The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

The Road Less Traveled By

Prologue

Kathryn was washing dishes in her house reflecting on all that had happened in the last few months. Heartache was her new normal and she accepted it. That was when she felt the curse break.

"Frederick, where are you?"

Grabbing her coat Kathryn ran out of the house searching for her one true love.

On the other side of town Ashley and Sean were playing with Alexandra. Sean's father, Charles or Charlie, was looking on lovingly. Ever since Sean married Ashley, Charlie had come around. They really were a wonderful couple and he was happy to help them especially when he saw how hard they worked to make Alexandra happy. And then the curse broke.

They all froze. Sean looked over at his wife. "Ella?"

"Thomas?"

Reaching for each other they wrapped themselves up in a passionate kiss.

"Children, we must find King James and Snow White," stated Charlie. The look of incredulity on his face made Sean and Ashley pause. "We must find them. Now that the curse is broken they, we all, will be in danger and they will need us.

Standing up Sean said, "Well let's get started then. Let's reclaim what is ours."

The staff in the hospital were milling around. Emma stroked Henry's hair as he smiled up at her.

"I am so happy you are ok kid," Emma said.

"I am just so proud of you, Mom" Emma smiled. The joy in heart was just too good to be true.

A tray clattered behind them. Emma turning saw the nurse pale as a ghost. Going to her, "Are you ok?"

The nurse was fixated on the window. Looking out Emma saw a cloud of purple smoke enveloping the town. "What is that?"

"Something bad," said a shaking Henry. Reaching over Emma grabbed his shoulder. As the cloud descended on them, Emma grabbed Henry into a hug covering him with her body. The purple haze billowed around the building with the wind and thunder shaking everyone to their boots.

Across town Sean, Ashley, Charlie, and Alexandra stepped out of their home. Just as quickly they were encased in the purple cloud. Charlie jumped onto his family as the purple cloud with all its wind and fury descended on them.

Kathryn ran through town, one destination in mind. How had she been so stupid as to not recognize Frederick when she was there? Storybrooke Elementary School was only a block away.

"Please be there!" Kathryn whispered to herself.

Hearing a loud rumble behind her, she turned to see the purple cloud coming towards her. Her heart began to fill with fear. As she opened her mouth to scream, she felt strong arms wrap around her and bring her to the ground. The rage of magic swirled above her, but yet she felt safe. The cloud began to lift. Turning over she looked into the most arresting, familiar eyes she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Frederick!" came the quiet gasp from her lips.

The cloud lifted from David and Mary Margaret. Taking a step back Mary Margaret looked around, "What's happening?" There was a note of fear in her voice?

Just as shaky David replied, "I don't know. Let's find out."

With a nod Mary Margaret let David take her hand and start to walk down the street. Two women were in the street hugging and crying. Turning they saw David and Mary Margaret.

"Snow!" gasped Ruby.

"Red!" cried Mary Margaret. Running towards each other they wrapped themselves into a hug. Tears flowed down their cheeks as their friendship was instantly renewed. Granny came to David and gave him a motherly hug. There was so much unspoken between them that would come later. As Ruby moved in for a hug with David, Granny went to Mary Margaret. Mary Margaret knew now that this was real. A thousand memories were flooding back into her heart.

"Your highness," said a gruff voice behind them. Looking up Mary Margaret saw the dwarves.

Still not believing what she saw, Mary Margaret went over to her friends. Crying she went into their arms, not letting them bow to her for long. They were dearer to her than that. Stepping back Mary Margaret looked at them lovingly.

"So, the curse is broken?" asked Leroy.

"It would appear so," replied James coming forward to greet the people who had helped him find his true love.

"So what do we do now?" asked Ruby.

"Now. Now we find my daughter," replied Mary Margaret with hope in her voice. David nodded in agreement. She didn't need to look far.

Another voice suddenly appeared, "So it's true?"

Turning Mary Margaret saw Emma standing there. Words failed them. Emma felt unsure about everything. Part of her wanted to turn and run; however, she was rooted to the ground. Tears began running down Mary Margaret's cheeks. Moving slowly towards her daughter, not wanting to spook her, she slowly raised her hands to touch Emma's face. As Emma felt Mary Margaret's touch, Emma gave way and fell into Mary Margaret's arms.

"You found us," choked out Mary Margaret. Emma felt weird not fully understanding everything yet. However, she did feel the love behind every caress. James came up and wrapped both of his ladies into the hug. Emma was uncomfortable. How do you reconcile the old ways with obvious new ways to come? How would this work? Doubt crept into Emma's heart.

"Grandpa?" came a hopeful, but young voice behind them.

Snow burst into laughter as Emma, Mary Margaret and David let go of each other. "Yeah kid, I suppose so." David said as he laughed. There were nervous smiles around as David gave Henry a hug.

"She did it. She saved you," claimed Henry.

"She saved all of us," replied Mary Margaret happily.

Emma recoiled a bit. Nothing seemed sure to her, not even now.

"Then why are we still here?" asked Leroy.

"That my friend is an excellent question," replied James, "There is much to learn and find out. We need to find answers. Our stories had been written, but new ones are about to be written. Old friends and old foes are coming. To get home we will need each other," looking at Emma, Henry and Mary Margaret he continued, "We will need to get to know each other all over again and with that, that will help us all go home."

"Home," thought Emma, "What is home? How will I deal with this? What do I have to prove?"

The road has changed. Nothing was at it seemed. New paths, new roads are about to be forged. Change, magic, has come to Storybrooke.