My name's Cathy. Do something you love, and you'll never work a day in your life. That's why I became a Band Teacher. Absolutely love books, music, and too many t.v. shows and movies to list.
The third story in the Where There's Smoke, There's Fire universe is officially in progress! It's titled:
Smoke and Mirrors
If you've missed this storyverse, thank you so much for sticking with me. It's been a loooong while, so I'm not sure how many of my wonderful readers are still around, but I'll be posting this new story on FanFiction.net and AO3, just like I did with the first two stories.
This installment introduces a brand-new cast of characters, a fresh mystery, and a little more fantasy woven into the world. I can't wait for you to meet everyone!
Please keep an eye out for the release! I mainly wanted to pop in, say hello, and see if anyone is still out there and interested in returning to this universe with me.
The first story in this series was published back in 2015, which honestly feels unbelievable. To everyone who read, commented on, and loved the first two stories—thank you. Your support meant more than you know, and it's one of the biggest reasons I'm excited to come back and tell another story.
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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.”
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.
Colin O’Donoghue’s inability to wink [old version]
as himself (2013 & 2016)
as Killian Jones l Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)
as JJ Sneed l Dolly Parton's Heartstrings (2019) - 1x07 ''JJ Sneed''
as Shane O'Driscoll l Catch The Wind (2026)
+ bonus close-up as JJ Sneed in Dolly Parton's Heartstrings
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backtobroadcastofficial: During Back to Broadcast Episode 6, Karen David dicusses the album she’s recording with her former Once Upon a Time co-star Colin O’Donoghue. 🎵 Karen played Jasmine on the ABC fantasy series, while Colin played Captain Hook. Full episode coming soon! #ouat#backtobroadcast
Colin O'Donoghue as Shane Driscoll in the trailer of Catch The Wind (17th April 2026)
''Do you ever get the sense that you're on a journey, right? And nothing else is real except what's going on inside you, but you can't... you can't explain it because... what's going on inside you is actually running contrary to what's really going on around you.''
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Colin O'Donoghue wearing glasses! He said he found out he needed reading glasses a week before his birthday this year. (21st March, 2026) #MEGACONOrlando
(shared by @colinodonoghuebrasil on Twitter)
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Survival Skills - Chapter 3 (Forming a Friendship)
A Captain Swan Modern AU
As promised, here is chapter 3, marking the halfway point. Thank you for all of your kind comments for this story. You don't know how many times I almost scrapped the whole thing because the muse just would not cooperate! Thanks to @kmomof4 for not letting me do that, and to @hookedmom for her patience and beta skills.
STORY SUMMARY: When Emma Swan’s dogs find an unconscious man in her woods, she takes him to her cabin to treat him for hypothermia. Little does she know how much a snowstorm, the loss of power, and Killian Jones are going to change her life.
RATING: M (for smut in the final chapter, which can be skipped if that's not your thing)
WORDS: 3350 of almost 30,500 total
Catch up on Tumblr - Ch. 1 Ch. 2
Also posted on Ao3
New chapter found under the cut
Emma went into her room and sat down on her bed, blinking back the tears that had threatened to spill in front of Killian Jones. She hoped the dim lighting hid them, because she hated to show weakness in front of people. Even when Neal was at his cruelest, she tried not to show how much hurt he was inflicting on her. So why did that simple sentence Killian uttered affect her the way it did?
She doubted that he heard her whisper “you shouldn’t” before she left the room. At least she hoped he hadn’t. She wasn’t even sure he was sincere. He had only known her a day, after all.
In any case, she needed to get her emotions under control, because she couldn’t hide out in her bedroom forever. She drew in a deep breath and tilted her head back, willing the tears away as she exhaled slowly. Just as she started to feel calmer, she heard the unlatched door open. She jerked her head up. Surely Killian hadn’t come into her room without knocking.
Then she felt a wet nose against her hand. “Oh, Cocoa, it’s you,” she said, scratching behind his ears. “I’m okay, boy. Thanks for checking on me.” She stood up and collected the oil candles from her dresser and nightstand to take out to the living room. They would need more light out there, since that was where they would be spending their time. Plus, it gave her an excuse as to why she came into her bedroom as quickly as she did.
After taking another moment to fortify her emotions, she left her room and walked back into the living room, hoping to show more confidence than she felt.
“Alright there, Swan?” Killian asked.
“Yeah, I, um…I was just getting more candles.”
He nodded his head in understanding. “I hope you don’t mind that I added a couple of logs to the fire.”
She answered as she set the candles down. “That’s fine, thank you. We need to keep it going.” Once she lit the wicks, she glanced up at him. He was standing by the fireplace, the flames creating flickering shadows across his form. The clothes she gave him to wear fit snugly in all the right places, and it nearly stole her breath away at how they accented his very attractive body. She swallowed and licked her suddenly very dry lips. “I, uh, I guess the clothes worked out okay?”
He looked down at himself. “Aye, they’re comfortable enough. Thank you.”
“Well,” she said, looking around the room, now bathed in candlelight and fading sunlight, “there’s not much to do for entertainment. I do have a deck of cards, a few puzzles, and plenty of books to read. Do you know any card games?”
“Just Hearts and Gin Rummy. Oh, and War. My brother and I used to play that a lot when we were kids.”
“I’ve played War, but I don’t know how to play the other two.”
“War requires two decks and Hearts is usually played with four players. I know you can play with two, but the rules are a little different and I’m not sure what they are. I could teach you Gin Rummy, if you like.”
“Sure, why not? It’s not like we have anything else to do.” She got a deck of cards out of the end table’s drawer, grabbed a pillow from the couch, and sat down on it in front of the coffee table. Killian sat across from her on another pillow. The dogs ambled over. Cocoa laid down beside Emma, while Cinnamon made himself comfortable beside Killian. “I think you made a friend,” Emma commented.
Killian stroked the big dog’s head. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you, Cinnamon?”
She started shuffling the cards. “You talk to dogs, too, huh?”
“I’ve heard it said that dogs can’t understand what people say, but I don’t believe it.”
“Neither do I. My boys have to listen to me jabber to them all the time.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure they don’t mind.”
Emma handed him the cards. “Ready to teach me?”
“Aye.”
He explained the rules and dealt the cards. It took her a little while to catch on, but he was patient and soon she was able to beat him every now and then. She was happy to see that he played a fair game and wasn’t letting her win.
They played until the daylight was completely gone. It was then Emma realized it was time to feed the dogs and let them outside. Killian followed her into the kitchen and helped her measure out the food and set the bowls on the floor, chuckling as the dogs seemed to race each other to finish eating first.
When Emma opened the door to let them out, they were able to see that the wind was finally dying down and the snow had stopped falling, leaving behind drifts that were higher than the door of the cabin. Cocoa and Cinnamon quickly found the areas where the snow was less deep and did their business.
“I always feel bad when they can’t get outside to run off their energy,” Emma commented as she let the dogs back in and closed the door. She went to a closet in the corner of the room, removing a mop to swab away the puddles left by the snow that had blown in. “Tomorrow, I’ll go out and shovel a path to the shed for them.”
“I can help with that,” Killian said.
She shook her head. “You’re still recovering from hypothermia. It’s not a good idea to go back out in the cold. Besides, I only have one shovel.”
“As a gentleman, I feel guilty for allowing you to do all the work.”
“You’re a gentleman, huh?” she said, returning the mop to the closet and throwing a teasing smile over her shoulder.
“I would hope you figured out by now that I’m always a gentleman,” he said.
“I haven’t seen anything to contradict that,” she admitted. “If you want to do something to help, you can make hot chocolate. I like to have some when I come back in from the cold.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“You might think so, but I’m very picky about my hot chocolate. I make it from scratch. Have you ever done that before?”
He reached up to scratch behind his ear. “I can’t say that I have.”
She went to a cupboard and took out some ingredients, then pointed to a paper taped to the back of the cupboard door. “Here’s the recipe. I don’t need to use it anymore. I’ve just never taken it down.”
Killian walked over and picked up the candle sitting on the counter, holding it up to read the recipe over her shoulder. She automatically stiffened at his closeness, which seemed silly since she slept snuggled up beside him all night. But it was one thing when he was unconscious, and quite another when she could practically feel his breath on the back of her neck.
“That doesn’t look very complicated,” he commented, taking a step back.
She breathed a little easier. “The trick is to keep a close eye on the milk when you’re bringing it to a boil, so it doesn’t scorch. Do you know how to use a gas stove?”
“Aye, it’s what I have in my apartment.”
“Good. If you want, we can make some right now. You do like hot chocolate, don’t you? Because if you don’t, I’m not sure we can be friends.”
He laughed. “I’m quite the fan of hot chocolate, I assure you.”
She got out the pan, wooden spoon and measuring utensils, while pointing him to the cupboard with the ingredients. “Sugar and cocoa are in there. The milk is…”
“Let me guess. In the refrigerator?” he quipped.
“Yeah, I guess you could figure that out by yourself.”
When he came back with the jug of milk, she supervised as he added the ingredients to the pan. He double checked the recipe often to make sure he followed it exactly.
While they waited for the beverage to heat, they chatted about mundane things. It occurred to Emma how easy it was to talk to him. She was always reserved around people, not wanting to reveal too much about herself, but she felt comfortable with Killian. Even though she wasn’t sure why it was different with him, she decided just to relax and enjoy it.
When the cocoa was ready, she took two mugs out of the cupboard and Killian carefully filled them. Then she crossed the room to the fridge, opening it to take out a can of whipped cream. After topping off one mug with a generous amount, she asked, “Do you want some on yours?”
“Sure. I’ve had it with marshmallows before, but never whipped cream.”
She sprayed some in the other mug, then opened her spice cupboard. “Bet you’ve never had it with cinnamon, either, have you?”
“Can’t say that I have,” he answered. “I’d like to try that, too.”
After sprinkling both with cinnamon, Emma returned the spice to the cupboard.
“Did you name your dogs after a cup of hot cocoa with cinnamon?” Killian asked.
She gave him a grin, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s my favorite thing to drink and I thought the color of their coats resembled cocoa and cinnamon.”
“You’re right. Very clever, Swan.”
They collected their mugs and went into the living room. Emma sat in the recliner, pulling one of the blankets over herself.
“Shall I add another log to the fire?” Killian asked.
“I can do it,” she said, starting to fold the blanket back.
Gesturing for her to stay seated, he said, “You’re already settled.” He placed his cocoa on the end table and went to the fireplace. After stirring up the burning logs and embers, he tossed a large log on top, then stood there and watched it for several moments.
“I find fire to be mesmerizing,” he commented, making his way back to sit on the sofa.
“I know, right? I could watch it for hours.” She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he took his first sip. “Well? What do you think?”
He looked up at her and she giggled at the whipped cream on the tip of his nose. He wiped it off with his finger, then popped it into his mouth, before answering. “It’s quite good. Have you tried yours yet to see if it meets your standards?”
She carefully took a sip, closing her eyes as the warm liquid slid down her throat. “It’s perfect, Killian,” she assured him after swallowing.
They contented themselves watching the dancing flames and drinkng their cocoa. “I would make some popcorn, but the microwave isn’t hooked to the generator,” she said. “I do have hot dogs we could roast over the fire, though.”
“That’s something else I’ve never done,” he said.
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“Aye, that’s true.”
She went into the kitchen to get the hot dogs and bread, pointing out the roasting forks leaning in the corner beside the fireplace as she went. When she returned, Killian was seated in front of the fire with a fork in his hand and an expectant look on his face that reminded her of a child excited for a new adventure.
They roasted the hot dogs, turning the forks slowly over the fire as they chatted congenially. After they finished eating, Killian declared he would never eat another boiled hot dog.
As they returned to their spots on the recliner and sofa, Emma stated, “I can’t believe it’s only six-thirty. With the electricity being off most of the afternoon, it seems a lot later.”
“Do you want to play some more cards?”
She shrugged. “Maybe later. I’m pretty comfortable right now.”
He reached over and plucked a book off of the top of a pile. “Which of these books are you currently reading?”
“All of them.”
His brows shot up to his hairline. “All of them? At the same time?”
“Yeah. I know I’m weird, but I like jumping around from book to book. I’m reading several of them for the first time and rereading some of my favorites.”
“How can you keep track of storylines when you’re reading so many?”
“I’ve never had a problem with that. Books have always been my way of escaping from the real world for a while. The more I’m reading at a time, the less I have to think about what’s going on in my life.”
He flipped through the pages of the book in his hand. “I’m glad books have been there for you. I’ve always been an avid reader myself, and I can relate to how they help take your mind off of real life.”
“Do you have a favorite book?” she asked.
He looked up at her with a grin. “That’s unfair, Swan. It’s like asking someone to choose their favorite child.”
She laughed. “Very true. Okay then, what types of books do you like to read?”
He chewed his bottom lip for a few moments. “I’m drawn to historical fiction and biographies. I think I’ve probably read ninety percent of the biographies about rock musicians.”
“You’re into rock music?”
“Aye. When I was in secondary school, I played guitar in a band with three of my classmates.”
“Whoa! You play guitar? That’s cool!”
Even in the dim light, she could see a blush fill his cheeks. “I didn’t have much time to play while I was in the Navy. These days, I just tinker around with it.”
“It’s probably like riding a bicycle, though,” she said. “Once you learn it, you never forget.”
“Well, you can get rusty if you don’t practice.” He placed the book back on top of the pile. “From the looks of this,” he said, gesturing to the three stacks of books on the coffee table, “you read a wide variety of topics.”
“There’s a lady who has a book stall set up at the farmers market every month. They’re all used, but in good shape, and she sells them very cheap. Plus, if I take her books that I’ve finished, she gives me a bigger discount, so I buy a little bit of everything. Even if I don’t like one or two of them, I’m not out much.”
“Do you have a favorite genre?”
“Probably fantasy. Two of my favorite series are Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.”
“Should I be ashamed to admit I’ve never read Harry Potter?”
“Are you kidding? You’re from England!”
He chuckled. “Is it required reading for British people?”
"It should be.”
“Why? Because the author is British? Have you read all the books written by American authors?”
“Of course not, but not many of them are as famous as J.K. Rowling.”
“Point taken. I’m sure I’ll get around to reading the series someday.”
“No better time than the present,” Emma said, rising from her seat, grabbing a candle and taking off down the hall. When she returned with a cardboard box under her arm, she set the candle back on the table, then plopped down on the couch, a huge smile on her face. Placing the box on her lap and lifting the flaps, she pulled out a tattered paperback, holding it up to show Killian. “Where it all began -The Sorcerer’s Stone. In England, it’s called The Philosopher’s Stone, isn’t it?”
“I believe so, yes.” He reached out to take it. “How long have you had this, Swan?” he asked, gingerly opening the cover and turning the pages. The corners were curled and a few pages had fallen out and were stuck back in where they belonged.
“I’ve had that book since high school. I lost track of how many times I read it.” Reaching back into the box, she pulled out another paperback. “You think that one is in bad shape, look at The Order of the Phoenix.” She opened the thick volume in the middle and it came apart in two pieces. “I tried to tape it, but every time I read it, it comes apart again.”
“Are they all in bad shape?”
“The Goblet of Fire isn’t too bad,” she said, pulling it from the box. “That’s my least favorite, so I haven’t read it as much.”
She handed it to Killian, who perused it briefly. “At least it’s in one piece,” he noted. “Have you ever thought about buying new ones?”
She shrugged. “I don’t really mind that they’re falling apart. Replacing them seems like a waste of money, since they’re still readable.”
“Barely,” he commented with a smirk.
“Do you want to read them or not?”
“How about if we read them together?”
“You want to read them out loud?”
“I think it would be fun.”
“I guess it would. I’ve read them many times, but I haven’t read them aloud, so it’ll be a new experience. I’ll go grab a flashlight.” When she returned from the kitchen, she picked up The Sorcerer’s Stone again, opening it to the first chapter and holding it out to him. “Do you want to start?”
“Ladies first, Swan.”
“Being a gentleman again, are you?”
“I told you - I’m always a gentleman.”
She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help the small smile that crossed her lips. Tucking herself into the recliner again, she grabbed a blanket from the floor and threw it over her legs. Then she opened the book, lifted a questioning eyebrow at Killian and, seeing that he was comfortably settled in the corner of the couch, began to read.
They took turns reading chapters for the next four hours, stopping only once for Emma to change into her pajamas, while Killian let the dogs out. They were two-thirds of the way through the book, when both started yawning so often, they could hardly read.
“I think it’s bedtime,” Emma said.
“Aye,” Killian agreed with a jaw-cracking yawn. “I am a bit knackered.”
They took turns carrying a candle into the bathroom to brush their teeth. When Killian returned after making use of the facilities, he found Emma arranging the thick quilt, blankets and pillows on the floor.
“You can have the couch,” she said.
“No, Swan,” he insisted. “You take the couch. The floor is perfectly fine with me.”
“Cinnamon and Cocoa like to sleep beside me. They can’t do that if I’m on the couch.”
“A gentleman would never allow a lady to have a less comfortable spot. Your dogs like me well enough. Perhaps they’ll be fine sleeping on the floor with me.”
“Again with the gentleman rules,” she teased.
“I won’t be able to sleep knowing you’re on the floor.”
“Well, we both slept on the floor last night. I guess we can both sack out there again tonight.”
He chuckled. “I’m okay with that arrangement as long as you are.”
They finished preparing the makeshift bed, then Killian added several logs to the fire, hoping to keep it burning through the night. They blew out the candles and settled onto the quilt, pulling the blankets over themselves. Cocoa lay down between Emma and the fireplace, while Cinnamon paced around the perimeter of the quilt before finally choosing to lay beside Killian.
After lying quietly for a few minutes, Emma spoke softly, “Sometimes I sleep out here even when the power isn’t out. I love the sound of the crackling and popping fire and watching the shadows it creates on the walls. It’s really relaxing, don’t you think?”
“Aye, it really is,” Killian answered in an equally quiet voice. “I’ve never lived anywhere that had a fireplace. Perhaps that will be a requirement when I look for a place in Talkeetna, if I decide to move there.”
A few more peaceful moments passed. “Goodnight, Killian,” Emma whispered.
“Goodnight, Emma. Sweet dreams.”
She went to sleep with a smile on her face and warmth in her heart that couldn’t be attributed to the flames in the fireplace.
