Title: Closer To You
Author: Me, RiVeR123.
Rating: K
Pairing(s): Snow White/Prince Charming
Warning(s): Lotsa fluff.
Summary: Mary and David have their memories blindly returning. James can't get to sleep when the two most important women in his life are in the room next to him; so close, yet too far.
Disclaimer: Not my characters.

CLOSER TO YOU

Mary Margaret sits up in bed. No, not Mary – Snow. She's Snow White, but she's been Mary for twenty-eight years and the persona is a little hard to shake, even if she's regained each memory flash by flash over the past few days. She knows who she is, but to everyone else, she's still Mary and for now, she'll continue to be Mary to them until they remember as clearly as she does. There's no telling how long it'll take, but Snow can be patient.

She closes the book in her hands, she'd already stopped actually reading the words a few minutes ago anyway when she was thrown into thought. She'd tried to force herself to focus on the story, but the sound of her own musings proved far too distracting.

Snow looks down to her right at the mess of blonde hair nestled tightly into her side. Unbeknownst to the sleeping woman, she'd encroached into Snow's personal bubble. Snow smiles, very carefully brushing the hair out of her daughter's face. It'd been a struggle to convince the woman that she didn't mind sharing the bed for the night. But when she did finally agree, Emma had fallen asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow, and not much longer after that, found her way into cozying up to Snow who had decided to stay up for a little while longer.

There a click and rusting at the door and Snow looks up to find her husband slowly opening. "Hey," he calls out quietly.

Snow puts her outstretched index finger to her lips. "She's sleeping," she informs, then gestures for him to come in.

There's a smile on James' face as he rounds the bed, softly sitting on the edge by his wife. "Why aren't you sleeping?" he asks as he wraps a hand atop one of hers.

She raises the book in her other hand, answering his question, then places it on the bedside table. "I got distracted though," she whispers, her head tilting towards the heavy-breathing mass at her side.

There's a look of deep thought on her husband's face as he turns his gaze on the blonde, whose left leg is sticking halfway off the bed and arm has found its way to curl around Snow's torso. "I can hardly believe that's our little girl."

"I can. She sleeps like you," she jokes. "Why aren't you sleeping? Don't like her bed?"

"I'm just a little sore," James admits. He's been asleep for twenty-eight years; it's difficult to find a good, comfortable position to go back to sleep in. "Her bed smells like her."

Snow crinkles her nose. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No," he breathes with a chuckle. "It just makes me want to be closer to you two."

"The next room isn't close enough?"

He shakes his head. "Not after twenty-eight years."

"Don't worry, love," she assures, cupping her palm to the side of his face. "We can be together forever again."

"I want to tell her," he says, leaning in closer to his wife. He examines her green eyes in the lamp light.

Snow sighs. "She won't believe us. Not yet. I know her. She'll freak out."

"I want to know her, too," he says.

"Are you jealous?" she teases.

"Yes," he admits nonchalantly. "I want to know my baby girl. Is that so bad?"

"Well, she's certainly not a baby anymore. And... I don't think she likes you all that much."

"What?" he exclaims, his voice rising and Snow reaches her hand out quickly to cover his mouth.

They both sit in utter silence for a few moments, watching as Emma stirs for a moment, scratches her nose with the back of her hand, and then turns her head to the other side – drifting right back into deep sleep. There's an audible sigh of relief from them both, and a restrained urge to start laughing uncontrollably.

"She wants to run a background check on you," Snow continues, quieter than before. "Make sure you weren't an axe-murderer in a past life. It's cute. She's protective."

"Well, that's just not fair. I don't think I look like an axe-murderer. Is it the scruff? Should I shave?"

"I think it makes you look rugged, Charming," she replies with a grin, softly running the back of her hand along his stubbled cheek. "Do you need help shaving?"

"No, I'm good. My hands are almost perfect again, I have more trouble with my legs. Can't walk for too long."

"It takes time."

"I know," he says, "but now that I have you to help me, it'll be a breeze."

The two lovers are drawn from their conversation by the sound of a low grumbling and they turn their heads, quickly growing silent.

"What are you doing in here?" Emma murmurs groggily. She realizes the position she was in and quickly snaps her arm away from its curl around Snow's stomach and props herself up by the elbows.

"Sorry we woke you. I was just asking M-Mary a question," James replies hastily, it takes a moment to remember the right name and he stammers.

"Dude, it's like two in the morning. Go to sleep. Holy crap..." she complains in lazy frustration, then turns over onto her side away from them, pulling the covers back up to her collarbone and attempts to fall back asleep.

'She doesn't like you,' Snow mouths, amused.

James makes a small pout with his lips, then grins. 'Goodnight,' he mouths back, leaning in to give her a kiss, his eyes taking a momentary glance to ensure that their daughter isn't watching. "I'll talk to you tomorrow," he whispers to his wife as he gets up off the bed and the weight shifts back to its original state."Goodnight, Emma," he adds softly as he opens the door. She grunts in reply and he resists the urge to chuckle as he leaves, closing the bedroom door softly behind him.

Snow, a little more settled now, leans over to turn off her dim lamp and ready herself for bed. As she's pulling up the blanket she hears, "He's married." Emma hasn't moved from her position and it makes Snow smile knowingly at the woman's assumption.

"I know." To me.

Author's Note: This is oh so fluffy. I might continue with explanation as to why David/James is staying with them, etc. Possibly an actual plot line if I feel up to it. Or, you know, if you review!