A/N: And so the real story starts. I want to dedicate this chapter to my friend MayorIsHot who helped me make sure this chapter actually made sense and let me know that it isn't complete crap. If you haven't already, check out her story 'Stirrings and Coffee.' It's a truly fantastic read and the chapter 12 update is just plain frakin' hot! As always, reviews are much appreciated!
Happily Ever After, Kinda.
Chapter One
A bright, blinding light filled her vision and sent needles of pain lancing throughout her skull. She shuffled under the covers trying to find some relief in the relative darkness. Gods, how much did I have to drink last night? A small groan of pain escaped a clenched jaw as she tried to think back through the previous day. Apparently even thinking exacerbated her hangover.
It had been another slow day at the station. With a town of only 10 people, there really wasn't much for her to do. Ever. So she'd sat back and got comfortable at her desk and let the silence fill her. Allowing her mind to wander freely, something she wasn't usually too keen on, she had not been surprised when it stopped to reflect on her feelings for the town's mayor, Regina Mills.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as her mind's eye conjured up an image of the brunette with flashing brown eyes that could pierce one's heart or turn them to ash with just a look and full red lips that were set in a near permanent smirk. Then there was that toned body tailor-made for power suits that showed off long, lean legs and tapered in to accent flat abs. Another groan escaped the blonde at the thought of Regina in one of her suits, but this one had nothing to do with pain. Hmmm... Regina.
SHIT! Regina! Henry!
The blonde grabbed her head with both hands in the hopes that the world would stop spinning as she sat up quickly. She remembered now. Her mind filled with the chaos of screaming voices and running bodies as she frantically made her way to the two people who mattered most.
"Fuck."
She didn't realize she'd spoken that last bit out loud until a man in a funny looking uniform entered the room to check on her. She waved away his offer to call for the healer as he informed her that the Queen had anxiously been awaiting her recovery. He gave a slight bow before turning around and exiting as quickly as he had entered.
Left to herself again, and the pain finally receding from behind her eyes, she was able to take in her surroundings. The huge bed she currently occupied had a plush down mattress covered by a gorgeous white comforter that had sprawling black vines with deep red roses crawling over it. The mahogany headboard had the same design carved into it and the whole thing was topped by a sheer red canopy.
The room was easily the size of her old apartment with a stone floor covered in several areas by fur rugs while giant red and black tapestries covered the dark stone walls. A large fire place, complete with roaring fire, dominated the far wall and floor to ceiling glass windows covered the one to her left. Even from the bed she could tell that she was very high up. Probably in some kind of tower. Figures.
She was so caught up in staring out the window that she missed the approach of soft footfalls until a voice spoke from just over her shoulder.
"Emma?"
The blonde jumped slightly as she snapped her head around at the sound of the very familiar voice.
"Mary Margaret?" she asked confused. She'd been expecting a different brunette.
"It's Snow White actually," the petite brunette said with a small quirk of her lips as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Oh, right… That would explain the flowing white dress and long curly hair." And I thought it was just a normal apocalypse, but here I am in Henry's fairy tale world.
"Henry! Where's Henry?" she asked green eyes wide with panic. She felt slightly guilty for forgetting about him, even if it was just for a few moments. But, honestly, until Mary Mar… uh, Snow White entered the room she had half believed that it was just some kind of crazy dream… or she was dead.
The brunette placed a calming hand on her shoulder and Emma hated to admit it, but having tangible proof that this was all real did help ease her mind just a bit.
"Henry is fine, Emma. He's been so worried about you, but I was able to distract him with a visit to the stables and a promise to inform him immediately when you awoke. I sent one of the servants to fetch him and he should be here shortly."
"Oh," really, she had no idea what else to say.
"So… so how long have I been out for?" She wasn't quite sure she was going to like this answer, but she needed to know.
"Four days."
"Four DAYS?" she asked incredulously. Going by the amount of pain she'd been in when she came to she could have sworn it'd only been an hour, max.
Snow just nodded before continuing. "Henry woke up about a day and a half ago. You are both truly lucky that you were found by a friend."
"Wait. So we didn't just manifest here?" she asked with a vague wave of her hands. A shake of brunette curls was her only answer. "Then, how did we get here?"
"Geppetto was on his way back from a nearby village when he happened across you both unconscious on the road. He loaded you into his cart and brought you straight to the castle."
"Any idea why we were just passed out in the middle of the road?"
"We believe that since neither you nor Henry is actually from here the transition was much harder on you. As for why you were on the road, everyone else appeared in the same location they were when the curse was cast. You two weren't here at that point so there was nowhere specific to place you. It's fortunate that you were found on a road in our kingdom instead of in the middle of the Wilderness or worse, in the Evil Queen's realm. She may have been mean and controlling in your world, but in this one she is pure evil and much more powerful."
"It's actually quite extraordinary that you both came through the transition at all," she continued without missing a beat, "when no other non-fairy tale person made it across. It only brought us back, yet here you both are. It's been the subject of much debate amongst the court scholars. Would you happen to have any idea why you came back with us?"
The blonde froze.
Shit. I am so not ready for this conversation. "Actually Snow White, I know exactly why I am here. According to Henry, I am the White Knight who was sent to defeat the Evil Queen and oh, by the way, I just happen to be your long lost daughter. And just in case that wasn't enough for you, I'm also falling head-over-heels in love with the aforementioned Evil Queen." Yeah, that will go over well.
She was just about to make some vague comment about Henry's book and how he must have had it on him when the curse broke and that she just happened to be with him, when the door was thrown open interrupting them.
"Emma!" came the excited cry of an 11 year old boy.
Oh, thank God.
"Kid, how are you?" she asked as a little body flung itself into her outstretched arms.
"I'm good now that you're awake. I was so worried," he said as his small arms wrapped around her neck.
"We did it," he whispered in her ear. "I knew you were the one to break the curse."
"Yeah kid, we did it."
She gave him one last quick squeeze before releasing him. He was in no hurry to leave, however, and remained seated in her lap with his head tucked under her chin and his arms wrapped around her waist. It was a new experience for her, being a caring parent, but it was one she was beginning to think she might not mind so much.
Snow White cleared her throat softly, bringing their attention back to her, and stood from the bed.
"I'm going to go and give you two some time together. I'll have someone bring you something to eat shortly, but until then just rest and let us know if there is anything you need." With that she was out the door leaving mother and son alone.
They sat in silence for several minutes. Emma ran a soothing hand over the small head that rested against her chest.
"So, how are you really?" she finally asked.
She felt Henry give a small shrug and barely heard his whispered, "Okay."
"Just okay?"
Another shrug but a clearer voice, "Yeah. I mean this place is great. It's so huge and everyone is so nice and they have all these amazing animals, but…"
"But…" she prompted when he trailed off.
"But I'm worried about my mom." Oh, right. "Everyone here thinks she is just the Evil Queen, but she's not. She's my mom and she has changed so much over the last year. Plus, everyone else remembers what happened to them when they were trapped by the curse so she should too, right?" Emma could hear the fear and uncertainty that laced his voice.
"I can't know for sure, Henry, but it would make sense."
"Then why hasn't she come for us yet?"
"Well, Snow did say that everyone came back in the same spot they disappeared from. Your mom was probably just really far from here when the curse was cast. I'm sure if we just wait she'll come for us soon."
She had never lied to Henry before and she wasn't now. She was just leaving a few things out. Things like maybe Regina didn't think they had made it into Happily Ever After and were instead still stuck in the other world. Henry seemed placated though and that was what mattered at the moment. Later she would deal with her own worries.
"So do you remember everything that happened before we woke up here?"
Henry nodded.
"And you're okay with it, right?" she asked as she pulled back enough to look into his eyes. She needed to make sure that what he said was actually what he meant.
"You mean about you and my mom?"
It was her turn to nod as a slightly panicked look crossed her face.
"Of course it is! Both my moms being together is so awesome. I don't know why it never crossed my mind that we could break the curse that way."
The blonde let out the breath she'd been holding throughout his answer and pulled him back into her arms.
"Do you think we should tell Snow White and Prince Charming too, though?"
"That's a really good question, kid. I think for now we should just wait and see what's going on. No need to give anyone a heart attack before we have to."