The next thing Henry knew he was being shaken awake. He opened his eyes and looked around him, disoriented. "Daddy, you're okay!" Violet hugged him tightly. He hugged her back, unable to believe he was still alive. "What happened?"
Glinda helped him stand, and he realized they were still in the throne room. The stab wound he had was completely healed, and he knew it was done by magic. The power of it was still coursing through him. "Zelena tried to kill you and take Violet." The witch answered. Violet hugged him around the waist, nearly knocking him off balance. "But I healed you! I have magic." She smiled gleefully.
Henry picked her up in his arms and held her close. "You certainly do, little monkey." He touched her nose and she giggled. "I even defeated the wicked witch." She said. Henry looked at her in surprise. No one had ever been able to defeat Zelena before. Not even Emma, who was the Savior.
"That's why Zelena made her older and wanted to keep her from you. She wanted Violet to rule Oz, and with those powers, she could have." Glinda explained. "How does she have magic if I don't and Violet didn't?" Henry asked. Glinda smiled and shook her head. "She was the product of true love. She's as powerful as the Savior, if not more so."
Henry set Violet down and Glinda took the girl's hand. "That's why she's staying right here in Oz. She can make this kingdom great again, be loved by all of the people."
Henry lunged forward to protect Violet, but Glinda froze his feet to the floor. "She deserves someone who can take care of her and raise her right, like the royal she is. Not some author with a broken pen and an old storybook."
Henry watched helplessly as Glinda changed Violet back into a 1-year-old. Violet squirmed and cried, holding her arms out to him. "This is for the best, Henry. She will be loved and cherished forever. But don't worry. You won't remember a thing." She waved her hand in front of his face and then everything went dark again.
Henry opened his eyes to see Emma and Regina above him with everyone else close by. "Henry, what happened?" Regina asked. "I- I don't know." He answered. His whole brain felt foggy and confused, like something was missing. "Where's Violet?" Emma asked.
"Who's Violet?" The boy asked, more confused than ever. "Your daughter. The reason why we came to Oz in the first place." Regina answered. "Zelena must have wiped his memory. We have to hurry before she hurts her." Emma said.
David pulled Henry up and they headed down the yellow brick road again. "What is the last thing you remember?" Mary Margaret asked. Henry thought about it. "The Apprentice was destroyed by dark magic when we were at Granny's."
Emma and Regina glanced at each other. He didn't remember his girlfriend, or Camelot, or his daughter. Over 2 years of his life were wiped from his mind. "I have a kid?" Henry followed along, confused as to why they were in Oz. "She's the reason why we're here. You love her more than anything. She's beautiful and perfect and just like you." Regina explained. "What did you say her name was?" The boy tried to remember, but it was if something was in the way.
"Violet Elizabeth." Mary Margaret answered. She handed him a blanket. He saw it was a baby blanket with 'Violet Elizabeth' sewn on the side. A small monkey decorated the top. He turned it over and over in his hands, willing himself to remember. "Hello, friends." He looked up to see a blonde-haired woman dressed in a sparkling white dress, a shimmering wand in her hand.
"Glinda. Thank goodness we ran into you. Zelena escaped with Violet. She attacked Henry and fled the castle." Emma said. The witch nodded somberly. "I am well aware. I thought I would tell you the news before one of the munchkins did. Zelena is dead."
"That's great! Where's Violet?" David questioned. "When we defeated the Wicked Witch our first instinct was to search for the child. We found some clothes, but that was all that was left of her. Our initial thoughts about Zelena not harming the child were wrong. We offer your condolences and I am more than happy to send you back to your land."
"Wait. That's- that's it? You find some baby clothes and you give up all hope that she could still be alive?" Emma said, becoming angrier by the minute. "Emma, Glinda is the most honest woman in Oz and Storybrooke combined. We just have to pick up the pieces." David consoled her.
"But- but Henry doesn't even remember her or Violet or Camelot and I failed as a mother! I failed to protect him and Violet." Her lower lip trembled and David cradled his daughter as she cried. "Mom, it's okay." Henry put a hand on her arm and she turned to look at him. "I'm so sorry, Henry."
Henry looked down at the little blanket in his hands, feeling his own heart break for his mother. "Henry, find her. Find our daughter. You can remember. I love you." Henry heard a girl's voice whisper in his ear and felt a warm feeling envelope him.
The fog in his mind slowly cleared, and he began to remember. "Violet." He whispered, knowing his girlfriend was right beside him in spirit. Memories came flooding back to him. Their first date, first kiss, first night, first 'I love you'. Watching her collapse, holding his daughter and looking into her eyes for the first time, her first birthday. Tears streamed down his face and he looked up at the witch.
"You took her! You're the evil one!" He yelled at Glinda. His family stared at him in shock. "I guess I'm going to have to wipe all of your memories then. You and your family's. You don't know what it's like to never be able to have children! And then your daughter arrives in this land and she's magical and perfect and meant to be here. You're just a child! You have no idea how to care for her."
"I love my daughter more than anything. I would give up all the magic in the world just to hold her one more time. I watched my girlfriend die and I watched my daughter be ripped from my arms and I was helpless to do anything about it. I might not be perfect, but Violet belongs with me."
He reached in his pocket and grabbed the pen, knowing it would work this time. Sure enough, the pen glowed brightly and he started to write. The world spun but his hand continued to fill the pages.
The next thing he knew they were all back home in Granny's diner. He looked over to see his girlfriend holding their daughter, humming softly and making her laugh. "Violet!" Henry ran over and embraced her, never wanting to let go. With tears falling down both of their faces, he kissed her. "You're alive." He whispered, touching their heads together gently. Violet cupped his face with her hand, gently shaking her head.
"I'm not. Your grandfather felt bad about not being able to help Violet that he made a deal. I can only stay for a night." She said. "I love you. Just to be able to see you, feel you, is enough."
The girl embraced him and for one beautiful moment the world was at peace. They finally broke apart and Henry saw his grandfather was patiently waiting for him. For the first time in his life, he put his arms around him. Gold hugged him back. "Thank you." Was all the young boy could say. "You deserved it, Henry." His grandfather said, patting his shoulder.
The rest of his family took turns hugging Violet and Granny started cooking her famous lasagna to celebrate. "You're doing a great job with her. She's just like you." Violet said, tickling little Violet. "I would say she's just like her mother. Beautiful and perfect in every way." Henry intertwined their fingers and held the two girls close, cherishing the feeling of his heart being full.
After the celebrations, the gang headed back to the mansion. Violet rocked the baby to sleep after they had bathed and changed her, and Henry allowed her some space. Just watching her interact with little Violet for the first time and seeing how their daughter already knew her mother was the best view in the world.
After the little one was fast asleep in her crib, Henry held Violet close as they lay together, skin to skin, more in love than ever before. "I don't want to say goodbye." Henry whispered, trying to memorize everything so he would remember this moment forever. "Then don't. Just say I love you." Violet whispered back and kissed him.
"Are you happy where you are?" The boy asked, half-afraid of knowing the answer. "I am. I'm with my mother and Elizabeth. I can see everything clearly from where I am, so it's like I never left." She answered. Henry smiled, happy that she was okay. He fell asleep looking into her eyes.
When he woke up, Violet was gone. Only the scent remained, the feeling of her gently imprinted onto the mattress. He almost felt upset. That is, until his daughter crawled on top of him, having escaped from her crib. He cuddled with her for a while, letting her watch a Disney movie. On the table beside him lay a note that wasn't there before. Inside was a picture of them with their daughter from last night. He picked it up and began to read:
My dearest Henry,
I cannot express the love I feel for you. Being able to be with you and our daughter even for one night was the best feeling in the world and beyond. You really are a great father, and I can tell you have a special bond with her. So I ask one request of you. Love again. You're young, much too young to stay alone. Violet is growing up, and some day she might want a few brother or sisters. Don't feel guilty for finding someone new. I was your first, and our love was true and pure and real. I want you to use those feelings to make someone else feel the way I did. Like I was the most special girl in the world. Make sure Violet knows how much I loved her, and still do, even from way up here. Fate lead us together, and fate gave us our daughter. Let fate lead the way, and listen with your heart.
Yours, always and forever,
Violet.
Hey guys! So, that is the end of this story! I hope you all enjoyed reading it. This was really fun to write, and I am so happy that I even got to write this sequel! After all, it's because of you readers that I keep writing and learning, and it's your support that makes me love what I do. I love the feedback and the encouragement that you give. Thank you!
Feel free to leave a comment below telling me what you thought and if you would like a continuation or if you want to give me any ideas on what you would like to read next that would be awesome! Much love.
