Author's Note: This is a story that just popped into my head the other day while being frustrated by the way that James/David and Snow/Mary just can't seem to catch a break. So I thought of what would have happened if fate were a little different and King Leopold never found the genie, pushing back the evil Queen's plot to kill him and seize the kingdom back by a few years. In this story, Leopold survives her attack and he and Snow flee to George's castle for help in preventing his kingdom from falling to the Queen. There Snow finds a certain shepherd turned prince. BTW, the next chapter of my other fic 'Breaking the Curse.' should be up in about a week or so.

James walks toward his house after a hard day working on his farm dreading the next conversation with his mother. Times had always been tough for his family, but since his father died things were worse. Despite his best efforts, the farm was going bankrupt. For the past three weeks, James' mother had been trying to convince him to marry a girl from a wealthy family for her dowry so they could save the farm.

James steadfastly refuses. He has always known he will marry for love. He has not yet found anyone who has touched his heart, but knows that one day he will. He is absorbed in his thoughts when a strange man appears before him out of thin air.

"Who are you?" James asks, startled as he takes in the stranger's appearance. He has green skin and from the way he appeared, James figures he must be a wizard.

"I am Rumplestiltskin," the man says. "I am here because today is your lucky day."

"Is that you son?" his mother asks, as she exits the house. She instantly pales upon seeing Rumplestiltskin. "What are you doing here?" she demands.

"I am here to offer your son the deal of a lifetime," Rumplestiltskin replies.

"I'm not interested in your deals," she answers. "Not a day went by that my husband didn't regret the deal he made with you."

"What deal?" James asks, confused.

"Oh you mean your mother never told you?" Rumplestiltskin asks delighted. "Well this certainly complicates matters."

"What deal did you make with him?" James asks.

"Just before you were born, our farm was in bad shape," his mother says, ashamed. "Worse than it is now. We were going to lose everything and didn't have the money to raise you or your brother."

"Brother?" James asks. "What brother?"

"Your twin brother," his mother answers. "Rumplestiltskin came to us offering us a fortune for him. He said a wealthy couple who couldn't have a child desperately wanted a son. Faced with the prospect of having no home for either of you, your father agreed to his deal so both of you would have better lives."

"I don't believe it," James says. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because your father was so ashamed of the deal," his mother answers. "He felt that he should have found a way to raise both you and your brother."

"That was why he was drunk half the time," James says, "and why the farm fell back into disrepair."

"That's right," his mother answers.

"So what do you want me to do?" James asks.

"I regret to inform you that your brother has died," Rumplestiltskin responds.

"What?" James' mother asks, sinking to the ground. "He's dead? How?"

"He died a hero," Rumplestiltskin says, "he slayed a dragon that was terrorizing the northern part of the kingdom and was killed in the process."

"But I heard that the prince was going to go slay the dragon," James says confused.

"And so he did," Rumplestiltskin says.

"But..." James says, before his mother interrupts him.

"The wealthy couple was the king and queen?" his mother asks in shock.

"That is correct," Rumplestiltskin answers. "Your son was raised by the royal family and was destined to be king before his untimely demise."

"I don't believe it," James says.

"Believe it," Rumplestiltskin says. "I also have other news for you. King George is dying. His physicians have just diagnosed him with a rare illness that has no magical cure. He will be dead within the year and without an heir to continue the royal bloodline..."

"The nobility will start fighting each other for the honor of being king," James says. "I read in history class the last time this happened thousands of people were killed and the kingdom was invaded by outside forces."

"Exactly," Rumplestiltskin says. "As of now there are only eight people who know the prince was killed, the three of us, the king, his chief advisor, and the three soldiers that managed to survive the dragon slaying. You are to be taken to the castle to take your brother's place and within the year you will be king."

"Son you can't do this," his mother says. "I can't lose you."

"I have no choice," James says. "I couldn't live with myself if the kingdom fell and I could prevent it."

"So you'll do it?" Rumplestiltskin asks.

"Yes," James says, "but what of my mother?"

"King George has promised to provide for her. She will have enough gold to hire helpers to run the farm and live out the rest of her life in peace, but you cannot have regular contact with her for fear that you will be discovered," Rumplestiltskin says. "You will be able to write her letters every once in a while, but no one can know you're not the prince."

"But I don't know anything about..." James begins.

"Being a prince?" Rumplestiltskin finishes. "No worries. The king has sent word throughout the kingdom that the battle with the dragon left Prince James injured and the nature of the wounds prevents magical healing. It will take some months for him to heal. During this time, the king's advisor will teach you all that you need to know to be king. Hopefully you will be ready by the time the king falls too ill to rule."

"I see," James says.

"Wait, what do you get out of this deal?" his mother asks.

"The king had some information I needed," Rumplestiltskin says. "He traded it to me for producing an answer to his kingdom's woes."

"What information?" James asks.

"That's none of your concern," Rumplestiltskin answers. "Now I suggest you say goodbye to your mother. It may be quite some time before you see her again."

James turns back to his mother.

"Son, I'm sorry about all this," she says. "I should never have agreed to Rumplestiltskin's deal. Then we wouldn't be in this mess."

"It's all right mother," James says, becoming nervous. "I just hope that I can live up to being king."

"I'm sure you'll do fine," his mother answers, taking off her wedding ring and handing it to him.

"Mom, why are you giving this to me?" James asks confused.

"I was wrong to try to force you to marry for money," she says. "Your father and I were truly in love when we married, and I should have learned my lesson after selling your brother about denying love for money. I knew it may not befit a king, but I want you to find a girl that you truly love and give her that ring."

"I will," James promises. "I love you mom."

"I love you too," his mother says, hugging him.

"Time to go," Rumplestiltskin says.

"Can I just gather my things first?" James asks.

"You won't need any of your things," Rumplestiltskin says. "I imagine from the looks of this place, nothing you own will be fitting for a king and any personal objects of yours may raise suspicions if the servants found them."

James is about to give a nasty reply, before realizing that Rumplestiltskin may be right.

"Very well," James responds. "How are we traveling?"

"By magic of course," Rumplestiltskin says. "The prince is supposed to be at the castle recuperating from his wounds, so we can't risk anyone seeing you on a horse."

Rumplestiltskin grabs James' arm and teleports the two of them away, leaving James' mother to worry about him.