prompt: Henry bonding with his baby sister, Noelle
prompted by: KBC04070911

Ok, this took so long because I really had no idea when to set it. Also, I know nothing about babies. And I tried researching child development and all that and- Look, there's an age gap of 10+ years between Noelle and Henry. And you know what? There's nothing online about siblings with that large of an age gap. Nothing! (Nothing I could find, that is) So I did a lot of thinking and I decided – even when she's not really a baby anymore, per say, Noelle is always going to be Henry's baby sister. So, have some Noelle age 17! So basically… This is probably not what was meant by the prompt. And I apologize. But the muse will do what it will sometimes. (Also I have a random insane headcanon that applies to most verses and this one is no exception and it leaks in here a bit) (My ideal ending for OUATiW – a happily ever after in Storybrooke with regards to my shipping preferences – also sneaks in somewhat) (should you have questions about the random insane headcanon – I know a few of you know it already but for those who don't – or anything else about the verse, feel free to message me, I have headcanons galore and you guys are totally allowed to pick my brain about them to help you come up with prompts for me)

Henry's nickname for his sister, Evie, comes from the fact that she was born on Christmas Eve.

And I'm sorry if this one is just generally disappointing, the muse was... Being difficult.

Noelle knocks cautiously on the door of the apartment that used to be her grandmother's. Her brother and his wife, Grace, live there now, as Grandma Snow and Grandpa David gave it to them as a wedding present.

It is Grace who opens the door, and leads Noelle into the living room with a knowing smile. Noelle is almost always running to Henry when she needs someone to talk to – sometimes it seems like she's here more than she's at home.

"Henry?" Noelle looks over at her older brother timidly when he joins her. She's not entirely sure how to ask this question that she has – but she needs to.

"Yeah, Evie?" Henry reaches out and gives her hand an encouraging squeeze.

"How did… How did you know that Grace was the one?" she says "I mean, that Grace was your True Love. I mean- True Love is magic and all and Grandpa broke Grandma's sleeping curse- And mom made dad remember and feel without his heart and got him his heart back- And Aunt Belle nearly broke the curse of the Dark One on Uncle Rumple before he stopped her- And- How do you know? Without breaking a curse?"

She bites her lip and looks down at her toes, embarrassed about the question. She's a product of True Love, second generation – she's surrounded by True Love every day, she should know. But when it comes to her own heart, she often feels surprisingly, depressingly clueless. Ruby and Doctor Whale's son had asked her to go to the ball that was coming up, for Alexandra's birthday, and-

"Luke finally come to his senses and ask you out?" Henry asks instead of answering. Noelle feels her head snap up in incredulity. Luke? Luke is her best friend – Luke's always been her best friend.

"What?" she asks, blush rising on her cheeks – Luke? Luke Scarlet? Her and Luke? No- No, Henry's gone crazy – "No, Henry- God, no! I was talking about Peter!" Sure, she found Luke handsome – but not in a weird "attracted to him" way! – and sure, she got all warm and fuzzy when she thought about him – and she felt the most like herself around him… But he was her best friend! There was no way she was in love with him.

"Peter?" Henry raises an eyebrow at her.

"He asked me to Alex's ball," she shrugs.

"He's not your True Love," Henry says firmly, shaking his head at her.

"You're not gonna tell me that Luke is!" she says, mentally face-palming when she realizes that she sounds almost frantic.

"That's exactly what I'm gonna tell you," Henry smiles at her, "You two are perfect for each other. Luke has been absolutely smitten with you forever. He's just scared of asking you out because you're a princess and your dad's the Sheriff and his dad's a thief."

"You can't know that," Noelle says – he can't know that. Luke doesn't confide in Henry! He confides in her.

"Besides," she continues, "Grandma was a thief and he knows it. And mom. So his dad being one doesn't mean anything. And why should my being a princess matter? Grandma was a princess, she married a shepherd. Mom is a princess, but Dad's a Huntsman, not a prince!"

"I think that last point could be argued-" Henry says, causing Noelle to groan in frustration before he can finish. One little deal that no one found out Uncle Rumple and Grandfather even made until after the curse and suddenly dad is a prince whenever it's convenient.

"But yes, I do know it," Henry says, "It's always been obvious – to everyone but you."

"Henryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy," Noelle starts, her tone almost turning into a whine, "I am not in love with Luke."

"Evieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee," he mimics her, "You are. I bet if you asked grandma, mom wouldn't admit she was in love with dad at first either. The book will tell you that grandma and grandpa fought a lot at first and wouldn't admit their feelings about each other to themselves. You just think about it – you'll realize the truth. It's kind of like Cyrus and Alice are always saying. 'When you love someone, you don't need proof. You can feel it.' When you take the time to think about it, you'll know. Or we could always go to Gold and get him to tell you. He knows all about True Love couples and stuff like that."

"Oh my God, no. I don't want Uncle Rumple anywhere near my love life," Noelle shudders. Henry's biological grandfather wasn't too bad; generally speaking, Aunt Belle had pretty good control over him. But when it came to questions of magic and True Love, he could still be pretty devious when he wanted to.

Henry laughs at that reaction and put his arms around Noelle's shoulders. He is being so weird about this whole thing – seriously, her and Luke? – that under normal circumstances she'd consider pushing him away.

"I know you're scared Evie," Henry whispers, "You don't want to screw up your friendship, that's why you won't admit it, even right now. I felt the same way with Grace in the beginning. But you have to overcome that- And really, Peter? You've barely ever spoken to him before. You can't think that's love."

Henry is right - she is scared. The thought that she could misread her own heart so badly as he's suggesting - that she could misread Luke so badly as he's suggesting - is it really possible? Because- If what he's saying is true- How blind has she been?

"Are you sure?" she asks, curling into her big brother's side like she used to when she was little and it would thunderstorm. She is a Swan, the daughter of the Savior and the Huntsman, she is a Charming, the granddaughter of Snow White and her shepherd-prince - she is not meant to be scared. Not of anything. And yet here she is, afraid of her own heart.

Henry pushes back some hair that's fallen into her face gently.

"Yeah, I'm sure," he says, "But it's alright to be scared. You're allowed that. Say no to Peter, and then go talk to Luke. You won't regret it. I promise."

"Thanks, Henry," she whispers, "For- For always being here for me- I- I don't know if you're right- Not about Luke being the one for me, anyway- But- I trust you, so- I'm going to try."

"Hey, what kind of big brother would I be if my nose wasn't in my little sister's love life?" Henry teases her, "Haven't you watched TV? I'm supposed to help dad intimidate your boyfriends into behaving and beat them up if they break your heart."

"Hmm, aren't you and dad also supposed to not want me to have any boyfriends ever? Telling me you think Luke is my True Love doesn't exactly help that cause."

"Eh, mom made us promise we wouldn't keep you from dating period. I figure keeping you from dating the wrong guys is enough to satisfy that part of wanting to protect you. Dad's still hoping he can get Blue to talk you into joining the convent."