The Man Who Can Make You Forget

Snow waited by the water for the man that Red told her about. Who is he, and why is he taking so long? She played with the chain her locket was on, toying with the clasp of the silver locket. Her Eric was with the old carpenter from down the road, not with her where he belonged. What was her baby doing while she was going around trying to find his father? She didn't want to think about it.

Another boat docked alongside hers. She looked through the mist for a man, but she felt hot breath on her neck. The man was behind her, but the boat was in front? What kind of man was this? "You summoned me?"

"Yes, I'm Snow-"

"I know who you are." He snapped back. "And you know who I am."

She didn't answer immediately, just looked at the man with the yellow eyes and golden scales rather than skin.

"Rumplestiltskin." He introduced himself with an over-the-top bow and a flicking of his hands. "What can I do for you, dearie?"

She hesitated. Could she trust this man? Did she have a choice? She needed to do what was best for Eric, what was best for her, what was best for them… But was this it? "There's this man…"

"I can't make you fall in love with you." She gulped. She didn't think about that as an option. Who would honestly do that, make someone fall in love with them? She didn't know…

"No." She replied with very little thought. "I want you to make me forget."

This Rumplestiltskin moved so fluidly, so quickly but every gesture was so grand and posh. Who was this man, really? Was he more than just the sorcerer she saw? "That I can do… for a price."

She watched as he swirled a little vial into the water, shaking it until it appeared white. Just like that? She asked herself, amazed by the magic. Her stepmother had magic, but nothing like that… "What do you want?"

"The name of your child." Snow was shocked. Could he read her mind or something? She didn't look like a woman who just had a child, she didn't understand how he knew. "It's rather obvious, you know. That locket doesn't contain the picture of your lover, I figured."

She gulped and took the vial. "Eric. His name is Eric." And without another word, she was gone.

...later, in another kingdom…

Charming was dressed in his wedding attire, determined not to disappoint his "father". Abigail was no doubt getting dressed, her dress was so long and heavy and intricate. He didn't know how a woman could wear clothes that tight, that formal, that… caging. The woman he had in the woods… "Thinking about someone?" A voice hissed from behind him, causing him to spin on his toes. It wasn't a man at all, just a scaly crocodile leaning against the walls.

"Just my fiance." Charming said absently, looking out the window, his eyes following the message-bearing dove he just threw out. His messages to Snow were almost criminal, but why would she never reply?

The crocodile's face quirked. "You're a dreadful liar, James… or should I call you David? While it's just the two of us, I mean." Charming put his hand on his sword, just in case he would need it. "You can tell me anything, we're practically… family."

Charming growled. "It's because of you I don't have a brother."

Such a petty prince! Rumplestiltskin was disappointed in the attitude of the new prince, but took the time to mock him. "Do believe I'm not an angry brute."

"You're trying my patience. What do you want?"

Rumplestiltskin held up his hand with grandeur. "I came to give you a wedding gift." In a puff of purple smoke, Snow White was wandering through a house, ultimately dazed, sweeping and singing to a bird. Charming's face melted and filled with remorse, tears sliding down his face. "Isn't it funny how the things we haven't thought about can make us cry?"

"What- what's happened to her?" Charming asked, watching as she hit the bird with her broom. The Snow he knew was so… different. She was so calm when he knew her, so gentle and tender… had he changed her or was she just putting on an act for him? "What have you done to her?"

Rumplestiltskin leaned in towards him. "I haven't done anything… Not yet, but she will." Charming raised an eyebrow. "She wants to go kill the Queen. Avenge her father, whatnot." He held up a map, waving it at Charming. "This is the route she's taking… she'll be there before sundown… you can be too, if you hurry."

"What's your price?" Charming asked, knowing it had to be huge.

"Leave before your wedding."

Charming smiled. "Like you even had to ask."

...that night, in Granny's house…

A dove flew into the window of Granny's house and the message was dropped off near Red. She hadn't seen Snow since the meeting with Rumplestiltskin, but she heard from the dwarves that Snow was not at all herself. Red untied the message and read that it was from Snow's Charming, making her instantly smile. Gepetto had come over for dinner and brought little Eric with him. Eric woke up suddenly and he made some sort of humming noise. The letter, Red figured, would probably lull him back to sleep. "My dearest Snow," She read, sitting the little baby in her lap. He wrapped her hair around his fingers. "I don't understand. You telling me you didn't love me? Then why did you try to find me? I'm hoping that you have a reason for telling me that, and I'm sorry if my affection is not returned." Her voice changed, and suddenly she didn't understand. Didn't Snow love Charming? Isn't that why she left her child behind? Eric tugged at her tresses once more. "As I told you, though, I will always find you. And whether or not you love me, well, I understand and wish you love of another. Yours truly, Your Charming." Red smiled sadly. Eric pulled her hair hard and gave her a childish giggle.

A huff came through the door and it closed. "Red? Granny?" Eric gurgled, recognizing the voice of his mother. "My oh my, that can't be my Eric, is it?" She picked up the child after untangling his fingers and Red's hair.

"Snow." Red smiled. "I see you're… well, yourself." Snow nodded. "I just got an emotional letter from… him."

Snow treaded on that lightly. Her son buried his head in her hair, sighing quietly into her shoulder. She missed the little boy, even though she had only been gone for a few days. "I saw him again. But he's been taken by King George…"

Red put a supportive hand on her free shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll get him back. As he wrote" She held up the note. "he will always find you."

Author's note: So how about that new episode yesterday? Anyways, I pushed up the plot a lot because of how many of you are so eager to meet Charming, so Eric isn't aging as quickly as I had intended. Oh well, please review and enjoy!