Two Years Later

The West Wing rang with laughter as Aurora stepped quietly out of the room at the end, closing the door to the nursery.
"You're going to wake the baby," she chided softly, and Marcus looked up from the floor where Snow and Chip had tackled him. The two nymphs that had been helping take down the King scurried away at her look, but Marcus just smiled.
He climbed to his feet, tucking a giggling Snow under his arm, and kissed his wife until the smile she was trying to hide broke through.
"It's not my fought they misbehave when Snow visits."
"I heard that." Philip called loudly, jogging up the stairs. At Aurora's threatening look he ducked his head, scooped up Snow, and ran back down.
Belle met him at the bottom, "What have you done now?" She asked, and Philip flashed a grin, "I was just getting on our daughter." He held Snow out as if in proof, and set the girl down, watching her toddle away.
It had been two years since the Enchantress had been banished. Two years of peace and happiness across the five realms. Belle settled into her newly husband's side as he walked the hall, watching Snow wander into one of the rooms. Marcus and Aurora made it downstairs and the couple turned to meet them.

Little Snow stood in the empty room, hearing her parents laugh just outside. She took a few steps forward, wobbling a little. Something bright caught her eye under the bed and she dropped heavily to her knees.
"Bapple," She babbled, reaching into the dust and gripped the red fruit in her chubby hand. She pulled it out, waving it about, when the door opened and Belle's head poked in.
"Now where did you find that," She came forward with a smile, lifting the girl from the floor and taking the apple from her. She re-entered the hall and stuck the apple in Philip's face.
"She's just like you, can't be left alone for two seconds without finding something to eat."
Aurora snickered at her brother's offended look, but Marcus frowned at the apple.
"Belle. Give me that apple."
Her brow rose a little at his brusque tone, but it wasn't completely unlike him, and she handed it over without comment.
It caught Aurora's attention though, and she looked at her husband in confusion.

Realization came a moment later. "Is that from-" Aurora let the question trail off as her eyes detected the magic beneath the bright red skin of the fruit, still looking as fresh as it had done two years before.
"I can't believe I'd forgotten it," Marcus muttered. He crossed to the door by the gardens as Betty stuck her head out of the kitchen.
"Chip!" she called, then spotting them there, she bustled out, "Oh I was just going to send the boy for you. Dinner is ready."
Belle and Philip started forward, leaving Marcus to whatever he was doing. Aurora waited, and when he returned he gave her a knowing smile to let her know all was taken care of as they headed into the hall.

Eric met them at the door, with gifts for Aurora and Belle from Ariel. They had discovered a set of looking glasses in a sunken wreck, and now the ladies of each castle would have one, a way to connect all three kingdoms as their children grew.
They settled around the kitchen in the table, and Betty bustled about, tuttering about why they even bothered to have a dining hall if no one used it. Laughter and chatter filled the air as the castle rang with the sound of total happiness.


Deep within the enchanted wood, two fairie flitted to the dark earth, settling their burden on the ground. They had followed their king's order well, carried it as far as their wings would allow into a place so deep no one ever dared enter. Among the raised roots of a young tree they hid the fruit, before flitting away from this dark place.
Time passed in this forbidden wood, seasons hardly changing.

Years drifted the tree upward and it grew tall as its roots thickened. But there still could be seen, between that sliver of root, the bright flash of red of an apple quietly waiting.