A/N: Charming's fairytale name in this story is going to be James to make it easier to separate everything later and it always annoyed me that he doesn't get a second name like everyone else does in Once.

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Enjoy!

/

Alfie unpacked another crate of beer, pulling the bottle from the container to put them away in the fridge. Sultan's always seemed to go through a lot of alcohol but considering the type of establishment it was and the type of customers they got Alfie was hardly surprised that they needed a new shipment in every couple of days. The business did very well considering the small sleepy town life Storybrooke had to offer and the fact it was severely understaffed.

Mary was in the back taking inventory ready for their next order and Alfie knew she would be down there for a while yet to count the stock and might sure they didn't forget anything, Jason wouldn't be pleased if they did.

Speaking of his boss, Jason was currently sitting at one of the tables in the bar with a stack of papers which made a change from his usual routine of hiding out in his office unless it was necessary to give the bar his attention. Alfie could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end at the sight of Jason, his eyes shifting over to his boss every now and then like he needed to watch his back.

Jason was doing the same thing. Shooting a glare over at Alfie when he thought the bartender wasn't paying attention. Alfie was a lot more observant than Jason gave him credit for though and he felt his anger boiling at each new look of distain thrown in his direction.

He kept himself focused on his task, placing another bottle on the already crowded fridge rack when he felt that shiver down his neck that only came when Jason's attention was directed at him. Alfie's shoulders tensed and he bit his tongue to keep himself from calling out. His hands were gripping the bottle in his hands in a furious grip and Jason still hadn't moved his eyes from Alfie's back.

He snapped.

"What is your problem?" Alfie demanded as he spun round to face his boss, "Did I do something to offend you?"

Jason merely smirked, "Oh you have no idea, Boy."

"Why do you hate me so much?" Alfie asked because honestly that question had been turning around in his mind for as long as he could remember and he was sick of not having an answer.

"I wish you knew, it would make this a lot more enjoyable." Jason replied with a wave of his hand.

Alfie frowned, "So what you just like making everyone's life miserable?"

"Not everyone's, just yours."

"And how is that working out for you?" Alfie asked, "Because from where I'm standing your life is just as miserable as mine."

Jason raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"

"Look at you, lording over this place like it's your personal kingdom. It's a dive bar in Storybrooke not an empire." Alfie replied harshly and he knew he should stop before this got worse but he couldn't, for some reason he felt like this was a long time coming, "You have no friends, no family. I mean your greatest joy in life is making people miserable and harassing a poor girl who detests you."

"Why, you little…"

Alfie cut him off, "What? We both know if you wanted to sack me you would have done it a long time ago."

Jason snarled, "I can make life very difficult for you, Alfie. Think about that."

Alfie gave a humourless laugh, "You're already doing that, how much worse can it really get?"

The sentence hung awkwardly in the air as the men stared each other down.

Alfie didn't care what Jason's threat entailed because there had to be more to life than this and he would rather fight for that possibility then let Jason chip away at him anymore.

…

Graham ran a hand through his hair as he got out of the squad car, rain misting through the air. His kiss with Emma was still playing on his mind and more importantly what happened during his kiss with Emma. There was this spark, not the attraction kind because that had always been there, the kind that sent a jolt right through his chest.

And that was when he realised.

That was the first concrete thing he'd felt in, well as long as he could remember being in Storybrooke. His memory was still a little hazy and he couldn't recall anything leading up to the curse. James had tried to fill in him but Graham was still seeing a jumble in his mind about those events.

James.

That was a thought he was trying not to think about right now because then he would think about that kiss he shared with Emma. James' daughter. His best friend's daughter whom Graham was pretty sure he'd get a punch in the face for kissing.

That's if he was luckily and James didn't decide to run him through.

Graham shook that thought away, he would deal with it later. Right now, he needed to focus on the task at hand and he was hoping a certain believer could help him with the reason as to why his chest felt heavy and empty.

He knocked on the door to Regina's mansion hoping that she wasn't working from home today because that was the last thing he needed right now. She was probably already getting annoyed at his rebuffs but Graham couldn't take it anymore. She had been manipulating him and he was awake now, he wasn't going to let her continue.

Especially not after trying to make him kill Emma.

She'd be lucky if he didn't put an arrow through her heart at that alone.

Henry opened the door to Graham's relief with a confused look on his face, "Sheriff Graham?" He asked.

Graham knelt down and smiled, "Just Graham, Henry." He replied, "I was hoping you could help me with something. Does that book of yours show what happened before the Evil Queen cast her curse?"

Henry's confusion turned into a smile, "You know don't you?"

"Know what?" Graham asked, "I have the hollow feeling, the same one I felt when… then I kissed Emma and I became aware of it."

"You kissed my mom?!" Henry cried and Graham shoot him a look, "Seriously?"

"Henry, please. Tell me what the book says." Graham asked.

Henry sighed, "You already know, you just don't want to admit it."

"Please…"

"She took your heart again." Henry confirmed, "You went to stall her so Prince Charming had time to get Emma to the wardrobe and you thought she would just kill you but she took your heart."

"And she still has it." Graham whispered, eyes closing briefly as his worst fears were confirmed. He thought about it after Emma had left because he knew that feeling well and really there was no other explanation. He had hoped he was wrong though, as feeble as it seemed that was.

"I don't know where it is." Henry replied sadly.

Graham put a hand on his shoulder, "It's okay. I'll find it, thank you for your help."

"You can't go after it, she'll know if it's missing then she'll know you are awake." Henry insisted with wide eyes.

"I have to, Henry. I have to make things right with Emma and I can only do that if I have my heart." The Sheriff replied softly.

Henry's brow furrowed, "Because you kissed her?"

"It's a bit more complicated than that."

"I get it." Henry said suddenly, "The course of True Love always has obstacles to overcome. Looks at Gramps and Grandma."

Graham froze, "Emma and I aren't True love."

"Not yet. But maybe with your heart you will be." Henry replied with glee, "You're right, you need to find it."

"Henry, listen. I don't know what is going to happen in the future, okay. I like Emma, you're right but without my heart I can't feel anything more than that right now."

Henry nodded, "Don't worry, Graham. Happy endings always work out eventually."

Graham wished he had the boy's faith because he honestly had no idea how he was doing to do this. Him and James only just managed to get his heart from the Queen last time and right now things were looking a lot bleaker than he'd like. He had to get his heart back though, to stop Regina's control over him if nothing else. He remembered but that didn't mean he would be strong enough to deny her if she ordered him with his heart in her hand.

Graham ignored the part of his brain that told him he was doing this for a possible future with Emma rather than for himself.

James was going to kill him.

Maybe he could help get his heart back before he did that though.

…

James knew this was a bad idea but ever since Gold – or should that be Rumpelstiltskin – had given Emma that sword he found himself thinking about the imp and what he remembered of their old lives.

It wasn't a coincidence that was for sure.

So that's how James found himself pushing open the door to Gold's shop with a need for answers on his mind. It was risky but Rumpelstiltskin was always a tricky one to predict and there was no way Regina would simply allow him to keep his memories. So if he did have them then it was possible he could be an ally in this war James knew Regina would eventually bring.

"Mr Nolan, what do I owe the pleasure?" Gold asked as he looked up at see the Deputy standing there, a small smile curving on his lips.

James steadied himself before he spoke, "You gave Emma a sword. Why? Why that one?"

Gold's smile grew, "Something you and Miss Swan have in common that." He nodded, "Your tact or lack of it at least."

James could felt his blood boiling at the smug look on the imp's face, "Why did you give her the sword?"

"You already know. That's why you're here, dearie." He smirked at the former prince.

"You remember."

Gold's eyes flashed with amusement, "I thought Miss Swan might like a little… family heirloom."

James wanted to tread carefully here, he needed Gold to admit it, "What's your name?"

"What's yours?" he countered.

"Say your real name." James pressed, anger growing by the second.

Another smile found its way to Gold's face, "Rumpelstiltskin at your service, your majesty. Except you're not that here, are you? David Nolan of Storybrooke."

"How?"

"What? You think I spend my days sitting in your dungeons knowing the curse was looming without having a plan?" Gold laughed.

James frowned, "You told us you couldn't stop the curse."

"I can't. Only your precious daughter can do that." Gold replied, "That doesn't mean I had to fall victim to it either. Loopholes, dearie. They're my area of expertise."

The former Prince grit his teeth, "Do you know how Emma is destined to break this curse?"

"She's already started." Gold replied, "Her arrival set things in motion that even Regina can't prevent."

"What does that mean?" James asked, voice harsh.

Gold leaned towards him slightly, "It means Emma is the key to bringing everything together. A curse this evil needs a lot of good to break it and thanks to your daughter those pieces are coming together quite nicely indeed."

"Emma's meant to break the curse."

"And she will but not without help, everyone has a role to play and while Miss Swan's is the most important the curse won't break without the others in place as well." Gold explained, "Don't worry, from the looks of it you and the good Sheriff are already close to fulfilling your parts. That will be crucial for Emma to complete her role."

James slammed his fists down on the counter in front of him, "Stop talking in riddles, Imp."

Gold merely chuckled, "The purest hearts are those that have known love, redemption, acceptance and family. Those are things not even Regina with all her magic can taint and that's what our saviour will need if she is to break this curse and those are things she will only find from the people around her."

"Why do you want her to break this curse so badly?" James asked curiously.

Gold shrugged, "I don't like feeling trapped and not being able to leave this town in 28 years can get a bit tiresome, wouldn't you agree?"

James didn't answer.

…

The good thing about having a master key to every lock in Storybrooke was in times like these, Regina decided as she let herself into the Sheriff's station knowing it would be empty at this time of the night. She quickly and quietly made her way over to David's desk and her lips curved into a smile at seeing a bottle of water already amongst his things.

This would be easier that she thought.

Regina reached into her bag and pulled out the bottle of homemade apple cider that she only made a few hours prior and set in down on the desk in front of her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes to maintain her focus before waving her hand slowly over the apple cider.

The bottle transformed into a bottle of water instead, identical to the one David already had on his desk. Regina opened her eyes and smiled with glee. Magic may be unpredictable and she was reduced to such childish displays but at least it would serve her well now.

She switched the bottle already present on the desk for the apple cider she had spelled to look like it and knew her plan was in place. David would have no idea what he was drinking was actually her apple cider and when he realised it would be too late. His cursed memories would have already started forming.

Regina placed the other bottle, containing the actual water into her bag and dusted off her pant suit before heading back on of the station into the crispy air.

It already felt like her kind of a day.

It was many hours later when James finally made it to the station after his run in with Gold and Emma was already there with lunch waiting. James couldn't help the hunger in his stomach when he smelled Granny's grilled cheese sandwiches in the air.

"Hey, it's getting cold." Emma greeted as she took a bite out of her sandwich, "What took you so long?"

James took a seat at his desk and unwrapped his own, "Just had something to sort out, thanks for the food." He replied as he bit into his own sandwich.

"Do you think Graham has been acting a bit weird lately?" Emma asked bluntly and the question caught James off guard.

He frowned, "Weird how?"

"I don't know, he just seems different." Emma shrugged, "Like he holds himself differently and his interactions with people are different from what they used to be."

James knew to tread cautiously here, "Maybe he wants to make a few changes to his life; maybe he wasn't happy with how things were before?"

Emma swallowed her bite before responding, "That's a pretty rapid turnaround don't you think?"

"Perhaps." James allowed, "But maybe he realised the person he was isn't the one he wanted to be."

"That sounds awfully cryptic." Emma teased but let the conversation drop, "Any luck with the break in at Gold's?"

James shook his head, "I wrote it up and asked around but no one saw anything. I can't think of anyone who'd even want to steal a lamp let alone go through the trouble of shifting through all of Gold's items just to find that one."

He reached over and grabbed the bottle of water on his desk, uncapping it and taking a gulp. He only had enough time to register something didn't taste right before a pain exploded in his head so fierce it made him grunt out in pain.

James' hands flew to his head, eyes tightly shut as the pain all but forced him from his chair, his knees landing on the hard floor. He didn't even feel it though, the pain in his head screaming as different thoughts and memories played out in his head that weren't his own.

He never went to high school.

He never graduated from college.

He didn't play baseball for his college team.

David Nolan did though.

Oh no.

Emma was at his side and she was frantically calling out to him and James wanted to respond; to reassure her but he couldn't find the words and she was calling him 'David' and he knew that wasn't his name.

"David!" Emma cried, hands going to his shoulders, "What's wrong? What's happening?"

The pain only got worse.

He wasn't raised by a mother and father who worked in the city at lot.

He didn't have a dog called Buddy when he was a boy.

He didn't break his arm when he was eight falling off his bike.

He wasn't David Nolan. He wasn't David Nolan. He wasn't David Nolan.

James knew this had to be Regina's curse and he knew he had to fight it.

So he thought of Snow.

His love, his wife. Her smile, bright and strong. Her heart, brave and true.

He thought of Emma.

His daughter, his baby girl. She was fierce and independent and begging him to hold on.

"Please just breathe, David. You're going to be okay, you have to be okay." Emma was pleading, could he hear tears in her frantic voice.

She shouldn't cry for him, he should be the one to stop those tears.

Because he was her father.

That was his job.

A small splash hit his hand which was still on his head, swiftly followed by another.

Tears.

Emma's tears.

He remembered her crying the night he put her into the wardrobe, she was quiet the whole time in his arms until he set her down into it then she broke out in cries, her face turning red. Like she knew this would be the last time she saw her parents for a very long time.

"Please be okay, please. I need you… I need you to be okay." She was whispering to him now and James wasn't sure if she even knew what she was saying but he heard her in his head. Her voice cutting through the pain like a bright beacon, guiding him back to her.

She needed him.

"Em…Emma?" His voice sounded distant and weak.

Emma, his daughter. He was James. His mother was Ruth, and he was raised as a shepherd until King George found him.

Another of Emma's tears hit him, soaking a small patch of his shirt this time.

Snow had stolen from him and he fell for her as they fought trolls for a ring. Their ring.

Another tear.

He found her and she found him and they got their happy ending.

Emma was holding back sobs now, he could tell by the rapid breathing of her chest. Somehow he had ended up with his head in her lap.

They had a child together, the one currently holding him with a death like grip. Their daughter.

James' eyes snapped open.

The pain in his head faded.

Emma's eyes looked confused and shocked as they searched his.

And he remembered who he had always been.

Husband, father, James.

/

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Next chapter includes: Another Snowing moment and Graham decides to go after his heart.