7:15 AM AU - Things go a bit differently in the cabin during 7:15 AM. With memories returned, how will this change things?
Face Claim for Narcissa: Eileen Davidson
Face Claims for the three good fairies:
Flora: Maggie Smith
Fauna: Linsey Godfrey
Merryweather: Jackee Harry
Thanks for the amazing response to this story. It's a lot of fun. I'm glad everyone is enjoying the twists and turns. Season 1 can be very fun to play with. Enjoy this latest and keep reviewing! Here are individual responses to reviews:
Ghostwriter: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Yes, how did she get out of the mirror realm. That remains to be seen. :)
Grace5231973: Yeah, very close. I agree, Neal needs to listen. I really liked that dinner scene between them and how it turned out. I'm sure Henry will bond with Rumple in time. :)
Number Ten: Yeah, she definitely needs banished back. Yep, he knows her better than she thinks and Emma does feel safe with David. I think he's more trying to discourage his relationship with Tamara. Glad you enjoyed it. :)
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, we know she'll be a wonderful Queen. Yep, she told him the story of how she knows Wilby. Yep, nothing can defeat their true love. Yeah, Neal was just going through the motions with Tamara. Emma has always had his heart. Yep, the three good fairies intervened and Narcissa was banished. We know she found a way out somehow, which we will eventually see, but Snow was saved. Yes, the mirror realm from S6, correct. Yep, Snow if very important with a very important future. Glad you enjoyed it! :)
AnonSnowing: Yeah, they both saved each other that day and many times. Me too, I'm really happy he is no longer confused David Nolan. Yeah, it sucks that they're not sure about their friends anymore. Yeah, Gold is definitely team Swanfire. Yep, Narcissa is definitely more evil. Gold and Regina did evil things. But they aren't pure evil incarnate like Narcissa. Yeah, that line about Leopold being wise is only in there, because I figured it was something the Holy man would say in respect to him as King. Definitely not my opinion on him. Yep, the fairies arrived in time and saved Snow! Yep, she got banished. How she got out remained to be seen. Yes, Snow will have a wonderful future. Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Clarity
Chapter 26: Evening Musing, Pt 2
"It's done," Narcissa said into the phone.
"She's dead...you really did it?" Regina asked. Narcissa smirked.
"Without a second thought and Emma's fingerprints are all over the knife in her chest," Narcissa replied.
"I thought I was evil...I'm impressed," Regina replied.
"Mmm…I've waited even longer than you for my revenge. Now, tomorrow morning, you'll want to come by to witness my Oscar level performance when I run out of my shop screaming into Deputy Charming's arms," Narcissa said.
"As much as I'd love to think you could seduce him into your bed...I know him and I've tried to tempt him before. Maybe cursed it could be possible, but he is faithful to my wretched step-daughter to a fault," Regina warned.
"Well, then I guess I'll just have to drug him to get what I want and that's shattering my step-daughter's heart into a million pieces. But that comes later. First...we let them conduct their investigation and when the forensics comes back that it's Emma's fingerprints on that knife, we watch Snow go to pieces when her own husband is forced to put their baby girl in handcuffs," Narcissa said.
"Sadistic...I like it," Regina agreed.
"Once she's arrested, the Judge will be forced to throw out the custody case when your lawyer files a motion to dismiss," Narcissa said.
"Then I'll have everything I want. Emma will go to jail, Snow will be destroyed, and my son will be mine," Regina replied.
"I have helped you a great deal and I hope you'll hold up your end by helping me torture my niece. It's not enough for her to lose her daughter. I will take away her husband too and then lock her away so I can torture her for the rest of her days. You will help me," Narcissa said.
"O...of course. But wouldn't it be more fitting to let her live her insignificant life here in Storybrooke, with her memories and knowing that she'll never have her precious family?" Regina asked.
"No…" Narcissa spat.
"I want her to truly suffer. The things I plan for her aren't for the faint of heart. She will beg for death...but I will deny her only with more pain and horror," she hissed.
"Very well...once Emma's gone, I don't care what you do with her and her idiot husband," Regina replied.
"But your brat will. Make sure he stays out of my way, Regina...or bad things could happen," Narcissa warned. There was a pregnant pause on the other end of the line.
"H...Henry is not your concern and will not interfere. But perhaps you can leave Storybrooke after this is done. Take them with you...I'm sure you have a dark cellar for them somewhere in one of your mansions," Regina said. Narcissa smirked. The Queen felt threatened and she had every right to. Narcissa had no intentions of leaving Storybrooke until it was hers and once it was, it would become a true nightmare. But Regina didn't need to know that yet.
"I will give that some thought...you may be right. I must go now...I have a performance to prepare for," the blonde said, as she hung up the phone. Narcissa looked in one of her mirrors and gently primped her hair and pouted her red, lipstick colored lips.
"Soon...my darling little niece...soon you'll be under my heel and I shall make your life a living hell…" she promised.
Snow giggled, as her head poked out from under the bedclothes with his. Their skin was slowly cooling and they cuddled together, amidst the afterglow of their lovemaking.
"I love you so much…" she gushed, as he held her in his arms.
"And I love you...so much so that I can't stop showing you," he said, as he playfully wriggled his eyebrows at her. She giggled and kissed him again.
"Don't ever stop showing me," she whispered.
"I never want to be separated from you again...I know that not having any memories is the only way I was able to stand it this time," she added, before scoffing.
"What?" he asked.
"I just realized that I erased my own memory when I first thought you were going to marry Abigail and that we couldn't be together," she replied. He kissed her hand and then gently caressed her beautiful face.
"This was the last time...no more separations," he promised. But she looked skeptical. Not because she didn't believe him, but she didn't believe that Regina was done with them.
"I want to believe that, Charming...but she hates when I'm happy. She's not done trying to destroy us," she said.
"She's going to lose this time," he insisted.
"And we know that's when she's most dangerous," she fretted, as he held her flush against his chest.
"She'll do anything to take you away and this time, she'll probably let me remember, because she knows how much misery I would be in," she said.
"She also knows how much of a fighter you are. She's gone up against you and lost, more than once," he reminded her.
"She'd love to lock me up somewhere if she could. I know how her mind works. If she could get away with taking you away and then locking me up so she could taunt me for eternity, she'd do it," Snow said, as she was reminded of the horrible nurse at the hospital.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Just something I noticed at work earlier today. I never thought anything about when I was cursed, but there is a basement level to the hospital that no one is allowed to go into, except a few," Snow replied.
"It's locked?" he asked.
"There's a keypad that you need a code to access. I remember being cursed and seeing Regina go down there a couple times. I didn't even think about it then...but the nurse she has managing whatever is down there is definitely someone on her side," she replied.
"You think she's hiding something down there?" he asked. She shrugged.
"Definitely…I just have no idea what it would be. But I think I need to figure out how to get down there," she replied.
"Whoa...that sounds really dangerous," he protested.
"What if she's keeping people down there against their will? She's not above locking people away, we know that," she reminded him.
"I agree...I didn't say we shouldn't investigate. I just don't want you going by yourself," he said. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Come on...let's make dinner. I'm starving now," she said. He chuckled.
"Me too," he agreed, as they got dressed and went into the kitchen. Just as they were getting things out, they heard a knock at the door and she answered it.
"Emma…" she said, as a smile spread across her face.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"Of course! You know you're always welcome...you still have a key," Snow replied, as she let her in.
"I know...I just didn't want to interrupt in case you guys were...busy," she said, trying to ignore their wrinkled clothing. David couldn't help his chuckle and Snow flushed a little.
"We were just going to make dinner. You want some?" he asked. Emma perked up at the mention of food.
"Uh sure...I had a snack earlier at the dress shop, but I could eat," she replied, as he grabbed the bread, intending to make grilled cheese.
"The dress shop?" Snow asked curiously.
"Oh yeah...I needed to tell you anyway. That new owner called and reported an attempted break in," Emma replied.
"I can think of a few usual suspects that might be into that sort of thing," David said.
"Yeah...they didn't get in, but the lock was broken. So I dusted it for prints and sent them off to the lab. She offered some food while I was there so I had some. I can never resist New York bagels," Emma mentioned.
"So they broke in, but didn't take anything?" David asked suspiciously.
"Well, I think her alarm scared them off. I mean, she's from New York and brought a state of the art security system with her. Thief probably wasn't expecting that," Emma replied. David nodded.
"True…do we know anything about this woman? I mean, Henry was pretty insistent that people don't come to Storybrooke," he said. Emma scoffed.
"I love my son...but clearly that's not true. I came, August came, Neal came back with us and then Tamara. Clearly, people come here," she pointed out. He nodded, conceding her point.
"Why would a big-time New York fashion designer come here though?" Snow wondered, as tossed a salad.
"I asked that too, but she says they're expanding into rural areas and she decided she wanted some time away from the hectic city life so she decided to head up this store herself," Emma explained.
"I guess I can see that...the city definitely wasn't my thing for what little time we were there," David mentioned. Snow smiled and nudged him.
"You're just a farm boy at heart," she teased. He smiled.
"Guilty," he agreed, as Wilby now sat with Emma and was receiving pets and scratches.
"I can stop by her store in the morning on patrol and make sure everything is still secure," he said. Emma nodded.
"Thanks," she replied, as they started eating together.
"So...the trial starts in a few days," Snow mentioned.
"Uh yeah...Gold seems to think we have a good chance," Emma replied.
"Well, if there's anyone that can go up against Albert Spencer here, it's him," David said.
"Didn't you beat him too?" Emma asked curiously. Snow and David exchanged a glance.
"We did…" he replied.
"I think Gold is more equipped here to take him on in a courtroom, but we did take his Kingdom away from him," he added.
"Did they know you weren't your brother?" Emma asked curiously.
"For a while they didn't...just your mother knew and we eventually told Red. The dwarves aren't aware I don't think, but there were some soldiers that could tell I wasn't James and they still defected to our side," he said. Snow smiled and rubbed his shoulder.
"You inspired them," she said proudly.
"George was pretty tyrannical. There was probably more motivation in that," he said. She shook her head.
"No...he paid them well. It took something very inspirational and a show of courage to move them to action like that. They followed you as much as they followed me," she assured him. Emma watched them and became fascinated for a moment, as they smiled at each other. She was realizing, though it was an uncomfortable realization, that David saw himself as nothing at one point. She knew that all too well. But they were still different in that respect. Love had clearly saved him, but let her down time and again. She wasn't sure what assurance she had that love wouldn't fail her again, though it was getting hard to ignore and not react to the love she could see in their eyes when they looked at her. It was unnerving, but still gave her a warm feeling that she wasn't used to. Her first instinct was to push it away, because there was the potential for pain there. But then she realized that there was a lot of information she was missing before now.
When she used to imagine finding her parents, years ago, never did she imagine finding what she had found. She imagined hating them and telling them off. She also imagined their rejection and her fears of being unwanted confirmed. But none of that was what she had found.
Then there was Neal. Not everything was as it seemed there either. At one time, she would have never considered even talking to him again, let alone co-parenting the son they had together. Being on any kind of friendly terms with him wasn't something she considered to be a possibility just weeks ago. But here they were, suing for custody of him together. He had hurt her, but now she knew it wasn't because he didn't love her. It didn't make it any better, but now she knew it wasn't because she was unwanted.
Now she knew her parents didn't give her up, because they didn't want her; the opposite in fact, if she was ready to stop denying it and be honest. It didn't erase the pain, but it was slowly bringing her the closure she needed.
"So...you'll be at the trial?" Emma asked.
"Of course!" Snow replied.
"Emma...you're our world, even if it didn't seem like it," David said. Snow nodded.
"We didn't know anything about this world or what the curse would be like; only that we had to keep you safe from it or all would be lost, including you," she said, as she teared up and he put his arm around her.
"If I had known...maybe it would have been different," she said. There were a few moments of silence between them before Emma spoke.
"No…Regina did this. It's her fault...and the people that lied to you," Emma said. They looked up at her with hope in their eyes.
"I...I should get back to the Inn," she said.
"Or you could stay here," Snow called, almost desperately.
"The loft...it's yours," she added. Wilby whined and nudged her hand.
"Okay," she agreed simply, before going upstairs for the night with Wilby following her. Once she was up there and the door closed, Snow broke down in tears of joy and David swept her into a hug, crying with her.