Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time
AN: This is a sequel to chapter 14, I Love Your Darkness Too. Snow is the Dark One and despite the warnings, Charming refuses to stay away from his wife. Regina worries that Snow is sucking Charming into the darkness with her and a trip to Camelot may be the only way to rid her of the darkness. But will she come willingly?
Once Upon a Snowing
Unconditional
"Where the hell have you been?!" Regina demanded, as David arrived home at the loft. He had left Neal in the capable hands of Granny, but she had clearly left once Emma arrived home after his vague text that he would be out all night.
"I texted Emma," he said.
"I was still worried, Dad," Emma said.
"I'm sorry for worrying you, but I'm fine," he said, as he took Neal from her.
"That still doesn't answer the question of where you were," Regina snapped and he glared at her.
"Last time I checked, I don't have to answer to my mother-in-law," David snapped back. But Regina smirked and crossed her arms.
"I knew it...you were with her. I can smell her perfume on you from here...and anyone could spot that hickey on your neck from a mile away," Regina accused.
"Regina..." Emma said in exasperation.
"I don't think that's our business, love," Hook added.
"It is when she's the Dark One," Regina refuted.
"She's my wife!" David snapped.
"She's the Dark One!" Regina snapped back. Neal whimpered and he gently rocked him, as he held his little head. Regina sighed.
"David...I know this is hard for you, but Snow is not herself," Regina said softly.
"You don't know anything," David spat.
"Wow...she literally screwed what little brains you have right out of you," Regina countered, as he glared at her.
"She said you'd do this...she said you'd tell me she's bad for me now. She was right," he said, as he started packing the baby bag with one hand.
"I know first hand how seductive the darkness is. It's sucking her in and she's sucking you right in with her. Don't let her suck your son in too!" Regina exclaimed.
"Our son...he is our son," David spat back.
"Mate...perhaps it would be best if the young prince stays with Swan and I," Hook chimed in. David snorted.
"Oh yeah...you'd like that. You hate the Dark One, so you'd just love to deprive my wife of her child," David spat.
"That's not what I meant..." Hook tried to explain.
"Then what are you saying? You know, for two people that used to be evil, you sure as hell aren't very understanding. Snow may be the Dark One, but she hasn't done half the crap the two of you have! She hasn't done anything! She saved me last night and she could have killed those men that were about to attack me, but she didn't. I convinced her not to! She's still good..." David insisted.
"If that's true, then she won't have a problem coming here and helping us get the darkness out. Belle thinks if we can travel to Camelot and find Merlin, that he can help us," Regina reasoned. David sighed.
"I'll tell her and I know she'll be relieved. She wants to get the darkness out too," he replied.
"You're a poor liar, Charming. She likes the darkness, you know that deep down," Regina replied.
"Well, you would know all about darkness, I guess. But I love Snow...I love all of her, no matter what that means," he hissed, as he gathered his bags.
"You were responsible for taking away one of our children," he said, glancing at Emma.
"Are you going to take this one from us too?" David hissed. Regina was visibly startled by his words and stepped aside, as he leaned over and kissed Emma on the head.
"She wants to see you too. She misses you. Text me if you and Henry want to come," he whispered, as he hurried out with Neal in his arms.
"She's sucking your father in with her. This is bad," Regina warned.
"He just doesn't want to be separated from her again and who knows, maybe Dad will keep her grounded in the light," Emma reasoned.
"Oh yes, because that worked so well for Gold and Belle," Regina snapped.
"Don't compare my mother to Gold," Emma snapped back.
"This is getting us no where," Hook intervened.
"He's right. We need to go to Camelot and find Merlin. And I have a feeling that there may be only one way to get your mother to come," Regina said, as purple smoke swirled in her hand and when it cleared, there was a black cuff in her palm.
"How do you plan to get that thing on Snow?" Hook asked.
"I don't...but you can," Regina said, looking at Emma, who looked horrified.
"Regina...you want me to betray my parents?" Emma exclaimed.
"This will be for their own good...they'll understand once we've found a way to purge the darkness from Snow. They'll probably even thank you!" Regina said.
"That's an awful lot of assumptions," Hook mentioned and she glared at the pirate.
"Well, I don't see anyone else coming up with any brilliant ideas," she snapped, as she looked back at Emma.
"This may be the only way to get your mother back to herself," Regina said, as she handed the cuff to Emma.
"I'm not doing it. I'll convince her another way," Emma refused, as she tossed the cuff back at Regina and stormed out.
"There's my boys," Snow cooed, as they came through the door. Charming smiled, as she took their son in her arms and he touched her face.
"Oh my handsome boy," she cooed, as she kissed his head and then turned to Charming, kissing him on the lips.
"And my handsome man," she purred.
"You were right...she said all the things you said she would," he mentioned, as she took his hand and she poofed a playpen for Neal with some toys and put him down in it. Then she turned back to him and cupped his face in her hands.
"I am the Dark One. She might have a point," she fretted.
"No...you haven't done anything and I don't care! You're my wife and I will never abandon you, no matter what," he insisted. She hugged him, clinging tightly to him, as Rumplestiltskin stared her down. She closed her eyes and let him fill her senses and when she opened them again, the imp was gone again.
"Everything's going to be okay...as long as we're together. Regina may have tried to keep us apart in the past, but she won't this time," Snow insisted.
"They've found something...in their research. They think they know how to get the darkness out now," he mentioned.
"Mmm...maybe we don't need to," Snow replied. He looked confused.
"Think about it, Charming. I have this power now. I don't have to use it for bad things. We can have everything we always dreamed of," she tempted. He smiled.
"Don't you know? I already have everything I've ever wanted. You...you and our children...and our grandchild," he reminded.
"Power has never been something I've wanted," he reminded.
"I know...but there's always been people trying to hurt us or keep us apart. With this power now...nothing can do that. No one will harm you as long as I am the Dark One," she justified.
"Is that why you're worried? Is that why you're afraid to give up this power?" he asked.
"No...I'm not afraid," she said a little too quickly. He caressed her cheek.
"It's all right to be scared, my darling. I get scared too, but you and I have never lived in fear before and I don't think we should start now," he said.
"I...I just can't lose you," she replied. He kissed her tenderly.
"You won't lose me. They think the answers we need are in Camelot," he said, as Rumple appeared again.
"Mmm...Camelot. The home of Excalibur. You want to make your beloved immortal without the darkness...Excalibur is the answer," Rumple hissed.
"Okay..." she uttered. He looked at her in surprise. He thought it might be a little harder to convince her, but she was still his Snow and that made his heart swell. He grinned at her.
"Okay," he said, as he picked their son up.
"Looks like we're going to Camelot, little man," he cooed, as Neal yawned. As they put their son down for a nap together, Snow watched him with their son, relishing his love and tenderness. They watched their baby sleep for quite some time and she watched him, soaking him up.
"They'll take him away..." Rumple hissed.
"No...never..." Snow hissed back.
"The Queen did it before...she'll do it again," Rumple goaded.
"Anyone touches him or my son...and they die," Snow thought darkly. The imp's laugh filled her head.
"Yes...kill all that oppose you. See if he still stands by your side when bodies litter the ground around you," Rumple hissed.
"He is mine...no one will take him from me," Snow growled.
"If you say so," he said in a sing-song voice. But she banished him and focused on the man beside her. The imp was wrong. Charming would always be beside her, no matter what. But she felt the need for reassurance.
"Thank you," she said. He smiled.
"For what?" he asked.
"For...everything. I'm the Dark One...but you're the only one not treating me any differently," she replied. He took her hands in his own.
"You're my wife...that hasn't changed. I meant it when I told you that I love all of you. My love for you is unconditional," he stressed.
"So if there isn't a way...to get the darkness out, then you'll still love me?" she asked.
"Of course," he insisted.
"Even if...when I slip up?" she asked.
"You won't, but yes, even then. What must I do to convince you?" he asked. She caressed his face.
"Nothing...you already have. But...I'd never say no to some...reassurance," she tempted. He grinned and pulled her into a passionate kiss. In a puff of smoke, they were in the bedroom and he gazed at her in awe, as she was clad in only a black satin bra and panties. Excitement rippled through him, as she tore his shirt open and she smirked.
"I keep ruining your shirts," she teased.
"You can fix them later," he answered and she smirked again.
"Yes, I can. Or perhaps I'll just make you a new wardrobe. You know, I love when you wear all leather like you did back in our land. It's my second favorite thing on you," she purred, as she ran her hands possessively over his naked torso.
"What's the first?" he asked, feeling another jolt of pure arousal, as she gave him an almost predatory look and waved her hand.
"Why...nothing, of course," she leered, as he stood completely bare before her. He stumbled back onto the bed and she straddled his lap.
"Snow..." he moaned, as she lightly bit his neck.
"Mine..." she hissed possessively in his ear, her breath making his eyes roll back.
"Yes..." he uttered. It was the last coherent word he uttered for some time, though his wife drew some quite undignified noises from him, sounds she knew only she could coax from him. Much later, she watched her love sleep peacefully and sated. Waving her hand, she became clad in a black satin robe and checked their sleeping son. While her boys slept, she would work on her research. She may have been the dark one now, but magic was brand new to her and she needed to be ready.
"I was right...you screwed any sense he had right out of him. But you always were his weakness," Regina said, as she now stood beside the bed.
"How the hell did you get in here?" Snow hissed.
"I knew Charming wouldn't see reason when it came to you and he'd be back for the baby," Regina replied. Regina clutched her throat, as Snow cut off her airway.
"You put a tracking spell on my son..." Snow growled.
"I'm here to help you..." Regina pleaded.
"Lies..." Snow hissed, as her own airway was suddenly restricted.
"You may be the Dark One...but you're still a beginner with magic," Regina rasped, as they choked each other, until Snow released her, to which she released Snow in return.
"What do you want?" Snow demanded to know, lowering her voice, as Charming stirred.
"To save you from yourself...and your family. I know the darkness and it will cost you everything," Regina said.
"That's where you're wrong. Charming loves me, even as the Dark One. Besides, we're going to Camelot, so you're getting your way," Snow shot back.
"Then you're agreeing to come?" Regina asked in surprise.
"Yes...now leave, before you wake up Charming or Neal," Snow replied. Regina smiled and clutched the cuff in her pocket. Perhaps she wouldn't need it, after all. But she would have it ready, just in case.
"I'm proud of you, Snow. Saying no to the darkness takes a lot of strength," Regina said, as she disappeared.
"She'll be watching you. That one will not be so easy fooled. She knows the darkness," Rumple taunted.
"Leave me alone," Snow growled, as she opened the magic books she had acquired from Belle's collection, unknowingly of course. She glanced back at her sleeping husband.
"No one will take you away from me again, my love," she said, as she held the dagger, which was emblazoned with her name.
"I'll make sure of it," she promised.