Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time.
A Guest reviewer asked for jealous Charming this time. I hope I did it justice for you.
This takes place during Thomas and Ella's wedding reception - an expansion of the scene in 1X4
Once Upon a Snowing
Scandalous
His wife is a tease, Charming has concluded. Oh, not to other men. No, she has no interest in any others. She only has eyes for him, of course, just as he only has eyes for her. But he sees the way other men are looking at her. How can he not? He's looking at her like that too. But he's allowed. She's his, his wife, his true love, his princess. He's hers too. His. It goes the other way too. Her husband, her true love, her prince. Hers.
And while he loves Thomas and Ella and ecstatic to be attending their wedding reception, he detests these royal dances where it requires that they rotate partners.
Despite other dance partners, his eyes remain locked on his Snow, alluring and radiant in an orchid gown that he is positive is meant to drive him mad with want and lust.
A strapless ball gown...how is that even fair? Only his love would be so daring. Those perfect shoulders, the milky soft skin above her cleavage...he knows he has to stop, but he craves her and he will never stop craving her.
He's being rude, he knows. He's switched partners about four times now...maybe five, he doesn't know or care and has yet to acknowledge a one of them, except Ella, but she is a dear friend and not staring at him like he's something to eat.
Some men might find it flattering, but he doesn't. It's only unsettling to him, for he is so irrevocably in love with Snow White that wanting another doesn't even enter his mind and never will.
Infidelity is rather common among royalty, Snow tells him. It's all the arranged marriages and he shudders to think he was almost trapped in one. A life without Snow is no life he wants.
So when Snow's next partner pulls his wife much too close for his comfort, he feels a flash of jealousy. As the nobleman's hand, slides down her back, he resists the urge to reach for his sword. He's ready to barrel over there like a raging griffin and knock his block off. But he doesn't need to, as he sees the man grimace in pain. It's subtle and he sees Snow whisper something to him, before he quickly abandons their dance like he can't get away from her quickly enough. His jealousy ebbs away to curiosity, as his eyes watches her keep in step with the dance like nothing is amiss. He smiles, as his wife steals Ella away from her partner in favor of engaging in a highly unorthodox dance together.
She gives him a heated glance and he feels like the room is on fire. So she wants to escape this too. Her tactic of dancing with Ella works and she twirls her way back into his arms. He abandons his sixth rotation to pull her flush against him, ignoring the huffy woman's protest. He's being rude again. He could care less about anything else though when she's in his arms.
With bright smiles, they make their way to congratulate their dear friends. Marriage certainly suits them. It will suit Thomas and Ella as well.
"You know...I was about ready to march over and deck that Duke if his hand moved any lower on your back, but it seems I didn't need to," he mentioned. She smirked at him.
"You're not really jealous...are you?" she asked.
"I know you love me and only want me...but I detest these dances," he admitted. She grinned.
"I know...and if you must know, I did not take kindly to the Duke's unwanted advances either. I was just a bit more subtle than you would have been. A knee between the legs gets the message across quite clear without making a scene," she said. It is his turn to grin. Any initial jealousy is gone. She's his wife, his true love, and the sultry look on her face promised a demonstration.
They've been gifted a room in the royal guest wing of King Christopher's castle for the night, for their own castle is several hours journey by carriage.
They leave the ball, ascending the stairs for their room. It will ignite gossip again among the other royals and nobles. Snow and Charming leaving another royal ball early for their bed chambers. It's hardly new, just as scandalous, and neither could care in the slightest.