Killian and Liam Jones are called in to help with the haunting of an old carriage house where a skeleton was recently found walled up within the cellar. This is no ordinary ghost hunt for the supernatural fighting brothers, however. This job will require Killian to face the person who has been haunting him for nearly a year. Emma Swan. The woman he ghosted.
A/N: Here it is! The final installment! I can't believe it is finally finished! Thank you all for coming on the journey with me, and thank you for all the patience between some of the longer updates. I hope you enjoy the conclusion of this haunting tale.
Shout out to @kmomof4 for her exceptional beta skills! Also a HUGE thank you to @snowbellewells who made the cover art for my birthday last year. Thank you again, Marta! I absolutely love it!
Rated T / Also available on ao3 / add to tag list / Curious? Come Ask Me! / Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four / Part Five / Part Six
Part Seven
As it had been arranged the first time, candles circled the foursome as they sat with their hands clasped together, ready to call upon the spirit world. It had only taken about fifteen minutes for Killian to get things set up, but it was another ten before they were able to convince Regina to go into the cellar. Knowing that was where Daniel’s body had been discovered, buried behind a wall for decades, was almost too much for her to face. Eventually, with Robin’s support and Emma’s reassurances, they managed to get her down the steps and seated on the floor in front of the ouija board.
In an effort to bar Cora from interfering until Liam and Belle could properly force her to cross over, Killian had set up a ward against the malevolent spectre, using one of the photos from Belle’s file and special sigil marked in chalk, outlining the candles. So long as they kept the chalk circle unbroken, Cora would be powerless to enter it.
“Once we place our hands on the planchette, it is important that they remain there until the session is concluded,” Killian instructed each of them before catching Regina’s gaze. “I’ll open the doorway, but once Daniel joins us you can take over.”
He could see the lingering doubt in her expression, but had faith that the rest of their energies were enough to help Daniel manifest. Checking one last time that the ward was secure, Killian wished they could have waited until Cora was no longer a threat, but worried that any delay would have allowed Regina to talk herself out of going through with this. Besides, he and Emma had agreed it was best to keep Regina in the dark about her mother’s spirit, and how they planned to deal with it.
Placing their hands on the planchette, a collective inhale could be felt as Killian began. “Daniel? We invite you to join us. Use our energies to come forward and resolve the unfinished business keeping you here.”
Silence and stagnation surrounded them with only the soft flickering of the candles’ flames piercing the dark quiet.
“Daniel?” Killian began again. “Regina is here. She knows you did not abandon her. This is your chance to say a proper good-bye.”
Still nothing. Killian began to wonder if he’d done something wrong with the ward. The circle typically ensured the warded spirit could not enter and manipulate the board or the participants. Was it possible Cora had gained enough strength to block Daniel from entering? Perhaps they needed to boost the energy within the enclosed ward.
Killian was about to give himself over as he had the last time when the violent sound of a door slamming atop the cellar stairs shattered the calm. Everyone visibly started, their bodies twisting around to look towards the steps. Footsteps echoed against each tread, a distinct clack of a heel clipping its way along the descent. It stopped when it reached the bottom and Killian gave them a word of assurance.
“Unless that’s Daniel, they can’t interfere. No harm will come to us as long as we remain--”
A biting wind shrieked through the cellar, extinguishing the candles and plunging them into darkness. Emma and Regina both screamed and the men cursed.
“Don’t move!” Killian urged, fumbling for the flashlight he’d set down beside him before the started.
“I can’t do this!” Regina cried out fearfully.
Killian heard people get to their feet as he found the flashlight, the sound of fleeing footsteps out pacing the beam of light.
“Wait!” Emma shouted, following after Regina.
“Swan! Be careful!”
Light flooded the stairs as Regina flung the door open. Killian chased after Robin and Emma as they hurried after the frightened woman, then nearly collided with them when he exited the cellar.
“Regina?” Robin called out, clearly as unnerved as the rest of them at the way she had just stopped and was now standing calmly with her back to them. “Are you… alright?”
Slowly, the dark haired woman turned to face them, her posture and expression making the coarse hairs of Killian’s body raise in alarm.
“Regina?”
“I don’t think--”
“You will refer to my daughter as Miss Mills,” the woman instructed sternly, her eyes sweeping over Robin and her nose scrunching as though doing so were causing a foul odor to fill her sinuses. “Who do you think you are to behave so informally with her?”
“Cora,” Emma stated, shooting a wary, wide-eyed look Killian’s way.
“Cora?” Robin repeated in shock. “You mean, Regina’s mother? That Cora?”
“Aye,” Killian affirmed, cautiously making his way forward and focusing on the possessing spirit whilst positioning himself in front of Emma. “Taking control of Neal was one thing, but robbing your daughter of her agency? What sort of mother are you?”
A spurious smile stretched across Regina's painted lips. “I’ve already told you, your pretty looks will not buy my time. Do you really think I will lower myself to engage in your baiting?”
“What do you want, then?” Emma asked over his shoulder. “Why take possession of Regina?”
The woman’s cold eyes flicked to Swan’s and she stared her down with a malignant gaze. “Why, to stop you, of course.”
“Stop what? Her learning the truth? She already knows Daniel didn’t take your money and leave on his own.”
“No, no, silly girl.” Like a serpent, she slithered forward a few steps, stopping shy of the threesome’s personal space. Snapping her gaze back to Killian, she declared, “To stop you from desecrating my corpse.”
Out of the corner of his eye Killian saw both Robin and Emma balk.
“I beg your pardon?” Robin exclaimed. “Desecrate her… What is she talking about?”
Ignoring Robin’s question, Killian challenged the woman. “I don’t know what you--”
“Oh, yes. You do.” The words clipped off her tongue with barely subdued rage. “I am not stupid. I know what you’ve got planned. Your brother is out there right now with ill-intent, and you’re going to stop him.”
“And if I don’t?”
A smirk lifted the corner of her mouth and her eyes dropped down to the body she’d commandeered. “Then I guess I’ll be keeping my daughter close and making certain she lives out the remainder of her life as I see fit.”
“No!” Robin replied, advancing on the woman. “I won’t let you!”
“Robin, stop!”
Before the man could heed the warning (though, he likely would not have), Regina’s hands grabbed ahold of Robin’s upper arms and using his own momentum against him, she swung him into the nearby door jam, the impact knocking him to the ground.
“Don’t!” Killian ordered when Robin began to pick himself up off the floor. “It’s all right. She’s bluffing.”
“Am I?”
“Aye,” Killian replied confidently. “You and I both know you haven’t the strength to maintain this level of control indefinitely.”
“And I refuse to believe you are so heartless that you’d deprive your own daughter of the life she has left.”
Killian stiffened as Emma stepped around him to continue confronting the woman. He did not want Swan to put herself in danger, but knew they needed to buy Liam as much time as possible.
“I only want what is best for her. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“What about what she wants?” Emma countered. “She loved Daniel. She might even love Robin. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“My dear,” the woman condescendingly drawled. “Love is weakness. And as for being heartless…”
A ghostly arm shot out from Regina's shoulder and disappeared into Emma’s chest.
“No!” Killian cried out, momentarily frozen in shock and fear as he watched Swan’s body contort, shoulders caving inward, her breath stuck in her throat.
When he finally managed to move, Regina’s head snapped towards him. “Not another step, lover boy, or I’ll stop her heart before you can cross the hallway.”
“Let her go.” Killian put his hands out and planted his feet firmly. Robin shifted from where he was still positioned on the floor, forcing Killian to give him a pleading look and shake of his head to stop whatever he was planning.
How could he have allowed himself to become so distracted by calculations of how much longer Liam would need as to not notice how close the malevolent woman had gotten to his Swan. “Please,” he begged. “Let her go.”
“Not until you call your brother off,” she said, tightening her grip around Emma’s heart and causing a pained whimper to fall from Swan’s lips.
“Fine,” Killian conceded, pulling his phone from his pocket. “You win.”
“No,” Emma choked out, the agony in her voice making Killian’s stomach roll and his own heart drop. “Let him finish. He and Belle have to be close to--”
“What do you think will happen to you and Regina if they vanquish me whilst I am in possession of her body and your heart?”
Emma shifted her gaze towards Killian, clearly hoping he would refute the woman’s claim. He couldn’t, though. Honestly, he had no clue what would happen, but was not about to take any chances.
Speed dialing his brother, he muttered under his breath for Liam to answer.
“Killian?” his brother’s confused voice answered.
“Liam, listen to me very carefully,” Killian began firmly with a note of urgency. “I need you and Belle to stop. Don’t do anything to Cora’s remains.” The line went silent and Killian pulled it from his ear to make sure the call was still connected. Turning the speaker feature on, he said, “Are you there, brother?”
“Nevermind that,” Killian said, curtly. “I just need you to stop what you’re doing and get back here.”
“You know I can’t do that, little brother. Cora must be dealt with.”
“Dammit, Liam. I need you to listen to me. She’s taken possession of Regina and is threatening to crush Emma’s heart if you don’t--”
“Bloody hell,” Liam muttered over the line. “How did she--”
“What difference does it make!” Sometimes his brother could be the most infuriating arse. Exasperated, Killian told Liam once more, “You can’t salt and burn the body. Not without risking Regina and Emma’s safety.”
“How do you know she won’t--”
A scuffling sound echoed over the phone, his brother’s muffled voice saying something Killian could not make out.
“Killian?” Belle’s voice anxiously rang out. “We’re headed back to the car now.”
Lights flickering from the living room doorway grabbed Killian’s attention and for a brief second he could make out the silhouette of a man attempting to manifest behind Regina.
Daniel. It had to be.
“Thank you, Belle,” Killian replied, trying to keep his expression and voice even so he did not tip Cora off. “Let me talk to Liam again.”
“I’m here, brother. I’m sorry I didn’t heed your--”
“Yeah. You can be a real dinghy sometimes, you know that?”
“Aye,” Liam replied with a timbre of surprise that he quickly suppressed. “Just like dad, I’m afraid.”
Killian let out an involuntary sigh of relief and hoped the woman, staring intently at him, would chalk it up to him being glad to have finally gotten his brother to relent.
“We’ll see you soon,” Liam said, ending the call.
Stowing his phone back into his pocket, Killian’s gaze shifted to where he could make out a ripple in the air out of the corner of his eye before focusing on the arm still buried in Emma’s chest.
“Hang in there, Swan,” he encouraged, unable to bring himself to look at her face. He did not trust himself to not do something impulsive at the sight of torment or anguish on her gentle features. “It’ll all be over soon.”
“Indeed,” Regina’s voice uttered, and though he barely knew the woman, Killian knew the false syrupy-sweet inflection sounded completely wrong coming from those lips. “It will be over soon, but not the way you think it will.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Robin inquired, slowly getting to his feet with his hands raised in supplication. A brief, flickering glance, first at Killian, then towards the area the ripple had occurred, alerted him to the fact that Robin was aware of the other presence as well. “You said you’d let them go if Killian stopped Liam.”
“And I will,” the woman vowed. “But not without some assurances first.”
“What assurances?”
“That you won’t simply dispose of me later.”
“How do you plan to ensure we don’t?”
“Why…” An amused breath punctuated the pause before she confessed, “By having Robin here wall you all up like I had my husband do to Daniel.”
“You must be mad if you think I would--”
“But you are mad, aren’t you?” she simpered. “Madly in love with my daughter? Willing to do whatever is necessary to protect her?”
“The only way to protect Regina is to free her from you. That much is clear to me now.” Robin straightened his posture and braced his stance, squaring off with the woman he loved even as he vowed to do everything within his power to keep her from further harm.
Scoffing, the woman rolled her eyes. “Daniel said the same thing to me once. He failed and so will you. Besides…” a grimace of pain pinched Regina’s features and for a moment the possessed woman came forward.
“Mother,” she cried out in anguish. “Please… stop.”
As quickly as she’d relented it, Cora took control once more. “I can make this agony for her, unless you do as I say.”
Killian allowed the woman to continue monologuing at Robin, keeping his attention on Emma and her safety. It was taking every ounce of restraint he could muster to remain level-headed and not let his rage or terror get the better of him. All he could do was trust that Daniel - like Robin, like himself - was doing all he could to save the woman he loved.
“Come on, mate,” he muttered under his breath. “What are you waiting for?”
“You won’t… get away with… this,” Emma strained out.
“Aye, Swan’s right,” Killian added. “Do you honestly think no one will notice we’ve disappeared and that there is a newly constructed wall where the old one was? I think that’s something even Neal would clue in on.”
“Oh, my dear boy. Didn’t you know? Neal’s gone.”
Blanching, Killian whipped his head to the side and caught Emma’s guilt-filled eye. “What? Is that true, love?”
Disgusted, Cora’s hand tightened within Emma’s chest, forcing Swan’s gaze to break away and fall back to the floor as a sob audibly caught in the back of her throat.
“Stop!” Killian demanded. “Is this really how you want your daughter to remember you? Is this truly what you want your legacy to be?”
“Don’t you dare speak to me of legacy,” the vengeful woman spat. “My legacy was secure, my memory safe with Regina until this little trollop undercovered my secret. If not for her--”
The lights around them dimmed and the atmosphere began to crackle. A flash of trepidation crossed Regina’s face, but it was quickly replaced by Cora’s smug countenance.
“We both know you lack the conviction to do what you must in order to best me.”
It took Killian a moment to realize she wasn’t speaking to any of them, that she was addressing Daniel and had obviously been aware of him this entire time.
“You are weak. You’ve always been weak.”
Stepping forward, Killian silenced her vitriolic tirade. “Don’t listen to her, Daniel! Love is stronger than any force on this earth. Do what you must to save the women we love.”
The startled expression resonating from Regina’s face made something in Killian’s mind click. He knew what Daniel needed.
“I would gladly risk my life for two things: love and revenge.” Spreading his arms out wide, he offered, “Take all that you need, Daniel.”
“Killian, no!” Emma wailed, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Don’t do this!”
The spectre faintly began to form in front of him. Daniel’s soft eyes locked on to his, waiting for confirmation which he gave with a resolved nod before bracing himself as best he could. Daniel’s ghostly arm thrust forward, the intrusion into Killian’s chest unlike anything he’d ever felt in his life. Each beat of his heart strengthened Daniel, allowing him to fully manifest.
“No. Stop!” Cora protested from Regina’s lips. “Stop or I’ll--”
Her words were cut off when Daniel grabbed Cora’s ghostly wrist with his other hand. With a firm pull he tore the spirit free from Regina, who teetered on her heels before losing consciousness and falling towards the floor.
“Regina!” Robin lunged forward and mercifully caught her, lowering her carefully to the ground.
With his hand still wrapped around Killian’s heart, Daniel tightened his grip on Cora’s wrist, her hand still precariously wrapped around Emma’s heart which made Killian’s clench without any additional pressure from Daniel.
“That doesn’t belong to you,” Daniel stated, putting a greater squeeze on the woman’s wrist until she finally let go of Emma’s heart with a pained yelp.
Thankfully, Daniel released Killian in time for him to catch Emma, cradling her in his arms as they both collapsed to the floor. Once safely out of harm’s way, he dug out his phone and dialed Liam.
“Brother?”
“Now, Liam!”
A roar filled the hallway, flames bursting out from where Cora’s ghost stood. Her shriek pierced Killian’s ears and he quickly pressed his hands over Emma’s, hoping to shield her from the horror. Burying her face into his chest, Swan’s grip tightened, balling his shirt into her fists. When the heat of the ghostly fire subsided, they both looked at one another, their chests heaving from adrenaline as they fought to catch their breaths.
“Are you all right, love?” Killian asked on an exhale, wetting his lips in a vain attempt to bring moisture back to his mouth.
“I-I think so,” she answered, breathlessly.
Her eyes dipped to his lips then flicked back up, staring at him through her lashes. They held each other’s gaze for several erratic beats of Killian’s heart before slowly moving in closer. Eyes fluttering shut, Emma’s mouth was about to meet his when a soft gasp broke the moment and stole both their attention.
“Daniel?” Regina, having regained consciousness, sat up and stared teary-eyed at the ghost of her long lost love. “Is that… Is it really you?”
Robin helped her to her feet, steadying her as she approached Daniel’s spectral form. Not wishing to be any more intrusive than they already were, Killian and Emma remained seated on the floor of the hallway. With his Swan wrapped willingly in his arms, Killian held his breath at the beauty and heartbreak of this long overdue moment.
“Regina,” Daniel whispered. “I’m so sorry. For everything. I never… I never would have left you willingly and I… I’m sorry you had to find out the truth like that. I never wanted you to find out about your mother this way.”
“Oh, Daniel,” Regina replied, tearily. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who owes you an apology. I’m sorry I doubted you. That I doubted our love. I should have known better. I should have never taken my mother’s word over--”
“I don’t blame you for doubting,” he said. “I don’t think either of us ever considered she’d go to the lengths she did to keep us apart.”
Though it was evident he wanted to spare her the details, Regina would not be deterred, insisting he tell her the full truth of what had happened. Cora had tried to buy him off, that much was true. She’d handed him a check; the amount wasn’t important, no amount she could ever offer would have been enough, and he had told her as much. Ripping up the check, he’d tossed the pieces at her feet before turning to head down into the cellar. The next thing he knew he was lying at the bottom of the stairs, his neck broken, and his life quickly slipping away.
“My last thoughts were of you, Regina. I need you to know that. I need you to know that I have never stopped loving you.”
“Daniel, I…” Regina’s chest shuddered from a suppressed sob, tears spilling over her lashes and streaking her mascara down her cheeks.
“I haven’t been able to move on, knowing what you must have thought. I couldn’t be at peace until you knew the truth.”
“I love you, too, Daniel,” she whispered. “I hope you can find peace now. You deserve it.”
“There’s only one thing more keeping me here,” he said. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
Reaching out as though he were cupping her cheek, Daniel leaned in, bringing his forehead close to hers. “I need you to open yourself up to love again, Regina. You deserve love. You are loved.” Pulling back, Daniel turned his face towards Robin and smiled at the man. “Isn’t she?”
“Aye,” Robin affirmed, gazingly lovingly at the woman beside him. “That she is.”
“Embrace it, Regina,” Daniel urged. “Embrace love. Embrace happiness. It isn’t too late for you to have the life I wanted for you. Promise me you’ll open your heart and love again.”
Pursing her lips together in order to keep some semblance of composure, Regina reached over and took Robin’s hand. Slowly, she lifted her eyes to meet his, smiled, and said, “I promise.”
Robin beamed and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tight in his embrace. Allowing them a moment, and probably a bit conflicted with seeing the woman he loved with another man, Daniel made his way over to Killian and Emma and stood over them.
“Thank you, Emma,” he said. “And you, Killian. If not for the two of you and Liam and all the others who helped, this never would have been possible.”
“Don’t mention it, mate,” Killian replied, wishing he could shake the man’s hand.
“I’m so happy it all worked out,” Emma said. “I’m just so sorry your life was cut short. It’s not fair.”
Daniel shrugged. “Life is like that sometimes. Which is why it is important to not squander it; take hold of every moment and cherish it. Remember that, won’t you?”
“Aye. We will.”
A content and fulfilled look rested upon Daniel’s face and he closed his eyes. “I can go now.”
“Daniel,” Regina called out, clearly not ready to say good-bye.
“It’s okay,” he assured her. “I’ll always be with you in some way.” With one last glance at Robin, he said, “Take care of our girl.”
“I will, mate. I promise.”
A soft glow began to envelop Daniel, his eyes locked with Regina’s until it became too bright for her to hold his gaze.
“I love you, Regina,” he said, his voice faint as the glow started to dim.
“Good-bye, Daniel,” Regina replied as the light fully extinguished, taking Daniel’s spirit with it.
Regina collapsed into Robin’s arms and sobbed. Tears rolled down Emma’s face and Killian had to wipe away his own as they watched Robin rock the woman he loved in his arms. When she had finally exhausted her tears, Regina turned and apologized. Killian assisted Emma off the floor and the four of them stood there in the hallway awkwardly.
Scratching behind his ear, Killian opened his mouth, still unsure of what to say, when the front door burst open. In rushed Liam and Belle, soot covered and bedraggled.
“Is everyone all right?” Liam inquired, out of breath. “What did we miss?”
~/~
Killian laid awake on the pull-out, staring up at the ceiling as he replayed the events of the evening in his mind. Every fear and nightmare fueled terror had coursed through him the entire time Cora had held Emma’s heart in her grasp. How he’d managed to keep his wits about him with the image of her heart being stopped by that ghostly hand plaguing him from all sides of his dark imaginings, he’d never know. It had taken a Herculean effort to relinquish her from his arms after Liam and Belle had arrived and they’d all adjourned to the living room.
The next few hours had been torture for him as he sat on the other side of the room from her, still shaken by what could have happened, still not convinced she had come out of the deadly encounter unscathed. He did his best to hide it, though, giving his account of things and answering questions as they all got up to speed on what had happened. When the conversation turned to Regina sharing memories of Daniel and her time spent at the carriage house in her youth, Killian stole too many glances at his Swan to count, but enough to have gained the attention of Robin who surmised they were close to overstaying their welcome.
After bidding the couple farewell with promises to keep in touch, Liam had pulled him aside to discuss what was next for the Jones brothers, allowing Emma to quickly say goodnight and escape to her room. Killian had snapped at his brother, questioning him as to why the topic could not wait until morning, only to have his brother inform him that he would not be there in the morning.
He would be staying the night with Miss French.
Killian had almost punched the shit-eating grin off his brother’s face.
He should have punched the shit-eating grin off his brother’s face.
He also should have gone up to check on Emma after Liam and Belle had left, but decided instead to give her some space. It was the gentlemanly thing to do.
It was the cowardly thing to do. He was being a coward, and he knew it. A coward, and a fool, and a complete and hopeless--
The creak of the stairs drew him from his self-depracating thoughts and he sat up. Hearing a cabinet door open and close from the kitchen, he tossed back the covers and reached for his sweat pants, pulling them on as he made his way to the door. Peering out across the corridor, he could make out Emma leaning against the counter as she sipped from a glass of water. Not wishing to startle her, he yawned loudly and let his feet fall heavy on the wood floors as he approached the kitchen.
“Trouble sleeping?” he asked, running a hand through his hair as though he were trying to tame his bedhead.
“Sorry if I woke you,” she said, cupping the glass in her hands, her eyes trained on its rim.
“You didn’t.” Reaching out, he took the glass from her and set it on the counter. “Out with it, love. I can tell something is bothering you.”
Whipping her head up, she looked at him askew. “How? How could you possibly know something’s--”
“I’ve told you before,” he reminded, cutting her off and enjoying how it irritated her. “You’re an open book.”
A scoff huffed from her chest and she rolled her eyes at him. “Well, if you must know…” she began, scuffing the floor with her foot as she quietly muttered, “It’s too quiet.”
“Come again?”
“It’s too quiet,” she repeated, louder and a bit exasperated. “I know it’s ridiculous that it bothers me, but the house is too quiet. Too still. I never noticed before, but I think I’d grown accustomed to having…”
“Another presence in the house?” he offered, finishing her thought for her.
“Yeah. I guess.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she gave a small shrug and confessed, “I kind of miss Daniel.”
“I don’t think that’s ridiculous at all,” he told her as he leaned against the counter across from her. “His energy was here for a long time. Makes sense that its absence would be felt.”
“I suppose so.” Letting out a deep exhale, she uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on the edge of the counter, next to her hips. When his gaze lifted from lingering on her exposed hip bone, he was met with a knowing smirk and a suspect look. “So, what’s got you up this late?”
It was Killian’s turn to shrug and avoid making eye contact. “Just some thoughts that won’t let me be.”
“Such as?”
Peeking up at her, he found the courage to ask the question that had been plaguing him all night. “Is it true that Neal’s gone?”
Another long exhale preceded her answer. “Yes. He’s gone.”
“When? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“We had it out after the whole possession thing,” she told him. “He gave me an ultimatum and I told him to get out.” She shifted her weight and pushed her hair behind her shoulder, taking a beat before admitting, “I’ve known for a long time that things needed to end with him, I just… I guess I felt too embarrassed to say anything. Besides… it wasn’t like we didn’t have enough going on.”
“True,” Killian agreed with a note of humor. “I am sorry you felt as though you couldn’t confide in me. And for what it’s worth, I…”
He couldn’t bring himself to finish the platitude. He wasn’t the least bit sorry that Neal was no longer in the picture, and they both knew it.
“Are you all right?”
“I am,” she assured him. “Like I said, it was long past time.”
Killian wanted to press her for more, to ask what this might mean for them. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t conflicted about what came next, and therefore waited for her to take the lead.
“So, Liam is shacking up with Belle,” she said after a prolonged bout of silence. Seemingly testing the waters for different discussion altogether, she asked, “Does that mean you guys will be stopping into town on a regular basis?”
“Actually,” Killian replied, wading out into said waters, “Liam suggested we stick around for a while. It seems Miss French has a number of potential cases my brother thinks we should look into.”
Her teeth had been worrying her lip since she finished asking her previous question, and only relinquished their hold so she could inquire, “And what did you tell him?”
He wished she had met him halfway into the depths. “I told him I wasn’t sure.” When her face fell he quickly moved off the counter and took her hands in his. “Don’t misunderstand me, love. There’s nothing I want more than to stay here… with you.” Reaching up, he cupped her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I just want to do this right. I don’t want to finally have my second chance and then end up being the rebound g--”
The urgent press of her lips against his cut off his words, and he’d never been so thrilled to be interrupted in all his life.
He’d only just begun to respond when she pulled away, but only far enough so she could tell him, “Neal was the rebound guy. You are the guy, Killian.”
His mouth crashed against hers and with very little prodding on his part, she climbed up to sit atop the counter. Prompting her knees to open for him, he moved into the space between her thighs and slipped a hand up her back beneath her (his) shirt. He groaned at the feel of her soft, warm skin as their lips continued to slant and slide against the others, their tongues tangled together, and their teeth teased and taunted with playful nips along jawlines and earlobes.
Coming up for air, foreheads pressed together, the two tried to catch their breath while trading soft smiles and doey-eyed looks with one another.
“You know how I said that without the ghosts the house is a little too quiet for my liking?”
“Aye,” Killian panted. “What do you suggest we do about that?”
“Well…” Emma drawled, applying a sultry timbre to her tone as she slid her arms around his neck. “I was thinking you could join me upstairs so we could make things go bump in the night.”
Killian chuckled and leaned in to kiss her again. “I thought you’d never ask.” he murmured against her lips, promising, “I’ll have you moaning louder than any spirit ever could.”
“And I’ll have you--” she said between kisses. “--thinking you’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“Too late for that, I’m afraid,” he confessed into the pulse point below her ear, moaning at the way it made her shudder in his arms. “After this, I’ll be harder to get rid of than any haunting.”
“Good.” Emma gave him a quick shove and hopped off the counter. Grabbing his hand, she led him out of the kitchen and cheekily added over her shoulder, “That’s the kind of being ghosted I can live with.”
With a wide smile, Killian eagerly followed his Swan up to her bedroom where the two of them enthusiastically expressed their passion for one another, loud enough to wake the… well, you know.
The End
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While the monster inside of him demanded that he destroy Dracula, the man worried about being seen as a monster in the eyes of the woman he loved.
“Emma.” Killian spoke softly as he pulled her to him. “We never really talked about it. And I know you and your parents always want to redeem the villain. How do you feel about killing Dracula?”
“That it is necessary.” Emma sighed. “Normally there would be a chance of setting things right and redeeming the villain. But in this case, it’s not possible. The only way to save everyone is to take Dracula’s power from him. And taking his power is sure to destroy him. We don’t have a choice. Especially if we’re going to turn you human again.”
Killian was relieved to hear that he and his true love were on the same page.
Snow and Charming were of the same mind, as usual. They wanted to protect their daughter. Dracula was a threat to her safety and happiness. Therefore, he needed to be ended, for good.
“We need to corner him somewhere, so the pirate can do his monster thing and end the guy.” Leroy suggested.
“We’d have to lure him somewhere to make cornering him possible.” Whale said. “Maybe we should use Emma as bait?”
“You’re not using her as bait!” Charming, Snow, and Killian all shouted angrily at the same time.
Fearing for his safety, Whale backed up several feet and said, “I’m only suggesting it because she is who Dracula wants. If you know of a better bait, let’s hear it.”
“He’s right.” Emma said. “It’s me Dracula wants. If he thinks I’m alone and vulnerable somewhere, he’ll follow me.”
Killian kept shaking his head. Emma cupped his jaw, running her thumb over his stubble. “You know this is the best way. And I trust that whatever creature has suddenly awakened inside you will get to Dracula before he gets to me.”
“I’ll tear Dracula’s non beating heart from his body.” Killian vowed. “The closer he gets to you, the more agonizing I’ll make his demise.”
At that moment, Smee walked into the diner with a triumphant grin on his face. “I found it! I knew I had it among my things somewhere, and I finally found it.”
“Found what?” Killian asked.
“Van Helsing's journal.”
“I had Van Helsing's journal.” Whale said with a frown, “I misplaced it years ago. But my former professor gave it to me when he retired.”
“You didn't misplace it. I stole it from you.” Smee replied matter of factly.
“When did you do that?”
When our memories returned. I saw it in your office. I thought it would be of use to me.” Hook’s former first mate answered as though he was not going to get in trouble for just admitting theft.
But considering all of the other shady things he had been up to in the past, and all of the trouble he had gotten into (Like being turned into a rat) it stood to reason that punishment from the sheriff was not high on his list of concerns.
“You can decide if you want to press charges later.” Charming told Whale “Right now, we need to find out if Van Helsing ever figured out how to end Dracula, for good.”
“Well, as it happened, I can’t actually read it. It's in German.” Smee explained. He then handed it to his former captain.
“Just how many languages did they teach you in the Royal Navy?” Emma asked teasingly with a big smile on her face.
“When you travel the realms, it's Important to be able to communicate with those who can give you supplies.”
Killian flipped through the pages until he spotted the words vampire and Dracula. He then translated outloud to the group.
“I have discovered ancient scrolls hidden in the depths of an old church. They spoke of a prince's transformation from man to monster. To conquer his enemies, he consumed the blood of a creature from another realm. It gave him great strength and great speed. Made him immortal. It made him able to do many wondrous things. But that power came with a price. He had to take the life force from others. And he became a monster.
I have learned of beings that were known as Dracula’s enemies. He seemed to have feared them when he feared nothing else. They were called the hunters. Strong, powerful beings. But driven to extinction on Dracula’s orders. He sent his minions out in hoards in order to eradicate the beings he feared would end him. The only hope of salvation from the monster, is if the blood of a hunter is awakened in a descendent.”
“So you've become a hunter?” David asked Killian.
“It would certainly seem so.” Killian nodded.
“Then we have the advantage we need.” Snow said.
“We already had one advantage. What with your daughter being a source of vampire repellent.” Leroy reminded his queen.
“Does it say how the hunter can destroy Dracula?” Emma asked, eager to see this big bad gone for good.
“Apparently, only a hunter has the strength and speed to rip off Dracula’s head and tear out his heart.”
“Well that's pretty graphic.” Whale commented. “It makes sense that the pirate would have enough brutality in him to kill a real monster.”
No one deemed it important to react in any way to Whale's comment.
“The best place to corner Dracula would be in a cave or stone fortress.” Snow advised. “That would also give Killian the best advantage. Dracula can't run from him if there is nowhere for him to go.”
Coming up with a plan, the group gathered and infused as many crystals as they could find. Even if they were separated in the battle, those without special abilities would still have the protection of light.
Snow tied light infused crystals to her arrow. David used the crystals on his sword.
Emma’s magic and Killian’s new powers meant they did not need additional weapons for this battle.
Both Whale and Smee were completely useless as warriors, so they stayed behind. Much to their relief.
The hunter blood that awakened within Killian gave him the ability to know exactly where the vampires were hiding.
The Tunnels.
The dwarves and the fairies had the simple task of placing glowing sun crystals at every opening of the cave system. That way no vampire would be able to get through.
The rest of the heroes followed Killian to where his instincts were telling him Dracula had hid his coffin.
Emma knew that Drake would remain hidden as long as she was close to her parents and Killian. She also knew that they would not approve of her plan if she told them, so as slowly and quietly as she could, she moved away from them and down a shadowed corridor.
Credit where credit was due, Whale was right when he said she was perfect Dracula bait.
“Emma” The familiar voice came from the shadows. “You are very far away from that pirate. Tell me, what did you think when I turned him into one of my kind?”
“I didn’t really think anything. But Killian has a way of scrambling my brain whenever he kisses me.” Emma didn’t want to mention Killian being turned into a hunter, in case Dracula didn’t know.
As if reading her thoughts, he said with a growl. “And now he is a greater monster,” Realizing he was losing control of himself, and failing in his seduction, he calmed his voice and said, “But he still lacks my special skills.”
“Trust me, Killian has his own special skills. I know that from personal experience.”
Her tactic to draw him out of the shadows by antagonizing him worked.
He came flying toward her, hissing, “I will make you forget all about him, and his skills you like so much!”
“I doubt that! Vlad!” Killian shouted.
Dracula stopped his approach to Emma. And gave a long loud hiss at Killian, “Hunter! You will die like the rest of your ancestors!”
Killian’s eyes began to glow a hypnotic blue. His nails elongated to razor sharp talons.
Dracula’s eyes grew large and wide with fear at seeing the emergence of his age-old enemy in his rival. But he composed himself, refusing to allow his enemy to witness his weakness.
Dracula may have been afraid, but Emma, though she only said the words in her mind, found Killian’s transformation to be a huge turn on.
The two monsters lunged at each other. Snarls and growls echoed through the chamber as the two wrestled for dominance.
In order to help, Emma focused on her love for Killian. She used it to fuel her power, making the light within her emerge, surround her, and grow to encompass the entire area.
Dracula screamed in agony. The light both blinded him and burned his skin.
Inserting his hook deep into Dracula’s neck, Killian held the vampire in place as his clawed hand dug deep into his chest and ripped out the beast’s heart.
Once Emma’s bright light hit the black organ, it burned and crumbled into dust.
Killian’s hook slashed deeper into Drake's neck, severing his head from the rest of his body.
As Dracula’s body suffered the same fate as his heart, Emma saw Killian’s claws regress back into his usual well manicured nails. His beautiful eyes dimmed back to their usual mischievous sparkle. And his usual smirk returned, minus the long fangs.
Emma sighed with relief. “Hopefully everyone else he turned is human again, too.”
“You know that they are. Don’t try to distract me from asking you why you put yourself in danger like that.”
“You know it was the only way to get Dracula to come out of hiding.” Emma moved to Killian, giving him her best flirty smile. “Besides, I knew you would come to my rescue.”
“Are you using your feminine wiles to stop me from being upset with you?”
“Of course. And I know it’s working.”
“Naughty minx. I’ve always said you have a little pirate in you.”
“I have a pirate in me pretty frequently these days.”
They pulled each other close and sealed their lips in a joyful and passionate kiss.
A/N: Hello! I want to thank everyone who liked, comments and reblogged the last chapter, it warmed my heart. In this chapter Emma is introduced and we learn a little bit about her past. As always a big shout-out to @hollyethecurious for being an awesome beta and if you like what you read and would like to be tagged let me know!!
Summary: When a horrible crime is committed and the evidence points to someone in Emma’s coven, Killian is sent to investigate. The two are instantly at odds, but when it looks like he was right, Emma suddenly finds herself and her young son in danger, she knows that there is only person she can go to for help. As the two work together to prevent war from breaking out in the supernatural world, they find themselves growing closer but evil lurks beyond every corner.
Chapter: 1
Emma Swan looked from the spell book to the pot in confusion. She doesn’t understand why it isn’t working. It was a simple protection spell, one she has made countless times, one she could make in her sleep but for some reason it wasn’t coming together. Emma double checked the ingredients: Rosemary, Lavender, Basil, Mint… wait a minute. She frowns bringing the herb up to her nose, that’s not mint, it’s lemon balm.
Emma lets out a groan of frustration at who she knows is responsible for the mix-up. She turns the burner off and leaves the room, making her way toward the crystal room. When she gets there, it takes her no time at all to find who she is looking for.
“Aurora!”
At the sound of her name being called, a beautiful redhead lifts her head and when she sees who is calling her, her eyes widen. Standing, she says something to the woman next to her and makes her way over to Emma.
As soon as Aurora is standing in front of her, Emma cuts right to the chase. “Wasn’t it your turn to organize the herbs in the potions room last night?”
Aurora blinks sheepishly at Emma before responding, “Yes, it was.”
“Well imagine my surprise when I was brewing a protection spell and I realized that the mint was actually lemon balm," Emma says, giving her a pointed look.
Aurora looks away guiltily, knowing she’s been caught. "Emma I.."
Emma doesn’t let her finish. "Save it. Aurora, you know how dangerous it can be to not properly put the herbs in their rightful place. What were you thinking?"
Aurora begins to ring her hands together. "I know. I'm sorry"
"Well what happened then?" Emma asks impatiently.
"I accidentally dropped them and they got mixed up and then they looked so much alike and I couldn't remember how to tell them apart and I just panicked," Aurora explains rapidly.
Emma lifts her hands to grasp Aurora by the shoulders. “Calm down. Take a deep breath.” Emma pauses until she does, then continues, “Listen. I know that potion making isn’t your area of expertise, but you know it’s important for every witch here to have the knowledge of not only her own craft but others as well”
Aurora nods her head solemnly. “I know Emma. It’s just that I’m having a hard time with it,” she says dejectedly.
Emma felt her anger and frustration leave her. This wasn’t the first time a coven sister has had a hard time with the potion ingredients, and usually she is able to spend more time helping them learn the craft better, but the past couple of weeks have been hectic. Ever since Glinda, one of their coven leaders, decided to relocate back to her hometown of Oz, Emma, being the next most senior witch, has had to take on more responsibilities around the compound and it’s left her being pulled in so many directions.
“I’m sorry Aurora.”
The other woman frowns at her. “What for?”
“For not being around more. With everything going on lately, I’ve been neglecting one of my most important duties,” Emma says.
“And what’s that?” Aurora asks curiously.
“Helping my coven sisters become the best witches they can be,” Emma responds sincerely. “I promise once all this craziness is over I will be around more. Until then, if you are having trouble please don’t hesitate to seek out one of the other’s in the potions room.” Emma pauses for a moment, thinking, then it clicks. “I know… Mulan! Besides me, she’s probably the most knowledgeable when it comes to herbs and potion making. Is that okay with you?"
A slight blush spreads across Aurora’s cheeks at Emma’s words. “Y-Yes,” she stutters, then clears her throat. “Yes, That’s fine. Thank you Emma, for being so understanding.”
Emma smiles at her, clearly noticing the way the redhead had reacted to the suggestion. Now that she thinks of it, she has seen the two witches together talking quietly in the dining hall a time or two. “No problem. I’ll let you get back to your lesson.”
As Emma left the room she begins to realize another very important duty she has been unintentionally neglecting lately. Walking through the hallways of the immense compound Emma finds her mind begin to wonder. She thinks about her life before she came here and how she was found by her adoptive mother Ingrid Mills at 10 years old while living in an orphanage. Ingrid had visited the regional headquarters in Boston, where every year the most senior witch of each local coven gathered for a conference with The High Council of Witches, when she said she felt drawn to the orphanage.
Emma was just a baby when she was left on the doorsteps of the orphanage, wrapped in a white knitted blanket with her name stitched in the corner. Over the years she had lost track of how many foster families had taken her in then sent her back because in their words “strange things happen with her around.” Emma had known from a young age that she was different, that sometimes when she was angry lights would burst, or objects would move on their own if she concentrated on them hard enough. Regardless, Emma never could have imagined what she would find out about herself one day.
Emma remembers it like it was yesterday. She had been sitting at the top of the orphanage stairs when a woman with blonde hair walked through the doors. Emma watched as the woman strolled around the lobby until she suddenly stopped and glanced up to where she was sitting. The woman then began to make her way toward the stairs when the director of the orphanage, Ms. Rose came into the lobby. She had taken the opportunity to retreat to her room not really thinking much about the strange incident, until later when there was a knock on her door.
She had been sitting on her bed listening to music when Ms. Rose came in and said that there was someone there to see her. Coming into the room behind her was the woman from the lobby, she crossed the room to sit down on the bed next to Emma and proceeded to introduce herself.
"Hello, Emma. My name is Ingrid Mills and I am very glad to meet you," she says after Ms. Rose had left the room.
Emma looks up at her in confusion. "You are? Why?"
Ingrid smiles gently at her. "Because you and I are very much alike Emma.”
“What do you mean?” Emma asks, her small brows furrowing.
“Tell me, Emma. Sometimes... say, when you get angry or sad, do things happen? Or maybe things move all on their own?” Ingrid asks curiously.
Emma stares at her with wide eyes, wondering how she could possibly know about that. “Sometimes when I’m mad the lights explode,” she whispers, afraid that somehow, someone might overhear her.
Ingrid doesn’t say anything, only holds out her hand, and to Emma’s amazement a small ball of light appears in the air above her palm. “See. I can do things too.” She forms a fist and the light disappears. “Now you show me something.”
Emma glances nervously around the room, when finally she raises a hesitant hand out and concentrates until an object flies from across the room and into Emma’s hand. Sitting in her palm is a small unicorn figurine that one of the other girls gave her before she left the orphanage after being adopted. “How can I do this?”
“Because, Emma, you have magic and if you want, I can take you to a place where you can learn all about your magic and what you can do with it,” Ingrid explains to her.
“Really?” Emma says in a hopeful tone, wondering if she has finally found the place where she belongs.
“Yes, Emma. In this place you won’t ever have to worry about hiding anymore,” Ingrid says with conviction.
Emma had still been somewhat hesitant, given her track record with foster families, but had ultimately decided to throw caution to the wind and go with Ingrid. She doesn't know what Ingrid had said to convince Ms. Rose to let her leave that day, but before Emma knew it she was on her way to her new life. When they arrived at the huge compound that Ingrid called “The Mills House,” Emma found herself immersed into a whole new world. She remembers being in awe as she walked through the hallways and saw all the very magical people there. A coven Ingrid called it, a “family” of witches brought together for various reasons, most seeking protection but some, like Emma, are found at a young age and brought here.
Emma also learned that in addition to there being witches, there were other supernatural creatures as well. It had been a lot for a 10 year old to process but she had taken it in stride and quickly adapted to her new life. She was introduced to many people including Regina, Ingrid’s younger sister, who obviously didn’t care for the new addition to the coven, and Henry, their father, who was a kind man and accepted Emma with open arms.
Over time Emma grew into an accomplished witch. She excelled at most of her lessons but found that potions was her passion. Emma also began to grow extremely close to Ingrid, coming to think of her as a mother, but had been afraid to express herself in fear of rejection. Emma didn't need to worry, though, because shortly after her thirteenth birthday Ingrid came to her and asked if she wanted to be a part of the Mills family - officially.
Emma had been so happy that she was finally going to have a real family. The process had been fairly easy, all Ingrid had to do was petition The High Council of Witches for approval of the adoption and once they did, a ceremony took place with every coven member in attendance to celebrate the occasion. For the first time in Emma’s life she had finally been happy, she had friends, a real home and a loving family, she should have known that it was only a matter of time before that changed.
Squealing laughter brings Emma back to the present. A smile spreads across her face as she rounds the corner and enters a colorfully decorated room. Emma’s eyes roam around the room until they land on a familiar dark haired boy.
“Henry!” she calls out to her son.
At the sound of his name being called, Henry lifts his head and when he sees his mother he lets out a shout of excitement and begins to run towards her.
“Mommy!”
Emma bends down and catches him in her arms. “Hey there my little man! Are you having a good day?” she asks, lifting him up into her arms.
“Yes! But I’m happy to see you, I missed you, Mommy,” Henry says, throwing his tiny arms around Emma’s neck.
Emma closes her eyes as she holds him tight. “I missed you too, buddy.” She hates that she’s been so busy lately that she hasn’t had enough time to spend with Henry. Well that was going to change, starting today. “Hey, I know. How about we spend the rest of the day together?”
Henry pulls back with a gasp. “Really Mama? Just you and me?”
“Yes baby. Just you and me. And we can do whatever you want,” Emma says, smiling as she sets him down on the ground.
“Woohoo!” Henry yells out in excitement, then starts tugging his mother out the door with the enthusiasm only a four year old could muster.
Emma laughs and the two of them begin to make their way down the hall and towards the living area of the manor. “So what do you want to do, buddy?”
“I want to act out my storybook,” Henry says without hesitation.
Emma smiles. Henry loves his storybook, a leather bound tome that he recently got for his birthday. He spends hours drawing page after page of stories he thinks up, then recruits her into acting them out. "Alright. Anything else?"
Before Henry can respond, Emma hears her name frantically being called. She turns to see Aurora hurrying towards her. "What is it? What's wrong?" she asks when the young witch stops in front of her.
Aurora looks at Emma, panic written all over her face. "There are Guard members here. They're waiting in the foyer."
Emma's eyes widen with disbelief. "Guard members? What did they say they wanted?"
Aurora shakes her head. "They wouldn't tell me. Said they could only speak with a senior coven member."
"How come you came to get me? Where's Regina? Emma asks.
"She hasn't responded to any of our summons," Aurora says nervously.
Emma lets out a sigh of frustration. Dammit! Of all the times for this to happen. Glancing down at Henry, she sees him looking up at her with sadness. "I'm so sorry, baby. Mommy has to take care of something, but as soon as I'm done I promise we'll act out your stories," she says as she kneels down in front of him.
"Okay, Mommy," he whispers dejectedly.
Emma lets out another sigh as she stands back up. "Aurora, could you please take Henry back to the playroom?"
Aurora nods her head. "Of course. Come on, Henry." Taking the little boy by the hand, she guides back down the hall.
Emma takes a moment to compose herself before she continues down the hall toward the foyer. When she enters the room she immediately spies their visitors, standing by the entrance with their backs facing her. Guard members, highly trained enforcers for The High Council whose job it was to hunt down those who violated their laws. It's usually not good news when The Guard comes calling. Taking a deep breath Emma moves to greet them. "Welcome! It's an honor to receive members of The Guard."
When they turn to face her, Emma's steps falter slightly. The Guard members are both men, one is older, about early to mid fifties with short blonde hair that is greying at his temples. He is tall and still fit for his age, wearing a pair of jeans, black boots, button up shirt with a leather jacket, but it is the other man who has her stopping in her tracks. She has never seen a more handsome man in her life.
He is also tall, with raven hair and eyes the color of the sky on a clear day. His face is chiseled, almost like he was carved out of marble, with just the right amount of facial hair dusting his jaw, and when she stops in front of them she notices he also has a tiny scar on his right cheek. Wearing black jeans, a pair of boots, a sweater that looked so soft and a black leather jacket, there is also, she notices, a sword attached to his hip. Much like the one strapped to his companion.
"Good afternoon gentlemen, my name is Emma Swan. What can I do for you today?" she asks, trying not to sound as flustered as she felt.
The older man speaks first. "Hello, my name is David Nolan, and this is my partner Killian Jones. We need to speak with you about a very serious matter."
Emma smiles at them politely. "Of course. Let's have a seat," she says, gesturing toward a circle of chairs.
After they are seated, David cuts right to the chase. "Ms. Swan, we are here because a severe crime has been committed," he says urgently
Emma sits back in shock. "What sort of crime?"
This time it was Killian who spoke. "A sanctuary building was burned to the ground a few days ago,"
Oh, dear lord, he has an accent, too, Emma thinks, but snaps out of it when she realizes what he said. "A sanctuary? My god, that's horrible! But that doesn't explain why you're here," she says, confused.
The two men look at one another silently for a few seconds, then David tells her, "Because the fire was created by magic."
"What?" Emma gasps in shocked disbelief
"Aye," Killian replies. "And we have reason to believe that someone in this coven is the one responsible for it"
For @mayquita / @cssecretsanta2k18 Merry Christmas!
I’m not sure exactly what this is? It’s really just some baking gone wrong that turned into fluff without plot. Hope you enjoy! 🎄
Read on ao3: X
She had made a poor job of hiding the damage. In retrospect, maybe trying to cook for him wasn’t the best idea.
Killian had been working the night shifts at the hospital the past few days, and Emma had just wanted to do something special for him. It was Christmas Eve, after all.
Her idea was to make one of Killian's favorite desserts, but Emma was not a chef, in any sense of the word. The vanilla crescents would have been a nice gesture and all, if it weren’t for the fact that they were burnt to a crisp, and the smoke alarm was going off.
Just as she was climbing on the stepstool to find a way to turn off the damn thing, Emma heard Killian’s keys jangling and the squeaky door opening, all too soon (why hadn’t they fixed that yet?).
“Swan, what are you...” A moment of silence. “Oh”
Emma stepped off the stool, finally getting the alarm to stop chirping, and met his deep blue eyes.
“Yeah. I uh... I tried to cook your vanilla crescent recipe, I wanted to surprise you and make you happy, but then I left them in for too long and smoke started to come out of the oven, and the alarm started to go off, and now they look like burnt toast," she choked out, her chin wobbling.
Killian had been living with Emma for nearly two years now, and he had rarely seen her like this. No, Emma Swan kept her emotions reserved for herself and herself only, so Killian knew what was bothering her went beyond the crescents.
As Killian slowly walked towards Emma, the tears started to well up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. "Love, are you okay?"
And the dam broke.
"I had a whole night planned out, you were gonna get home and the crescents would be ready for you, and we would eat them together while some holly-jolly Christmas music was playing in the background, and I would have a perfect chance to tell you I love y...." Her words stopped abruptly. "The perfect chance to tell you I love your family, and we should definitely go visit them this Christmas."
Emma mentally slapped herself. What had she gotten herself into? She was definitely gonna need some spiked eggnog to get herself through a stay with his family. And maybe some tonight to get her through her feelings for him.
For a brief moment, Killian thought Emma would finally say the words that he had been waiting so long to hear. He was disappointed, but he quickly schooled his features so as not to show it. When Emma said those three words, it wouldn’t be because of any guilt, it would be because she wanted him.
“I was thinking maybe we could stay here and celebrate together this year?” Killian suggested tentatively, giving her a knowing yet reassuring smile. He knew she wasn’t too fond of his parents (and vice versa, to be honest), and he would never force that on her knowing she needed more time.
“Yeah... yeah that sounds good.” Emma started towards the living room, but then turned around to face Killian again. “I'm gonna go see what’s on Netflix, care to join?”
Killian gave her a nod and followed after her into the living area. Emma sat down on the end of the sofa, and Killian followed suit, playfully touching his (quite frigid) foot against her leg to get her attention.
"Swan, i'm cold, care to give me a cuddle?"
Emma hesitated, afraid of reading too much into his question and getting too attached. But Killian had always kept his promises, and was a man of his word. He wouldn't ask this of her unless he felt the same way too, at least she hoped not. So she leaned into the wave, gave into the temptation and shuffled back into his (oh so cold, why was this man always so cold?) arms, tucking her head under his chin.
The room was silent for a moment, Emma scrolling through the Christmas selection of movies, trying to decide on one for the night. Killian shifted above her, reaching for the plaid blanket that had been previously folded neatly against the back of the couch, draping it over the two of them.
"Swan?" Killian tried softly, not quite sure if she was in the mood for talking right now. Although he was disappointed and frustrated that she couldn't quite say those words yet, he also knew Emma needed time. After all, if anyone knew about lasting scars, it's him.
"Hmm?" Emma's reply jerked him out of his thoughts.
Killian hesitated a moment, not wanting to scare her away, yet wanting to let her know that he felt the same way. Deciding on the latter, he took the plunge.
"I love you too, Emma."
(In case you were wondering, they never decided on a movie, each too caught up in the other to fuss about that).
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It’s a cs one. Killian just moved into the appartment of an elderly couple with his dog. Emma has lived in the same beach town for longer. One night/day? they meet cause Killian is throwing a frisbee for his dog but it lands to close to emma. What I also remember Emma works at a bar and a carshop. Later in…killian starts doing singing gigs at that bar.
“You’re starting to look like your father,” is all she says, expression inexplicable. Her words burn him, straight to his core, and for the first time his anger feels directed towards her. It scares him.
Killian and Liam Jones are called in to help with the haunting of an old carriage house where a skeleton was recently found walled up within the cellar. This is no ordinary ghost hunt for the supernatural fighting brothers, however. This job will require Killian to face the person who has been haunting him for nearly a year. Emma Swan. The woman he ghosted.
A/N: We are getting closer to the finish line! Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through my writing drought and inconsistent updates. As I mentioned in my last update, this fic is finished, so the final chapter will be posted a week from today!
Shout out to @kmomof4 for her exceptional beta skills! Also a HUGE thank you to @snowbellewells who made the cover art for my birthday last year. Thank you again, Marta! I absolutely love it!
Rated T / Also available on ao3 / add to tag list / Curious? Come Ask Me! / Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four / Part Five
Part Six
Orange and red bathed the headstones as the sun set over the graveyard. The three of them had waited in the park next to the cemetery, intending to enter closer to nightfall, but still within the permitted hours. Seated at a picnic table on the outskirts, they watched as a police car slowly crept down the road that ran alongside the burial site’s boundary.
“Bloody hell,” Killian cursed beneath his breath. “What is that? The third patrol in an hour?”
“Something like that,” Emma replied, before glancing at him sideways and cheekily adding, “The town stepped up their police presence here after some lunatic dug up and set fire to a body last year.”
Killian met her taunting countenance with an equally teasing sigh and feigned annoyed glower. The two could only hold their needling expression for a scant moment before smiles took over their faces.
Seemingly oblivious to the fond nostalgia being shared between his companions, Liam stood and began to make his way towards the treeline. “Lucky for us the Mills Mausoleum is on the other side of the cemetery, far from the road.”
Lucky, indeed.
Or so it had seemed.
Once they arrived at the Mill’s family resting place, their luck took a turn.
Killian had expected the mausoleum to be locked. Affluent family gravesights often were, as a way to ward off theft and vandalism. What he had not anticipated was the style and intricacy of said lock.
Crouching in front of the iron door, Killian cursed as he fiddled with the mechanism. “Bloody tumblers won’t budge. It’s as though they’re secured by magic.”
“We’ve no evidence that Cora was a witch,” Liam replied without a hint of sarcasm, his gaze scanning the area for any signs of interruption.
“I didn’t mean literally, brother,” Killian said with an eyeroll, then muttered, “Though, I wouldn’t have put it past her.”
A soft giggle pulled his attention upward to where Swan was standing over him, holding the flashlight. As it was prone to do, his body instantly reacted; his breath catching and his heart palpitating as a warm flush of desire and affection spread through him. Seeing her, bathed in moonlight amongst the headstones, transported him back to the night they met, here in this very cemetery.
What he wouldn’t give to go back and do things differently. He’d been such a fool and desperately hoped--now that everything was out in the open between them--that she’d give him a second chance. A tall order, considering she was currently romantically involved and living with another man. Even if he found said man to be lacking in a number of ways and nowhere near deserving of someone the caliber of Emma Swan.
Although, some might question whether he was any more deserving himself, given how he’d squandered his chance with her when he’d had it, regardless of how noble he thought his reasons were at the time.
“Want me to give it a try?” Emma asked, crouching down beside him. Her breath against his cheek caused a shiver to run down his spine, compromising his balance and landing him on his backside with an audible oomph.
“Shhh,” Liam hissed. “Someone’s coming.”
His brother hid behind a tall grave marker as the beam of a flashlight swept across the headstones. Grabbing Killian by the lapels of his jacket, Swan pulled him back towards the cover of the mausoleum’s shadow, the two of them tangled together as they sat pressed against the structure and one another.
The roar of his blood thundered in his ears as he held his breath, his focus torn between trying not to be discovered by who he assumed was one of the officers on patrol and the feel of Emma wrapped in his arms as she practically straddled his lap. It felt like an eternity before the coast became clear once more, but Killian made no effort to extricate himself from his current position. Leaning back to glance around the side of the mausoleum, Emma’s hips shifted over his groin and he was helpless to stop his body from responding, or the aching whimper from falling off his lips.
The startled swiftness with which she straightened back up, eyes wide and lips slightly parted told him his affliction had not gone unnoticed. The two of them held the other’s gaze for a long moment, and when her eyes dipped down to his lips, his followed suit. Their breathing shallowed, exhales mingling in the chilled air that was growing more charged by the second. His fingers gripped her hip a bit tighter, his thumb sliding under the hem of her sweater to the bare skin beneath causing her breath to hitch and her flesh to pebble from his touch. Cautiously, he inched forward, intending to close the gap and claim that perfect mouth of hers, but only if she gave him the slightest hint of consent to do so.
Consent he’d never know if he would have received, thanks to his clueless, meddlesome, infuriating brother.
“That was too close for comfort,” Liam whispered. “I think it best we take our leave and come up with a new plan.”
Emma scrambled off Killian’s lap, forcing another pained sound to escape from the back of his throat. Holding his hands out, Liam assisted them both to standing and waited for their agreement before setting off in the direction of the park.
It wasn’t until they were back in his Chevelle that Emma suggested, “Maybe the groundskeeper has a key to the mausoleum. We could ask Belle to find out. She could use the excuse of needing to update records or wanting to do research for city historical purposes.”
“Perhaps you could also ask Sheriff Humbert if he’d be willing to pull back on the patrols here, although I’m not sure what reason you’d give him,” Liam offered from the backseat, having graciously insisted that Swan ride shotgun, which Killian knew had been his brother’s way of torturing him. The git.
Emma smirked and stated, “If I have Ruby ask him he won’t need a reason.”
Liam chuckled. “Aye. The lass does seem to have your sheriff wrapped around her finger.”
“Among other parts of herself, I dare say,” Killian quipped, earning him a chortle from Swan and a slap at the back of his head from his brother. “Oi! Bad form to assault the driver whilst the vehicle is in motion!”
“Bad form to make such remarks about our host’s friend.”
“I assure you, I was only stating what Emma was already thinking. Isn’t that right, Swan?”
Glancing towards the passenger seat, Killian was met with a cheeky expression and mischievous glint sparkling from those enticing, green depths he often found himself lost in.
“Actually, I was gonna suggest that Liam talk with Belle about getting us access to the mausoleum, seeing as he wouldn’t mind being wrapped around more than just her finger.”
Killian erupted into laughter and peered at his brother through the rearview mirror. Even in the dim light of passing cars and streetlights he could see his brother’s face turn bright red. Fortunately, it was accompanied by a caught out smile and good-natured chuckle.
“Lass, I fear my brother has been a bad influence on you.”
“No more than I am over him,” she quipped back haughtily, furtively shooting Killian a look that made his pants tighten impossibly more.
He wasn’t sure how he’d ever manage to get out of the car, much less make it up the stairs to the front door. Coming up with some excuse to hang back, Killian remained behind the wheel as Emma and Liam both exited the car.
“I’ll see you both in the morning, then,” Swan replied, heading up the front steps, her tight jeans hugging her arse in a way that solidified the reality that Killian was in for a long, uncomfortable night.
“Everything alright, brother?” Liam asked with a little too much concern in his tone. “Finding it hard to put the day behind you?”
“Piss off,” Killian grummaced, throwing open the car door and stepping out into the cool night air.
“You’re both idiots, you know that right?”
Sighing, Killian conceded, “I’ll admit to you being half right. I’ve only myself to blame.”
Placing a firm hand on Killian’s shoulder, Liam urged, “Just tell her how you feel. Explain what happened after the Wend--”
“I have,” Killian told him. “But it’s not that simple. She’s with someone now. I don’t want to make things more complicated for her, or be the reason things fall apart and cause her more pain.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about that, brother,” Liam confided. “I have it on good authority that things were rocky between her and Neal long before we got here. If I were a betting man, I’d say their relationship has run its course and it’s only a matter of time before he’s out of the picture completely.”
“And you think I ought to be waiting in the wings, ready to pick up the pieces? A bit opportunistic, don’t you think?”
“I think,” Liam countered in a somber yet affectionate tone, “you should give yourself permission to fight for what you want. Give yourself permission to be happy. You deserve that as much as anyone else, little brother.”
Killian swallowed past the tightness in his throat and gave his brother a nod of understanding before following him inside, muttering younger as they entered the carriage house.
~/~
Consciousness came slowly, lazily, and with little effort. Stretching out the few kinks peppering her body, Emma could not remember the last time she’d slept so well. Allowing herself a few more moments of comfort, she hugged the pillow beside her and sighed into its softness. The smell of her laundry detergent and the lavender scented dryer sheets filled her sinuses and a contented smile lifted the corners of her mouth.
After they’d returned home from the cemetery, Emma had made her way upstairs and surveyed her room. Her room. No physical sign of Neal remained; a fact that had enveloped her in a blanket of relief. She’d wasted no time stripping the bed, replacing the sheets she’d last shared with him with fresh ones from the linen closet.
From the depths of her dresser drawer she’d pulled out the raggedy t-shirt she’d almost always worn to bed before Neal had become a frequent overnight fixture. The one he’d mocked incessantly until she finally replaced it with a cami or some other barely there pajama top. The soft, worn fabric felt like the embrace of an old friend on her skin, welcoming her back with comfort and ease.
Out of habit, she’d pulled back the blankets on what had been her side for the past couple months, but then stopped herself. She’d only started sleeping on that side, the one closest to the door, because Neal had preferred the other. The one closer to the bathroom, so he wouldn’t have to go too far if he awoke in the middle of the night, ensuring he’d get back to sleep quickly. Nevermind the fact he was never quiet about it and often woke her up in the process.
She supposed she could sleep on whichever side she chose now. Hell, she could take up the entire bed if she wanted. Smiling, she’d climbed onto the mattress and slid beneath the covers smack dab in the middle of the bed. Nestled beneath the weight of the extra blankets--Neal had always wanted it as cold as possible when he slept, despite her desire to stay warm and cozy--Emma had drifted off perfectly content.
Well, almost perfectly content.
There was that small pang of disappointment that it was a stack of quilts and not Killian’s body pressing her into the mattress before sleep fully claimed her. She’d be lying if she said it had only been a fleeting thought. Her dreams of him had been anything but fleeting.
Reluctantly, Emma rolled over and reached for her phone. Unplugging it from the charger, she did a double take when she read the time.
1:16 PM
“Holy shit!” Shooting up, she struggled to detangle herself from the blankets. Grabbing a pair of nearby leggings, Emma hopped towards the door on alternating legs as she struggled to put them on. A glance towards the guest room showed it to be empty, and after making her way down the stairs, another look into the study revealed the same. Turning into the kitchen, she stopped short at the sight of a shirtless Killian Jones, hair sticking up at odd angles with pajama pants perched precariously low on his hips, filling a cup of coffee.
“Morning, love,” he offered in a rough, gravelly voice before bringing the steaming mug to his lips. After a quick, testing swallow he turned towards her fully, his eyes taking her in over the brim as he took another sip. Tonguing an errant drop from the corner of his mouth, he smirked and said, “Nice shirt.”
Glancing down at herself, Emma remembered which shirt she’d put on the night before… and where it had come from in the first place.
“You’ve been taking good care of it, I see.” Before Emma could respond, Killian grabbed another cup from the cabinet and asked, “Coffee?”
“Uh, y-yeah,” she stammered. “Please.”
By the time he’d poured and handed her the beverage, she managed to pull herself together.
Sort of.
“Guess I’m not the only one who overslept?”
Scratching his fingers through his hair, Killian followed her to the living room, a yawn escaping him as he replied, “Seems so.”
Sinking down on opposite ends of her couch, they both took a drink and waited for the coffee to do its thing. Or for the other one to break the ice. Emma wasn’t quite sure which.
“Have you seen Liam?” she asked, tucking her feet beneath her and wrapping her hands around the warm ceramic. For all its comfort and charm, the carriage house still had issues with letting in the morning chill.
Killian pulled an afghan off the back of the chair next to him and handed it to her. “Aye. Briefly.” He helped her spread out the blanket so she wouldn’t have to put her mug down, then added, “He woke me up about half an hour ago. Said he was going to meet Belle at the library and ask her about that key.”
Emma nodded and brought the cup up to her lips, murmuring against the edge, “I’ll call Ruby and see if she can work her magic on Graham.”
Setting her coffee down, Emma took her phone out of the side pocket of her leggings. She was scrolling through her contacts when Killian asked, “How’s Neal this morning? Haven’t seen him since yesterday’s unfortunate event.”
Sucking in her bottom lip, Emma warred with herself before confessing, “He’s, uh… He’s gone.”
“Gone to work?” Killian replied. “I would have thought he’d call out, but I suppose I can’t blame him for wanting to get out of the house for a bit.”
Emma opened her mouth to correct him, but was cut off by an incoming call. She didn’t recognize the number which normally would mean she wouldn’t answer. This time, however, she’d risk a telemarketer in order to have a reprieve from the current topic of conversation.
“Hello?”
“Miss Swan?” inquired a male voice on the other end of the line.
“This is she.”
“Miss Swan, this is Robin Locksley. We met briefly at Regina Mills’ house yesterday?”
Sitting up straighter, she waved at Killian to get his attention (which she already had) and took the phone away from her ear, putting it on speaker. “Yes, Mr. Locksley, I remember.”
Killian scooted closer and the two of them hovered over the phone as the man replied, “Oh, call me Robin. Please.”
“Robin,” Emma repeated. “What can I do for you?”
“I’ve had a talk with Miss Mills… Regina, and she wonders if you’d mind her and I coming to the carriage house so we can all talk some more about… you know.”
“Of course!”
“Terrific. We can head that way in about an hour and be there around four?”
“We’ll be here.”
Killian leaned in so his voice would be picked up clearly, and said, “Robin, mate. It’s Killian. May I ask… What made Regina change her mind?”
Silence echoed over the line to the point that Emma wondered if Robin had ended the call before Killian spoke. The clearing of a throat attested otherwise.
“I’d prefer to have that conversation in person… if you don’t mind.”
Emma shared a bemused look with Killian who haltingly replied, “Sure thing, mate.”
A heavy sigh crackled over the phone. “Thanks. We’ll see you both soon.”
“Aye. Safe travels.”
“See you soon.”
Ending the call, they both sat back into the cushions, dumbfounded over this sudden turn of events. Now that Emma had a chance to process it, a series of concerns ran through her mind.
“You seem vexed, love. Unexpected as it may be, this is a good thing.”
“I know,” Emma said, worrying her lip. “It’s just…”
“Just what?”
Turning her body, Emma looked up at Killian, momentarily distracted by his chest, and whispered, “Is it really a good idea for her to come here? What about… you-know-who? We won’t have a chance to… you know, until after dark. Won’t Regina being here to find closure with Daniel amp Cora up?”
“Probably,” Killian responded nonchalantly, draping his arm over the back of the couch. “Unless we create a warded area that will keep her from interfering.”
Cocking her head to one side, Emma stared at him with a dubious expression and muttered, “How, exactly, do we do that?”
Shooting her a cocky grin and lifted brow, he crooned, “Leave that to me, love. Leave that to me.”
Emma snorted at his ridiculousness and was once again sidetracked by her phone. “It’s Ruby,” she said, putting her friend on speaker. “Hey, Rubes. I was just about to call you.”
“Too late,” Ruby said. “Belle got me first. I just talked with Graham.”
She shared yet another glance with Killian. They both should have known Liam wouldn’t waste time putting things in motion.
“And?” Emma prompted. “What did he say?”
“He said the best he could do was give you an hour of no patrols at shift change.”
“That’s it?”
“I’m afraid so,” Ruby replied. “He said, and I quote, ‘the mayor will have my guts for garters if he finds out I suspended patrols this close to Halloween.’ I mean honestly… who talks like that?”
Emma nearly laughed out loud at the affronted look on the face of the man she knew full well said things just like that.
“Sorry I couldn’t do better.”
“You did plenty, Rubes,” Emma assured her. “Do me a favor and let Belle know so she can tell Liam?”
“Will do,” Ruby replied, and Emma could almost hear the shift in her friend’s demeanor before she sultrily inquired, “So… how’s it going with Mr. Hot Cemetery Makeout Guy? You buy a ticket on that ride yet?”
“Ruby!” Emma exclaimed as Killian choked on the last bit of coffee he was polishing off and erupted into a fit of coughs.
“Oh, shit! He’s right there, isn’t he?”
“I have to let you go.” Without waiting for a response, Emma hung up and got up from the couch. “I’ll get you a glass of water.”
His hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her, and he managed to croak out, “It’s fine, Swan. No need.” With one last cough, he cleared his throat then swallowed hard against the tight knot that had formed there. “See? Right as rain.”
“I’m sorry about Ruby, she’s…”
“No need to apologize,” he said, and it seemed to Emma that he was suddenly hyper aware of the fact that he was only half dressed. Releasing her wrist, he stood and headed towards the hallway. “I should get myself dressed. Robin and Regina will be here soon, and we need to…”
“Right,” Emma agreed, feeling a bit self-conscious about her own appearance. The thin material of her shirt likely left little to the imagination, especially since she wasn’t wearing a bra, to say nothing about the painted-on quality of her leggings. “I need to shower and get ready.”
Her face went red at the mention of a shower, and the traitorous thought of asking him to join her. Fortunately, Killian spoke again before her tongue could betray her.
“I’ll check-in with Liam and let him know of Regina’s impending arrival. Take your time. I’ll take care of getting things ready.”
As much as Emma wanted to question him about what that might entail, her instinct to run whenever things got emotionally overwhelming took over. Though she’d spent years trying to overcome the reaction and the root of its cause, it still reared its ugly head from time to time. Usually, she would berate herself when it did, but this time she was glad for it.
Racing up the stairs, she entered her room and firmly closed the door behind her. Shedding her clothes, it wasn’t until she was under the spray of the shower--the dial turned to a much colder temperature than usual--that Emma allowed herself to face the truth of why she’d run from him just now.
Because if she hadn’t, she would have done as Ruby suggested, and having Regina Mills show up as she was riding Killian probably wasn’t the best way to help the woman get closure.
~/~
It was much later than four before Robin and Regina arrived. Still struggling with doubt and a whole host of other emotions, Miss Mills had apparently insisted the two stop several times along the way. At one point, Robin had called to inform them of their updated estimated time of arrival, which would be cutting it close to the window of opportunity they had to enter the mausoleum. Knowing Emma would need one of the brothers there for support and assistance with helping Daniel move on, it was decided that Killian would stay behind while Liam and Belle - who was the one securing the key from the groundskeeper later that evening - would deal with Cora’s resting place.
When Robin and Regina finally arrived, the former extended heart-felt apologies while the latter coolly offered a ‘sorry I’m late’ before strolling into the structure she likely had not set foot in for many years, possibly decades. Emma welcomed them both, her nerves taking over and causing her to overshare about the remodel as Regina perused her surroundings. It wasn’t until Killian invited them all to have a seat in the living room, offering beverages that might make the situation a little less tense that everyone began to relax and soften.
“I must say,” Regina stated, accepting the offered libation being handed to her, “you have done a remarkable job here. Everything looks impeccably finished yet it feels so homey.”
“Thank you.” Swan took a swallow of her own drink, obviously allowing herself time to formulate a more in-depth response.
Killian, however, did not wish to waste time on small talk. “If you don’t mind my asking,” he began, cradling his tumbler in his hands as he leaned forward with his elbows resting on the tops of his thighs, “what changed your mind about coming here? You did not seem very keen on the idea when we left you, and given the amount of stops you made along the way, it seems you may not yet be completely at ease with the decision to be here.”
“Yes, well…” Regina took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly before continuing. “You’re right. When you and Miss Swan left, I thought you were either some sort of conman team set out to swindle me, or completely insane.” Glancing over to the man seated beside her on the sofa, she added, “But after you were gone, Robin sought me out to check on me, and after I told him what you had said, he…”
Hesitantly, Robin reached over and took Regina’s hand, picking up on her distress before it became apparent to either Emma or Killian.
“I asked Regina whether she was willing to take the chance on you not being crazy and missing out on the opportunity to heal a long held wound.” Shifting in his seat, Robin met Killian’s eye and said, “I have some experience with unrestful spirits. My wife, Marion, visited me after her death.”
Robin gave them both an appreciative nod then shared the story of his wife’s passing. Her death had been sudden and tragic; a fire had broken out at her workplace and due to several fire code violations, she and several of her co-workers had perished in the blaze. Robin had been out of town for work in a rather remote area and had not spoken to his wife for several days, only communicating via e-mail. When he was notified of what happened, he’d been told she was identified by dental records and there was no need for him to identify the body. In fact, he was encouraged not to, being told he would not wish to remember her that way.
“Of course, I said good-bye to her at the funeral, but…” Swallowing past the lump that had formed in his throat, Robin looked up at the ceiling in an attempt to quell the tears pooling in his eyes. “It felt so empty. I remember being tortured by the fact that I couldn’t even remember the last thing I ever said to her. Had I told her I loved her? Had I made her feel missed? Or had I been short and flippant because I was busy?”
Taking a fortifying drink, he gave himself a moment before clearing his throat to continue. “It was about a month after her death that I started to… experience things.”
“What sort of things?”
“The smell of her perfume, an indentation on her pillow, the feeling of her presence, and what I thought to be the occasional glimpse of her in the corner of my eye. I thought I was going mad, and I confided in one of my mates, Will.”
“And did this Will believe you?”
Robin let out a light chuckle. “Not only did he believe me, he dragged my arse to a psychic medium he knew.”
“You went to a psychic?” Emma inquired, fascinated. “Who?”
“A woman by the name of Zelena,” Robin told her. Killian filed the name away in the back of his mind and encouraged the man to tell them more about the meeting with her. “She backed up all my experiences. Said that those who die suddenly or violently often have difficulty moving on due to having unfinished business. She, uh… she helped me get closure. She helped me say a proper good-bye.”
Killian did not wish to offend the man, but he had to ask. “And you are certain she was… legit?”
To his relief, Robin smiled at the question. “Regina said the same thing.”
“I did,” Miss Mills said, sheepishly. “And I’m still not sure I believe in ghosts, or psychics, or any of this,” she said, gesturing vaguely at the room around them. “But what Robin told me in reply made me at least keep an open mind and be willing to see this through.”
Killian and Emma shared a common look of curiosity before Swan asked, “What did you tell her?”
“I told her,” Robin said, squeezing Regina’s hand. “That even if I had imagined everything that had happened after Marion’s death, and even if Zelena was a total fraud… The closure was real. The peace is real. The firm belief that Marion is in a better place, her unfinished business resolved… that’s real. And it has allowed me to move forward through my grief into a life that is still worth living.”
A long pause hung in the room; Robin and Regina looked fondly at one another while Killian and Emma shared furtive glances. The buzz of Killian’s phone broke the reverie, and he apologized as he pulled the device from his pocket.
Key acquired. Headed to the cemetery. The text from Liam read. Putting the phone back in his pocket, Killian turned his attention back to the couple who was looking at him expectantly.
“So…” Regina drew out, hesitantly. “What now?”
“Now,” Killian replied, getting to his feet. “We get you and Daniel the same closure.”
