7:15 AM AU - Things go a bit differently in the cabin during 7:15 AM. With memories returned, how will this change things?
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're enjoying it!
Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it.
Number Ten: Nope, someone else had something against Eva and for a very vain reason. Glad you're enjoying!
Maaikek: Thanks, glad you like it so far. Hope you continue to read. Snowing is the best and I love writing season 1 AU's where Snowing wakes up before everyone else. Glad you think the love scenes were hot too. :)
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, a new stranger in Storybrooke. I know, poor Snow is always blaming herself. Yeah, those scenes in the pilot are still heartbreaking. I know, more stubborn Emma. No, no relation to the one from Enchanted. This is an original character. Yep, Snow has a very vain aunt with a magic mirror. Yep, Snowing is going to Miner's Day together. Definitely...they have to hope Emma will come around eventually. Yep, I'm sure you have suspicions to the identity of this stranger. Glad you're enjoying!
AnonSnowing: Me too. I thought it was a good scene to go over what they were thinking in that moment with Emma. Maybe to help her understand how they truly thought the world was ending. Yes, I think Snow knew Regina would kill her. She was at her worst at that time. They did what they had to do. Yep, Heartbreaking is the word for all of it. Yep, Eva had a sister, who like Sidney, is a bit obsessed with mirrors. Yeah, most of the time, it probably doesn't bring a person humility, but in Eva's case it did. It did not for her sister, obviously. Narcissa is an original character, but based on the versions of the Evil Queen where her vanity caused her to do all those horrible things. Yep, Snow loved cinnamon, even in the womb. Yeah, I think she's mostly like Eva. Yes, Snow lives and we'll learn about all the ways Narcissa failed and how she ended up in the Land Without Magic eventually. Yeah, David is so Charming. Yeah, he's having a bit of insecurity about their friendship. Yep, the blonde woman is probably who you think it is. Glad you're enjoying it! Yep, plot twist. ;)
Clarity
Chapter 18: Miner Complications, Pt 1
"So...what's the point of this thing again?" Emma asked, as she walked along the sidewalk with her son. He shrugged.
"I don't know really...just curse stuff I guess. It's to celebrate the town's founding by the miners, but that didn't really happen," Henry replied.
"You know, there are mines under the town. You fell into one," Emma reminded him.
"Those are dwarf mines," he countered.
"Dwarf mines...right," Emma said stiffly.
"You know it's true now," he said.
"Henry," she started to protest.
"But you're still in denial," he added. She huffed.
"Okay fine...then if I'm supposed to break the curse, how do I do that?" Emma asked. He shrugged.
"I don't know...it just says that you do. Even Mr. Gold can't see how," Henry replied.
"Which makes no sense...and why me?" Emma asked. He sighed.
"Because you're the product of true love and true love can break any curse, just like Gramps broke the sleeping curse on Grams," he explained.
"Well...then why can't they break it? Sounds like they've done it before," Emma said. He shook his head.
"It doesn't work that way. That was a sleeping curse and this curse was designed so only the Savior can break it," Gold interjected, as he approached with Neal. She sighed.
"Yeah and besides, Grams and Gramps kiss all the time so it would have broken already if they were the ones that could do it," Henry added.
"He definitely has a point," David said, chuckling, as he and Snow approached as well. Emma refused to meet eyes with Mary Margaret and instead focused on her son.
"Well...then I'm about to be a huge disappointment to everyone, because I don't know how to break the curse and I'm not sure I even want to," she said, as she stalked off, but not before almost colliding with Tamara.
"Sorry," he said, as she blew past her.
"Is she okay?" Tamara asked, as she sided up to Neal.
"Uh yeah...we just disagree about some things, but she'll come around," Neal replied.
"Is this about custody arrangements?" Tamara asked.
"Uh no...we're on the same page when it comes to custody," Neal replied.
"Then Emma is going to move to New York?" Tamara asked.
"Move to New York?" Mary Margaret interjected.
"Uh no...Emma's not moving to New York," Neal assured her.
"But baby...this is a nice town, but we're going to eventually have to go home," Tamara said.
"Yeah...can we talk for a minute?" he asked, as he prodded her off to the side, leaving Snow, David, and Gold with Henry.
"She's trouble," Snow muttered.
"Agreed," Gold said.
"We don't know that yet...I mean, it's natural for her to not get why Neal might want to stay here now," David reasoned.
"Trust me dearie...she knows more than she's letting on. I know people and that one needs to find her way out of town as soon as possible," Gold said.
"I agree...but she is engaged to your son. This could be messy," Snow replied.
"Probably...but Neal's not leaving. He won't do that to Henry. He knows that they both belong here," David assured her.
"I hope you're right," Gold said.
Regina seethed, as she watched her son with them. She couldn't believe that she had no choice but to let them have visitation. Henry had always spent Miner's Day with her, but things had drastically changed. There were now outsiders in her town, Mary Margaret was no longer alone and miserable, and her son's biological family now surrounded him. And it had to be them...the two idiots and her former mentor. His grandparents. It made her sick thinking about it.
"Regina…" Kathryn said, as she approached.
"Hello Kathryn...this must be hard for you, seeing them here together," Regina replied.
"Actually...it's not that bad," Kathryn said. Regina's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?" she questioned.
"Well…I've had a lot of time to think and I mean, look at them. Even in our best days, David never looked at me the way he does her. And I deserve to be looked at like that," Kathryn said.
"Of course you do...that's why we have to fix this. They don't belong together. He belongs with you," Regina insisted.
"No...he doesn't. Look at them," Kathryn said again, as they saw the pair with wide smiles for each other. They were practically dancing in the middle of the street in their own little world. It made her want to vomit.
"I'd rather not," she seethed.
"If you knew about David being in a coma at the hospital...why didn't you tell me sooner than you did?" Kathryn asked. Regina's brows furrowed again.
"What? I did...I called you as soon as I found out," she insisted.
"But you were his emergency contact. You would have known the moment he was brought in and yet he was labeled a John Doe. He was there for years," Kathryn said. Her eyes narrowed.
"Who told you this?" Regina asked.
"David and Mary Margaret pointed it out," Kathryn replied. She clenched her teeth.
"Of course they did...they are putting lies in your head," Regina said.
"Or maybe you are. I'm letting David go...why can't you let it go too? They're happy and I'm going to find happiness now too. David and I aren't right for each other," Kathryn replied.
"But you are," Regina insisted.
"No...the whole reason he was in the accident is that he was leaving me after a huge fight! Why are you insisting that we should be together when he wants her. They're happy," Kathryn said.
"Well, she shouldn't be!" Regina snapped and Kathryn recoiled.
"She's a monster…" she hissed, as she glared at her step-daughter.
"She's the tramp that stole your husband and gave my little boy that book that filled his head with delusions. She needs to pay and you're going to help me make her," Regina insisted. But Kathryn shook her head.
"No…I'm not," the blonde said, as she walked away.
"Kathryn…" Regina called, but her call wasn't yielded. She had lost complete control now. Her plan to frame Mary Margaret for Kathryn's murder was now no longer a viable or believable plan. But this wouldn't stand and she would come up with another way to destroy her. She had not come this far, only to have everything unravel. She turned and nearly bumped into a blonde woman. Her eyes narrowed to slits.
"Who the hell are you?" Regina asked. She couldn't believe it...this woman was not a part of her curse either. Another outsider and she was at a loss as to explain it. The woman smirked.
"Someone who hates that little retch as much as you," the woman cooed, as she walked away. Regina watched her go, reeling from her answer. She had no idea what to make of this, but if this mysterious woman hated Snow too...then she was an ally.
"What did you want to talk about?" Tamara asked, as they found a quiet place.
"Listen…I know that all of this is really new and out of the blue…" he started to say. Tamara smiled and squeezed his hand.
"It's okay Neal, I get that you have to hang around this town until the trial is over and if you're worried about not getting custody, don't be. I think your chances are very good," she replied.
"Thanks...but that's not everything," he said, as he took a deep breath.
"The thing is...I need to move here. For good," he said. She blanched.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I know this is sudden...but this is Henry's home and he doesn't want to leave it," Neal replied.
"Neal...I get that it will be a difficult transition for Henry, but we have a life in New York! And I'm sure once he gets adjusted, it will be fine, you'll see that," she insisted.
"It's a lot more complicated than that. My Dad is here...and Emma has family here too," he said.
"You told me that Emma was an orphan; that she had been abandoned as a baby," Tamara recalled. He stared at her with wide eyes. Crap...he had told her that.
"Yeah...but Mary Margaret is like family to her and I know she doesn't want to leave her," Neal explained.
"Emma can barely look at Mary Margaret lately. She doesn't approve of her torrid relationship with a married man," Tamara pointed out.
"It's not torrid and David is divorced now. Believe me, Emma will mend her relationship with her...Mary Margaret and Henry adores them too. They're family to him as well," he said. She shook her head.
"I don't understand any of this," she refuted.
"I know...it's hard, but staying here in Storybrooke is absolutely what's best for my son," he said.
"And...things are slowly mending between my father and me," he added.
"You told me that you hated your father! Tamara said.
"Things change!" he exclaimed. She huffed.
"Well...then I guess you have a choice to make, because I'm not moving here, Neal. We can have a good life in New York...with your son. Emma can either come or not, I don't care. But if you win custody...then you need to move back to New York with me, because I'll be going with or without you," she said, as she stormed off. He sighed and put on a brave face, as Henry waved him over excitedly. He joined his son and didn't let on that anything was amiss.
Many Years Ago
Queen Narcissa wrinkled her nose in disgust, as her carriage rode through one of the poor villages in her Kingdom. The royal coffers were nearly empty, yet she continued her lavish spending on frivolity. Her court was urging her to marry so there could be a merger, but none of the suitors appealed to her. They were either handsome and vain like her, which meant they would be focused on themselves instead of her. And the ones willing to shower her with everything were usually old and or ugly.
Add to that, her sister's due date grew closer and the more it did, the more unhinged she became. The moment her niece drew breath, she would become the fairest in the land and it was driving Narcissa insane. Everyday since she had found out, she asked her mirror the same question, now sometimes two or three times a day, hoping for a different answer. But the mirror's answer remained unchanged. She was the fairest in all the lands, but her niece would soon usurp her. So today, she had set out to do something about it.
Her carriage arrived at its destination and she emerged, causing gasps among the peasants. Queen Narcissa rarely left the comforts and safety of her castle, so it was a rare occurrence when she did.
"Where is she, footman? Where is this witch you promised could help me?" she demanded of him.
"Her message assured me she would be here, My Queen. As long as we provided the gold for her trip. She is coming from Dunbroch, after all," he said.
"She'll have her gold," Narcissa snapped, as there was a cackle from one of the traveling stands at the edge of the marketplace.
"I'd rather have some of those baubles you're wearing," the witch said.
"My diamonds?" the Queen asked.
"You do want a solution to your problem, do you not?" the witch questioned. Narcissa reluctantly parted with two of her large diamond rings.
"My magic mirror insists that once my niece is born...that I will no longer be the fairest in all the land," Narcissa confessed.
"How troubling…" the witch said, though by her tone, it was easy to tell that she meant that snidely.
"She must never be born!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"My, my...such hatred for a child and all because she might be prettier than you?" the witch asked.
"I am the fairest of all!" Narcissa shouted.
"No one can take that from me...can you help me or not?" she asked. The witch took a long pause and then produced a vial of sickly green liquid.
"See that this makes it into your sister's tea on her next visit...and it will cause her to miscarry," the witch said. Narcissa smirked deviously and looked at the vial.
"But be warned...killing a child will darken your heart beyond repair," the witch warned.
"I'm not killing a child...I'm killing a little mongrel," Narcissa insisted, as she got back into her carriage and was off again with a satisfied smirk. Once her sister drank her tea laced with this potion...her place as fairest in the land would be secure once again...