Hold me close and hold me fast, the magic spell you cast ( 011: Better late than never)
Hold me close and hold me fast, the magic spell you cast
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time” and I do not make a profit from writing this story. I’m just amusing myself.
Authors Note: Another fluffly work from me and it induced a mild obsession with an old class…La Vie En Rose.
Setting: Storybrooke
Rating: PG
Warnings: None, but I don't have a beta anymore so I apologize.
Prompts: 011: Better late than never (onceuponaprompt)
Genre: Fluff, romance, general
Word Count: 1,678
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Archie, Ruby, Emma Swan, Mary Margaret, Leroy, Regina Mills, Sidney, David and Kathryn Nolan.
Summary: Hold me close and hold me fast, the magic spell you cast, this is la vie en rose…
Of all the songs she could have been humming, this one was never one he would have picked. A haunting old melody filled the air around her. He found himself spellbound by her in that moment, she was just wiping down the counter with a small smile and as she gently parted her lips, the hum slowly turning into words.
He looked around, finding that he was not the only one enraptured by her in the moment. Emma Swan, Mary Margaret Blanchard and Leroy were all now facing her. Their forks were down, conversations had ceased. Dr. Archie Hopper held his breath, as Ruby softly sang La Vie en Rose to herself. He wasn’t surprised that her words were in flawless French; taking on an accent that you could have mistaken that English was not her first language.
When she realized activity in the diner had stopped, she looked up, looking uncharacteristically flustered. She smiled broadly but bowed her head, face coloring to match the shade of her lips. She resumed humming, the words no longer leaving her mouth. Archie felt a hard poke from the booth behind him. He jumped at the sudden contact, breaking his concentration.
He looked to Emma, who was smirking at him, “Don’t gawk so openly, she’s going to think you’re a creep,” she said with a wink.
“I-I-I-“ he stuttered, feeling his own face flush, “I’m not…I just-“
There was a sudden shift of color in his vision as Ruby appeared in his path, “Emma, be nice! Archie is the furthest thing from a creep. I took that as a compliment,” she insisted to him, beaming widely.
Emma raised her hands in defeat, “You’re the one who gets gawked at more than me, so I’ll take your word on it,” she said, Ruby just winked.
Archie felt his insides flutter; even a calming technique he advised his patients to use didn’t help him. He swallowed hard, he willed himself to finally have the courage to do what he had been waiting years to do. To say those few words, to ask her out to dinner, a few simple words that seemed almost impossible to say. Then he remembered what it felt like to almost die, the fact that had he saved himself in the mine, he wouldn’t be here right now. He wanted her to know how he felt, it didn’t matter if she returned his affections or not, he just wanted her to know because next time he may not be so lucky.
“Ruby?” he asked, she ‘hmmmed’ turned her attention back to him, “Come to dinner with me tonight.” He was surprised at her reply.
The joy in her face was unbridled, “I thought you would never ask,” she said, “I work to 4, then I can get ready, is that ok?”
“Perfect,” he said, unable to stop the smile that consumed his features. As Ruby went back to helping the other costumers, Mary and Emma were giggling from their seats, making his face turn as red as Ruby’s lips. But their amusement didn’t matter, it didn’t sink into him like it usually would and spawn anxiety that would last for weeks, instead he had something else to focus on. Dinner with the woman he idolized, who actually appeared to be pleased to go out with him. Something he never would have dreamed to be true.
As evening fell, his hand slipped down to her lower back as they entered the quiet, upscale restaurant. Very few people were dining this evening, yet again; it was hard to afford the prices of this place for most of the common folk. It’s why Granny’s was a Godsend for most of the town. Madame Mayor Regina Mills and Sidney Glass were dining in a dark corner; David and Kathryn Nolan were silently eating in another corner.
Their table was in the center of the room, out of earshot of both couples. He pulled her chair out for her, and then scooted her in before taking his own seat. She beamed at him across the table, the candles on the table flickered, as they settled. He couldn’t believe the fact she hadn’t stopped smiling from the moment he came to get her, though when he first saw her, it left him breathless. She was wearing a short red dress, tall red heels with her hair flowing free.
After they made their selection, he left his hand on the table, and she placed her hand on his. He looked up at her, mildly taken back at her gesture. Her fingers rubbed small circles on the top of his hand, her gaze never wavered from him.
“Archie?” her voice broke his concentration, he had become absorbed in the feel of her gently caress.
He quickly gathered himself, “Yes?” he asked, and then felt her foot run up his leg.
“Why did you wait so long to ask me out? I mean, I’m not stupid, I’ve seen how you look at me. Am I too intimidating?” she asked, trailing her foot back down to the floor.
He cleared his throat, unable to meet her gaze, “A little. You always seemed into another man, I never thought I could stand a chance with you. Look at me, then look at you.”
She pouted at this, “There’s nothing wrong with you. Why would you say that?” she asked, he wasn’t used to having someone take an interest in him, on his thoughts and feelings on himself. He was always giving advice, helping everyone else, but no one had asked him until now. That alone made him vow that he would at least kiss her goodnight.
“There’s too much to say on that, I don’t want to ruin our night.” He said softly, as a soft melody reached them, they both perked up.
She smirked, “It’s our song,” she said, then reached for his hand. “Dance with me!”
He swallowed hard, “Right here? Now?” he asked, she nodded, almost leaping to her feet.
“Please? Our food will be a while,” she said, still holding her hand, “I’ll even sing…” she sang the last word and that had him on his feet.
He placed one hand on her hip, the other took her hand. Grinning cheekily, she pressed her body to his, resting her face on his shoulder. Then she kept to her word, once again, she sang the French version, rivaling Edith Piaf herself. As he lazily steered them in a circle beside the table, he could see David smiling at him. He looked amused but happy, lifting his glass at them. Across from him, Kathryn wore a dreamy smile, mouthing the same words that Ruby spoke. As Regina’s cold glare landed on him, he merely smiled, holding onto Ruby tighter.
“Et dès que je l’aperçois, Alors je sens en moi, Mon cœur qui bat,” She sang with the ending of the song, he placed a light kiss on the top of her head. He heard her sigh in contentment, nuzzling his shoulder, ignoring the loud throat clear that sounded next to them.
“Doctor, Miss, please take your seats,” the waiter said, Archie released his grip on her, once again pulling her chair and scooting her in. He quickly sat, feeling pleased with himself that he had been brave enough to give in. He would have never dared do such a thing before the accident but now, especially with her at his side, he was beginning to realize that he had to live his life before it was gone. Because that could happen all too quickly, he didn’t want to have any regrets anymore.
After their meal, they headed from the now empty building, out into the moonlit night. Their hands were entwined, their pace slow and meaningless. There was no rush to do anything else, especially after such a rich and indulgent meal.
“Thank you, Ruby,” he said, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
She looked over, amused smile on her face, “For what?”
He gently squeezed her hand, “For giving me one of the best nights of my life.”
She laughed softly, she stopped walking, causing him to pause, “So thankful and you haven’t even got me to bed yet,” she teased.
Now it was his turn to laugh, “I’m not going to rush things; I truly enjoyed just being with you tonight. And thank you for the wonderful song,” he said, she had a light pink hue grace her face.
“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said. Up until now, it’s been ‘nice ass’,” She said with a smirk, “And I don’t sing for just anyone, you’re lucky.”
“I must say I am,” he said, “I’m lucky to be alive, lucky to be spending my time with you.”
She smiled and almost looked shy, an emotion he didn’t think she knew. “Thank you. That means a lot to me,” he knew it did, he was aware most people treated her as an object. Most of that was her own doing but he would never pass judgment her for that.
“It’s the truth,” he informed her, then grinned, “I have a surprise for you as well,” he told her, taking her hand again as he began to walk again.
“Oh? What would that be?” she asked, she made a happy squeal as he began to softly sing for her.
“Hold me close and hold me fast, the magic spell you cast, this is la vie en rose…” he did not know Edith’s version but he did know Louis Armstrong’s. Apparently it made the same impact on her that it did him.
She used his hand to spin her away, then spin back into his arms, “Keep it up, Doctor, you have a good voice.”
He smiled, knowing that he did not have the vocal talent she did, but he would only do this in her company. “When you kiss me, heaven sighs and though I close my eyes, and see la vie en rose. When you press me to your heart, I’m in a world apart…”
---
END
---
Short, sweet, fluffy. Both versions of the song are lovely, you should give a listen ;)
STILL DONT HAVE AN ARCHIE/JIMINY TAG
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time” and I do not make a profit from writing this story. I’m just amusing myself.
Authors Note: Another fluffly work from me and it induced a mild obsession with an old class…La Vie En Rose.
Setting: Storybrooke
Rating: PG
Warnings: None, but I don't have a beta anymore so I apologize.
Prompts: 011: Better late than never (onceuponaprompt)
Genre: Fluff, romance, general
Word Count: 1,678
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Archie, Ruby, Emma Swan, Mary Margaret, Leroy, Regina Mills, Sidney, David and Kathryn Nolan.
Summary: Hold me close and hold me fast, the magic spell you cast, this is la vie en rose…
Of all the songs she could have been humming, this one was never one he would have picked. A haunting old melody filled the air around her. He found himself spellbound by her in that moment, she was just wiping down the counter with a small smile and as she gently parted her lips, the hum slowly turning into words.
He looked around, finding that he was not the only one enraptured by her in the moment. Emma Swan, Mary Margaret Blanchard and Leroy were all now facing her. Their forks were down, conversations had ceased. Dr. Archie Hopper held his breath, as Ruby softly sang La Vie en Rose to herself. He wasn’t surprised that her words were in flawless French; taking on an accent that you could have mistaken that English was not her first language.
When she realized activity in the diner had stopped, she looked up, looking uncharacteristically flustered. She smiled broadly but bowed her head, face coloring to match the shade of her lips. She resumed humming, the words no longer leaving her mouth. Archie felt a hard poke from the booth behind him. He jumped at the sudden contact, breaking his concentration.
He looked to Emma, who was smirking at him, “Don’t gawk so openly, she’s going to think you’re a creep,” she said with a wink.
“I-I-I-“ he stuttered, feeling his own face flush, “I’m not…I just-“
There was a sudden shift of color in his vision as Ruby appeared in his path, “Emma, be nice! Archie is the furthest thing from a creep. I took that as a compliment,” she insisted to him, beaming widely.
Emma raised her hands in defeat, “You’re the one who gets gawked at more than me, so I’ll take your word on it,” she said, Ruby just winked.
Archie felt his insides flutter; even a calming technique he advised his patients to use didn’t help him. He swallowed hard, he willed himself to finally have the courage to do what he had been waiting years to do. To say those few words, to ask her out to dinner, a few simple words that seemed almost impossible to say. Then he remembered what it felt like to almost die, the fact that had he saved himself in the mine, he wouldn’t be here right now. He wanted her to know how he felt, it didn’t matter if she returned his affections or not, he just wanted her to know because next time he may not be so lucky.
“Ruby?” he asked, she ‘hmmmed’ turned her attention back to him, “Come to dinner with me tonight.” He was surprised at her reply.
The joy in her face was unbridled, “I thought you would never ask,” she said, “I work to 4, then I can get ready, is that ok?”
“Perfect,” he said, unable to stop the smile that consumed his features. As Ruby went back to helping the other costumers, Mary and Emma were giggling from their seats, making his face turn as red as Ruby’s lips. But their amusement didn’t matter, it didn’t sink into him like it usually would and spawn anxiety that would last for weeks, instead he had something else to focus on. Dinner with the woman he idolized, who actually appeared to be pleased to go out with him. Something he never would have dreamed to be true.
As evening fell, his hand slipped down to her lower back as they entered the quiet, upscale restaurant. Very few people were dining this evening, yet again; it was hard to afford the prices of this place for most of the common folk. It’s why Granny’s was a Godsend for most of the town. Madame Mayor Regina Mills and Sidney Glass were dining in a dark corner; David and Kathryn Nolan were silently eating in another corner.
Their table was in the center of the room, out of earshot of both couples. He pulled her chair out for her, and then scooted her in before taking his own seat. She beamed at him across the table, the candles on the table flickered, as they settled. He couldn’t believe the fact she hadn’t stopped smiling from the moment he came to get her, though when he first saw her, it left him breathless. She was wearing a short red dress, tall red heels with her hair flowing free.
After they made their selection, he left his hand on the table, and she placed her hand on his. He looked up at her, mildly taken back at her gesture. Her fingers rubbed small circles on the top of his hand, her gaze never wavered from him.
“Archie?” her voice broke his concentration, he had become absorbed in the feel of her gently caress.
He quickly gathered himself, “Yes?” he asked, and then felt her foot run up his leg.
“Why did you wait so long to ask me out? I mean, I’m not stupid, I’ve seen how you look at me. Am I too intimidating?” she asked, trailing her foot back down to the floor.
He cleared his throat, unable to meet her gaze, “A little. You always seemed into another man, I never thought I could stand a chance with you. Look at me, then look at you.”
She pouted at this, “There’s nothing wrong with you. Why would you say that?” she asked, he wasn’t used to having someone take an interest in him, on his thoughts and feelings on himself. He was always giving advice, helping everyone else, but no one had asked him until now. That alone made him vow that he would at least kiss her goodnight.
“There’s too much to say on that, I don’t want to ruin our night.” He said softly, as a soft melody reached them, they both perked up.
She smirked, “It’s our song,” she said, then reached for his hand. “Dance with me!”
He swallowed hard, “Right here? Now?” he asked, she nodded, almost leaping to her feet.
“Please? Our food will be a while,” she said, still holding her hand, “I’ll even sing…” she sang the last word and that had him on his feet.
He placed one hand on her hip, the other took her hand. Grinning cheekily, she pressed her body to his, resting her face on his shoulder. Then she kept to her word, once again, she sang the French version, rivaling Edith Piaf herself. As he lazily steered them in a circle beside the table, he could see David smiling at him. He looked amused but happy, lifting his glass at them. Across from him, Kathryn wore a dreamy smile, mouthing the same words that Ruby spoke. As Regina’s cold glare landed on him, he merely smiled, holding onto Ruby tighter.
“Et dès que je l’aperçois, Alors je sens en moi, Mon cœur qui bat,” She sang with the ending of the song, he placed a light kiss on the top of her head. He heard her sigh in contentment, nuzzling his shoulder, ignoring the loud throat clear that sounded next to them.
“Doctor, Miss, please take your seats,” the waiter said, Archie released his grip on her, once again pulling her chair and scooting her in. He quickly sat, feeling pleased with himself that he had been brave enough to give in. He would have never dared do such a thing before the accident but now, especially with her at his side, he was beginning to realize that he had to live his life before it was gone. Because that could happen all too quickly, he didn’t want to have any regrets anymore.
After their meal, they headed from the now empty building, out into the moonlit night. Their hands were entwined, their pace slow and meaningless. There was no rush to do anything else, especially after such a rich and indulgent meal.
“Thank you, Ruby,” he said, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
She looked over, amused smile on her face, “For what?”
He gently squeezed her hand, “For giving me one of the best nights of my life.”
She laughed softly, she stopped walking, causing him to pause, “So thankful and you haven’t even got me to bed yet,” she teased.
Now it was his turn to laugh, “I’m not going to rush things; I truly enjoyed just being with you tonight. And thank you for the wonderful song,” he said, she had a light pink hue grace her face.
“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said. Up until now, it’s been ‘nice ass’,” She said with a smirk, “And I don’t sing for just anyone, you’re lucky.”
“I must say I am,” he said, “I’m lucky to be alive, lucky to be spending my time with you.”
She smiled and almost looked shy, an emotion he didn’t think she knew. “Thank you. That means a lot to me,” he knew it did, he was aware most people treated her as an object. Most of that was her own doing but he would never pass judgment her for that.
“It’s the truth,” he informed her, then grinned, “I have a surprise for you as well,” he told her, taking her hand again as he began to walk again.
“Oh? What would that be?” she asked, she made a happy squeal as he began to softly sing for her.
“Hold me close and hold me fast, the magic spell you cast, this is la vie en rose…” he did not know Edith’s version but he did know Louis Armstrong’s. Apparently it made the same impact on her that it did him.
She used his hand to spin her away, then spin back into his arms, “Keep it up, Doctor, you have a good voice.”
He smiled, knowing that he did not have the vocal talent she did, but he would only do this in her company. “When you kiss me, heaven sighs and though I close my eyes, and see la vie en rose. When you press me to your heart, I’m in a world apart…”
---
END
---
Short, sweet, fluffy. Both versions of the song are lovely, you should give a listen ;)
STILL DONT HAVE AN ARCHIE/JIMINY TAG