The castle was broken; the foundations of our happiness have crumbled down and are now broken. Rehabilitation was possible, but not probable, for too much damage has been done. Dignity and hope have been washed away by the tears that leave my eyes every night since we arrived back home. These tears are for her, my Emma, gone yet again from our grasp.
I placed a shaky, fair hand on the exterior of the castle. I sigh escaped my weak lips and I felt more tears forming. I shook my head, trying to rid my memories of losing my daughter all over again, losing our hope and light.
Charming walked up and placed his strong arms around my petite waist. This was the only time I felt safe since arriving back home. This was the only time I have felt like everything would be alright. I knew, however, that as soon as he left my grasp, all the doubt and sadness would envelop me once again, and I would continue to be drowned in my sorrows.
"Look at me, Snow." He whispered. He turned me around, so I was facing him. His blue eyes looked softer than normal. They looked delicate, and forlorn. His eyes didn't obtain the normal effervescent life they normally do. He was affected by our loss as well.
"I don't know how I can recover from this, Charming. I don't know how. This is the second time we've lost our daughter, and I don't know how to recover from this." He pulled me into a long hug, and we just stayed there, two souls effected by the same unfortunate situation that life handed us.
We pulled away, and Charming grabbed my face in his large hands. "Emma is going to come back to us. Just like she did the first time. Have faith, Snow."
Charming placed a single kiss on my forehead. That single kiss contained more love and life than anything that has happened since returning home. It was the simplicity that warmed my heart.
"Come with me." He said.
We grabbed hands, and walked inside the ruins of our old life. He led me to a door. It was THE door. He looked at me and smiled.
"You ready?" He asked. I nodded, and we proceeded inside. The nursery looked exactly the same as the last time I visited. More tears started to form. I spotted Charming walking around the room; he seemed to be scanning, taking in the collateral damage.
"This was where she was supposed to sleep; to spend her days and nights. We would've nursed her back to health in here if she got sick; we would've sung her to sleep. We could've had a life – and that was taken away from us."
Charming embraced me in a hug yet again, and then placed a kiss on my quivering lips. His next response was breathy.
"We can still have that. Emma will always be our daughter, but we never got the chance to raise a child. This could be our chance to start over; to continue our family."
A smile formed on my face, and warmth finally coursed through my body. "You really think so?" I asked, hope finally seeming to be present.
"Absolutely. I love you Snow. This is our chance to raise a child just like we've always wanted. We can get back what was taken from us."
I looked at his face; so much light and life was present on his chiseled features that my doubts virtually disappeared. At this very moment, I knew our life could begin again.
"Promise me something, Charming."
"Anything." He smiled and chuckled, making my heart beat faster.
"Promise me that you'll always love me, and that you'll always love our child."
He placed a hand on my forearm and swept hair away from my face. "I don't need to make that promise. The moment I met you I knew that was my fate, and I wouldn't want it any other way."