Not While I'm Here

She pulled him close. When she knew the others were asleep. She knew something was wrong she just did not know what. That was a lie deep inside there was a part of Snow White that had known since he was first hit she just did not want to believe it.

"Snow? What are you?"

It was hurting him to speak she could tell.

"How bad is it?"

"How bad is what?"

"Don't! Don't lie to me please." The emotion catches in her throat.

She kisses him fiercely and wordlessly pulls of his shirt. It is not needed.

His skin is lovely she sees the scars he earned saving their baby the birthmark on his chest. Every inch of him is kissed and held. Snow stops as she sees the dark poisonous veins on David's on his abdomen.

"I have something that can help with that."

"Snow darling I am dying I am so unbelievably sorry for deceiving you but, there is nothing that can be done."

"Are you forgetting who you are married to Charming? I am not Mary-Margaret not, truly I was not prepared to let you die in our land or Storybrooke I am sure as hell not letting you die here."

"Snow please." He feels a flutter of red poppy dust flicker in front of him and his body ease. Before the world fades he feels her lips on his and a tender "I LOVE YOU".

"Tink he's out!" Snow calls.

"Good! Emma! Get over here fast I need you to activate this dust. I know your mother believes in me but, since I am no longer a fairy, savour magic is the only thing strong enough to activate it."

Hook had spilled the beans hours earlier when David was out fetching firewood. Snow was desolate until Tinker-bell revealed she always kept a stock of pixie dust for emergencies and she could not think of a greater one.

Emma ran to the hammock as Regina and Hook watched on.

"What do you need me to do? I'll do it! ANYTHING I JUST CAN'T LOSE DAVID HE'S MY DAD!"

"Right now what I need you to do is take your mother's hand and both think of how much you love him and how happy he makes you."

For Snow it was easy her happy thoughts came bounding into her mind

For Emma it was harder she had "ORPHAN" playing over and over you are going to lose him you are going to lose them both. "THE HELL I AM!"

In that moment Emma felt everything flash before her eyes the laughs, the tears the moment he found out he was going to be a father to when she was placed in the wardrobe. The pixie dust began to glow and the dark marks of poison began to recede.

"OH! Mom look he's getting better!"

"He is! Baby He is!"

"We need to move him so he can rest it off in my tree-house."

"I'll stay with him. Regina. Can you?"

"In a pinch."

Suddenly Snow found herself standing in the tree-house looking out on a sleeping and completely healed Charming. He is so peaceful she does not have to wake him. Just watches over him and applies pain reliving balm to the wound sight to ensure he is not woken.

By the time he feels himself wake he is positive he is dead because she is here in front of him kissing him good morning,

"Mmm. Is this heaven because you look an awful lot like my exquisite wife?"

"Charming" She breathes effortlessly. Relief flushing her porcelain cheeks, her expression changes and he feels the thud of her hand against his chest in a light slap.

"There's my Snow." He chuckles.

"You ever do that to me again you are going to wish for that arrow again and again until the end of time!"

"I love you."

"I love you too you charming pain in the ass."