Once Upon a Shoe that Fits
Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT, I just like to play with them in my fairytale world.
This is a Captain Swan movie fic. It is loosely based the 1990 rom-com If the Shoe Fits (or for those of you like me who still own the VHS Stroke of Midnight). Some things will be changed but a lot of the scenes will remain the same. Warning: If you are not a Captain Swan fan, this is not a story for you. There will be some great platonic Swan Queen moments. I hope you will like it.
For those of you who are not familiar with this tale, here is a brief summary. Emma Nolan is a plain-looking, under-confident young woman who aspires to be a successful shoe designer in the world of fashion in Paris. A recent graduate of one the most elite fashion programs, at the top of her class, however, she could only find work as a dresser (or gadrobiere ) for Capitaine Designs, but she hopes to design shoes for this particular designer. Killian Jones is a successful designer with who became one of the top designers in Paris within a few years. His popularity has led him to become an arrogant, and egotistical person. This begins to affect his business as the fashion critics come to hate his most recent collection. However, a twist of fate (and a fairy godmother) will bring these two together in an unusual way.
Prologue
Twelve-year-old Emma Nolan was engaging in a bi-weekly tradition: watching Disney's Cinderella with her mother, Mary-Margaret Nolan. For as long as Emma can remember she has always been drawn to this movie. She watched it for the first time when she was five and instantly fell in love with it. Since then, Emma has watched it with her mother on a regular basis. After breaking several VHS tapes, the two came to a compromise. They would trade off movies; one week they watch Cinderella and the other week they watch Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, which is Mary-Margaret's favorite film.
Mary-Margaret admired her daughter's fascination with the movie and she did not want to discourage her. Mary-Margaret could always relate to Snow White and her husband, David, was her Prince Charming. She would even call him that sometimes. While Mary-Margaret's fascination was with the princess, Emma's was with Cinderella's shoes.
They were at the end of the film where Cinderella and her prince are married and they go off to live out their happy ending. Mary-Margaret smiled. "I just love it when Cinderella gets her prince in the end." She said as they started to clean up their snacks and blankets.
"Yeah." Emma agreed. "And that wouldn't have been possible without the shoe."
"What do you mean?" Her mother asked.
"It was the shoe that brought them together in the end." Emma replied.
"No it wasn't." Mary-Margaret retorted. "It was the love that Cinderella and the Prince had for each other. And besides, it was the Fairy Godmother who brought them together."
"True, but it was the shoe that brought them back together." Emma claimed. "When Cinderella ran from the castle the shoe was left behind. The shoe was the key for the prince to find her."
"Okay, but you are forgetting that for those who share true love fate will always bring them back to each other." Her mother rebutted. "It was the true love they share that brought them together."
"Yes, but the process of finding each other was accelerated because of the shoe." Emma replied. "Without the shoe, the movie would've been much longer."
Mary-Margaret smiled at her daughter. They had finished cleaning up their make-shift movie theater and headed to their respective bedrooms. "Are you sure you don't want to go to law school?" She asked. "You would make for a pretty good lawyer."
Emma rolled her eyes. "I'm serious." Her mother said. "I am the coach for the eighth grade debate team and none of them can argue like you can. Maybe I should bring you to some of their practices and you can teach them a thing or two."
Emma shook her head. "No way, Mom." Emma replied. "I'm going to be the top shoe designer in Paris and design for one of the top designers there. My designs will be sold in every shop in the city, maybe even all of Europe."
Mary-Margaret smiled at her. "I know you will, honey." She replied. Emma has always set high goals for herself. She was happy with her life. She was an eighth-grade teacher at the local school and she was married to the captain of the local law enforcement. They were high school sweethearts. She knew what she wanted out of her life, but Emma always dreamed bigger. She wanted to work in fashion and live in Paris. Finding prince charming was not Emma's top priority, unlike her mother.
Emma got herself situated in bed. Even at the age of twelve, she did not mind being tucked in by her parents. Mary-Margaret pulled the covers over Emma. "You know, Emma, having a career is great but it also nice to have something to come home to at the end of the day. No matter how successful I will be as a teacher, it doesn't compare to coming home to my family. You guys make my life worth living. And I want that for you too." She told her, in her mothering tone.
"I know, Mom." Emma replied. "I want that too, but I also want a career."
"I know honey, and I know that one day you will be living out your happy ending." Her mother said.
Emma's eyes widened. "You think so?" She asked.
Mary-Margaret nodded. "I know so." She kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Goodnight Emma."
"Night, Mom." Mary-Margaret headed for the door when Emma stopped her before she could close the door. "Mom?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think I will find my prince charming?" Emma asked.
Her mother nodded. "If the shoe fits." She said with a smile.
A/N: So, this didn't happen in the film. I thought it would be nice to give a back story of where Emma's desire to be a shoe designer originated. Plus, it is a nice mother/daughter moment that those two never got to have on the show. Also, in the movie Kelly Carter did not have parents that played a role in the film. However, Emma will have that here. Stay tuned, as I will be introducing more characters.
For the Captain Swan shippers, I hope you will enjoy this one.