I Will Always Find You

Summary: Four ways Snow White and Prince Charming did not meet...and one way they did.

A/N: Thanks once again to everyone who favourite/alerted/reviewed...seeing new messages in my inbox always makes me smile :) The chapter title comes from the Hopi Indian saying: To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.

Disclaimer: OUAT and all of its characters are the property of ABC...all I own is a newly-purchased Snow White wig for a costume party...


III. Hear Our Hearts Speak

The young girl stared out of the window into the moonlit night, her delicate hands clutching onto the windowsill. She could hardly believe she was finally going to have a mother again, especially one as caring and beautiful as Regina. It was more than she had ever dared to dream and to think, it was all possible because she had lost control of her horse.

Her eyes slid from the window to the table where her saddle sat, abandoned haphazardly after her scare. In the moment it had happened, she swore she would never ride again but Regina had told her to face her fear, to get back on her horse as soon as possible.

Biting her lip, the young girl thought about her chances of escaping the house unseen, the urge to do as Regina suggested itching at her skin. Her father would not be pleased if she went riding unsupervised at this late hour but if she did not go now, she was not sure she would be able to muster the courage to try again later.

Mind racing, she debated internally for a moments before turning back to the window with a sigh. The chances of her successfully reaching the stables unnoticed were small and she did not wish to worry her father in any way, especially as happy as he was now. Besides, she would feel much better if someone was with her, her soon-to-be stepmother more precisely. Resolved to head to the stables first thing in the morning, the girl climbed into the bed and fell asleep with happy dreams of her family's future swirling in her head.

"Ella dear!"

Snow wrapped her glove-clad arms around her friend in a tight hug, giggling as she had to lean forward to compensate for the distance the width of their two dresses placed between them.

"I am so happy for you," Snow grinned as she pulled back, smoothing down the lavender silk of her dress skirt, "You are such an inspiration to everyone."

The girl in question blushed, her tiara sparkling in the candlelight.

"All I did was get married," she demurred, before turning to Snow's companion, "King Leopold, I am so glad you were able to come."

The King smiled benevolently, placing a chaste kiss on the back of Ella's outstretched hand.

"If I did not, my daughter would never let me hear the end of it. She considers you one of her closest friends."

"As I do her," Ella replied, turning a brilliant smile towards Snow, "She has been so good to me over the past few months; I do not know whether I would have been able to become accustomed to royal life so quickly without her help and guidance."

Snow was now the one blushing, believing the praise heaped upon her was unnecessary. Ever since she had first met Ella during a visit to this kingdom mere days after Prince Thomas had matched her to her forgotten glass slipper, she had felt a bond of kinship with the bubbly blonde. That bond had only strengthened during their months of correspondence leading up to the wedding, with Snow considering Ella to be the sister she had never had.

"Now, I shall leave you two ladies to talk alone...as long as you both promise to share a dance with me later."

Snow's musings were interrupted by her father's voice, his words bringing a soft smile to her face.

"Of course Father," she replied, quickly followed by Ella, "I would be honoured, Your Highness."

After he took his leave, Snow turned back to her friend with a wicked grin.

"Now where is that new husband of yours? After the display the two of you put on during the ceremony, I was certain that I would need a sword to prise the two of you apart."

"Snow!" Ella gasped, the redness rapidly returning to her face.

Snow just raised her eyebrow, daring Ella to deny her claim. As Ella knew she could not, she simply shook her head at her friend's audacity before raising her eyes to seek out the familiar form of her beloved Thomas. The dancefloor was packed with twirling dancers, but in between the gaps of their graceful movements Ella caught a glimpse of her husband's figure.

"Ah, there he is...over by the wall with Prince James."

Oh my.

Snow had followed Ella's line of sight to see Thomas in deep conversation with the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes upon.

"That's Prince James?"

She had heard of him...all of the kingdoms had. News of his engagement to Princess Abigail, daughter of King Midas had spread far and wide. However it was the subsequent breaking of that engagement after the Prince had apparently undertaken a quest to restore Abigail's true love to her that had made him the target of much gossip amongst the nobility. Snow had to admit, from the moment she had heard the story she had been intrigued...wondering what kind of man would risk the future prosperity of his kingdom to save his own fiancée's love.

"You're staring."

Snow was startled out of her musings by Ella's amused voice, eyes dropping in embarrassment as she realised she had been openly gawking at the prince.

"Would you like me to introduce you?" Ella asked, a look of speculation crossing her features.

"Yes, no...I don't know," Snow stuttered, the confident young woman undone by the thought of finally meeting a man whose character had been the subject of many a late-night musings.

"Well, it looks like you do not have a choice. They're coming over here."

Snow raised her eyes in panic. Sure enough, Thomas and James were making their way through the crowd, their destination inherently clear from the large smile Thomas was throwing in Ella's direction. Taking a few deep breaths, Snow plastered her most self-assured expression on her face just as the two men came to a halt before them.

Thomas leaned in to place a soft kiss against Ella's cheek, intertwining their hands before he turned to Snow with a welcoming grin.

"It is lovely to see you again Snow," he started, before waving his unoccupied hand in his companion's direction, "Have you met James?"

"You too...and congratulations," she replied, before steeling herself to face the prince head on. The moment their eyes locked she wondered whether that decision was a mistake. He had the most brilliant blue eyes, pools of azure which seemed to peer into her very soul. Her breath faltered and her heart skipped a beat before she regained her composure.

"And no, I have not yet had the pleasure. I'm Snow...Snow White."

She raised her hand toward him, her fingertips shaking imperceptibly.

"James, and the pleasure is all mine."

Her momentary composure deserted her once again as a slow smile crossed the prince's face at his words. With deliberate gentleness, he grasped her offered hand in his and placed a tender kiss upon it. The fleeting feeling of warmth generated by his lips spread tingles up her arm, coming to rest in her rapidly pounding heart.

His eyes remained on her even as he let her hand go and Snow lost all sense of time, wanting nothing more than to remain pinned beneath his hypnotic gaze. Eventually though, a loud burst of laughter to the left jolted her out of their mutual stare. Trying desperately not to blush, she looked to Ella for a distraction only to find that both she and Thomas had disappeared into dancing throng.

"Well, it appears we have been deserted," James commented, Snow relieved to see that his cheeks too were slightly flushed.

"Indeed," she agreed softly, uncertain whether she wanted to kill or hug Ella for leaving her alone with James.

Silence reigned for a moment, before James drew in a deep breath and extended his hand out to her in invitation.

"If our friends do not wish to enjoy our company, then perhaps we can enjoy each other's. Would you do me the honour of a dance, Snow White?"

"I certainly will, Prince James."

Placing her hand daintily in his, happiness flowed through her as he twirled her onto the dancefloor, one last thought crossing her mind before she gave herself over to the music and the feel of his body so close to hers.

I will give you this dance and every other dance for all of time.