DISCLAIMER: I do not dare claim any ownership for the fabulous characters, situations, plots and/or spins on old stories that ABC's geniuses have given us on Once Upon a Time.

Filling in the blanks…

Extensions or POV shifts of what might have happened from Snow's and/or Prince Charming's perspectives. From various episodes and in no particular order…SPOILERS possible if you are not completely current on Once Upon a Time.

Episode 1x04 – "The Price of Gold"

– At Ella's wedding…

…"All I did was get married," Ella laughed with a degree of humility most becoming of a new princess.

"All you did," Snow paused as she held Ella's gaze steadily, determined that her friend fully understand her praise, "was prove that anyone can change her life."

She watched as true gratitude beamed through Ella's eyes. "I'm proud of you," Snow added quietly, and they moved back to their partners. It was clear her friend appreciated her words, for the new bride was too overcome to reply with anything but a warm smile that matched her own. However, Snow doubted that Ella could ever truly grasp how much this night symbolized for her. This night, this glorious night of celebration was the first true sign that there might be hope. Hope for her family, her kingdom, her people.

She twirled in step with King Christopher's exquisite court musicians, losing sight of Ella whom she supposed had moved to rejoin her prince in the waltz. The thrumming of the light-hearted strings echoed in her heart as her own prince came into view. Snow smiled knowingly at her husband, for she knew, though he danced expertly, he would much rather they be back in the grounds of their own kingdom, riding their horses against the backdrop of a moonlit horizon.

The waltz was drawing to a close, and as she joined her husband once more, her first and last partner in this strange version of the "The Ship's Cook" dance that Prince Thomas had brought back from his journeys, she sighed as James took her into the final spin and they bowed gracefully to signal the end.

A smattering of obligatory applause for the musicians followed as she ascended from her curtsy with grace, meeting her prince's beaming gaze.

"And why, may I ask, are you looking at me that way?" she asked with a playful arch of her brow.

But James shook his head. "I fear that telling you would spoil the moment, my dear," he teased.

Snow stuck her nose up in mock offense and made a grand show of moving away from him. "Well if you won't tell me, I suppose you'll have to find someone else to be charming with this evening."

The prince's grasp on her hand tightened and he pulled her back with a firm but affectionate tug. She laughed as he took both of her hands in his and kissed her, ever so chastely on the forehead (this was after all, a public assembly).

"I was thinking," he said, his tone now soft and sincere, "that it was nice to see you enjoying yourself, Snow."

At his words, Snow sighed, the flood of worries and anxieties rushing back to her like a tidal wave. James was right. It did spoil the moment. One of these days, she would learn to listen to him as well as she loved him.

"Well," she offered at last, "as you have often said, I can't spend every waking minute of every day worrying about what she may or may not do to us." He squeezed her hands, nodding. "Besides," she glanced over at the rest of the assembly, most of the people at this wedding still blissfully unaware of what had occurred at her own, "this is a sign that good things can still happen." She looked back at him whose eyes reflected a tiny bit of her sadness. "It's been a good day, James," she whispered. "I'll save my worrying for sleepless nights."

This time, without regard for propriety or decorum, he kissed her fully. "We both will," he promised in a whisper as they drew apart. For another dance was about to begin…