Hey guys! I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of the reviews and follows this story gets; it makes my day! So thank you all so much! Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time.

James' heart thumped wildly in his chest, throttling blood through his veins at maximum speed. His breath quickened and butterflies fluttered in the pit of his stomach. That was just the effect Snow had on him – and she hadn't even spoken yet. Love was a mysterious thing after all, yet this was love mixed with a dollop of fear. Fear because his wife, though sporting a small smile, still looked at him with steely eyes. It was enough to make anyone quiver under her stare. But finally, following the last few days, she wanted to talk to him to sort everything out. What a relief.

He knew that she wouldn't stay not talking to him forever but he couldn't help it that that worry crossed his mind on more than one occasion. The thought of having Snow angry at him was agonizing and the pain only deepened as the minutes ticked into hours and into days. But now, he was faced with the chance of putting everything back into place, of re-aligning the stars, and hopefully, if all went well everything would go back to normal. Or whatever normal was for them. The definition of normality didn't really apply to the situation they were in at present.

Snow crossed the bedroom, her back to her husband. She stopped at her dresser, picking up a frame that contained a rare image of herself and Emma. It was taken at her welcome home party after being acquitted of murder and since Emma was not exactly the photo-friendly type, it was taken on the sly. Snow had her arm draped over the blonde's shoulder and Emma was smiling at something Henry was doing. With a quick signal, Red took the opportunity and snapped the scene. She traced her finger along the edge of it, drinking in the happy expressions.

"So…" James started, glued to his spot, "we should talk."

Snow put the frame down and turned around to face him, her hands behind her resting on the dresser. "Yeah," she replied with a smile, though James could see the sparkle of tears in her eyes.

"Snow…"

"James, I know." Pushing herself away from the dresser, she walked purposefully over to him and pulled the curtain across in an act of privacy. "I know you're sorry."

"Truly, deeply sorry," he reiterated, aching to caress her cheek with his hand yet deciding against the action.

Snow bit her bottom lip. "I know," she repeated. "I'm sorry, too."

"Snow you have nothing to be sorry about, it was all me." He couldn't have his wife feeling guilty over something that he was to blame. He was the one to suggest it, and he was the one that made it worse when he tried to make it better. It was all him.

"No, Charming, it wasn't." Despite himself, James' heart lifted. He loved it when she called him 'Charming' and now she had said it twice in the space of a couple of minutes. Things were looking up. "I wasn't being fair to you; I overreacted."

He laughed once. "I don't think protecting your daughter is overreacting. You're a mother and it's your natural instinct to defend your daughter. I was the one that was ignoring my fatherly instinct; I let being King take over the feelings of my family and of myself and I was trying so hard to do what I thought was best for everyone that I became obstinate and…heartless. I should have been so much more considerate of your feelings and for that I can never apologise enough." A tear escaped his eye and trailed down the side of his face, stopping at his mouth.

Snow grabbed his hand and kissed it. "Oh, Charming, you were just doing your job and I didn't help. I practically made you choose between being a father and being King, and that was not fair. I know how difficult it was for you to even speak to me about it and all I did was make your life more complicated than it already was. I only added to your stress."

Eagerly, James stole a kiss on her lips. That seemed to startle her. "Snow, there was never a choice. I think I was just being irrational because I was stubborn and plagued by pride, but believe me when I say that no matter what the circumstances, I will always be a husband and father and grandfather first and a King second. Always."

Snow beamed at her husband's humility…and his kiss. That she missed. Just one kiss was enough to send her heart into a tizzy. "I know, love. "

"And I would never put our daughter in danger."

Snow broke away and sat on her bed. "I heard you talking to Emma last night," she admitted with a sigh, "so I know James; deep down under my frustration I knew that you'd never knowingly do anything like that so you do not need to pitch your defence. I forgive you."

James peered at the brunette with mischievous eyes. "You heard?"

"What can I say, I'm a curious soul."

"Snow White, you cheeky eavesdropper," James chortled. "And here I was trying to find the words I would need to fix it all, when you already had heard everything I was going to say." His tone was incredulous, but secretly he had hoped that Snow was listening in; then she would know where his feelings and heart lay. And as luck – if that was the word – would have it, that was exactly what she was doing.

"I wasn't eavesdropping, per se; I was merely…" she trailed off, at a loss for words.

"Merely what? Merely being nosey?" James pushed as his grin grew wider. "Oh, Snow you usually have such good excuses. Alas, it would seem that your words have failed you!" He leapt onto the bed, causing Snow to fall backwards.

"Okay, okay I admit it," she giggled as she sat upright again. "But I still had to hear it from you…and not just through a curtain."

Her husband stood up from the bed and bowed to her. "My sincerest apology, dearest wife." Forever the actor. Though he was being theatrical, Snow could hear that he meant what he said.

"I'm sorry, too, Charming."

He leant down and pushed her hair behind her ear. He used to do that back when she had long hair but he was pleased to learn that he still could even with her shorter style, which in his eyes, served to accentuate her stunning facial features. "Can I ask you something?" he asked.

"Of course." She took his hand and kept it locked to her cheek. "Anything."

He took a deep breath, getting down on his knees so he could be on eye-level with her. "I understood your anger, of course I did, but I couldn't help but feel like your anger was stemming from somewhere else. That it was more than just my being foolish and selfish. I just want to know if…if it was from something else that I have done?"

Snow had to break his stare. She didn't want to cause him any more pain than what he clearly was going through at this point. Yet, she needed to be honest with him…and with herself.

"Maybe," she finally answered after a number of long mute seconds. James remained still, patient, gazing at her with intense, longing eyes. She returned the gaze. "It's so…disconcerting having memories from two lives. I remember all of our life together and our struggle to be together in a world that seemed to be against our union; but I also remember the life that we had here…in the real world."

James nodded in understanding. "Me, too."

"And the memories I have as Mary Margaret seem stronger and more tangible. I still feel everything despite the influx of memories of old."

"So you still feel betrayed over the fact that I didn't believe you about Abigail, or Kathryn's, murder." He wasn't asking because he knew that was exactly what she was talking about. His actions as David were still a part of him, and he couldn't excuse them as something totally separate because they weren't. He didn't believe her and was blind to the truth because the evidence was pointing in the opposite direction. He regretted that confrontation he had with her every single day, especially when he remembered who she, and indeed, he was.

"Yes. I know, I'm a horrible person for holding this grudge and this hurt but I can't help it. You weren't my Charming but to have you look at me the way you did and have you accuse me of something that was wholly out of character for me was absolutely heart-breaking. And then to learn that you wanted to use our daughter to gain the upper hand in battle was too much to bear. I guess my worlds collided and combined and created this mixture of anger and anguish and betrayal. But I am so so sorry for it; you did not deserve it."

"So your reaction was a projection of all the pain I caused you. In both worlds." Snow's heart broke as James let the tears roam freely. He sounded so sorry and so defeated. She couldn't stand to see her strong, courageous husband so weak.

"Yes, but honey you have to know that it's all okay now. I forgive you completely. You have nothing to worry about. All that matters is that we're together; we're safe and so are our daughter and grandson. All that matters is that I love you. I have always loved you and I will always love you."

James held her face in his hands and kissed her tears tenderly, finishing with a passionate one on her lips. "I thought I was supposed to be the charming one in this relationship?" he whispered in her ear.

"Well I have learned a trick or two from the master," Snow teased, kissing him again.

"You learned well," he remarked heavily.

In a quick second he reached down and tickled his wife in a sneak attack. "No, Charming, stop!" Snow squealed in glee. Charming did know her weaknesses well.

"Stop what?" he questioned innocently, tickling her again. They both fell onto the bed with laughter. James couldn't think back to a time of late where they could just laugh and be themselves, just be in love but now as he laid on his bed with his wife, he knew it was all going to be okay. That the two people that were destined to be together had defeated the odds and were actually together. And they had a family.

"Snow," he said, and she turned on her side to view him. "I love you, too."

She leaned over and enclosed him in a desirous embrace, breathing in his love.

"Henry!" Emma hissed. "Get away from the curtain!" When Snow and James pulled back the curtain, Henry was quick to position himself against it so he could hear their exchange. Nosey just like his mother and grandmother; always eager to get information, Emma commented in her head.

"But, Emma!" he whined.

"Don't 'but Emma' me; get over here." Wow, that sounded just like something a mother would say.

"Fine," Henry grumbled, trudging back to her. "They made up anyway."

Emma smiled. "Of course they did. They're Snow White and Prince Charming."

"I guess," he shrugged. "I wonder what they're doing now," he wondered aloud.

"Probably nothing," Emma was quick to say, trying to shake off anything that came to mind. Not something she ever wanted to think about.

As if on cue, the curtain drew back and revealed a disarmingly happy couple. They held hands and had grins as wide as the Cheshire Cat. Emma pretended not to notice and continued to scan the newspaper in front of her. She couldn't let them know that she cared about whether they made up or not; that wasn't really her style. Although she had to admit, her style was fading fast with this whole having loving parents business.

"So you guys made up?" she asked, stealing a peek at them.

"Yes, we did princess," James responded, taking Henry up in his arms and stalking over to kiss his daughter on her head.

"Please stop calling me that!" Emma begged, throwing down the paper.

Snow bounded over and kissed her too, leaving a hand on her shoulder. "Never…princess."

Emma groaned. "Great, something else to get used to."

Snow wrapped her arms around her even though she tried to pull away and sighed in content.

"What do you guys want to do today?" Henry inquired as his grandfather put him back down and ruffled his hair.

"I don't know; whatever you want. Why don't we all see how Granny's is fairing after the storm?"

"Cool!" the boy exclaimed.

Emma took a long look at her family. Her family. It was all so surreal but so…right. "Alright, let's go," she said with enthusiasm.

So I will be continuing this as long as everyone wants me to, I've just got to figure out where to take it! It will most likely consist of Charming family fluff! Suggestions are very welcome ;)

I know the Snow/Charming scene was probably a bit too lovey-dovey but I thought that was how it had to be. And I am aware that it took up most of the chapter but I think it needed it! I actually had a bit of a block when writing this; I hope it doesn't shine through. If it wasn't to your taste please let me know. Anyway please, please review and I hope you enjoyed it!