Missing Pieces: Chapter 23 - Impossible Possibilities

Here’s a nice long update to distract you from the US election day…

Chapter 23: Impossible Possibilities

It’s a movie. It’s not my life. It’s a movie. It’s not my life. It’s a movie…

The mantra echoed in Emma’s head, inserting itself between almost every line she wrote down in her notebook. It was bad enough when her book involved the Crocodile guy also being Henry’s grandfather or traveling via swirly portal vortices.

Those were a lot easier to deal with than half of her brand new memories.

1. The parents who abandoned me are Snow White and Prince Charming.

It’s a movie.

2. They are also somehow the same age as me.

It’s not my life.

3. Regina is my mother’s step-mom and the Evil Queen. Oh, and she has magic.

It’s a movie.

4. She is also Henry’s adoptive mother. And also his step-great-grandmother?

Really?!

It’s not my life!

Emma’s fingers itched to rip out the page. Again. She eyed the pile of crumpled wads of paper on her bedroom floor, a literal graveyard of discarded pages about Henry that she couldn’t stand to leave in her notebook.

I’ll burn them later.

Burn this one too.

Emma slammed her notebook shut before she did anything drastic and hurled it across the room like a frisbee. It thunked against her wall before falling quietly onto a pile of dirty laundry.

Just wait a little longer and it will all go away. The fog will come back. Life can go back to normal.

Can it really? My roommate believes he’s a pirate captain from a fairytale and is a few hundred years old. There is nothing normal about that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Continue reading on AO3 Here’s the link for FF but even though I posted it hours ago, it’s not showing up for some reason??? It has definitely been longer than 15 minutes…

Weekend signal boost. FYI, FF.net finally updated the chapter and you can read it there now (for about 6 days, FF.net allowed writers to update, it would send out notifications, but it actually wouldn’t update chapters or profiles for reading, and only people using the app could apparently read it).

Missing Pieces: Chapter 23 - Impossible Possibilities

Here’s a nice long update to distract you from the US election day…

Chapter 23: Impossible Possibilities

It’s a movie. It’s not my life. It’s a movie. It’s not my life. It’s a movie…

The mantra echoed in Emma’s head, inserting itself between almost every line she wrote down in her notebook. It was bad enough when her book involved the Crocodile guy also being Henry’s grandfather or traveling via swirly portal vortices.

Those were a lot easier to deal with than half of her brand new memories.

1. The parents who abandoned me are Snow White and Prince Charming.

It’s a movie.

2. They are also somehow the same age as me.

It’s not my life.

3. Regina is my mother’s step-mom and the Evil Queen. Oh, and she has magic.

It’s a movie.

4. She is also Henry’s adoptive mother. And also his step-great-grandmother?

Really?!

It’s not my life!

Emma’s fingers itched to rip out the page. Again. She eyed the pile of crumpled wads of paper on her bedroom floor, a literal graveyard of discarded pages about Henry that she couldn’t stand to leave in her notebook.

I’ll burn them later.

Burn this one too.

Emma slammed her notebook shut before she did anything drastic and hurled it across the room like a frisbee. It thunked against her wall before falling quietly onto a pile of dirty laundry.

Just wait a little longer and it will all go away. The fog will come back. Life can go back to normal.

Can it really? My roommate believes he’s a pirate captain from a fairytale and is a few hundred years old. There is nothing normal about that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Continue reading on AO3 Here’s the link for FF but even though I posted it hours ago, it’s not showing up for some reason??? It has definitely been longer than 15 minutes…

This chapter… oh my WORD! THIS CHAPTER!!!!

Let me begin with

I don’t know where to begin…

I want to wrap Emma up in a blanket and stroke her head whispering that it’ll all be all right.

And I want to high five Henry.

And I want to also wrap Killian up in a blanket and tell him that she loves him and it’ll all be all right.

And I’m SCREAMING SO LOUDLY RIGHT NOW THAT MY VOICE IS ALMOST GONE!!!!

So this was all me as I read this chapter

Now I will calmly, I said CALMLY

And PATIENTLY wait for the next chapter…

(See gif above)

@kmomof4 - This made my day. If any of you read this on fanfiction.net, their site has been down for 4-5 days and not updated new chapters. I think the app is letting people read it, because a few have been able to see it, but I cannot see it at all except where I manage chapters. The date now shows as updated (it didn’t before) but still no chapter. The profile will not update either. There has not been any communication on when this will be fixed, but it is up on A03

Missing Pieces: Chapter 22 - Operation Matchmaker

Blame Henry and the muse for this nice long chapter and an update. And thank the cooler weather that allows me to escape my house to write…

Chapter 22 - Operation Matchmaker

Pancakes. Why do I smell pancakes?

Emma struggled to open her eyes, her entire body leaden. Her eyelids—and apparently the rest of her body—refused to move, as though every ounce of energy had been sucked away. The only exception was her stomach which released a loud rumble.

They smell really, really good.

Soft tones of conversation floated to her, wrapping her in a cocoon of warmth, the voices familiar and right and… home.

Something to remember?

Remember…

Despite her hunger, her exhaustion proved too much, and the voices lulled Emma back to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Killian watched Henry execute his best pancake flip to date. Almost all of it landed in the pan this time and Killian grinned. “You’ve about got it, lad.” He kept his words just above the volume of a whisper, careful to not disturb Emma sleeping on the couch.

Henry beamed in pride, but it was short-lived. A frown of suspicion quickly took over. “Is this some sort of plot to get me to do more chores?”

Killian winked. “Perhaps. But given your mother’s rule of ‘those who cook don’t have to clean,’ would you rather usurp my role or stay on dish duty?”

Another grin, this one of a co-conspirator, wiped away the frown. “Show me how you do it again.”

Two more demonstrations by Killian were followed by four more attempts from Henry—all but his second try landing in the pan, albeit a bit crookedly.

“Well-done, m'boy.” Killian ruffled Henry’s hair, watching the boy’s cheeks flush. “I daresay the job is yours next time, should you want it.”

They remained at the counter to eat, the table a bit too close to where Emma slept. Killian placed a healthy stack into a pan in the oven to keep them warm for her.

Henry piled his plate with four of the pancakes—the lad’s appetite had increased as of late—dousing them in the sugary toppings both he and Emma loved. He took several large bites, carefully chewing and swallowing before he twisted around to face his mother. “It’s not like Mom to sleep through pancakes. Are you sure she’s okay?”

Certain? No.

Call it a gut feeling.

Killian scratched the back of his neck with his fingers, trying to formulate an answer that contained what truth he could share while not divulging his own concerns. “I believe so. Your mother merely had a very long, tiring night she needs to recover from.”

She barely stirred when I carried her from the taxi.

She didn’t sleep well this last week, either.

Oh, and she used magic, which for all I know, can be extremely exhausting, particularly in a land where it isn’t supposed to exist.

Half of the pancakes on Henry’s plate disappeared before he spoke again. “You know, if you guys are dating or something, you don’t have to sneak around and hide it from me.”

Killian’s inhale of surprise sent a bite of pancakes into his airway, causing a coughing fit that he hoped wouldn’t wake Emma. Henry slapped him on the back a few times until Killian’s coughing ceased, and thankfully Emma didn’t stir. “Why in blazes would you believe we’re sneaking around?”

Henry shrugged, seemingly more focused on the pancakes instead of the discussion, but his body posture said otherwise. “Come on, Killian. I live here. Sometimes I wake up hungry in the middle of the night.” He turned his head, finally looking at Killian. “You and my mom are super light sleepers. Do you know how hard it is to get a decent snack in the kitchen when you are both sleeping on the couch without waking one of you up?” Henry’s brows arched. “The same couch.”

Buggering hell!

“It’s not what you think.” Killian scratched the back of his neck again, trying to decide how to explain the situation.

“So you’re not in love with my mom?” The boy’s eyebrows rose higher, a cheeky smirk on his face.

Continue reading on AO3 or FF

This story is absolutely brilliant! What a joy to see this chapter then realise it’s part of a multi chapter story. I knew I needed to read from the start and that is exactly what I have just done. Wow! I cannot wait for the next chapter!

Thank you so much! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the story. Guess I better get to work while the muse is awake...

Missing Pieces: Chapter 22 - Operation Matchmaker

Blame Henry and the muse for this nice long chapter and an update. And thank the cooler weather that allows me to escape my house to write…

Chapter 22 - Operation Matchmaker

Pancakes. Why do I smell pancakes?

Emma struggled to open her eyes, her entire body leaden. Her eyelids—and apparently the rest of her body—refused to move, as though every ounce of energy had been sucked away. The only exception was her stomach which released a loud rumble.

They smell really, really good.

Soft tones of conversation floated to her, wrapping her in a cocoon of warmth, the voices familiar and right and… home.

Something to remember?

Remember…

Despite her hunger, her exhaustion proved too much, and the voices lulled Emma back to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Killian watched Henry execute his best pancake flip to date. Almost all of it landed in the pan this time and Killian grinned. “You’ve about got it, lad.” He kept his words just above the volume of a whisper, careful to not disturb Emma sleeping on the couch.

Henry beamed in pride, but it was short-lived. A frown of suspicion quickly took over. “Is this some sort of plot to get me to do more chores?”

Killian winked. “Perhaps. But given your mother’s rule of ‘those who cook don’t have to clean,’ would you rather usurp my role or stay on dish duty?”

Another grin, this one of a co-conspirator, wiped away the frown. “Show me how you do it again.”

Two more demonstrations by Killian were followed by four more attempts from Henry—all but his second try landing in the pan, albeit a bit crookedly.

“Well-done, m'boy.” Killian ruffled Henry’s hair, watching the boy’s cheeks flush. “I daresay the job is yours next time, should you want it.”

They remained at the counter to eat, the table a bit too close to where Emma slept. Killian placed a healthy stack into a pan in the oven to keep them warm for her.

Henry piled his plate with four of the pancakes—the lad’s appetite had increased as of late—dousing them in the sugary toppings both he and Emma loved. He took several large bites, carefully chewing and swallowing before he twisted around to face his mother. “It’s not like Mom to sleep through pancakes. Are you sure she’s okay?”

Certain? No.

Call it a gut feeling.

Killian scratched the back of his neck with his fingers, trying to formulate an answer that contained what truth he could share while not divulging his own concerns. “I believe so. Your mother merely had a very long, tiring night she needs to recover from.”

She barely stirred when I carried her from the taxi.

She didn’t sleep well this last week, either.

Oh, and she used magic, which for all I know, can be extremely exhausting, particularly in a land where it isn’t supposed to exist.

Half of the pancakes on Henry’s plate disappeared before he spoke again. “You know, if you guys are dating or something, you don’t have to sneak around and hide it from me.”

Killian’s inhale of surprise sent a bite of pancakes into his airway, causing a coughing fit that he hoped wouldn’t wake Emma. Henry slapped him on the back a few times until Killian’s coughing ceased, and thankfully Emma didn’t stir. “Why in blazes would you believe we’re sneaking around?”

Henry shrugged, seemingly more focused on the pancakes instead of the discussion, but his body posture said otherwise. “Come on, Killian. I live here. Sometimes I wake up hungry in the middle of the night.” He turned his head, finally looking at Killian. “You and my mom are super light sleepers. Do you know how hard it is to get a decent snack in the kitchen when you are both sleeping on the couch without waking one of you up?” Henry’s brows arched. “The same couch.”

Buggering hell!

“It’s not what you think.” Killian scratched the back of his neck again, trying to decide how to explain the situation.

“So you’re not in love with my mom?” The boy’s eyebrows rose higher, a cheeky smirk on his face.

Continue reading on AO3 or FF

Me…

And then…

And then

And THEN

And THEN…

And FINALLY

But we have more memories!!!!! I can’t wait for the next chapter!!!!

Missing Pieces Chap 21: The Man Behind the Curtain

Another update (but a much shorter one)! Make sure you read Chapter 20 first (which was updated just over a week ago) if you haven’t or this will spoil it…  For this one, we delve into another point of view… :)

Chapter 21 - The Man Behind the Curtain

The shadows hid him from any who might glance above, the beating of his wings swallowed by the constant cacophony of Manhattan. His vision sharpened even more in the darkness. With the diminished traffic, he easily tracked the taxi below without detection.

A good thing too, as the cab had not turned toward the home of his quarry as he’d expected. Instead, it had traveled in the opposite direction. He bared his teeth in a grin.

It was boring when they were predictable. Too easy.

Too long. No hunt. Need fun.

When the taxi pulled over and his quarry exited, he circled above, searching for the perfect landing spot. Finding a three-story building across the street, he followed the swath of shadow cast between the beams of light and alighted on the edge of its roof. 

With much of the city asleep, it was easy to listen to the words exchanged between the savior and the pirate…

“…part of me is afraid this visit will fail to inspire you. Without that, I fear your missing chapters might remind just that.”

Not good not good. Very bad.

Until tonight, he had not believed Captain Hook was a threat to his mistress’s goals. In fact, he’d assumed the pirate would aid in the cause: the perfect distraction to keep Emma Swan in New York. 

Instead, Hook was trying to return her memories.

Bad bad bad bad bad bad… Must stop.

Before he could act, they disappeared into the building, their hands clasped together.

Must know what happen… Track…

———————- Continued on AO3 or fanfiction.net

Tagging @kmomof4​ who wanted to know when this was posted. :)

On August 10, 2020 a storm hit Iowa, Illinois and other upper Midwest states. It left a wide swatch of damage due to wind speeds equivalent to a Cat 1 or 2 hurricane, only you had minutes or less to prepare.  Over a week and half later, there are still over 20,000 people without power. Food and gas shortages were common due to lack of power and the inability to refrigerate anything (again, no warning so no nonperishable supplies to pre-stock up on).  Trees and power lines and lack of manpower and low supplies of things (like electric boxes) are hindering power return. Other states have had to send crews to help out. Yet, there has hardly been much talk about this. Trump didn’t show up to survey the damage for over a week. Here is a video showing why you always need to take shelter in a small room during a storm with high winds. If your ceiling gets punctured, it is likely gone… This lasted for over 30 minutes. I have other linkes to share as well. Here is a 30 minutes video (pay attention around 9-11 minutes and around 16 minutes, then near the end. You watch and think wow. Then you see the wind pick up and go “Surely, it can’t get worse.” Then it somehow blows faster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8SrU-EgVf4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBkPichBlt8

Second video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8SrU-EgVf4

End the #ElectoralCollege

Oh for fucks sake, doesn’t anyone read or understand history anymore?? There were 13 colonies, some with more rich white men, some with less. The ones with less rich white men whined that one rich white man, one vote was unfair, and they refused to sign on to the constitution unless an electoral college was created to give smaller colonies (states) more power. It has fuck all to do with North and South!

Yes, the Electoral College has zero to do on North versus South. The solution to get the slaves to count as people, was the 3/5ths Compromise, where instead of counting as a full person, each slave counted toward 3/5ths of a person (how fucked up is that?!), and it was so the Southern states could get more members is the House of Representatives and thus more power. That rule was officially repealed in 1868, although the 13 Amendment basically rendered it useless by outlawing slavery. The Electoral College was created so those living in rural areas would not be completely ignored by those elected due to their sparse populations. Without it, the largest cities in America essentially control those elected because their population far overwhelms everywhere else. Over half of the states would be ignored by politicians due to lack of population and they would essentially have no power against the large cities.  The electoral college is not balanced and needs work, because the ratio of vote weight (how many electorates per vote) has become too great, granting smaller states too much power while populous ones lose their power. But usually, the Electoral College is in close alignment with the popular vote, with only 5 presidential elections having a candidate win the Electoral College without winning the popular vote (2000 and 2016). A lot of issues will happen to those smaller, agricultural states if they lose the electoral power they have, but the ratio between population and electorate number needs a smaller gap to have it be a more equal representation while not just jumping straight to popular vote.

Missing Pieces Chapter 20 - 89 Wooster Street

Killian has brought Emma to 89 Wooster Street (aka Neal’s apartment) to help Emma remember the past. Will their visit help? Or do more harm than good? 

Long chapter update for Missing Pieces. I’ll try to add a blurb later, but tumblr makes me reformat everything…

You can read the update on AO3 or fanfiction.net 

Reblogged to add the first part of the chapter.

Chapter 20 - 89 Wooster Street  

Emma had barely turned the corner before another barrage of memories hit her, so clear and in focus they might have happened that morning.

Emma glares at the unconscious pirate even though, technically, she’s the reason he’s out cold.

Of course she is the one left to deal with Hook. Alone.

She bends down to check his pulse and...

Emma didn’t realize she’d stopped walking until Killian nearly plowed into her. He quickly slid away, just out of reach as though he couldn’t stand being too close to her, the expressionless Captain back on his face.

It should have stung, but the choreography of his movements also left Emma a clear path to bolt for the exit. Which again, was what a normal, sane person would do if they remembered their roommate was a pirate that had shoved them into a wall and then stabbed someone with his hook. 

Why am I getting the feeling a lot of what is missing in my memories is anything but normal?

Try as she might, Emma couldn’t visualize what had happened to the Crocodile guy. One moment she’d knocked out Hook, then found herself suddenly alone with the unconscious pirate. Alone in a way that implied someone else was around but not helping her.

Emma groaned because—dammit!—she was sick of her memories being a badly edited movie.

Killian didn’t say anything, merely quirking a single eyebrow at her in question.

Don’t ask him about it. Do what he’s been doing all along. Show him.

“Um, can I have your hook?”

Surprise and something like wariness or worry flashed on Killian’s face before settling on acceptance. The telltale sound of his hook twisting echoed in the hall but instead of just handing it to her, he flipped it in his hand until the curvature dangled from his fingers in the least threatening way possible.

Like he thought Emma was afraid of him.

I wasn’t even afraid of him back then. 

He’ll figure out what you’re doing soon enough.

“I have an idea. Can you lay down on the floor?” She should have asked him to do it in the lobby, but the last thing they needed was an audience, especially in the middle of the night. The side hallway wasn’t long, but if anyone did come to the lobby, it was dim enough they shouldn’t be noticed.

It also contained an opening with another set of stairs that led down to the basement, where Emma knew she’d find some storage closets.

“And can you, uh, pretend your wrists are tied in front of you?”

Emma saw the moment Killian understood her plan, some of the invisible weight lifting from Killian’s body as his eyes practically beamed with pride at her. Her face heated—how is this the thing that makes me blush?—as he lowered himself to the floor and sprawled on his back like some sort of sex dream offering.

Now is not the time to take the pirate for a ride.

“Ready when you are, love.” The beaming look remained, not disappearing from view until Killian closed his eyes. If Emma didn’t know any better, she’d have thought he was asleep.

Or knocked unconscious by a trash can.

Here goes… something.

------------====================------------------------ Full chapter available on AO3 or fanfiction.net