A/N: Charming's fairytale name in this story is going to be James to help separate everything out later and it always annoyed me he didn't get a second name like everyone else does in Once.
Once again thank you guys for all the love and support! I couldn't do it without you
Enjoy!
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Graham opened another beer and passed it to James before grabbing one for himself. They were on the couch in Graham's apartment after moving from the kitchen to continue their conversation. James brought the beer to his lips and took a sip, he wasn't fond of it. The taste was too bitter for his liking but he knew Graham needed a drink after the day he'd had and the pair of them sharing ideas over alcohol wasn't an uncommon occurrence.
"I prefer these meetings to the ones we had in the Enchanted Forest." Graham mused as he held up his beer into the air before bringing it back to his lips to take another sip.
James smiled, "At least we don't have to talk Grumpy out of killing anyone who gets in our way this time."
"Or Granny." Graham added, "That woman may scare me more than Snow."
James eyes grew distance at the mention of his wife and Graham knew he was thinking about her. He was sure if it was currently in his chest his heart would ache for James and everything he was going through. Not just losing Snow or having her so close but not within his reach but also with Emma. The chance he had missed and would never get back.
"We'll get her back, James." Graham said for a moment, "And God help Regina when Snow goes after her."
That caused James to smile slightly, "I don't think there would be a force on this earth that could stop her."
"Except you." Graham replied with a smirk, "Let's face it if your epic True Love means anything it's that."
James raised an eyebrow, "Is that what you want with my daughter? True Love?"
Graham almost spat out his beer, "You can't just spring that question on someone!" He insisted with a scowl and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, "I thought you said you weren't mad?"
"I'm not." James replied, "I'm just curious as to your intentions with my daughter."
Graham paused for a moment, looking over at his friend carefully before sighing. He took another sip of his beer. "I don't know if it's True Love. I mean what the hell does that even feel like? I know it's something that I can't and don't want to ignore but it's as much up to Emma as it is to me. That's why I want my heart back, so I can do this right. Be honourable. A good man."
James frowned, "You are a good man, Graham. I'm not questioning that."
"I am." He admitted softly, "Everything I've done, James. I've tried to kill Snow and now Emma. That's not something a good man would do."
"The Queen made you do it. It wasn't your fault and no one holds it against you." James replied with an authoritative tone in his voice.
Graham nodded, "Perhaps having my heart back will allow me to find my redemption."
James paused, his body going still, "Redemption? Why did you use that word?"
"I just meant that when my heart is my own again and the Queen can't use me against you all then I'll work on redeeming myself to Emma. I want to be worthy of her, especially after everything Regina made me do to your family. I know you don't blame me but it's more about blaming myself." Graham explained.
"Gold used that word as well." James replied with a frown, "He said that for Emma to break the curse she'd need help from the purest hearts. Hearts that have felt love, known acceptance, value family and understand redemption. Those hearts would come from the people around her."
Graham frowned, "So you think we are going to having to sacrifice our hearts to break this curse? Just once I'd like to find a curse that didn't involve the crushing of a heart."
"I don't think it's that literal," James said as he placed his beer on the coffee table in front of him, "Everyone talks about this being the Dark Curse so maybe that's how we defeat it, by using things Regina left behind all those years ago."
"But then how is it Emma's destiny to break the curse? If we have to help?" Graham asked with a raised eyebrow.
James smiled, "Because she is the one that started it, she set things in motion to bring about change. Think about it, Emma was the trigger for your memories and for the need to get your heart which put you on the path to your redemption."
Graham nodded, "Okay, if that theory is right then she still has family, acceptance and love to go. One of them has to be yours."
"Why mine?"
"You remember has well and I'm guessing you have to know your own heart before you can achieve a pure one." Graham explained with a wave of his hand.
James had to admit his friend might have a point and if so then they were one step closer to breaking this curse. Once Graham had his heart then he'd find his redemption which meant there would be only three more acts of a pure heart to go. If Graham was right and James had to have one as well then he needed to make sure he figured it out and quickly.
"How am I meant to know which one I represent?" James asked.
Graham shrugged, "You don't. You know how magic works, James. You can't force it, hearts are pure. It will happen when it is meant to and not before."
James sighed.
"As much as I hate Rumpelstiltskin, I have to admit it was smart. Using pure hearts unlocked by the saviour to break his curse. Regina wouldn't be able to do it herself because of how black her own heart is and she wouldn't be able to stop it either."
James frowned, "That doesn't mean she won't try if she figures it all out."
…
Alfie could barely see where he was going thanks to the boxes in his arms, stacked so tall he had to look round the edge of them to see anything at all. They were behind on the delivery though and Jason wouldn't be happy when he got back from town.
He wobbled with the boxes slightly, the wind making them sway in a different direction to the one Alife was trying to carry them in. He knew he should have probably just made two trips but with the boxes already loaded into his arms he was committed to seeing it through.
"Excuse me?" A voice called out in the distance but Alfie kept walking, assuming the voice wasn't directed at him, "Watch out!"
Before Alfie could even register it he clipped the side of the fence with his leg and the boxes went tumbling to the floor. She sighed as he looked around at the damage, luckily the contents were still in the boxes but they sure took a battering as they hit the ground.
A woman rushed over to him, picking up one of the boxes on her way to reach him and offered it to him with a smile, "Here." She said as he took the box.
It was only as he grabbed it that he looked into her eyes, the most beautiful chocolate brown he had ever seen. Suddenly, he forgot how to speak.
"H..Hi." He replied with an embarrassed smile which caused the girl to laugh.
"You always this clumsy?" She asked with a raised eyebrow as Alfie collected another box.
He laughed, "I'm not normally carrying that many boxes."
"I did try to warn you." Her smile light up her face and Alfie didn't think she could get any more beautiful.
He nodded, "Sorry, I couldn't see much of anything behind this lot." He replied gesturing to the boxes, "Are you new around here? I haven't seen you before."
She smiled and lifted her purse strap higher up her shoulder, "I've lived in Storybrooke forever; I'm just a bit lost. I never normally wander down this end of town."
"I can tell." Alfie replied but quickly amended his statement when the beauty gave him a pointed stare, "What I meant was you aren't the normal type we get in this place."
She raised an eyebrow, "And what type am I?"
Alfie gulped, "Beautiful."
She smiled then and he figured he had dodged that bullet, "Can you point me in the right direction of Granny's?"
"Back up this street, there is a fork in the road and turn left. Head up Main Street and Granny's is at the top on your right." Alfie said with a smile.
She nodded, "Thanks for the help…"
"Alfie." He supplied.
She nodded again, "Thanks Alfie. I'll see you around I guess." She replied as she started walking up the street.
Alfie frowned, "Hey wait, I don't even know your name."
She turned, looking over her shoulder slightly, "It's Daisy." She replied before she started walking again.
Alfie watched her go.
Daisy.
She was beautiful.
And he was in so much trouble.
…
Emma gulped the last of her coffee and threw her coffee cup in the bin as she walked into the station that morning, she threw her gloves onto her desk and unzipped her jacket. David was coming back to work today and although Emma wanted him to take more time off to recover she would be glad to have her partner back in action. Especially considering she was doing her best to avoid Graham until he sorted out whatever mess he was currently in and she really didn't want to think about how long it had been a thing.
He had kissed her and as much as Emma didn't want to replay it in her mind she found herself doing exactly that.
Damn Graham.
He was a good kisser.
Emma sighed and at that moment a cough sounded out. Emma turned round to be greeted with Regina's smug face and her neatly pressed pant suit standing in the doorway.
Just what she needed today.
"Miss Swan," Regina smiled, "Might I have a moment?"
Emma grit her teeth, "What can I do for you?"
"It's about Henry."
"Is he okay?" Emma asked, her maternal instincts seeming to have kicked in since being in Storybrooke.
"Physically, he is fine." Regina replied, "I am worried about what affect your presence in his life is having on him though. He's talking back, skipping school and has been particularly closed off. I don't want you seeing him anymore, I don't think having you here is good for him."
Emma blanched, "He's my son…"
"Henry is my son." Regina cut in, "And I get the final say on what's best for him."
"Regina, you can't just stop me seeing him. It will crush him. I know you don't like me but we are both apart of his life now, we should try…"
Regina took a step forward, "I've raised him for 10 years and you've been here for 5 minutes. You didn't want him when he was born so don't pretend you want him now."
"You don't even know me." Emma replied, anger lacing her voice, "I made the best decision I could to give my son the best chance."
"And now he has it. With me." Regina stated.
Emma shook her head, "I'm not filing for custody or using him against you, Regina. I just want to be a part of his life, get to know him."
"Perhaps I'm not being clear." Regina said, "You aren't to see Henry anymore. You aren't to talk to him and if you see him in the street you are going to keep walking."
"No." Emma stated bluntly, "I won't let you threaten me into staying away from him. If you want a fight then you can have one."
"I've already won, Miss Swan." Regina's lips curved into a smile, "Ask any judge and they'll tell you I have more right to Henry than you do."
Emma's eyes soften, "Regina, please…"
"Stay away from my boy, Miss Swan otherwise I fear life in Storybrooke might get very difficult for you."
The threat hung in the air as Regina strode out of the station with her head held high in triumph. Emma watched her go and waited until she was alone before allowing the sobs she held back to rack her body as she sank to the floor. Her hand on the edge of the desk was the only thing supporting her fall but Emma didn't even register her legs hitting the ground with her back against the leg of her desk.
That's how James found her an hour later when he came in to start his shift.
She wasn't crying anymore but James could clearly make out the track marks on her cheeks from her tears as she sat huddled against the leg of her desk, knees up against her chest and her arms locked around them.
He never wanted to see her so broken again.
His heart was aching just looking at her.
"Emma." He called worriedly as he rushed to her side, coming to sit on the floor with her, "Emma, what's wrong?"
She wasn't looking at him and James thought that only made it worse. He needed to do something, to help her. A father would know how to, he'd know what to say but James found no words coming to him. He needed to comfort her but he didn't know how, he didn't have 28 years of practise at making things better for her.
James felt as broken as Emma looked.
He placed one hand on her knee gently, not wanting to startle her and it seemed to be enough to pull Emma's focus towards him. Her eyes softened when she saw his face and James couldn't help the sense of pride at knowing she felt comfortable enough with him to let him see her like this.
"Regina won't let me see Henry anymore." She whispered brokenly as another tear fell from her eye, "I don't know what to do."
James honestly didn't think he could hate Regina more than he did. That was before he saw his daughter crying because of her. His hands curled into fists and it took everything in him to remain calm, Emma needed him right now.
"It's going to be okay, Emma. I promise you, we'll fix this." James vowed and he hoped Emma could read how much truth he put behind the words.
"I never wanted to come here in the first place but Henry asked and he's everything. I wanted to be a part of his life and now I have to see him on the street and I can't even talk to him." Emma said, a few tears escaping her cheeks, "I can't lose him, David…" She looked at him with those green eyes, so lost and alone and James did the only thing he could.
He held her.
He wrapped an arm across her shoulder with the other one still on her knee and Emma all but crumpled into his side, her head finding his shoulder as she let out a small sob she was obviously trying to contain in front of him.
Her hands wrapped around his arm, clutching him for dear life and James had to hold back his own tears at how desperate the action seemed.
This was his baby girl, no matter how old she was or whether she knew that, and James would stay on this floor with her for as long as she wanted him to. The kind of unconditional love he had for her overwhelming everything else.
James fingers stroked over her blonde hair, palm cradling her head, "You won't lose him. I promise, we won't let her take him from you."
Her nose was cold against his neck as she curled in on him a bit more and James briefly wondered if she was trying to disappear, "He's my son. I want him back." She muttered against him and that's when James understood her actions. That was the first time Emma had voiced her feeling out loud and she was scared of them.
James rested his chin against her head, "He's already yours, Emma. He's been yours since you gave birth to him and he's been yours since he turned up on your doorstep in Boston."
"But Regina…" Emma replied and James was happy to hear her voice a bit stronger than it was.
His hand squeezed her knee, "Do you want your son?"
She nodded against his shoulder, "More than anything."
"Then we'll fight. Together." James vowed.
Emma let out a small laugh, "You don't need to help. You've already done enough for me."
"Emma, one day you'll understand but right now I just want you to know that you aren't alone anymore. Not ever." James replied.
One of Emma's hands clutched his arm a bit tighter, "Okay." She replied, sounding more like the child James never knew than the adult he had come to admire.
/
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Next chapter includes: Emma goes to Gold for help with Henry, James and Graham plan to get his heart and Regina has some choice words for Mary.