Three Times the Charm

by Han dj

Season 3B canon does not happen or is at least AU in nature. The people of Storybrooke returned without a memory, three months later, Emma and amnesic Henry returned and reunites with family, but Emma gets more than what she really came for.

1. Chapter 1

As usual, I own nothing except the premise of this fan base story and this material I'm using to type said story. This is the fifth plot (from the numerous plot bunnies) I had for OUaT swanqueen fanfic. I don't want to write multiple chapter 'cause my muse flies away fast and rarely comes back for the same plot plus add my constant laziness and depressive real life... I thought long one shot will be better, but we'll see, three chaps max maybe?

Nope, still no beta, gomennasai. Always M to be sure.

The story arc is supposed to happen after 3A. Canon 3b doesn't happen, so yes, AU.

Three Time's the Charm!

Have you ever heard of the phrase 'three time's the charm?' as for me, my answer would be yes but I decided to ignore that phrase a long time ago, why you ask? Because nothing in my life would depict the word 'charm' and considering one third of my problem has the word 'charm' pasted on his face and aura, I deny the day I learned of that word. Wait, did I say one third? Oh, let me correct myself then, it should be two thirds.

But I guess 'fate' has a real grudge on me, what the hell did I ever do that nothing has gone right in my life since... I think before I was even born? I'm not going into details about my sordid and pathetic life events, I got a feeling none from this wretched realm doesn't know about it now, but everyone surprisingly had accepted that there was a deeper reason as to why I decided to hunt down Snow White and her cohorts and not just blaming my 'vanity' for it. I am being given another chance at redemption, turning over a new leaf, shall we call it and that was supposed to be the end of my dreadful fate. But then we have to come back to this place and I have to dredge up unwanted memories all over again, you could say I am a masochistic bitch since despite all that evil memories, I elected to stay here in my castle where everything dark has begun. Add to the fact that I chose to let go of my happy ending... I sent my son away with the third person in the 'charming' triumvirate out of Storybrooke and into wherever they decided to go to reverse my curse and overpower Pan's. I could hear my mother in my head telling me how pathetic and weak I am.

"Love is weakness" she believes, and for longer I remember I believed it too.

Well until I get sucked into those 'Charming's' clutches and started doubting what I have believed in. But then I have to let go of that 'love', return to a land that promises nothing but grief, and for the love of all the fates... once again fight another form of darkness. The Dark One died, sacrificed himself and then another one steps in, this time the Wicked Witch of the West! I am so tired of fighting!

If not for this blessed gift I have right now, I would have succumbed to my desperation and went through my earlier plan of putting myself under my own sleeping curse, and for the first time in my life, I have to thank Snow's propensity for meddling.

"Come on Regina, one more push..."

xxx

[Storybrooke, one year later]

It was dinner time and a lot of the customers were just finishing their orders, the servers were preparing to close the establishment and the owner was working on her account book when the door to Granny's diner opened forcefully and every patron in turned their heads to whoever it was who decided to grace said establishment. The old woman's eyes and that of the tall, voluptuous, red lipped server's eyes widened when they saw who it was that almost broke their door along with its bell.

"Emma!" both women gasped and the other patrons' faces could be seen to brighten at the sight of their Saviour.

The blonde woman smiled and hurriedly walked towards the two happy women. Without prelude, she stepped into their space and hugged both. " Gods, I never thought I'd say this, but I really missed you guys!"

"Oh god!" Ruby exclaimed excitedly, "How the hell did you know to come here?! I thought we sent you off to wherever you are supposed to go!" she asked

"And you remember us..." Granny's voice was shaking from tears, she was trying damn hard to stop from making an appearance.

Emma's reply was interrupted by the opening of the door once again and a voice no one seemed to want to hear, base from the wince everyone in the room made, declared… "True love's kiss!" the leather clad, eyeliner filled man said grinning. The collective gasp made by every people witnessing this reunion could be heard from Storybrooke to New York, and the resounding sound of the pirate being pushed away hard and into the front wall says he's being his delusional self once again.

"Damn, Hook gave me a potion but not after he tried to harass me..." she glared back at the now grinning pirate sitting on the ground, the wall behind his back, "... and in front of Henry no less!"

Ruby gave the pirate her own version of glare and was pissed the guy has no shame. He just grin at her too! She frowned though, "He gave you a potion to return your memory but..."

"Don't look at me, I just got my orders and it wasn't even specific where my orders came from." Hook said shrugging. He was caught surprise when Emma's strong arms held the front of his jacket and forced him to stand up, "Hey love, if I knew you like it rough I would have approached you differently..."

And anymore words were halted when the Saviour pushed him hard on the wall and put an elbow across his windpipe, ready to cut off air if he so much as utter another inappropriate word, "I have enough of your innuendos and you skirting off my questions Hook, now tell me what I need to know before I throw you to them!" Killian looked at the rabid faces of the people in the establishment, all ready to take him on if their 'princess and saviour' commands, and the snarl on both Granny's and Red's faces were enough for him to give up his pretenses.

"Alright! But I'm telling the truth, I got a letter with the bottle of potion and an instruction to tell you that your 'family' needs you. It was not signed so how the hell am I to know who sent it?!" he practically yelled,

"Not even an idea who?" Emma asked releasing the man,

"Well, why don't you ask your mother?"

xxx

"Emma?" Snow's surprised expression was expected. The smaller woman pulled her daughter in an embrace after regaining her composure and yelled, "Charming, Emma is back!"

The sound of a grown man running from the loft down could be heard and Emma was brought back to a time not so long ago when Prince Charming would tentatively stepped close to her, as if always asking if he could hug his own daughter.

"Hi mom," She greeted and it didn't escaped her that the smaller woman almost cried at hearing the term aimed at her.

"Oh my god... and you remember?" the shock on her face told Emma that she must have no knowledge of what Hook was saying as well. "But how..."

Her answer was halted by David's excited voice, "Emma!" and then by the hard pull the man gave, taking her out of Snow's embrace into his, and then she was the receiver of the very first bear hug from him.

"Dad!" she called out as a greeting

"You remember?" he asked and pulled away, a bit of shock on his handsome face.

"Hi mate," Hook greeted as he stepped into the apartment, "Long time no see I guess?"

"What are you doing here?!" David asked angrily, shoving Emma behind his back and laying a protective hand on his confuse wife.

"Whoa, whoa!" Emma said trying to deflate her father's ire, "The last I remember, you two were buddies! What happened?!"

Hook has his hands in the air in a placating manner, "Hey, I have no idea what got in your father's ass," he said smirking.

"You have no idea? How about you disappearing without a trace after we sent Emma off to wherever? What… did you follow my daughter?!"

Emma's brows raised high on her forehead and then she glanced at her mother who seemed to be oblivious to the subliminal message. That doesn't sound right...

"Whoa mate! First off, stop spouting things right now, we are giving Emma here a wrong impression, and secondly, if you'd calm yourself, we could all go in and I can explain."

David frowned, Emma tried hard to bite any sass now circling her head and Snow nodded her head in acquiescence, "Yes you are right, we should do that," she said as she once again pull Emma into a hug. "Uh, where's Henry?"

"He's sleeping in the bug, I want to talk to you all first before I wake him and drop all these on him." She sighed before walking further in and taking a sit on the now familiar couch. She was followed by her parents and lastly Hook came in and decided to stay standing, back against the counter.

"So you're in, now explain." David started, breaking the not so comfortable silence.

xxx

My reunion with my parents wasn't all that bad. Of course they were surprised to see me, and from their explanation, I now understood the shock. For me, it has been a year since Regina sent me and Henry off Storybrooke, giving me another chance of a life with Henry, borrowed memories and a chance of making new ones where I have never given him up. It was the ultimate sacrifice in Regina's part and I can't wait to see her to thank her, to tell her everything that happened in that year.

But for them, it has only been three months! How the hell did that happen? I mean, if Regina failed to counter Pan's curse, then they would have been under that curse right? But they were not and Hook affirmed that Regina was successful and that they were back in Enchanted Forest, so what the heck were they doing back? And with no memories of the last nine months before they returned? What happened there?

Hook has no idea, and I believed him, my superpower hasn't pinged when he told us that he left the group as soon as they returned to the forest to become his vagabond self once again. Hook is hook, and he is a pirate through and through. So he has no idea what's been happening in the kingdom, until he received a letter that is being carried by a white dove, hence, he was thinking the unsigned letter was from Snow. Bird messenger is sure Snow White's M.O.

And because they have no memories, they aren't sure if there was an enemy or not, or if that enemy was within their midst. I asked, though with dread and sadness, if maybe Regina herself did it, if by chance she decided to recurse them...

Snow and David eyed each other, and then he said they thought at first It was Regina, but after they saw her the first time after they came back, they were sure it wasn't her. When I asked why, they didn't said anything, I could see the temptation on my mother's face to divulge, but she didn't... it must be that important for her to finally keep a secret!

So now I am in a room at the B&B, lying on the bed, tired and yet awake. I have to see Regina.

xxx

The next day found the diner somewhat busy. There were enough patrons eating to make Ruby and Granny busy, but not that much to make it feel crowded. Henry could be seen sitting on a chair in front of a table that was at the left of the door, his back was to the glass wall that bears the Diner's menu tarpaulin and busy playing a handheld game. Emma on the other hand was in front of him drumming her fingers on the table which stopped when Ruby came with a cup and placed it in front of the busy boy.

Henry paused his game and looked at the cup of cocoa topped with cream and cinnamon powder, "Oh wow..." he looked up smiling at the attractive waitress, "How did you know..."

"Oh..." Emma could see Ruby trying to come up with a good explanation to the waiting teen, she was biting her lower lip and her eyes were begging for Ruby to speak ASAP, "Well... you look like a cinnamon kind of guy to me," she said taking a bow and leaving hurriedly,

"Wow Mom," he said smiling at his mother, "This town seems weird, but... good weird, they seem very..." he looked at his mother's raised eyebrow, "...warm?"

Emma deflated and sigh, "They are," and before Henry could ask more, the door opened and in came a couple who looked at them smiling brightly, the beautiful woman's eyes were shining with tears. She stood up and hugged the two.

"Ah mom - "

Emma released her parents and looked at her son, "Yes?"

"Are all people in this place actors and actresses?" he asked seriously.

"What?!" the three adults asked, all nervous.

"Well, either that or it'll be the weirder question, whether they are all fairy tale characters!"

"What?!" now the three adults were more nervous,

"They all are so gorgeous, I mean, I have been walking around since this morning and I have not seen anyone that isn't a movie or a fairy tale material!" he said grinning. The reason made the three adults all sigh in relief

"Well, thank you Henry but we all are but ordinary citizens here," Snow said, crossing her fingers at her back.

"You know my name?!" He asked wide eyed,

Emma jumped in, "I wrote about you to Mary Margaret Henry, she is my best friend here!" She looked at her parents who decided to sit, Snow beside Emma and David beside Henry.

"I didn't know you have a friend here, I thought you said we're here for a case?" He asked and looked at Snow, "So where did you meet my mom?" he asked excitedly.

"Here,"

"Phoenix,"

Emma and Snow said in unison and that made Henry frown. "Well, we met in Phoenix first, then she moved here..."

"You met her in prison?" He asked, a cloud of disbelief on his young face.

"Yes!" Snow said smiling, "We were prison-mate," she said and Henry looked at her with a silent question of "you were in prison for what?" so she added, "I was taken in for... banditry," she said looking at her husband, "And I came here cause I got married," she tapped David's arm, "My husband David."

"Oh," Henry said. "So do you know my dad..."

"Why don't we order? I'm starving!" David interrupted and waved for Ruby, and before the waitress comes, they heard a glass breaking. The four of them turned to see another gorgeous, the most gorgeous woman Henry had seen in town looking at them, mouth agape, a baby hanging on her front via a baby carrier...

Emma's eyes widened as well and without thought she stood, "Regina..."

xxx

As soon as Emma dragged the still shocked woman to the back hall of the diner, she released the woman, her eyes though were still on the sleeping infant in front of the mayor's chest. "Regina..."

"What are you doing here?" The question doesn't sound like the Mayor was angry, but more like astounded. "I gave you a new life and..." Regina's eyes widened, "You remember?!" she said eyeing the blonde who nodded her head, despite her eyes on the infant, "Does that mean Henry remembers..." there was no answer, she saw the other woman still standing and looking at her daughter, "Emma!" she called out louder than she's supposed to.

Emma looked up and shook the shock out of her system, "No... no, oh sorry Regina, Hook came to us in New York and gave me this memory potion..."

"And Henry?"

"There was not enough for him..." she saw the downtrodden look on the other woman's face, but her curiosity gets the better of her, "You... you have a daughter?"

Regina took a deep breath, "Apparently..."

"What?" she looked at the woman who was sighing, "So she is not..."

"She is Emma," the blonde grin, because it was the first time in a year that she heard her name being uttered by this woman, and no one has ever said her name in a passion like that of Regina Mills. "I know she is my daughter, I know she came from me, but I have no memories of how."

"So are you saying she was not born here?" She saw the other woman nod,

"The last of my memory, and that of theirs were us sending you and Henry off and me reversing my curse one moment, and the next we were standing once again by the town line as if it has just happened, and I was weak and was carrying Hermione in my arms!"

"Hermione... Harry Potter's Hermione?"

Regina smiled, "Henry loved that book and I can't recall giving the baby a name, and her baby blanket has no name on it unlike yours so... I thought its a great name to give her."

Silence

"So you have no idea who the father is?" Emma sounds a bit miffed.

"I don't..."

"Wait... are you telling me that...ah...she was born in Enchanted Forest three months ago?"

"Yes, not much far from the day we came back which we don't have any idea." Regina took a deep breath, "We need to get our memories back, I have no idea why we were here, if we are in danger..."

"Hook said someone sends him a letter telling me my family needs me, so maybe someone cursed you all back here..." The apologetic look in Emma's eyes told the older woman that sometime in her return, she have thought of Regina cursing the kingdom once again.

"I thought of it too, but why would I curse everyone back again here to Storybrooke?"

"So you'd be closer to Henry..." and me

"Without him remembering me? The idea of the curse was to bring me my happy ending, not to cause me pain!"

"I know, I know, that's why I apologize, Snow... I mean mom and dad talked me out of that thought, and now that I get to see you and little Hermie here, I believe you."

Regina's eyes widened in surprised, "You do? Just like that?" Emma nodded

"There's not much you can hide from me Regina remember? I can actually read you like a book." Both women smiled. "And about Henry, we will find a way for him to remember you."

"We?"

"Yes, as in you and me. Henry will be missing a lot not remembering. I mean... i'm sure he would want you back in our life..." Emma stopped and nervously bit her lower lip at the slip, her saying 'our life' instead of just 'his'

Regina smiled, "I would love that,"

The sincerity in the older woman's words settled the younger one's nerve. "So do you have any plan on how to start this? I mean, between the two of us, you are more the brain and I'm the brawn."

"I really have no idea, between running the town and thinking of this new curse and Hermione, I got not much time to plan anything else."

Emma nodded her head, "I'm sure we could come up with something, but for now maybe it would be nice for you to see Henry?" at the suggestion, Emma saw the other woman bulked, "What?"

"Emma, I don't think I can stand to see Henry right now, I am all nerves and I don't want to cry in front of him, I mean... he doesn't remember me!"

She understood but she knew 'she' needs to be close to her son, Regina can't lose more time with Henry. "Alright, not today but maybe tomorrow? You can come to the loft...ah... is that okay?"

Regina smiled, "Do I even get a vote on this?" it was obvious she was nervous still,

"Come on Regina, it will be alright, trust me - "

xxx

I didn't get to see Henry and Emma the next day. I was still so nervous meeting my amnesic son and my heart still hurts at the thought that maybe we have no way of retrieving his memories back. I didn't think I'd say this, but I was thinking it was better not to see him at all and pretend that he is still out there in the real world and not in this little constricting town. My solace right now is my daughter who had been a very good infant at this time of ordeal.

We were all blind as to what happened in the Enchanted Forest, and it takes a lot of my energy thinking of what ifs... what if there is someone there after all of us? Of Snow? Or me or worst my baby? The message that the pirate got might be a clue as to what happened there, and the message sent asking for Emma's help, doesn't that say a lot? Plus the fact that there were a lot of additions to the town during this second curse... so maybe one of them is the culprit and is hiding at plain sight?

And then there is Robin. Tink got it in her head that maybe it was 'him' who fathered Hermione because he is the bearer of the lion tattoo, and with us having no memories of what transpired in the Enchanted Forest, we could have had a relation that lead to Hermione's conception... but I told her I am sure that if it was Robin, then I would have at least felt this connection to him or him at least feeling a connection to my daughter, but the first time I met the thief, he had the audacity to fire an arrow my way... with me carrying my daughter! The nerve... if I don't have the power to catch it then he would have hurt me or worst my daughter, so I am convinced that she is not his.

Is there any other bachelor or married man who might father my child? And for crying out loud, I would not have made a dalliance with castle help and not be cautious. Sullying my name and in my own kingdom?

Anyway, it was three days later when I met with Henry. Emma walked to my door and knock some sense into me, holding Hermione in her arms, she dragged me to Snow's apartment and have me met Henry, which was a happy and sad moment for me. I was happy to see Henry all grown up, he had gotten taller and he had preserved his good manner, something I was dreading way back in Enchanted Forest - that Emma's crude attitude may infect him - but thank god it was not so. Emma made a great job being a single mother. It was sad because there was the lack of our usual affection, when I was about to hug him, he extended his hand for a shake, even Snow who was watching saw the hurt I was trying hard to hide.

But as you know Emma's stubbornness, she didn't just let us meet, she offered to baby sit Hermione which she insist on calling Hermie by the way, and made me give Henry a tour around. I mean, didn't she or Snow or David toured Henry already? And it seemed Henry was happy to go, he said he didn't get to see around yet.

Before we left, I watched Emma with my daughter and for a moment, I saw something new in her. She was happy... like really happy, not the kind I saw before. She was bright, the smile she has on her face could actually light up a darkened sky.

Maybe she remembers having baby Henry in her arms... I did gave her that fake memory after all.

xxx

[The next day]

Regina was working on a contract when the door to her office opened, she looked up to see an excited Emma grinning. She closed the door and without being invited, went in and stepped beside the stroller where Hermione was sleeping. "Hi Regina," she greeted and then she looked down and leaned towards the infant and placed a kiss on her forehead before whispering a hello.

Regina was unaware that a wide smile took over her face so when the blonde straightened up and looked at her, she raised one brow and asked, "What?". In return, the mayor raised one of her own in challenge, "You were looking at me funny and that smile on your face is distracting."

The mayor put down the pen and steer her chair to face the other woman, "I doubt you're here interrupting my work time just to say hi to me and kissed my daughter,"

Emma grinned, "Well that isn't that bad is it?" she asked and feigns sighing in relief at Regina's shake of head, "But you're right, it's not just that." she said sticking a hand into the pocket of her oh so familiar red jacket and then withdrawing it to show Regina a green colored bottle.

"What is that?"

"I forgot that I kept the bottle of the potion Hook gave me, and when I looked, there were some of the potion in it." at the revelation Regina abruptly stood and stepped close to the saviour. She hurriedly took the bottle which Emma freely give while she turn her focus on the still sleeping infant. "She is so beautiful Regina," she said grinning.

Regina's inspection of the bottle stopped and she turned her gaze on the other woman. She was surprise to see the doting expression on the blonde, if she didn't know that she had sent Emma off somewhere before returning to Enchanted Forest, and if she didn't know that two women cannot beget an offspring (scientifically speaking), she would have thought that Emma actually fathered (or mothered) her daughter. The expression on the woman's face was a mirror of her own when she was looking at Henry before, when they were not in good term and playing tag or war with their son on the middle. She shook her head to take the thought away, she was just probably hoping too much since she was once again left to care for an infant single handedly while playing mayor and thinking of a curse that this time she wanted to break.

"There is enough here Emma to replicate!" She said smiling, excited.

The blonde woman looked up, the smile never leaving her face, "That's great news right?" at the nod of the mayor's head, Emma sighed. "David and I were patrolling, keeping ears open in case there's some rumor about this curse, but so far, no one heard anything. I had Ruby sniff out other prospects, and still she turned up zero. Anyway, I asked Mary Margaret to gather the new residents, maybe there's someone from them that knew... but until then there is a lot of time in my hand."

"So?"

"I want to help you, I mean, you would try replicating the potion right?"

"Yes, you gave me something to work on."

"I like to help you with that... and... well..."

"Emma?"

"Well, Henry and I was thinking, since we are not doing much here, we could... you know... I mean, we'll be glad to help you with Hermie if you're busy..."

Regina knew that was hard for the blonde woman, not that Emma doesn't like helping, as a matter of fact, of all the people she knew aside from Snow, Emma was the most selfless person she've met. But unlike her mother, she at least knew when to back out and she knew the blonde woman knew how capable she is and that she rarely asked for help,

"I'm not saying you actually need my help, it's just..."

"I'd love to Emma, you and Henry keeping eye on Hermione, that would be lovely." The gazillion watt smile on the other woman was enough to make Regina pat herself for a job well done. "Though, I would love to start on this potion, will you help? I was thinking later, after work."

"Of course! That's great, maybe by tomorrow we have a potion for everyone to drink!" Then she frowned, "But Hermie..."

"I could ask Snow to watch for her. She'd been doing that since we returned here, I mean look after Hermione when I really needed to leave her."

"Really? Wow... that's something,"

"Yes, I have no idea how that started but, when we came back, I knew something was different between us."

"Great news," Emma took a deep breath, "Ahm... I was looking around and really have not seen Neal,"

Regina shook her head, "We've been here three months, a lot of town meetings were held already but he's not around."

"You think he was not swept into the second curse?"

"If he's not within the kingdom borders, probably."

"I'm worried of what to tell Henry when he gets his memory back... about his dad you know?"

"I know," Regina sat, "When we get our memories back, we'll remember what happen, so do not worry Emma."

Emma smile, "Yes, so we should really work on that potion."

And their conversation was interrupted by the infant's hungry whining. "Feeding time," Regina said standing.

"Can I feed her? I mean... she's bottle feeding right?" Regina nodded her head and took a cold bottle in her mini ref, and then putting it in a bottle warmer. "She's on mix feeding right now."

"Oh," Emma leaned on the stroller and took Hermione in her arms, she then walked towards Regina and waited for the milk to warm.

xxx

I think we... and by we I mean - Regina - broke about three small beakers all in all. Not that many, but there was not much potion as well. Three times we tried recreating it and three times we fail. Regina was at the end of her string and was not happy about it, she and I needed for Henry to remember at least, then we could maybe find some true loves out there to kiss and break the others' curse.

It seems my mom and dad's true love is not acting right at the moment since none of their kisses were working. Regina said they tried since the very first day they came here but it was not working. So I said maybe this curse was immune to their kisses, and I was glad my joke was received well and broke her melancholic mood. And soon I planted a plan in her head, something about this technique we bail bondsperson do to smoke out bail jumpers, and she liked the idea.

So the next day I made sure that Leroy overhear me saying to David about Regina finally making a potion to have their memories back, and were we right that not ten minutes after, the fake report fanned out and everyone in Storybrooke was talking about it. And that night, me and Regina went on a stakeout.

And failed.

No one actually came, we didn't get to smoke anyone out... nada, but it wasn't a total lost, I mean, I get to have a heart to heart with the mother of my child... I mean, just Henry, and we learned a lot about each other talking while waiting until we were sure that no one will appear at her office.

Of course the whole town was sad when we told them about the real story behind that fake announcement, and we are at a lost of what to do. But that's not all that happened. When I came back here, I was so sure that if we figure things out, me and Henry will be back in New York, but now that everything's bleak, and I can do nothing else but wait for someone with true love to break the curse, I made a final decision.

Me and Henry are staying. I don't know what really change, but I decided to follow my heart for the first time and ignore my brain. My heart is somewhat tied here, tied much tighter than before and I have no idea why... Henry has no memory of his past so I'm sure it was not him. My parents never was my reason for staying the first time.

So what's tying me up in Storybrooke?

TBC

I made some edit of my own, so there are less typographical errors in here than from the one I posted at my tumblr account. Yes I do have tumblr now, but it mostly have SWANQUEEN and DOCCUBUS and some KORRASAMI staff, I think I'll leave my tumblr like that, all hail to my new obsessions!