Title: The Santa Sub
Author: Steph
Rating: G
Pairing: Hook/Emma
Characters: Hook & Emma
Category: Romance/Humor/Drama
Disclaimer: I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.
Spoilers: Nope!
Summary: Emma Swan is the new event coordinator for Macy's and it's her first year organizing the Thanksgiving Day Parade. When the man who usually plays Santa in the parade has a heart attack one week before the event, Emma is forced to replace him with the CEO's son, Killian Jones.
Note: I figured we could all use a break from the angst and darkness that is canon. So here's a little non-canon holiday fun for you. This was originally intended as a one-shot, but it got super long, so I turned it into a 5 parter. I'll post a new part every few days. Hope you enjoy it and please let me know what you thought! ~Steph
...The Santa Sub: Part 1/5...
Emma Swan got out of the taxi, her cell phone glued to her ear.
"I don't care what you have to do. The parade is a week away. If Kermit has a hole, then figure out how to repair it. That's your job."
Emma worked for Macy's and had recently been promoted to event coordinator. It was a promotion she had worked long and hard for. This would be her first year organizing the Thanksgiving Day Parade and she was more than a little anxious about it. She had gone from a calm, cool, and collected person to someone who snapped at everyone in sight. She would be glad when the whole thing was over. Emma only hoped she could pull it off without any further problems.
She hung up the phone as she walked toward her building. Emma's head was bent as she approached the revolving doors, her attention focused on heremail. Her distraction caused her not to notice the handsome man who was also trying to get into the revolving doors at the same time.
They collided. Emma's phone went flying from her hands and landed on the ground. The sound it made when it hit the sidewalk told her it was a lost cause. The man was holding a large coffee cup and its lid flew off during the collision. The contents of the cup landed on them both.
Emma stared at him with her mouth wide open. "Look what you did! You ruined my outfit and destroyed my phone! Why don't you watch where you're going?!"
The man's blue eyes sparkled at her. "I wasn't the one driven to distraction by that insidious device lying on the ground."
"It's called a cell phone," she snapped, as she bent down to pick it up and winced at the cracked screen. "And my whole life happened to be on it."
He took a moment to admire her beauty. Her blonde hair fell softly around her shoulders and he knew if she ever smiled that it would surely be brilliant.
"How sad, a life controlled by an electronic device. I wouldn't know what that's like. I don't have a cell phone."
Emma nearly burst out laughing. She looked at the man carefully for the first time. To say he was gorgeous would not do him justice. He had the bluest eyes she had ever seen and a smile that lit up his handsome features.
Her eyes scanned his body. He wore dark jeans, a black leather jacket, with a vest and button down shirt.
"So what? You can't afford a cell phone or something?"
He laughed lightly. "Oh, I can afford one. I just choose not to have my life dictated by an electronic device."
Emma rolled her eyes. "How nice for you. Some of us don't have that luxury. Some of us have jobs that require us to stay connected. And now I am completely disconnected and late for work thanks to you."
With one more disdainful look, she brushed past him and went into the building.
He smiled at her retreating figure.
...
Belle French, Emma's assistant and best friend, nearly attacked her when she walked off the elevator.
"Why didn't you answer your phone? You always answer your phone."
Emma held up her broken phone and gestured to her ruined clothes. "I had a little accident with a rude man downstairs. He destroyed both my phone and clothes."
"Well, we have a disaster in the making on our hands."
Emma's brow furrowed with worry. "What now?"
"It's Leon."
"Who?"
"Leon Goldstein, the man who's played Santa in the parade for the last twenty years."
"Oh, right. His last name is Goldstein?"
"He's Jewish."
"And he plays Santa?"
Belle sighed in frustration. "Yes, he has the beard and the belly and it's a paycheck."
"Well, what's the problem?"
"Leon suffered a massive heart attack last night and is in the hospital."
"That's awful." Emma took a deep breath and shrugged. "Okay, it's not the end of the world. We'll just pull one of the old guys from the toy department playing Santa. We may have to settle for a fake beard and belly, but it will have to do."
Belle shook her head. "No, you don't understand. Mr. Jones already has someone in mind as a replacement."
Mr. Jones was the CEO of Macy's and Emma's boss.
"Oh, good then. Maybe he knows someone who is the right age and has the beard and belly."
Belle sighed. "I doubt it. The replacement is his son."
Emma's eyes widened. "His son? But Mr. Jones is only 60. His son is probably in his early 30's."
Just then the elevator dinged, the doors slid open, and out walked the man she had collided with earlier. Their eyes met and Emma glared at him.
"You!"
"Ah, we meet again."
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm here for a job actually."
"Whatever," she muttered, shaking her head. Emma rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Belle. "There's no way Mr. Jones' son will be able play a believable Santa. He's too young."
"Ah, well, thank you. I do try to maintain a youthful glow."
Emma's eyes narrowed at him. "Excuse me? This is a private conversation."
The man stepped forward and extended his hand. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. Killian Jones."
Emma's eyebrows rose. "Jones?"
He nodded. "Aye, as in the son of James Jones, CEO of Macy's."
Emma shot a look at Belle. "Did you know who he was?"
Belle shook her head. "No, but I knew his son was on his way down here."
Killian's hand remained extended toward her. "And you are?"
"Emma Swan. I am the new event coordinator for Macy's. The parade is my responsibility."
"Sounds like quite an important job," he said.
"It is. And it's one I take very seriously. I won't allow some man-child who wants to play dress-up ruin it. I am going to speak to your father and convince him to change his mind."
Killian laughed heartily. "Have you met my father? He's the most stubborn, set-in-his-ways man I've ever known."
Emma lowered her eyes. "I met him...once. But I happen to be very persuasive. I am sure I will be able to make him see what a huge mistake this would be."
Emma turned to Belle. "Hold all my calls."
Belle nodded. "Okay."
Emma marched back onto the elevator and pressed the button for the 20th floor. The doors were just about to close when Killian slipped onto the elevator.
"Ground floor?" Emma asked. "I assume you're leaving."
Killian grinned. "Oh no, same floor as you. I wouldn't miss this for the world."
Emma let out a groan.
...
Mr. Jones' assistant let Emma and Killian into his office. The older man was sitting behind his desk when he heard them enter. He smiled and came to stand before them.
"Hello, Father," Killian said.
The lack of warmth in his voice did not go unnoticed by Emma.
"Ah, Killian, I see you've met Ms. Swan. You two will be working closely together for the next week."
Emma grimaced. "Actually, Mr. Jones, that's what I'm here to talk to you about. I...well...I don't think your son is suited for the role of Santa. He's too fit, young, and he doesn't have a white beard."
Mr. Jones shrugged. "I am sure you, along with the costume and make-up departments, can work wonders on my boy."
"Sir, I don't think you understand the importance of Santa at the end of the parade. As Santa, Killian might be able to fool some kids who are telling him what they want for Christmas because they're so focused on getting what they want. But the Santa at the end of the parade is seen by millions of people across the country. He's an icon. Everyone will notice if he doesn't look right."
Mr. Jones clenched his jaw and Killian knew Emma would never win this battle. "Ms. Swan, are you saying you are not up to the challenge?"
Emma's mouth fell open, but no words came out.
He went on. "If you feel you are not up to the task, then I will have no choice but to demote you. Our event coordinator must be able to problem solve even the most daunting of challenges."
Emma swallowed hard. "No, sir, I can do this. I...I will make it work."
"Brilliant," he said. "Killian has always loved the parade, ever since he was a lad. We moved here from Britain when he was 5 and his first real memory was going to the parade and seeing Santa."
Killian watched his father grow wistful at the memory. He hardly ever saw him like that.
Mr. Jones cleared his throat. "Well, good luck, son. And good luck to you, too, Ms. Swan."
With that, Emma stormed out of the office and onto the elevator. Killian followed after her. She crossed her arms over her chest, as her face reddened.
"I think we are going to make a brilliant team," Killian said.
Emma glared at him. "We are not a team. You will do as I say."
He nodded as he hid his smile. "As you wish, love."
Emma's brow rose at his use of the word 'love', but she chose to ignore it.
She rolled her eyes. "Ugh, we can start with that accent. Santa is from the North Pole, not Britain. You're Ho, Ho, Ho can't sound British."
"I can do an American accent if you prefer."
"Let me hear it."
"Ho, Ho, Ho," Killian said, adopting a twangy Southern accent.
Emma let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead with the heel of her hand. "Now it sounds like Santa is from Alabama."
Killian grinned. "I'll work on it."
"See that you do." She paused. "Meet me at the costume department tomorrow morning. 9 a.m. sharp."
"I can hardly wait," he replied, his eyes focused on her face as the elevator doors slid open.
She rushed out of the elevator without another word to him.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Emma," he called after her.
Emma kept on walking without so much as a backward glance. Killian simply smiled to himself.
….
End of Part 1
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it and please let me know what you thought! ~Steph