See previous chapters for summaries and warnings.
Thanks for the incredible response to this fic! Keep the reviews coming.
Once more, it is important to remember that Cora has cursed Kathryn to be this way and she is the Evil Queen here. She married Leopold. Regina and Snow are step-sisters and love each other. Thanks for all the reviews. Except the negative troll reviews. I delete those and respond to them accordingly. This story is for true Snowing fans that know something like an age gap would never hinder their love.
The curse has lasted 20 years in this verse until they found Storybrooke.
Here are individual responses:
MerlockVonBaron: Yeah, Marco was way out of line and as always, Tamara is the worst. Glad you're enjoying it.
Ghostwriter: Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks :)
Grace5231973: Thanks! I wish he would come around too, but I'm afraid he's about to go even further than he did in the last chapter. You're welcome on the Rumbelle scenes with Neal. I like when they're all one big extended family. David is adorable, as usual. Yep, a new day and still no one misses Cora, lol. And no one will. But still plenty of danger, because Tamara is in town and this is one time I think everyone is going to feel bad for Greg. Glad you're enjoying it. :)
Saberius Prime: Well, I used to write Star Wars, so not surprising that I sometimes still channel those vibes. It definitely had an Anakin vibe to it. Geppetto is definitely being unreasonable. Glad you enjoyed it!
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Number Ten: Yeah, I guess you could feel a little bad for Geppetto. I don't really, but then you'll soon find out why. Time was lost on him, but it was lost for Snowing too and they made the effort to deal with an adult daughter. If they had acted the way Geppetto did, the fandom would have ripped them apart for it. But it's somehow okay for Geppetto. But just my opinion. Yep, as always, Tamara is pure evil and Greg might pay the price. It is weird seeing him as rational, but I thought it made sense here. Glad you're enjoying. :)
sexystarwarslover: Yep, when Rumple tells you someone is trouble, then you know it's bad. Yep, it's in reference to the song(or songs, as there is a couple). I thought it was an appropriate title. Yep, Charming loved Snow, young and older. Because they are the ultimate true love. Geppetto should be thanking Snow, but unfortunately he is not being reasonable. Yep, we'v got Wooden Fairy going on here. Tamara is definitely so much trouble, which sucks, because we got rid of Cora and now Tamara is here. Yep, Graham is going to get his heart back! Yep, Blue is the worst. Yeah, Geppetto is way out of line and defensive David is super HOT. As usual, little David is adorable and Cora's is one grave that they would all love to dance on. Glad you're enjoying it!
AnonSnowing: No, I don't think Snowing knows about what happened to Geppetto's parents. Or him manipulating Jiminy and why. They might soon discover that from Archie with what's about to go down, but it won't be much consolation. I'm sure Blue is an instigator. She's the worst. Yep, Mama always knows. :) Geppetto should be thanking her, but he's being unreasonable at best. Yeah, Charming was with her spirit and she saw him in Emma everyday. I'm so glad they're together too and the curse is broken. And Cora is dead. Yep, gotta have villains to give a little adventure. Nope, Yeah, I love that little gesture, where one of them traces a finger along the other's face. It's so simple, but so intimate. Geppetto is way out of line here, showing up in the middle of the night. Completely inappropriate. And you're right, defensive Charming is HOT! Yeah, Geppetto is being a major hypocrite since he's the one that effectively obeyed the woman that would have been Queen. Yep, little David is adorable and so is Snow watching Charming. I love Neal's snark too, lol. Yep, Blue and Geppetto are going to cause trouble. I agree, time being given back to her is good so Charming doesn't have to lose her years before he should. I think when one of them goes, the other won't be far behind. Yeah, it makes Snow feel better even if Charming loves her either way. Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
A Darker Curse
Chapter 30: Heartbeat
August opened his bleary eyes and turned away from the offending sunshine that was peering through the blinds. He rolled away and right against another warm body, suddenly remembering everything from the night before. He gently put his arm around her bare waist and nuzzled her neck, earning him a sleepy sound from her. They had gotten a bit tipsy last night, but still had all their faculties when they made this step to intimacy.
"What a night…" she said. He smiled.
"Yeah...it was," he agreed, as she turned to face him.
"I haven't been this happy in a very long time," she admitted.
"So...that means you're moving to Storybrooke?" he asked hopefully.
"I kind of have to. I mean, that's where my boyfriend lives," she replied playfully. He grinned.
"You're right...that's where he lives," he agreed, as their lips met again and he tossed the covers over their heads.
Snow gave him a dreamy stare, as their lips parted again, and they cuddled close. He fed her another bite of pancakes and then took one himself. Emma rolled her eyes from across the booth and tore up some more cut up pancakes on her son's tray.
"Guys...I love you, but we're in public," she complained. Snow winced.
"Sorry honey…" she said.
"It's just been a long time since I've been this happy, especially without any obstacles in our way," she added.
"Cora's gone, the curse is broken, and we're all together," she gushed. Emma smiled.
"And I'm happy about all of that, but maybe just a little less making out at breakfast," she replied. David chuckled.
"We'll try, princess," he offered, making her roll her eyes playfully again, just as Neal and his family arrived.
"Good morning," he said, as he kissed the top of little David's head. Their son looked up at him and cooed.
"Morning," Emma said, as he slid into the booth beside her, after pulling up a table so his father and Belle could join them.
"Neal told us you had a late night visitor," Belle mentioned. Snow grimaced.
"We did and I know he's hurting. I feel bad...but I'm not giving up my son," she replied.
"You shouldn't have to. He went about trying to reconnect with August in all the wrong ways," Belle assured.
"She's right...he lied to us and he should be thanking you," David agreed.
"I know...I just want my son to be happy. I hope Geppetto feels the same and just gives him a little time, because I know August will eventually forgive him. If he lets him," Snow said, as they finished up and continued to talk, while Neal, Belle, and Gold ate. Just as they were getting ready to part ways for the day, with David going to the station with Emma, and Snow heading for her first day as Deputy Mayor, without Cora around, they heard a terrible scream coming from the Inn. Neal picked up little David and all of them hurried over there to see what was going on.
Graham approached the vault in the cemetery with cautious optimism. Now that he had his memories back, he was reflecting on everything and naturally regretted his part in any of Cora's plot, but knew now it was because he literally had no choice. Cora had taken his heart, long ago, after his part in helping Snow and Charming. He didn't regret it though. They were good people and deserved none of what Cora had done to them. He was just glad it was finally over and she was gone. He hadn't even considered that getting his heart back would be an option. He was just glad the person that could use it against him was gone. So when Regina had called and told him he had that option, he had quite literally jumped out of bed.
"Good morning," Regina greeted, as he arrived.
"Morning," he said anxiously.
"I...I don't really know how this part works," Regina said, as the three of them walked into the vault.
"I watched her do a lot of magic, but I'm afraid she never gave any hearts back. So…I'm not really sure how this works," she said, as Graham approached the breathing wall. It was as creepy as he remembered, but one compartment seemed to glow brighter red than the others.
"Well...perhaps it will be easier than anticipated," Robin commented, as he watched his wife extract the compartment and take the heart out.
"I'll try to be gentle," she promised. He nodded.
"It's okay...I'm ready," he said, as she pushed the organ into his chest and he took a sharp breath and felt a flood of emotion course through him. He hadn't felt anything in so long that suddenly doing so was almost overwhelming. But in a good way.
"Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome...and I'd like Emma to remain Sheriff, but I am sure she could use a second deputy to cover the night shift," she suggested. He nodded.
"Emma should be Sheriff and David should have the daytime deputy position so he can be with Snow in the evening. I'm the obvious choice for the night shift...I prefer it anyway," he agreed. Regina nodded, as her phone rang and she answered it.
"Snow?" she asked, as she heard her sister's panicked voice on the other end.
"Oh...okay, we'll be right there," she said, as she hung up.
"What was that about?" Robin asked.
"We need to get over to the Inn. I'll tell you both on the way," she replied, as they followed her.
"Granny?" Emma called, as they looked around the deserted lobby of the Inn.
"Up here!" they heard her call, as Snow and David followed their daughter upstairs, hand in hand. When they got there, they found the older woman with one of her maids, who was crying hysterically.
"What's going on?" David asked.
"In there," Granny said, as Emma opened the door and was unable to warn her father, before her mother and the others saw the scene. Snow cried out and covered her mouth with her hand, as David pulled her back. She turned away, as he hugged her close, while observing the gruesome scene.
"Do not bring Belle or the baby in here!" Emma called to Neal and Gold, as the latter peered inside. Blood and brain matter was splattered all over the wall, as Greg Mendell lay dead on the floor, his eyes frozen open in death.
"What's going on?" August asked, as he and Tink exited the room down the hall and approached, hand in hand.
"Mom?" he asked, seeing how incredibly shaken she was.
"I'm going to help Emma," David told her, as he kissed her forehead and prodded her toward August, who hugged her.
"Stay with her…" he said. August nodded, as Tink looked in the room.
"Oh my God...Greg…" she uttered.
"Greg is dead…" she said, as she looked back at August.
"We...we just saw him last night," August replied.
"Which means you two might be the last people to see him alive, other than whoever killed him," Emma said, as she and David observed the scene.
"It might not mean anything, but he was shot in the temple and not in the back of the head," David said.
"It might. Back of the head would suggest surprise or execution," Emma replied.
"What was his state of mind?" she asked the other blonde.
"It was good...really good. He was still sad about his father's death, but he had accepted that the person that did it paid for it," she said.
"She's right...he planned to leave town. He was uncertain, but seemed like he was ready to find a new start," August offered.
"Did you have any trances last night?" Emma asked.
"Uh no, I was...busy," he replied.
"Do you think it might come to you?" Neal asked. August shrugged.
"I don't know...it might. But I can't force a trance. They just happen and I don't control them," he replied.
"I'll run out to the squad car and get the crime scene kit. Guess I'll be getting that training you were going to give me on the job," David said, as he kissed Snow quickly and hurried outside.
"Who would kill him?" Tink wondered.
"I don't know...you know him better than me," Emma replied.
"And we won't know until we get an autopsy, but we have to consider suicide," she added.
"No...that makes no sense," Tink refuted.
"The angle of the bullet hole suggests that it's a possibility," Emma said.
"Nothing in his demeanor suggested he was suicidal. He was actually...hopeful," Tink replied, as Emma stood up and put gloves on, as David returned.
"Okay...let's toss the room," she said, as they started searching through everything. David opened the chest of drawers and found a liquor bottle that was almost empty.
"Em...I need a bag," he called, as she tossed him one.
"Empty?" she asked.
"Almost," he replied.
"Maybe he got a little less hopeful," she said.
"No…he was in a good place. I'm telling you," Tink argued.
"His father was murdered and he didn't get to play any active role in making Cora pay. It's possible that he had a drink last night and it hit him that he wasn't going to get a satisfying closure," Emma argued back.
"Or someone wants us to think it's suicide," Tink said.
"Okay...if you think he was murdered, then by who?" David asked.
"He's right...the only other person from your team is still in lock up at the station," Emma replied.
"The only other person here...but trust me, the home office runs deep. Pan has a ton of sheep that follow him and do his bidding all over. Greg wanted out," Tink said.
"He said that?" Emma asked.
"Word for word," August confirmed.
"Then you think we may have another outsider in town?" David asked.
"Another outsider?" Regina asked, as they arrived and saw how upset Snow was.
"It's Greg Mendell...he's dead," Snow said.
"Murder?" she asked, as she came in now that they had the body covered with a sheet.
"The evidence suggests suicide, but Tink thinks that's what it's meant to look like. We won't know more until we get a complete autopsy," Emma replied.
"He wanted out...he told me and August that last night," Tink offered.
"Okay...that is a motive for murder. Any idea who would come to do the job?" Regina asked.
"I have an idea...but if she's here, then she won't reveal herself until she's ready to," Tink said.
"And who is this woman?" David asked, as Tink scrolled through her phone.
"Her name is Tamara...and she was Greg's supervisor, so to speak. She's the one that gets the orders from the Home Office and sent him here, posing as a district attorney," Tink replied, as she showed them the photo.
"What does she want?" David asked.
"Whatever the Home Office wants and even I don't know what that is. But Tamara...she hates magic and wants to destroy it. She's willing to do whatever dirty work they give her as long as the promised goal is destruction of magic," Tink replied.
"Which is this entire town," Gold said. Tink nodded.
"Then we need to find her," David replied.
"Which won't be easy. She's good at this," Tink said.
"Then we draw her out…" Regina suggested.
"How?" Snow asked and her sister smirked.
"This morning, I gave Graham his heart back and as you know, I have many more to return," she said.
"But it requires having the person it belongs to come forward, so we planned to announce to the entire town that anyone needing their heart back should come forward. All I have to do is offer the time to show up to my mother's vault, which is full of magic, and that would be too tempting for this person to ignore," Regina said.
"That's a good plan and we know what she looks like. We'll just have to keep our eye out, just in case she decides to disguise herself somehow," David replied.
"Snow and I can go to the television station now and have them tape a special announcement. I'll encourage them to have it ready for the evening edition of the news," Regina said.
"I can work up a quick front page story for tomorrow morning's mirror too," August agreed.
"We'll get the body to the morgue and get a rush on the autopsy," Emma said. Snow gave David a kiss, before leaving with Regina and Robin, while Graham went with them to the hospital once the morgue van arrived.
Geppetto entered the cathedral that morning and removed his hat, as he approached the altar.
"Hello Geppetto," Blue greeted solemnly.
"I have come for your help again…" he said.
"Geppetto…" she started to say.
"Please...just hear me…" he pleaded and she nodded.
"My boy...he will not talk to me and I fear he may never after what I did last night," he said.
"What did you do?" Blue asked.
"I visited Snow at her home...at a rather inappropriate time and the conversation became rather heated," he confessed.
"Oh Geppetto…" she chided.
"I know...I just wanted her to understand that he's my son! She needs to let him go!" he said.
"Geppetto...she has been a mother to him for twenty-years. You cannot expect a woman to let go of a child, whether she gave birth to that child or not. We are both lucky that Snow has not lashed out at us or shunned us completely," she reminded him.
"I know this...I know the Prince suffered greatly under the curse, but I had to do what I did for my boy. I sacrificed the Prince to Cora's curse to save my boy from it and I would do it again," he stated.
"And I think even the Prince understands why you did it and he is an honorable man that probably would have given up his spot to August if asked," Blue advised.
"Pinocchio! His name is Pinocchio!" Geppetto insisted.
"No...his name is August and he is a grown man now," she corrected.
"But if I am correct in my suspicions, he will not understand it if you speak harshly to his wife and neither will August," she advised.
"He threw me out...and August was not there. I asked around...and it seems he was with a young lady last night," he said, which peaked her interest.
"A young lady?" Blue asked.
"I believe she was once a fairy too. Tinkerbell I think is her name," he replied, as Blue's gaze narrowed.
"Please...you must help me get my son back," he said, interrupting her thoughts.
"You must give him time...he'll come around," she insisted.
"That is what everyone keeps telling me! But it won't happen! He refuses to have anything to do with me. It would be different if he was still a little boy," Geppetto said, as his eyes widened at that.
"That is the answer…" he realized and Blue became worried when he looked at her.
"You can help me with magic!" he exclaimed.
"You can make him a little boy again!" he insisted.
"No...we can't do that to him," she refuted.
"You must!" he cried.
"You must turn him back! You gave him life in the first place! You can reverse him back to the way he was!" Geppetto insisted.
"Not against August's will I cannot...you would be asking me to take his choice away. His free will...his humanity. It is wrong, Geppetto," she replied.
"Please...you must give me this second chance with my boy!" he cried tearfully and her heart ached for him.
"And what will you say to Princess Snow when you take away a child that she loves? A child that she has raised? You will break her heart and we did that once already when we separated her and the prince," Blue said.
"She has another child! And a grandchild! Not to mention that she has gotten her youth back!" he said heatedly.
"She is young again and can bear more children! I cannot have another child! I did not get my youth back! This is my last chance!" he cried. She nodded mutely.
"We will figure something out," she replied vaguely, as she comforted him.
"Good afternoon, fellow citizens of Storybrooke," Regina said, as she looked at the camera from the podium, with Snow standing beside her.
"We wanted to take a moment to speak to you all, now that the curse has been broken," she continued.
"We know that some may still be fearful, but we are here to assure you that the time for fear has passed. My mother, former Mayor Cora Mills, is dead," she announced.
"Back in our land, she earned the moniker of the Evil Queen and it was well earned," she added.
"She killed many people and hurt many more. I cannot right all of her wrongs, but there are some that I can fix. My mother took many hearts, those of which are here in Storybrooke," she continued.
"As a gesture of goodwill and a marker of a new era in this town, I am inviting all those that she stole from to come to my vault, tomorrow morning, to receive it back," she added.
"I know that my mother's vault may be a scary place, because of all the magic inside, but I assure you that I have everything under control and will return what belongs to you," Regina said, as Snow stepped to the microphone.
"We know things are still uncertain and that's why we are inviting the whole town to the park nearby for a town wide celebration to begin this new era of peace and love. You no longer have anything to fear and we promise to lead this town into a bright future," Snow concluded, as the camera panned back to the regular reporting and the two women stepped away from the podium.
"I hope that did the trick," Regina murmured.
"You mentioned the magic in the vault. If she's really interested in destroying or even just getting a sample of the magic, such a setting will be too tempting," Snow reasoned. She nodded.
"I hope so...I don't want to think that we just gave false hope when we might have a killer in our midst," Regina said.
"We'll stop her if we do," Snow insisted, as the two of them headed out to return to their offices for the remainder of the day.
"And that was our new esteemed Mayor, Regina Mills, and her deputy Mayor, Snow White, inviting those that had their hearts stolen by the Evil Queen Cora to gather tomorrow morning at the Mills family vault to have what was taken returned to them. In addition, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be holding a celebratory gathering in the park nearby as well," the news droned on and Tamara flipped the television off. She had set up a trailer in the woods and tapped into the local cable. That vault was like a gold mine. She would have to be careful, but she needed to get into that.
"Guess I'm going to a celebration tomorrow," she said, as she grabbed a scarf and some sunglasses, confident that it would be an adequate disguise...