Marta, writer, lover of all things OuaT, the Brothers Jones, Captain Swan - and Sheriff Graham! /// Banner by @hollyethecurious /// Avatar by: @carpedzem
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
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: 4213 of 18,700 (6 chapters and a short epilogue)
Catch up with the story on Tumblr - Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 4
Can also be read on Ao3
Chapter begins under the cut
*********
“Killian!” Emma screamed, covering her face with her hands.
“I’m right here, Love.” Relief flooded through her at the sound of his voice. She opened her eyes to see him crawling toward her, avoiding Neal’s crumpled body on the floor. He pulled her into his arms, while several police officers rushed past them.
“Are you two okay?”
Emma looked up to see Mary Margaret’s boyfriend David Nolan looking at her with concern. “What happened?” she croaked.
“Officer Nolan just saved your life,” another officer reported.
“You shot Neal?” she asked.
“Only because he was threatening to shoot both of you,” David explained.
“Is he…dead?”
David threw a questioning look at one of the men squatting beside Neal. The officer nodded. “Looks like we’re gonna need the coroner.”
Emma buried her face in Killian’s neck, trying to block out the sight of the steadily increasing pool of blood spreading out underneath her ex. Killian’s arms tightened around her as she gave into her sobs.
*********
Killian held Emma’s shaking body, his own rush of adrenaline slowly ebbing away. He felt like he hadn’t taken a single breath since he looked through the window to see Cassidy slap Emma.
After several minutes, her sobs began to subside and he heard her whimper something against his throat. “What’s that, Love?”
“My babies. They must be so scared.”
He hadn’t thought about the dogs, but was honestly glad to have an excuse to get her out of the house. The atmosphere was completely chaotic with noise from police radios, officers collecting evidence and taking photos, and sirens outside signaling the arrival of more first responders. Slowly he got to his feet, not releasing his hold on her. “Let’s go check on them,” he murmured. Keeping her tucked tightly against him, he steered her past Neal’s body and out the back door.
Once they were outside, Killian reluctantly let Emma go. As he watched her snuggling with Sophie and Oscar, it hit him that he could have lost her if the police hadn’t arrived in time. Just the thought of it made his heart ache. In that moment he realized that his feelings for her had gone beyond friendship. Far beyond friendship.
Before he could ponder this further, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw David, who had an apologetic look on his face.
“I’m afraid the two of you are going to have to go down to the station to give statements.”
Killian glanced at Emma, then back to David. “I figured as much.”
“I expect you won’t want to stay in this house tonight,” David continued. “I took the liberty of calling Mary Margaret to see if Emma can stay with her. You’re welcome to crash at my place, if you like.” The two men had gotten to know each other when they both ate at the restaurant while Emma and Mary Margaret worked together.
Killian turned his eyes back to Emma, who was sitting on the ground with her head in her hands. “I appreciate the offer, mate, but I…I don’t want to leave her. Would you be alright with me staying at Mary Margaret’s as well? I’d be willing to sleep on the floor. I just…I think Emma needs me…and I need to be with her, too.”
David nodded. “I understand.”
“What about Sophie and Oscar?” Killian asked. “We can’t leave them here by themselves.”
“Mary Margaret said Emma can bring them along. Her landlord normally doesn’t permit pets, but since it’s probably only for one night, it’ll be fine.”
“Sounds like a good plan, then. Are you able to stay out here with Emma while I go throw some things in an overnight bag?”
“Of course,” David answered, then sighed and ran a hand through his hair before adding, “I can’t do much to help inside anyway. I’ll be put on administrative leave for a while, since I’m the one who killed Cassidy.”
Killian turned to face him fully. “I can’t bring myself to say I’m sorry, Dave. If you hadn’t shot him, we…Emma and I might…”
David quickly put a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t even want to think about it. I did what I had to do and I have no regrets.” The two men shook hands, their eyes meeting with an understanding that only two people who had shared such a traumatic experience could convey.
Killian walked over to Emma, touched her on the shoulder, and winced when she jumped. “Sorry, Love,” he apologized. “I wanted to let you know that David made arrangements for us to stay at Mary Margaret’s tonight.” When she started to open her mouth, he hurried on. “All of us - Oscar and Sophie included. I’m going to gather some things to take along. Is there anything in particular you’ll need, besides the essentials?”
She thought over his question. “Could you grab my pillow and blanket? Having those might make the dogs, and me, more comfortable.”
“I can do that. Anything else?”
She shook her head. “Not that I can think of at the moment.”
Squatting down beside her, he took one of her hands. “Before we go to the loft, we’ll have to go to the police station to give our account of the events. Do you feel up to it?”
She looked at him and his heart broke at the pain he saw in her eyes. “I loved him,” she whispered hoarsely. “How did things go so horribly wrong?”
“Everything that happened is a consequence of Neal’s poor choices,” he replied quietly. “I wish it hadn’t come to this, but everything that happened is on him.”
“If I would have just…”
“No. Don’t do that to yourself, Swan.” Ducking his head down to make eye contact with her, he added, “You did nothing to warrant the actions he took, and there’s no way you could have predicted this turn of events, aye?”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I am,” he quipped, hoping to lighten the mood a bit. To his satisfaction, the corners of her mouth turned up a bit. He stood up, hesitated a second, then bent down and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “Dave is going to stay out here with you. I’ll just be a few minutes.”
She started to rise to her feet. “I need to get Sophie and Oscar’s beds and food.”
“I’ll get them,” he hurried to assure her. “Just stay out here, Love.”
Looking up at him with tears in her eyes, she said, “Are you trying to keep me from seeing his…him?”
“You already lived through a nightmare today, Emma,” he replied. “You don’t need to experience more trauma by going back into that chaos.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“Be back in a few minutes,” he said, then went into the house. He skirted around the edge of the kitchen, intentionally averting his eyes from where Neal’s body still lay in the middle of the floor.
After stuffing pajamas, underwear, and a change of clothes from his and Emma’s rooms into a duffle bag, he added their toiletries from the bathroom, and tucked the dogs’ beds under his arm. On his return trip through the kitchen, he collected the bag of dog food, their bowls and leashes, being careful to stay out of the investigators’ way.
Emerging into the backyard again, he saw David and Emma sharing a hug. They appeared to be comforting each other and Killian was sure the events of the day were just as hard on David as they were on himself and Emma. No police officer would choose to shoot and kill someone unless it was absolutely necessary.
Killian approached them quietly, not wishing to interfere in their private moment. They ended their hug and Emma wiped at her eyes, saying, “I’ll never be able to thank you enough, David.”
“Aye,” Killian agreed. “We owe you many thanks, mate.”
David looked at each of them in turn, then gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. After clearing his throat, he said, “Mary Margaret is on her way over to pick up the dogs, then you can go to the police station.”
“How long will we have to be there?” Emma asked.
“However long it takes for you both to give your statements,” David answered, just as his phone dinged with an incoming text. He pulled it from his pocket and checked it. “Mary Margaret is parked around the corner. They have the street blocked off, so she can’t get any closer.”
Killian handed the leashes to Emma. “Why don’t you clip these on while I go put our things in the car. I’ll be right back.”
He jogged around the side of the house and tossed everything in the trunk of his car. A police officer stopped him to ask if they should lock the door when they were finished collecting evidence. After answering in the affirmative, Killian returned to the backyard where Emma was leading the dogs around the yard, giving them an opportunity to do their business.
David was sitting on the steps, staring off into space. Killian sat down beside him and asked, “When the detectives finish their investigation, will they clean up the kitchen?”
David turned his attention to his friend. “The police won’t, but there are a couple of people who clean up crime scenes for us. I’ll give one of them a call, if you want.”
“That would be great. I know Emma will want to bring the dogs back home tomorrow, and I’d really like all the mess to be gone.”
The two men watched her lead the dogs back to where they sat. Killian stood up and took Oscar’s leash from her. “Ready to go, Love?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she sighed resignedly.
David joined them and the three of them left the backyard, following the sidewalk around the corner to where Mary Margaret was pacing beside her car. When she caught sight of the trio, she rushed over to David, embracing him in a tight hug.
Killian and Emma hung back, allowing the couple to have a moment. They could hear Mary Margaret murmuring words of comfort and reassurance to her boyfriend. As soon as they pulled away from each other, Mary Margaret turned toward Emma, gathering her in her arms as well. “That must have been horrible for you,” Killian heard her say.
“I never dreamed he could be so violent,” Emma answered, her words muffled against her friend’s shoulder. “It was like he lost his mind.”
Mary Margaret ended the hug and held Emma at arm’s length, a look of compassion on her face. “I almost hate to say it, but at least he won’t be able to hurt you again.”
“No, he won’t,” Emma agreed. “But I never wanted him dead.”
“It was either him or one of us,” Killian said. “And fortunately, thanks to Dave, it wasn’t us. Your boyfriend is a hero, Mary Margaret.”
“Yes, he is,” she said, turning a beaming smile at David, which he attempted to return.
They loaded the dogs into Mary Margaret’s car, watched her drive away, then headed back to the house so they could go to the police station.
*********
By the time Emma finished giving her statement, she was thoroughly drained. Not only did she have to recount the events of that afternoon, she also had to answer questions about her relationship with Neal. When she finally emerged into the lobby of the station, Killian was waiting for her. He swiftly rose from his seat to meet her.
“Alright there, Swan?” he asked.
“Yeah, I just…” Her voice faltered and he pulled her into his arms. She went willingly, craving the comfort he was offering.
After several moments, she heard him whisper, “Let’s go to Mary Margaret’s, see the kids, and get some sleep, aye?”
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”
She expected him to release her, but he kept one arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders as they left the station and walked to his car. He opened the passenger door and she gratefully sank into the leather seat, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes.
Killian slid into the driver’s seat, started the car, and shifted it into gear. When they didn’t begin moving right away, Emma rolled her head toward him and opened her eyes. He was looking at her with obvious concern. She gave him a weak smile, reached over and gave his hand a squeeze. He flipped it over, threaded his fingers through hers, then directed his eyes back to the road. As he pulled away from the curb, she closed her eyes again.
They didn’t speak during the drive to Mary Margaret’s apartment. Emma appreciated the fact that Killian seemed to sense her need for silence after a day of chaos and didn’t try to fill it with unnecessary chatter.
When they arrived, Emma fumbled to unbuckle her seat belt, feeling like her hands were leaden and clumsy. Before she could reach for the door handle, Killian was opening it for her and offering his hand to help her out.
“What about our stuff?” she asked, as they started up the sidewalk.
“I’ll come back out and get it in a bit. Let’s get you inside and settled first.”
She leaned into him and once again, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, adjusting his stride to match hers. They went inside the building and trudged up the flight of stairs. Killian was just getting ready to knock on the door, when it swung open and both dogs ran out, happily bounding around them.
“I saw you pull up out front,” Mary Margaret explained. “When I mentioned that Mommy and Daddy were here, they got all excited.”
Emma glanced at Killian to see him smiling about being referred to as ‘Daddy’. He ushered her inside, guiding her to the couch. After she was seated, he grabbed the leashes from where they were draped over the back of a kitchen stool. “I’ll take the kids outside and get our bag from the car,” he said, kneeling down to clip the leashes on their collars.
She watched him go, then turned her attention to her friend, who had taken a seat beside her on the couch.
“He’s a good guy,” Mary Margaret said.
“Yeah, he really is.”
Mary Margaret reached over and patted her hand. “I put some clean sheets on the bed in the spare room. Would you like to take a shower before you go to bed? Or maybe a nice, warm bath?”
Emma considered the offer for a moment before answering, “A soak in the tub would be nice. I don’t know if I have the energy to stand up long enough to take a shower.”
Mary Margaret nodded in understanding. “First though, you and Killian need to eat something. I made some chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes and glazed carrots. I thought comfort food might be the ticket after such a trying day.”
“That sounds amazing,” Emma sighed. “Thank you.”
“Come sit at the counter and I’ll fix a plate for you.” Mary Margaret patted her hand one more time, then stood and went into the kitchen to begin dishing up the food. Just as she was setting a full plate in front of Emma, Killian and the dogs came back in.
“We were just about to eat, Killian,” Mary Margaret said. “Have a seat.”
“Have the kids had their dinner?” he asked, dropping the duffle bag beside the sofa.
Mary Margaret shook her head. “No, they haven’t. I wasn’t sure how much to give them.”
“Let me feed them and wash my hands first.” He picked up their food bowls, while Mary Margaret turned back to her own task.
The three friends ate in relative silence, except for an occasional compliment of the meal or admonishment to the dogs when they begged for food. Emma expected to have little appetite, but found that she was famished once she began to eat. Now all she needed to finally put this day behind her was a hot bath and a good night’s sleep.
*********
After dinner, Emma went to start running the bath water. Killian removed his items from the duffle and dropped it outside the bathroom before helping Mary Margaret clean up the kitchen.
“It’s been quite the day,” she commented.
“Aye, that it has,” Killian agreed with a heavy sigh.
“David said you were the one who called 9-1-1. I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn’t.” Killian didn’t answer, trying not to imagine that scenario. Suddenly, Mary Margaret turned to face him. “How are you handling all of this? I’ve been concerned about David and Emma, but I haven’t asked about you.”
He put down the dish towel and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m fine, now that I know Emma is safe. When Cassidy pointed that gun at her…” He stopped speaking, a lump forming in his throat.
“You went in the house to save her,” she praised.
“It was the right thing to do,” he said, trying to brush off her admiration. Mary Margaret laid a soft hand on his arm. “I had to protect her, Mary Margaret,” he choked out. “If anything happened to her, it…it would kill me.”
She studied his face. “You care for her more than just as a friend, don’t you?”
“I…I didn’t realize how much she meant to me until I looked through that window and saw him hit her. I wanted to throttle him so badly for daring to treat her like that. Just the thought of her being hurt…it…I guess it made me aware of my feelings for her.”
“You’re in love with her.”
His eyes met hers, then his head dipped in a nod. “Aye.”
A huge smile stretched across her face, her eyes sparkling. “When are you going to tell her?”
He blew out a breath, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck. “With everything going on, hearing that I’m in love with her is not what she needs right now.”
“Or maybe it’s exactly what she needs right now.”
Before he could answer, he heard the tune from Disney’s Snow White, Someday My Prince Will Come. “That’s David’s ringtone,” Mary Margaret said, picking up her phone from the counter.
“I’ll take the kids outside so you can have some privacy,” Killian said, struggling to keep the bemused smirk off his face as he collected the leashes.
She nodded her thanks as she answered the call.
As Killian followed the dogs down the sidewalk, he thought about what Mary Margaret had said. Was it the right time to tell Emma he loved her? What if she didn’t feel the same? That would definitely make things awkward. But if she did reciprocate his feelings, they could pursue a romantic relationship, one in which he could show her how a lady should be treated.
His mind was still swirling with these thoughts as he led the dogs back inside. Mary Margaret was on her way down the steps. “David just got done giving his statement and he needs me,” she explained. “I left a key to the apartment on the table. Will you and Emma be alright?”
“I’m sure we will.”
She halted on the step above the landing where he stood. “I don’t know how much you know about Emma’s background, but she’s been abandoned many times by people who were supposed to love her. First, her birth parents soon after she was born, then numerous foster parents and prospective adoptive parents. And there were more men she dated before Neal who let her down. She has walls a mile high around her heart, Killian. It may take you a while to dismantle them.”
“Well,” he said, a small smile on his face, “I do love a challenge.”
“Have you thought about what will happen when your job here is finished and you go back to England?”
“Aye,” he sighed. “That’s another obstacle to consider.”
“Think about it, but don’t give up on her,” Mary Margaret urged him. “Emma is worth it. Love is worth it.” She leaned forward and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “I have to go. I’ll call Emma in the morning.”
“Tell Dave he’s in our prayers.”
“I will, and the two of you are in ours,” Mary Margaret said, before going out the door.
Killian watched her go, then continued up the stairs with Oscar and Sophie. Emma was still in the bathroom, so he finished drying the dishes and found where they belonged in the cupboards. Then he took the dogs’ beds upstairs to Emma’s room and called his closest co-worker to explain why he wouldn’t be at work the next day. When she finally emerged ten minutes later, he was sitting in the living room, checking emails on his phone.
“Sorry I took so long,” she apologized. “A hot bath felt really good, but now I’m all pruney.” She held up her hands to show him her water-wrinkled fingers.
“There’s no reason to apologize, Swan. I hope it was relaxing for you.”
“It was, but I’m sure you want to take a shower.”
“There’s still plenty of time for that,” he assured her. “Mary Margaret went to David’s for the night. She left a key on the table and said she would call you in the morning. I took the kids out, so they should be good for the night.”
“Okay, thanks,” she said, putting her hand over her mouth to stifle a yawn. “I think I’m going to bed.”
“Sounds good, Love. I put the dog beds upstairs so they can be close to you.”
He was trying to decide if he should give her a hug, but she made the decision for him by moving into his arms. He wrapped her up firmly, kissing the crown of her head.
“I will never be able to thank you and David enough for saving my life today,” she whispered.
“No thanks are necessary, Emma,” he murmured. “I’m just glad we were there in time.”
She clung to him for a few more moments before finally pulling away. Looking up at him, she said, “Goodnight, Killian.”
He couldn’t keep himself from caressing her cheek as he gazed into her jade eyes. “Goodnight. Sleep well.”
He watched her drag herself up the stairs, exhaustion evident in every step. When she reached the landing, she called Sophie and Oscar, who bounded up the steps. The room she slept in was an open loft, so Killian was able to see when she turned off the bedside lamp. Once she did, he headed off to the shower.
*********
Killian had just drifted off to sleep on the sofa when he felt a cold nose pressed against his cheek. Annoyed and half asleep, he batted at the offending dog, but when he heard an insistent whine, his eyes popped open and he sat up quickly.
“What’s wrong, Oscar?” he asked. The dog ran toward the stairs, looking back to see if Killian was following him, which he did with his heart pounding. He hadn’t seen the dog act so agitated before.
He took the stairs two at a time and turned the corner into the bedroom. Sophie was lying on the bed beside Emma, who was tossing restlessly. The whimpers coming from her broke Killian’s heart and as he got closer, he saw her face was wet with tears.
He was unsure what action to take, afraid that if he tried to wake her up, it would frighten her. Instead, he lay down on the bed and gently pulled her into his arms. “Shh, Swan,” he crooned. “It’s alright. You’re safe, Love.”
He continued to murmur comforting words and stroke his hands up and down her back, until he felt her rigid body begin to relax. He thought she was asleep, but then realized she was sobbing into his chest, causing tears to gather in his own eyes.
After several minutes, he heard her say in a voice thick with emotion, “I’m sorry. It seems like all I’ve done today is cry.”
“I would be worried about you if you didn’t cry after what you’ve been through today, Love.”
She didn’t respond, but he felt her wrap her arms around his waist and snuggle more deeply into his chest. He was content simply holding her and dropping occasional kisses to the crown of her head.
“Killian?”
He jolted, unaware he had started to fall asleep. “Hmm?” he hummed.
“Can I…will you do me a favor?” she asked hesitantly.
“Anything,” he affirmed.
“Stay with me tonight? I mean here, in my bed,” she clarified. “I just…I don’t want to be alone.”
“Of course I’ll stay with you, if that’s what you want. Truth be told, I’ll feel better being here with you, in case you have another nightmare.”
“Thank you,” she yawned. “You’re such a good friend.”
Her words hit him like a bucket of ice water. Long after she went back to sleep in his arms, he lay awake, her words echoing in his mind. Would she ever think of him as anything more than a friend?
@jrob64 Whew! This time it’s David to the rescue! And thank goodness he got there when he did!! I’m not nearly as bloodthirsty as some of your readers (Krystal), but I am really glad Neal can’t hurt them anymore!
I also love the glimpses of friendship and support you gave us - from both David, and then MM as well. David’s quiet embrace to comfort embrace and his moment of understanding with Killian were both so well done! And then, I loved how MM had comfort food waiting for them after they gave their statements. It was wonderful how she took the time to ask Killian how he was doing after everything, and I simply loved how you made her the one astute enough to see that Killian is in love with Emma. Naturally she encouraged that, but it wasn’t overboard, and made for a truly perfect scene! 💖
Lastly, the ending scene was amazing! I loved that Oscar came to get Killian when he could sense Emma’s upset from her nightmare. I loved how Killian just ached to comfort her and ease her pain. And I loved that Emma asked him to stay and let him hold her - all PERFECTION!!! 😍🫠😍🫠 But then, him thinking she only wants his friendship at the end!!! Gah! 😩 Hang in there, Killian! Don’t give up! She likes you too, I just know it!!
A Doggone Good Plan - Chapter 4 (A False Sense of Security)
A CS Multi-chapter Modern AU
For those of you who like cliffhangers, this chapter is for you!
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: 2400 of 18,700 (6 chapters and a short epilogue)
Catch up with the story on Tumblr: Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 3
Can also be ready on Ao3
Chapter begins under the cut
*********
Two weekends later, Killian helped Emma move into his rental house. Although she had told him she didn’t have many possessions, he was still surprised how little she actually did have. She shared the story about her upbringing in the foster system in one of their previous conversations, and how it taught her early on the futility of sentimentality over possessions.
She did have one large, bulky box that he struggled to carry. As he set it down in her bedroom, she blushed furiously, explaining, “These are my thrifting treasures. Neal always complained about me buying a bunch of junk. I hope it doesn’t bother you.”
“What do you mean by thrifting?” he asked, genuinely interested.
“I go to thrift shops and look for interesting things that I can repurpose.” Opening the flaps on the box, she reached in and pulled out a white plastic picture frame and a blue vase. “Like these, for example. I plan to break this vase into pieces, then glue the pieces on the frame to make it look like a mosaic.”
“Clever,” he commented. “Then what will you do with it?”
She shrugged. “Probably give it away as a gift. I just enjoy hunting for hidden treasures to see what I can do with them. Some of the stuff I’ve made is in that box over there,” she said, pointing to another box in the corner.
“May I?” he asked, moving over to the box.
“Go ahead.”
He opened the box and peered into it for several moments, before pulling out a pair of women’s cowboy boots that had colorful ribbons laced up the back. “Do you wear these?”
“No, they’re not even my size,” she answered, giving a nervous little laugh. “One of them was torn and I thought it would look cool to fix it with ribbons, so I cut both of them all the way down the back. I thought they turned out pretty good.”
“Have you considered selling them?”
“Actually, I have thought about offering them on Facebook Marketplace or even opening my own little online shop, but I don’t know if anyone would buy this stuff.”
He turned his attention back to the box. “I’m sure they would. These things are very creative and unique. People like having things that are one-of-a-kind.”
“When I mentioned my idea of setting up a shop, Neal told me it was a stupid idea because no one was going to pay for someone else’s trash.”
“Don’t let his asinine opinion squash your dream,” Killian said with a frown. “As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” He held up a pair of wooden spoons on which she’d painted some wildflowers. “These are beautiful, Swan.”
When he turned around, she was looking at him oddly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“No one has encouraged me to pursue my interests before,” she explained. “Of course, I haven’t really shared how I like to go thrifting with very many people. I figured they would think it was weird.”
He folded the flaps back down on the box. “If you like doing it, why does it matter?”
“I guess it doesn’t,” she conceded. “Especially if I could make a little extra cash. Maybe I’ll look into how to set up a shop.”
“Good,” he smiled, before leaving the room to carry in another box.
*********
It took a few days for the two of them to get used to living in the same house. Their work schedules were different, so they often only saw each other in passing. When they did spend time together, Killian was accommodating and went out of his way to help her feel comfortable because he could tell she wasn’t yet. She was meticulous about picking up after herself and putting things away immediately after using them. She never left towels on the floor, dishes in the sink, or shoes beside the door.
One day, he decided to ask her about it, hoping that she wouldn’t take it as criticism. “Swan, have you always been so painstakingly neat and tidy? I consider myself rather orderly, but you make me feel like a slob.”
“I just don’t want to mess up your house,” she admitted, sheepishly.
“You’re paying your share of the rent, so technically, this is our house. I want you to feel at home here - a place for you to relax and unwind, not drive yourself crazy trying to keep it spotless and uncluttered.”
She looked chagrined, but didn’t say anything.
“As soon as you get home after a long shift of taking care of customers, you’re picking up the dogs’ toys, unloading the dishwasher, doing laundry, or vacuuming. Forgive me, but when we used to Facetime after you got off work, you were usually lounging on the sofa with your feet up. I hope you know you can do the same here.”
“Okay, I’ll try,” she said.
It wasn’t long after the conversation that he could see her take his words to heart. She was beginning to relax and consider the house her home. She was also overjoyed about being with her dogs every day.
They were soon spending as much time as possible together, getting to know each other’s likes and dislikes, sharing stories of their childhood and teen years, having discussions about everything under the sun, and making each other laugh until their sides hurt. Both of them looked forward to the evenings when their schedules aligned and they could cook dinner together, then relax while watching a movie or TV series with Sophie and Oscar wedged between them on the sofa. It was a perfect living situation for all four of them.
*********
Emma’s favorite days of the week were the ones when she and Killian took Oscar and Sophie to the dog park. Besides being able to let her sweet pooches run and explore to their hearts’ content, she enjoyed their conversations on the way there and back. Killian was extremely astute at noticing and commenting on things other people simply would have overlooked. He drew her attention to buds on trees, tiny flowers just bursting into bloom, and improvements people had made on the houses along the route. They stopped to study the busy inhabitants of anthills, identify various birds, and pull branches of lilacs down to inhale their sweet scent. Emma supposed it was part of his job as a digital designer to be so detail oriented, but she never before knew anyone who seemed to notice absolutely everything like he did.
On one particular day as she was appreciating his many observations, she herself failed to notice the familiar car that slowly followed them all the way back to their house.
*********
Neal had been doggedly trying to locate Emma for over two months. In that time, his irritation had grown into full-blown rage. It didn’t help that his gambling buddies constantly ribbed him about how Emma had left him, then ‘beaten the odds’ and outwitted him. He was sick and tired of being the butt of their jokes, and was more determined than ever to find her and make her pay for humiliating him.
He assumed she quit her job at the restaurant because her yellow bug was never in the parking lot. He wasn’t having any luck hanging around her friend’s apartments either. He wondered if she moved out of town, knowing if she did, he was virtually guaranteed to never find her.
Then one day as he was cruising past the restaurant to check the parking lot again, he struck gold. He saw her coming up the sidewalk toward him, walking her two mutts. Turning his head so she wouldn’t see his face if she happened to look his way, he passed her then turned the car around in the middle of the street and began following her. If she was walking, she had to live nearby.
As he watched, he realized she wasn’t walking the dogs alone. A dark-haired guy was beside her, talking animatedly. Emma looked like she was hanging on his every word, throwing her head back in laughter every once in a while. Neal’s blood boiled as he continued tailing them.
Finally, they turned up the sidewalk to a small house and went inside together. That bitch! Neal thought. That absolute fucking whore! She was already living with some guy only weeks after leaving him!
Seething with white-hot rage, Neal floored the accelerator, completely ignoring the speed limit. A few blocks away, he jerked the steering wheel and brought the car to a stop, halfway up on the curb. He pulled out his phone and with shaking fingers, found the contact he wanted. Then he punched the screen with unnecessary force.
When the call connected, he growled, “Hey, Pete, it’s Neal. Remember when you offered to let me use your gun for target practice? I want to take you up on it.”
*********
The next afternoon, Emma was in the backyard with the dogs. On the days she worked the early shift, she would wait for Killian to get home, then after playing with Sophie and Oscar for a few minutes, they would prepare supper together, before taking them to the dog park.
Several minutes before Killian’s expected arrival, she heard someone banging on the front door. She headed toward the back entrance, puzzled because normally he would go through the house, drop his lunch bag and keys on the table, then join them in the backyard. If he couldn’t get in, he would still be able to go around the outside of the house and through the gate.
As she pulled the front door open, she was ready to tease him about forgetting his key, but stopped when she saw who was standing there.
“N-Neal?” she squeaked, her breath stolen from seeing her ex in front of her.
“Surprised to see me?” he asked, his face a mask of anger. He pushed past her into the house, shoving her aside roughly. “You really thought you were gonna hide from me forever, Emma? How fucking stupid are you?”
“You c-can’t come in here,” she stammered, still trying to overcome her shock.
He turned and got in her face. “Why? Is your fucking boyfriend here?” he yelled.
The splatter of spittle in her face made her wince in disgust. “Boyfriend?” she asked, confused.
“The mother fucker you live with! I saw the two of you come in this house together yesterday. Where is he?” he roared. Then he began to stalk through the house, opening doors and slamming them shut when he found the rooms empty.
“Neal, stop!” Emma shouted, her surprise giving way to anger. “Get out of here! You don’t have any right -”
He whirled around and slapped her, then stuck a finger in her face. “Don’t tell me what I have a right to do, you stupid bitch! You made me a laughing stock among my friends! Now you’re going to pay.” Reaching behind himself, he pulled a gun from his waistband and waved it in front of her face. Emma’s eyes grew huge and her throat went dry. “First, I’m going to make you watch me kill those fucking mutts of yours, then you’re coming with me. You’re gonna tell my buddies how you cheated on me and I threw you out. You’re gonna make it clear that you begged to stay with me, but I wouldn’t let you. Got it?”
When she didn’t answer right away, he started stomping through the kitchen, continuing to rave about killing the dogs. Despite her terror about him having a gun, Emma ran after him, desperate to save her pets. She caught up to him and grabbed his left arm, yanking on it hard to get him to stop. “NO!” she screamed. “Leave them alone, Neal! You can’t shoot them!”
He came to a halt, turned and looked at her, his eyes filled with a hate she couldn’t even comprehend. Then he slowly raised his right arm, pointing the gun at her chest. “Maybe you’re right, Ems,” he said, his voice low and menacing. It sent a chill through her that even his screaming hadn’t. “Maybe I should shoot you instead.”
*********
Killian was going up the sidewalk to the house when he heard Emma shout Neal’s name. He ducked down and looked in through the front window, his heart slamming against his ribcage as he witnessed the scene inside.
Still squatting to avoid being seen, he ran around the side of the house, dialing 9-1-1 as he went.
“9-1-1, what is your emergency?” the dispatcher asked.
“My name is Killian Jones and I live at 815 Rogers Way. I just got home from work and my roommate is inside the house with her ex-boyfriend, whom she’s been hiding from. I can hear them yelling from outside.” He reached the back of the house and looked in through the kitchen window. “Bloody hell,” he whispered. “He has a gun!”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Jones,” the dispatcher assured him. “There are police officers in the area and they are on their way.”
Killian hung up, peeked in the window again, and saw Neal pointing the gun at Emma. He knew he couldn’t wait any longer, so he slipped in through the back door, catching Emma’s attention. He gestured for her to drop to the floor, desperately hoping Neal wouldn’t discharge the gun at her sudden movement.
She followed his directions as Killian tackled Neal to the ground from behind, the gun flying out of his hand and skittering across the kitchen floor. The two men wrestled, while Emma got to her feet. Instead of heading toward the open door, she moved back into the kitchen.
“Emma!” Killian shouted, avoiding a wild swing of Neal’s fist. “Get out of here!”
She bent down to pick up the gun, but Neal managed to kick at her, knocking her feet out from under her. As she hit the floor, Killian redoubled his efforts to subdue the other man, but fueled by fury, Cassidy was able to wrest himself away. Before Killian could react, Neal snatched up the gun, cocked it, and spun around, aiming the weapon first at Emma, then at Killian. “Now you get to watch your boyfriend die before I kill you, Emma!” he bellowed.
His words were followed by the sound of a gunshot reverberating through the room.
@jrob64 You do a lovely job setting the scene with the start of this one, allowing us to picture Emma and Killian settling in together, becoming comfortable with one another as housemates, and more than that, truly relishing one another’s company. It was a delightful little glimpse, but I suppose we probably should have known it was too good to last. Especially with Neal being so psycho in this story!!! 😬😡
Even knowing he was a threat to the dogs and wanted to use them to hurt her, I didn’t feel he was a real threat to Emma’s safety. She wasn’t truly afraid of him, so it really did come as a shock when he charged in with a gun, and when he slapped her too. He turns truly frightening, and it makes it even more so to see how it scares Emma. But I love how strong she is; she isn’t cowed for long before she stands up to him again. And she isn’t about to let him hurt her babies!!!
Thank goodness Killian arrived when he did though! But ending the chapter with that gun shot…. Mean! I am heading on to chapter five right now. No waiting after that!!
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.
@jrob64 Yay for Emma for taking a chance on a good guy!! Bravo Girlie!! You’re not feeling any regret, because this is absolutely the right thing!!! 💖🙌🏼💖
I loved when Emma just looks at him like she can’t even believe what he’s saying and tells him, “Guys like you just don’t exist.” It has to seem like that after Neal anyway! In truth though, I think we’re all a little in awe of Killian Jones and wishing he were absolutely a person in real life!!! 🫠❤️
It’s so neat how you let us see glimpses of how good both of them are with “the kids” and how natural their little foursome easily becomes. Emma and Killian around getting to know more about each other as well, so when he makes his offer it may seem unbelievable, but she can’t really turn it down either. It’s really lovely to see, and you do a great job writing it in a way that’s so engaging and does feel farfetched, even if it is fast.
This one was a fun chapter to read!! Loved it, and I could just picture winking and waggling that eyebrow of his when he teased her with “What can I say? I’m a sweet guy.” 😉
Thank you to all who read the first chapter. I hoped you liked it and have come back for more. For those of you who don't want to start a multi-chapter story until it's finished posting, the story is completely written and edited and will be updated twice a week. There will be four more chapters and an epilogue.
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: 2660 of 18,700
Catch up with story on Tumblr - Ch. 1
Can also be read on Ao3
Chapter begins under the cut
*********
“You’re sure he’s not going to be home?” Killian asked, as they sat in his car outside the condo she used to share with Neal.
“Yeah, his car is gone. He leaves for work at nine. Of course, that’s when he’s supposed to be there, but he’s always late,” she said, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
“How does he keep his job, then?”
“Oh, he works for his dear old dad at a pawn shop, and I use the word ‘works’ very loosely. I think he spends most of the day placing bets on sporting events.”
“Sounds like a real loser,” Killian commented, then shot a look at Emma. “Sorry, lass. I didn’t mean to…”
She held up a hand to stop him. “No worries. I’ve come to the same conclusion. Unfortunately, it took me way too long to figure it out.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Killian asked, “How long are we going to wait?”
She pointed at a condo three doors down from Neal’s. “His buddy Walsh lives there. If he sees me, he’ll let Neal know for sure,” she informed him. “That’s why I asked if we could use your car, so he wouldn’t recognize my bug.”
“Does this Walsh bloke leave for work at a certain time?”
“No, he works second shift, but he always goes for a run at ten.” She looked over at Killian. “I’m sorry you had to take off work to do this, but I was afraid if we waited any longer…”
“I don’t mind at all, Swan,” he assured her. “I haven’t taken a day off since I moved here, so I was due for one. I can think of no better reason than helping you rescue your dogs.”
The door to Walsh’s condo opened and the man stepped outside, dressed in a neon green T-shirt and black shorts. Emma slouched down in the car seat, watching over the top of the dashboard as he stretched. Finally, he turned and jogged off in the opposite direction.
Once he was out of sight, Emma flung open the car door and jumped out. Killian followed, running behind her as she sprinted to the front door. Pulling out her key with shaking fingers, she glanced in both directions, then fitted the key in the lock, opened the door, and slipped inside.
Killian entered and closed the door behind him, then turned to see the joyous reunion between Emma and her dogs. They were jumping on her as she knelt, smothering her with wet dog kisses as their tails wagged so hard, their whole bodies were wiggling.
“Where are their bowls and food?” he asked, following through on the plan the two of them concocted over the phone the evening before.
“In the kitchen.” She pointed him in the right direction, then got to her feet to grab their leashes from the hook by the front door.
He soon returned with a partial bag of food, several bags of treats, and their food and water bowls. Emma was busy tossing scattered toys into a toy basket sitting in the corner of the room.
“I’ll take these out to the car and come back to get their beds and toys,” Killian said, quickly moving toward the door. When he returned, Emma had all the toys gathered and was carrying two dog beds out of the bedroom.
“Neal always hated that I let the dogs sleep in our bedroom. He said it affected our sex life. Apparently that’s what drove him to sleep with someone else.”
Killian looked up at her from where he was bent over picking up the basket of toys. “The bloody wanker cheated on you?” he asked, disgust evident in his voice.
“Yeah. That’s the main reason why we broke up.”
“Have you considered hiring a hit man?” At her startled look, he added, “I’m just kidding, lass…for the most part, at least.”
Emma laughed lightly as she hooked a leash onto Oscar’s collar. “Not that he doesn’t deserve it, but I’d rather not spend the rest of my life in jail because of him.” Straightening up, she looked around the room. “I think that’s everything. We better get going.”
He collected the beds from the floor. “I’ll follow you out and secure the door.”
“Wait! I need to take them out back and let them do their business or they might do it in your car.”
“Is there time?”
“Yeah,” she called over her shoulder, already on her way through the kitchen. “We have at least another ten minutes before Walsh comes home.” She returned in less than a minute. “Okay, we’re good now.”
They left the condo, bundling the dogs and the last of the supplies into the car, then climbing in themselves. Killian started the car and smoothly pulled away from the curb, leisurely driving down the street so as not to draw undue attention.
Emma blew out a sigh of relief. “I wonder what Neal will do when he comes home and finds out they’re gone. He’s gonna be furious because he lost his bargaining chips.”
“Do you think he’ll turn his anger on you? From the way you’ve described him…”
“Well, I blocked him on my phone and all of my social media accounts, so he shouldn’t have any way to contact me. He also has no idea where my apartment is located. When I had my mail forwarded, I rented a PO box. The only thing I’m worried about is him coming to the restaurant.”
“Do you think he will?”
“Probably, but if he comes in and makes a scene, my manager will call the police. She did it before when Ella’s stepmother came in and started screaming at her for stealing her jewelry. It turned out her own daughter did it.”
“Perhaps I should be there during your shift tonight.”
Emma shook her head vehemently. “No, I don’t want him to know anything about you. I’ll warn August that he might show up. He’ll have my back.”
Killian glanced in his rearview mirror. “Your dogs are very well behaved.”
She turned to look at them, reaching back to pat each one on the head. “They love car rides, don’t you, my babies?”
“It’s very clear how much they love you, Swan. Thank you for trusting me to take care of them.”
“I was still mulling over your offer before I talked to Neal last night, but when he said he was going to have them euthanized, I knew I had to take you up on it. As hateful as he was towards me on the phone, I’m pretty sure he would have followed through with it.”
Killian’s jaw ticked in anger. “If he ever threatens you or makes you feel unsafe in any way, please tell me. If August has your back at the restaurant, I’ll have your back outside of it. We’ll do all we can to protect you from that prat.”
“I don’t even know how it got to this point,” Emma sighed. “Two months ago, I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone else but Neal. Now, I need protection from him.”
“I’m sorry, Emma.”
“You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault he turned into Mr. Hyde.”
“Aye, but I’m still sorry that your future plans have been dashed.”
“Yeah, me too.”
The rest of the ride to Killian’s house was quiet, except for the sounds of the dogs panting and occasionally whining in the back seat. When they arrived, he carried the supplies into the house, while she took the dogs through the gate to the backyard to start acclimating them to their new environment.
Soon, Killian joined them, smiling as he watched Oscar and Sophie sniffing and exploring the yard. “They seem comfortable already,” he observed.
Emma nodded in agreement. “Sophie adjusted pretty quickly when I moved in with Neal, and like I said, Oscar is very easy-going.” They watched as Oscar chose a spot and began to poop.
“Oh, crap,” she said. “Literally. I forgot to grab the pooper scooper out of the laundry room.”
“No problem,” Killian said, pulling out his phone. “I’ll order some waste bags from Amazon. They should be here tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can order them myself.”
“I don’t mind. They’re not expensive.”
“Look, we need to get something straight. I don’t expect you to buy things for my dogs. You’re already providing a temporary place for them to live. You don’t need to be spending money on them on top of it.”
“The bags are four dollars, Swan. That’s not going to break my bank account. I promise.”
She put her hands on her hips, pursing her lips. “Killian…”
“The next time I’m at the restaurant, you can buy me a drink to pay me back.”
“I get drinks for free.”
“Even better,” he grinned.
She rolled her eyes. “Are you always this stubborn?”
“No. Sometimes I’m even worse.” If possible, his grin grew a little bigger.
“Well, thank you, but please don’t buy anything else. I already owe you big time.”
“You don’t owe me anything. When I was a kid, my brother and I had a dog. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories. I always wanted to adopt another one once I had my own place, but everywhere I’ve lived hasn’t permitted pets. So, you see, you’re actually doing me a favor by allowing your dogs to stay here.”
Emma glanced at her smart watch. “I have to be at work in less than two hours. I should go home, get a shower and eat some lunch. Do you think you’ll be okay with them?”
“Aye, we’ll be fine. I’ll take them inside and let them get acquainted with the place.”
“Well, I guess I’ll see you two later then,” she said, kneeling down to gather her dogs and give them a hug. “My shift is over at eight. Would it be okay if I stop in to see them afterwards?”
“Of course. Just make sure your ex doesn’t follow you here.”
She stood and brushed off the knees of her jeans. “I didn’t even think of that. I’ll be cautious.” After scratching Sophie behind the ears and rubbing Oscar’s throat, explaining those were their favorite places to be petted, she turned and walked toward the gate. “I’ll call you before I leave for work to see how they’re doing. Thanks again, Killian.”
“You’re welcome, Emma.”
*********
Emma was twenty minutes into her dinner break when Neal came storming into the restaurant and over to the bar where she was sitting. “What the fuck, Ems?” he hollered. “How dare you break into MY place! And why aren’t you answering your phone? I’ve called you a million times and it keeps going straight to voicemail!”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw August move around the bar to stand beside her. She had told him what she and Killian did as soon as she got to work that afternoon and he assured her he would protect her if Neal showed up.
She took a deep breath then spoke in what she hoped sounded like a steady voice. “First of all, I didn’t break in because I still have a key. Besides, I paid more than my share of the rent the entire time I lived with you, so technically, it’s more my place than yours. To answer your second question, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m working and haven’t had time to look at my phone.” She lifted her chin and met his furious gaze. “And besides, I blocked your number.”
Neal’s face reddened with rage and his hands balled into fists. “You did what?”
August stepped in front of her, stating firmly, “Leave her alone, Cassidy.”
“Stay out of it, Booth! This is none of your business!”
“Maybe not, but Emma is my friend and I’m not going to stand here and listen to you scream at her.”
Neal stepped forward until he was nose-to-nose with August. “This BITCH,” he spat, “broke into my house while I was at work…”
“Didn’t you hear her? She didn’t break in. And she went in to rescue her own dogs,” August said calmly.
“Did she give them to you?” Neal questioned loudly, his face showing even more anger at being cut off.
August shook his head. “No. I’m allergic to dogs.”
“Then where the fuck are they?”
The bartender shrugged unconcernedly. “I don’t know.” It wasn’t a lie, since he didn’t know where Killian lived.
Neal stepped to his left to focus on Emma again. “Don’t think this is over, Ems! When I find those mutts…”
“Why do you want to find them?” she interrupted. “Obviously you hate them or you wouldn’t have threatened to have them killed. They’re not your problem anymore, so just let it go.”
“You’ll pay for this, Emma,” Neal growled. “Nobody makes a fool out of me!”
As he turned to stalk away, Emma couldn’t stop herself from saying, “Nobody has to, Neal. You do a good enough job of that all by yourself.”
He whirled around and had his finger in her face before August could move to stop him. “I will find those fucking dogs and when I do, I’ll chop them into bite-sized pieces and sell them to a Chinese restaurant!”
Emma’s face was ashen as she watched him stomp out the door. Turning to August, she whispered, “Do you think he’ll be able to find them?”
“Not if you’re careful for the next couple of weeks” he assured her. “Knowing Neal, he’ll lose interest in finding them after that.”
“That’s true. He has the attention span of a gnat. Hopefully he’ll move on and be out of my life soon.”
*********
Emma called Killian as soon as her shift was over. “How are they?” she blurted.
“Hello to you, too, Swan,” he chuckled.
“Sorry. I just…”
“No worries. The dogs are absolutely fine. Sophie slept most of the day and Oscar has been exploring the house. I think he decided his favorite spot is my bedroom, so I put his bed in there.”
“Well, I’ll warn you - he snores.”
Killian laughed again. “I probably do, too. Will you be coming by to see them?”
She sighed. “I can’t. Neal came into the restaurant tonight and his car hasn’t left the parking lot. He’s obviously planning on following me when I leave and he’s not even being sneaky about it.”
“Are you going to be alright?” he asked, concern very evident in his voice.
“Yeah. I’m going to spend the night at my friend Mary Margaret’s. She’s one of the other waitresses and her boyfriend is a police officer.”
“How did Neal act toward you when he came in?”
“He was awful. August was there for me, though.”
“I’m so sorry, Emma.”
“Thanks, but you don’t need to apologize. He’s a jerk and I’m the idiot who got involved with him.”
“Any man who treats a lovely lass like you the way he has is the idiot, Swan.”
Emma was glad he couldn’t see the blush she knew was filling her cheeks. “Well, in any case, I don’t know when I’ll be able to come by your house. I have a feeling Neal is going to be relentless for a few days. He’s furious about me taking the dogs and blocking his number.”
“Once you get to your friend’s place, why don’t you Facetime me so you can at least see them?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not. I’m sure you’ll sleep better seeing for yourself that they are truly settled in here.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you in a little while, then. Thanks, Killian.”
“You really don’t have to keep thanking me.”
“I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’re doing. You’re a hero in my eyes.”
“I’m happy to help any way I can. I’ll be awaiting your call. Be careful, Emma.”
@jrob64 Oh my goodness!! I love how Killian just folds the dogs right into his life, reassuring Emma he’s happy to do it, he loves dogs anyway, and that she doesn’t have to keep thanking him, he wanted to help her. It’s heart melting how she tells him he’s a hero in her eyes, and she’s right: he stepped in when he didn’t have to and he’s saved her babies lives!
This scene when she finally saw her dogs again melted me too. I was grinning from ear-to-ear: “Killian entered and closed the door behind him, then turned to see the joyous reunion between Emma and her dogs. They were jumping on her as she knelt, smothering her with wet dog kisses as their tails wagged so hard, their whole bodies were wiggling.” And I love that Killian is there to see it and be a part of that moment too.
And then when Neal barges into the diner! Shame on him! And bravo for Emma standing her ground and even getting a good dog in despite his hatefulness. Good for August for standing up for her too. I’m really glad they got the dogs when they did, crazy as it seems, I don’t think he was bluffing. It’s too bad Emma can’t go see her babies for the moment. But it has to already be comforting to know that they are with someone like Killian. 🩷🫠🩷
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
A Doggone Good Plan - Chapter 1 (An Offer Out of the Blue)
A CS Multi-chapter Modern AU
I intended to write this story as a birthday gift for @whimsicallyenchantedrose and hoped to at least start posting it before her birthday month was over. Alas, April came and went, and here it is, the end of May. I sincerely hope it was worth the wait, Jen!
Huge thanks to @kmomof4 for all her help and beta services for this story.
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.
*Please take note - this fic is very much anti-Neal and anti-Swanfire
RATING: M (for language, verbal abuse and gun violence)
WORDS: 2874 of 18,700 (There will be 6 chapters & a short epilogue)
Can also be read on Ao3
Story begins under the cut
*********
Emma Swan entered the back door of the restaurant, slamming it behind her. After preparing herself for her shift, she went into the employee’s bathroom to check her reflection in the mirror. Just as she expected, her eyes were red and puffy and her face splotchy. She grabbed a paper towel, ran it under cold water, and dabbed around her eyes, trying not to completely ruin her makeup. It already looked worse for wear from the crying she did on the way to work.
“Stupid, fucking Neal,” she ground out, using another towel to pat her face dry. “What did I ever see in him anyway?” When the woman in the mirror didn’t offer an answer, she sighed and tossed the wad of paper in the trash can on the way out the door.
She checked her table assignments, relieved to see she didn’t have any of the bigger tables. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with large parties of people tonight. Plastering on a smile, she headed to the booth in the corner to take their order.
After turning in their food order to the kitchen, she went to the bar to place their drink order.
“Hello, Emma,” the bartender greeted.
“Hey, August,” she replied. Of the three bartenders she worked with, he was her favorite. She recited the four drinks she needed, but August didn’t move to start making them.
“You seem upset,” he observed. “What did your rat bastard ex do now?”
“It’s that apparent, huh?”
“It is to me.”
She leaned on the bar, fighting back fresh tears. “He says he’s going to take my dogs to the animal shelter.”
“You’re kidding!” August blurted.
Emma shook her head. “I wish I was.”
“I thought he liked the dogs.”
“He does, or at least he acted like he did,” she shrugged. “He’s just doing it to get back at me. He knows I can’t have them in my apartment, so he’s threatening to take them to the shelter to try to get me to move back in with him.”
“What an absolute dick,” August said, as he set out the drink glasses.
“Yeah,” she sighed again. “What am I going to do? I can’t let Sophie and Oscar go to the animal shelter! They’re like my own kids. It was hard enough to leave them behind when I moved out, but I had no other choice. I had to get away from Neal and I couldn’t find a place on such short notice that would allow pets.” Her words ended on a stifled sob.
“I’d be willing to foster them until you find a place for you and your dogs.”
Emma’s tear-filled eyes swung to the man at the bar who had spoken with a British accent. He held his hand out to her. “Killian Jones.”
She hesitantly shook his offered hand. “Emma Swan.”
“I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but it was difficult not to when I’m sitting right here. It sounds like you need some help.”
“I do. But why on earth would you offer to help a complete stranger?”
“Well, I love dogs,” he said, ticking the reasons off on his fingers, “I’m renting a home that allows pets and has a fenced-in backyard, and I abhor men who treat women spitefully.”
Emma turned to look at August, who was busy making the drinks while listening to the conversation. “Do you know this guy?”
“Killian’s been in several times. He’s a great tipper,” August grinned, as he set the four filled glasses on Emma’s tray.
Her mind was swirling. She had absolutely no reason to trust this guy, especially since her experiences with trusting men were less than stellar. Still, she had to do something to save her babies. There was a chance that Neal wasn’t serious about his threat, but she wasn’t willing to risk it. He was furious that she had the gall to move out and was vindictive enough to follow through with getting rid of them just to provoke her.
Turning around with her tray, she said, “I’ll tell you what - if you’re still here when I take my break in three hours, I’ll sit down and discuss this with you. If not, I’ll know you weren’t serious. Deal?”
“It’s a deal, lass,” he said with a smile.
Emma continued working her shift, occasionally returning to the bar for mixed drinks. Each time she did during the next two hours, Killian Jones was sitting in the same place, nursing a soda. Whenever she looked his way, he smiled warmly, then turned his attention back to the soccer game on the TV above the bar.
Forty-five minutes before her break, she went to turn in a drink order and noticed the man’s bar stool was empty. Her heart sank a little, because despite telling herself over and over again not to, she had still gotten her hopes up.
August took one look at her face and sent her a commiserating smile, “He’s in the restroom, Emma.”
She tried not to show the relief she felt. “I wasn’t worried. He’s free to leave if he wants,” she said with a shrug.
August rested his forearms on the bar to look her in the eyes. “I’ve been talking to him all evening. He seems like a good guy and he’s serious about taking the dogs.”
“Maybe it’s just his way of getting into my pants.”
“You know how good I am at reading people,” he reminded her. “I don’t get that impression. If I did, I’d toss him out on his ear.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll see, I guess.” She recited the drinks she needed and August got to work.
Just as he was setting the last drink on her tray, Killian Jones returned. He gave her another smile, then checked his phone. “Your break is in about forty minutes, isn’t it, lass?”
“That’s right.”
“Great! I was hoping you would agree to eat with me. I already ordered some food to be ready at that time. August told me what you usually get to eat.”
Emma glanced at August, who was grinning at her. Looking back at Killian, she replied, “Um, sure. I always sit at the bar to eat anyway.”
“She vents to me while she has dinner,” August said.
“Hey, if you didn’t want to hear about people’s problems, you shouldn’t have become a bartender,” Emma huffed.
The two men were chuckling at her response as she picked up her tray and walked away.
The rest of the time until her break seemed to crawl. Finally, she was free to go to the restroom and wash her hands. Looking in the mirror this time, she saw a woman with a genuine smile on her face. She could attribute it to the very appreciative elderly couple to whom she delivered food just before her break, but if she was truly honest, it was also due to the fact that she would be eating dinner with Killian Jones. The man was seriously good-looking and his offer to help gave her hope that she could somehow keep her pets safe.
She pulled the elastic from her hair, combed through it with her fingers, and pulled it back into a neater ponytail. Then she applied some fresh lipstick from the tube she kept tucked in her pocket, feeling a little silly for wanting to make a good impression.
Exiting the restroom, she quickly made her way to the bar and slid onto the stool beside Killian. A steaming plate of chicken alfredo was waiting for her and she gave him a smile of appreciation before picking up her fork. “Thank you for putting in an order for me.”
“I hope August didn’t steer me wrong,” Killian said, getting ready to take his first bite of beef tips.
“He didn’t. I need the carbs to keep me going through the rest of my shift.”
They ate a few bites before he spoke. “Tell me about your dogs.”
Just the thought of her babies brought a smile to her face. “Sophie is an Old English Sheepdog that I’ve had since she was a puppy. She’s four years old now. Oscar is a…well, we’re really not sure of his breed. We got him a few months ago from a lady who was fostering him after he was picked up as a stray.” She pulled her phone from her apron and chose a picture to show him.
“May I?” he asked, wiping his hands on his napkin. At her nod, he used his fingers to zoom in on the picture. “He appears to have a nose and ears like a Shih Tzu, but seems a little bigger. Definitely a mixed breed.”
She was impressed with his apparent knowledge of dogs. “That’s what we thought, too.”
“I love his underbite.”
“Yeah,” she laughed. “That’s what got my attention when I first saw his picture on the website.”
“They’re both very cute dogs,” he said.
Emma nodded in agreement, locking her phone and tucking it away. “They’re my babies.” After taking another bite and swallowing, it was her turn to question him. “So, tell me about yourself, Killian Jones.”
“In case you haven’t already figured it out, I’m from England. I moved to Maine four months ago when the company I work for opened a new office here and asked me to help get it up and running.”
“So you’re just here temporarily?”
“I expect to be here for at least a year, and the way things are going, it may be even longer.”
“It’s that bad?” she asked, cringing slightly.
“Not really bad. It’s just going to take more training than they were planning.”
“What kind of business is it?” she asked before taking a bite of a breadstick.
“Digital design, specializing in boats, yachts and small ships.”
She finished chewing and swallowed. “Sounds interesting.”
“I enjoy it very much,” he agreed. “Now, getting back to your problem…”
“My problem is my asshole ex-boyfriend, as you already heard. I don’t know if he’ll actually follow through on taking them to the dog pound, but I have to take his threat seriously because…let’s just say I wouldn’t put anything past him.”
“Will you be able to get Sophie and Oscar away from him?”
“I’m pretty sure I can. I still have a key and I doubt he went to the trouble of having the locks changed. All I have to do is wait for him to go to work, then I can go in and get them.”
“What will he do when he finds out?”
She shrugged. “I’m sure he’ll be angry, but I’m used to dealing with his temper tantrums. It’s one of the main reasons why I ended our relationship.”
“I’m sorry, lass.”
“Thanks. Anyway, getting the dogs shouldn’t be a problem and he won’t be able to figure out where they are, so you shouldn’t have to worry about him bothering you.”
“I’m not worried about that,” he replied. “I just want to make sure you and your dogs are safe. This guy sounds like a bloody blighter.”
“Come again?” she asked, confused at the term.
“Contemptible idiot,” he clarified.
“Oh, that certainly describes him. Okay, let’s say I do get the dogs. Would I be able to visit them? I don’t even know where you live.”
“I rent a house three blocks from here, which is why I frequent this restaurant. And of course you would be welcome to visit them anytime I’m home,” he assured her. “They’re your dogs, after all.”
She considered him for a moment. “Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush. Are you making this offer so you can get into my pants?”
His eyes widened almost comically. “Get into your pants?”
“Seduce me,” she explained.
“I’m aware of what the phrase means,” he said with a rueful smile. “I’m just a bit shocked you would think that.”
“Well, I don’t know you.”
“Point taken,” he admitted, scratching behind his ear.
“There’s also the fact that I’m obviously a terrible judge of character when it comes to men.”
“Emma, I promise I have no ulterior motives.” His tone was soft and reassuring, and Emma found herself relaxing and beginning to trust him. “I simply heard your dilemma and have the ability to offer a solution.” He tugged his phone out of the front pocket of his jeans and searched for something. Finding what he wanted, he turned it so she could see it. “This is my house. It’s small, but could easily accommodate your dogs. Besides the backyard, there’s also a dog park a few blocks away. How are they on a leash?”
“They’re good. Sophie is better than Oscar because I trained her as a pup, but he’s a pretty calm, easy-going dog.” She looked at her phone to check the time. “Oh, gosh. My break is over in a couple of minutes.”
Killian grabbed a napkin and pulled a pen out of his shirt pocket. After scribbling down his phone number, he slid it across the bar to her. “Think about it, Emma. If you decide to take me up on the offer, give me a call. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll assume you figured out a different way to solve the problem.”
She folded the napkin and tucked it into her apron pocket along with her phone. “I really appreciate your willingness to help,” she said with a smile. “I have to get back to work. Thanks again, Killian.”
With that, she resumed her shift. When she returned to the bar to turn in an order ten minutes later, Killian Jones was gone.
*********
“Neal, why are you being such an absolute jerk?”
“It’s your own fault, Ems,” he said, and the calmness in his voice infuriated her even more. “If you hadn’t moved out, I wouldn’t have to get rid of these mutts.”
“And if you hadn’t cheated on me then pitched a temper tantrum like a child, I wouldn’t have had to move out!” Emma shouted.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Ems. It was only one time. Get over it already.”
She couldn’t believe this asshole. “Seriously? I’ll never be able to trust you again!”
“Would you stop being so dramatic? So I slept with someone else. What’s the big deal?”
Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to keep her temper under some semblance of control. “How would you feel if I slept with someone else? You get mad when I even look at another guy!”
“Did you sleep with someone else?”
“Of course not! You and I were in a committed relationship and living together!”
“Which you obviously thought gave you permission to invade my privacy. You wouldn’t have even known about Tink if you hadn’t nosed around in my phone.”
“Wait, what…are you saying…” she sputtered. “Somehow you’re turning the blame for this on me?”
“Ignorance is bliss, Ems. The two of us would still be together if you would have just left well enough alone, but you had to go and ruin a good thing.”
“You’re the one who ruined a good thing by being a fucking cheater! But that’s not right, either, because evidently our relationship wasn’t good at all.”
“It was starting to go downhill. In fact, you were getting really boring. Always talking about bills and groceries and schedules…”
“You mean things that normal adults talk about?” she asked incredulously. “Grow up, Neal. Life isn’t one big party like you seem to think. Bills have to be paid on time or utilities get cut off!”
She heard him heave an overly dramatic sigh. “There you go again, Ems. Actually, I’m glad you moved out - it saved me the trouble of kicking you out when I finally had enough of your nagging and complaining.”
Emma felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks. How could the man she thought she loved be so heartless and cruel? Swallowing hard, she fought to keep the emotion out of her voice. “If that’s the way you feel, I’m glad I moved out, too, but please let me have my dogs. It’s not fair for them to be punished because we broke up.”
“You already told me you can’t have them at your apartment, so what would you do with them if I did give them to you?”
“I’ll figure something out. I just don’t want them taken to the shelter. They would hate it there.”
Neal didn’t respond for several seconds, then said flippantly, “You’re right. They would hate living in a shelter, so I guess the best solution is to have them euthanized.”
“What?! NO! Neal, you can’t be serious!”
“Oh, I’m completely serious,” he replied. “I’m sick of taking care of them. I hope you gave them a nice, long goodbye before you left, Ems, because it was the last time you’ll ever see them.”
The call ended before Emma could respond. She stared at the phone in horror. What if he really was angry enough to kill her pets? Panic began to set in and she forced herself to take deep breaths.
Once her mind cleared enough to think, she retrieved the napkin from her desk drawer and punched in Killian’s number.
*********
Thanks so much for reading. Please leave comments, like and reblog if you're so inclined. Every bit of nice feedback is appreciated.
@jrob64 Okay, I admit I am way behind on reading and reblogging this fic with comments, but here goes!
First off, you really hook us on right from the start here! We are immediately worried about Emma and sympathetic to her plight, whatever has made her so upset. And the. We find out it’s stupid Neal and he’s keeping her dogs from her!!! 😡 What a jerk! Thank goodness she is standing her ground, but of course you have us worrying for Sophie and Oscar right along with her.
I liked the idea of August as bartender and co-worker/friend. It made it good that he had seen and interacted with Killian some already and could tell him he seemed like an alright guy. I am never completely sure quite how I feel about August in canon, but he works here very well; you have written he and Emma in a very natural believable way as work friends.
And how could we not immediately love Killian for offering her a solution. He heard what’s happening (he was sitting right there, as he reminds her) and he has a way to help, so he doesn’t hesitate to offer it. He loves dogs, and he doesn’t want to see a lady treated badly either.
It’s great to see Emma open to his suggestion, to listen and consider him fairly right off the bat. Despite Neal’s cheating and pettiness, she is more open here to someone offering a hand out of the goodness of their heart. I’m already smiling at how well they seem to get along, and it’s only the first chapter!!
But that threat at the end! We already knew Neal was the worst, but saying he’s going to put them down and she won’t ever see them again?!? Truly heinous!!!
CSSS25: "Next Year All Our Troubles Will be Out of Sight" {Epilogue}
And here we are at the end of this story at last! @cocohook38 I truly do hope you will still enjoy this last bit of the tale: some happiness and healing for our characters in the end. Thank you so much for being so patient as my @cssecretsanta2020 giftee, even as this gift became more and more protracted in the giving.
Summary: Tragedy brings Killian Jones into Emma Swan and her son Henry's lives, but at first she may be too closed off to accept the help he wishes to offer. Much stands in the way, but her son's belief, a stubborn, caring man, and perhaps just a pinch of healing Christmas magic, may help them all muddle through into a brighter New Year.
If you need a refresher, the previous chapters of this story can be found HERE, or HERE on AO3.
Epilogue: So Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Now
One Year Later…
As she stood near the large living room windows, watching the white snowflakes fall steadily, like the perfect, peaceful wonderland scene inside a snowglobe, Emma Swan marvelled that somehow another year had come and gone. It didn’t seem that twelve whole months had passed; she was still struggling to believe that Henry could possibly be twelve years old. And yet, at the same time, the person she had been a year ago, the pain, doubt, and loss she had struggled through, felt like part of another life.
Turning away from the charming view outside, Emma couldn’t help but beam at the scene before her. She didn’t know how she had come to deserve the picture that greeted her in her own home. They had already strung lights around the room and throughout the house. The warm, sweet and spicy scents of hot chocolate and mulled cider floated on the air, as well as a buttery reminder of the popcorn they’d eaten as well as strung to wrap around the tree. It was an old-fashioned, homemade decoration, one Emma had never attempted before herself, but when Killian had mentioned making the edible garland with his mum and brother years ago, Henry had taken to the idea with gusto and they’d simply had to try it for themselves.
‘Oh yes,’ Emma’s mind whispered with a sense of deep satisfaction as her eyes met Killian’s across the room. ‘So much is different this year from last, and most of it was due to him… Killian Jones. And thank goodness it was.’
He looked up from where he was playfully holding their box of favorite ornaments just out of Henry’s reach as the boy jumped and grabbed in their joking game of keepaway. At the expression on her face, Killian lowered the box and smiled back at her, his entire countenance lighting with the love he felt for her and her boy - that he could now see she returned. Henry grabbed it from his hands with a whoop of victory, charging toward the tree, and Killian made no move to stop him, only chuckled lightly and shook his head - as if he could no more than Emma believe that this bright, happy moment could possibly be real.
Emma laughed too as Henry handed her the box to set on the coffee table and they opened it eagerly to unearth their treasures. Henry found the first of his own collection: a wooden book token labeled “Once Upon a Time” across the front in gold lettering. She and Graham had selected it the first holiday they’d spent together, as Henry’s interest in writing had begun to develop. She also ruffled Henry’s hair and sniffled just a bit when he reverently hung the ceramic ornament shaped and painted to look like a line of tall green pine trees with a wolf standing in the forefront. She didn’t even realize a tear had escaped to trail down her cheek until Killian reached her side and gently brushed it away with a steadying finger.
She grabbed his hand and clutched it tightly, pressing it to her chest in gratitude. After a moment, she reached into the box again and pulled out a familiar ornament next. Dangling from her fingers was the crystal swan Killian had gifted her the year before. Both of them focused on it for a moment, and even Henry went still, beaming at the both of them. As Judy Garland warbled from the stereo in the background about “the olden days, happy golden days of yore” Emma felt the emotion swelling inside. Though she did look back on some of the good times of the past fondly, she was even more looking forward to the days ahead.
She had often told Henry they were “almost there”, that they they had nearly found the life and family and place they belonged, but she now believed to the very depth of her being that place had at last been reached. Looping the ornament’s hanger over a high bough, Emma gazed at the sparkling bird as the tree lights glimmered off its surface. For the first time in her life, she knew with certainty that the coming new year would be bright and that the best was yet to come.
Tagging a few who might be interested: @cssecretsanta2020 @cocohook38 @kmomof4 @jrob64 @whimsicallyenchantedrose
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
CSSNS25: "Next Year All Our Troubles Will be Out of Sight" {Part Three}
Wow, hard to believe that it is the first of August! Not the least reason being that it has now taken me 8+ months to finish this Christmas story. However, it is finally done at last, and I hope my @cssecretsanta2020 giftee @cocohook38 will enjoy how this finally wraps up. This final chapter posts now, and the epilogue will be either tomorrow or Monday. I'm not about making her (or anyone else who is still interested) wait any longer. I hope these last two parts of the story where things finally look brighter for our characters will soothe all the angst up to this point.
Summary: Tragedy brings Killian Jones into Emma Swan and her son Henry's lives, but at first she may be too closed off to accept the help he wishes to offer. Much stands in the way, but her son's belief, a stubborn, caring man, and perhaps just a pinch of healing Christmas magic, may help them all muddle through into a brighter New Year.
If you need a refresher, the previous chapters of this story can be found HERE, or HERE on AO3.
Part Three: Until Then, We'll Have to Muddle Through Somehow
Meanwhile, back at her apartment, long after Henry’s return and their meal together, Emma had finally forced herself to have a truly frank conversation with her son; one that delved deep enough to pass him saying he was fine and learn that he had been worried about her and trying to protect her by pretending he was okay with their scaled-back holiday preparations. She’d shed several tears in reassuring her beautiful, wonderful boy that what she needed most was his happiness. Her job was to take care of him, not the other way around. She needed him to know that he could always be open and tell her how he truly felt, regardless of what he thought she might want. They’d even agreed to try making gingerbread that weekend - a new holiday tradition of sorts for the two of them, and the hug he had given her before heading off to bed had felt like forgiveness.
Still, Emma knew she’d see very little sleep that night. She’d been going through the motions, wrapped up so fully in her own dismal shroud of blame and hurt that she hadn’t paid as close attention to her son as she felt she should have. Henry had been putting on a brave face for her while on the inside still grieving the only father he had ever known. While he might not hold her accountable, it was much harder for Emma to let herself off the hook for missing what her kid had been going through. Though she hated to admit it, even just to herself, Killian Jones had been right to challenge her blindness in his own concern for Henry, and she’d berated him for it. Things might have continued as they had been indefinitely longer if he hadn’t spoken up, knowing it wouldn’t be an easy thing to do and that it might well blow up in his face - just as it had done. Her pride was pricked certainly, but she was embarrassed now at how she had overreacted and lashed out at him.
It was, unfortunately, a familiar mistake of hers, Emma thought with a sigh as she settled deeper into the corner of the couch. Her sleepless eyes refused to close while her mind flew back several years in the past - to her first meeting with Graham, another good hearted man who had approached her with the of best intentions and had her nearly bite his head off for the effort.
Henry had been hardly more than a toddler then, but it was the first week of December and the year’s first snow had accumulated overnight. Her little boy had been dazzled by the brilliant whiteness all around and the still-falling flakes that landed on his cheeks and melted on his tongue. He’d begged to go out in it, despite her fear that he might get too cold, until she had finally bundled him up to the point he could hardly move and had driven the beat-up yellow Bug to the nearest public park, where she knew there were benches to watch the ice skating and hockey games, enough room to make a snowman, and hot chocolate for purchase to warm them up before heading back home. She’d been so focused on making sure she had her purse, keys, the bag with anything Henry could possibly need and checking once more to be certain that she was in a legal parking spot and that the car doors were locked, that she’d been startled when someone spoke up right behind her.
Whirling around to find the owner of the playful, accented voice, she’d gotten her first glimpse at Graham Hunter, then brand new to the force in a brown coat adorned by his deputy badge and holding Henry by a mittened hand as he grinned at her sheepishly. “Ah, sorry about that, Lass. Didn’t mean to startle you. It just appeared that this little one might have been about to make a break for it.”
Emma knew red had probably flushed all the way up from her throat to her hairline instantaneously, caught having lost concentration for just a moment or two. She could see quite clearly that Henry’s attention was still arrested by the bigger kids zipping around the frozen pond visible from their parking space and knew he probably had started heading that way. But at that point she was so on guard with everyone; from his birth, it had been just she and Henry against the whole world. She’d already seen more judgement and false commiseration, unsolicited suggestions and hurtful opinions on her fitness as a mother than she could stomach. She’d felt his interference was about to be another occasion of the same, only with a nicer beginning, and she’d snapped at him to mind his own business, she’d known exactly where her son was.
“Of course, my apologies, ma’am,” the deputy immediately released Henry’s hand and stepped back, eyes falling to his toes. “I meant no offense. It’s just… you don’t work in law enforcement very long before you discover how quickly something can grab a little one’s attention, and they dart off in a heartbeat. I only intended to help.”
Emma had thawed pretty quickly upon seeing that there was no shaming or criticism in his eyes, only genuine kindness. Even then, he’d been willing to swallow his own pride and put her needs first, being more thoughtful and understanding than she’d believed possible until they met. As it turned out, he’d just been coming off duty, taking a walk to unwind after his shift. He’d joined them, they’d shared a hot chocolate, and before the month was out, he’d been part of the first Christmas Emma had ever experienced where it felt like she’d had a family. He was alone in the world as well, he had long since admitted to her, and neither of them had ever wanted to feel that way again.
Blinking, Emma found the hazy edges of the fond memory fading as she returned to the present. In all this time, had she really not learned more than that? Here she was once again regretting how quickly she had spoken harshly to someone who’d only wanted to help, seeing an attack when it simply wasn’t there. She had thought she’d finally come to trust in Graham for better, and yet somehow her final words to him had been uttered in hurt and frustration. It was too late to take them back. However, she could try to do better in the present. She resolved that first thing the next morning she would call Killian and apologize, even invite him for dinner and try to make amends before the holiday - after Henry’s next appointment maybe? It was the least she could do.
~~*~~
Two nights later, Killian found himself blowing out a tense breath as he stood just outside Emma and Henry’s front door. He had been pleasantly surprised when Emma had called the morning after their disagreement to apologize, admitting that she had been upset and gotten defensive. After sharing that she had spoken to Henry and learned that Killian’s concerns were well-founded, she’d invited him to eat with them after Henry’s afternoon therapy session earlier in the day.
Killian knew that it could not have been easy for the woman to call and admit she’d overreacted to him, nor to then admit that she hadn’t seen the full extent of her son’s pain. He was impressed all over again by her character and determination - even if it was sometimes found encased behind prickly edges. Thankfully, he’d had a chance to make his own apologies if he had overstepped and explain that he had only wished to help. And he was not going to miss his chance to mend the bridge, take advantage of the opportunity she had offered to make things right. He still wanted to help; both Emma and Henry Swan had gripped him by the heart, and he wanted to see the both of them regain their lives and the joy to be found in the living.
With that, he resolved to put aside his nerves and knock. He wasn’t going to do anyone any good standing outside wondering what he should say or what might happen. Once he did, Killian could hear feet pounding toward him quickly, and he was greeted enthusiastically by a grinning Henry.
“Hey there, Dr. Jones! Come on in!” he chirped, waving his therapist into the front hall before closing the door behind Killian. “The dining room is just through here,” the boy beckoned, leading him forward. “Mom and I have just about everything ready.”
“After you, Lad,” Killian answered with an easy smile, almost immediately feeling some of the anxious tension draining from him at Henry’s welcome. Seeing the precocious young man professionally had allowed Killian to get to know him on a personal level as well. Henry Swan was rather irresistible in truth; he was open, clever, and the more time one spent with him, the more one wanted to. He followed readily, and when they entered the dining room, he found Emma Swan standing at the table covered by a large pan of lasagna, garlic bread, and salad set out ready for them and lighting a few tall candles that served as extra light around a poinsettia centerpiece.
“Good evening, Dr. Jones,” she offered, a smile in her voice that matched a pleasant twinkle in her eye, even though he noticed that she also intertwined her fingers nervously in front of her. Somehow, it was a bit comforting to see that he was not the only one anxious for this to go well. “We’re glad you could make it.”
Killian grinned back. “I wouldn’t have missed it, Swan. It’s not often that I have the chance to dine with such fine company - and this all looks delicious.”
The blonde shrugged, a dismissive huff of air escaping her as she dropped her eyes to the full table. “Well, it’s one of the few full scale meals I’ve got mastered,” she allowed, “but maybe you’d better taste it before you go crazy with the compliments.”
“Here, sit by me!” Henry piped up, tapping the seat next to him. “And don’t let Mom fool you. Her garlic bread is the BEST! Yeah, she’s had to work at cooking, but she’s getting better. Like she always tells me, if you really want to be good at something, you just have to keep pushing through and practicing.”
Taking the seat Henry had indicated, Killian agreed to that statement with a firm nod, then looked up to catch Emma Swan’s eyes intently as well. “She’s absolutely right about that, Lad.”
Emma returned his look, cheeks flushing and lips eventually tipping up at both corners with a grin, while she sat as well.
Killian returned his gaze to the young man beside him as they all began to dish up salad, bread, and pass around the various serving dishes. Only a moment of hurt flickered across his face as he added. “My elder brother Liam used to say, ‘A man unwilling to fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets.’ So yes, there is much to be said for continuing to fight, as it were - or to put in the work, you might also say.”
Henry nodded, and Emma smiled too, infinitely warmed by the easy way with her son the man sitting at their table possessed. He encouraged and advised without seeming self-satisfied or as if he were giving a lecture. There was now an empty space in Henry’s life for a male role model of this caliber, the sort that Graham had been, and she was incredibly glad she’d tried to make things right, if for that reason alone. ‘And maybe some therapists actually do know what they’re doing,’ she reflected with a touch of humor.
After that, the three of them lapsed into contented quiet as they began to eat, mostly punctuated by the clink of silverware on plates and satisfied hums at the good food. It had been far too long since Killian had been included in a family meal like this one, welcomed to sit around a table filled with homemade dishes and people who mattered. He’d missed it more than he’d realized or acknowledged. And even with the shaky start they’d had and how he had ruffled her feathers, Killian knew he could find real comfort sharing a table, or any space, with Swan and her boy. He’d long since recognized that a cool, professional distance was more than he wanted to maintain, and would never be enough for his seeking, lonely heart.
As he finished the hearty serving of lasagna she’d dished onto his plate, Killian complimented it with warm sincerity, and then allowed his eyes to explore further around the room and on into the living room over her shoulder. The place was small, and far from fancy, but it had a cozy, lived-in feel that couldn’t be bought at any price. A welcoming glow seemed to radiate from the far side of the room over by the large windows which looked down on the crowded sidewalks below, and when Killian’s eyes registered what caused the soft light, they widened in happy surprise.
He put down his fork and couldn’t help exclaiming, “You got a tree after all, Swan! And a fine specimen it is, at that!”
“It was the tallest one left on the lot,” Henry chipped in with pride, beaming as he pushed his chair back from the table, his plate completely empty. “Would you like to see it closer?”
“Aye, if it’s alright with your mother,” Killian agreed with an assessing glance in her direction. Something more telling and vulnerable than he had yet glimpsed from her, was in Emma Swan’s face as she nodded, already standing to follow them into the adjoining room. “I wouldn’t want to invade your sanctuary or overstay my welcome,” he added, spoken low and directly to her. The intention was heartfelt, even as he found himself reluctant to leave, hoping to be welcomed in further.
“No danger of that,” she murmured, coming to stand beside him at the threshold of the living room. Henry had gone ahead and was gesturing grandly toward their tree, much like a proud ringmaster at a three-ring circus, so their words went unheard by the youth. “I’m woman enough to admit that you were right. Henry needed this… and you deserve to see how happy he is as a result.”
Flabbergasted, Killian turned his head to the side to look at her, but she only returned his gaze with a small, enigmatic smile. Her eyes twinkled, looking as though they had regained a bit of their vigor, their green depths less stripped and washed out by loss and regret than they had been been previously. Henry seemed lighter too - both in his session earlier that afternoon and here at home grinning broadly at Killian as he forced himself to speak normally while singing the praises of their magnificent find. Several emotions at once were squeezing his chest, and he fought to hold them all in check and behave naturally. The signs of healing were beginning to show, and he was happy for them; relieved as he always was for his patients when the first horrible wave of grief began to ebb and they tentatively started to find their way back to life.
After Henry had slipped off into his room sometime later, and Killian had convinced Emma to let him help clear the table and do the dishes, he found himself eagerly soaking up the moments he had left in her presence, in this house that truly felt like a home, and dreading the time he would have to leave. When the last platter had been wiped dry and returned to the cabinet, and the final piece of silverware placed back in its drawer, he had little other excuse to linger. Still, he found himself dawdling as he moved toward the entryway where he’d left his coat, and she followed to see him out. She had seemed more at ease with him tonight than she had before, and Killian wanted to build on that, to see the connection grow, but he wasn’t sure if he should risk putting that to her in words - nor did he want to push or discomfort her and undo any progress they had made.
He did have one more thing to say before he left, however. When he reached his coat, Killian slipped his hand into the pocket before taking it down to put on. Pulling out a small box wrapped in green metallic paper and topped with a wide silver bow - a box containing the delicate swan ornament - Killian offered it to her with a smile and nod. “Thank you for this evening, Swan. It’s been one of the nicest times I can recall spending with anyone in ages. I’m grateful we were able to work out our disagreement, and I’m glad to see you and Henry finding some of your joy in the season once more.”
Her soft lips parted in clear surprise. Her hands came out to take the gift on instinct, but she looked rather dumbfounded as she held it to her chest, as if not sure what to do with it or if it were truly for her. “Killian,” her whisper of his name made his heart pound hard in his chest, “you didn’t have to… A gift wasn’t necess… I don’t have anything for you.”
“Nonsense,” he interrupted gently, halting her broken excuses. “You welcomed me into your home, fed me a delicious meal, and you and your son gave of your time and made me feel a part of your celebration. I couldn’t ask for a nicer gift.”
Again, he pressed her hands holding the gift, urging her to open it. “Go on… Happy Christmas, Emma.”
Her shaking fingers managed to remove the bow and peel back the wrapping paper. Once she opened the box and removed the ornament, letting it dangle from her fingers by its string and catch the lights from its many facets, he heard her audible gasp of surprise. For a moment, she simply stared at the delicate crystal form of her namesake, and Killian almost feared his gift was the wrong choice, too much, when he saw tears beaded on her lashes ready to fall.
He was more than a little relieved when she finally spoke, her voice awed, “It’s beautiful, truly. But you shouldn’t have… you didn’t need to…”
“But I wanted to. You deserve something lovely after what you’ve weathered. A symbol of the beauty and joy you will find again.” Killian drew in a deep breath, steadying his nerve and committing to say the rest, that he felt with all his heart. “Your happiness, Emma - yours and Henry’s - that’s all I want for you to have.”
One of those trembling teardrops did fall silently down her cheek, but the grin on her face spread wider as she gazed back at him and drank in his words. It felt like a bit of restoration at last, a bit of HOPE.
Tagging a few who might enjoy: @cssecretsanta2020 @cocohook38 @kmomof4 @jrob64 @whimsicallyenchantedrose
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
yousharknotpass
ellievsbear
theartofmadeline
gamechangershow
amandla
titsay
jimmyeatworldofficial
