Spooky- part 2

beth1980 asked for a oneshot of a sequel to Ch587 "Spooky" where the family find James in the Underworld. Emma talks with him about him being her imaginary friend. Snowing are part of the conversation. James then moves on and is reunited with his biological parents. Combined with FanOfMost's request to have Emma see a picture of Ruth and recognises her as the woman who pushed her on the swing when nobody else was there.

"So if Snow White's in town, I'm guessing that means my brother is too." James said, leaning cockily against the countertop. Snow leaned back from her husband's twin. He was nothing like David. "If you see old Dave, tell him there's a new sheriff in town-"

"Tell him yourself." James turned round and smirked.

"Ah, so there he is. My darling brother." David held his arms wide open. "No family reunion? Snow and I were just getting acquainted…"

"Keep your filthy paws off my wife…"

"Mom, dad, I…" Emma came into Granny's and stopped in her tracks when she saw James. "James." She said. James smile faltered. He hadn't expected to see Emma.

"Ah." He said. "Emma." Emma went to move forward, but Charming held his hand out, halting her.

"Emma." He said in a warning tone. Emma placed her hand over his.

"It's ok." She told him, looking back at James. "We already know each other." David then reluctantly let Emma move forward. She approached James, staying a foot or so away. "I didn't know you were stuck here." She said. James shrugged.

"You grew up, kid. You stopped believing in magic. I stopped being able to visit you. I remained, to you, a figment of your imagination." James explained. "I had no way of knowing that you were safe. My brother and I may never have been destined to get on, but you…you were like me. You felt the same way I felt as I was raised by George. I got you. I liked you." James then actually smiled. "I'm glad to see you're ok." Emma smiled back. She was about to ask about his unfinished business was when there was a tremor in the middle of the diner. Suddenly, a stairway appeared. James looked behind him. Emma. Emma had been his unfinished business, not Emma.

"Go." Emma told him, glad she could help. "Go, your parents are waiting." James smiled at her one last time before, he even gave a small smile to David before going up the stairs. He could leave the Underworld for good.

Later, the family would recount the story for Henry.

"He'll be with your parents now." Henry explained, flicking to a picture of them in the book. Emma smiled, looking over his shoulder. Suddenly, she gasped.

"What mom?" Henry asked her. Emma's eyes were wide with horror. She reached down and pointed at Ruth.

"I saw her in my childhood too." Emma croaked. "She pushed me on the swings a lot as a kid when nobody else was around." Charming just about choked on thin air. Emma had met his mother?