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: I think Regina will be on the wrong side for a while still. Glad you're enjoying!
Jennifer Baratta: Yep, big trouble ahead. Glad you're enjoying!
Number Ten: I'm glad Ruby is speaking up too. She may not remember Snow and David yet, but she's Ruby is definitely not judgemental. Emma is really stubborn, but she does make a bit of progress in this chapter. Yeah, I thought the stuffed wolf was a nice touch too. Glad you're enjoying!
Grace5231973: Nope, she just can't be happy with what she built for herself. We see flashbacks of how she fails in this chapter. Emma is stubborn, but she will soon make a bit of progress in coming chapters. Glad you're enjoying it!
Sexystarwarslover: Yep, Narcissa is not going to get away with trying to hurt Snow. Yep, Henry and Neal are home where they belong. Yeah, Neal is well on his way to forgiving his father, though I think no magic helps that along a bit. Yes, unfortunately, Tamara is in cahoots with Narcissa. I love that Ruby is standing up for them already, even without their memories too. Emma is stubborn and needs to believe, but fortunately, she does make some progress in coming chapters. Yeah, there's one piece of jewelry that Snow values above all and I love that Charming lives to make her happy. I miss Graham too. He did, they owe Graham a lot. Yep, Narcissa's intentions are dastardly. Glad you're enjoying!
AnonSnowing: You're welcome on the face claim! I know, she found her parents and now she's acting like this. I think it's because this is how she planned on having to act. She thought they dumped her and didn't care so she was ready to be defensive and lash out at them. Except she faces the reality that it wasn't like that and doesn't know how to not be mad at them now. Yep, Tamara is tied to Narcissa and now Regina is in cahoots with her. I love now well Henry took to Neal too. Yep, she can tell they are not cursed anymore and there is more to her. We'll discover that through flashbacks. Yeah, even cursed, Ruby isn't judgemental and can see that Emma pushing them away is doing more harm than good. Yep, cinnamon rolls are probably a favorite in the Charming family. Charming is so Charming! And their ring survived the curse. Yep, Graham might be the key to getting her to believe. There is another little surprise in this chapter too and more of one in chapter 21. Yep, Narcissa is up to no good with Regina now. Glad you're enjoying it!
Clarity
Chapter 20: Scar Tissue
Emma trekked through the cemetery and came to Graham's headstone. She hadn't been there since he died and tried to push away the budding feelings she had been developing for him. Acknowledging those feelings made all of this real and she wasn't ready for that.
"They want me to believe that you're a hero; that you're basically one of the reasons I'm even here," she said, as she sat down before the grave.
"Supposedly, you spared my mother and then later you saved my father, allowing him to escape to find her. I keep telling myself that's all nonsense," she added.
"But if all this is real...then everything I knew about my life is crap," she said tearfully.
"I started to let you in...and you died. Every time I let my walls down, people die or leave me. Why am I supposed to think they'll be different?" she choked.
"They already tossed me into a wardrobe and I'm supposed to believe they want me now?" she asked.
"Or is it the curse? How do I know that's not what they're really after. I break the curse and defeat Regina for them. Then what? We're a family? Because I don't see how that's possible," she ranted, as she wiped her tears away.
"I break the curse...and they're not going to need me then," she added, as she heard a rustling of the leaves and noticed that it was a dog. He looked a little scraggly and dirty. She opened her hand and he immediately came to her.
"Hey there...you look homeless," she said, as she looked around. He had no tags and the shelter was already closed. She sighed and decided to take him with her to get him some food.
Thanks to her husband, Snow's worries and stress melted away in the moment, as he made love to her.
"David…" she breathed passionately, as he pinned her beneath his hard body and brought her unspeakable pleasure. She mewled into his kiss and writhed, as his hips rose and fell on hers. She raked her nails along his back, as his lips trailed down her throat and then to her chest. Their fingers entwined, as he pinned her arms above her head and chased completion with her. Her emerald eyes were lidded and she stared up at his handsome face with love and desire. Her husband was gorgeous, from head to toe, and watching the emotion on his face made her heart flutter. The pure love and emotion he had for her made her want to weep. She was no longer alone and even though things were far from perfect with their daughter, they were finally together again and that meant everything to her. And maybe she was being a bit petty, but she took satisfaction in knowing that while her sexy husband was in bed with her, making love to her, and would hold her all night, Regina was alone in a cold, empty bed. She had done her best to see that Mary Margaret was always alone, but the tables had finally turned again on her and Regina was forced to sow what she had reaped. That being said, she knew that it would only make Regina more dangerous as a result, but she couldn't be bothered to care at that moment since she felt like she was flying, thanks to him.
"Charming!" she cried out, as she hit her climax and he was only seconds behind her. They collapsed together, limbs entwined and pressed together in the aftermath of lovemaking. She gently caressed his handsome face and he kissed her palm.
"What are you thinking?" he whispered. She smiled.
"About how much I love you...how much I missed you, even if I couldn't figure out what I was missing when I was cursed. But it was you...guess that's why I kept coming to your room when I was at the hospital," she mentioned. He smiled and pressed his forehead against hers.
"She failed, Snow...she couldn't destroy our love. That's not possible…" he promised.
"And our family?" Snow asked.
"She'll come around...I know it," he promised. She nodded. She wanted to believe that, but she was impatient. He always seemed to have this well of patience that she admired and sometimes infuriated her. She snuggled against him and he kissed her hair and with arms around each other, they fell asleep.
Many Years Ago
Narcissa's carriage opened and she allowed the footman to help her down. Leopold's castle was grand, but not as grand as hers in her opinion.
"Eva!" she called, as she arrived in her sister's Throne room.
"Narcissa! It's so good to see you!" Eva called, as she greeted her with a hug.
"Oh my...you're even bigger now," she mentioned, noticing the significant swell in her sister's belly. She was growing the very thing that threatened her status and she couldn't wait to be rid of it.
"Well…I'm entering the final arc. I'm told I will get bigger much more quickly now," Eva said.
"Leopold must be thrilled...where is the King?" she asked.
"He is...but I'm afraid he is traveling and tending to a dispute among some of the farmers," Eva replied.
"Sounds like something that is beneath him," Narcissa commented.
"Leopold likes to deal with these kinds of issues himself. He thinks sending advisors in his stead is disingenuous. It is, after all, the farmers that keep us all fed," Eva said.
"I suppose…" Narcissa replied flippantly. Eva cleared her throat.
"I've heard there is a problem with the farms in the north. There are rumblings that our Kingdom could experience famine. The winter so far has ravaged the land...and we have many months of it left," she mentioned.
"It will be fine...they'll figure it out. It's what they do, right?" Narcissa said, brushing it off. Eva was still very concerned about the state of her Kingdom, but she let it go for now.
"Now...let's have some tea, shall we?" Narcissa asked, as she snapped her fingers and the servants went to prepare it. She clutched the potion vial in her pocket and smirked deviously.
"Oh dear...girls, we must go now," Flora, the red fairy, said. She was the oldest, even older than Reul Ghorm, and despite their squabbles, she was still head fairy.
"Go where?" Fauna, the peridot fairy and Flora's right hand, asked.
"To Queen Eva...I'm afraid her unborn is in danger," Flora answered.
"I thought Queen Eva was under Ruel Ghorm's jurisdiction," Merryweather, another blue fairy, reminded her.
"And after her debacle with the Black Fairy, I don't trust her to do right by Queen Eva. Her offspring...will be very special," Flora said.
"Not if Queen Narcissa has anything to do with it," Fauna said, as she looked at the scene in Flora's viewing pond. Merryweather curiously came to see what they were looking at.
"Ooohhh...someone should teach that woman a lesson. Why is she trying to hurt her sister's baby?" Merryweather asked.
"I'm afraid it has all been decreed that Queen Eva's child will be the fairest in all the lands and her vain Aunt is threatened by that," Flora said.
"Hardly a reason to hurt the babe," Merryweather protested.
"We agree on that, but Queen Narcissa is deeply flawed," Flora said.
"What will we do?" Fauna asked.
"We must stop her from poisoning her sister's tea. We will then give her a warning to change her ways," Flora replied.
"And if she doesn't?" Fauna asked.
"Then I'm afraid we will have to take more...drastic measures," Flora replied. With that, the three shrank to their fairy size in a display of colorful sparks and descended to earth.
David looked through the listings and it was slim pickings in the hiring department. He did see that the Rabbit Hole was looking for a security guard. Apparently, there had been an uptick in violent incidents there, which he knew to be true since he had been involved in one. He decided that he would apply. It wasn't ideal, but he was more than qualified for it.
"Great...thank you. I'll see you then," Snow said, as she hung up the phone.
"Good news?" he asked.
"I have an interview at the hospital this afternoon," she said excitedly.
"That's great!" he said, as he hugged her.
"It's only minimum wage, but it's mostly what I was doing as a volunteer, plus some menial tasks like filing. But it's something," she said. He kissed her forehead.
"You're going to do great," he said.
"If I get it," she replied.
"You will...and I think I'm going to apply for the security position at the Rabbit Hole. It's not really what I want, but it's something in the meantime," he said.
"That's great...and you'll find something even more worthy of your skills in no time," she assured him, as they shared a kiss.
"Let's go get breakfast together at Granny's and then I'll walk you to the hospital before I go apply at the Rabbit Hole," he suggested. She smiled and let him help her with her coat.
"That sounds like a great idea," she agreed, as they joined hands and left the apartment for the day.
Narcissa looked at her new store that morning with a pleased smile. Her crew that she had hired from the available workers in Storybrooke had been in and out quickly. Now, her store was ready for business. The bell rang and she walked out of her office, only to find Regina standing there.
"Well…Madam Mayor, welcome to Blake Fashions," she said, as the dark haired woman looked around.
"A definite improvement from the former...though do you think you have enough mirrors?" Regina commented. One thing that was very noticeable was that the walls were all lined with mirrors so that you could see yourself at almost every angle. It was...a bit strange, but this woman was a fashion icon, after all, which begged the question as to why she was in a place like Storybrooke. Nevermind how either.
"The mirror is the window to beauty," Narcissa replied. Regina smirked.
"I have always found them useful, I suppose," she said.
"Like spying on your step-daughter?" Narcissa asked and the other woman frowned.
"Then you know…" she said.
"I should...I'm from there," Narcissa replied.
"How? I know of you...you're a world famous fashion icon," Regina said.
"Oh, that's a long story for another time," Narcissa replied.
"Why are you here?" Regina asked.
"That's complicated as well...but trust me, I want to make my niece pay as much as you," Narcissa replied. Regina's eyes widened.
"Your niece?" she asked. Narcissa nodded.
"What did she do to you?" Regina asked curiously.
"She was born," Narcissa replied simply. Regina processed that information for a moment.
"And how do you plan to make her pay?" Regina asked.
"Killing her isn't enough. I tried that...but then I realized that her dying isn't enough punishment. But hurting her family...now that will inflict unimaginable pain," Narcissa replied.
"I ripped her family away...and then she got them back," Regina said.
"Her husband maybe...but her daughter isn't ready to accept her," Narcissa replied.
"Then you want to go after Emma," Regina said, as an evil glint appeared in her eyes.
Narcissa smirked.
"For starters...are you in?" the blonde asked.
"Oh, I'm in...but seriously, what did she do to you?" Regina asked curiously. Narcissa stood up and stared into one of her mirrors.
"Before she was born...my mirror told me every day that I was the fairest in all the realms," she said.
"And then my sister became pregnant with her and my mirror told me that she would be the fairest of them all…" Narcissa said bitterly.
"That's why you hate her?" Regina asked, almost comically. Narcissa glared at her.
"I am the fairest and when she was born...I lost everything," Narcissa said. Clearly, Regina could tell the woman was unhinged and she was certain there had to be more to it than that. She didn't care, obviously. Snow still had to pay, but she was curious about the whole thing.
"Let's get a coffee before you open and you can tell me everything," Regina suggested. Narcissa nodded and she began her story.