Attending the Renaissance Faire was not Emma Swan’s idea of a good time. But there may be someone who could change that.
My first Contribution to @cscocktoberfest. Check out their collection on Ao3 or here!
Many many thanks to my perfect one @bluegraywilde and my wonderful beta @courtorderedcake.
The Captain (M)- Ao3 and FF
When Emma signed Henry up for a week long course for his birthday, she had no idea that it would lead her to meeting… The Captain.
Here is my second submission to @cscocktoberfest! Enjoy!! Check out their collection on Ao3 or here!
Alpha Cygni (M)- Ao3 an FF
Written for CSSV 2018 for shipsxahoy: requested AU with fantasy/sci-fi elements, work rivals, soul mates, and inspired by Stardust with a little angst and smut thrown in. Hope you like it!!!!!
It Will Not Be Long, Love (G)- Ao3 and FF
My CS Secret Santa 2018 gift to @love-with-you-i-have-everything.
It was a rough night in the Swan-Jones household. Bath times, scars, and nightmares. It takes coming to the brink of falling back into darkness to realize just how much light you have.
Another Attachment (M)- Ao3 and FF
So my muse abandons me for months, and then today comes and continuously hits me with a baseball bat until I write this. *Also unbeta’d cause he’s on a date, so forgive any errors. Essentially very long smut with some angst and comfort thrown in.
Emma is not sure what to get Killian for their first anniversary. And then she is…
Lost, But Not Forever (M)- Ao3 and FF
Pan pays the Neverland crew a visit that has Emma in a panic. And when Neal comes across her trying to deal with her frustration and fear, he did not expect to witness how even lost ones can find each other.
The Shadow of the Deep (G) - Ao3 and FF
After a fight with Snow, David finds himself at the sea. And gets some of the wisdom the sea can give.
No Change (G) - Ao3
I read part 1, part 2, (and now part 3 of @winterbythesea‘s beautiful fic The Look of Love for the prompt on @csprompter: a one shot where Emma gets hit with a love spell where she falls in love with the first person she sees, and she sees Hook and everyone is like “uh oh!” but Emma acts EXACTLY THE SAME AS BEFORE
And this kind of wrote itself.
Rent-A-Wag (G) - Ao3 and FF
Written for the CS Pupstravaganza event-
An app that lets people rent time with other people's dogs and David books a session for Emma in secret. But she might get a bit more than the half hour that David booked for her.
The Misthaven Witch - Ao3 and FF (Ch 2 - Ao3 and FF)
When Will Scarlett drunkenly accuses Killian Jones of being afraid of the town’s local legend, he of course has to set his inebriated friend straight. Because there is nothing to fear about the ruins of Misthaven...... and the witch rumored to reside there.
That Most Common of Afflictions - Ao3 and FF
Emma know she has a letter for a standard parent teacher conference. Emma knows that the dreaded Valentine's Day is quickly approaching.
What Emma doesn't know is exactly how intertwined those two facts of life are going to become.
I Didn't Know Where Else To Go - Ao3 and FF
What if, when Cora arrived in Storybrooke, she was just a bit more direct about it all?
Her Smile - Ao3 and FF
What happens when too many misunderstandings stack up on top of each other?
(Basically, it started as the idea that Killian would be hyperaware of how his physical presence would affect Belle, and then just........ kept going)
The Choice That Matters - Ao3 and FF
Hook awakes from a dream and find solace upon the deck, but unexpectedly, not from the sea.
Hallowed Be Thy Name - Ao3 and FF
A future spec fic for what could be in a sequel episode, where JJ Sneed escapes the noose and goes to hunt down the woman who bested him- Maddie Hawkins
Multi-Chapters
Quenched In Blood - Ao3 and FF
Based on the very real history of the infamous Ulfbehrt blades- a set of Viking swords found across the vast expanse of northern Europe, each with a metallurgical makeup that should have been impossible to achieve with the skill and resources for another thousand years in the west.
How were these blades crafted?
Where did they come from?
Why were they made?
Perhaps it was with desperate hands that had everything to loose? Hand that had everything on the line- family, home, safety, freedom?
Love?
By Your Lights (M) - Ao3 and FF
Killian Jones, desperate professor trying to get tenure and earns extra income on the side using his interior design degree, somehow gets roped into acting as Santa this Christmas and listen to all the earnest wishes of the children of Storybrooke. But after one boy makes a quiet and selfless wish, Killian might find out that Christmas miracles can happen- if someone tries hard enough to make them.
Luck of the Irish (M)- Ao3 and FF
Emma needs parent volunteer hours. So she offers to chaperon Henry’s upcoming field trip to the museum. Its just a pack of prepubescent angst ridden children, an exhibit about dead people, and a rock used in blood sacrifices with a curse carved into it. What’s the worst that could happen?
Scammed (M)- Ao3 and FF
Emma just wanted to relax at the end of her day. But there are always those annoying scam calls……..
A Lifetime Of Almosts Made Up In An Instant Of Always (M)- Ao3 and FF
Emma Swan, Bailbondperson and mother extraordinaire gets hired to act as body guard after she is approached by an agent. The only problems? She is supposed to accompany her charge out of the country, her charge is an actor, and that actor is Killian Jones, a man she has loathed since she met him.
Yo ho ho @thejacketandthehook!!! I am your Secret Santa and here is your promised Bodyguard AU! hater-to-lovers fic!! And because I have no self control and I have actually been wanting to write this for a while, its turned into a multichapter.
Crimson Shadow (M)- Ao3 and FF
Let me tell you- all that fairy tale isht about happy endings and true love…. It’s a lie. And yet, I must also acknowledge (despondently and with no small amount of bitterness) that like all great lies, it does have a grain of truth. Granted, that particular grain is trying to kill me and my best friend, but a grain of truth nevertheless. Now shut up, sit back, and enjoy the show of how isht hit the fan, and I and my best friend came to Storybrooke and to be here, face to face, knowing only one of us would live to see tomorrow.
This multi-chapter is my baby. It came to me when I thought “How would I react if I found myself in a magical town with screwed up families and smoking hot men around every corner?” mixed with “How much self insertion I can get away with before it’s obvious?”
A Darkness For The Light (M)- Ao3 and FF
She has no choice but to find Him. A young, innocent princess must seek out help from the one person she was told to never encounter. The Dark One-aboard his blood soaked ship, driven by the winds of revenge against the very world that created him. The only question that remains is will he help the frail child of light or allow his darkness to consume them both, and her kingdom along with them.
This was born out of a prompt I saw and the beast decided that it would be a great idea to just keep going. The prompt was Wish!verse Emma and Dark!Hook AU. And this ridiculous hydra was born.
The Disaster Series (M)- Ao3 (FF are listed individually on the Disaster Series Page)
The only way that nature knows how to change is to destroy itself. And then something new arises from the destruction. It is only by disaster that it can grow.
A series of on-going one shots that explore various emotional hurdles that both Emma and Killian undergo throughout the course of their years together, and how they help heal each other, using the coming together of their bodies to let their spirits embrace.
The Secret of Inis Oiche (M)- Ao3 and FF
Emma never had a family, and every year on her birthday she makes the same wish. That Henry will always have people who love him. So when a letter arrives, addressed to her with two plane tickets to Ireland, she doesn’t know what to do. Especially since the letter is addressed to “Our Darling Daughter.”
In Search Of The Sea Wolf (M)- Ao3 and FF
Emma Swan, the woman that fate had decided to leave behind. Emma Swan, the woman who lives only for her son. Emma Swan, the unwilling golden child of Golden Enterprises.
When she is tasked by her employer, Robert Gold, with the assignment that could “make or break the fate of all those within this company,” Emma Swan could hardly believe that a rural town on an island off the coast of western Canada is what held key to that fate. Going undercover in the town, with her son in tow, can she complete her assignment? Or is there something even greater at stake? It all falls to her, Emma Swan, the woman that fate has thrown to the wolves. The Sea Wolves.
Written for the Captain Swan Supernatural Summer! This was inspired by an article from National Geographic years ago about sea wolves. I’m combining that with some of my favorite of Irish mythology.
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I think one of the funniest abortion stances I've heard was from my parents neighbor. He's a like, hard-core libertarian viking larper guy who is very tall and very fat and very bald.
He believes a fetus is human with a soul, but also its "basically attacking the woman's body" so if she wants to get rid of it, that's "basically self-defense". He compared it to shooting a home invader. So he supports abortion not as healthcare, but as killing a baby in self-defense
Y'know I'm so glad someone reminded me of this. Because this was also discussed.
My stepmother did NOT like the way her Libertarian Viking Neighbor framed pregnancy as the fetus "attacking the woman". She incredulously told him this was extremely disrespectful to expectant mothers to portray pregnancy as so violent and negative.
Libertarian Viking Neighbor's response was that people consensually hurt each other all the time, and "there's like a whole community about that, with the acronym the one that starts with a B" And his reasoning was that if the mother was consenting to bring attacked by the baby, it in fact wasn't violent and negative because there was consent.
He brought up people consensually hurting each other, didn't go for one of the obvious answers like boxing or body mods or something, no he went STRAIGHT TO BDSM and he DIDN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE ACRONYM
Killian and Liam Jones are called in to help with the haunting of an old carriage house where a skeleton was recently found walled up within the cellar. This is no ordinary ghost hunt for the supernatural fighting brothers, however. This job will require Killian to face the person who has been haunting him for nearly a year. Emma Swan. The woman he ghosted.
A/N: Here it is! The final installment! I can't believe it is finally finished! Thank you all for coming on the journey with me, and thank you for all the patience between some of the longer updates. I hope you enjoy the conclusion of this haunting tale.
Shout out to @kmomof4 for her exceptional beta skills! Also a HUGE thank you to @snowbellewells who made the cover art for my birthday last year. Thank you again, Marta! I absolutely love it!
Rated T / Also available on ao3 / add to tag list / Curious? Come Ask Me! / Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four / Part Five / Part Six
Part Seven
As it had been arranged the first time, candles circled the foursome as they sat with their hands clasped together, ready to call upon the spirit world. It had only taken about fifteen minutes for Killian to get things set up, but it was another ten before they were able to convince Regina to go into the cellar. Knowing that was where Daniel’s body had been discovered, buried behind a wall for decades, was almost too much for her to face. Eventually, with Robin’s support and Emma’s reassurances, they managed to get her down the steps and seated on the floor in front of the ouija board.
In an effort to bar Cora from interfering until Liam and Belle could properly force her to cross over, Killian had set up a ward against the malevolent spectre, using one of the photos from Belle’s file and special sigil marked in chalk, outlining the candles. So long as they kept the chalk circle unbroken, Cora would be powerless to enter it.
“Once we place our hands on the planchette, it is important that they remain there until the session is concluded,” Killian instructed each of them before catching Regina’s gaze. “I’ll open the doorway, but once Daniel joins us you can take over.”
He could see the lingering doubt in her expression, but had faith that the rest of their energies were enough to help Daniel manifest. Checking one last time that the ward was secure, Killian wished they could have waited until Cora was no longer a threat, but worried that any delay would have allowed Regina to talk herself out of going through with this. Besides, he and Emma had agreed it was best to keep Regina in the dark about her mother’s spirit, and how they planned to deal with it.
Placing their hands on the planchette, a collective inhale could be felt as Killian began. “Daniel? We invite you to join us. Use our energies to come forward and resolve the unfinished business keeping you here.”
Silence and stagnation surrounded them with only the soft flickering of the candles’ flames piercing the dark quiet.
“Daniel?” Killian began again. “Regina is here. She knows you did not abandon her. This is your chance to say a proper good-bye.”
Still nothing. Killian began to wonder if he’d done something wrong with the ward. The circle typically ensured the warded spirit could not enter and manipulate the board or the participants. Was it possible Cora had gained enough strength to block Daniel from entering? Perhaps they needed to boost the energy within the enclosed ward.
Killian was about to give himself over as he had the last time when the violent sound of a door slamming atop the cellar stairs shattered the calm. Everyone visibly started, their bodies twisting around to look towards the steps. Footsteps echoed against each tread, a distinct clack of a heel clipping its way along the descent. It stopped when it reached the bottom and Killian gave them a word of assurance.
“Unless that’s Daniel, they can’t interfere. No harm will come to us as long as we remain--”
A biting wind shrieked through the cellar, extinguishing the candles and plunging them into darkness. Emma and Regina both screamed and the men cursed.
“Don’t move!” Killian urged, fumbling for the flashlight he’d set down beside him before the started.
“I can’t do this!” Regina cried out fearfully.
Killian heard people get to their feet as he found the flashlight, the sound of fleeing footsteps out pacing the beam of light.
“Wait!” Emma shouted, following after Regina.
“Swan! Be careful!”
Light flooded the stairs as Regina flung the door open. Killian chased after Robin and Emma as they hurried after the frightened woman, then nearly collided with them when he exited the cellar.
“Regina?” Robin called out, clearly as unnerved as the rest of them at the way she had just stopped and was now standing calmly with her back to them. “Are you… alright?”
Slowly, the dark haired woman turned to face them, her posture and expression making the coarse hairs of Killian’s body raise in alarm.
“Regina?”
“I don’t think--”
“You will refer to my daughter as Miss Mills,” the woman instructed sternly, her eyes sweeping over Robin and her nose scrunching as though doing so were causing a foul odor to fill her sinuses. “Who do you think you are to behave so informally with her?”
“Cora,” Emma stated, shooting a wary, wide-eyed look Killian’s way.
“Cora?” Robin repeated in shock. “You mean, Regina’s mother? That Cora?”
“Aye,” Killian affirmed, cautiously making his way forward and focusing on the possessing spirit whilst positioning himself in front of Emma. “Taking control of Neal was one thing, but robbing your daughter of her agency? What sort of mother are you?”
A spurious smile stretched across Regina's painted lips. “I’ve already told you, your pretty looks will not buy my time. Do you really think I will lower myself to engage in your baiting?”
“What do you want, then?” Emma asked over his shoulder. “Why take possession of Regina?”
The woman’s cold eyes flicked to Swan’s and she stared her down with a malignant gaze. “Why, to stop you, of course.”
“Stop what? Her learning the truth? She already knows Daniel didn’t take your money and leave on his own.”
“No, no, silly girl.” Like a serpent, she slithered forward a few steps, stopping shy of the threesome’s personal space. Snapping her gaze back to Killian, she declared, “To stop you from desecrating my corpse.”
Out of the corner of his eye Killian saw both Robin and Emma balk.
“I beg your pardon?” Robin exclaimed. “Desecrate her… What is she talking about?”
Ignoring Robin’s question, Killian challenged the woman. “I don’t know what you--”
“Oh, yes. You do.” The words clipped off her tongue with barely subdued rage. “I am not stupid. I know what you’ve got planned. Your brother is out there right now with ill-intent, and you’re going to stop him.”
“And if I don’t?”
A smirk lifted the corner of her mouth and her eyes dropped down to the body she’d commandeered. “Then I guess I’ll be keeping my daughter close and making certain she lives out the remainder of her life as I see fit.”
“No!” Robin replied, advancing on the woman. “I won’t let you!”
“Robin, stop!”
Before the man could heed the warning (though, he likely would not have), Regina’s hands grabbed ahold of Robin’s upper arms and using his own momentum against him, she swung him into the nearby door jam, the impact knocking him to the ground.
“Don’t!” Killian ordered when Robin began to pick himself up off the floor. “It’s all right. She’s bluffing.”
“Am I?”
“Aye,” Killian replied confidently. “You and I both know you haven’t the strength to maintain this level of control indefinitely.”
“And I refuse to believe you are so heartless that you’d deprive your own daughter of the life she has left.”
Killian stiffened as Emma stepped around him to continue confronting the woman. He did not want Swan to put herself in danger, but knew they needed to buy Liam as much time as possible.
“I only want what is best for her. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“What about what she wants?” Emma countered. “She loved Daniel. She might even love Robin. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“My dear,” the woman condescendingly drawled. “Love is weakness. And as for being heartless…”
A ghostly arm shot out from Regina's shoulder and disappeared into Emma’s chest.
“No!” Killian cried out, momentarily frozen in shock and fear as he watched Swan’s body contort, shoulders caving inward, her breath stuck in her throat.
When he finally managed to move, Regina’s head snapped towards him. “Not another step, lover boy, or I’ll stop her heart before you can cross the hallway.”
“Let her go.” Killian put his hands out and planted his feet firmly. Robin shifted from where he was still positioned on the floor, forcing Killian to give him a pleading look and shake of his head to stop whatever he was planning.
How could he have allowed himself to become so distracted by calculations of how much longer Liam would need as to not notice how close the malevolent woman had gotten to his Swan. “Please,” he begged. “Let her go.”
“Not until you call your brother off,” she said, tightening her grip around Emma’s heart and causing a pained whimper to fall from Swan’s lips.
“Fine,” Killian conceded, pulling his phone from his pocket. “You win.”
“No,” Emma choked out, the agony in her voice making Killian’s stomach roll and his own heart drop. “Let him finish. He and Belle have to be close to--”
“What do you think will happen to you and Regina if they vanquish me whilst I am in possession of her body and your heart?”
Emma shifted her gaze towards Killian, clearly hoping he would refute the woman’s claim. He couldn’t, though. Honestly, he had no clue what would happen, but was not about to take any chances.
Speed dialing his brother, he muttered under his breath for Liam to answer.
“Killian?” his brother’s confused voice answered.
“Liam, listen to me very carefully,” Killian began firmly with a note of urgency. “I need you and Belle to stop. Don’t do anything to Cora’s remains.” The line went silent and Killian pulled it from his ear to make sure the call was still connected. Turning the speaker feature on, he said, “Are you there, brother?”
“Nevermind that,” Killian said, curtly. “I just need you to stop what you’re doing and get back here.”
“You know I can’t do that, little brother. Cora must be dealt with.”
“Dammit, Liam. I need you to listen to me. She’s taken possession of Regina and is threatening to crush Emma’s heart if you don’t--”
“Bloody hell,” Liam muttered over the line. “How did she--”
“What difference does it make!” Sometimes his brother could be the most infuriating arse. Exasperated, Killian told Liam once more, “You can’t salt and burn the body. Not without risking Regina and Emma’s safety.”
“How do you know she won’t--”
A scuffling sound echoed over the phone, his brother’s muffled voice saying something Killian could not make out.
“Killian?” Belle’s voice anxiously rang out. “We’re headed back to the car now.”
Lights flickering from the living room doorway grabbed Killian’s attention and for a brief second he could make out the silhouette of a man attempting to manifest behind Regina.
Daniel. It had to be.
“Thank you, Belle,” Killian replied, trying to keep his expression and voice even so he did not tip Cora off. “Let me talk to Liam again.”
“I’m here, brother. I’m sorry I didn’t heed your--”
“Yeah. You can be a real dinghy sometimes, you know that?”
“Aye,” Liam replied with a timbre of surprise that he quickly suppressed. “Just like dad, I’m afraid.”
Killian let out an involuntary sigh of relief and hoped the woman, staring intently at him, would chalk it up to him being glad to have finally gotten his brother to relent.
“We’ll see you soon,” Liam said, ending the call.
Stowing his phone back into his pocket, Killian’s gaze shifted to where he could make out a ripple in the air out of the corner of his eye before focusing on the arm still buried in Emma’s chest.
“Hang in there, Swan,” he encouraged, unable to bring himself to look at her face. He did not trust himself to not do something impulsive at the sight of torment or anguish on her gentle features. “It’ll all be over soon.”
“Indeed,” Regina’s voice uttered, and though he barely knew the woman, Killian knew the false syrupy-sweet inflection sounded completely wrong coming from those lips. “It will be over soon, but not the way you think it will.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Robin inquired, slowly getting to his feet with his hands raised in supplication. A brief, flickering glance, first at Killian, then towards the area the ripple had occurred, alerted him to the fact that Robin was aware of the other presence as well. “You said you’d let them go if Killian stopped Liam.”
“And I will,” the woman vowed. “But not without some assurances first.”
“What assurances?”
“That you won’t simply dispose of me later.”
“How do you plan to ensure we don’t?”
“Why…” An amused breath punctuated the pause before she confessed, “By having Robin here wall you all up like I had my husband do to Daniel.”
“You must be mad if you think I would--”
“But you are mad, aren’t you?” she simpered. “Madly in love with my daughter? Willing to do whatever is necessary to protect her?”
“The only way to protect Regina is to free her from you. That much is clear to me now.” Robin straightened his posture and braced his stance, squaring off with the woman he loved even as he vowed to do everything within his power to keep her from further harm.
Scoffing, the woman rolled her eyes. “Daniel said the same thing to me once. He failed and so will you. Besides…” a grimace of pain pinched Regina’s features and for a moment the possessed woman came forward.
“Mother,” she cried out in anguish. “Please… stop.”
As quickly as she’d relented it, Cora took control once more. “I can make this agony for her, unless you do as I say.”
Killian allowed the woman to continue monologuing at Robin, keeping his attention on Emma and her safety. It was taking every ounce of restraint he could muster to remain level-headed and not let his rage or terror get the better of him. All he could do was trust that Daniel - like Robin, like himself - was doing all he could to save the woman he loved.
“Come on, mate,” he muttered under his breath. “What are you waiting for?”
“You won’t… get away with… this,” Emma strained out.
“Aye, Swan’s right,” Killian added. “Do you honestly think no one will notice we’ve disappeared and that there is a newly constructed wall where the old one was? I think that’s something even Neal would clue in on.”
“Oh, my dear boy. Didn’t you know? Neal’s gone.”
Blanching, Killian whipped his head to the side and caught Emma’s guilt-filled eye. “What? Is that true, love?”
Disgusted, Cora’s hand tightened within Emma’s chest, forcing Swan’s gaze to break away and fall back to the floor as a sob audibly caught in the back of her throat.
“Stop!” Killian demanded. “Is this really how you want your daughter to remember you? Is this truly what you want your legacy to be?”
“Don’t you dare speak to me of legacy,” the vengeful woman spat. “My legacy was secure, my memory safe with Regina until this little trollop undercovered my secret. If not for her--”
The lights around them dimmed and the atmosphere began to crackle. A flash of trepidation crossed Regina’s face, but it was quickly replaced by Cora’s smug countenance.
“We both know you lack the conviction to do what you must in order to best me.”
It took Killian a moment to realize she wasn’t speaking to any of them, that she was addressing Daniel and had obviously been aware of him this entire time.
“You are weak. You’ve always been weak.”
Stepping forward, Killian silenced her vitriolic tirade. “Don’t listen to her, Daniel! Love is stronger than any force on this earth. Do what you must to save the women we love.”
The startled expression resonating from Regina’s face made something in Killian’s mind click. He knew what Daniel needed.
“I would gladly risk my life for two things: love and revenge.” Spreading his arms out wide, he offered, “Take all that you need, Daniel.”
“Killian, no!” Emma wailed, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Don’t do this!”
The spectre faintly began to form in front of him. Daniel’s soft eyes locked on to his, waiting for confirmation which he gave with a resolved nod before bracing himself as best he could. Daniel’s ghostly arm thrust forward, the intrusion into Killian’s chest unlike anything he’d ever felt in his life. Each beat of his heart strengthened Daniel, allowing him to fully manifest.
“No. Stop!” Cora protested from Regina’s lips. “Stop or I’ll--”
Her words were cut off when Daniel grabbed Cora’s ghostly wrist with his other hand. With a firm pull he tore the spirit free from Regina, who teetered on her heels before losing consciousness and falling towards the floor.
“Regina!” Robin lunged forward and mercifully caught her, lowering her carefully to the ground.
With his hand still wrapped around Killian’s heart, Daniel tightened his grip on Cora’s wrist, her hand still precariously wrapped around Emma’s heart which made Killian’s clench without any additional pressure from Daniel.
“That doesn’t belong to you,” Daniel stated, putting a greater squeeze on the woman’s wrist until she finally let go of Emma’s heart with a pained yelp.
Thankfully, Daniel released Killian in time for him to catch Emma, cradling her in his arms as they both collapsed to the floor. Once safely out of harm’s way, he dug out his phone and dialed Liam.
“Brother?”
“Now, Liam!”
A roar filled the hallway, flames bursting out from where Cora’s ghost stood. Her shriek pierced Killian’s ears and he quickly pressed his hands over Emma’s, hoping to shield her from the horror. Burying her face into his chest, Swan’s grip tightened, balling his shirt into her fists. When the heat of the ghostly fire subsided, they both looked at one another, their chests heaving from adrenaline as they fought to catch their breaths.
“Are you all right, love?” Killian asked on an exhale, wetting his lips in a vain attempt to bring moisture back to his mouth.
“I-I think so,” she answered, breathlessly.
Her eyes dipped to his lips then flicked back up, staring at him through her lashes. They held each other’s gaze for several erratic beats of Killian’s heart before slowly moving in closer. Eyes fluttering shut, Emma’s mouth was about to meet his when a soft gasp broke the moment and stole both their attention.
“Daniel?” Regina, having regained consciousness, sat up and stared teary-eyed at the ghost of her long lost love. “Is that… Is it really you?”
Robin helped her to her feet, steadying her as she approached Daniel’s spectral form. Not wishing to be any more intrusive than they already were, Killian and Emma remained seated on the floor of the hallway. With his Swan wrapped willingly in his arms, Killian held his breath at the beauty and heartbreak of this long overdue moment.
“Regina,” Daniel whispered. “I’m so sorry. For everything. I never… I never would have left you willingly and I… I’m sorry you had to find out the truth like that. I never wanted you to find out about your mother this way.”
“Oh, Daniel,” Regina replied, tearily. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who owes you an apology. I’m sorry I doubted you. That I doubted our love. I should have known better. I should have never taken my mother’s word over--”
“I don’t blame you for doubting,” he said. “I don’t think either of us ever considered she’d go to the lengths she did to keep us apart.”
Though it was evident he wanted to spare her the details, Regina would not be deterred, insisting he tell her the full truth of what had happened. Cora had tried to buy him off, that much was true. She’d handed him a check; the amount wasn’t important, no amount she could ever offer would have been enough, and he had told her as much. Ripping up the check, he’d tossed the pieces at her feet before turning to head down into the cellar. The next thing he knew he was lying at the bottom of the stairs, his neck broken, and his life quickly slipping away.
“My last thoughts were of you, Regina. I need you to know that. I need you to know that I have never stopped loving you.”
“Daniel, I…” Regina’s chest shuddered from a suppressed sob, tears spilling over her lashes and streaking her mascara down her cheeks.
“I haven’t been able to move on, knowing what you must have thought. I couldn’t be at peace until you knew the truth.”
“I love you, too, Daniel,” she whispered. “I hope you can find peace now. You deserve it.”
“There’s only one thing more keeping me here,” he said. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
Reaching out as though he were cupping her cheek, Daniel leaned in, bringing his forehead close to hers. “I need you to open yourself up to love again, Regina. You deserve love. You are loved.” Pulling back, Daniel turned his face towards Robin and smiled at the man. “Isn’t she?”
“Aye,” Robin affirmed, gazingly lovingly at the woman beside him. “That she is.”
“Embrace it, Regina,” Daniel urged. “Embrace love. Embrace happiness. It isn’t too late for you to have the life I wanted for you. Promise me you’ll open your heart and love again.”
Pursing her lips together in order to keep some semblance of composure, Regina reached over and took Robin’s hand. Slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet his, smiled, and said, “I promise.”
Robin beamed and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tight in his embrace. Allowing them a moment, and probably a bit conflicted with seeing the woman he loved with another man, Daniel made his way over to Killian and Emma and stood over them.
“Thank you, Emma,” he said. “And you, Killian. If not for the two of you and Liam and all the others who helped, this never would have been possible.”
“Don’t mention it, mate,” Killian replied, wishing he could shake the man’s hand.
“I’m so happy it all worked out,” Emma said. “I’m just so sorry your life was cut short. It’s not fair.”
Daniel shrugged. “Life is like that sometimes. Which is why it is important to not squander it; take hold of every moment and cherish it. Remember that, won’t you?”
“Aye. We will.”
A content and fulfilled look rested upon Daniel’s face and he closed his eyes. “I can go now.”
“Daniel,” Regina called out, clearly not ready to say good-bye.
“It’s okay,” he assured her. “I’ll always be with you in some way.” With one last glance at Robin, he said, “Take care of our girl.”
“I will, mate. I promise.”
A soft glow began to envelop Daniel, his eyes locked with Regina’s until it became too bright for her to hold his gaze.
“I love you, Regina,” he said, his voice faint as the glow started to dim.
“Good-bye, Daniel,” Regina replied as the light fully extinguished, taking Daniel’s spirit with it.
Regina collapsed into Robin’s arms and sobbed. Tears rolled down Emma’s face and Killian had to wipe away his own as they watched Robin rock the woman he loved in his arms. When she had finally exhausted her tears, Regina turned and apologized. Killian assisted Emma off the floor and the four of them stood there in the hallway awkwardly.
Scratching behind his ear, Killian opened his mouth, still unsure of what to say, when the front door burst open. In rushed Liam and Belle, soot covered and bedraggled.
“Is everyone all right?” Liam inquired, out of breath. “What did we miss?”
~/~
Killian laid awake on the pull-out, staring up at the ceiling as he replayed the events of the evening in his mind. Every fear and nightmare fueled terror had coursed through him the entire time Cora had held Emma’s heart in her grasp. How he’d managed to keep his wits about him with the image of her heart being stopped by that ghostly hand plaguing him from all sides of his dark imaginings, he’d never know. It had taken a Herculean effort to relinquish her from his arms after Liam and Belle had arrived and they’d all adjourned to the living room.
The next few hours had been torture for him as he sat on the other side of the room from her, still shaken by what could have happened, still not convinced she had come out of the deadly encounter unscathed. He did his best to hide it, though, giving his account of things and answering questions as they all got up to speed on what had happened. When the conversation turned to Regina sharing memories of Daniel and her time spent at the carriage house in her youth, Killian stole too many glances at his Swan to count, but enough to have gained the attention of Robin who surmised they were close to overstaying their welcome.
After bidding the couple farewell with promises to keep in touch, Liam had pulled him aside to discuss what was next for the Jones brothers, allowing Emma to quickly say goodnight and escape to her room. Killian had snapped at his brother, questioning him as to why the topic could not wait until morning, only to have his brother inform him that he would not be there in the morning.
He would be staying the night with Miss French.
Killian had almost punched the shit-eating grin off his brother’s face.
He should have punched the shit-eating grin off his brother’s face.
He also should have gone up to check on Emma after Liam and Belle had left, but decided instead to give her some space. It was the gentlemanly thing to do.
It was the cowardly thing to do. He was being a coward, and he knew it. A coward, and a fool, and a complete and hopeless--
The creak of the stairs drew him from his self-depracating thoughts and he sat up. Hearing a cabinet door open and close from the kitchen, he tossed back the covers and reached for his sweat pants, pulling them on as he made his way to the door. Peering out across the corridor, he could make out Emma leaning against the counter as she sipped from a glass of water. Not wishing to startle her, he yawned loudly and let his feet fall heavy on the wood floors as he approached the kitchen.
“Trouble sleeping?” he asked, running a hand through his hair as though he were trying to tame his bedhead.
“Sorry if I woke you,” she said, cupping the glass in her hands, her eyes trained on its rim.
“You didn’t.” Reaching out, he took the glass from her and set it on the counter. “Out with it, love. I can tell something is bothering you.”
Whipping her head up, she looked at him askew. “How? How could you possibly know something’s--”
“I’ve told you before,” he reminded, cutting her off and enjoying how it irritated her. “You’re an open book.”
A scoff huffed from her chest and she rolled her eyes at him. “Well, if you must know…” she began, scuffing the floor with her foot as she quietly muttered, “It’s too quiet.”
“Come again?”
“It’s too quiet,” she repeated, louder and a bit exasperated. “I know it’s ridiculous that it bothers me, but the house is too quiet. Too still. I never noticed before, but I think I’d grown accustomed to having…”
“Another presence in the house?” he offered, finishing her thought for her.
“Yeah. I guess.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she gave a small shrug and confessed, “I kind of miss Daniel.”
“I don’t think that’s ridiculous at all,” he told her as he leaned against the counter across from her. “His energy was here for a long time. Makes sense that its absence would be felt.”
“I suppose so.” Letting out a deep exhale, she uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on the edge of the counter, next to her hips. When his gaze lifted from lingering on her exposed hip bone, he was met with a knowing smirk and a suspect look. “So, what’s got you up this late?”
It was Killian’s turn to shrug and avoid making eye contact. “Just some thoughts that won’t let me be.”
“Such as?”
Peeking up at her, he found the courage to ask the question that had been plaguing him all night. “Is it true that Neal’s gone?”
Another long exhale preceded her answer. “Yes. He’s gone.”
“When? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“We had it out after the whole possession thing,” she told him. “He gave me an ultimatum and I told him to get out.” She shifted her weight and pushed her hair behind her shoulder, taking a beat before admitting, “I’ve known for a long time that things needed to end with him, I just… I guess I felt too embarrassed to say anything. Besides… it wasn’t like we didn’t have enough going on.”
“True,” Killian agreed with a note of humor. “I am sorry you felt as though you couldn’t confide in me. And for what it’s worth, I…”
He couldn’t bring himself to finish the platitude. He wasn’t the least bit sorry that Neal was no longer in the picture, and they both knew it.
“Are you all right?”
“I am,” she assured him. “Like I said, it was long past time.”
Killian wanted to press her for more, to ask what this might mean for them. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t conflicted about what came next, and therefore waited for her to take the lead.
“So, Liam is shacking up with Belle,” she said after a prolonged bout of silence. Seemingly testing the waters for different discussion altogether, she asked, “Does that mean you guys will be stopping into town on a regular basis?”
“Actually,” Killian replied, wading out into said waters, “Liam suggested we stick around for a while. It seems Miss French has a number of potential cases my brother thinks we should look into.”
Her teeth had been worrying her lip since she finished asking her previous question, and only relinquished their hold so she could inquire, “And what did you tell him?”
He wished she had met him halfway into the depths. “I told him I wasn’t sure.” When her face fell he quickly moved off the counter and took her hands in his. “Don’t misunderstand me, love. There’s nothing I want more than to stay here… with you.” Reaching up, he cupped her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I just want to do this right. I don’t want to finally have my second chance and then end up being the rebound g--”
The urgent press of her lips against his cut off his words, and he’d never been so thrilled to be interrupted in all his life.
He’d only just begun to respond when she pulled away, but only far enough so she could tell him, “Neal was the rebound guy. You are the guy, Killian.”
His mouth crashed against hers and with very little prodding on his part, she climbed up to sit atop the counter. Prompting her knees to open for him, he moved into the space between her thighs and slipped a hand up her back beneath her (his) shirt. He groaned at the feel of her soft, warm skin as their lips continued to slant and slide against the others, their tongues tangled together, and their teeth teased and taunted with playful nips along jawlines and earlobes.
Coming up for air, foreheads pressed together, the two tried to catch their breath while trading soft smiles and doey-eyed looks with one another.
“You know how I said that without the ghosts the house is a little too quiet for my liking?”
“Aye,” Killian panted. “What do you suggest we do about that?”
“Well…” Emma drawled, applying a sultry timbre to her tone as she slid her arms around his neck. “I was thinking you could join me upstairs so we could make things go bump in the night.”
Killian chuckled and leaned in to kiss her again. “I thought you’d never ask.” he murmured against her lips, promising, “I’ll have you moaning louder than any spirit ever could.”
“And I’ll have you--” she said between kisses. “--thinking you’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“Too late for that, I’m afraid,” he confessed into the pulse point below her ear, moaning at the way it made her shudder in his arms. “After this, I’ll be harder to get rid of than any haunting.”
“Good.” Emma gave him a quick shove and hopped off the counter. Grabbing his hand, she led him out of the kitchen and cheekily added over her shoulder, “That’s the kind of being ghosted I can live with.”
With a wide smile, Killian eagerly followed his Swan up to her bedroom where the two of them enthusiastically expressed their passion for one another, loud enough to wake the… well, you know.
The End
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A Doggone Good Plan - Chapter 3 (Taking Care of the Kids)
A CS Multi-chapter Modern AU
STORY SUMMARY: Desperate to save her beloved dogs when her ex-boyfriend makes threats against them, Emma Swan takes Killian Jones up on his offer to foster them.
RATING: M (for language, verbal abuse and gun violence)
WORDS: 2857 of 18,700
Catch up with story on Tumblr - Ch. 1 Ch. 2
Can also be ready on Ao3
Chapter begins under the cut
*********
During the next week, Emma caught sight of Neal lurking in the parking lot or following her as she drove three more times. Each time, she drove to Mary Margaret’s loft apartment instead of going to her own place. She Facetimed Killian twice a day to check on her dogs and every conversation lasted a little longer. He always had humorous stories to tell about Oscar’s clumsiness and the odd places Sophie found to sleep. Emma ached to see her dogs in person, but was still afraid that if Neal found out where they were, he would make good on his threat.
Mary Margaret’s boyfriend David suggested getting a restraining order against Neal, but Emma didn’t think it was necessary since she wasn’t intimidated by him except where the dogs were concerned.
After a week went by without any more sightings of Neal, Emma was beginning to think that August was right - he seemed to have lost interest. On Saturday morning, she called Killian. As soon as he answered, she said, “I hope I’m not calling too early.”
“Not at all, Swan. The kids and I just got back in from their first outing in the backyard.”
He had taken to calling the dogs ‘kids’, which Emma found completely adorable. “I was wondering if I could come see them today.”
“Absolutely! But if I may - perhaps I should come to your place and pick you up, since your yellow contraption is so easily recognizable.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” she agreed. “Chances of Neal driving by are pretty low, especially since he’s rarely out of bed on Saturdays before noon, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“What time do you want me to be there?”
“Would twenty minutes from now be too soon?”
“That works for me,” he replied. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
“I’m finishing my first cup of coffee. I don’t need to eat. I’m just really anxious to see my babies.”
“I’ll tell you what - while you spend time with them, I’ll fix breakfast for all of us. They love my scrambled eggs.”
She laughed happily. “Sounds good. I’ll text you my address.”
*********
Killian’s car hadn’t even come to a complete stop at the curb before Emma was opening the door to climb in.
“Eager are you, Swan?” he chuckled.
“I can hardly wait to be with my babies!” she exclaimed as she fastened her seat belt.
“I’m sorry you’ve had to wait so long,” he said, checking his mirrors before pulling out onto the street.
“Me, too. At least I got to see them on Facetime, but it’s not the same. I miss them licking my face and dancing around my feet, demanding my attention.”
“They do like to lick and dance,” he commented.
She glanced over at him, trying to gauge if he looked annoyed. “They haven’t been a pain, have they?”
He turned to give her a quick, reassuring smile. “Not at all. I’m thoroughly enjoying my time with them. They’re the perfect houseguests.”
They drove for a few minutes until Emma broke the silence “I’m not having any luck finding a place I can afford that allows pets,” she said dejectedly. “I saw one place advertised and of course it’s just down the block from Neal. All of my friends are putting out inquiries for me, but there doesn’t seem to be anything available.”
Killian drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “I asked my landlord if he has any other houses to rent. Apparently all of them are inhabited long term.”
Emma sighed. “I wish I could have made Neal move out of the condo, but he lived there first. I even called the lady who rented the apartment where I lived before moving in with Neal. She and her four cats have no intention of moving.”
“Well,” Killian said, drawing out the word, “if you can’t find anything, the dogs are welcome to continue staying with me. Then when I go back to England, perhaps you could rent the same house.”
“I have a pretty tight budget. How much do you pay for rent?” He stated the price and Emma gasped. “Are you kidding? That’s only sixty dollars more than what I pay for my tiny apartment every month!”
“Would you be able to afford it?”
She did some quick figuring. “That would be seven hundred twenty dollars more a year, which is doable. Plus, I would be able to walk to work, which would save gas money and wear and tear on my car. That might be a possible solution, if nothing else becomes available first and your landlord approves.”
“He would probably appreciate having someone lined up to move in when I leave. He’s an older gentleman named Marco and he’s a very nice guy,” Killian said as he turned onto his street.
“I’ll keep looking, but at least I have a backup plan. That makes me feel a little better,” Emma said. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, Emma.” He parked in front of his house, quickly cutting the engine and exiting the car. He didn’t want to make Emma wait any longer to see her beloved dogs. After opening the front door, he pushed it open and stood aside, allowing her to enter first.
“Oscar! Sophie!” she called. Immediately, the two dogs came running, barking happily and jumping up on her. She dropped to the floor, attempting to hug both dogs at the same time, while they licked her face, their entire bodies wiggling with joy.
Killian watched the happy scene with a huge smile on his face. He’d become very fond of the dogs in the two weeks he’d had them, and if he was being entirely honest, with their lovely owner, as well. Their Facetime calls were always the highlight of his day. Lately, they spent more time sharing information about themselves during their calls, than giving Emma an opportunity to see her babies.
Once the dogs began to settle down, he went into the kitchen to cook breakfast and start the coffee maker. He got eggs, cheese and diced ham out of the refrigerator, then set to work making scrambled eggs.
As he worked, he could hear her telling Sophie and Oscar over and over how much she missed them and wished she never had to leave them again. Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind that just might solve the problem. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t agree to it, but decided he would propose it anyway while they ate breakfast.
Ten minutes later, he announced that the food was ready. Emma came into the kitchen, a bright smile on her face and her babies right on her heels. She crossed to the sink to wash her hands. As she dried them on a dish towel, she watched Killian spooning some eggs into the dogs’ bowls. “I thought you might be kidding about them liking your eggs.”
“We have them a couple of times a week, don’t we, kids?” he said, setting the bowls on the floor and chuckling at how fast they began gobbling up the food.
Emma sat down while Killian poured two mugs of coffee and carried them over to the table. Then he went to the refrigerator and brought back a bottle of creamer, setting it down in front of her. She looked at it, then up at him. “I thought you said you take your coffee black,” she said quizzically.
“I do, but you said you like white chocolate mocha creamer.”
Her mouth dropped open and she gaped at him. “So you went out and bought some?”
He shrugged. “I thought I would keep some on hand for when you come over to be with your pups.”
“That’s very sweet, Killian.”
“What can I say? I’m a sweet guy,” he quipped, seating himself across from her.
She splashed some creamer into her mug and stirred it as she watched him take a bite of toast. “Who taught you how to cook?”
He swallowed. “My mum. She was usually at work until early evening, so she taught my brother Liam and me to cook. We would make dinner for ourselves and she ate when she got home.”
During one of their phone conversations, he told Emma about how his father left them when he was young and his mother had to work two jobs to make ends meet. He went on to tell her how his mother died of anemia, leaving his older brother to finish raising him to adulthood.
“Does Liam still like to cook?”
“He never liked to cook. He did it because he had to. Fortunately, his wife Elsa is an excellent cook and bans Liam from the kitchen.”
Emma laughed, then took a bite of her eggs.
“Well?” he asked.
“Very good!” she proclaimed.
He grinned and they went back to eating. Once their plates were clean, they stayed at the table, leisurely sipping their coffee. Killian was lost in thought, trying to decide how to tell Emma about his idea.
“Earth to Killian,” he heard, and snapped his head up to see her smirking at him.
“Sorry, Swan,” he apologized, reaching up to scratch nervously over his ear. “I, um…I think I may have a solution to your problem of not having a place where your dogs can live with you.”
She set her cup down and turned her full attention to him. “I’m listening.”
“This house has three bedrooms,” he informed her. “I use one as my office and another as my own bedroom. That leaves a spare room. You would be welcome to it, if you would be open to moving in here.”
She stared at him incredulously. “You…you want me to move in with you?”
“Just hear me out, aye?” At her hesitant nod, he continued. “I’m aware that we don’t know each other that well, but I hope you’ve figured out that I’m a gentleman. I’m always a gentleman. I’m making this suggestion purely as a way for you to be with your dogs. I have no ulterior motives…except perhaps to have some company. I haven’t made many friends since I’ve been here and it’s a bit lonely. That’s one reason why I offered to take your dogs in the first place.”
She appeared to be at a loss for words, so he went on. “I would respect your privacy, of course. My bedroom has its own small bathroom, so we wouldn’t have to share that space.” When she still didn’t respond, he sighed. “I know I caught you off-guard, but I hope you’ll at least give it some thought.”
“I just…I really…can’t believe people like you exist,” she finally said haltingly. “First you save a total stranger’s dogs, and now you’re offering me a place to stay so I can be with them? Who does things like that?”
“It truly isn’t a big deal, Swan,” he assured her. “Like I said, I have my own reasons for making both offers. But if the thought of moving in here makes you uncomfortable, please don’t feel pressured to do so. I’m simply throwing that option out to you.”
“My lease runs month-to-month and I just paid for next month, so that gives me some time to consider it. It also allows more time to make sure Neal is going to leave me alone.”
Killian nodded his understanding. “Aye, that’s true. No matter what you decide, you know you are welcome to see the kids anytime.” He stood up and opened a drawer. After rummaging through it for several moments, he withdrew a key and turned to hold it out to her. “Here’s my spare key. Feel free to use it when I’m not home.”
She didn’t immediately take it. “Are you sure?” she questioned.
“Of course,” he assured her. “I know your hours don’t always coincide with mine and I wouldn’t want you to miss seeing your babies because I’m at work. Plus, I’m sure the days get a bit long for them and they would appreciate getting outside more often.”
She finally held out her hand and he dropped the key into it. “Thank you, Killian. Again.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, smiling warmly. “Now, how would you like to take Oscar and Sophie to the dog park? I haven’t taken them there yet, because I didn’t want to risk Neal seeing them.”
“They would love that!” she said, getting quickly to her feet. “I’ll help you clean up the kitchen first.”
“I’ll take care of it when we get back,” he said, moving to get the leashes from the hook beside the door. “They haven’t been outside for a while.”
On the way to the park, Killian noticed Emma looking around and over her shoulder often. He hated that she was still fearful of her ex. It mystified him that someone who lived with her and proclaimed to love her would treat her so horribly, especially when he was the one who cheated and ruined the relationship. Killian hoped she was correct in believing that Neal had lost interest in finding Sophie and Oscar.
He was happy to see her relax once they reached the fenced-in play yard. They unhooked the leashes, letting the dogs run and explore. Sophie lumbered around the area, thoroughly sniffing every corner of it, while Oscar dashed here and there, his face and body language showing a joy Killian hadn’t seen before. He pulled a tennis ball out of his pocket and threw it in Oscar’s direction, laughing as the dog fell all over himself trying to catch it.
“I didn’t know he liked to play ball,” Emma commented. “Our yard wasn’t big enough to allow them to run very far, and like I said, I’ve only had him for a few months.”
“I ran across a tube of tennis balls the other day in the back of the coat closet. I took one out in the backyard and tossed it, just to see what they would do. Sophie couldn’t care less, but Oscar loved it.”
The next time the dog retrieved the ball, Killian gave it to Emma so she could throw it. They played until Oscar’s tongue was nearly dragging on the ground. Emma checked the time on her phone, the happiness on her face fading a bit as she announced that she should probably get home. “My shift starts at two and I need to go home to get ready,” she said with a sigh.
They clipped the leashes on the dogs and walked to his place, where she hugged her dogs and told them goodbye, promising to see them again soon. The ride back to her apartment was quiet. When the car came to a stop, she turned to meet his eyes. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, Killian.”
“I’m aware. Take time to weigh your options, Swan. Don’t rush into anything you’re not comfortable with, aye?”
She gave him a genuine smile. “I won’t. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She got out of the car, closed the door and waved at him. He watched her walk into the building, then put the car in gear and drove away. He enjoyed every minute he spent with Emma and truly hoped she would take him up on his offer of moving into the house.
*********
Over the next two weeks, Emma visited her dogs frequently - sometimes when Killian was home, a few times when he was at work. During that time, she got more comfortable being in his house and began to seriously consider moving in. She wasn’t having any luck finding another place to live, and the more she was around Killian, the more she realized that he really was a gentleman. He was also becoming a good friend.
A few days before her next rent check was due, she called him. After catching up on each other’s day as usual, she asked, “So, um, is your offer to move into your house still on the table?”
“Of course, Swan,” he responded reassuringly. “You are more than welcome to live here.”
“Well,” she said slowly. “I think I’ll take you up on it.”
“I’m very happy to hear that,” he said, and she could hear the sincerity in his voice.
“I need to let my landlord know I’ll be moving by the end of the week, then I’ll have to be out by the beginning of the month.”
“I can help you move, if you like.”
“I would really appreciate that. When I moved out of Neal’s, I had to do it all on my own. And let me tell you, my bug may be special to me, but it will definitely never be mistaken for a moving van.”
He laughed. “I don’t imagine it holds very much.”
“Not at all, and I really don’t have that much stuff.”
They worked out the details of when she would move in then chatted for a while longer. After ending the call, Emma waited for her brain to tell her she made a mistake, and was a bit surprised to realize that she was at peace with her decision.
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En Anglais, on ne dit pas “quatre vingt dix neuf”, on dit “ninety nine” qu'on pourrait traduire comme “Hurr durr, regardez mois, j'ai un système de numérotation fonctionnel” et je crois que c'est magnifique.
“In English, they don’t say “[four twenty ten nine]”, they say “ninety nine”, which roughly translates to, “Hurr durr, look at me, I have a functional numerical system” and I think that’s magnificent.
it seems like some people don't know keyboard shortcuts so here are some of my favorites. each shortcut is a set of keys that you will press at the same time:
ctrl+f, obviously: search/find, will search a page/document for a word or phrase
ctrl+c / ctrl+v: copy/paste, highlight text and hit ctrl+c and it'll show up again when you hit ctrl+v
ctrl+x: cut, it does the same thing as ctrl+c but it deletes the text, again it'll show up when you hit ctrl+v
ctrl+z / ctrl+shift+z: undo/redo. ctrl+z will undo whatever you just typed, ctrl+shift+z will put it back.
ctrl+a: highlights all the text on a page. this one is a real unsung hero.
ctrl+p: print document.
ctrl+s, ctrl+shift+s: save, save as (for when you're working on a document or project that needs to be saved. note that i don't think ctrl+shift+s works on microsoft word anymore for some godforsaken reason)
also, if you're working with text and you press control while pressing the arrow keys, your cursor will jump from word to word instead of letter to letter. saves a lot of time if you're proofreading/formatting.
be sure to check individual programs and system settings to see what other shortcuts might be available to you. some people have mentioned ctrl+t opening a new tab in a browser, for example.
if you go into your system settings on your computer and search "shortcuts" you can probably also change these or set up new ones. for example i always use a shortcut to switch between keyboard layouts quickly so i can go back and forth between the greek and latin alphabets on the fly. which is epic and awesome!
If you are chronically on your phone, here’s how to find specific words on webbed sites with an iPhone, I had to look this up recently because SURELY it exists:
Make sure the toolbar at the bottom is visible and hit the Share button in the middle
Hit “Find on Page” to bring up a search bar!
Sometimes your phone is the closest available option and you gotta search quickly for a specific thing!
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Just thinking about Ilya making the playoffs for the first time with the Cens and getting texts from Yuna and David about it.
Yuna's one is like, "HOLY SHIT THE CENTAURS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS! I never thought I'd be so excited to say that. 😂 This is such a huge achievement and I couldn't be more proud of you! This means I'm finally going to have to cave and by an Ottawa jersey. Don't tell David I told you, but he's still drying his eyes about it. Bubbly when you and Shane come over on Saturday for SURE, okay? Love you lots. SO proud."
And David's is like, "You did it, Cap! I know how hard you worked for this and it's paid off. We'll be cheering you on for every game. I am so unbelievably proud of you, kiddo. Love you lots - can't wait to see you and Shane on Saturday."
And Ilya just sits there unable to breathe because he's never had a text like this after making the playoffs except maybe from Svetlana. He replies to the messages, eyes blurry with tears, and spends the rest of the night opening them at random times, just overwhelmed by how loved he truly is.
The European Union already forced Apple to abandon its proprietary charging port and adopt USB-C across its entire iPhone lineup. It just did something bigger. A new EU mandate requires every smartphone sold in Europe including Apple devices to feature a battery that can be replaced by the user without specialist tools, without voiding a warranty, and without sending the device to a manufacturer approved service center. Batteries must maintain a minimum capacity threshold after a set number of charge cycles and replacement parts must remain available for up to ten years after a model goes on sale.
The consumer electronics industry built its current business model around batteries that degrade, cannot be replaced at home, and create a natural upgrade cycle every two to three years. The EU just legislated that model out of existence in the world's largest regulatory market.
Apple, Samsung, and every other manufacturer now faces a choice between redesigning their devices for the European market or accepting that their current hardware architecture is no longer legally sellable there.
Given that no company walks away from European consumers voluntarily the phones are going to change and once they change for Europe the rest of the world will ask why theirs still do not.
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Once more, due to annual popular demand, we like to share Rosa Parks’ pancake recipe on National Pancake Day. Jotted down on an envelope, it came to the Library along with the rest of her papers, a gift made possible by the generosity of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation in 2016.
Learn more about the Rosa Parks Collection: https://www.loc.gov/.../rosa.../about-this-collection/...
Here is the Library of Congress page for the recipe!
And the full transcription (text) of the envelope!
And the recipe itself:
Featherlite Pancakes
Sift together:
1 C flour
2 T B. Powder [presumably baking powder]
1/2 t salt
2 T sugar
Mix:
1 egg
1 1/4 C Milk
1/3 C peanut butter melted
1 T shorting or oil
Combine with dry ingredients
Cook at 275° on griddle
