Authors note: Now we are all caught up. The updates may not come as fast as they have been...and this wll be a gargantuan story. just bear with me. Also, I apologize early...this one and the one I'm writing now are the ones I'm most nervous about. Again, be kind.

Now we are in Boston, and I hope we can dispense with this part as soon as we can. It is amazing that the vision I had for this story expanded so much...this was supposed to be the end game...now it isn't.

Soapbox time...I am still disturbed by the producers want to turn Regina into a evil caricature . I my universe (where SwanQueen lives, among other ships that ABC will never have the courage to use), I see Regina as a witch with a changed heart...a woman who has been redeemed by love. But then, isn't it the function of fan fiction...to show what these people COULD be like.

Thanks for putting up with me so far. Disney/ABC owns OUAT. These stories are just for fun.

i would like to thank all the people on who have said such nice things about my stories. I was afraid to post them on FF, thinking I that I would be panned. I was wrong. Thanks especially to Jane Bond for being so kind.

And to Holly...my friend, and new beta reader. xoxo

Oh...one last thing...the song verses I will introducing this series of episodes is from the Johnny Cash song, "When the Man Comes Around (obviously, so does the title)" A rather apocalyptic piece.

And I heard as it were the noise of thunder

One of the four beasts saying come and see and I saw

And behold a white horse

-Revelations 6:1-2

Boston, Ma. Copley Plaza Hotel. room 520.

(James' POV)

This is one of those, what-the-hell-am-I-doing here moments. I mean you have the reservation for the hotel room all set and you are ready to move in, and now the wife commands...I mean...asks nicely to change arrangements to get a suite that connects to another suite of two women that I had never met until an hour ago because (A) she knows the town like the back of her hand and (B) all the ladies I came with, including said wife, loves these strangers. This of course is after we all materialize behind these women in an elevator out of nowhere. Yeah, how can one believe that just happened. Thankfully, we have not told these two nice girls that we are here to slay, not one, but a number of real live, fire breathing dragons, bent on destroying Boston.

Oh, and let's not forget the fact that two of the women they're talking to are Snow White and the evil woman who gave her that damned apple.

You grab a Dr Pepper out the icebox and take a few sips. I'm looking out the window. I've never seen so many lights and buildings and colors before. This is truly a magical city. And Emma says that there are more such magic places around the globe.

And as I look out this window I am reminded that I am here to save these people. I feel like a prince again...saving people from danger. I feel the adrenaline swell up inside of me, and a part of me can't wait to see the monster so I can deal with it.

And suddenly, I don't miss the old days anymore.

(Snow's POV)

Just got off the phone with Blue. Henry's alright...he's the computer whiz in the family. Blue Nova, and Grans are watching him, along with Archie (he knows he can go back to being Jiminy any time, but he has a fear of size 11 boots, which I can definitely understand). August is patrolling around the mansion and checking in once every hour or five minutes.

I'm looking at Emma and Regina talking to this girl we met...and now in HER suite..and she's talked us into an adjoining room with this Holly person. It's not that I don't trust her...well, maybe I don't. The girl seems to have eyes for Regina...and I don't want to see my daughter hurt. Again.

Gods...what are we doing? What am I doing. We should be talking strategy about dealing with dragons in this town, and my daughter and soon to be daughter-in-law are talking the finer points of the Avengers movie with this...stranger.

Thing is, she does seem nice. And of she can help us with the finer points of Boston, maybe I might want to trust her with...I don't know...

Her niece, though, she's a fascination. She looks just like me when I was...when Regina saved me.

Can't think about that now. Reminds me of all the wasted years we spent trying to kill each other. And how I just want to take those years back.

(Regina's POV)

Three things about this Holly. One...she talks non-stop. She's almost like Ruby...except blond and not as slutty. She talks about how she really hates Boston and how she would love to move to a small town. She talks about her niece who looks a lot like Snow when we just met. She talks about all the guys she dated and who screwed her...in both ways. She talks about women, who...well, it kind of worked like the guys.

And she talks about her heart. About the genetic condition that its slowly eating her heart away. She thinks she has less than 10% of a heart left. She's on borrowed time. So she decided that she is going to live her life right up till the end. I like that. I also wish I can do something for her. Actually, I can...but of course I'd half to tell her that I'm "The Evil Queen." I'd be in a rubber room before I'd be able to do anything.

Two...I thinks she has a crush on me. I'm honored, but I have to reminder her subtly that I'm attached to the other hot blonde in the room.

Other hot blonde? Careful 'Gina...careful.

Actually, she may have a crush on me, but she seems most eager to make up lost time with Emma. Seems the two met before...only a moment...in New York on 9/11...they were there at Ground Zero. Their individual experiences were harrowing...and I guess they lost touch. It makes me remember that day myself. I watched it all on television. I just stared for hours at what was going on. I know I have been called evil, and some of the things that I have done may qualify, but I don't think I saw real evil until that day.

I still shudder at it. And I shudder to think that as early as tomorrow, it could happen again. Only with dragons standing in for 747s.

Storybrooke. A house just on the outskirts.

The cell phone rang. Cora had no use for musical ringtones. It range just like a regular phone. She accepted the call.

"Is everything ready?"

"and have you set the time?"

"5pm tomorrow...excellent. How soon will you return...?

"Good. You know where to find me. We still have business..."

Cora ended the call. A reptilian smile crept over her face...

TO BE CONTINUED

Coming up...an almost dead body...a kidnapping...and unlikely love affair...and dragons. A lot of dragons. First the Celtics lose, now dragons!

Trust me, the next chapters will be wayyyy better than this one!...maybe! See ya then...