A/N: Hey all! I'm so excited to be back with this update this week and to finally get to Emma's POV after Killian's last time. As promised it's bringing forth the harvest festivities and Emma's magical interlude with her friends. However, I ran into a bit of a problem, one I'm all too familiar with. The muse just had so much to say that this chapter needs to be split in two and the next one will actually bring the promised smut I mentioned before. Not to worry though, because I've actually already written it and will be publishing it in the next couple of days so the wait will be minimal. Anyway thank you all so much for reading and I hope that you will enjoy!
Glancing around the central quad of Storybrooke tonight, Emma could clearly see that this year's festival would be one to remember. The town this autumn, under the faithful oversight of Belle, had really gone all out, and what was usually a quaint little patch of green in the midst of a quintessential small town had been transformed with vibrant fall colors, rustic antique lantern lights, and decorations that were truly something else.
With a theme dedicated to autumn and the harvest season itself, there were so many directions Belle could have taken, and in years past, before Emma had gotten to town and before her friends had taken the reins of this special day, the aesthetic hadn't always been so pleasing. But this set up was really without reproach, and everywhere Emma looked there was this seamless infusion of the natural world they were celebrating and the modern advancements of time. The most gorgeous of leaves around town had all been collected and brought here to this place, interspersed with painted harvest crops and twinkling lights that shone in the canopies of the trees above like stars in the twilight of the evening.
There were games for the kids, some traditional and some a little newer and a little flashier, and food stands for everyone, but mostly there was this feeling of happiness and belonging. The spirit of Storybrooke was on full display tonight with neighbor embracing neighbor and the townspeople reminiscing on old times while also planning for the future as well. The holidays would soon be upon them all, and the feeling in the air around them was one of real magic, but it crackled just beneath the surface, filling the aura around them all with warmth without actually being on display.
"I think we really outdid ourselves this year," Elsa proclaimed from beside Emma as she came to admire the general merriment all around them. "Or I guess I should say Belle outdid herself since she was the mastermind behind it all."
In typical Elsa fashion she managed to downplay just how much everyone had helped, most notably herself, for if Belle was the Captain of this ship then Elsa was her lieutenant, and there hadn't been an errand Emma's friend wouldn't run or an element she wouldn't organize to be of help. But to Elsa all of that hard work seemed like nothing because she was just the kind of person who sought to aid others. She lived with the community at the forefront of her mind always, and it was what made her such a terrific big sister to Anna and a wonderful friend to the rest of them.
"It really is something," agreed Emma with a smile, not wanting to embarrass Elsa with too much praise, but there was still something missing in her estimations.
Emma just couldn't shake the feeling that this would all be so much better when Killian was finally here to share in it. That didn't really make sense of course because he'd never been here at the festival before, but still the feeling lingered and Emma had found herself scanning the crowd for him more than once during set up and when the gates were opened, awaiting the moment she'd get to see him again. The excitement she was carrying about tonight wasn't just of the typical harvest festival variety; it was largely thanks to the fact that she'd have someone new to share it with and that that someone was Killian Jones.
"He'll be here, Emma," Elsa counseled softly as she took Emma's hand with care. "Trust me, he'll be here."
"Am I really that obvious?" Emma asked, wincing a little at the idea that she was being so unguarded, and Elsa didn't hesitate at all in her answer.
"Totally. But it's wonderful because he makes you happy and that's what tonight is all about. Our magic's always strongest when we follow the good in life, and Killian's become a big part of that for you."
Emma had to agree with that assessment even as a flurry of butterflies took flight inside her chest. It was still a lot for her to handle. All of this emotion and this sensation that she and Killian were supposed to be more than what Emma had ever allowed herself in the past was a lot to handle, but Elsa was right. It was good even while it was overwhelming. For whatever reason being with Killian somehow managed to transcend her past baggage, and though she still hadn't gathered the courage to confide in Killian about her one big secret, Emma was growing more confident by the day that she would. If her heart could be totally trusted then Killian was the man who would change the game for her, but in the meantime her mind had a little catching up to do and a little calming down as well.
"You want to know what would really make me happy?" Emma asked before turning back to Elsa and giving her a sincere look of pleading. "If I didn't have my best friends spying on my every move tonight."
"Yeah… well that might not be possible given the circumstances," Elsa admitted though she looked less than concerned. "But how about this – I promise to contain the damage as much as I can. If Ruby so much as looks like she'll shout an innuendo out when in my presence, I'll tackle her."
Emma laughed at that promise and smiled at the thought. The problem was it wasn't too hard to picture in her mind's eye because her group of friends was hardly docile, but she hoped it wouldn't come to that, and she trusted that though Elsa too would be curious and probably a tad too nosey, she would work on reining their other friends in to the best of her ability. And all things considered, Emma really appreciated that.
"You'd do all that for me? It almost doesn't seem worth it," Emma joked, imagining how less than thrilled Ruby and Mary Margaret would be if someone interrupted their snooping. Those two were both just so bad at being sneaky, but at the same time it came from a place of loving Emma so she had to forgive them their rather frequent outbursts.
"It is, but only because someday I'll need you to do the same for me. At least I hope I will."
The first part of that statement had been light and airy, but then a crack appeared in Elsa's good spirits and Emma could see that there was worry there, worry that love for her wasn't on its way despite what she wanted, and that everyone else would find something she hadn't. Emma could understand that fear all too keenly, but it was important to her now to assure Elsa that would never be the case. Someone as wonderful and pretty and kind as Elsa just had to find love. If there was any justice at all in this world then she would find her soul mate too and hopefully it would be sooner rather than later so Elsa could get all the time she deserved to be happy and content with a man she loved.
"You will, Elsa, and when the time comes I've got your back."
The smile on Elsa's face at that solemn vow eased the little bit of worry Emma had over her friend's state of happiness. She really did feel for Elsa, after all, and now that she'd managed to expand her own world outside the jaded sort of bubble she'd been residing in so long, Emma didn't even want to think about going back to a point where she didn't feel this connection. But before the friends could do much more than hug quickly Elsa pulled back, her grin growing and her head nodding in a direction behind Emma.
"Looks like the wait is finally over," she said gleefully before urging Emma to go and enjoy the festival.
Emma was all too willing to comply with that request, but she still wasn't prepared for the moment when she turned around and finally saw Killian. Because when their eyes met across the green and he fully came into view it was like the rest of the world around them faded away, no longer at the forefront of her consciousness. Suddenly Emma wasn't in the midst of one of the biggest nights of the Storybrooke year. She was caught up in Killian and trying to find the words for what she saw.
She could start by saying that despite her thinking she had a read on how attractive he was, she was wrong. She was so totally wrong. Or maybe she just wasn't prepared for seeing him like this, in a black leather jacket and with a bit more scruff than he'd had in recent weeks. He looked almost dark and imposing in the clothes that he was wearing, but the look on his face was anything but, almost like his ensemble was a misdirect. This was bad boy apparel at its finest, but the man donning it was looking at her like she was the light and by doing so he was bringing so much light of his own to the table.
Emma's gifts when it came to magic hadn't ever been aura driven. She might have good instincts and an ability to read people, but she always left the ideas of people's spirits and their essences to people more inclined to that set of skills. But right now she swore she saw Killian's essence illuminating him and coloring the rest of the world in the same exact way. It was beautiful and wonderful and very unexpected, but it was almost impossible to resist and so was he. So why bother trying? There was no reason to, and so Emma followed her heart in this moment, cutting through the milling crowds of people as he did the same until they met in the middle, coming close enough to touch and reach for each other's hands automatically.
"Hey," she greeted, realizing a little late that it wasn't exactly the coolest opening line, but from the way Killian smiled at her, with his lips tilting up slightly higher to one side and his eyes brightening from just the sound of her voice, no one would know. "You made it."
"That I did, love, and not a moment too soon," he said, his eyes staying on her but roaming over her figure to take in the full effect of the costume she was wearing. "You look... well you look like you're from another world completely."
In years past Emma had always enjoyed the harvest get ups, with the free flowing skirts and the crisp ivory color despite it being past Labor Day. It was comfortable and flattering but it harked to a simpler time, a moment from the past that felt muted in today's world. In fact the only part Emma had ever questioned was the wreath of flowers that many of the women (and all of the ambassadors for the ceremony) wore, for it seemed just a little over the top when she first arrived in Storybrooke. But eventually she learned to lean into it and over time she'd come to love them just as much as her friends did even if she wouldn't admit it. It was fun to put on the crown and pretend a little bit, and now, as she took in the more than positive response from Killian, Emma found herself liking it all even more.
"Is that a good thing?" Emma asked, even though she knew from the appreciation in his gaze that it was, but he responded first by pulling her closer into his embrace and placing his other hand on her hip gently.
"Aye. Truth be told I've yet to find a single thing about you that wasn't a 'good' thing, Swan. You could say I'm a fan of every part of you."
At those sweet words Emma fought off the urge to close her eyes and just soak them in, letting them wash upon her. Killian couldn't possibly understand how much they meant to her and how badly she wanted them to be true. What she wouldn't give for a man – or rather this man specifically – to truly see her as she was and not turn away. Emma didn't even need him to be a 'fan' per se of all of her, because she had flaws enough, same as anybody. But the most tantalizing part of what Killian was implying was that he wanted her flaws and all, and he was intending to stay for more than just a moment or a fleeting span of time.
The only problem there was still something he wasn't totally acquainted with, something that Emma had been trying to see as a gift for years and not as a burden, but that she was still scared might be the breaking point. In the past her magic had been both beautiful and the source of the worst pain she'd ever known. It had pushed people she loved away, and made her too different to be loved or accepted, and though it wasn't fair to assume that Killian would do that too, and though she'd been making progress in letting him in little by little, Emma was still petrified of the idea that someday this would end. She didn't want Killian to leave, not when she finally felt like she'd found what real love was, and the only reason she could think that he would go was her magic.
"Is something wrong, Emma?" he asked then, his hand squeezing hers a little tighter as her eyes came back up to meet his.
In their blue depths there was all sorts of concern, but there was also something else – a level of trust and of faith in her that was brimming right there at the surface on full display and expressed without any kind of hiding. It was that openness that had made everything else - all her feelings and the love she felt for Killian - possible, and it was also what gave her hope of her own that the surprise or shock of her magic wouldn't be enough to drive him away.
"No, sorry I just… there's a lot happening, you know?" she said, not at all coherently but hoping that Killian would understand her on some level, and when he offered a kind smile and then nodded in the direction of the festivities she knew he had.
"Aye, love. I know just how anxious you've been to have me as your date tonight. I can imagine that prospect alone would drive any woman to distraction."
Emma didn't bother hiding the eye roll that those overly cocky words inspired, but she knew that Killian was kidding and she also knew he'd said that to cut through some of her tensions. Even this display of pretend arrogance had been done and said for her, and Emma appreciated that more than she could readily articulate. So she decided to show him instead by leading Killian into the fray of the evening and illustrating to him why she was so eager to let him in on this favorite tradition.
Storybrooke and the festival did not let her down either and every part of the evening went off without a hitch. There were the games in the square that usually Emma thought of as being for kids but ended up being really fun with Killian, especially when he got frustrated at his lack of ability in some areas but proved too stubborn to walk away. He was steadfast and determined and, if Emma was honest, thoroughly sexy in his never failing confidence. Plus it paid for her in the end too when he won his prize after a few attempts and he readily handed it to her.
"Consider it the smallest token of my affections, love," he said and Emma played it off like he was way too over the top but damn if she hadn't loved it all the same. The flirtatiousness and the display of dominance even if it was in such a small arena had been definite positives, and it was nice to get her moment walking through the fair with a tiny stuffed bear her boyfriend had won for her. Non of her exes (if most could even be honored with that substantial a title) had ever given her moments like this and it turned out she liked them more than she ever believed she would.
After they finished with the games for the most part it was time for food, and there was no shortage of it, not when Granny's had provided everything savory and Stay A Spell had created enough hand made sugary confections to satisfy any sweet tooth. There were pumpkin cupcakes and sugar cookies, cider donuts, and mini pies, and though Emma and Ruby had slaved away over prepping all of them in the past few days the best part was they didn't have to run the stand. Tonight she and Ruby were off the clock and so the sweets tasted all the better when Emma and Killian got around to trying some.
"How in the hell does anyone limit themselves to just one item?" Killian asked, totally serious and thoroughly confused. "I want everything you've made, Swan. I don't want to miss out on any of this."
Emma had been prepared to give her two cents, which was to remind him that he had an in with the owner and that all of these recipes could be recreated at a later date, but then they had their first interruption of sorts from a not so surprising source. David and Mary Margaret suddenly appeared before them, and with his usual dose of easygoing honesty David provided a solution.
"Here's a tip man: you ask for extra boxes from the actual food carts and then use those to stash the sweets for when you get home."
With his words of wisdom, David handed Killian one of the boxes he'd stolen like he was truly a genius, which was funny in itself, but then Killian looked upon him like he'd really cracked the toughest issue of their times and Emma couldn't hold back the laugh any longer. Mary Margaret joined in right after and the two of them shared a look, both silently appreciating the bond forming between the two men but also wondering why the heck this could be such a big deal.
"You, David Nolan, are a real miracle worker, you know that?" Killian asked and David nodded like it was an absolute given that he was brilliant.
"Took me two years to figure that one out and after that I never looked back. Figured I might as well share the wealth of my knowledge and spare anyone else the pain."
"Well next year I'll get the boxes, mate. Seems only fair."
"So you'll be here next year then?" Mary Margaret asked, honing in on talk of the future like a heat seeking missile and reminding Emma of just how painless this had all been so far. Of course that couldn't last though because her friends would always make comments like this until… well honestly probably forever.
"Most definitely," Killian said to Mary Margaret as his hand came around Emma's waist and held her close. "I've every intention of staying right here."
This announcement sent Mary Margaret into an excited tizzy and though Emma also loved hearing it, she was a little put on edge by her friend's abundance of excitement, but mercifully David stepped in and redirected, pulling his wife away under the guise of winning her a bear like Emma had and leaving Emma and Killian alone once more. In that moment though Emma looked around and noticed that all of her friends and many other nosey neighbors were still hanging around watching and she felt the pressure of it starting to build. She wanted a way out of this, and as if he could read her mind, Killian offered one.
"Just how much privacy do you think one could expect to find in a corn maze, love?" Emma smiled at the question and shook her head.
"It's a good thought, but you'd be surprised how little alone time you get in there. The kids are obsessed on the years we build one and they hide in every corner just waiting for people to show up. But I have another idea," Emma offered as she took Killian's hand once more and led him up the hill and out of the direct line of sight of the rest of the festivities.
Up here there were still people milling around talking in smaller groups after having collected their food and whatnot, but there was one spot Emma knew would be clear, at the edge of the trees where the twinkling lights shone. Just inside that grove they could be alone, and as soon as they got there she surprised them both by pulling Killian behind a tree and close enough to her that they were separated by mere inches and close enough to kiss. In the shadow provided by the leaves it wasn't quite as easy to see his face, but there was enough light to sketch its likeness and it was impossible for Emma to miss the bit of awe and mischief that appeared in Killian's cerulean eyes.
"You were right about tonight, Emma. It truly is a tradition to be cherished. But I gather I'll be enjoying this particular unsanctioned activity just a bit more."
With those words Killian closed the distance between them, his body coming flush against hers and their lips fused together. It was zero to sixty in seconds but God was Emma ready for it, because after a night spent with subtle flirtations and Killian being that mix of gentlemanly and having all that confident swagger she was in need of this moment. This interlude was all they could have for the time being and it wouldn't last long, not if they had any hope of actually keeping it just between them, but Killian was right: even if it was fleeting it was easily the best part of her night so far.
"I'm really glad you came tonight," Emma whispered when they'd finally broken apart and Killian's forehead rested against hers lightly.
"As am I, love. And I meant what I said before about this being home and me being here for the long haul. I've no plans to leave. Not ever."
Emma's heart thumped loudly in her chest at his words and her body hummed with a fresh spike of energy. Those words were loaded with promise and with the innuendo that he wasn't just staying and building a life here just because, but that she was the reason. It was crazy, and yet when he looked at her this way and held her in his arms with this mix of reverence and wanting it was difficult to interpret his meaning any other way. In fact, it was hard to imagine that a man who looked as Killian did right now could be in anything short of full and total love with her, and to feel that even if he hadn't said the words outright gave Emma the most exhilarating sense of hope.
"Killian, I -,"
The words Emma was about to murmur that would have gone deeper into telling him how she truly felt were unfortunately interrupted by the sound of footsteps drawing closer and then a voice she recognized immediately.
"Are you sure you saw my Mom come up this way?" Henry asked and Emma immediately jumped, but Killian didn't move at all, holding her steady as they waited to see what would happen.
"Hmm, you know what, I'm not so sure…" Ruby's voice responded, though Emma could tell by the tone of voice that she was definitely certain. "I mean what reason would anyone have to leave the festival? It would be so strange, maybe I dreamed it up."
"Damn it, Ruby," Emma whispered, knowing her friend was teasing her and that she would never let Henry get far enough to find her and Killian if she actually knew they were out here, but she couldn't just be cool and cover for her for once. Ruby always had to have her fun.
"How would you like to play this, love?" Killian whispered and Emma looked back at him, seeing his openness and willingness to follow wherever she led and it touched her. There was no sense of questioning her feelings or her instincts. What she wanted Killian would want also and it helped her feel better about what needed to be done.
"The only way we should play anything: honestly."
After saying the words and watching another smile grace Killian's handsome face Emma extended her hand to him and led him out of the grove of trees. Thankfully Henry was now looking in the opposite direction but Ruby was watching and grinning like a mad woman when they came out front. Emma tried to level her with a warning glare but Ruby didn't respond with anything but laughter, which then alerted Henry and had him spinning around to find them with a look of relief.
"There you are, I've been looking all over for you guys!" Henry stated coming to stand before them and looking at their joined hands not too slyly. His brighter smile at seeing them together did not go unnoticed and again Emma was struck by how much of a matchmaker her son appeared to be. She'd clearly let him spend too much time with her friends, but at least it was working out in her favor. It meant the world to her that Henry liked Killian, because if he didn't any relationship between them simply wouldn't be an option.
"That's my fault, lad. I'm not used to all this fun at once. I needed a bit of relief and your Mum was kind enough to join me in that," Killian stated innocently, but the words were anything but innocent and Emma fended off a blush when he said them aloud though Henry was completely oblivious.
"But you are having fun right?" Henry asked sincerely, suddenly anxious that Killian wasn't enjoying himself.
"The most fun I've had in ages," Killian confirmed and then Henry looked positively thrilled before his friend Grace ran up the hill to join him and he seemed to remember why he had come to look for them at all.
"Speaking of… Grace asked if I can sleep over her house tonight. Can I, Mom? Please! Please! Please!" Henry pleaded, somehow managing to bolster his cute 'I'm only ten' persona without being totally grating, and Emma couldn't help but smile and nod.
"As long as it's all right with Grace's Dad it's all right with me."
"Awesome!" Henry and Grace both proclaimed at the same time, closely followed by 'Jinx!' and then 'Jinx again!' Then the next thing Emma knew the two of them were sprinting away with just a quick hug as her form of goodbye and a 'see ya later, Killian' thrown over Henry's shoulder.
"And what am I, chopped liver?" Ruby asked, feigning insult at Henry's having neglected to say goodbye to her, but showing with her overly dramatic flair that she wasn't actually fazed.
"What you are is treading on thin ice. I mean really, Ruby, you couldn't have handled that any differently?" Emma asked, prompting Killian to chuckle though he tried to hide it as best he could. Clearly he found her scolding her friend to be comical, but his laughter made Emma's own aggravation lessen considerably and though she'd barely been frustrated with her friend, she now couldn't even seem to muster that small level anymore.
"Well maybe, but it doesn't really matter because we have that, uh… thing we have to get to now."
Emma hadn't been keeping tabs on the lateness of the hour and when she realized that she had to call it a night now with Killian it left a bit of sadness in her heart. This had really been such a lovely evening and she couldn't remember the last time she'd had this much fun, but Ruby was right. She had things she had to do and responsibilities that must be met. So even if it was hard, she had to say goodbye.
"I suppose this is where you leave me, love," Killian stated, and Emma nodded, wishing that didn't have to be the case.
"Just for a little while. It's tradition, you know?" Emma said, not really knowing how to convey the necessity behind this. Short of saying that the town would potentially be hurt by them not casting the protective spells (which she definitely didn't want to get into right now) there wasn't really an excuse she could think of, but Killian didn't need one.
"Say no more, Swan. I trust whatever you all will be up to is worth the separation. But…"
"But…?" Emma prompted, wanting to know what he was going to say and knowing instinctively that it was going to be good.
"But if you find yourself feeling a bit lonely tonight since Henry will be gone, you know where to find me."
The invitation was enough for Emma to realize what an opening this really was. For months they'd been looking for a prolonged window of time and with Henry out tonight they could definitely have that. Of course it would come on an evening when she already had to be out late, but Emma could hope that maybe it would work out, even if she didn't want to have to intrude on Killian's time and patience.
"I might be late. Like really late…" Emma whispered and Killian shook his head, his hand coming to cup her cheek.
"Time is no matter to me, Emma. Not when it comes to you."
The promise was so sweet and heartfelt that Emma felt compelled to give him something in return and she moved closer to kiss him only for the moment to be broken by the emergence of more of her friends.
"Ruby, I thought you said you were grabbing Emma and we were heading out. What's taking so – oh, shoot sorry," Anna said before giving an awkward wave at Emma and Killian who were now looking in their direction. "Carry on with whatever, you know, this is."
"So I'll see you later?" Emma asked, looking back to Killian and trying her best to ignore her friends for the last few seconds of this goodbye.
"I hope so, love. I really do," he said before giving her one last chaste kiss to her cheek and bidding her friends farewell as he headed back into the festivities and towards a waving David. After she watched him go, Emma turned back to her friends and faced exactly what she'd expected – five completely gleeful women who looked like they would burst from excitement.
"Don't even start," Emma counseled them before grabbing one of the lanterns that was nearby to light her way. "We've got things to do, remember?"
The reminder proved enough to divert her friends and they left the confines of the town square to get to the field that they'd selected days back to utilize for their ritual. It was out of the way of the traffic of town, but just in case there was a barrier in place that Emma and the others walked through easily. Once inside it though, the charge of magic was already present and the six of them got to work gathering what was needed for their traditional blessing of Storybrooke.
This was a dance that Emma had been through a number of times now, but each time it still amazed her how much could be accomplished with the knowledge of how magic worked and a team of likeminded people beside her. This spell was harmless, inflicting no damage to anyone or anything. It was all about bolstering the spirit and the source that Storybrooke encapsulated and seeing the town through the long winter ahead until spring came once again, but there would be a personal rush for Emma and all her friends when the incantation was complete. Any time they used magic they could feel it, but when they were all together like this and using their magic purely for the good of others that feeling was stronger than ever.
There were many steps to take in this ritual all of which had been passed down from generation to generation, and over time each friend had chosen one part that they liked most. Elsa and Anna attended to the shells and ordered all of the other tokens in their designated spots while Ruby and Mary Margaret worked on the fire before them. It had to be a specific size and burning hot enough to work to its best potential, but by now they were masters at this, which made Belle's job of oversight over everyone easy as could be.
That just left Emma who had a special task that had gone unfulfilled for years and years before she and Henry arrived in town. For Emma her job was to use her magic to pull other magic forward, utilizing the natural world around them and the essence of Storybrooke itself to embolden their spell. She then put all of that white magic in three crystals that would eventually meet the flames along with the other collected ingredients the friends had been searching for the past few weeks.
"We're getting really good at this, don't you think?" Mary Margaret asked at one point and the others agreed, all of them just as pleased as Emma was by how easy this was proving to be.
As fate would have it their first year of taking the reigns for this from their mothers and grandmothers was the year that Emma came to town, and back then it had been anything but seamless. They were stopping and starting all night long and they'd barely gotten it all done before the first morning light crept up and the moon was fully gone. But time had taught them so much, not just about this ritual but about each other, and the trust between them and the intimate knowledge of who each friend and what her strengths were made this a far easier prospect than it had once been.
"I'll say," Elsa agreed as she took her spot by the fire with Anna coming to her other side. "All of this ready in thirty minutes? That has to be a town record."
"Maybe, but we'll need that extra time this year with the new phrasing. It might take us a few tries to get the spell just right," Belle said. The words, however, confused Emma since she hadn't realized they were changing anything.
"New phrasing? Why do we need that?"
"Oh we don't need it per se," Belle filled in. "But my grandmother always said spells have a shelf life and new words have new power. It's all the same sentiment though, just rhymed a little differently."
Belle then came around the circle of them passing out the little slips of paper she'd created with their words to read, and because of how she'd set it up Emma was reading last which would be a first for her. Usually she was right in the middle of the pack, but now she was in the spot of honor so to speak, and she had to wonder if that wasn't for a reason. Nevertheless she memorized her words and tucked the paper safely into her pocket before extending her hand to take Belle's and Ruby's.
"All right, girls, let's do this," Ruby said and then she nodded to Belle who was set to start them off. At that they all closed their eyes and let themselves feel the energy around them, seeking it out and hoping to magnify it.
"With magic white and hearts made true, we stand in front of sacred fire," Belle began before Mary Margaret stepped in.
"In hopes that safety, love, and light continue on and then grow higher."
Now it was Elsa and Anna's turn and they spoke together having only Elsa's magic to use, but knowing Elsa's magic was strongest when she had her sister beside her.
"Protect this town and all it's people, the grown and young, the old and new. And keep this place our cherished harbor, no matter what the world may do."
"Grant us the chance to glimpse our futures," Ruby continued. "To walk our paths and keep in light."
"And help us love, for love's our anchor," Emma stated. "To get us through the long cold nights."
When the last word was uttered, Emma felt a rush of wind both cold and warm at once. It was transformative, a feeling brushing over every part of her, but when she opened her eyes it was largely invisible, merely a bursting of light that came from the circle of friends and spread up into the air, presumably to infiltrate each barrier of town and envelop all of their neighbors. The spell had clearly worked even on its first time, and in the aftermath Emma felt lighter than air and filled with a giddy sense of purpose and rightness.
"Woah!" Anna said aloud, her smile growing as her eyes traced over the starry sky. "That was easily the best one yet. Could you feel that?"
"Hell yeah," Ruby agreed eagerly, squeezing Emma's hand as her eyes came to hers and her grin hitched up to one side. "That was all you, Ems. You're magic was super present. Even more than last year."
Emma nodded knowing Ruby was right. Every year since getting here she'd gotten a similar comment about how her magic had a force none of the rest of them had, but before she'd only had Henry and her friends to bolster her powers with. This year the mention of love and the sentiment of keeping people safe had extended to Killian too. That must have been the reason she had even more strength (since it had happened with Mary Margaret and Ruby when they met David and Graham), and the thought made Emma smile to herself. Her mind then wandered back to Killian and his invitation for tonight and she felt the lingering magic tingling under her fingertips, right at the surface and ready to push forward. She felt like she could do anything she wanted, but the one thing she desired most of all was the chance to get back home and spend the night with Killian.
"I think it's safe to say we crushed it," Belle said happily as she closed her book with one more written note beside the spell (probably to say how successful it had been).
"So what do we do now?" Elsa asked excitedly, her hands still holding Anna's and her eyes looking to all of them for guidance.
"Now we clean up and get some cocoa while Emma goes and gets her man," Ruby proclaimed determinedly, and Emma began to argue with her but then she realized she didn't want to. That actually sounded pretty perfect to her, and she'd make it up to her friends somehow when time was more on her side.
"Are you sure?" Emma asked, hoping that they were but ready to face the reality that they wouldn't be.
"Oh we're sure," Mary Margaret said with the stern intonation of a mother. "Now go on quick before we make you talk about your feelings and finding true love."
Emma didn't have to be told twice, and after hugging her friends goodbye, she made her way through the woods with her lantern in hand, eager to get home again and to the man who had changed her life for the better and brought his own kind of magic into her world and into her heart each and every day.
Post-Note: So thank you all so much for joining me in this. It was super fun to write, though I was frustrated by my muse's inability to be a bit more succinct (I mean hello I wanted to just get to the smut already but somehow all these words had happened and it just wasn't meant to be). Anyway like I said I will be putting my next chapter out in the coming days so there will not be the same level of wait that there has been in the previous chapters. I'm also happy to announce that I have made some real progress on the other two WIP fics I have going and those either have been wrapped up or will be wrapped up in the next week or so leaving me more time to finish this story before my life gets crazy hectic in the fall. Thank you all so much for reading and let me know what you think!
