Okay. So, as I was working on my current story (and another one that I haven't published yet), this idea came to my mind. I noticed there were several stories about Emma having a younger sibling or even a twin (I think), but I thought it would be interesting if Emma had a brother that had been caught in the curse. The line from Flight of the Navigator kept running through my mind. "You're my big, little brother!" I researched the OUAT timeline, and I think it's conceivable that Snow and David could have had another child before Emma. In fact, since they are supposed to be Emma's age, it's surprising they didn't. Especially considering how…ahem affectionate they are with one another (and the fact that Regina doesn't seem the type to teach her step-daughter about birth control). I am attempting to keep the characters as "canon" as possible, however, the plot (such as it is) will follow a different path then the one on the show.

This story will strictly be a series of one-shots, that's how they're appearing in my head. They may follow a chronological order, but if I have new ideas later, they most likely will not.

If you'd like to discuss time-lines and possibilities, go ahead and message me. OUAT timelines give me a headache because I'm one of those people who prefer precision.

Big Brother

Chapter 1: Introductions

Emma could see Mary Margaret and David. They were barely twenty feet away, but she couldn't make her feet move forward.

"Go see them," Henry said, hopping by her side with barely contained excitement. "They wanna see you! They've been waiting twenty-eight years and…"

Emma took a shaky breath and tried not to snap at her kid. How could she be irritated with him when he died…almost died…whatever…ten minutes ago? "Just give me a minute, kid," she said, trying to force herself to keep breathing. She watched as Snow broke away from Leroy and a group of other men that included Mr. Clark, from the pharmacy. Her voice carried slightly in the wind "Now…now I find my daughter," she said, then spoke to low for Emma to hear. It was time.

"So it's true," Emma said, unable to move from her spot.

Snow turned and looked into the eyes of her daughter. Beside her, David also met the eyes of his child. Snow walked slowly toward the Emma, inwardly trembling. David trailed her only a step behind. She reached out and cupped Emma's face in her hands. Emma looked down, unable to maintain their gaze. Snow's face crumpled as she drew Emma to her. "You found us," she said. Emma let herself be drawn into the hug and she felt David's hand cup the back of her head. Emma quivered, but let herself relax minutely into the hug.

They were interrupted by a small voice, "Grandpa?" Henry asked.

Snow chuckled, and Emma watched as a smile broke across David's face. "Yeah kid, I suppose so," he said. He drew Henry into a tight hug by his side.

After talking, the group headed off to confront Rumpelstiltskin, only to be stopped by Archie Hopper who came running up to tell them there was a lynch mob after the Queen.

The family quickly fell in step as Snow and David looked anxiously around. "Where do you think he is?" Snow murmured to David.

"I don't know Snow, but he's here somewhere. He has to be." David said firmly.

"Who are you talking about?" Emma asked.

Snow hesitated, looked at her. "Your brother Ashton," she said softly.

"Brother!" said Henry with real surprise. "That's not in the book. Why isn't he in the book?"

"I don't know Henry," Snow said. "We always kept Ashton very…" She trailed off as she saw the crowd at the mayor's house.

"Here we go," said David. Snow took a breath, and Emma headed towards Regina.

Within minutes the crowd had been dispersed and Regina had been locked into a jail cell. They left her with Sneezy and Happy. Then the rest of the group headed for the town square.

On the way there Snow and David told both Emma and Henry about Ashton. He had been born before they had captured the kingdom. He was with them on the campaign against Regina and King George but he had always been kept safe, away from the fighting. Once they got the kingdom back, Snow and David had felt safe enough to let him be a part of the castle life. But he was only known as their son to a select few. Most of the kingdom thought he was Johanna's grandson, if they wondered about him at all. He was carefully guarded and watched. Before the curse had hit, they had sent him with Johanna to a small cabin deep in the woods. Neither Snow, nor David could say why he wasn't mentioned in the book. They didn't know how the book knew anything, anyway.

"Johanna will know how to find us," said Snow, "but I don't know if Ashton will be with her."

The entire town was filled with confused and overwrought people. Some seemed elated and others completely despondent. When they saw David and Snow they began clamoring for them. Vainly, Snow and David tried to fight their way through the crowd to continue their search. They held a brief conversation with Red, Granny, Grumpy, and the other dwarves. Dopey was sent to gather the nuns..

Snow knew that the best way to find Ashton would be to get everyone calm and working together. "Listen everyone," said Snow. "It's important that we make this our central point. We need to make reuniting families and friends a priority, especially those with young children. If you are missing your child or children, I want you to go see Granny. If you are missing an adult friend or family member, speak to Mother Superior. The rest of you, if you have information about a person, especially a child, I want you to speak to Leroy. Once we start gathering information, we will be able to figure out what to do. We will have stations set up that will supply food and water. If you have found your loved ones and you are safe, the best thing you can do is help us organize people here." While she spoke, Snow's eyes were tracking the crowd looking desperately for Johanna or her son. She saw David doing the same thing. "Can you see him?" she asked, hoping her husband's greater height would give him the advantage.

"No, not yet," David said. She could hear the anguish in his voice, though he tried to hide it.

The nuns arrived and set up the tents to supply food and water. Snow and David continued walking through the crowd, reassuring people and directing them, but also asking them if they had seen a seven-year old, curly-haired, blond boy.

Ruby had quietly volunteered to "track him". Snow had grasped on this eagerly and clutched Ruby's hand, "thank you." Her eyes glimmered with hope.

Emma watched her go doubtfully. "I know she helped with the whole Katherine thing, but maybe someone should go help her."

"Believe me Emma, she is the best one suited for the job," said Snow firmly. "If anyone could find him, it would be Red."

"Holy shit," Emma realized. "She's really…"

Snow looked up when her name was called. Emma watched as an older woman moved quickly toward Mary Margaret and grasped her in a hug. "Oh Snow," she said. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"Where's Ashton?" David asked anxiously behind Snow. "Do you know what Ash is, Johanna?"

Her face was troubled. "No, I'm so sorry your highness," she said sadly. "I was hoping that he would be here. When the curse hit I was holding him tightly but… then we all just..." her voice faded as tears slid down Snow's face. She reached her hand out blindly and David immediately grasped it.

Emma watched her parents' faces as they ran a gamut of emotions. Mary Margaret had been her friend, her family first, so it was hard to see her in pain. But looking at the anguish on David's face made her just as upset. Her feelings about them were completely mixed up, but she hated seeing their pain, loss.

Snow leaned her head against her husband's chest for a moment, then straightened. She knew she didn't have the luxury of despair.

"The town's so much bigger than you would think," David murmured against her hair.

Henry was looking about, standing on his toes to try and see over the crowd of the adults.

"Mama! Papa!" screamed a little voice.

Several heads in the crowd turned hopefully but in a blur, a small figure buried itself into Snow.

"Mama!"

Snow lifted up the child into her arms and David reached around to hold both of them. The little boy was sobbing as Snow gently tried to rock him. David kept petting the boy's head, like he couldn't believe he was there.

After some time, Snow forced herself to hand their son to his father.

Ashton reached out and patted David's cheeks, like he did when he was a toddler. "Papa," he mumbled into David's shirt.

Emma felt uncomfortable watching the family reunite. The looked like a real family, a whole family. She felt like one of those "find what doesn't match" pictures in the magazines she use to look at as a child. She grabbed Henry, who had been quietly watching the proceedings, and tried to inch away inconspicuously.

Snow saw the movement instantly, and reached out to draw Emma and Henry to them. David held the little boy in his arms as they faced Emma, and Snow kept her hand possessively on Emma's arm. She refused to let either of her children out of her sight. "Ashton, this is your sister, Emma."

Ashton looked at her, confusion marring his features. "The curse made her big?"

"In a way," David said awkwardly. "There's a lot we need to talk about. But that's not important right now."

Ashton stared at Emma, scrutinizing her from head to foot. The laser-like attention unnerved her a little, so Emma stared at him back. He was a beautiful kid. His hair was a mass of tight blond curls. He had eyes the same color as his…as their mother. His eyelashes were long enough to make him look dreamy and pensive.

Unnerved, Emma drew her hand out of her jean's pocket and went to shake the little boy's hand.

Ashton bypassed her hand and put both little arms around her neck. She felt his lips brush her cheek. Then he drew back to look her in the eyes.

"Hello Emma, I'm your big brother."