A/N: Charming's fairytale name in this story is going to be James to help separate everything out later on and it always annoys me that he doesn't get a second name like everyone else does in Once!

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James knew he shouldn't be here, what excuse did he have for disturbing Mary at work? But after building a fairly large bridge with Emma and their daughter finally knowing the truth he had this overwhelming urge to check in. To see her smile and hear her laugh and find comfort in the one person he always had before.

They were going after Graham's heart in a few hours and James couldn't help the unsettled feeling in his gut that something was going to go wrong. That wasn't unusual, he always felt the same niggle in battle as well and he put it down to survivor's instinct. There was a lot that could go wrong here, he reminded himself, and Emma and Henry were already in the crossfire and that just didn't sit right with him.

He wanted to talk Emma out of it when he found it but knew she wouldn't listen anyway and he didn't have the right. He was her father, but he didn't raise her and as much as that pained him he knew he couldn't walk back in now and pretend the last 28 years didn't happen.

He shook that thought away before he could dwell on it too much and focused on seeking out the dark haired beauty who always made his heart beat a little faster. He spotted her easily, she stuck out of the dive bar like a sore thumb, quietly working behind the bar with a piece of paper in front of her.

James crossed the distance between them quickly and Mary only just noticed his presence before he was leaning over the bar to join their lips together. She seemed startled at first before relaxing into it and it was a gesture so unlike Snow, far too timid for his bandit princess. He relished in her lips against his own though, the familiar pressure he'd know anywhere.

Mary pulled back first, "Hi." She laughed and James revealed in the sound.

He smiled, "Hi."

"So, not that I'm complaining, what's with the sneak attack?" She said as she pushed the paper between them to one side, like she wanted no barrier.

James laughed slightly, "I just don't seem to be able to help myself around you."

That had her biting her lip and giving him a shy smile, "Are you sure? You look worried."

James wanted to laugh, this woman could read him even when she didn't know herself but he settled for grabbing one of her hands in his, "I'm fine, I was just on my way to work and thought I'd stop by."

"And if you happen to wind up Jason in the process?" She teased.

James grimaced at the name alone, "Then that's his own fault. I don't share." He muttered darkly and couldn't help notice Mary gulp at the statement.

"Good." She decided with a nod, "Because neither do I."

The tone and possessiveness of the statement reminded him of Snow and the wide smile on his face echoed his thoughts. She had no idea what she was doing to him. Gods, help him for the thoughts currently running through his head because now was certainly not the time.

"What are you doing tomorrow night?" He asked as his thumb ran across his hand.

Mary smiled, "It's my night off."

"Can I take you on a date, Miss Blanchard?"

Her smile grew, "I would love that, Mr Nolan."

James' smile mirrored her, "I'll pick you up at 6?"

She kissed him this time, standing on her tiptoes to reach him with her hands on the lapels of his jacket to pull him halfway to her. Their lips met with a new fierceness on Mary's part and James let her have control of this moment, her mouth guiding his as her tongue run across his lower lip. It wasn't exactly a decent kiss for the public eye but James found he couldn't care as Mary's tongue stroked his own and it could all of his restraint not to jump over the counter and have her right there. After another minute she seemed to remember herself, that boldness hiding behind the shyness as her cheeks flushed red and her eyes stared intently at the counter between them.

"Sorry," She mumbled.

James wasn't having any of it, he lifted her chin to meet his gaze, "Never apologise for kissing me like that." He said with a smile and kissed her nose gently before pulling away, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." She nodded as he left.

…

"Okay, this should do it." James stated as he found a fairly large rock by one of the hedges of Regina's garden. Emma and Graham were waiting by the door as he walked over to them, before looking a little apprehensive. Henry had carried out his part of the plan and was currently with Regina at Granny's so they had to move fast.

He aimed the rock at one of the downstairs windows when Emma eyes went wide.

"Wait, you're going to smash the window?" She asked as she stepped towards him.

James nodded, "We don't have a key."

"That's going to look a little suspicious, isn't it? I thought we don't want her to know we've been here." His daughter questioned and James let the hand holding the rock fall of his side.

"We have no other way of getting in." Graham reminded her, "Regina can afford to replace a window or two."

Emma sighed and dug around in her pocket, "Or, we could use the front door?" she suggested as she held up a bobby pin and made her way to the door. She knelt down and stuck the pin in the lock.

"You can pick locks?" James asked incredulously.

Emma shrugged, "Tumblers. I've known how to do this for years." They group went silent as James and Graham shared a glance over Emma's head and after a few moments she grinned in triumph as she pushed the door open.

She stood up, her eyes catching James', "What?"

He smiled, "You're so much like your mother." He replied before stepping inside Regina's mansion with the other two closely behind.

James had never been in Regina's home here but he could see the Evil Queen in her décor, the black and white minimalistic theme running throughout and he could briefly see this was the second best thing to her castle in this land. She definitely made sure it looked grand without turrets or Knights guarding the entrance. He walked up the few steps to the foyer, taking in the rooms. There were stairs behind him leading to their second storey and in front of him was a dining room. He assumed the kitchen and living room were off this room somewhere.

"Okay, I'll take upstairs. You two check down here. Find her office as well, that's a good place to start." James commanded, slipping back into the role of leader with ease. Graham nodded, seemingly slipping back into his role as James' right hand man. Emma didn't seem too happy but she didn't voice her opinion and James was grateful. It wasn't a coincidence that he made sure Graham was with her. Sometimes it was harder to control that protectiveness towards her.

Emma sighed as she walked through the dining room and Graham gave him a small nod of understanding before following her through the dark and empty mansion. They had flash lights but didn't want to risk turning on any main lights in case someone outside saw and knew it wasn't Regina.

James made his way up the stairs, sword strapped to his side and a gun at his hip. It looked odd, two worlds colliding but he felt better knowing his sword was within reach as the weight felt a lot better in his hands than a gun did. Emma and Graham also carried their guns but Graham had a bow and arrow strapped to his back as well and James made a mental note to ask where he had found such an item in Storybrooke.

The first room was a bathroom and after a quick look James knew she wouldn't had kept Graham's heart in there so he quickly moved on. The second room was clearly Henry's, the single bed and blue wallpaper giving it away and James faltered for a moment as he took in the place his grandson called home. It wasn't with them or Emma but this was still the only home Henry knew and he could tell Regina loved the boy – as much as she was capable of it anyway – by the comics and games littering various surfaces and the computer on the desk. She had looked after Henry and raised him and James hated the reluctant gratitude he felt to her for that.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and closed the door without stepping inside, she wouldn't hid the heart anywhere near Henry. Especially not after she spent years trying to convince the boy he was crazy for believing in fairytales. Regina was smarter than that.

The last room on the floor was obviously her bedroom and James steeled himself as he pushed open the door and stepped inside. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up on end as his eyes took in the space and he turned to her vanity to start searching. It took longer than he thought it would to search the small room but he was determined not to miss a thing, Graham's life could be on the line if he did. James was about to give up as he started searching the chest of draws, hoping they had more luck downstairs, when he found a small wooden box. It looked old with carvings on the lid and James picked it out gently, the red glow beaming at him from the sides.

He rested it on top of the drawers as he opened the box, a pure heart glowing back at him as a familiar beating filled his ears. It was a heart, the question was: is it Graham's?

He slammed the lid and grabbed the box, rushing from the room and down the stairs to find the others, "I've got something." He called out, keeping his voice low out of instinct.

Emma found him first, coming from Regina's office with a flashlight in her hands, "I've got nothing." She replied as Graham joined them from the living room, his eyes drawn to the box in James' hands.

"Is that…" He trailed off.

James opened the box and presented it to Graham, "You tell us."

Emma couldn't seem to take her eyes off the glowing heart, "Jesus, is that real?" She asked, her eyes meeting James'.

It was Graham that answered her, "It's mine. I can feel it." He picked up his heart from the box, pushing that onto the nearest counter as he listened to his own heartbeat.

"She really ripped your heart out." Emma remarked, "I mean I knew, I just didn't imagine it to be quite…"

"It's magic, that's why it looks like that." James explained gently.

Emma nodded, "So what do we do now?"

Graham tore his eyes from the object in his hands and offered it to her, "You shove it back into my chest."

Emma looked from him to James and raised her hands, backing away, "Oh no, I just came for moral support. I can't…"

"I trust you with this. I'll be fine, just shove it in." Graham explained placing the heart in her hands.

Emma cradled it gently, "Won't it hurt?"

Graham smiled, "I'll be glad to feel something."

"Just shove it in." Emma repeated as she took a deep breath, "Sure, why not?" She grabbed Graham's shoulder with her free hand and she wasn't sure if it was to steady herself or him.

"You can do this, Emma." Graham said softly, "My heart is safe in your hands."

James cleared his cough awkwardly, "Although we should probably do this fast and get out of here."

Emma smiled at him, "Okay. Here goes nothing."

She shoved her hand towards his chest, heart finding its proper place with ease. Graham gasped and screwed his eyes shut as she did it and for a brief moment there was nothing but pain. Then it cleared and he could feel the steady beat in his chest and see Emma's worried gaze on his face.

"Are you okay?" She questioned, hand moving from his shoulder to his cheek.

Graham nodded, "Better than okay."

"That was a lot easier than last time we had to retrieve it." James mused with a smile.

Graham chuckled, "That's because she doesn't have black knights here."

James nodded, "That's true. I thought we were going to lose more than a heart when they trapped us in that corridor."

It was Emma's turn to clear her throat, "Maybe you two can reminisce later?" She suggested with a smile, "I definitely want to hear this story when we aren't standing in the Evil Queen's lair."

James nodded and led them out, Graham had a hand on over his heart, rubbing the spot gently and Emma was watching him anxiously. They closed the door after them and walked down the steps together.

"Leaving so soon?" A voice called out from behind them and James turned round with Emma and Graham on either side of him doing exactly the same thing to face the Evil Queen. There was a smirk on her lips and an evil glint in her eye and James stepped forward slightly, wanting to protect Emma and Graham as much as possible.

He stared her down, "We heard there was a break in, just thought we'd check it out." He said knowing the lie was pointless as soon as she smiled.

"Nice try, Charming." She sneered the name at him, "But we both know David Nolan would have no need for a sword and the Sheriff here wouldn't dare defy me without his heart. You remember."

Graham joined James, "And you'll pay for what you've done."

"Oh I don't think so, dear." Regina smirked, "You see, this is my happy ending. This is my town, I've got Henry. And considering Snow isn't here I'm guessing she is still under my control as well."

James grit his teeth and threw out an arm to hold Emma back at the mention of Henry's name.

"Look, father and daughter reunited." Regina continued, "Touching."

James practically growled, "Stay away from her."

There was amusement across Regina's face at that, "Or what? You'll rally the dwarves to arrest me?"

"We're giving you a chance to stop this, Regina. Your last chance." Graham warned her, eyes narrowing.

Regina's eyes met Graham's, "I don't think so; I quite like these odds." Her eyes moved to Emma now, "Enjoy my leftovers, Miss Swan."

"Enough!" James snapped at the Evil Queen, "I won't let you hurt them, Regina. I don't care what world we're in."

"There's no point being Charming, James. Snow isn't here to see it and she certainly doesn't love you in this land." Regina sneered, "What does that make you here? Without her at your side?"

Regina's smug arrogance was enough to get James' blood boiling and he knew she was doing it on purpose. This is what she wanted, them to destroy themselves with self-doubt and he was determined not to fall for it. He glanced at Emma, strong and fierce on his left and he found whatever strength he didn't realise he needed.

"It doesn't matter." James told her, "What Snow and I have, what we fought for, it's going to take more than a curse to destroy. It will take more than you to come between us. Emma found us just like she was meant to and that's the bit you're overlooking. I'm not just a husband, I'm a father and I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family so do your worst, Regina. It still won't be enough."

That wiped the look off her face quickly, "You always did have too much faith in True Love."

"And you always underestimated it." Graham replied, "I pity you, Regina because you'll never understand that feeling again and I'm new to it myself but I can already tell it's strong than you. I'm proof of that. Emma was the reason I broke free of your manipulation, you had my heart and I still defied you to keep her safe."

Regina scoffed, "Because she's the saviour?" She smiled wickedly as she took a step towards the trio, "I know how this curse works and from what I've seen of Miss Swan she doesn't have what it takes to break this curse. I'm certainly not worried."

It was Emma's turn now, stepping out from her place at James' side and squaring her shoulders, "You should be. You took my son and just threatened my family. I'd watch your back, Regina because when I break this curse you can going to have a lot of people coming after you and I'm certainly not going to stop them."

Regina's mouth quirked, "We shall see about that." She replied, "I wonder how you're going to break this curse when you're in mourning though. You wanted me to be the Evil Queen, then that's what you'll get."

She smiled then, teeth flashing in the darkness around them as she brought her hands up. It was barely a flick of her wrist and Emma almost didn't see it until the fireball was hurling towards them. Towards James.

"No!" Emma shouted, her hand reaching to withdraw James' sword from his side and she moved in front of him, using the blade to deflect the fireball aiming towards her father. Regina frowned, clearly not please with Emma's show of protectiveness.

"You want my family then you have to go through me, Regina." Emma shouted, hand still clutching her father's sword, "And I quite like my chances."

Regina was scowling, her mouth opened to respond when a voice made her freeze. A voice that shouldn't be here because she told him to wait in the car.

"Mom?" Henry called out to her and the look of betrayal and hurt on the boy's face almost broke her black heart.

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Next chapter includes: A lot of Gremma and Mary finds herself in serious trouble.