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frei-und-schwerelos · 4 years

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Big Interview: Willemijn Verkaik - "I couldn’t be happier!" (West End Frame - December 2014)

Interview Internet Archive - 2/∞ [x]

Earlier this year, Willemijn won West End Frame’s West End Debut Award for her portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria). The Dutch star first played the role in Germany in 2007. She then starred as Elphaba in Holland before joining the Broadway company, making her the only actress to have played the iconic character in three different languages. Following a successful stint in New York, Willemijn joined the London production to tremendous acclaim.

During a break from rehearsals, I recently spoke to Willemijn about her return to the London stage, why Women on the Verge is a new challenge and what the rest of the cast are like to work with. We also discussed her emotional departure from Wicked, why winning West End Frame’s Best West End Debut Award meant so much to her plus much, much more…

Women on the Verge has been completely re-workshopped since its Broadway run and is almost like a totally new show. At what point did you come on board?

I didn’t do any of the workshops so for me this is really fresh. I first heard of the show when I was auditioning and I started to do my research.

What were your first impressions? The music is so refreshing!

I thought the music was amazing! David Yazbek is a genius – the songs that he’s written for Pepa (Tamsin Greig) and Lucia (Haydn Gwynne) and for everyone are just so thrilling and special. All those Spanish influences are very refreshing. I just love the way he brings a song into a scene and gets that Spanish feeling. He captures the feel of the scene and the show… I am a fan [laughs]!

So what has it been like to work with him? He’s been over, hasn’t he?

Yes he has! He’s very funny and has very dry humour. Bart (Bartlett Sher) and Jeffrey (Lane) and everyone are all very funny. David really is a genius and it’s great to be working with someone like him. I just want to grab on to how he works and how he thinks. Sometime he’ll just go away for a while and have his headphones on and then come back with a new suggestion. When he came in with the last song – the finale – everyone just said, “Wow, you are amazing!” Being a part of an original cast of a brand new production is very different to going into something more established. How have you found the rehearsal process? Things much be changing all the time?

It is great! For me it’s a big challenge. You know my history with Wicked – I was doing it for about six years – and in between I’ve done some other stuff like Songs For A New World and Mamma Mia. It’s not like I’ve only been doing Wicked, but to be focusing on something really new and to be creating my own character starting from scratch is fantastic. Seeing everyone digging into their roles and digging into the scenes is amazing. Everyone is working together to make each scene more interesting, we try out different things. It’s so great for me, I’m just really happy that I can dive into something totally different.

What has the atmosphere been like in rehearsals? It’s really interesting because you all come from different backgrounds…

That’s true! There are a lot of people coming from different backgrounds. Everyone is helping each other and supporting each other. If I am finding something difficult then I can always ask Haydn or Tam and then they can ask me something. It doesn’t matter if it is someone from stage management, from music or from the cast – everyone is working together and everyone is working towards that one goal… on the 17th December… that’s the moment [laughs]

What do you think people who don’t know much about Women on the Verge can expect?

I’m hoping they will come out of the show with muscle pain from laughing and feeling like they have spent a night in Madrid because of all the great songs and the Spanish roots. It’s such a great story. I’m very curious to see how audiences react. There have been so many moments where I’ve just watched everyone and thought, ‘wow’. Ricardo (Afonso) for instance starts the show and straight away I get goosebumps!

Tell me about your character, what has she been like to explore?

I’m still doing research, but she’s a tough, very efficient lawyer. She wants the job done and wants to do it well, but also has a weak spot. It’s very interesting.

What is it like getting to know a new character? A tough lawyer couldn’t be more different to Elphaba or Donna!

She’s completely different! I’m curious to know what people who have seen me play other roles will say. It’s a challenge! It’s great to dig into something so different and to get away from everything that I’ve done before.

Everyone was so excited when it was announced you were coming back to London; how does it feel to be back?

London is a great city and the theatre scene is so amazing… there are so many things to do and so many things to see. For me, having to cut my run short at Wicked because of my back problems and then already, after four months, being able to be back again in this great theatre city is… amazing. I’m so thankful and so happy, every day I’m saying to myself, “Would you ever have thought that you would be walking down the London streets when four months ago you were in a totally different state?” I couldn’t be happier!

Are there any sights left that you need to see? I guess when you’re playing Elphaba or rehearsing a major new musical you don’t get much time!

Yes, there are a few more things I should see. I haven’t been to all the museums. Celinde (Schoenmaker) said to me, “You have to see the Natural History Museum, it’s amazing!” Of course my family and friends came over and I just put them on a big red bus and drove with them to all of the great things to see.

2013 was an absolutely crazy year for you! You made your Broadway debut, your West End debut, you voiced the lead character in the Dutch and German language versions of the highest grossing animated movie of all-time AND starred in the Stuttgart production of Mamma Mia! What was that year like for you? Did you get a chance to actually take any of it in or was it just a big whirlwind?

[laughs] Wow! Well, both. If I look back on it I think, ‘Really? Did I do all of that in one year?! Really?!’ It didn’t feel that way at the time though, it just happened. Yes it was a whirlwind because all these amazing things happened – it was like, ‘Oh my god I’m on Broadway… oh my god I’m the voice of Elsa… oh my god I’m in Mamma Mia… oh my god I’m in the West End!’ [laughs] When I look back it seems more crazy than when I was doing it. It happened and I had the energy for it and it was all great! So yeah… it was one of the better years [laughs]!

We obviously have to discuss Wicked. When you were cast in the German production, what would you have said if I’d told you that you were going to play the role in Holland, on Broadway and in the West End?

I would definitely have said, “No way!”

Now that you’re out of the ‘Wicked bubble’ what is it like to look back at your incredible career within the show?

I have such good memories! Wicked has a very special place in my heart. Just to be cast as Elphaba in Germany was amazing; I couldn’t believe they had given me the chance to do that! I’ve been given such great chances and I’ve learnt so much. People ask me sometimes, “Do you ever get enough of the role?” and I can honestly say no… still now! It’s an amazing role, you have to fight every day to get her out there and to fight ‘Defying Gravity’. Of course things have happened and having to cut my run short in London wasn’t the best thing, but I still had such a great year there. You build amazing friendships; Savannah (Stevenson) is such a dear friend to me, we still text each other every week. In every cast you have a few people who become so dear to you, that’s what the show also does – it is about friendship. I had a great journey, I had great chances and now I can just put that in a box and with a good, warm feeling I can go down another path.

Did it feel strange to recently return to the Apollo?

Yes, I saw the last show with Kerry [Ellis] and everyone which was very emotional. It was so great to see everyone!

This is the question I have to ask every Elphaba… do you remember what used to go through your mind each night during those few seconds before you defied gravity?

[long pause] Good question! You just know this spectacular thing is going to happen. The whole scene before helps you to get there… the only thing I can say is that if your energy is too low you will have to fight harder. I always tried to build, build, build, build, build and then I would just go! You see that happening with every Elphaba. It’s not really a thought; it’s more of a feeling. A few weeks ago you were back in Holland taking part in the huge ‘Musicals in Concert’ show. What was it like to sing a bit of ‘No Good Deed’ and ‘Defying Gravity’ again?

…in front of twelve thousand people! It’s crazy, right?! It’s in such a big arena and all those people are coming to see us there, I felt like a rock star! It was amazing and great to be one of the performers standing on that stage. I know that a lot of people wanted to hear me sing ‘Defying Gravity’. I had to sing it in Dutch which I hadn’t done for a while so I had to train my muscles again for that! I mean, as I’ve said, I’m used to having a certain energy for that song, but when you perform it out of the blue it is a very different feeling. You have to walk out on stage and then hit those notes! So backstage I was building up that energy.

But ‘Defying Gravity’ is no longer your only signature song…

[laughs] I know! ‘Let It Go’! I have two now… yes [laughs]! And they’re both the two easiest songs to sing [laughs]!

[laughs] What was it like to sing ‘Let It Go’ in an arena with everyone singing the words back to you?

It was an amazing feeling. There’s some sort of warmth you feel from the audience. You step on that stage and it feels so great and I feel so much power from that. It wasn’t 1,800 in the Apollo Victoria, but it was 12,000 in an arena who gave me that feeling – you just, as we say in Holland, grow a few inches higher!

And now you’re about to open in the Playhouse which is one of the smallest West End theatres!

I know, and for this show it’s perfect. It’s the kind of show that needs to stay in a sort of living room situation. I have done a few smaller shows before and it’s a totally different energy. I’m really looking forward to it, that’s the great thing about this job! You can go from a big arena to a smaller theatre. We get to switch around and you can learn from everything.

You’ve spoken in the past about wanting to do an album… is that something you’re still aiming to do?

It’s still on my list but I’ve been saying that for a long time [laughs]. I keep saying my album, my album, my album, but I’m not going to say it anymore [laughs] because everyone is expecting something! I really don’t know when I’m going to do it, but it’s definitely at the top of my list!

We need to talk about your West End Frame Award!

Yes, thank you very much for that!

The support you received was just incredible! What was it like to have all that support behind you?

Well at that time, because I was in a difficult situation, it was such an amazing amount of support. I had to leave Wicked and I didn’t want to leave, but everyone wanted to give me so much support… what else could I ask for? I’m still getting emotional when I think about it because it was a very hard time. To have all those people saying, “Willemijn, we’re there for you” was fantastic. There are people who will travel all around the world to see you!

It’s amazing! It’s incredible, they’re so dedicated. When I announced I was leaving Wicked people all over the world wanted to make that effort to be there for my last night.

Right, time for a very stagey question. I’m sending you to a desert island and you can only take three musical theatre songs with you. Which three are you going to take and why?

[laughs] What will I take with me?! Which ones do I love…? Umm…. well… I would need three atmospheres, so a happy song, a sad song and… a crazy one. That’s what I think! So, my happy song would be something from Avenue Q. I like them all! Can I take the whole album?

No, that’s definitely cheating!

[laughs] Ok, I’m going to take ‘Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist’ because it would really make me laugh. The sad song would probably have to be something from Aida which always gets me down very easily in a good way. I’m going to go for ‘Easy As Life’. So I have funny and sad, now I need something crazy…

Maybe you need something big and belty?

Yes, let’s do a big and belty one! I’m not going to take Wicked with me because it’s in my system – I don’t need to hear it. My big belty crazy song would be… oh I love ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ (from Funny Girl). I did it in the arena too!

I know you’re here until next May, but do you have any idea what you might like to do next? Most people would just look for their next West End show but you have endless options! You could do so many different things in so many different countries!

I have a lot of options and am very open minded. I want to challenge myself and still be able to spend enough time with my husband, which can sometimes be very difficult. I always have to see if we can do it and if we’re both happy – that is one of the most important things. Of course this career is really great and important, but the most important thing is having my hubby there.

#*o #archive #interview #women on the verge #willemijn verkaik #her legendary 15 second singing solo *chef's kiss*

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theseerasures · 4 years

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I think you should talk about the Frozen 2 deleted scenes now that you’ve seen them :)

right you are, Slagathor!!!

a few general things i noticed:

the majority of the cut scenes were from the first act, which corresponds to what Jennifer Lee said in other places about needing extensive rewrites just to get the kids out of Arendelle. given how much people already complain about the ~boringness of everything before Into the Unknown, i feel like most of the cuts there were justified.

they seemed to have REAL trouble pulling characters out of their First Movie Mindsets in the early drafts. there were a lot of iterations “Elsa/Kristoff keep secrets from Anna, Anna finds out traumatically,” and i’m not sad to see any of them go. the sequel still retains some of that flavor, but it’s more muted and makes movies feel more distinct from each other

there’s virtually no cut content about the Northuldra, which could either mean that they decided the plot and characters surrounding that very early on and were confident enough in them not to change anything, or…that Yelana, Ryder et al were tacked on towards the end. given how much changed with the Kristanna proposal storyline, i’m leaning toward the latter. either way, i don’t think the Northuldra were ever intended to have depth beyond “the people who need saving/the secret hidden heritage,” which is…certainly a thing

going scene by scene:

The Prologue: certainly has a nice moody epic vibe to it, but it’s SO markedly different from the rest of the franchise that it could have been the opening to any fantasy movie. i did very much like Mattias saving both kids tho. also confusing: was Iduna not intended to be Northuldra in the beginning? if she’s supposed to be Arendellian, why is there just a. non-royal child running around during these v srs diplomatic relations?

Home: Anna either mainlined every Studio Ghibli in one night or watched the dream flashmob sequence from (500) Days of Summer and unironically thought it was the greatest thing in the universe. i get what they’re going for, but the song REALLY doesn’t do it for me, and the storyboarding is just TOO bizarre–how big is Arendelle exactly? sometimes it looks like she’s just walking through town, sometimes it looks like she’s Naruto-running past several different climates

Unmeltable Me: like i already said: not a fan of “Elsa feels so stifled at the castle she sneaks out to do magic on the sly.” it seems especially egregious here, when Anna’s supposed to “catch” her, which feels too much like it’s Agnar and Iduna all over again. otherwise it’s just a time-waster when they really should be getting on with the plot

Secret Room: Sorenson Sorenson Sorenson!!! this must have been written back when I Seek the Truth was still in the movie. i…guess i have no issue with the scene itself, tho the setup feels weird, like it’s two students exploring Hogwarts instead of like, the sovereign of the land and her sister-heir doing some spring cleaning. ~Northuldrian is fORbidDEN because apparently Arendelle is ACTIVELY fascist and not just riding on the coattails of colonialisms past, and Elsa and Anna are like “¯\_(ツ)_/¯ what can you do rules are rules amirite”

Get This Right: i luff Kristoff and his hideous orange shoes and his ability to uproot an entire tree of flowers. i knew just from the song that this would be adorable, and it was! even though once again the rapid shifts in setting made my head tilt. was it supposed to be a You’re Welcome thing where he’s pulling her along various fantasy milieu? i do get why they cut it, since a whole number would have been harder to slot into Elsa’s ennui/Anna’s concern than what they ended up going with in the movie, but…c’mon guys! let Kristoff and Anna have this. give them SOMETHING in this movie.

Elsa’s Dream: wow this uh. this is some kinda fic fodder, i can tell you that. i’m VERY glad they cut this, because when i see “Elsa’s nightmares manifest in real life and she almost hits Anna with her powers again” i don’t think “wow! what a cool pretext for setting out on an adventure,” i think “wow! Elsa’s gonna have a fucking meltdown and lock herself in her room for a few more years”

The Nokk: i’ve like…had to make my peace with the Kristanna subplot such as it is in the movie proper, but i REALLY wish they’d gotten more to do together, or at least NOT decide to get engaged after repeatedly miscommunicating to the point of almost breaking up. this scene was a good way to give them more material! i don’t love the idea that Kristoff a) hates every aspect of court life or b) waits for THREE FUCKING YEARS to say anything about this fairly insubstantial issue, but the bones of the scene are REALLY good, and i wish they hadn’t just given up on it. it is very devastating though! does Jennifer Lee know what “funny” actually means

Love Like That: FUCK YES BURN THAT MOTHERFUCKING TOWN TO THE GROUND. i was VERY wary of this scene going in because a) i was worried it would lionize Agnar and Iduna and b) Anna shouldn’t need her parents’ approval to know she’d be a good queen at this point, but it was mostly not that! granted, Agnar and Iduna did come across as waaaaayyy less self-involved and terrible than i tend to picture them, but i’m willing to forgive that because their conversation still ends with them deluding themselves with “well we’ll fix it when we get back!!!” also, i get that having Anna and Elsa talk about “why Anna’s going back/why Elsa’s staying put” would have broken the momentum to the end, but at the same time it was VERY NICE to actually see that conversation happen, with them at last on equal ground, talking about their futures like adults.

#Anonymous #disney #helen writes meta

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avatarxfrozen-blog · 6 years

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Wind Beneath My Wings

Well, this is ridiculously fluffy. Inspired by Idina Menzel’s version of the song. All I can think of is these two whenever I hear it. I don’t usually include song lyrics, but for this one I just had to.

Anna was beyond happy to have Elsa back, she really was. It was like a huge hole in her heart had been filled. But she began to…notice things.

It was obvious that Elsa was born to be queen. She’d had years and years of training, even from the time they were just little. Their father had expected so much of Elsa, to the point their mother had to rein him in and remind him that Elsa was a child.

But on top of all that, Elsa just had the disposition. She was always more serious, quiet, disciplined (unless she was with Anna), whereas Anna was wild, and loud, and her attention span…about as long as her doll was tall. And she was reminded of that over the years. “Your Highness, you must focus. Your sister managed just fine,” or, “Princess Anna, you need to try harder. Princess Elsa mastered this quickly, you should be able to, too.”

Not the best for her self-esteem. She didn’t blame Elsa, of course. Elsa had never done anything to make her feel that way, and she doubted she even knew what people had said.

And that feeling was coming back, and fast. She stayed by her sister’s side as much as she could, but by doing so was reminded why people compared her to her. Elsa was so smart, she read through reports with ease that to Anna seemed to be gibberish. She could do math in her head, and she always looked so graceful and regal. But most of all, people respected her. They didn’t have the nerve to cross her and were quick to do her bidding. She was amazing and perfect and…

Anna just couldn’t compare.

Anna finally lost it one day during a council meeting she went to with Elsa. One of the councilmen, an older man who stuck to the old ways and as such thought Elsa was unfit to rule, was her target. He was one of the few that dared to openly argue with her. He also didn’t like Anna.

Anna finally got tired of listening to him argue with her sister so she snapped at him. Her smug satisfaction at seeing his surprise fell away when she saw Elsa’s glare. “Apologize,” she hissed at her under her breath. Barely holding back a moan, Anna did so, her hands clenched into fists at his smug smile.

After the meeting was over, Anna tried to escape, but her sister cleared her throat. This time she did groan and slumped back into her seat as everyone left. Elsa closed the doors after the first person left and turned on her. “Anna, what you did was incredibly rude. Why would you do something like that?”

“He was giving you a hard time!”

“And he’s going to make things more difficult for me now because of this!” She paused to take a calming breath when she saw a thin layer of ice on the floor. “You can’t disrespect them like that, no matter how angry they make you. You should know better.”

“You should know better,” her father said, disappointment in his voice. He shook his head. “Elsa never gave us this much trouble.” He turned and left, leaving Anna alone.

With that, the first of many tears ran down her cheek.

Angry tears burned her eyes as every insecurity, every painful memory, crashed onto her. “I’m sorry I can’t be as perfect as you,” she spat, then turned and ran, ignoring her sister’s shocked face.

She ran to her room, nearly blinded by tears, and slammed the door shut before falling onto her bed, hugging her pillow as it quickly grew damp with tears.

Not too long later, after she had somewhat calmed, she heard a knock on her door. “Anna?”

She turned her head away and ignored her.

She heard a soft sigh. “I’m coming in.” She heard near-silent footsteps then felt her sit beside her. “Anna, please look at me.” When she did, she saw her expression fall when she saw her tear-stained cheeks and red eyes. “Oh, Anna…” she laid a gentle hand on her back. “Sweetheart, what’s going on?”

Even now, the term of endearment still made her heart sing. But it was quickly crushed by her emotional pain. She shook her heard. “Don’t wanna talk,” she croaked.

Elsa sighed softly and began to lightly trace circles on her back. “It does no good to bottle up your feelings. Trust me. Please, talk to me. I can’t help you unless you tell me.”

Anna looked at her face, thinking how this was what she had wanted for years. Elsa beside her, comforting her, talking to her. She saw nothing but love and concern in those deep blue orbs. She shook her head. “It’s stupid,” she muttered.

“It’s not stupid if it makes you feel like this. Was it something I said?” And there it was, that guilt that Anna had been trying so hard to get her to let go of. She reached out and took her free hand, already yearning to make that guilt disappear; truthfully, it really wasn’t Elsa’s fault, she didn’t know. And Anna had kind of deserved it.

“Not really, no.”

“You hesitated.”

Anna rolled her eyes; she was reminded again how Elsa truly was Olaf’s creator. “No, I didn’t. It wasn’t your fault, Elsa. It’s just…” Tears stung her eyes. “I’ll never be as perfect as you.” She turned her head and buried it in her pillow as she tried not to sob.

“What?” It was so soft she almost missed it. “Anna, look at me please.”

Anna listened and sat up to face her, sniffling. Elsa reached and gently wiped the tears on her cheek.

“Now, why would you say that?”

“It’s true, though,” she mumbled miserably. “I’ll never be as good as you, or smart, or perfect…I’m just the useless spare.” She began to sob again, but was shocked out of it when Elsa raised her voice.

“Hey!” She looked at her in surprise to see anger written across her face. “You are not a spare. Where did you even hear that?”

Anna hesitated. “My, um…our tutors were very fond of reminding me-“

“What?!” She didn’t even get to finish before Elsa stood and began to pace in front of her, looking furious. “Who told you that? I swear, when I find them…”

Anna gulped and tried to reach out for her. “Elsa, it’s alright, they’re not worth it. I’m not worth all the trouble.”

Elsa stopped and glared at her, making her cringe back. Then it softened and was replaced with sadness. She sat back down by her and took her hand in both of hers. “Why do you think so little of yourself?” Her eyes glistened and her voice wavered slightly.

Anna dropped her gaze and shrugged. “They were right. I mean, look at me. I’m weird and loud, I can’t sit still and I’m clumsy. I’m not smart, I never could keep up with you. I’m just not enough.”

She was shocked when Elsa suddenly pulled her into a tight hug, and even more so to realize she was crying. “You are more than enough,” she whispered fiercely. “In fact, you are everything, my everything.” She pulled back, gently cradled her face and leaned her forehead against hers. “You’re everything I wish I could be.”

“Wait, what?” Anna was completely baffled, by her words, her emotional responses, everything.

Elsa smiled sadly and stroked her cheek. “Anna, you are so much more than what you say. You are smart, and so kind. Everyone loves you. They fear me.”

“Elsa-“

“Shush, let me finish. You are braver than I could ever be. You scaled a mountain in the middle of my winter to find me. And I’ve never seen someone so loyal. Even after all I did to you-“ she tried to swallow back her tears, “-you still followed me and defended me, still loved me. You sacrificed yourself for me.”

They sat in silence while Elsa leaned back and tried to compose herself. Anna was stunned, she couldn’t think straight. What she stammered out was not the emotional response she wanted to give. “W-Why are you crying?”

“Because it hurts me to see you think so little of yourself after all you’ve done, and all you’ve been through. Anna, you are my hero. And I am so, so proud of you.”

With that, her words hit full force and Anna broke down crying. She collapsed into her sister’s arms, clinging to her tightly while Elsa held her equally as tight, nuzzling her hair while she cried with her.

After some time, she adjusted them so they were laying down, though she didn’t release Anna. She stroked her hair and planted kisses on the top of her head. “I love you,” she cooed, then began to sing to her softly:

“It must have been cold there in my shadow,

to never have sunlight on your face.

You were content to let me shine.

You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,

while you were the one with all the strength.

A beautiful face without a name.

A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero,

and everything I would like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle,

‘cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,

but I’ve got it all here in my heart.

I want you to know I know the truth,

I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero?

You’re everything I wish I could be.

I could fly higher than an eagle,

if you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you’re my hero?

You’re my everything, everything I wish I could be.

Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,

with you, you are the wind beneath my wings.”

Finally, with the soothing affect of her sister’s voice and steady heartbeat, Anna finally fell asleep, a tear on her cheek but a content smile on her face.

#ridiculous fluff #frozen fanfiction #snow sisters #elsa #anna #my fic #wind beneath my wings

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captainswanandclintasha · 6 years

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This time it’s personal

Summary: They didn’t start together, as a pair. They didn’t even know each other. But she had heard stories before, about how there were skaters who knew they were meant to be a pair from the first moment they danced together and, for the first time in ten years, Emma finally understood those stories.

Rating: T with a bit of angst and F for fluff

Words: 11.6k

More details: CS skaters AU inspired by VirtueMoir with lots of hints towards them (I am sending cookies to everyone who can guess all the hints to VM), friend-to-lovers, secret dating...

Art also by me.

Belated birthday gift to @cinnamonduckling but she knows why I am posting so late. I AM SORRY MA SOPIE!

Tagging a few people who asked me to tag them: @galadriel26, @ellierdbeere, @searchingwardrobes, @couldnthandleit, @teamhook, @kmomof4, @hollyethecurious, @ultraluckycatnd, @high-seas-swan, @meanderingcaptainswanmusings

Many thanks to @awkwardnessandbaseball and @onceuponaprincessworld who betaed the story :D

Enjoy!

FF.Net | AO3

They met on the rink when Emma was eight and Killian was ten. They became fast friends, bonding over their mutual love for skating and watching the older pairs skating after their practice was over. They tried to imitate what they saw the others doing, even if, at the time, Emma was paired with Neal, her coach's son, and Killian was paired with Regina, his coach’s daughter. There were days when they were training at the same time, in the same rink and they just liked to spend time together after their partners had gone home.

Sadly, when Emma was ten, Neal was sent to live with his mother on the other side of the country and Emma was left alone. She considered participating in the solo competitions, but it was harder than she thought, and after a few competitions, she gave up. She was then paired with Walsh, a boy who came out of nowhere and no one in Storybrooke knew anything about. But still, Robert Gold (as Killian called Emma’s couche, thanks to the wound he had on his leg), thought that Walsh would be a good partner for Emma, and she couldn’t say no to a new partner who was, supposedly, good at ice dancing.

He wasn’t. It was a disaster, they couldn’t even pretend they had any chemistry and, most importantly, Emma hated Walsh. She was fourteen by the time her hate for him grew into pure disgust. Walsh was obsessed with the idea that Emma should go out with him, even if she made her intentions very clear to him more than once. He also started to touch her where he was not supposed to, during their dances. One time, when they were practicing a lift, Walsh was supposed to lift her up and hold her in the air for a few seconds and then let her down so she could finish with a spin. But Walsh decided to mess that up and instead of putting his hands on her waist and let her down so she could do the spin, he put her down, pressed her closer to his body and slide his hands down her ass. To say that she wanted to punch him right in that moment would be an understatement.

So she told Killian. Killian, her best friend who agreed to meet with her, in secret, in a rink that was a few blocks away from the usual rink they were using, just so Emma could train with someone who knew what to do when he had a pair of skates on his feet. Killian once showed Emma how to punch hard enough in case she ever wanted to take care of Walsh. But on the day Emma told him what Walsh had tried, Killian jumped out of his skates and literally ran to the rink where they usually trained and stopped only when his punches hit Walsh’s nose three times.

Killian was in trouble for that, with both his own coach and Walsh’s, but Emma stepped in and told them the truth about Walsh’s obsession and his behavior. So Killian was forgiven and Walsh was kicked off of the team. So at the end of the day, Walsh was gone from Emma’s life but she was, once again, left without a partner.

A few months later, Regina decided that she wanted to pursue a solo career. Emma felt a bit selfish for being excited about this development, as it left Killian without a partner. She’d wanted to ask Killian to be her partner for quite some time. Finally, she would get to see if he felt the same. They were sitting at Granny’s one day when she finally got up the courage to ask.

“We’re both alone now,” Emma said while the waiter was putting their plates of food on the table.

Killian looked at Emma with a small smile on his face and started to talk, “I’m sure you’ll find a new partner, Emma. You are an amazing, talented skater. Anyone would be lucky to be your partner,” Killian said encouragingly.

“Anyone?” Emma asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Anyone,” Killian nodded confidently.

“Even you?” Emma finally asked, shaking her right leg nervously unders the table.

Killian raised an eyebrow in confusion, “What do you mean, love?”

“I’ve been thinking, for quite some time, about us. Us as a team,” Emma finished.

She looked at Killian with narrowed eyes and found him looking down at the table in front of him. After a few minutes passed, with no answer from Killian, Emma thought that perhaps he didn’t want to be her partner and as much as she was disappointed, she understood.

“I mean, it’s totally okay if you don’t want to, Killian. I understand,” Emma said, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.

Then Killian raised his head and looked at her. Looking in Killian’s eyes, Emma thought that perhaps there was still a chance for her.

“No, Emma!” Killian said and then quickly slapped his hand over his mouth. “I mean, no, don’t think I don’t want to,” he took Emma’s hand in his. “I would love for us to be partners,” he told her, a big smile on his face.

“Really?” Emma asked excitedly.

“Really!”

And so, together, they started a new chapter of their lives. Perhaps the most important one o far.

Of course, it was hard at first. Gold didn’t want Killian to be Emma’s partner and Cora didn’t want Emma to be Killian’s partner since her and Regina were always in some sort of competition with each other, but Emma and Killian did not give up. They continued training in secret and they started to familiarise with each other more and more. Then one day Gold and Cora saw them. Of course Emma and Killian didn’t know they were watching, but after the song was finished, they were surprised to see their coaches watching them from the side.

“You might make a good team after all,” Gold said simply.

And so they began working together. Their bond became even stronger. They started to open more to each other, they told each other stories, how they started to skate and how they grew up, how each of them had other dreams, Emma wanted to be a skater and Killian wanted to be a hockey player, but Emma fell in love with ice dancing thanks to her cousin, Elsa, and Killian couldn’t afford to pay for hockey classes.

______________________________________________________________

Emma told him how she used to watch Elsa on the rink, in her blue, sparkling dress, back when she used to train in the town. Emma watched every lift and spin and jump Elsa was doing and she used to imagine how it would feel, to be in the middle of the rink and let yourself move along with the music and just… be free. Or at least that’s how Elsa looked like when she was skating. She looked free.

So Emma asked her Elsa if she could teach her a few moves, just to see how it was. Instead of showing her just a few, basic, moves, Elsa took Emma under her wing and together with Ingrid they taught her how to move on the ice. It was like that for two years, until Elsa and Ingrid moved to Norway so Elsa could be a part of the Norwegian Olympic team. But before they left, Ingrid introduced Emma to Robert Gold and his son, Neal. That’s how the two of them started to skate together.

Emma was still talking to Elsa from time to time and, even if Elsa moved into coaching she still found time to come and watch Emma during her competitions. She even knew about Killian and how good he was with and for Emma.

Killian also told her how he started to skate. It was not love at first sight, not with the ice dancing, at least. He fell in love with the idea of skating when he watched Liam doing it during his games. Hockey seemed like an interesting game to play, so he tried it for a while. He learned fast how to skate, but playing hockey was a bit harder. He couldn’t do it, no matter how much Liam tried to teach him. He even paid for Killian to take some classes and learn, properly, how to play hockey, but he just couldn’t do it. Then one day Cora Mills, Queen of Ice Dancing at that time, had a demonstration at their rink and he decided to go too, just for fun. Cora also came with her partner and they started to learn the kids new tricks on how to dance on ice just like her and her partner. Each kid had a partner besides Killian. He wasn’t even supposed to be there, let alone have a partner, so for that day he got paired with Regina Mills, Cora’s daughter. At the end of the day Killian knew more ice dancing steps than he ever learned in months of trying to learn how to play hockey.

To his surprise, Cora came to him and asked him if he wanted to join her and her daughter. Initially, Killian said no, knowing just how expensive ice dancing classes were, but Cora told him that he will train with Regina and her coach and he wouldn’t have to worry about the money. He told Liam later that night and his bigger brother encouraged him and told him to do what he liked the most. So Killian ended up saying yes to Cora and started training with Regina. They trained together with Regina’s coach for two more years, until Cora retired and moved into coaching too. Regina and Killian were her first project and Cora always had big plans for them.

______________________________________________________________

Their personal friendship wasn’t the only one that got better since they started to work together, their technique was much better than with any other partner they had before. Emma already knew that Killian was the one for her.

She heard stories before, about how there were skaters who knew they were meant to be a pair from the first moment they danced together and, for the first time in ten years, Emma finally understood those stories. She felt safe in Killian’s arms, she was okay with his hands on her body. He was making her fly every time he threw her in the air, he always caught her with strong arms. She was loving every moment of being his partner and Emma could tell that he was feeling the same.

“Thank you,” Emma told him one afternoon, after their practice.

They just finished another hard practice and decided that they needed some ice cream and a walk in the park..

“For what?” Killian asked, looking at her with one eyebrow raised.

“For agreeing to do this with me.”

“You’re my partner, Emma,” Killian told her softly.

“But I wasn’t when you said yes.”

“No, you were my best friend.”

Emma smiled at him and turned her attention back to the ice cream. They continued to walk around the park, trying to relax, but Emma couldn’t get one thing out of her mind.

She looked at Killian with worry in her eyes. “What are we going to do?” She asked him.

“When?” Killian asked, looking at her confused.

“In Sochi, Killian!”

“We are going to do what we do best and we are going to win,” Killian told her. But he seemed to notice the nervous look on her face, so he continued. “I am always sure when it comes to us, Emma,” Killian said with a wink.

Emma rolled her eyes but deep down in her heart she felt that he was talking about more than just ice skating.

Still, Sochi was a new and hard to believe idea for them. They won most of the nationals and worlds in the last few seasons and somehow, without Emma realizing when it happened, they were chosen to be part of the US team at the Olympics in Sochi. It was really a miracle, she cried when she found out and Killian held her in his arms for a full hour, and then, later that night, she cried again when she told Ingrid and Elsa about it.

Days passed slowly after that, then weeks and then months. They went from one competition to another and to their surprise (most of the time) they went back home with first places and medals around their necks. It was an amazing thing, Emma had the time of her life and she was happy that Killian was there to share it all with her.

They had one more stop before Sochi and that was in Vancouver. The competition was two days long, nothing compared to the others but enough to break them. Emma felt off before the competition. Her legs were hurting her, badly, and she knew they shouldn’t feel the way they did. She did everything right, she didn’t force herself or work out more than normal and yet her legs were aching. Emma didn’t tell Killian because she didn’t want to worry him. Besides, she hoped the pain will be gone in the morning.

It wasn’t.

Emma woke up that morning not only with the same pain in her legs but also with a very intense pain in her lower back.

“Emma, are you okay?” Killian asked her at breakfast.

Emma couldn’t answer because she knew that once opened her mouth, Killian would know that nothing was okay with her. So instead she just nodded at him and tried to put on a smile.

“Don’t lie to me, love,” Killian said, already with a hint of worry in his voice.

“I’m fine,” Emma whispered, trying to avoid direct contact with his eyes.

But of course Killian knew right away she was lying. He always told her she was an open book to him. “Like hell. Emma, what is going on?” Killian asked her with even more worry in his voice.

“Nothing, Killian. Just let it go,” Emma snapped at him.

Killian looked at her, opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something more, but then closed it when Emma narrowed her eyes as if she was ready to start a fight with him if he didn’t drop the subject.

Emma was glad Killian let it go for the moment, but for the rest of the day she could tell he was more careful with her and what she needed.

Before the competition, Emma started to feel better, but right before the beginning of their program, the pain, together with a new dizziness, came back. Emma forced herself to move onto the ice and skate as well as she had during practise but the dizziness was getting worse with every twirl and lift. In the middle of the program it got so bad that she started to feel like she would puke. But she had to be strong, she had to follow the program and make everything perfect.

But then, during their last lift, Emma couldn’t take it anymore. She felt it coming, felt her consciousness slipping away. Her vision blurred and her legs were betraying her, right as she was supposed to jump from Killian’s arms, onto the ice.

She tried her best to make the jump, to land on her legs and then be done with it. The program would be complete after that. But she knew she couldn’t stop it now. She felt herself falling, she stretched out her arms, trying to grab onto Killian, but it was too late.

Somewhere in the distance, as she was falling on the cold ice of the rink and the darkness was surrounding her, Emma could make out Killian’s desperate voice, calling her name. Then she finally closed her eyes.

When Emma opened them again, she was surrounded by light. The bright, white light was making her eyes hurt, so she closed them and turned her head to the left, before trying to open them again. This time the light wasn’t there, but instead she let out a deep breath at the sight in front of her. Killian was in a chair, close to her bed, with his eyes closed. He was sleeping, she could tell then, but maybe what surprised her the most was the fact that he was still dressed in the dark costume he wore during the competition.

“Killian?” She whispered and stretched her hand to touch him. Killian wasn’t too far away from her bed but still, thanks to the wires that were all over herself and keeping her from moving too much. Since she couldn’t reach him, she tried to say his name again, this time louder. “Killian!”

This time, Killian opened his eyes and looked at Emma. When he saw she was awake and her hand was stretched towards him, he jumped from the chair and dropped on his knees besides her bed.

“Hey beautiful,” Killian said with a small smile and putting his palm on her forehead. “How are you feeling?”

“What happened?”

“You passed out on the ice,” Killian answered softly.

“Did we lose?” Emma asked him, part of her wanting to find out on what place they finished in thanks to her.

“That’s what you care about?” Killian asked with wide eyes.

“Yeah.”

Killian raised on his feet and moved a hand through his hair, “We were in fourth place, Emma,” Killian said with a sigh.

“Good,” Emma said, nodding at him.

It was not good, not really, not for a pair that was going to the Olympics, but considering the fact that she passed out in the middle of the rink… it was good. At least they weren’t in last.

“What do you mean, Emma?” Killian asked her and this time he wasn't really trying to hide his anger.

“What?” Emma asked confused.

“You passed out. On. The. Ice!” Killian yelled at her. “You don't even care what happened with you?” He said again, this time trying to calm his voice. “You don’t care about your health? Why didn’t you tell me that you weren’t feeling well, Emma? We are a team here.”

But Emma didn't had time to answer because right then the door opened and Cora entered the room followed by the doctor. The doctor, Victor Whale, started to ask questions Emma was not in the mood to answer, but, as she tried to answer to them, she saw Killian exiting from the room, leaving her alone with the doctor and Cora.

She tried to concentrate on what the doctor was saying but she couldn't take her mind away from Killian and his reaction. He was right, she was too concentrated on winning and she put aside her health She just didn’t want to miss this competition and have to worry about Sochi. To make it to the Olympics had been her dream since she was six and she was not going to miss that now.

But, the information the doctor was telling her might change that: she was in bad condition

It was worse than she thought: the nerves in her legs were deteriorating and she had a rare condition that, apparently, couldn’t be treated, she had to live with the disease and with the pain in her legs and back.

She might have to give up on figure skating.

She refused to talk to anyone else that day. She didn’t even want Killian with her in the hospital room. She wanted to be alone for the rest of the day. Just her and her thoughts.

The next day, she let Killian visit. She barely slept the night before, she was tired, but most importantly, she was scared. Scared of what the future may hold for her and scared of what may happen with her career. She needed her best friend and partner with her.

Killian came in the room, holding a newspaper. When he gave it to Emma, she stared at the front page. The was a picture with her, laying on the ice and Killian kneeling beside her, worry present all over his face.

She opened the newspaper and started to read the article about her. After she finished it, she looked at Killian with an eyebrow raised.

“Calcium problem?” Emma asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Killian raised his shoulders in a shrug and then started to explain to her, “Cora and Gold took care of it and told everyone that you simply didn’t have enough calcium in your blood and it caused you to pass out.”

Emma rolled her eyes at Killian’s words. “We both know that’s not true,” she said, putting down the newspaper.

Killian sat on the chair besides her bed and dropped his shoulder. “I know,” he said with a low voice, but then he raised his head and looked at her again. “But that shouldn’t get you down, love.”

Emma shook her head, starting to feel the tears gathering in her eyes. “I might never be able to skate again.”

Killian took her hand in his before starting to talk again. “You are strong, Emma. Nothing can stop you.”

“The doctor said this condition is usually inherited from one parent.”

“Emma,” Killian said in a warning voice, knowing very well were she was going with that.

Emma ignored him, instead she continued to talk. “They not only let me grow up alone, but they also… cursed me, with this!” Emma yelled in frustration. “My dreams of winning a gold medal at the Olympics are gone!”

“I… read some things, last night,” Killian said. “Many people only feel the pain when it’s cold outside. Like during the winter.”

“What we are doing is happening in the middle of the fucking winter, Killian,” Emma said, finally letting the tears falling on her cheeks “I am sorry Killian. You worked as much as I did to get to the Olympics and now I am stopping you too,” Emma said with sadness in her voice, not looking at him.

Killian put a hand under her chin and raised her head so she could look into his eyes. She expected to see hurt and regret, maybe anger, but Killian had a soft look on his face.

“I would never blame you for any of this, love,” Killian assured her, stroking her cheeks with his fingers, “besides, I know you. You are strong. One day I know you will have that gold medal around your neck,” Killian encouraged her.

Emma looked at him, unwilling to believe it. “Maybe. Or maybe not.”

Killian opened his mouth to say more but he closed it back before any words came out. Instead he put his arms around her and hugged her. She had to give him some credit for that: he knew what to do when Emma was sad and he was not supposed to say anything. This time, actions spoke louder than words and Killian’s hug calmed her more than any words could have.

They had to start talking about it again when Cora came in the room, two hours later, followed closely by Gold. She asked Emma if she wanted to give an official statement, about her status and about what she was going to do with Sochi, what they were going to do. But Emma was not in the mood for thinking about it, so she told Cora she wanted a few days to think about it and to talk about it with Killian too, since it was about him just as much as it was about her. Cora gave her exactly five days.

For the first three, Emma almost made peace with the idea that she might need to step away from going to Sochi that year and to step away from the USA skating team. It was not something she liked nor wanted but Killian, Gold and Cora explained to her that perhaps it would be better this way. To take care of her own health before something else.

Killian almost begged her to realise that, telling her that nothing was more important than her health and that forcing herself would do no good to her. He told her that by taking a pause and working with a physician would give her more chances to be part of the American team later, maybe even at the next Olympics.

She understood. Eventually.

Then on the fourth day Neal called. He was going to Sochi, with Tamara, the officials offering them a place in the US team after their last competition. He also told her that he did not believe what people said about her and her condition.

“A bad case of dehydration doesn’t make you pass out,” Neal said into the phone. He then admitted that he asked his father about her, and that Gold told him the truth about her health.

“Too bad you might not go to Sochi, Emma,” Neal said at the end of the conversation. “I know how much you wanted to have that gold. I’ll send you a picture with the medal,” Neal ended on a mocking tone.

The way he said it made Emma really angry. She wanted to jump on a plane and go to the other side of the country and punch him right then and there.

She spend that night, in her bed, researching the disease she had. On the last day of her thinking period, she called Killian, Cora and Gold, told them she wanted a meeting at the rink. What she told them shocked them all.

“I want to go to Sochi,” was all she said, when they were finally all in the same room.

For a moment no one said anything and Killian, Cora and Gold were looking at Emma with wide eyes. But then Killian was the first to broke and he practically yelled at her.

“Are you out of your bloody mind?”

“I am, actually,” Emma nodded at him with a smile on her face. “I spent the night reading about Charcot Marie Tooth and what it meant to have this disease. You have to live with it and you have to kick its ass. So that’s what I’m going to do,” Emma said proud and determinate.

“You also don’t have to force yourself,” Killian snapped.

“I can do this,” Emma retorted.

Emma looked at Killian, provoking him with her eyes to say more and when he opened his mouth to talk, she was already ready with a comeback. But Killian never got to say what he wanted to, because Gold raised a hand between them and started to talk.

“Miss Swan, are you sure?” He asked her. “Doing this might put you in even more danger. “

Emma nodded at him, full aware of her decision and what might do to her. “Positive. I want to do it.”

And so they started all over again. They couldn’t change the program, not when it would take them months to learn a new one, so they had to make the one they had perfect. Perfect enough for the gold but also perfect enough so Emma could skate it, even with her condition.

They worked more than usual. There were days when she got home and stayed in bed for hours, cursing every deity that gave her this disease . Sometimes she stayed in bed and cried, the pain being too hard to bear.

Killian was with her all the time, supporting her and helping her when the pains were back and she just wanted to die. He tried to talk her out of it, tried to tell her, once again, that there will be other Olympics and she would be better then, she would feel better. But every time Emma thought about, Neal’s mocking words came back to her, haunting her.

She told Killian about it one night when they were out, having dinner. They were talking about the future and what they are going to do after Sochi and Killian asked her why she is pushing herself so much. So Emma told him what she talked to Neal and what he told her about sending a picture with the medal.

Killian told her that Neal was a jerk and that she should know she is much better than him. They are much better than Neal and his partner and with or without Emma being sick, they will still kick Neal’s ass.

Then after two long months the day came. They were at Sochi, they were waiting to go on the ice and give their best performance ever.

And they did.

Until they didn’t.

Emma missed a jump. She didn’t fall, but she put her hands down on the ice. And they both knew that was a forbidden thing to do in this sport, especially when at the Olympics. She just hoped they would not be penalized too much.

They weren’t. They still had a high score and they were in first place. At least for the moment. There were three other teams left in the competition, one of them being Neal and Tamara.

So for the next thirty minutes, Emma and Killian waited. After their program, they went in the waiting zone and they watched the other’s pairs programs on the big TV in the room and Emma had to admit they were all good. They all were great and on one hand Emma couldn’t wait for the final results, she couldn’t wait to see if they would won so she could finally breathe normally, but on the other hand she couldn’t wait to get out of the skates and relax.

And then forty minutes later Emma had tears on her face, Killian was behind her, his head on her shoulder and his arms around her shoulders, holding both her and the US flag. They were on the podium, wearing shining, gold, medals around their necks.

They won. Against all odds, against everything else, they won. They had done better than Neal and Tamara (who took silver), and Emma couldn’t have been more excited about it. She now had the Olympic gold!

“We did it, love,” Killian whispered to her while the Star-Spangled Banner was playing.

She tilted her head a little and whispered a small “thank you,” not knowing for sure if she was thanking him for being the best partner ever, the best friend someone could ask for or for never letting her down. Or for all of the above.

After that, they had interviews. They were asked how they felt, they were asked if they were happy but most importantly, they were asked what they were going to do after the Olympics. They had no idea what to answer to that since they never really talked about it, Emma didn’t want to talk about it. So they danced around the questions, they smiled, said they were happy, that they didn’t expect to win the gold and they didn’t know what they were going to do from now on.

Truth is, deep down, Emma knew what she was supposed to do when she was going back home.

She was supposed to lay low, take a break, recover. She was suppose to go to a doctor, take some tests.

She didn’t want any of that.

She wanted to train more, she wanted to dance. She wanted Killian always by her side.

But for the time being, at least, they were allowed to be happy and simply enjoy the moment.

That night everyone had a small party in US house, in the Olympic Village. Everyone was there: Neal and Tamara (it was their party too, after all), Regina and Mary Margaret Blanchard, the favorites at winning gold at Ladies Single Skating, Ruby Lucas, the “golden snowboarder of the US” as the media called her these days, and half of the hockey team, since apparently Killian was friends with them. The party was fun but tiring for Emma, so at one point in the night, she slipped through the people and went outside.

Not long after that, Killian found her. She was outside, on a chair, in the cold night of the Russian winter when she felt a blanket being placed on her shoulders by two strong hands. She didn’t need to look up to know who it was. She already knew he would find her out there.

“Are you okay?” Killian asked, sitting down in a chair next to her.

Emma looked at him and smiled, “I just needed a break.”

“That’s understandable,” Killian said, laughing.

“Those hockey guys can be really loud,” Emma said, laughing along with him.

Killian stopped laughing and nodded at her statment. “That is correct.”

“How did I not know you were friends?” Emma asked him, genuinely surprised.

“Robin was with Regina a long time ago and we kept in touch after they broke up,” Killian explained to her.

“They’re not together?” Emma asked surprised and watched as Killian nodded in confirmation. She saw how Regina and Robin were inside the house, how close they were and how… cute they looked during the party. “They don’t show it that well,” Emma added.

“Well, yes, Robin is still in love with her.”

“That’s nice,” Emma said with a small smile.

“Yes,” Killian answered. “It is.”

Silence fell over them, but it was a nice silence. Looking away from him, Emma started to wonder what was going on in his head and if his thoughts were so crazy as her own.

“Are you okay, Emma?” Killian’s voice broke her out of her thoughts.

She looked at him and nodded. “Yeah, like I told you, I just needed a break.”

“No, I mean, are you really okay?” Killian asked again with narrowed eyes.

“I don’t know,” Emma answered truthfully. She moved her eyes away from him again, but this time, as she was doing it, a cold breeze surrounded them and Emma shivered, even with the blanket around her.

“You should come inside,” Killian said and Emma rolled her eyes, because of course he saw her shivering.

“I’ll come. I just need a few more minutes alone,” Emma said, looking at Killian as he was raising from the chair.

“Sure,” he said, leaning down and pressing a kiss on her check and then went back inside.

Once Killian was back inside, Emma was left alone once again, with her thoughts. But soon after that, she heard the door opening again.

“Did you come back?”she called out.

“Killian is still inside if you’re talking about him,” Emma heard a female voice talking and she turned around to see Ruby. “May I?” Ruby asked pointing to the chair next to Emma.

Emma smiled at her and nodded, “Sure.”

Ruby sat down and looked at Emma with a wide smile on her face, “So, Emma, congratulations on your first gold medal.”

“Thank you! Congratulations to you too,” Emma said, knowing very well that earlier in the day Ruby also won a gold for the US.

“Thank you! I am glad I am no longer the only golden something of US in the media,” Ruby said laughing.

Emma narrowed her eyes at her, “What do you mean?” She asked confused.

“Oh you don’t know?” Ruby asked her and Emma could see surprise on her face.

“Don’t know what?”

“You and Killian are the new ‘golden couple’ of the country,” Ruby announced her excited.

Emma looked at her with wide eyes. “Are you serious?”

“Very. People are excited every time you are on ice. Some say the ice is lucky it doesn’t melt after you finish your program.”

“Are you serious now?”

“Oh yeah. There are people who can’t wait for you to kiss. There are bets for when it’ll happen,” Ruby explained to her. “You don’t read Twitter?”

“I have a habit of avoiding Twitter when we are in the middle of a competition,” Emma told explained her.

“Well, honey, many people are sure you are dating in secret and some say you will soon announce the truth.”

Emma raised her hands in front of her and stopped Ruby, “We are not together.”

“Wait what?” Ruby asked. “You’re not?” She asked again, with confusion in her voice.

“No!” Emma assured her.

“Wow,” Ruby said, sounding surprised. “The chemistry is so tight when you are on ice. Are you sure you don’t feel anything for each other?” Ruby asked again.

“We are just very good friends. And partners. We work great together.”

“Honey, you don’t have that kind of chemistry without there being some kind of feelings from at least one of you.”

Emma opened her mouth to answer to her but right then Victor, from the hockey team, came out looking for Ruby. It was well known there was something between the two of them, so when Victor told Ruby that he was retiring for the night, Ruby quickly told Emma ‘good night’ and then followed him inside.

When Emma finally decided to go back inside, half an hour later and with even more crazy thoughts in her mind, there were only a few people left in the main room, including Killian. He looked at Emma with a questioning look and Emma motioned with her hands for him to follow her. She went towards her room and when she was inside in her room she left the door open and waited for Killian to follow her.

When he was inside her room he had a very confused look on his face. “Did something happen?”

“Did you know there are bets on when we are going to kiss? And that people believe that we are a couple?” Emma started abruptly . It wasn’t how she wanted to ask him that, her mouth just decided to talk.

“Erm…” Killian said, starting to scratch behind his ear. Emma had known him for a very long time; she knew he only did that when he was nervous about something.

“Oh my God! You knew?!”

“You just took me by surprise,” Killian said, avoiding her eyes.

“You knew, Killian?” She asked him again.

This time, Killian looked at her and a nice shade of pink in his checks. “Alright, I knew.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t think you’d want to know. You usually don’t care about what other people say on social media about us.”

“Well yes, but…,” she had to give him some credit on that one. She usually didn’t care about the rumors people were saying about them. In fact, if Emma was honest with herself, she didn’t even know why she cared so much about this now.

“Who told you?” Killian said coming closer to her.

Emma rolled her eyes but answered him. “Ruby said some things.”

“Some things?” Killian asked, raising an eyebrow at her, in question.

“About our chemistery and us,” Emma said.

“Us?”

“She said we wouldn’t have so much chemistry on ice without having some feelings,” Emma said, this time avoiding his eyes and letting her head down.

“Emma,” Killian said and she knew, if she would look at him now, he would have that look that was begging her to talk to him. It was a look that he always had when Emma started to pull away from him, a look that made her hate herself for avoiding him in things like that. A look she hated very much.

“I know, it’s stupid,” Emma answered, still not looking at him.

“It’s not,” Emma saw his left hand moving and coming under her chin. He pulled her chin up and looked into her eyes when he spoke the next sentence. “Emma, I love you, you know that right?”

“I love you too,” she answered honestly.

Emma knew he loved her, he told her that more than once, but he always meant it in a friendly way, he always said it before a competition or as an encouragement and Emma always said it back in the same way, not feeling anything else. But this time, when she said it, her heart jumped a few times and that scared her. A lot.

Instead of answering her, Killian moved closer, his face was nearer than ever and a small voice inside her was telling her he was going to kiss her. But instead he pressed his forehead on hers and closed his eyes. She recognised the move, it was what they always did before going on ice, they just stayed there, hugging, foreheads pressed together and eyes closed. They were wrapping themselves in their own bubble. So Emma closed her eyes and let herself losing in the feeling.

Neither of them talked about that specific subject again, after that night.

They returned to US a week later with gold medals around their necks and still not talking about the elephant in the room. Their future, her future. Also Emma tried to make her heart stop making her feel things every time Killian was touching her, but apparently that was an impossible task..

At the airport they were met by fans singing the national anthem. They had flowers for Emma, they offered their congratulations and Emma was stunned. She couldn’t believe they were so loved by so many people. They spent no less than two hours at the airport, signing autographs and taking pictures. There were even babies that their parents wanted them to take a picture with, and if Emma was being honest, she felt a little strange every time she was holding a baby for the pictures.

There was also press who, like always, wanted interviews with them. The same questions were asked as when they won, but this time people were adding a new question “Are you two a couple?”

The first person that asked them, made it look like they were asking about their professional relationship, not that they were in any other kind of relationship, so Killian started to answer as he thought it would be best.

“How does it feel like to be such an remarkable couple?” The journalist asked.

“It’s an honor for us to be here and compete for US and it’s pretty personal and special to us, as well, as partners-” Emma was following his answer but at the same time he was following the journalist’s reaction to his answer and when Killian said the word ‘partners’ she saw the wide grin on the man’s face and Emma quickly understand what the question was really about. So she hit Killian in the stomach, not subtle at all, and Killian stopped mid sentence to look at her with a very confused look on his face. Emma only raised her eyebrows and made big, wide eyes at him and he understood what was happening, “as skating partners it was really amazing for us. That’s it.” Killian answered. “Skating partners.” He emphasized once more before the journalist asked them another question.

After that, they started to dance around that specific question every time someone asked them and by the time they arrived home, the first interview was already at the tv and everyone was seeing Emma Swan hitting Killian Jones in the stomach when he was talking about their partnership. Everyone was commenting on that move, her stop and his emphasis on ‘skating partners’ and of course everyone was already coming up with conspiracy theories about how they are a secret couple but they don’t want to tell anyone.

It was not true at all. They were friends and that was all.

Killian didn’t help their cause a few hours later when he posted a picture on his Instagram with them hugging in the middle of the rink in Pyeongchang, with the US flag covering them both and the caption “we did it, love.”

And that was the start of that story but not the end. It was not even close to the end.

Everytime they were in the same place together, there were people asking them and making little comments about how good they look together and that perhaps they were already a couple, that you can’t spend so much time together and not be more that just friends. As if a man and a woman couldn’t be good friends without there being more than that.

But Emma tried to stay away from all of that, she had more important business. Like, perhaps, her own health.

It was not much she could do, really, after the first month back in US, after she was done with the media and some sponsor’s events, she started to look more into what was going on with her own health. She went from one doctor to the other and all of them told her the same thing. She had to live with the problem, her condition won’t get worse than the presence of the pain in her legs and her back, and even those, the doctors promised they were not going to always be present, and she had to learn how to not give up.

She knew how to do that, she was a fighter, as Killian kept reminding her, but it was hard. At least at first it was hard, until she found a good doctor that gave her some pills, it was hard. She couldn’t train more than three hours per day, she couldn’t jump the way she did before.

She found herself more than once trying to make Killian give up on her.

“You should give up on me and find another partner,” she told him one morning, after another sleepless night.

“You are out of your mind if you think I would ever do that, love.”

“I can't do complicated choreographies, Killian.”

“We will find a way,” was all he said and then went back on the ice, stopping in the middle of the rink and waiting for her to follow him so they could practice another move.

She had to give him more credit, she knew that. He was just as stubborn as she was and she knew that he cared about her and he would not let her go, no matter how much she wished he would do that.

When the time for a new season came, Emma and Killian sit down and talked about what it meant for them. No matter how hard she wanted to do it, her jumps failed in 60% of the time, she still had to work on that. She told Killian, once again, that perhaps it would be best for him to find someone else and he, once again, told her that she was out of her mind and to stop telling him that. He will not leave her no matter how hard it is for her. No matter if they were missing a season or two.

So they made a decision. They would skip this season, work together more, so that Emma could get used to her new condition, perhaps go to a few galas and then, when they will be ready again, they will go back to competing.

They also made a decision about what they were going to say to the media. They announced they were taking a temporary break, and they didn’t know for how long exactly, they said they needed a break after all the work they did in the past seasons and at the games. But of course, not everyone believe them, at their first announcement there were questions about what was going on with them, if they will they stop working together, if there was any problem with their coaches? But they refused to give a real answer to any of those questions.

After that was done, they felt a little bit relaxed. They let themself enjoy the new quiet part of their lives. It was something they never really had. They never had time to do other things, try new sports, find new hobbies.

Emma started to work with a kinesiotherapist and a physiotherapist to regain the force in her legs and Killian was there with her every day to help her and encourage her when she felt like it was too much.

This new lifestyle brought them closer than ever.

Besides their trainings both together and separate, just for Emma, they started to spend many nights together at each other’s apartments, doing movie nights and TV shows marathons. They were just staying in when they didn’t feel like they were in the mood for anything else. They studied new programs together, making plans for the future, they tried to find new music, the watched almost every musical that was ever made, searching for good stories that could be recreated on ice (she said no to High School Musical though).

They also found they were good at other things. Emma started uni again, choosing to major in Tourism, since she had a passion in travelling around the world, and Killian found himself a new sponsor in Adidas (which made his fans really really happy).

One year later, they realised they were happier than ever. Their bond was stronger than ever and they proved each other they were able to go through anything as long as they were together.

Then one night it happened.

If anyone would have asked Emma about that night, she would have said she was drunk. She would say she doesn’t know how it happened and how they ended up like that, but truth be told, she knew. She knew every single detail.

They were invited to a party, David’s party, Killian’s friend from the hockey team and also Mary Margaret’s boyfriend. They thought it was a party like any other, they did not expect something big, but it was.

As soon as everyone was present at the party, Mary Margaret and David dropped the bomb in front of everyone. After one year of relationship, they were getting engaged. He asked, she said yes. They were happy, they were in love and they will get married.

The night was full of celebration for the newly engaged couple, there was alcohol, of course, and champagne, and perhaps both Emma and Killian had too much to drink.

They left together after midnight, and they decided that a walk back to Emma’s apartment would be good, the chilly air of the night would be good for them.

Of course it wasn’t.

On the way to the apartment their hands found each other. Killian took Emma’s hand in his and she did not protest at all, if possible, she was holding his hand tighter than ever. The feeling reminded her of the many moments when they were holding each other the same way, before starting a new program in a competition Then Killian drew her closer to him, let go of her hand and put his hand around her shoulder, stroking her left side. Lost in the feeling, Emma let her head drop on his shoulder and closed her eyes, still continuing to walk along with him.

“Would you have thought about that?” Killian started. “That they would end up here, when they met one year ago at that party in Sochi?”

“A lot can happen in a year,” Emma answered. “Feelings evolve.”

“That they do,” Killian answered and Emma’s drunk mind yelled at her that he was not talking just about David’s feelings for Mary Margaret.

When they finally arrived at Emma’s apartment, Killian was supposed to sleep on her couch, since he was too drunk to walk alone the rest of the road to his apartment.

After Emma was ready for bed she went to Killian to tell him goodnight and go back to her room to sleep for the rest of the night, but Killian stopped her. He took his hand on hers and drew her closer. When they were mere inches away from each other, Killian put his hands on Emma’s hips and from instinct, she put her hands on his shoulders. Killian lowered his head and pressed his forehead on hers. They did that move a hundred times in their lives and yet, this time it feel more different.

“Killian, what are you doing?” Emma asked in a whisper.

“I don’t know,” Killian whispered, with his eyes closed.

Emma closed her eyes as well and let herself fall even closer to his body, if that was possible. “We need to sleep,” she whispered.

“That we do,” Killian agreed with her, but he was still holding her in his arms. “You know, Emma, David’s and Mary Margaret’s feelings aren’t the only ones that changed that night in Sochi,” Killian said.

At his words Emma opened her eyes and raised her head. “What do you mean?” She asked confused.

Killian opened his eyes as well and looked at her. “I… I shouldn’t tell you this,” he said, finally letting her go. “We are both drunk. I am sorry, Emma,” he said taking a step back.

Emma nodded at him, not trusting her voice to say something after what he just said, so instead Emma smiled at him.

“Goodnight, Killian,” she said, putting her hands on his shoulders and getting closer to his check, with the intention of pressing a quick kiss on there, as a goodnight, like they did so many times before.

But when Emma’s lips were close to his check, Killian moved his head and her lips were pressed on his lips instead of their original destination. Yet, she did not stop or moved. And neither did he. They kept their lips pressed together and Killian moved for more only when he felt Emma wanting to break it.

So they kissed, for the first time ever and Emma was sure that her heart will soon jump away from her chest and run. Her hands moved in his hair and Killian’s hands moved on her body, from her shoulders to her back, then back up to her neck and finally in her hair. He touched her in those places for years and yet, it never felt like this.

They started to move towards Emma’s bedroom and stooped only when they were in her bed. Naked.

Emma woke up the next day, naked, in her bed, with Killian Jones’ arms around her. It was a nice feeling. A feeling that was present for a total of five minutes. Until panic arrived and all Emma wanted to do was run. Run far away from her bed, but most importantly, run far away from Killian and what they did. It scared her that they did it but what scared her the most was how good and perfect it felt.

Killian must have felt her panic because he started to wake up and when he realised where he was and what they did, he looked at Emma with something that looked more like hope than surprise or fear. And that exact looks made her want to run even faster than she wanted to do it before.

“Emma,” Killian said, his voice subtly begging her to not run.

Emma sit up and pulled the blanket tighter around her.“Don’t,” she said avoiding his eyes.

“Love,” Killian said, raising too and stretching his hand towards her cheek but he pulled it back when Emma avoided his touch.

“This was a mistake, Killian.”

“Was it?” Killian asked with a bit of desperation in his voice.

“We were drunk,” Emma said, finally looking at him.

And God what a mistake she did. She looked into his eyes and she saw something she never saw before. She saw love. He looked at her with an expression she knew all too well. He was using it when they were acting on ice. Only this time, he wasn’t acting. The love and hope in his eyes were real.

“Emma,” Killian tried again to touch her.

Emma shaked her head at him and stopped him. “No, Killian.”

Emma raised from her bed, pulling the blanket around her, so she could cover her naked body and trying not to think about the fact that Killian was still naked in her bed and went inside her bathroom and then just waited. She could hear Killian on the other side of the door and she guest that he was, most likely, getting dressed. Then she heard him moving around the room and prayed that he will not come to the bathroom door. She heard him coming closer and then she heard something hitting the door to the bathroom slowly but nothing else. He didn’t knocked at the door, didn’t say anything and after just a few seconds she heard him moving around the room again.

She left the bathroom only when she heard the door at the apartment opening and closing.

“What have I done,” Emma said to herself once she was out of the bathroom. She sat on the bed, layed down, took the pillow that was still warm from Killian, hugged it and finally let the tears fall.

For the next few days she tried to to avoid him. She did not go to the rink, she avoided his calls and when Cora called her and asked if everything was okay, Emma told her that she was having a few bad days and that the pains were back.

In reality, the pain was back, yes, but not the one in her legs nor the one in her back. This time her heart was hurting her.

Her stupid heart was hurting her and was making her question everything. Was her partnership with Killian over? Did she messed everything by sleeping with him? Will they ever be friends again?

She was scared that this was it. She messed everything, the only good thing in her life.

The answer to all her questions came after two weeks of avoiding Killian, when a knock on the door made her pause the tv show she was watching, or better said, the show she was trying to watch if she wouldn’t have been more interested in her phone than in what happened at the tv.

She paused the show and went to open the door, expecting to see Mary Margaret on the other side, but instead there was Killian. He was dressed in jeans and he was wearing the hoodie they were given a year ago, at Sochi, with the USA flag on it. But the most surprising element was the golden medal around his neck.

“What are you doing here?”

“I know you are avoiding me,” Killian said, not answering to her question. “Please let me in,” he begged her.

Emma made room for him and he stepped inside her apartment. Once inside he turned to look at her and Emma pointed at his neck. “What are you doing with that?”

Killian looked at the medal and then at her and started to talk, “Remember the day we won?”

“I will never be able to forget that night.”

“Yeah, me neither. Because everything changed that day.”

“I know, Killian, but it doesn’t explain what are you doing here, with your medal.”

“That day changed more than you think, Emma,” Killian started. “It changed me. It changed the way I thought about us.”

His words made her take a step back. She closed her eyes, breath in and out a few times and then opened them again. She was not ready to have this conversation with him.

“Killian.”

“Let me talk, please,” he begged, coming closer to her and taking her hand in his. He waited for Emma to react and when she nodded he started to talk again. “Back then on that night, when you asked me if I knew people were betting on us. I knew. I damn well knew. I knew many were saying that we will kiss at the end of our program. I wanted to do it, to be honest, I wanted to kiss you right there and then but I knew it would scare you. I knew it was not the right thing to do it. I’ve had feelings for you for a long time Emma.”

“Killian…,” Emma tried to stop him, starting to feel the tears gathering in her eyes.

“I know,” Killian said with a sad smile. “It took me a lot to think about this, because I know you and I know that you will, most likely, hate me for doing this,” Killian said putting his free hand on her cheek and Emma tilted her hand, letting herself get lost in his touch.

“Emma I know you believe that night was a mistake, but I don’t. Because what I feel for you is real,” Emma opened her mouth to tell him that he was wrong, she did not hate him for doing it. She could never hate him. “If you tell me you don’t feel the same, it’s totally okay, I will understand, I will leave and then continue to be your friend and if you want, we will never talk about this, or that night. We go back to being best friends, but please Emma, please, stop avoiding me because I can’t live with that,” Killian begged her and as he finished his sentence his voice broke and a few tears started to run down his cheeks.

Seeing him like this, so vulnerable for the first time in front of her, Emma let her own tears starting to come out and run down her cheeks. She wanted to say something, she wanted to tell him that she feels the same, that he is not alone in his feelings but she was never good with words. That was Killian’s territory. He was the one with the words and she was the one with the actions.

So she did what she always did best. She took two steps forward, grabbed the labels of his jacket and pulled him towards her.

This time, when their lips met, they felt softer than before. They started to kiss like their life depended on in, like there was no tomorrow. Years of sexual tension and chemistry and love were purred into that one kiss.

“I feel the same,” Emma said, minutes later, when she broke the kiss. “I just didn’t know how to tell you or how to show you. I also panicked really hard that morning,” Emma admitted, looking into his very blue eyes.

Killian looked at her with a small smile, “I understand.”

“What are we doing now?” Emma asked him a small smile.

“I have a feeling that nothing will change with us.”

Emma nodded at him, hoping that he will be right. “I want to keep it between us. For now.”

“Your heart’s desires, Swan. That’s all I want for you.”

Killian was right. Nothing really changed between them. Their relationship was the same only with some really small differences. Good ones. Now Killian was touching her in places he never did before, his lips were on her skin more often during practice. There were also lots of kisses.

They had to find a way around the dates. At first they liked to believe they can do it but then, looking at other couples, they realised they wanted that as well. So they went out and tried not to care if anyone saw them. They would say it’s just a simple going out between friends. They were each other’s plus one at events, their first big event being Mary Margaret’s and David’s wedding. Luckily there weren't any paparazzi at the wedding and Emma and Killian were able to be as close to each other as they wanted.

They friends asked them if they were finally together, but they lied, said their relationship grew closer due to Emma’s problems and their break from skating.

It wasn’t really a lie, it was just… half of the truth.

The next year, at the beginning of the summer, one morning, during the breakfast, Emma opened a new but at the same time old subject for them.

“You know how I started to be good again?” Emma asked him, referring to her skating.

And she was. She was, once again, in full form. Her jumps were, if it was possible, even much better than before. And all thanks to Killian, their coaches and her amazing doctors.

Killian smiled wide at her. “You were always good.”

“You know what I mean,” Emma said, rolling her eyes.

Killian nodded at her. “Your skating,”

“My skating,” Emma said nodding at him. She took a deep breath before continuing and then started to talk again. “I want to go back.”

“Back?” Killian asked with an eyebrow raised. “You mean back in competitions?”

“I am 26 years old. I have one gold medal. I am sick, but I kick the diseases ass every day. I want another medal. Or two, who knows,” Emma said determinate.

“In Pyeongchang?” Killian asked with a smirk on his face.

“In Pyeongchang,”she said, mirroring the smirk on Killian’s face. “It’s all about Pyeongchang.”

“Okay then,” Killian said.

“Really?”

“Of course,” Killian said with excitment in his voice. “We have two years to make the tour of Worlds and National and we will get to Pyeongchang. We’ll do it Emma.”

Emma nodded at him. “And then we retire.”

Killian nodded too. “And then we retire.”

“It’s all about Pyeonchang,” Emma said. “This time it’s personal.”

For the next two years they did exactly that. They trained harder than ever. They came together with a new dance, a new song. Emma took care of the costumes and she kept them a secret as long as she could (which really, wasn’t too long with Killian basically living in her apartment). They made their comeback announcement with a promotional video, that was the most romantic thing they ever did.

People welcomed them back with opened arms and hugs, and flowers thrown on the ice after their first dance back.

Their short dance at the first Grand Prix left both of them in tears. They could practically feel the love that was coming from the people in the audience.

It was like that for two years. Competition after competition, medals and trophies won. They were never lower than the second place. They were, as people were saying, melting the ice with every program they had.

Emma was feeling better than ever. She felt alive on the ice, back in the competition.

Also the rumors about them were getting more and more with every new apparition on ice after their break. People were studying their moves, they were reading a lot of things in Killian’s every touch on her body, every time he was hugging her after a program. People were seeing things, things they tried to keep a secret. But it was okay. They were still trying, they were still dancing around the question even if, at the end of the day, no one believed them.

At one point they got tired of dancing around the question so they stopped doing it and instead, to keep up the ‘we are still just friends’ image, they started to joke on the subject. They started to add wood to the fire of rumors, feed the public. Saying that they are “very good friends” and “skating partners” and “business partners” (they had to stop with that one thought, when the whole population on Twitter started to mock Killian for using it in every interview). They had fun most of the time.

“You don’t sleep very much, I know that for a reason,” Killian said in the middle of an interview and Emma could swear they broke the internet that day.

During a game they were asked to answer questions about each other but without looking at each other.

“What is the color of your partner’s eyes?” They were asked.

“Blue,” Emma answered without adding more details.

“Green. Gorgeous green,’ Killian answered, and Emma was pretty sure she was hearing the screams of their fans in the distance.

In February 2018 they flew to Korea.

They gave their best in Pyeongchang in all their apparitions and they won. Not one but two golden medals. They were strong, they didn’t cry. Not when they finished their programs, nor when they found out they won or when they were on the podium.

People knew they were not crying, not in front of the cameras, they were crying after, in the privacy of their room. And everyone was okay with that, they were already showing more emotions than any other pair ever did, when they were on ice.

But at the end of the Gala, the cameras caught something when they were filming Emma Swan and Killian Jones. They saw Emma whispering something in Killian’s ear and then they saw Killian exploding in tears. Killian Jones, the man who never never cried on camera, was crying and hugging Emma Swan in the middle of the rink.

People asked them what was that. What did she say? Why did he start crying?

But Emma and Killian never told them. They said it was because of the emotions from the last few days, the fact that they were retiring, that they will never again be on a rink in such a big competition, maybe just for galas and presentations and Stars on Ice. Still, some didn’t believe them, some thought that it was something else, that Emma and Killian were hiding something.

It was true, people just didn’t know it. They had their rumors, rumors than might or might not have been so far away from the truth.

But when Killian posted, one year later, a picture with him, Emma, a sparkling ring on her finger and a baby girl in her arms people understood what was really going on at that gala.

#Captain Swan #cs ff #cs au #captainswanandclintasha #this time it's personal #cs fan art #cs fanfics #made by me

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harryandhishook · 6 years

Text

So this is snow? - Imagine the sea three seeing snow for the first time

Pairing: None

Setting: Auradon

Warning: None really

Summary: The sea Three seeing snow for the first time

Words: 1828

Requested: No, this was a quick fanfic to post while main ones are in works

Side note: It took me about 3 hours, to write this, check it over and change anything, get it proof read by someone and upload it, all while walking back and forth from University

There is no such things as weather on the isle, no sun, no rain, no snow, nothing, just darkness, gloomy clouds and a slight chill in the wind that can cause a shiver to course through your spine suddenly, so moving to Auradon was quite an experience for any of the VKs.

Ben had finally started changing lives for the children of the Isle, helping them start fresh and give them a life they would have never thought possible. Eventually, with a bit of persuasion and pleas from Ben, the rotten four and everyone with common sense, caved into Bens decision to bring Uma and her crew into Auradon.

When Uma had received the letter from the King, informing her that the crew and her ship were to be taken over by order of Ben, she jumped at the chance, hoping that what happened at the cotillion was long forgotten, all she wanted now was a new life for her family.

When the limos arrived to pick them up, they had sent two so they could transport them all in one journey. The crew, out of respect for the Captain, allowed Uma, Harry and Gil to take the first limo, while everyone else piled in the other. For Uma, Harry and Gil, it was a relaxing, calming trip, they got to stuff their face with new and strange foods they had never tried before and also chat about what they would do when they arrived.

On the other hand, for the crew, it was hectic, they were already fighting since the limo wasn’t as big as they thought, the candy was everywhere as Jonas and Bonnie tried to fight over who would get what and they were already stuffing things into their pockets to keep.

Once they had arrived, the crew, obviously excited, tumbled out of the limo, pushing and shoving each other to got to the front of the pack, so they could try and look like they were better than everyone else, luckily, that all changed when Gil and Harry stepped out of the limo, once they were out, they crew shut up, once Harry had held his hand out for Uma and she was out, the crew backed up to allow their Captain to stand in front. That was the one thing that would never change, the crews’ loyalty for their captain.

It took a lot for the crew to get used to Auradon life, after a while of Uma and Harry pushing them to do things they were interested in, they finally made friends, joined some sort of club or school activities and started to feel like they actually belonged somewhere. A few of the crew took up dance and acting and have become the top of their class while other took up more athletic things, like fencing, tourney, etc.

However, Harry, Uma and Gil, stayed together, of course they started doing what they wanted but no matter what, they stuck together like the three always were. Harry tried out for Tourney and got in almost as soon as he set foot on the field, he also tried out for dance, even if he would never admit it to Uma or Gil. Gil decided to take a different route, unlike his father and brothers, he wanted to eat a healthy meal that didn’t contain eggs, so he took up cooking and everyone will admit, his cooking tastes like a forbidden fruit that had just plucked from the heavens themselves. Uma, however, was a tough girl, she didn’t want to become part of some strange groups of giggling girls but she did enjoy her music class more than most at that school, once she starts singing, the entire class stops just to listen to that voice of hers. Even though the Captain and her loyal friends were associated with different things, every break, every lunch, every night, they were always seen together even if it were with a group of tourney boys, cooking specialists or spectators listening to Uma magical voice.

The first time they all saw snow, they were all in the collective clubs and activities, first, there was Harry who was out on the field practicing for a big game that would win them the biggest trophy of the year. It started out like any day in winter, the wind outside blew the chilly winter air across the boys skin, making them all wrap up before they even thought about playing. They hadn’t even gotten 5 minutes into the game when everyone gave confused looks to Harry who was staring at the sky, it was Jay who finally decided to break the stares of confusion and speak to the distracted pirate,

“Harry? Harry, you alright?” he asked, quite concerned for the boy, he had never been distracted before, it wasn’t until a white flake fluttered in front of his face did he realize why Harry was so mesmerized, it was snowing, the boys started looking up as they watched the snowflakes fall, none of them seeming too bothered, some of them even started to head in since it would be harder to play in snow but Harry stayed put, staring at the sky, Jay watched Harry, wondering if he ever looked like that when he saw snow for the first time,

“It’s so …. Pretty” the pirate said as he raised his hand to catch the flakes that floated softly to the ground, once one hit his palm, he pulled his hand slowly to face and stared at it, watching it melt, smiling softly, “I’ve … never seen snow … has it always been this beautiful?” he asked softly, as he stared at the liquid in his hand, snow falling heavier now, coating his hair in white.

Jay shivered and pulled his the jersey closer to his body, “Harry, we need to go in, it’s getting a lot colder, you’re going to catch a cold if you stay out here” he walked forward towards Harry, grabbing his arm and tugging him towards the school, he was expecting to have to drag the pirate back in but with a reluctant sigh, Harry followed after, “You can watch the snow from your window … and later you can go out and play in it” as soon as Jay spoke, Harry perked up and within a blink of an eye, he was inside, leaving Jay in the bitter cold.

Next, Gil, when the snow started falling, he was in his cooking class, making chocolate chips cookies for Harry and Uma. For once, he was smiling and giggling, something he had almost forgotten how to do, but for now, he had to protect the tray full of cookies from all the girls who were trying to steal a cookie. When the snow started to fall, Gil had his back to the window, but the girl that was currently over his shoulder, she had tried to sneak past him to steal a cookie, spotted the slow falling spec outside the window, making her smile wide,

“GUYS, THERE’S SNOW” she shouted, causing everyone to run to the window, Gils eyebrows knitted together in confusion as he placed her down and walked to the window. He watched as the girls giggled, watching the snow become heavier, not understanding why it was so exciting before he finally got his first look, he opened the window and leaned out, eyes widened impossibly,

“This … this is snow?” he asked as he stared at the white flakes falling down past his face, his smile stretched across his face, as he reached out of the window to grab it, only for it to melt in his hand, making him giggle. Gil pulled his hand back in and looked to the girls, “What do you do with it?” he asked, not really knowing much about the new found discovery. One of the girls piped up, jumping forward,

“Well, when it lays, you can go out and play in it, you can make snow angels, have snowball fights, make snow men, OH and the best part about it all, when it freezes the water, you can go ice skating” she giggled, all the girls ran over to the tables, grabbing their coats and scarves, “Come on, let’s go out” they all squeaked out, throwing Gils coat over to him.

Gil was going to protest but he smirked, pulling his coat on, “Show me what to do” he chuckled as they all ran out of the room.

Lastly, there was Uma, she hadn’t really been bothered all that much, she had been sat in the music room for hours, practicing new songs, she had heard about snow before, she had to learn songs about snow, even including most of the songs about Elsa and Anna for a school production, she wasn’t going to bother with it until Harry and Gil came pounding into the room like a pair of wild animals, screaming about the snow. Uma stood up and sighed,

“Boys, BOYS, one at a time, Harry?” she ordered, walking over to them, noticing they were both bright red and out of breath, she watched as Harry took a deep breath and smiled,

“The snow, you have to come see the snow Uma, everyone’s taking us out to play in it, we can build snowmen and have snowball fights, Uma, please, come with us” he begged rather than asked, his smile dropped when Uma shrugged and turned away from them,

“I dunno, I mean, it’s not that big of a deal really, all this snow, fun doesn’t really sound like something we’d enjoy” she started walking across the room, peering over her shoulder to see Harry putting his hand on Gils shoulders in an apologetic manner, making her smirk as she quickly turned back away from them, she loved messing with them as she picked up her coat an scarf, “But I do have one question…” she turned to them with the biggest, mischievous smirk they had ever seen, “Do you wanna build a snowman?” she giggled, pulling on her coat an scarf, grabbing their hands and pulling them out.

As they ran down the hall, avoiding bumping into people laughing and chasing each other, Uma suddenly stopped just short of the door, causing the boys to almost fall on her. Harry and Gil looked at each other before staring at Uma confused until they finally looked at the door, seeing how the snow had already laid quite nicely.

Uma took their hands as they stepped to the doorway, “On three, we step into it … one …. Two …. Three” and with that, the first footprints were made and it was by the VKs, it didn’t take them long before they were jumping into the snow, throwing it at each other, dropping some down each other’s clothing and generally having the fun they never got to have on the Isle, the first time they saw snow.

#uma descendants #Uma #harry descendants #harry hook #harry hook descendants #gil descendants #Gil #gil legume #Pirates #Descendants 2 #Snow #Snowing #Auradon #Imagine #Fanfiction #thomas doherty #China Anne McClain #dylan playfair

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writeyourownlifestory · 7 years

Photo

CS Halloweek: Oct 31st - Spirits and Traditions

{Photoset created by the phenomenal @lenfaz} {Reposting on here because the site wouldn’t put the entire thing}

Falling in Love with Moonlight

Being the new kid in town is hard. Living in a house that is haunted by a long-dead princess is even harder. Killian Jones just wants to take life one step at a time, even if those steps are followed by someone only he can see.

Killian Jones was seventeen when his brother decided to ruin his life. Liam insisted this was for the best. He was finished with the Navy and turned away the chance to be Admiral, deciding he wanted his brother to be raised as a normal teenager and not live his life on a ship with a dozen other men.

He got a job managing the docks in some sleepy town in America. A place that Killian never even heard of and couldn’t even be found on his own GPS. The job itself wasn’t spectacular in the least, but the money was better than either of them expected. Killian was less than thrilled to be going, but the whole thing about leaving England was to start over again. Have a better life away from the dark memories that plagued them.

The house was nothing like they expected. Gone were the rustic windows and fashionable shutters. No more perfectly working locks or mechanical garage door. The house was older. Dusty and unused. Apparently, nobody thought to buy it in the hundreds of years it sat on the grounds.

All that mattered was that it had electricity and would keep out the cold. At least that was what his brother said. They would weave through the rest. After all, this wasn’t their first rodeo. Liam stated that when he bought it over Skype, the agent was eager to sell. She assured them that everything would be set up before they came there.

Lights, water, heating. Everything else they needed to add a modern twist to the place that obviously hadn’t been used in years.

The real estate agent, he thinks her name was Elsa. Or Anna. He didn’t really know. She worked alongside her sister, building houses from the ground up. She had mentioned something about it being related to royalty or something like that. To be honest, Killian didn’t pay much attention to her.

To him, it was just a house in the middle of nowhere Maine. There was no amount of praise or history that could make Killian feel any less miserable.

He found the more he looked at the house, the more he missed England. His homeland. Missed the green, green grass of the countryside. Missed the busy streets of the city.

Leaving his brother to (poorly) flirt with the agent, Killian went upstairs and picked a room. He chose the second largest, deciding to be kind to his brother and not take over the master bedroom. Still, it wasn’t exactly terrible. It was obvious it needed some improvements, but both he and his brother were good with their hands.

Together they could make a joint effort and make it into something better than it. Maybe even better than it was.

Despite having working lights, the bedroom didn’t seem to be touched up any further. Everything seemed so cold and dusty. Killian felt like he could sneeze just standing in the area. Still, it had some nice points to it.

The bed was large. Possibly a queen. A canopy too. A bit girlish, for his taste. So long as it was comfortable, Killian didn’t mind it. He gave it a quick go, bouncing slightly. It obviously hadn’t been used for a while, but he was more than happy to break it in.

Continuing to look around the room, he took in all the little knickknacks and trinkets. There was a vanity. With brushes and what he guessed to be makeup. Dolls with dresses and little stuffed-animals.

The room must have been home to some child. A little girl who loved to play or maybe a young teen who was just old enough to start putting all that stuff on her face.

Sitting on top of the shelf was a doll dressed as a lieutenant. It reminded him of the uniform Liam once wore. Reaching up, he grabbed it and gave it a quick look over. He turned on his heel, preparing to show his brother what he found.

“Please put that back,”

Killian jumped at the voice, his hand flying up and his eyes widening like saucers. Standing before him was a girl, probably around his age. She was blonde and dressed as if she was preparing to go to Medieval Times.

“My mother made that. Please be careful with it.” She gestured to the doll clutched in his hand.

“What the hell?” Killian spits out, stepping back for the moment. “Who let you in here?”

“I’ve been here. This is my room.” She told him calmly.

Killian ran to the door, shouting aloud to his brother. “You must be lost or something. This place-” Killian turned his head to look back to the girl, but she was gone.

Liam appeared in the doorway, huffing from having run all the way up. He looked at Killian with a strange bewilderment. Killian didn’t know what to say.

“So there was just a girl standing in your room?” Liam asked later on during the night. They sat at the table, eating takeout Chinese. Their boxes were stacked in the corner, untouched and unmoved since this morning. Liam had three more days before he had to start his new job, giving them a bit of time to settle in.

“Yup.”

“And she was upset you touched her stuff?”

“The sailor doll. She said her mum made it.”

Killian had shown the doll off to his brother, who found that it was older than anything he had ever seen. The uniform design looked like something from another century, let alone something that should be in this house.

“Maybe you saw a ghost.” His brother teased.

Killian could only roll his eyes. Ghost didn’t exist. That much he knew.

👑

Killian had a little less than a month before school began, giving him time to get to know the town. It was as boring as he thought it would. Everything was slow and tired. Quiet and tedious. Everybody seemed to know everybody and the fact that he and his brother were new to town seemed to baffle some people. People rarely ever came to Storybrooke, or so he had been told.

Still, he tried to make the best of it. There was no chance for a nightlife, but the place had a pretty sweet dock and a large library. He became good friends with the girl who worked there. Her name was Belle and she welcomed him more than anybody. She eagerly listened to him talk about what England was like.

Her own family moved from Australia when she was just a child and she had been aching to leave ever since. Killian guessed all the reading was her own attempt at escape.

He was also able to snag a job at the local diner. It was run by a woman named Granny and her granddaughter Ruby. Ruby was a firecracker who didn’t deal with anybody's bullshit, not even his. He liked that.

He was hired on as a waiter. Or busboy. Or delivery boy. Really whatever they wanted him to do. He didn’t have a car just yet, but working meant saving money, which meant buying a car. Or maybe even a bike. Whichever came first.

Eventually, he realized that he and Liam were there to stay. No chance of flying back to England in the middle of the night. Unpacking all of his boxes, Killian decided it was time to take care of his room.

He cleaned it up, getting rid of all the dust and grime. He grabbed a garbage bag from the kitchen and began shoving things into it. Things that had been left behind by the previous owners and were no longer needed.

“What are you doing?” a familiar high voice asks, the sound of it giving rise to goosebumps on the back of Killian’s neck.

“Bleeding hell,” He muttered, turning around to see the blonde girl once again. “What are you doing here?”

“I already told you. This is my room. And those are my things.”

“Well, I’m throwing them away,” Killian told her, turning back around. “If you want them, take them and get out. This town is weird enough without squatters."

In a flash, the girl is standing before him. She reached out, taking hold of the bag and pulling it towards herself. Killian pulled it back, just to spite her, but she tugged harder. Killian stepped forward, falling right into her.

Or through her, really.

Killian stumbled forward, nearly hitting the wall as he stepped right through the blonde haired girl.

“Stop that! You’re acting childish!” She snapped at him.

Killian stared with large eyes, his jaw slagging heavily. Without a second thought, he dropped the bag and ran straight out of the room, returning only later that night when his brother had returned from work.

He told him everything, about the girl appearing and him going through her. About her being angry over her stuff. Liam didn’t know what to say, merely insisting that if the place was haunted, Killian better respect the girl enough and keep her stuff from the garbage.

Later that night, Killian waited for her to reappear. She never did, but he kept the stuff anyway. Just in case.

👑

After a while, Killian found himself growing relaxed in the house. It wasn’t ideal, but it was enough for them. He and Liam had been through so much already, even he could admit it was nice to have a place to call home.

If only there was a way to do away with that little ghost problem.

Well, she wasn’t really a problem. She would come and go as she pleased, which was incredibly annoying. There are moments when Killian has to remind himself that he may not be alone in his room, moments that left him stopping whatever it was he had been doing to look around nervously.

When she was there, it was only for a moment. Usually, if Killian had triggered her in one way or another. Touching her stuff or playing a certain song. She seemed to like music. Killian himself was rather musically inclined and would play guitar every now and then. Sometimes he could swear he would hear a soft voice singing along, harmonizing with the music.

He also loved to draw. He sketched everything he could, whether it be from sight or memory. One evening he was sitting on his deck, making a drawing for Belle when the familiar voice appeared over his shoulder.

“You’re a very talented artist.”

Killian jumped, the pencil scratching along the pad. It wasn’t a permanent damage, but enough to make him a bit displeased.

“Don’t do that!” He told her sharply.

The young girl frowned, moving to sit on his bed. Or her bed. Whatever. “Is that for the girl you are courting?” She asked him.

Killian had Belle come up into his room a time or two. They never did anything, though Liam always insisted he keeps the door open. He partly wanted to know if she could see the ghost as well, but the blonde never appeared when Killian had guests.

At least she was polite.

“What? What does that mean?”

“Courting. The one you wish to marry?”

Killian wanted to laugh when he heard her words. “Marry Belle? No. No, I am not dating her. Or courting her. She’s just my friend.” Why the hell was he explaining this to a freaking ghost?

“But you are making her a gift.” The girl countered.

“It’s for her birthday,” He answered.

The girl hummed, having no other response. Killian wanted her and in a blink, she was gone. Grabbing the eraser, Killian removed the mark and carried on with his work.

👑

Storybook High is easy to get used to. Killian had been in enough schools to tell whether or not one was going to be a good fit. This one wasn’t terrible. The uniform sucked, and being in a religious school itself wasn’t something that appealed to him, but he didn’t mind.

The teachers were fine, as was the student body. He and Belle had a class together. He had two with Ruby. He joined a club by their persistence. He thought about going out for a sport, but he had never been very competitive. Perhaps football, if they had a team. Soccer, as they called it here. He socialized to the best of his ability, though he still crashed when he got home.

The girl appeared again, sitting at his desk this time. She was smiling to him, looking over his attire. “That is a unique outfit choice.”

“It’s my school uniform.” He muttered out, his arm covering his face.

“I never went to school.’ She confessed to him. “I had tutors.”

“No kidding.” He drawled out. It was quiet for a moment and Killian was sure she had left once again.

Except for this time, she didn’t. “Will you tell me?” She asked him. “About school?”

Killian knew he had two choices. Either ignore her and carry on with his life, because really who wants to talk to a ghost? Or, actually, talk to her. A ghost. A dead girl. Sighing, he chose the latter. After all, what did he have to lose?

👑

Soon after that, the young girl began becoming more open with Killian, visiting more often than not. Whether it be watching him draw or work out, standing by the windows watching the rain, or watching him while he did his homework. Watching, watching, watching. Sometimes he had to wonder if she was watching even if he wasn’t there. It sure made getting changed and taking a show a bit more awkward.

Having her around isn’t as terrible as Killian thought it would be. Liam worked long shifts after all, sometimes into the night. It was nice having someone to talk to.

One night he is sitting there, reading one of the books Belle had suggested. She wasn’t around, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t hear him.

“You know. I don’t even know your name.” He mentioned aloud.

Lifting his gaze from the book, he found her standing in front of his bed. “Emmeline.” She answered him softly. “Emmeline Evangeline Ruth.”

“Quite a mouthful.”

She gave a small shrug. “It’s custom to have strong, meaningful names. At least it was back in my day.”

“When exactly was your day?”

She seemed to be thinking as if counting back. “Many, many ago.”

Killian gapped at her. “So you’re like…a hundred years old?” He wondered.

“Several centuries, in fact.”

Killian scratched the place behind his ear. “Certainly explains the clothes.”

Emmeline looked down at herself, confused by his comment. “This was created just for me. This is the outfit of royal!”

“Alright, alright. Relax, will you?”

The girl crossed her arms, her nose and chin raised high. Royal for sure. High and mighty. “What is your name? I have heard your father call you it, but I would like you to tell me.”

“He is not my father. And it’s Killian. Killian Jones.”

“Well, Killian Jones, I welcome you to my summer home.” She gave a soft, yet calculated curtsy.

“Summer home. Right.”

👑

After that, Killian found an odd pattern occurring. He and Emmeline began speaking more and more, about this and that. He was never one to open up to anybody, barely even Belle, but there was something different about her. Maybe it was because she was dead. After all, ghosts can’t judge people. Well, they could. Not like it mattered though.

They talked about his home life. About his mother passing away and his dad leaving them with nothing. How Liam did everything he could to raise him without giving up his life in the navy. He told her how he thought about joining the service because really, what else was he going to do? He had no ambition. No drive. He felt like an idiot sometimes. Belle was going to go places and Ruby was going to become a veterinarian and he was what? Gonna work at Granny’s until he was old enough to own it?

Emmeline always reassured him that no, that was never the case. Her own parents expected a lot from her and while she didn’t always want the responsibility, she knew she was destined for great things. At least that was what she thought.

The topic of how she came to be wasn’t something Emmeline welcomed. It was a sore subject, one she had trouble getting to. She could talk for hours about what she used to do back in the day for fun and how being royal wasn’t like the books made it out to be. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. But her death wasn’t something she was happy with. Something she wasn’t ready to share as of yet.

A budding friendship came to be and Killian found himself getting used to living in Storybrooke. He was popular enough, though he figured that went to being ‘new’ and for having an accent. Killian really didn’t care that much since he already had his friends. And his ghost.

More often than not, he would be dragged off to stuff. Movies and school events. He got tricked into going to a triple date with Ruby and her girlfriend Dorothy and Belle and this guy Robert she met at the library. His own date was named Milah. He had met her a few times before. Friends of friends. She would come to the diner every now and then. Order small and tip him well.

She was a flirt and so was he. Dark hair and eyes. Nice skin. She was attractive and he liked that. They did this a few times, going out as a big group. Why it was always Milah, he didn’t know. She wasn’t a bad date or anything, but they had so little in common.

Killian had to guess it was due to the fact that he was so different and she completely hated being a small town girl. Killian guessed she wanted him to be her mini adventure. Killian thought about being offended but didn’t truly care enough to feel anything like it.

One night after a hangout, he invited everybody back to his place, knowing Liam wouldn’t be home. Everybody bailed expect for Milah. Once here, he brought her to the living room, figuring they’d just talk. Maybe make out. But she wanted to see his room.

For the most part, Emmeline stayed in his room only, so he felt safe having friends anywhere else. While he wanted to say no, Milah was already heading up the stairs, making her way down the long hallway.

Taking a chance, he brought her into his room. They talked for a bit and he showed off his guitar. Eventually, they just got right down to kissing. It’s simple at first. Sitting up on the edge of the bed. Their hands in each others hair. He wasn’t really sure where to go with this. He had kissed before, back in England, but nothing more than that.

Milah, on the other hand, seemed a bit more experienced. He appreciated that for the most part, but silently prayed she didn’t try for more. He could have fun, but losing his virginity wasn’t something he wanted to do right now. Call him old-fashioned, but he wanted to feel something. Other than friction, that is.

One of Milah’s hands made it onto his lap, slowly rubbing. He didn’t mind for the most part, but he knew better than to lead her own. He pulled her hand away, only to have it go back.

He broke the kiss, wanting to explain, but the sound of one of his books falling to the ground caught his attention. Milah wasn’t concerned of course and went back to kissing him. Her hand went back to his lap, slowly working on his belt loop.

Killian went to stop her again, but instead, he found Milah’s head jerking away. She grabbed the back of her head, her eyes glaring. “What the fuck?” She muttered. “I like it rough, but not like that.”

“I..I didn’t.” Killian looked around, searching for her.

Milah stared, utterly confused. She began looking around as well, finding nothing. Soon enough, she was pushed right off the bed, hitting the wooden floor with a bang, the blanket whipped out from under her.

Killian stood from the bed, reaching out to help her up. “Are you okay?”

“Don’t touch me!” Milah pulled herself up, scowling at him. “If you didn’t want to fool around, you could have just said so.” Grabbing her purse, Milah stormed out of the room.

Once alone, Killian began circling around. “Emmeline?” He called out. Finally, the circle ended and she was there, watching him innocently. “Did you do that?”

“You looked very uncomfortable.”

“You can’t just do that. She’s gonna tell my friends I pushed her.”

“Killian, I can not apologize for protecting you.” She spoke softly to him. “Besides, she was incredibly forward. Does she have no shame at all?”

“A lot has changed since you’ve been around,” Killian said, going to sit back on his bed. He rubbed his face with his hands, already dreading the drama that would come the following morning. “Women do whatever they want nowadays.”

Emmeline came forward, going to sit beside him. “We always could, silly.” She spoke, pushing at his shoulder. Or attempting to.

Emmeline explained that while she had enough energy to pick up objects, such as the blanket she used to pull on Milah, touching people just wasn’t something she could do.

“Well. Almost all of us. Being a princess meant marrying someone of high stature. A prince or nobleman.”

“Is it always that way?”

Emmeline gave a shrug. “Mostly. My parents are some of the few exceptions. My Papa wasn’t a royal. He was a shepherd. He and Mama met by accident.” She giggled softly. It was a sound Killian never expected to like hearing, but he did. A lot. “It’s funny. They did not like one another at first. But they had the strongest love I ever saw.”

“Will you tell me about them? About you?”

Emma frowned at him, her hand hovering over his own. If he thought hard enough, he could always feel it. “Maybe another time?”

Bobbing his head, Killian accepted the promise.

👑

Halloween came around faster than Killian had expected. It was never a big deal to him, even in England, so when it came up, he expected it as a regular day. He had school and then afterward he was staying late to finish an art project and then going straight to work. He saw her standing in his room, but didn’t stay to chat. Merely told her not to expect him throughout the day and rushed out to meet his bus.

Both Belle and Ruby had plans. Belle was having a safe Halloween event at the library, where little kids could go and read festive books and get some candy. Ruby was going to a party, already having her sexy Little Red Riding Hood outfit planned out.

Victor, another friend had made during his stay, was reluctant to miss the party but was asking for volunteers to come to the hospital to read to come kids and patients. You could also donate blood, which was always a need.

Victor thought it was genius. Donate blood on Halloween. Halloween. Vampires. Killian could only roll his eyes. A few people signed up, along with Ms. Blanchard.

She was the principle of the school and one of the nicest ladies around. She wasn’t like Mother Superior, who just seemed all around shift and bleak. Then again, she was a nun… Ms. Blanchard was married to the town sheriff and had their own little sad back story.

From what Belle had told him, they lost their daughter some time ago. Nobody really knows what happened, though it’s sad all the same. Any other night, he would have jumped at the chance to help out, but he knew if he called out, Granny would have a field day on him.

Finishing up his piece at school, Killian began his shift. He was the lead waiter, meaning he was the only waiter since Ruby was gone. The night itself was busy enough. People were coming and going, some in costume, some not. A few families had come by for dinner; the kids all dressed up and even a few family pieces.

Granny insisted all little kids got candy with their meal and anybody else dressed up got some too. It seemed Granny also loved the holiday and insisted on dressing up. She went as Little Red’s wolf grandmother. She also insisted that Killian dress up as well, which wasn’t exactly on his mind, but he accepted it.

The pirate costume was lame enough, but it was for one night. He got an eye patch and a hook. What more could he ask for?

The night began to dwindle down and it was almost twelve, their usual closing hour. A few people came and went, but it was getting slower and slower. Granny was in the back, cooking or working the books.

The bell ran indicating another customer and Killian grabbed his pad and the pot of coffee, prepared to offer a fresh cup.

“Coffee?” He asked, his eyes heavy as he reached the table.

“No, thank you.” The soft voice rang out.

One was the dreary iris’ and in their place were bright, shock filled blue circles. Emmeline was here. In the standing. Sitting at the booth. Gone was her faded dress, replaced with a newer, more lavish version. Her hair was filled with gentle ringlets and on top of her head was a sparkling tiara.

Killian stuttered with his words and Emmeline could only offer a smile. “How . . . how is this . . . Emmeline, how are you here?”

“It’s kind of a long story.” She told him quietly.

“You say that a lot.” He muttered out. He looked around. One of the patrons, a regular that went by the name Leroy, came forward, passing Killian his check. “Sir, do you see her?” He asked him bluntly.

Leroy looked forward, his eyes landing on Emmeline. “Beautiful costume, milady.” He spoke, bowing his head to her before leaving.

Killian laughed aloud, tossing the pad up in the air in disbelief. “You . . . you have to tell me everything and I mean everything.”

Emmeline bobbed her head to him. He went to the back, seeing they were out of tea and instead grabbed two cups of hot cocoa for them. Killian took a seat across from her in the booth. As luck may have it, they had no other customers come in for the rest of the night.

Slowly she began telling him about her life. About what it was like prior to being how she was now. She was a princess in the kingdom that is now forgotten. Her parents ruled happily and it seemed like nothing could go wrong. Emmeline had a perfect life. She had friends and pets and a loving family. Nothing could go wrong.

Or so they thought. Someone was jealous of this. Of her happiness. And they were determined to take it away from them.

Every year, Mist Haven did a celebration for All Hallows Eve. There would be a ball where everyone was welcomed. Rich or poor. There would be food and dancing. In the mist of the ball, the woman appeared. People believed her to be a witch of sorts. One who believed in dark magic and used the Gods of the underworld to do her bidding. She swore to take the happy life away out of sheer jealousy.

Emmeline’s parents tried to protect her, but it was impossible. They brought her to the summer home, but the witch found them. She put a curse on them all. Dooming her parents and killing Emmeline in the process.

She is stuck in the summer home as a spirit, only able to move about one day a year. From the beginning to the day to the end, Emmeline was as mortal as could be.

“And your parents?” Killian asked, wondering what their fate was.

Emmeline revealed she wasn’t the only one stuck forever. Her parents were alive but frozen. Their memories removed for three hundred and sixty-five days of the year.

“I watch from afar,” She told him quietly. “It is too painful. Even though I am alive, they can not see me. To them, I am a ghost completely.”

“I wish you had told me about this,” Killian mentioned. He reached forward, his hand touching hers. It wasn’t cold. Not in the least. “God, do you have any idea what I would have done if I had known? I would have planned the day! Taken you out. Showed you everything.”

Emmeline’s cheeks turned a gentle scarlet color. She hung her head low, her tiara slumping. “I am sorry, Killian.” She murmured to him. “I do not understand why you are the only one who can see me. Strange magic this.”

“My mum didn’t believe in magic. She believed in people. In love. She thought that was the strongest force in the universe.” He grumbled, thinking about to how happy his family had been before her mum got sick. Any possibility of magic was gone and soon enough, so was the love.

“I wish you had told me.” He whispered once more. Leaning forward, Killian crossed the table, bringing his lips to hers.

Unfortunately, they ever met. The clock struck twelve and Granny appeared. She was telling him it was closing time, wondering why he was drinking two cups of hot cocoa. Killian slumped back into his chair.

It was gonna be a long year.

👑

Things were certainly different after Halloween. Killian walked around with the knowledge that eventually, Emmeline would come back to life. Even for just one day. He felt like for fool, acting the way he did. Who the hell just lunges at someone, wanting to kiss them?

Emmeline didn’t mention it and he was thankful for that. He didn’t know how she’d react if he said that he was attracted to her. She was pretty, though he guessed she knew that. They had spoken about her past suitors and how they would shower her with lavish gifts.

Emmeline was a princess and yet these men still through they could buy her affection. It was almost funny in a way.

Killian tried to do the opposite, doing little things here and there. He read to her, showing her all the new books that the library had gotten. The place was practically forgotten about but Belle always made sure that they got new things.

Emmeline spoke of how she loved to read and she showed him all the bookshelves that her father had made. It was rare she ever left the room, as it had been the one she died in. She had a personal connection with it like no other. Still, every now and then he could lore her out.

He would bring her to the kitchen and show her how to cook. They’d go in the studies and look at the old maps of her kingdom and novels that her parents had collected over time.

She told him all about her castle, which was now broken down and turned into an apartment studio. She told him that was where her parents live, far up high with no memory of her at all.

She even showed him a portrait of her parents. Under the floorboards where his couch now sat, Emmeline showed him where all their belongings had been hidden away. There were jewels and paintings. Some of her favorite tiaras that she would wear and the diamonds she’d have on her fingers.

He could only imagine what those things had to be worth, and Emmeline gave him full permission to take them as he pleased. Keep them. Sell them. She picked out the pieces that were sentimental to her, and he got the rest.

He told Liam he found them by accident. They each picked out a few pieces and sold everything else. The amount of money . . . Killian didn’t even know you could have that much without earning it. They saved most of it away; Killian’s college fund and for their house.

Killian could finally afford to buy a car and Liam was able to put the down payment on the ship of his dreams. Everything was coming around for them, thanks to Emmeline.

He took the painting as well, giving it freely to the library. Belle thought it made a nice addition, especially since it was part of the history of the town.

Her parents looked . . . familiar. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt as though he had seen them before.Seen them all before. Belle had given him at least half a dozen books on art, so he tossed it off as having seen the painting in one of them.

Emmeline was easy to talk to. They could talk about anything and he’d never get bored. Things he didn’t even know he wanted to talk about. He spoke of his parents and life in England. He told her about the first girl he ever kissed and how angry he was at Liam for making him leave. He swore to her it was the best thing they had ever done, for more reasons than one.

Emmeline had never kissed someone before. It was uncommon for young ladies to do such things, especially with men she never truly suited. She believed she was no prize to be won, therefore did not choose someone to marry.

Killian found their friendship to be blooming into something deeper, more apparent. It frightened him to the core. How the hell were you supposed to date a ghost? Not like he could take her out.

Sure, he’d show her movies and such, but they couldn’t go out for dinner. Couldn’t hold hands or even hold each other.

The closest they came was when Killian was sick and bedridden. Emma stayed with him, lying on the bed beside him. She would reach up and touch him, but Killian could only feel a shiver of a flat chill running through his body.

Liam got worried, of course, and decided it was time to take a trip back to England. Killian was devastated but his brother insisted. He brought up how he spends all of his free time in his room, barely going out with Victor or Ruby anymore.

What was he supposed to say? ‘Sorry, I can’t. I sort of have this thing going with this long-dead princess who lives in our house. Maybe another time?’

Yeah, no. Liam wouldn’t buy that.

They left during winter break, with Killian promising this wasn’t something would keep them away long. Emmeline was heartbroken, even if she didn’t cry. Could ghost even cry?

Killian left without a hug. Without a kiss. They went back to England and stayed with family friends. Killian went to all the shops and all the towns. He was dragged out to a club where he danced with a girl, feeling like absolute garbage afterward. They went to their mother’s grave, telling her all about their lives in Storybrooke.

Liam was dating Elsa, the woman who helped sell the house. He was getting promoted at work. Life was good for him. Killian kept it simple until Liam left him alone. And then he spilled the beans. He told her everything; about Emmeline and his feelings towards her. He felt like a fool, but hey. If Emmeline could be listening, why not his mum.

He asked her for a favor, being selfish one last time. He didn’t know if Emmeline had a chance to go to heaven or whatever there was when you weren’t a ghost, but he wanted her to. It killed him to know she was trapped there, away from her family and eventually, away from him. He wanted her to be happy and asked his mom if she could help make that happen.

A warm gust of wind came blowing his way. It felt like a gentle caress on his face. He took it as her promising to try.

When he returned home to Maine, he set up everything he brought back with him. Emmeline wasn’t there at first, but Killian found that he found feel her even if he couldn’t see her. He bought a few things to show her, some things that were stereotypically English. He remembered her mentioning her favorite animal is a swan and he got her a keychain pendant with the figure on it. It was a pointless, useless gift, but she loved it all the same. Something to make up for the lack of Christmas gift from when the holiday passed.

He told her all about his time there. With friends and with the girl. He confessed to her about dancing and how it just felt like he was being gutted. He didn’t know if Emmeline could understand any of it, but he wasn’t to make it worth something.

He felt something for her he had never felt for any person and while it might have been crazy, but seemed like she felt the same way.

Having a girlfriend you couldn’t kiss or touch wasn’t ideal, but he accepts it. The way he looked at it, it was like a long distance relationship. When Liam asked, he told him the truth. He met someone he cares about very much, but couldn’t be with them right now.

Liam asked if it was someone in England, but Killian didn’t reply. He wasn’t going to lie to his brother, but he wasn’t going to come out and say it either. Liam accepted it, wanting Killian to be happy, but also to remind him that these things also didn’t always work out.

Killian could only hum in response.

👑

As the school year came to a close, Killian realized there was nothing out there for him. Liam had insisted that he apply to schools all over, but the young man just couldn’t be bothered. He didn’t want to go to New York or California. He didn’t want to attend a liberal arts college and get some bullshit degree.

Killian made it very clear that he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life and he was more than content to just stay in Storybrooke and attend the local college. It sucked a bit, with Belle going off to Oxford, and Victor going to medical school, and Ruby going to veterinary school.

Still, he couldn’t regret a thing. He had a good job and was happy to just live the life had was living. It may not be great to some people, but he was happy with it.

Emmeline, on the other hand, was not.

It had come clear that while she cared for him deeply, she didn’t want him to stay behind and lose out on a wonderful life all because she was there. She wanted Killian to see the world and work on his art. She wanted him to take a chance and do something spectacular with his life.

Working a nine to five shift at the diner and going to school at night wasn’t something she saw as worthy of him. He worked through this summer. He and Liam celebrated his birthday by going out, but he wanted to share the moment with Emmeline. She told him how every year on her birthday, there would be a huge ball. It was close enough to All Hallows Eve, only a few days, so the celebration was usually combined.

Knowing she had died the way she did was tragic enough, but losing her life while trying to celebrate being alone was just too much for Killian.

He started school in September and focused on October to come their way. He tried to get Emmeline to do the same, but she was stubborn as all hell.

Killian tried to distract her, insisting that they had to focus on something else.

He convinced her to let him draw her. It was harder than he thought it would be. She had to stay perfectly still and it seemed Emmeline, despite years of having her portraits done, still had a bit of a fidgety side.

He worked on her for days, wanting to get her work perfectly right. He was impressed with himself, deciding to keep that piece for himself. That was until his university decided to have an award ceremony for the art department. He didn’t think it was a big deal, but he submitted the portrait anyway. It was a small community college in the middle of nowhere. Who the hell would take it seriously?

To his surprise, he won. And while he expected it to be some silly thing where he got a gift certificate to somewhere in town, it turned out to be a whole lot more. His picture was held in the art museum in town (one he didn’t even know they had) and would be eligible for the regionals.

Even then, Killian didn’t expect. After all, out of everyone from Maine, there was no way some kid from an unknown town was going to win.

Until he did. He won the title of Maine and before he knew it, the portrait won nationals. He was the best in the country, all because he drew a picture of a girl who nobody else could see.

Applications came flooding in, with everyone wanting Killian to go to their school. The word ‘prodigy’ was being thrown around right and left. Killian had been drawing and painting since he was a child, though not even he thought he was that good. They wanted more, so he made more. He drew. He painted. Everything and anything he could.

Soon enough, Killian felt like he was going out of his mind. He had never been treated in such a way. To him, it was a bit unsettling. He even wanted to skip his own party. Liam refused to let him miss it and even if he wished Emmeline could be there, he went anyway.

Everyone was congratulating him, telling him how impressed they were. Everyone asked if he was going to accept this school or that school but he really didn’t know. One school, all the way in Boston, offer to take him in by November. They wanted him there and were willing to give a free ride. Liam was over the moon, while Killian dreaded the idea of leaving.

Walking outside, Killian bumped into Ms. Blanchard, who had come to support one of her former students. He apologized, pausing when he found her eyes red with the threat of tears. He asked her if it was alright, but she couldn’t talk. Too emotional, her husband insisted.

He congratulated him on the artwork, randomly asking him if he had ever been to the hospital. When he said no, they excused themselves. Killian was left shaken but went back inside.

As October came around, Killian knew he had to give a yes or no answer when it came to going to Boston. He didn’t want to, truly he didn’t. But something was pushing him. Maybe it was Killian. Or Emmeline. Or maybe even himself.

Emmeline had begged him to go, reminding him that he still had the chance to return and see her again. After all, she wasn’t going anywhere.

Hell broke loose one day when he got a letter from the school, thanking him for accepting. He was angry, screaming at his brother who swore he did no such thing. Killian didn’t believe it until Emmeline came forward, insisting that it was for the best.

Even with the words of love, she refused to hold him back. Killian wanted to be angry, wanted to hate her for pushing him away, but she refused to back down. She was dead and he wasn’t. The difference was, Emmeline wasn’t the one who had to move on.

When the 31st began approaching, Emmeline swore they would spend the day together. Their last day. November 1st, Liam would be driving Killian and dropping him off. He’d return around Christmas break, giving them a chance to be reunited. Killian continued to tell himself it was for the better.

He tried to ignore the pain in his chest when he thought about leaving. The only thing that could even remotely make up for it was knowing that they’d have one full, fantastic day together.

Killian stayed up, determined to make the most out of it. When the clock stroke 12, he was there. In his room, ready and waiting. Emmeline appeared before him. Gone was the dreary dress she wore and in its place was her beautiful gown. Her hair was gone, her cheeks were full, and on her head sat that sparkling tiara.

Killian didn’t wait a moment. He reached out, pulling her into his arms. He held her close and kissed her deeply, refusing to stop until they pulled away for air.

Killian knew he wouldn’t push her for anything but Emmeline insisted. She knew enough about sex, remembering what the servants had told her long ago. They had read books together and watched steamy movies. Killian was a virgin and so was she. They found their way together, making it last until they were both tired and crashing.

They slept together, wrapped in each other's arms. When morning came, Emmeline climbed on top of him, showing him exactly why morning sex was so fantastic. They still had a lot of learning physically and while there were some bumps here and there, all he could do was kiss her and laugh.

He took her around the town, out to get bear claws and hot cocoa. They held hands and took pictures. He wondered if they would disappear the following day. He introduced her to Liam, who was surprised to see her there in the first place but welcomed her all the same.

They continued on their way with more sex and food, swearing words of love to one another every chance they got. He never knew it could be like this, wanting someone all the time. He guessed it was due to them not being able to do anything but talk in the past few years. Or maybe it was normal. Who really knew?

Eventually, it was too much and they needed a break. Emmeline fell asleep in his bed, wrapped up in his sheet. Killian kissed her head, letting her rest. He didn’t want to leave her, but something reminded him of another promise he had made the year prior.

Going to the hospital, he signed in for one hour. He read to some kids. Singing to them and telling them scary stories. He donated some blood, getting candy in the process. He ate most of it, pocketing a few piece that he wanted Emmeline to try.

He caught sight of Ms. Blanchard and Sheriff Nolan, who was sitting by one of the patients. Victor was there, having come home for the holiday. He told him all about what happened with their daughter and the accident. He didn’t know exactly what happened, but she’d been there for some time.

When the two left, Killian went to send his regards. The couple was an amazing pair of people, and they did not deserve such a horrible fate. Slipping inside, he closed the door behind him and came face to face with the comatose girl.

He felt like he had been punched in the stomach, his heart dropping and breath leaving him. She was there, lying in the bed, completely lifeless. Just as he had left her in his own bed. Killian thought this was some joke and rushed to look at the chart.

Emma Nolan. Comatose since . . . unclear exactly how long.

It made no sense. How could there be two of them? How was this Emmeline here in the hospital while he had the living, breathing person in his home? It just didn’t work out in his mind!

Rushing home, he found Emmeline sitting on his bed, fully awake with her hair disheveled. She was wearing one of his shirts, looking far too sinful for his liking at the moment. She pulled him in, wanting him again, but he refused though it pained him.

He tried to explain, seeing her and her being there, but all he could do was show her. Bringing her to the hospital, Killian brought Emmeline face to face with herself.

Emmeline was baffled, to say the least. It didn’t make any sense, nor did it explain why her parents had never said anything. They never saw her, even when she would visit them on All Hallows Eve. To them, she was just a body lying in the hospital.

“I can’t believe this,” Emmeline said, turning to face Killian. “I . . . this is my chance, isn’t it? My soul connected to my body?”

“Reconnecting? What, like waking up?”

Killian remembered thinking back to all the books he checked out on ghost. They always said that if a ghost or spirit was unwilling to remain in their world, they had to deal with their unfinished business. Emmeline swore up and down she had no unfinished business. At least none that she knew of.

Killian had gone to the cemeteries a few times, never finding a headstone with Emmeline’s name on it. Perhaps, in reality, she wasn’t dead at all. Her soul and body merely disconnected.

Emmeline thought about it, going to touch her own hand. She shook her head slowly. “I’m so cold.” She muttered aloud. “It feels so strange. So . . . right.” Emmeline spun around to face the young man. “Killian, what if this was meant to happen?”

“What was?”

“You reuniting me here. All this time I had no idea. What if this is my chance to move on?”

“You mean like die?” Killian shook his head rapidly. “No. No way. Emmeline, come on.”

“I’m already dead, Killian! You’re leaving, Killian.” She reminded him. “My parents don’t even see me as anything other than a body forever in sleep. Once you’re gone, I am going to be alone again. It’s time.”

“Not, it’s not. You can go back to my place. Stay there.”

“Stay forever? While you go off and live your life?” Emmeline shook her head, stepping forward. “I can’t live in that house forever, Killian. It’s time.”

Killian shook his head viciously. “No. No! If you go, we won’t be together anymore.”

Emmeline laughed bitterly then. It was a sound Killian never wanted to hear. “We’re barely together now! You can’t live your life loving a ghost, Killian. It’s like falling in love with moonlight! Always seeing, barely feeling. I have to do this.”

Killian felt the threat of tears pinching at his eyes. Everything was happening so fast, so sudden. This couldn’t happen.

He knew it was just another shitty pipe dream, thinking they could make it. Killian had it all planned out. He would go to the school, but come back every chance he could. They’d spend time together and every Halloween, they’d go out. Enjoy town and each other. Someday he’d graduate and he’d come back to Storybrooke. He’d paint and draw. Do everything everyone wants him to do right here.

He’d live in that house, buy it off of Liam if he had to. He’d be with no one else. Propose even. He would marry this girl who isn’t even a girl anymore. Who isn’t even alive to be with him completely. It was insane and tragic and Killian felt his heartbreak with every breath he would take.

“Please…”

“You asked your mother to help me, did you not?” She spoke softly. “Maybe this is her way of doing so?”

Killian didn’t want to imagine his mother playing a part in this. She is the one to remind him to come down to the hospital, well that was just cruel. As if leaving him wasn’t enough. Taking away the one person he loves so much….

Killian placed his hands on her shoulders, holding her closely. “I can’t lose you.” He told her quietly.

Emmeline smiled, tipping her head until her forehead touched his own. “You won’t. You never will. Even if I am not here, I will always be with you. Just like your mother.”

Killian looked up to the clock. It was two minutes to twelve. She’d be gone soon. Maybe this time forever.

“Let me go, Killian.” She whispered to him.

Once again, it felt like Killian was being punched in the gut. Tears filled his eyes and all he wanted to do was scream. Pulling her in, he kissed her one last time.

“As you wish,” He swore to her.

Emmeline touched his cheek with her hand, the promise of love slipping from her lips as she stepped away. Moving forward, she went to lie beside herself on the bed. Killian stayed there, watching.

Slowly, Emmeline began to disappear, just as she had done the year before. When the clock stroke twelve, she was gone and the machines began to go crazy.

All the doctors and nurses came rushing in, forcing Killian out. He watched from the hallway as she flatlined, pronounced dead November 1st, right on the dot. As the doctors rushed to alert her parents, Killian left the hospital.

👑

He returned to Storybrooke two months later, around the Christmas holiday. He and Liam had gone out, celebrating the New Year. Liam was engaged to Elsa, and he was thinking of moving into her place since their home was just a bit too big now that Killian was gone.

He tried to convince him to keep it, for selfish reasons and to hopeful pursued them to have a family growing living there. The idea wasn’t terrible and Liam promised to think about it.

Boston was beautiful and Killian had found a niche for his artwork. He sold about two pieces of art, which was more than he could ever imagine. One of the water along the docks, and one of Emmeline. He allowed Liam to handle the selling, not caring who they went to.

Being back home felt strange now that Emmeline was gone. He would sometimes speak aloud, hoping she’d still be there, only to find himself talking to the air.

He wasn’t set to go back to Boston until January, leaving him enough time to enjoy the town he had grown to love.

Leaving Granny’s one night, Killian walked through the snowing streets, bumping into someone in the process. They dropped something and Killian was quick to scoop it up.

“Hey!” He called out, turning around to face them. “You dropped your . . . swan?”

He looked at the keychain in his hand, the swan pendant sitting snug in is palm. He looked up, green eyes meeting blue as he settled on the face of its owner.

“Swan?” He muttered, his eyes widening brightly.

She was there, standing in front of him. Alive and well. A coat keeping her warm and a beanie on her head.

“Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost that.” She spoke, reaching out to take the keychain from him.

He was standing there, not saying a word. Did she not remember? Was it even really her?

“You’re Killian Jones, right?” She spoke up. “My mom has one of your pieces in our loft.”

“Ms. Blanchard bought one?” He questioned.

“Yeah. She says the girl in the drawing looked a bit like me.”

Killian laughed, unable to stop himself. “Small world.”

“I’m Emma, by the way.”

She reached out, offering him her hand. Killian continued to stare at her, unable to process what was happening. She was standing there, smiling at him as the moonlight case over them, wanting to shake his hand. And for a moment, Killian could have sworn she winked knowingly.

With a small breath and a large smile, Killian took her hand in his own, shaking it firmly. “Emma. It’s nice to meet you.” He told her. Again.

#cs halloweek #cs halloween #captain swan #spirits #dead #emma swan #princess emma swan #lieutenant duckling #cs fanfic #lenfaz #personal #writing

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