You have no idea how happy I am to be starting another Evil Charming fic! This is just one of many ideas rolling around in my head, so be sure to let me know what you think.

"David," Regina said in surprise. He was the last person she'd expected to find on the other side of the door after she heard the quiet knock. "It's late. What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything," David said quickly. "I wasn't really thinking about the hour. I can come back tomorrow if that would be better."

"No, no," Regina told him, stepping aside. "I was just surprised. Come in. Did you need something?"

He stepped inside and allowed her to push the door shut behind him. "I was just hoping we could talk."

"Of course." She started for the living room, looking back to make sure that he was following her. "Would you like a drink?" she asked as he took a seat on one of the loveseats. She held up a decanter filled with a dark amber liquid.

"Actually, some water would be nice if you wouldn't mind."

"Of course," she told him. "I'll be right back."

While she was gone, David took the time to look around the room from his position. It was large, but not overly so, elegant, but still unquestionably a home. Tastefully decorated and surprisingly warm for a woman such as Regina.

She came back into the room. "Is everything alright?" she asked as she handed him the water and took a seat across from him.

"Yes," David started slowly. "It's just...well, I stopped into Mr. Gold's shop this evening to ask for directions, and while I was there...I...I remembered everything."

Regina sat back, looking slightly nervous. "Everything?"

"Yes," David told her. "My life here, Kathryn, our dog, Ajax; all of it just came rushing back."

Relaxing slightly, Regina took a breath. It had worked. She'd hoped that a trip to Gold's shop would do the trick and it appeared she'd been right. "I don't mean to sound rude," she started, "but if you remember everything, then what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Kathryn?"

David twisted the glass in his hands, nodding. "I did go home first and we talked for a little while. I'll go home again later tonight. I just wanted the chance to come here and thank you in person."

"Thank me?" Regina asked. "For what?"

"Everything you've done for me. And for Kathryn," he added. "You were the one who saved me and then you were the one to figure out who I was in the end. You brought Kathryn and me together again and you've been a constant support through this entire thing."

"Well I was merely doing my job," Regina said modestly, still smiling.

"You did more than that and you know it. Thank you."

Regina smiled, but didn't say anything.

"Kathryn wanted me to invite you and Henry for dinner this Wednesday." Realizing how that sounded, he quickly added, "I think it's a great idea."

"Oh, well, thank you, David, but how about if the two of you come here for dinner? I love cooking and I'm sure Kathryn wouldn't mind a night off. The both of you deserve one – it's been a rough week."

"It has," David agreed. "Thank you. I'll ask Kathryn." He looked up suddenly, feeling eyes on him and found Henry standing in the doorway. The boy jumped at being spotted, but David gave him a reassuring smile.

Noticing David's sudden shift in attention, Regina followed his gaze. "Henry!" she scolded. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"Sorry," he apologized sheepishly, eyes dropping to his feet. "I heard voices and I wanted to know who was here."

"Just Mr. Nolan," Regina told him. "He's just gained back his memories and came over to talk for a few minutes."

Both adults noticed the young boy's face fall at those words.

"You mean, you remember your life in Storybrooke?" he asked, unable to keep the disappointment from his voice.

"I do," David confirmed.

"I'll walk you back upstairs," Regina said, shifting to stand, but David stopped her.

"I can take him up." At the twin expressions of confusion he received from mother and son, he continued. "You've had a long day. You can enjoy your drink, I'll get Henry back up to his room and I'll be back down in a minute."

Regina sat back and smiled. "Alright. Thank you."

Henry watched curiously as David crossed the room, laying a hand gently on his shoulder to guide him toward the stairs. "Do you really remember everything about your Storybrooke life?" he asked sadly.

"Yes," David answered. "You sound as if that's a bad thing. Don't you want me to be able to remember?"

"Yeah," Henry sighed. "I was just hoping you'd remember something different."

"Different?" David questioned as they reached the second floor landing. He let Henry lead the way to his room and he made sure the door was firmly closed before he turned back around and said, "You mean like my life before the curse brought us to this world?"

Henry's eyes widened. "You mean…you mean—"

"Yes, Henry," David said smiling. "I remember everything."

Henry leaped into the air. "Yes!" he yelled, raising his arms.

David put a finger to his lips, warning Henry to be more quiet. "Your mom will hear."

"I knew it!" Henry whispered loudly. He barreled into David, hugging him tightly around the waist before pulling back to ask more questions. "So how come you haven't said anything? Why are you being nice to the Evil Queen?"

"It's safer for now," David explained. "She doesn't suspect anything. What do you think she'd do if she found out I remembered?"

"Right!" Henry said. "You have to pretend that you're still just David Nolan so that she won't suspect anything. Good plan! That way, she can't stop us from breaking the curse." He smiled up at David. "You can help me convince Emma that this is all real, that the book is true."

"I can certainly try," David affirmed. "We'll have to come up with a plan."

"I'm really good at those!" Henry said excitedly.

"I'll bet you are." David marveled at this young boy – his grandson – who'd grown up in the house of the Evil Queen and was now working to break the curse on the town. He couldn't be more proud. "I should get back before your mother suspects anything."

Henry nodded. "Just keep pretending to be nice to her. Maybe you can even learn some of her secrets."

"Maybe," David nodded. He moved to the door and put his hand on the light switch, waiting for Henry to crawl under the covers.

"Goodnight, Henry," he said, flipping off the light.

"Goodnight, David."

"You were up there for a while," Regina commented lightly when he re-entered the room.

David recognized the slight suspicion behind her statement. "Oh, you know," he chuckled. "Henry was quizzing me on my memories." He smiled. "He's a good kid."

Regina visibly relaxed and her return smile was genuine. "Yes, he is." She took a sip of her drink as he returned to his seat. "Did you get a chance to tell him about dinner on Wednesday?"

"You mean did I get a word in edgewise during his interrogation?" He laughed warmly to show that he wasn't serious. "No, I didn't have the chance."

"He'll be very excited," Regina told him. "He talks about you all the time." Her eyes saddened and she dropped her gaze. "Mostly because he was hoping you'd remember a fairy tale life and defeat the Evil Queen."

David's pulse sped up at the mention of the curse and their past lives. Willing himself to calm down, he tried to think of how he'd react in this situation if he didn't remember who they truly were and didn't know about the curse.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, looking appropriately flustered – not difficult under the circumstances. "I'm afraid I don't understand. A fairy tale life? Who's the Evil Queen?"

"His book," Regina said. "He believes it's all true. He thinks you're Prince Charming and I'm the Evil Queen, and that I have you all under some kind of curse."

"I'm sure he doesn't think you're evil," David said, trying to sound reassuring.

"He does."

The way she said it sounded so empty. A level of pain so deep, a person had to make themselves numb just to survive it. Her eyes lost all of their light.

It caught him off guard because it was real. The iron wall that Regina always had up, was, for a brief second, gone. And it surprised him. A woman like Regina shouldn't be this deeply affected by what her son thought of her. Especially since what he thought of her was true.

Suddenly uncomfortable, David awkwardly stood. "I should probably be getting back to Kathryn."

"Of course," Regina smiled – a fake smile once again – mask firmly back in place. She stood up as well, walking him to the door. "Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you and Kathryn on Wednesday."

David nodded. "Thank you."

As the door shut behind him and he made his way down the front path, David ran a hand through his hair. This was not going to be easy.