Operation Light Swan
CS genre: Deleted scene (5x4)
A smile on his lips, Killian bent down to kiss Emma once again, loving the feel of her lips against his, her soft hand in his hair, the joy and relief shining out of her eyes. For the first time during this whole bloody ordeal he felt like things were truly going to be okay.
She made a small mewling noise as she wrapped both arms around him and pulled him yet closer. His love for her, hers for him, it was enough to banish the bloody demon. And love her he did. Oh how he loved her! She was everything in all the realms to him. He deepened the kiss, letting just the smallest hint of passion shine through. The bloody stables of Camelot castle were hardly the place to indulge that passion to its fullest extent, but this woman was intoxicating.
The horse they'd ridden to the meadow whinnied, prompting Emma to break the embrace. She rested her forehead against his for a moment, keeping her eyes closed, her hands framing his face. Finally she stepped back and out of his embrace.
"I guess I should head back up to the castle," she said, regret evident in her voice. "I was supposed to meet Regina in Merlin's room to continue looking for ways to get him out of the tree. Doubt she'd be overly impressed if I showed up late with 'Killian and I were just having a little roll in the hay' as my excuse."
He grinned, fluffing her hair with his hook. "Perhaps not, darling, but it might just be blissful enough to make up for the ramifications."
She closed her eyes for a moment and groaned. "Don't tempt me."
His smile widened, and he gave her one more peck on the lips before gently shoving her in the direction of the stables doors. "Go on love. Find a way to free the sorcerer. The sooner we release you from the darkness's clutches, the sooner we can go home and indulge in whatever activities we wish."
Killian whistled to himself as he set about the task of stabling the horse he'd…borrowed…for the trip to the Middlemist fields. It was a bloody beautiful day, and despite Emma's current predicament, Killian could scarcely be happier.
What precisely had she meant by "a white picket fence life"? Perhaps he'd best search out the prince and enquire upon the significance of that particular phrase. Whatever it meant, Killian intended to give it to his love.
Killian heard the clip-clop of an approaching horse and looked up in time to see Henry leading his own borrowed steed back to his stall. The lad smiled to himself, a hint of pink tinting his cheeks.
"And how was your ride with the lovely young lass?" Killian asked, grin firmly in place.
The pink on Henry's cheeks deepened, and he reached up to scratch his ear. Killian's heart swelled to see the lad mimicking one of his own nervous gestures.
"Great," Henry said shortly. "She's…I don't know. I like her, okay?"
Killian smirked as he sauntered over to the lad and clapped him on the shoulder. "Quite alright. And she fancies you as well, aye?"
Henry glanced aside and shuffled his feet. "I don't know. How do you even tell about girls?"
Killian chuckled. "Aye, they are quite a mystery are the not? Why not invite her on a date and find out."
Henry looked at him, eyes rounded with shock. "I couldn't do that!" he insisted. "What if she says no? What if she doesn't like me?"
"That my lad is the risk we all must take. One must step out in courage if love is to truly have a chance to take root."
Henry was silent for a moment and then nodded slightly. "Okay, I guess you're right, but, I mean…I don't even know anything about planning a date. Why does this all have to be so hard?"
Killian smiled sympathetically. "Just treat her like a lady, Henry" he said simply. "Show her attention. Perhaps a meal served by candlelight at Granny's dining establishment? The lady in question appeared to enjoy the music you played for her on your small auditory device during the ball, perhaps you might resort to that again. And, of course, in my experience, no lady is opposed to being presented with flowers."
Henry stared into the distance, deep in thought, and then nodded again, the smile returning to his face. "Thanks Killian! I'll try it."
"Well done, lad."
Killian turned back to his task at hand. Several moments later Henry broke the silence. "So how did it go with my mom? Is she feeling any better?"
"Aye, that she is," Killian said, feeling the intense relief flood his system once again. "You were right; giving her a bit of hope, showing my love seemed to make all the difference in the world."
"I thought so!" Henry said. "If anyone could make her better it was you."
"I do have one question, though," Killian said, turning back to the boy. "What precisely is the function of a white picket fence?"
Henry looked at him in confusion. "What? Why?"
"It's what your mother wants, apparently. She asked if I truly believed we could get back to Storybrooke and a white picket fence life."
Henry's confusion vanished and was replaced with evident excitement. "She said that to you? She said those words?"
"Aye," Killian furrowed his brows. "The very same."
"That's awesome, Killian!" Henry said. "It means she wants a life with you; a future. You know like the American dream—marriage, family, nice house with a white picket fence. All of it. She wants to be with you."
Killian's heart raced. It was more than he'd ever hoped. He knew his Swan loved him…but this? He'd never yet let himself dream she might wish for a real, true life with him.
"I do hope you're right, lad," he said finally.
"Of course, I'm right!"
Killian laughed and ruffled the boy's hair before sobering once more. "Would that meet with your approval, Henry?" he asked carefully. "When we return home with your mother safe and sound, would you be opposed to our relationship becoming more permanent?"
Henry shook his head. "As long as you guys let me have a room at your house, I think it's great!"
"Of course you'll have a room," Killian assured. "You're family. Our home will be your home as well. Whenever you're not residing with your other mother we'd be honored to have you with us."
"Cool!" Henry said. "So that'll be our job. We've gotta get everything ready. Something Mom can look forward to, and, you know, give her hope and stuff. Come on!"
Henry headed toward the stable doors beckoning Killian forward.
"Where might we be going, Henry?"
"Back to the diner," Henry said. "Bet Granny has some old newspapers from before we got here. They're bound to have real-estate listings. Maybe we can find ourselves a house!"
Killian felt the hope swell within him once again. They would succeed! They would save Swan and then the three of them could begin their life together. It would be utterly perfect. "Aye lad, that we can. We've but one thing left to decide."
Henry stopped and turned toward him, a confused look on his face. "What's that?"
"I believe this mission needs a name, aye?"
Henry smiled. "How about 'Operation Light Swan'? You know, for when Mom gets better!"
Killian clasped Henry's shoulder and squeezed affectionately. "I can't think of anything more fitting."
Notes:
-Happy Friday! Did everyone survive the pain of 5x10? Are you ready for another heaping helping in 2 days? (I'm feeling good about this week! We'll inevitably have some heart wrenching moments and we'll cry and all of that, but things are going to work out! All will be well, and there will not be nearly the doom and gloom after this episode as there was after last week's.)
-So, obviously this week's Fluffy Friday installment takes place just after the meadow scene in 5x4. Not a whole lot of Captain Swan direct interaction, but their love story was a thread that ran throughout. Plus you got a lot of Captain Cobra, which I personally love.
-Here's hoping canon gets back to these happy, fluffy CS interactions (and kisses not tinged by darkness and betrayal) in the very near future!