Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or the characters. This is just one of the

many sandboxes I like to play in. :)

AN: Happy Once Day! I think after last week's episode and the fact that they are in this week's episode too, I think we can tentatively say that the Year of Snowing is off to a good start. Here's to hoping they keep it up. Please enjoy this next installment of my story, which always centers around Snowing and Charming family and will always see them at their best.

Updates will remain on Sunday nights. Did everyone enjoy tonight's episode? I won't spoil anything, but I enjoyed it a lot.

One more special note: When I started this story, I always had the intention of giving Charming a back story and giving details on his father. I honestly thought they were never going to do either, so that's why I decided to do it myself. However, it looks like A&E might actually give us both. I'm unsure what they're going to do and it's probably very far off from what I'm doing. That being said, I am going to continue my plan for Charming's back story/his father. If I like what they do and can work with it, I may incorporate it into my story. If I don't, I'll probably disregard, just like I'm going to disregard and rewrite most of 4B. I also don't know what they're going to do with the Dragon. I never expected them to bring him back either, but I will likely keep the storyline I've started regarding his character too.

It also seems that they are bringing in Ella's step family. In my story, the Tremaines are actually in Storybrooke and I'm operating under the theory that Ana from OUATIW is Ella's reformed step-sister. Drizella is the evil one and Lady Rodmilla Tremaine is extremely cruel. I modeled the Lady Tremaine in my story after the version seen in the 1997 movie Ever After. I don't know yet how Once will portray her, but I will be keeping on the path that she is not redeemable. This story is AU, after all.

Ten years have passed since Henry's birth. It is now the year 2011 in the Land Without Magic.

Emma is now 28

Alexandra Herman is nineteen

Leo and Eva Nolan are eighteen

Henry Nolan is ten

Everyone else has remained the same. Time has now resumed in Storybrooke and all the previously frozen realms...so we'll be kicking it up a notch. :)

Thanks for all the great reviews. Here's individual responses:

OUATReginaOQ: Thanks! Glad you like it. Nope, Regina has taken on a grandmother like role with Summer and a little bit Henry. As for the EQ and the current events in S6, that will come eventually, but it's a ways off as I'm now barely entering the events of season 2. But yes, I will probably deal with the EQ.

Emma: Thanks, glad you like it

Andria: Yep, they defeated one villain, but it's far form over.

Emmaathena2013: The diamond is destroyed, but trouble is not over. Much excitement and adventure to come! As for Clayton's plan, that will slowly be revealed, but I promise it's an original plot line and it's exciting!

Sexystarwarslover: Lol, yep Clayton has met Snowing...but they don't yet know who he really is yet. Yep, David is a proud Daddy Charming and Medusa is a loose end that Rumple will probably like to tie up. Glad you're enjoying it so much!

Guest: Glad you like it so much. There will be CS, but it will be in smaller doses than in the show. This story could probably also be called Once Upon a Snowing. :P

Rukia's Reflection: Thanks! Glad you like it!

Barratta Jennifer: Thanks! Glad you like it

RunningInThePouringRain: Thanks, so glad you like it so much! It's always good and helpful to hear that I have the characterization spot on. I just love writing Snowing and glad there are those out there like you that love it too. Snowing is OTP. Snowing is relationship goals. :)

Finding You Always

Chapter 48: Torn

Hong Kong

August limped into the bar and made his way to the dark haired woman that sat there. He knew he should have seen this coming. Making sure Emma had returned to Storybrooke ten years ago had only been a temporary cure for his condition. But now that her twenty-eighth birthday had passed, he was turning back to wood, probably as punishment for all his lies and deceitful behavior over the years in this world full of temptations.

He had pleaded with the Dragon for one of his cures, but he had demanded ten thousand dollars, which August didn't have. He barely had ten dollars to his name, let alone ten thousand. He over heard this woman say she was looking for one of the Dragon's cures as well...and she had the money. He knew it was wrong, but he was desperate.

He sat beside her, noticing she was looking at a picture of an elderly woman.

"Family?" he asked. She smiled.

"My grandmother. I miss her a lot," she replied.

"Family is important...even when we disappoint them. I'm August," he said. She smiled.

"Tamara," she replied, as they shook hands.

"So...here on vacation?" he asked. She smirked.

"Not exactly. I'm actually here to visit someone called the Dragon," she revealed. He smiled and nodded.

"Everyone knows him, though most will deny it if you ask them," August replied.

"Do you know a lot about him?" she asked.

"I know that he does things that can't be explained by logic or reason," he replied.

"Then...his cures. They work?" she whispered.

"I've never experienced it first hand...but from what I hear, yes. He can cure just about any ailment...for the right price, of course," August replied. She nodded thoughtfully.

"Are...are you looking for a cure?" he asked. She nodded sadly.

"Cancer...stage four. Nothing else has worked...so I figured, what do I have to lose?" she asked, as he eyed the wads of cash in her purse.

"Well, I hope it works out for you. Can I buy you a drink?" he asked. She smiled.

"I'd like that," she replied, as her phone chimed.

"Oh...I need to take this. Can you watch my purse?" she asked.

"Of course," he replied, as he looked at the money inside. It was wrong. It was deplorable...but he was desperate. He grabbed the purse and ran...


Penny glanced at him skeptically, as he opened the cell.

"Just like that?" she asked. Leo nodded.

"You're free to go," he replied. She narrowed her eyes.

"What's the catch?" she questioned. He sighed.

"No catch, Ms. Phillips. As you can see, we arrested the real criminal. She just tried to destroy the entire town, but she's been destroying lives for a lot longer. My dad isn't interested in anyone she has wronged paying anymore than they already have," he responded. She still looked unsure.

"No one does something nice for nothing in return," she said. He smirked.

"You really have never met our parents then," Emma added, as she put a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"This is your chance for a better start," Emma said.

"What makes you think I need a better life? I'm doing fine," she snapped defensively. Emma sighed.

"No woman wants to do what she forced you into," Emma replied.

"We're good friends with the owner of the animal shelter. They're looking for a new receptionist since their former one decided to leave. Since time is resuming again, she and her husband want to start family. Pay is decent and there are benefits," Emma said.

"What makes you think they'd hire someone like me?" Penny grumbled.

"Cause I put in a good word for you. Job is yours if you want it," Leo responded. She looked surprised.

"Boy you Charmings really have pull in this town," she said with envy.

"I volunteer there all the time, so the owner is willing to take a chance on you," Leo explained. She snorted.

"Figures. You goody goody types do things like that. You really volunteer without getting paid?" she asked in disbelief. He smirked.

"Every chance I get. It's not completely selfless. I happen to love animals so I enjoy it," he replied, as he got the keys to lock up, as Emma put the reports on her dad's desk. Penny watched him go and Medusa smirked. She may have been in jail, but that wouldn't stop her from taunting her former charge.

"Handsome that one, isn't he?" she purred. Penny blinked and glared at her.

"He's a boy," she scoffed. She chuckled.

"Yes...but boys become men, especially when there's a woman to help them along. You've seen the cloth he's cut from, after all. He'll be quite the catch for some lucky girl," she said, smirking evilly.

"Don't delude yourself into thinking it will be you, dear," she hissed. Penny glowered at her.

"You don't think I could get a man like that?" she challenged.

"Oh, I'm sure you could lure him to you with all your...talents. But I doubt mommy Mayor would be thrilled about her precious baby boy consorting with a prostitute," Medusa sneered.

"From what I've seen, they're not like that," she shot back. Medusa shrugged.

"Maybe not...but this silly family only sees true love. You really think you could be anyone's true love?" she scoffed in amusement. Penny felt her heart flutter when he smiled and it startled her, as she had never felt anything like that before. She didn't fall in love. Every guy she had ever met was a creep. But Leo Nolan was definitely different. It was impossible though. She couldn't fall for a prince. It would never work. She glared back at the old hag behind the bars, putting on her best facade of indifference.

"He's cute and he'd be a nice notch on my bedpost to brag about, but he's more trouble than he's worth," she refuted. Medusa smirked.

"If you say so, dear," she hissed, as Penny stormed out. Leo and Emma locked up, not long after that and once they were gone, none other than Rumpelstiltskin appeared in a puff of smoke.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Dark One," she taunted.

"You had one task in all this and that was to keep silent about my involvement. I should have known you'd fail completely," Rumple hissed. She rolled her eyes at his dramatics.

"Relax...I didn't say anything and I won't...provided you help me get out of here," she said.

"Oh, you're right where you belong, dearie," he refused.

"Get me out of here or I start talking! What will your precious Belle think when she finds out you told me where the diamond was and that I should use the Charming brat to get it, while you used the savior's son to to get her to retrieve your potion?" she taunted.

"Belle will never know," Rumple replied calmly, as he pulled a pendant from a cloth pocket. Before she knew what was happening, he placed the pendant in her hand. She cried out, as the symbol was burned into her skin.

"What...what did you do?" she demanded. He smirked.

"Ensured your silence," he hissed, as he used his dagger and waved it over the pendant. A soul sucking wraith arose from the talisman and she screamed, as it cornered her. She shrieked terribly, as it consumed her life force and she fell dead to the cold floor. But then something unexpected happened. Instead of returning to the pendant, it roared and smashed a window, escaping into town. It could only mean that someone else in Storybrooke was marked. It was troubling, but hardly his concern. With a swipe of his hand, the footage on the security tapes was erased and he disappeared in a puff of smoke.


Are you sure about this?" Sleepy asked with a yawn, as he drew his straw.

"Yeah, it seems like a bad idea to me," Sneezy offered, after a sneeze.

"Well, no one's asking you," Grumpy snapped.

"Come on...they took care of that diamond. We're safe again," Happy said, as he drew his straw.

"Yeah...but magic is here," Doc warned.

"Doc's right. Magic is here and this is just the beginning of trouble. We're the Royal Guard! We're the first line of defense," Grumpy encouraged.

"Yeah...with magic, anything could happen," Happy worried.

"Exactly. Our lives are good...but that's because Snow and Charming are in charge. That means our guard on the town line still stands and we need to find out if there's still danger in crossing the line for anyone that was cursed," Grumpy added.

"I would like to know if we could possibly leave with the Charmings next time they venture out," Doc added curiously, as they held up their straws and Sneezy paled a little.

"You're up, Snotty," Grumpy snapped.

"Um...I like Storybrooke. I'm good with not leaving," he said nervously. Grumpy scoffed and shoved him over the town line. He wobbled, as magic swirled over him, before stopping and he stared back at them questioningly.

"What am I doing out here with you guys?" he asked.

"We're your brothers," Happy replied. He looked confused.

"I don't have any brothers," he refuted. The other six dwarves exchanged glances.

"What's your name?" Grumpy asked. He scoffed.

"Geez Leroy, are you so drunk that you don't recognize me? You come into my store to buy liquor all the time," Tom Clark said. The six of them exchanged glances again. So...crossing the line indeed still had consequences and it was losing their memories of their real identities.


Jefferson felt a scarring pain in his hand and looked at his palm in horror. It was back. Now that magic had returned, so had his mark. Back in the Enchanted Forest, he had been marked by an angry old sage that he had stolen from when he worked for Rumpelstiltskin. He had always used portal jumping to escape and for some reason, the Wraith would not enter Wonderland. But as he heard the familiar roar of the soul sucker, he knew he was on borrowed time again.

Grace screamed, as the windows shattered in their home. He grabbed her hand and ran to his car, grabbing his hat on the way out. With any luck, they might be able to escape it again. He smashed his foot on the accelerator, heading for town.


August writhed in pain on the ground, as Tamara glared down at him and snatched the potion he had purchased from the Dragon just moments ago.

"This is mine," she hissed, as she left him on the ground in the gutter.


Music played from the Juke box and drinks flowed at Granny's, as they enjoyed their time with family and friends.

Snow snuggled against David in their favorite booth, their hot cocoa cups drained. She rested her head against his shoulder, with it tucked perfectly beneath his chin, as they watched their children and grandchild with amusement. They were gathered at the next table, engaged in a serious card game, though Henry was just helping his mom and Summer was watching Leo as she sat on his lap.

"Those are our babies, Charming," Snow whispered fondly. He smiled and kissed her hair.

"And our grand baby," he added.

"Mmm...we made pretty babies," she hummed. He grinned.

"We did," he agreed.

"But should we be concerned that Emma and our twins are playing blackjack?" he joked.

"I think as long as the currency is Hershey kisses, Skittles, and gummy worms, we're fine," she joked back. He smiled, as she lifted her head. He cupped her beautiful face in his hands and kissed her tenderly. She sighed into the kiss, but their bliss was interrupted, as the windows shook and they heard an inhuman roar.

"What was that?" she wondered.

The windows of the diner rattled, as they ran outside to see what the commotion was.

"Jefferson!" Emma called, as they saw him huddled behind his overturned car with Grace in his arms. The wispy, cloaked figure that looked like a Dementor hovered over them.

"HEY!" she called to get its attention, while Regina tossed a fireball at it. The creature screeched and flew away from the moment, shattering street lights as it did.

"I thought we got all of the bloody bastards," Robin said.

"I don't think this one's from that diamond," Regina said gravely.

"What?" he asked in disbelief.

"It's a wraith..a soul sucker and it only goes after those who are marked," Regina said, as she grabbed Jefferson's hand and looked at his palm.

"How the hell did you get marked?" Regina demanded to know.

"It happened back in our land! I pissed off some old gypsy and he marked me! It was like thirty years ago! But wraiths won't enter Wonderland and then there was the curse. I'd forgotten about it!" Jefferson explained in a panic. Regina grabbed his hat.

"So you were going to leave us and save yourself?" Regina hissed.

"It only goes after those who are marked!" he insisted.

"You hope. Get it to work," she ordered.

"What are you thinking?" Snow asked.

"We send the wraith through a portal. It's the only way to get rid of it without letting it suck the Hatter's soul," Regina responded.

"What are you waiting for?" David asked the Hatter.

"Don't you think I've been trying?!" he screamed, as they heard the wraith roar, signaling its return.

"Magic is different here," Jefferson growled in frustration, as he spun the hat to no avail. Regina tried, as the wraith roared again.

"Henry!" Emma cried, as it barreled toward her son. Leo reached out and hooked his arm around his nephew's waist, pulling him out of the way. Emma breathed a sigh of relief.

"Emma...I need your help," Regina called, as the hat refused to spin for her. She touched Regina's arm and it began to spin rapidly, opening a swirling portal.

"Lure it into the portal!" she called to her parents, who were shooting and slashing at it. The wraith swept over them and headed for Jefferson again. Summer screamed, as it came at her and Grace. Jefferson pulled his daughter away and Emma grabbed her little sister, dodging away from it, as the wraith fell into the portal. Suddenly, it grabbed her leg and pulled her and Summer through. Snow screamed and David grabbed her hand, as they jumped into the portal after their girls. Leo tried to follow, but the portal closed and the hat went limp.

"No…" Eva cried, as tears welled in her eyes.

"No…" Leo repeated, as Eva cried against his shoulder.

"They're gone…" Robin said in disbelief.

"Mom…" Henry said brokenly.

"Oh Henry…" Regina said, as she hugged him.

"Can you get them back, Aunt Regina?" Henry asked. Regina took the hat.

"I'll do whatever it takes," she promised.

"Then...you think they're okay?" Eva sniffed. She smiled.

"Your parents and sister are very resourceful and they're survivors," Regina replied.

"She's right. They'll be okay and we will get them back; that is if they don't find a way back first. Because I know will stop at nothing to get back to all of us," Robin added.

"I better go tell Uncle Thomas what happened," he said.

"Then why don't the three of you gather some things and come over to the mansion. You can stay with us until Emma and your parents return," Regina suggested. Leo smiled and nodded.

"Thanks Aunt Regina," he replied, as he hurried off to the station and Robin joined him. The former Queen glanced at Gold's dark shop. First thing in the morning, she was going to have a chat with the Dark One, for this had Rumple's signature all over it.

"Terrible news!" Grumpy cried, as he and the dwarves hurried to them.

"What now?" Regina snapped.

"Tell 'em who you are!" he said, nudging Sneezy.

"I told you already, I'm Tom Clark. I own the Dark Star Pharmacy. How much have you had to drink, Leroy?" he asked in irritation.

"What's with him?" Eva asked.

"He stepped over the town line," Grumpy said.

"Actually, you kind of pushed him," Happy chimed in.

"Shut it Happy," Grumpy growled.

"Get to the point, Leroy. My parents and sisters just fell through a portal. We don't really need more problems," Leo said impatiently.

"Well, you got 'em, kid. Anyone who was cursed and steps over the town line loses their memories all over again. We're still trapped," Grumpy announced. Regina sighed and rubbed her temples, feeling a migraine coming on.

"All right...I want you to keep patrolling the town line as usual. Make sure no one leaves," Regina ordered.

"What about Sneezy?" Happy asked.

"Will you stop calling me that?" Tom complained.

"Getting Snow, David, Emma, and Summer back is the top priority, but with magic returning, there should be fairy dust to mine now," Regina said.

"Of course…" Doc agreed.

"If we can get enough fairy dust, we can fix the hat and get the Charmings back and the fairies should be able to use it work on some kind of memory potion for our allergic friend," Regina said. Robin smiled, as she naturally took charge.


The Dragon turned to gaze at the woman that had entered his office with scrutiny.

"I see you tracked down the puppet and took what was yours," he said knowingly.

"I did and I took it back to my hotel room to examine the contents of this bottle with a sophisticated microscope and do you know what I found?" she asked. He smirked.

"I only deal with the finest natural herbs, no harsh chemicals," he joked.

"I found nothing...nothing that exists in this world," Tamara corrected. He smirked.

"That happens when the ingredients don't come from...this world," he countered. She glared at him.

"Magic doesn't belong in this world. It's unholy," she hissed. He laughed.

"Is that what the 'home office' told you? The mysterious boss you've never actually met?" he challenged.

"I don't need to meet him. His goal is the same as mine and that is to destroy all magic," she said, as she pulled out her taser.

"You really have no idea how out of your depth you really are," the Dragon hissed, as his eyes rolled back in his head and red smoke began to surround him. Tamara looked frightened for a moment, but then shoved the taser into his chest. The Dragon flailed violently, before crumpling unconscious to the floor. Thinking him to be dead, she left quickly, with the potion still in hand.


"If I had been just a little faster, I could have helped," Leo lamented, as he followed his Uncle Thomas into the station.

"You falling through the portal too wasn't going to help anyone, kid," Thomas replied, as he put his hand on the youth's shoulder.

"You can help here," he told him. Leo looked uncertain.

"Believe me kid, you're a chip off the old block. And are you really ready to discount your parents and sister?" he asked.

"Of course not," he replied.

"Good, because you know they'll fight like hell to get home and we'll do what we can from this end," Thomas said, as he spotted Medusa laying on the cold floor.

"Shit…" he cursed, as he opened the cell and checked for a pulse.

"She's gone…" Thomas said, as Leo knelt beside him, looking for wounds.

"Her hand…" he said, as he saw her burned palm.

"What the hell did this?" Thomas wondered, as he examined the burned flesh.

"Jefferson had the same mark on his palm!" Leo exclaimed.

"I'm going to call the coroner, but I think it's pretty safe to say that the wraith did this," Thomas said.

"The real question is who marked her and released the wraith in the first place," he wondered. But only one name came to mind. He remembered Medusa's odd comment to Gold.

"I need to go talk to Aunt Regina," Leo said, as he hurried out. Tomorrow morning, he and Regina would be making an early morning visit to see Mr. Gold.


Neal stared at the postcard with the word 'broken' written on it. On the other side was a picture of a clock tower with the word's 'Greetings from Storybrooke' written on it.

Truthfully, he knew Emma had restored memories years ago, but now time had resumed again.

When he found out his father was here and would be looking for him when the time came, he had fully intended to bolt and disappear. But things were a little more complicated these days. He was engaged and he had made sure he wasn't easy to find. His father didn't know his name and New York City was a very big place, a place with no magic. He was confident that his father would never find him, but he'd be ready to run if he did…


August arrived back at the building where the Dragon operated. The woman he had tried stealing the potion from had taken it back and gotten away. He had come back to plead with the old sorcerer to help him.

But when he walked in, he found him unconscious on the floor. Taking a letter opener from the desk, he put it under the man's nose, but found no breath. Just as he was about to leave a woman burst into the room, glaring daggers at him.

"I didn't do this," he insisted. She shuffled past him and opened the safe behind the large painting of a dragon.

August started to back away toward the door. But she raised her hand and the door locked from the outside. So he had no choice but to watch her retrieve a golden colored potion.

"Sit down Pinocchio," Mako hissed. He obeyed and watched her pour the potion down the Dragon's throat.

"Is that going to help him?" August asked.

"It should. It was made from my father's powers and mixed with the blood from the truest loves in all the realm," she spat in return.

August jumped in astonishment, as the Dragon took a strangled breath of air and glowed with golden power.

"Father…" Mako said.

"Thank you my daughter," he said, as she helped him up.

"I see you have returned, Pinocchio," he addressed.

"It's August and I need another potion. That woman who tried to kill you took it," August said.

"Then I need payment," the Dragon replied.

"I don't have that kind of money...please!" August pleaded. The Dragon gave him a hard look and then smirked.

"Then perhaps we can make a trade," he offered.

"A trade?" August asked.

"That woman is working for a very powerful adversary. The time for battle draws near," he said cryptically.

"What do you want?" August asked.

"I will give you a potion that will make you human forever...and you'll work for me," he answered. August hissed, as he felt his other leg stiffen.

"Fine...just give me the potion!" he cried. The Dragon smirked and retrieved a purple potion. August drank without hesitation.

"Now...it's time for us to pack our things," the Dragon said.

"Where are we going?" August asked. The Dragon smirked gleefully.

"Storybrooke," he announced...