home, I had to get away, I wanted a fresh start where I wasn’t constantly reminded of him.”
She understood why he was the way he was in college, his pain was fresh and he didn’t know how to control his emotions so he likely lashed out when he got angry, Graham probably reminded him of his brother which explains why he always complained about him giving him a worse time than the others. She wanted to be there for him as much as she could, help him heal.
This was the third time Emma had fallen in love, and she wasn’t afraid anymore. Her feelings were developing faster and she found herself looking at the sun rather than waiting for the rain. Killian felt like home. Her mother of course is thrilled and asks when she can meet him, to which she tells her soon. And when they do make the trip to her small town, he is the perfect gentleman, bringing flowers to her mother and a British beer that her dad loves. They welcome him with open arms, and despite not having any family left, Killian had found one in the woman he loved.
Her family loves him. Which is when years pass and he is asking for their blessing they give it to him with no doubt or hesitation.
“Emma. When I first met you I didn’t know how important you would become in my life. These past few years have been the happiest I have felt in a long time, and I would be a bloody idiot if I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Emma cries. She loved Killian with all of her heart. She used to dream of a fairytale when she was younger, and as cliche as it sounded, she just had to kiss a few frogs before finally finding her Prince Charming. And when she takes her fathers arm as she walks down the aisle, dressed in white, she has to force herself not to cry so she doesn’t ruin her makeup. But it's his wedding vows that end up making her cry the most.
“Loving you Emma was the best thing to happen to me. You’re like a book I can’t put down, you make me excited every single day and I love talking about you to people. I swear you have the power to change a bad boy and a broken thing who didn’t know he was capable of love into a good man who loves with every fibre of his being. With this ring I am also giving you my heart, and a promise of a life together filled with light and love.”
When Emma falls in love, she falls hard and she dreams of a fairytale come true, with Killian she felt just that and more.
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we ain't kids no more
inspired by adele's "send your love (to your new lover)"
includes a not nice depiction of neal/swanfire but nothing too much (it's a small thing too)
banner art by me
rated G | 1180 words
Also on AO3
Her hand was just cooling down when she heard his voice.
“Ems? Is that you?”
Emma was startled by the flashbacks this surprise appearance brought - reminiscing about the man who failed to appreciate you was not one of her favorite pastimes and she was thankful it didn’t happen often. Not when she was so happy.
“Neal!” Her tone was controlled, her smile polite. The same tone and expression she used on her CIs - friendly but not too friendly. “I didn’t know you were coming to this. You don’t look like a Miner’s Day type of person.”
“Oh, well, I’m in town for the weekend so it’s kind of mandatory to come to these things.” He gestured around them without taking his eyes off her. She was definitely not amused by the overt way he looked her up and down. “You look good.”
“I know.” Her smile starts losing more of its friendliness as she crosses her arms, bringing his attention back to her. “What are you up to these days, Neal?”
“I’m still working at the construction office, I’m a supervisor now though. Got promoted last summer.”
He had such a proud smile. It shouldn’t make her so disappointed, promotions were generally a good thing. However, in the 5 years they were together, he had been working for that office and only now, almost 4 years later, was he getting his promotion.
Same old Neal.
The same Neal who proposed on a whim and was satisfied to watch life pass in front of him. Emma wasn’t happy to be stuck when all her life, she had had no control over her life. She wanted more and Neal wasn’t going to help with that.
Emma nodded, letting out a quiet chuckle that was thankfully drowned out by the music. The approaching woman quickly made her presence known, wanting to commandeer their attention.
“And I’m so proud of him. He was waiting for that promotion.” Neal tossed a half-surprised glance towards the woman before wrapping his arm around her, clearly happy to have her there.
“Emma, this is Tamara, my fiancée.” He introduced but there was really no need, Tamara’s arm was mirroring Neal’s around his waist and she was practically shoving her left hand on Emma’s face.
Emma was thoroughly amused now.
“Pleasure to meet you, I’m Emma Swan.” Emma extended her hand but was completely ignored when Tamara turned to look at Neal.
“This is the Emma you told me about?” Emma’s eyebrow rose at Tamara’s high-chinned look once Neal confirmed it. “Hmm. We got engaged two months ago.”
Emma flustered at the unprompted information and it caused her to take a second look at the still-presented ring and- oh. Emma’s smile was earnest now.
“I can see. Nice ring.” The teasing tone in her voice went unacknowledged by Tamara who was admiring the ring that had once been in Emma’s finger for more than a year.
But not Neal, who blanched before stammering out. “You were going to tell me what you were up to, Ems.”
“Right,” Emma couldn’t help smiling at just how amused she was at this whole situation. “I’m a detective in Boston, took my Sergeant’s exam last Friday and I’m feeling confident.”
“Oh,” Neal was surprised and she expected it. “I never thought-”
“I know.” Emma interrupted with a smirk. She expected it too. Because she knew Neal Cassidy had never believed that she’d be able to do it. Her eyes were defiant when they met Neal’s and he seemed to retreat to himself a bit.
“And are you alone here?” Tamara didn’t seem too impressed with the looks they were sharing and decided to interrupt it with a very pointed question.
“No, my parents stopped to talk to Granny,” Emma decided to ignore the pitying look on her face to add, “and my boyfriend went to get us some hot chocolate.” She looked back in the direction he had left, only to be pleasantly surprised to see him two steps away.
“With cinnamon, just as m’lady likes.” His eyes stayed on her and she couldn’t help sharing in his wide smile when he handed her the hot cup with an over-the-top move. Neal let out a pointed cough catching Killian’s attention.
Emma ignored his weird jealousy and the look of surprise on Tamara’s face while Killian directed his attention to them. “My apologies, I didn’t see you there. I’m Killian Jones.”
His hand went ignored by Neal, who simply nodded while muttering a “Neal Cassidy” with a side-glance, but vigorously shaken by Tamara who seemed transfixed with him before Neal squeezed her hip to bring her attention back to him.
“Where did you two meet?” Neal asked glancing at Emma who simply smiled and took a sip of her drink.
“We work together, I met her when she started as a detective. It took some time but she finally agreed to go out with me.” Killian’s arm found its home around Emma’s shoulders. “A year later, here we are.” Their eyes locked and Emma had to take a deep breath at the love in his eyes. It was still surprising.
“Oh, so you’re a sergeant? Emma mentioned taking the sergeant’s exam.” Tamara asked and Emma noticed how she nestled herself in Neal’s chest making sure her left hand laid on his chest.
Killian had to force his attention back on his new acquaintances - she knew the feeling. “No, I’m still a detective.”
“And it doesn’t bother you that she’s going to be in a higher position than you?”
Nothing Neal Cassidy did or said surprised Emma anymore.
She had never felt so grateful to have accepted Killian’s love. They had had that discussion before. Emma’s fears had come barging in an hour before the exam until Killian steadfastly put all those fears to rest. Yet, his devotion still made her heart race.
“Not at all, I always knew she was going to be my boss one day.” And if the words didn’t make her swoon, the lingering kiss he deposited on her temple certainly did.
“Right, well,” Neal interrupted. “We have to find my dad, he’ll be looking for us.”
Emma turned back to the engaged couple with an unwavering smile. “Maybe we’ll see each other again. I wish you two all the happiness.”
That didn’t seem to be the answer Neal was hoping for but she realized she didn’t really care. She had been sincere. There was a time when all she wanted was Neal’s approval and love. She was different now, for the better.
Emma watched as the man who broke her heart and the woman who Emma wished would be treated better make their way through the crowd. Finally giving into her desires and leaning against the chest of the man who tore down her walls and appreciated her. The man she loved.
“Who was that?” His tone was conversational as his arm instinctively brought her closer, his lips on the top of her head and his thumb stroking her hip casually.
“Nobody important.”
And that had never felt so true.
#carolina writes#captainswan#captain hook#killian jones#emma swan#neal cassidy#baelfire#tamara#neal x tamara#ouat#once upon a time#ouat fic#ouat fic rec#cs fic#cs fic rec
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Hello, loves!
In just a few days, the form will open up for Captain Swan Christmas Reruns. Be ready to share some of your favorite festive fics, fanarts, gifsets, and other CS Christmas works, because this link will only be active for a week!
Also! We're looking for a couple more crewmates to join our lovely mod team, so if you love Captain Swan, Christmas, and reading fanfiction, shoot us a message; we'd love to add you to the team.
Stay lovely!
🏴☠️❤️💚🦢 Kazzy and the CSHSRR crew
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Saving Prince Killian by Commandante Theresa. CS AU (no magic) with Prince!Killian and Princess!Emma. When Princess Emma's romantic dream of marrying Prince Killian finally comes true, she discovers they are married in name only. He has fallen into a life of vice & debauchery, infatuated with his mistress, the infamous, manipulative courtesan Milah. Only True Love can save him from darkness & Milah's evil influence to become the noble Prince he was meant to be.
Comments: I literally sought this one out to re-read it just last week! It's like a historical romance - funny, smart and smoking hot. I 100% recommend it!
So...I was rustling through my Amazon Drive uploads, since Amazon Drive is being retired at the end of 2022, and look what I found! I made a heap of CS fic banners back in the day, and I decided I'm going to do a series of fic recs and repost all these. Some of these lovely writers are still on Tumblr, while others never were. I'll tag everyone I can. Please reblog!!! Please share them. They are wonderful stories.
Banners are by @4getfulimaginator2022
#cs fic rec#cs ff#cs au#cs ff au#captain swan fanfic#cs fanfic#cs fic#cs fanart#captain swan#please reblog#my art
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