A/N: Charming's fairytale name is going to be James in this story to help separate everything and it annoys me everyone in Once gets two names and he doesn't.

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Graham's head was pounding as he made it back to his apartment, throwing his jacket over the back of the couch. Normally he wouldn't have stayed that late, he wasn't even sure why he did but somewhere between Regina calling him over and the fourth – or was it the fifth? – drink things started to get a bit hazy.

His jacket hit the couch with a thud followed by a groan that Graham was fairly certain wasn't normal. He flipped the light switch on to his left and made a grab for the gun on his waistband when he recognised David who must have been lying on the couch in the dark. Graham's jacket was in his lap and he was now sitting up, looking at the Sheriff with a confused expression and a towel with what Graham assumed was ice pressed against his jaw.

"What the bloody hell happened to you?" Graham asked, momentarily forgetting his head as he came round the back of the couch, noticing no other injuries.

David sighed, "It's a long and fairly complicated story."

Graham took his jacket back and placed in on the small table in the corner of the room before perching himself on the end of the couch nearest to him by David's feet, "I'm not going anywhere."

"You don't want to know, trust me." David replied, sitting up a little straighter, "Let's just say I was an idiot and my plan didn't work anyway. I probably deserved this." He took the icepack off his chin and showed Graham the damage.

The Sheriff squinted, "Doesn't look that bad. Keep the ice on it and it probably won't even swell."

The man on the couch nodded and tried to smile but Graham could tell it didn't reach his eyes. In fact David looked more lost than anything else, "What were you doing? It's pretty late for you to be finishing at the station? I thought you weren't working tonight?"

"It's a long and fairly complicated story." Graham replied with a smirk.

"I'm not anywhere." David countered, feeling a triumph at using the Sheriff's words against him.

Graham sighed, "Have you ever done something that you know is wrong and you hate yourself for it but you can't seem to find a way out of it?"

"You're not confessing anything illegal here, right?"

"It's not that simple." Graham replied gravely, "I've messed up and that was fine before because it was just me but now… I think it's going to hurt people I care about."

David frowned like he was trying to solve the world's biggest mystery, "I don't know what it is you're struggling with but I know you're a good person. The fact you're considering other people's feelings proves that. You'll make the right choice, Graham. You always do."

Graham frowned at that, David had only known him for a few weeks. How could be possibly know that?

"I gave the Queen my heart so she would spare Snow's." The Huntsman said, the guard lying unconscious on the ground at his feet. He had just freed James from the Queen's cell and the man had asked him to escape with him, "You have to find her. Go now! Run!"

The Huntsman shoved James' sword in his direction and James took it but made no move to leave, "No, you saved my life and when I find Snow it will be because of the kindness you showed me today. I won't leave you at the Queen's mercy."

The Huntsman shook his head sadly, "She has my heart. I'm already at her mercy."

"Then we'll get it back." James vowed, "We'll find Snow and I swear to you we'll get your heart. It's the least I can do."

The sound of footsteps were fast approaching and The Huntsman looked over his shoulder, "You have to go!"

James eyes darted around frantic, "Come with me? The choice is yours but you have to make it now."

The Huntsman took a deep breath and looked around him one more time. What did he have to lose? "We can make it out through the south tunnels, it will lead us into the forest. We can lose them in the trees."

The Prince nodded with a smile and raised his sword, "Then let's go."

Graham gasped as the vision hit him with such force he had to reach a hand out to steady himself.

"Graham?" David asked, his voice concerned as he eyed the Sheriff warily.

He shook the vision off as quickly as it had come on, "I'm fine. Just a headache."

David's hand was outstretched towards him and for a brief second Graham saw leather rather than plaid. He recoiled off the couch, "I just need some air." He decided grabbing his jacket from the table, "I just need to…"

He was out the door before David could utter a single word.

Graham's feet took him to the station on autopilot, the light still on as he stepped inside which wasn't surprising consider Emma was still on shift. Graham felt ill and clammy and wondered if he was coming down with a virus or something because this definitely wasn't normal.

He stepped inside and was thankful the air in here wasn't too stuffy as he pulled at his collar and loosened his tie. Emma was sitting at her desk as she twirled a pen around her fingers. At the sound of his footsteps she looked up.

"Graham?" She asked, "You're not working tonight."

Graham didn't reply, he didn't think he could.

There was something in his chest, this sharp throbbing pain that had him wincing and a tumble of thoughts in his head that he couldn't make sense of.

Emma put the pen down and looked at him worriedly, "Are you okay? You don't look well."

Graham shook his head as Emma got up and came over to him. He took a few stumbling steps back, like keeping a distance from her was the safest option right now even though he didn't understand why.

"Hey, it's okay." Emma tried to calm him and stepped closer again, this time Graham didn't move. Emma moved a hand to his forehead, her eyes never leaving his as she placed her cool palm against his skin, "Jesus, Graham. You're burning up."

There was something bubbling under the surface of his skin, like it was trying to rip its way through. Graham rushed out of Emma's space, trying to put more space between him and her.

She needed to be afraid of him.

She needed to run.

But why?

"My prey is beloved by all the kingdom. I need someone who won't be blinded by that. Someone without compassion. Someone who'll have no qualms carving a heart out and bringing it back for my collection." The Evil Queen commanded as he stood before her.

The Huntsman nodded once, "That's me."

Graham gasped as another vision hit him, this one making no more sense than the last. What was happened to him?

Emma was watching him with a scared expression on her face but she hadn't moved from her spot and Graham was thankful.

"Did you take something?" Emma demanded, "We need to get you to a hospital. Graham, we need to get you checked out."

She started walking again and Graham threw a hand out to stop her, "No! Don't come any closer, don't come near me." He pleaded, "I can't…"

Emma stopped short as the desperation in his tone, "Okay, I'll stay over here." She agreed, "I'm going to call someone though, okay. I'm going to head to your office and use the phone. Just stay there."

She was gone in a second and Graham barely heard what she was saying over the turmoil in his head. There was something there, a niggle or an urge he wasn't sure but it was screaming inside him.

Graham gripped the edges of his jacket hoping to centre himself, the pain in his head becoming sharper. He didn't know why but he found himself reaching into the pocket like he was looking for something. His hand closed around a handle and pulled it out, a small knife with a wooden handle in his hand as his fingers curled around it.

No.

Emma.

She was in danger. From him.

Graham wanted to scream at her to run or at least run himself but he was rooted to the spot, his eyes focused on Emma like a wolf would stare down his prey.

His feet moved towards the office where she was on the phone.

"You're not a knight, are you?" Snow White asked with a curious gaze.

The Huntsman looked at her, "What makes you say that?"

"Without fail every one of my father's men has offered me condolences. Except you."

"Please accept my condolences." He replied automatically before tugging at the collar of his armour.

"And they all know how to wear armour." Snow pointed out, "She picked you to take me. Why?"

"I think you know."

Snow nodded, "You're going to kill me."

"You have good instincts." He said as he pulled out a dagger from his belt.

It was the same dagger.

The one in his hand and the one in his vision.

He was at the doorway of the office now and his thoughts became clearer.

Retrieve Emma's heart.

No, carve it out of her chest.

Why?

"She doesn't deserve to die." He stated but it was clear the Evil Queen had no interest in his opinion.

"That's not up to you. I wanted a heart, and a heart I shall have." The Evil Queen replied as she shoved her hand into his chest, pulling out his heart.

He gritted his teeth against the pain, "What… What are you going to do to me?"

She kissed him, hard and cold.

"You're now mine, my pet."

For her.

The Evil Queen.

Regina.

Emma.

She was still on the phone and didn't realise his approach. Emma, he couldn't hurt her. He wouldn't.

He wasn't her puppet anymore and he'd die before he caused Emma any pain.

The screaming in his head was deafening, urging him into doing to Queen's bidding.

No, he was a good man. He had to be a good man.

Snow and James believed in him. Emma… their Emma.

Where had that thought come from?

The knife was still in his hand as he took a step through the door. Graham shook his head, eyes on the back of Emma's blonde head.

No.

"NO!" He all but screamed as he mustered what little strength he could manage to throw the knife across the room and as far from his hand as possible.

Emma turned to face him, scared and confused as he stood in the door looking down at his hands and breathing heavily.

No.

"I don't understand, you aren't going to kill me?" Snow asked in a small voice.

The Huntsman stared at her, "Run!"

Graham's eyes went wide. They weren't flashes, they were memories. His memories.

The Queen taking him to her bed chamber.

James in that cell.

"Come with me?"

The mission to retrieve his heart.

Snow had a tear on her cheek as James shoved it back into his chest. It stung but the fact he could feel anything made him grateful.

The night Emma was born.

"I'll stall The Queen, get them to safety."

James shook his head, "She'll kill you."

"This is more important. I'll happily die for this family, James. Just as you would."

Graham emerged from the visions as a different man to the one that saw them. The Huntsman as much a part of him as Graham was.

James. Snow. Regina.

Emma hadn't moved but opened her mouth like she wanted to say something. Graham didn't give her the chance, he bolted from the room with a mumbled apology over his shoulder and a dumb-founded Emma in his wake.

…

Mary sighed as she curled up on the couch with a mug of tea in her hands, her feet tucked under her. It was early, but she had only just got off shift and her mind refused to shut down enough to allow her some sleep.

David.

That's where her thoughts kept leading and she knew it was because of the kiss they shared earlier. Well, shared wasn't the right word.

What was he playing at? Who went around kissing people they barely knew like their life depended on it?

She was pulled out of her thoughts by Emma's entrance into the apartment, the door being slam shut behind her.

"Emma?" Mary asked, grabbing her friend's attention, "I thought you had the night shift?" She continued as Emma slumped down into the chair looking crestfallen.

"I closed up for the night. I'm… it's been a strange night." Emma replied rubbing a hand over her face.

Mary frowned, "How so?"

"I think Graham is sick or he's taking drugs because he came into the station tonight and his behaviour was definitely not normal." Emma explained and before Mary could reply she quickly began talking about, "I don't know, Mare… It was weird. He was sweating and being all cagey, he nearly had a heart attack when I got closer to him. It was freaking me out."

"Maybe he was overtired and stressed?" Mary suggested, "Call him tomorrow and I'm sure he'll be back to his old self again."

Emma knew her roommate was trying to make her feel better and she was thankful for it, "How come you're up so late?"

"David kissed me today."

Emma eyes went wide, "What?!"

"He came by to check on me and he ended up kissing me. It was really weird, Emma, it felt like I was his lifeline or something." Mary admitted, her eyes staring intently at her mug.

"Are you sure it didn't feel that way because you liked it?" Emma questioned.

Mary sighed, "I punched him."

"What?!"

"I didn't mean to, it was a reflex. He sprung it on me, we've barely had a conversation and suddenly he is kissing me like that." Mary reasoned, meeting Emma's eyes.

The blonde nodded, "Okay, so he kissed you and you punched him, then what happened?"

"I ran back inside and left him there."

"Because you were angry with him?" Emma assumed with a frown.

Mary shook her head, "Because I liked it."

"You lost me."

"Kissing him, I liked it. Which is ridiculous because I know there is no happily ever after and this is heading for disaster and if I allowed myself to go down this path then I would be an idiot."

Emma nodded, "Okay but if you liked it then I think your heart is probably trying to tell you something."

"That doesn't mean I have to listen."

"No," Emma allowed, "But you liked it. And I guarantee that means you'll want to do it again."

…

James wasn't surprised when Henry turned up at Graham's door at around lunchtime with eager eyes and pushed himself into the apartment.

"So how did it go?" He asked as he took a seat at the table in the kitchen, "Does she remember?"

James sighed because Henry looked so damn hopeful, "No, True Love's kiss didn't work."

Henry's face fell, "But it always works."

"Not this time, Buddy," James replied as he joined his grandson at the table, "She doesn't believe in love or happy endings here so she can't believe in ours."

"What are we doing to do, Gramps?"

James was about to answer although he had no idea what to say to comfort the boy when Graham burst through the front door looking a mess. His clothes were crumpled, his hair in different directions and James was sure there was mud on the bottom of his trousers.

"Graham?" He asked questioningly, one eyebrow raised.

The Sheriff took one look from him to Henry, who was watching the exchange with a confused look, and back to him again before looking James dead in the eye, "I'm going to say something and it might sound crazy but I need you to be honest with me."

James frowned, "I wouldn't lie to you."

"No, you never have." Graham replied, then a beat later he added one word: "James."

James eyes went wide, taking in the man before him.

Did he know? How could he? How did he manage to lift his curse?

James took a step towards him, "Huntsman?"

Graham sighed in relief and gave his old friend a small nod, "I think I prefer Graham, actually. As a name, I mean. Being raised by wolves meant I never really had a proper one in the Enchanted Forest."

James let out a noise halfway between a laugh and a sob as he enveloped his friend in a hug. Graham laughed as well as he embraced James, one hand patting his back.

"It's good to see you, Old Friend." James said as they pulled apart.

Graham nodded, "It's good to be seen, believe me."

Henry chose that moment to speak up, "This is perfect! We have another person in Operation Cobra and we are one step closer to defeating The Evil Queen."

James looked back at his grandson fondly, "We still don't have a plan, Henry. And Emma isn't ready to believe yet and even when she is we have no idea how she is meant to break the curse in the first place."

"I know but we can figure that out, Gramps." Henry replied with a smile.

"Gramps?" Graham said, his mind working in overdrive, "Emma's son, of course he's your grandson. Jesus, James it's been 28 years!"

James nodded, "I know but we're awake now and good will win. It has to do, we've all sacrificed too much to lose now."

Graham sighed, feeling sadness for his friend, "Everything you missed with Emma. Everything Regina has done to us here. James, Snow she's…"

"I know," The Prince sighed, "I tried to wake her up but it didn't work. Regina made sure she doesn't believe in love here nor does she have the hope she once did."

"If she doesn't believe in love then how are you going to wake her?" Graham asked knowing James well enough to know he'd want to wake his wife as soon as possible.

James ran a hand over the scar on his chin, "I'll get her to believe. I'll make her fall in love with me again if that's what it takes. Snow is in there somewhere and I will find her."

Henry smiled, "Hey, how did you wake up?" He asked Graham, "Did you get your happy ending?"

"I'm not sure about a happy ending but I'm pretty sure Emma had a lot to do with it." Graham explained, his eyes going to James'. "It was Regina, I don't understand how she did it; maybe she has magic here, but she sent me after Emma. She wanted her heart, James."

James eyes went wide, his stance rigid, "Graham…"

"I didn't hurt her." Graham cut in, moving to take a seat at the table next to Henry, "I was going to, I had the dagger. The same one Regina gave me to cut out Snow's heart but I was fighting it. I couldn't hurt Emma and that's when the visions started. My memories were coming back and as soon as I broke through I ran. She's safe, probably confused as hell but she is safe."

The Prince didn't relax but Graham could see the relief in his eyes, "Does she know who Emma is?"

Graham shook his head, "I don't think so. She sees her as a threat to her claim over Henry. I don't think she knows about the saviour but we both know she will find out soon enough."

"We can't let her get Emma." Henry exclaimed in horror.

James' heart clenched, "She won't because she isn't going to have any reason to suspect anything. Henry, I don't want to make you go back there and if I thought you were in danger I wouldn't let you but…"

Henry nodded, "She needs to believe you guys are still under the curse. It's okay, Gramps. She won't hurt me."

"We can't rush Emma into believing before she is ready but we have to help her get there. We also need to find answers as to how she is meant to break this curse. Henry, can you check your storybook? See if there are any clues?"

"I'm on it." He readily agreed before standing up and putting his backpack over one shoulder, "I'll go and get it from Emma right now and start looking. Don't worry, Gramps. We'll save our family." Henry rushed over to James and hugged him as James eagerly returned it.

When he released James Henry looked cautiously over to Graham as if debating something before flying over to him as well. His hands wrapped awkwardly around Graham's neck as he was still sitting at the table and as stunned as Graham was he returned it.

"Thanks for saving my mom." He whispered into Graham's ear.

The Sheriff held back a tear, "It was my pleasure, Henry."

And with that Henry left the apartment with a flutter of excitement that had both men chuckling.

"He's a good kid." Graham mused with a smile.

James nodded, "The best."

Graham looked over to his friend with a sigh, "I know that face. It's the one you used to get at the War Council Meetings. What's up?"

"Just thinking that if we can find Blue here she might have answers but of course she is under the curse so she won't remember knowing them anyway." James sighed in annoyance, resting his hands on the table.

"We'll beat this, James. We always do."

James shook his head, "Not always. The last time we went up against her I had to put my newborn into a wardrobe and gave my life so she could break this curse."

"That night's a bit fuzzy in my head still, the memories are becoming clearer though." Graham said softly, "And you're still here, still fighting. This is our family and we'll protect it."

The Prince paused, "It will become a war. Regina won't give up easily and if she has magic…"

"We'll be ready." Graham insisted, "Henry was given that book for a reason, he'll find something. Regina doesn't know we're awake which means we have time."

"She'll be expecting you to bring her Emma's heart." James reminded him.

Graham sighed, "Her orders were clear, I could take my time to make sure no one would suspect anything. We have a chance here."

James looked over at Graham and studied the face of the friend who stood beside him in battle before, "Any idea how I'm going to get my wife back? Last time I tried she punched me."

Graham held in a laugh, "So that's where the bruise on your jaw came from."

"Snow always did have a good right hook," James smiled, "And I guess history is repeating itself. At least it wasn't a rock this time."

"You'll get her back, James. You promised each other forever, remember? You just have to be the charming man she fell in love with."

/

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Next chapter includes: James being charming and some more father/daughter bonding.