A/N: Charming's fairytale name in this story is going to be James to make things easier to separate out later and it always annoyed me that he doesn't get a second name like everyone else does in Once.

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Enjoy this one!

/

Mary's head was aching. The dull throb on the right side of her skull was the first thing to register in her mind when she regained consciousness. The second was the tangy metallic taste in her mouth that she knew was blood. Perhaps she had bit the inside of her cheek in the struggle with her attacker.

Attacker.

That caused her mind to clear and her eyes to open in panic. It was dark in the room she was in but she could tell by the crack of light through the curtains that it must have been daylight outside. Her hands were tied to the chair and there was a strip of cloth in her mouth like a gag. No one else was in the room with her and Mary wanted to be relieved that at least she was alone but she knew better. She was tied up which meant someone was coming back for her.

She tugged at the bindings on her wrist sharply, tugging in an effort to loosen them enough but they were too tight. Her skin was raw by the time she admitted the task was useless. She huffed around the gag, her eyes searching for something, anything she could use to escape and get help.

The sound of heavy boots creaking on the old wooden floor made her freeze and a door slammed shut. Her attacker had returned. Mary tried to control her breathing as the footfalls got closer, tugging at her wrists again out of panic rather than hope that it would do any good.

The door to the room opened and Mary's eyes narrowed as soon as she made out Jason's face. She tried to shout but the gag muffled her sounds and Jason simply laughed in response. He came up to her, figure looming over her from where she sat in the chair in the middle of the room.

"Look who's finally awake." He smirked and Mary wanted to lunge at him for that look alone. He was wearing jeans and a dark weather proof jacket. Hiking boots were on his feet, mud covering the soles. They must be in the woods, Mary assumed, that was the only way to explain Jason's choice of outfit.

His hands came up and Mary tried to recoil as much as possible but it didn't work and Jason pushed the gag away from her mouth, "You can scream if you like but no one will hear you." He said darkly as he backed away from her again.

Mary thought about it but she knew if they were in the woods they could be miles from anywhere, "What are you doing, Jason?"

He chuckled, "I thought that was obvious."

"Why?"

"Why?" He echoed, "You walk around thinking you're special and now you're demanding to know why?"

Mary frowned, "I don't understand."

Jason smiled, "You know there was a time once when no one would have dared to reject me. I was a ruler, I was powerful. Look at me now, a bar owner in a mundane town. I was meant for more than this."

"All of this is because I rejected you?" Mary asked incredulously.

"Tell me, what does your Prince Charming have that I don't?" Jason teased.

"You mean David?"

Jason smiled again, "Do I?"

Mary didn't understand what he meant by that but she refused to give in to his taunts. "Jason, something's wrong with you, okay. You need to untie me so we can get a doctor to look at you." Mary replied because honestly the only reason for this had to be a psychotic break.

Jason laughed, deep and loud, "You really have no idea, do you?" He said as he walked over to her again, crouching in front of her tied legs, "It doesn't matter, and I'm not the only one who thinks you need reminding of how things work here."

Mary squared her shoulders, not wanting to show her fear, "It was dark when you took me and now it's light so we've been here a day already. People will know I'm missing, Jason."

"That doesn't mean they will find you." He replied wickedly.

Mary's response was automatic, "James will."

Jason stopped short, "James?"

"David," Mary stuttered, "I meant David. He will find me."

His mouth curved cruelly, "You best hope I leave him something to find."

Mary shivered at his words and set her jaw, "You're crazy, you know that? All of this because I refused to sleep with you? You repulse me, Jason, that's why I did it. You make my skin crawl…"

A sharp slap to her cheek cut her off as Mary's head snapped to the side. The pain flared in her cheek but her eyes were steely. He would not break her. She wouldn't let him. She just had to hold out until David found her or she found a way to escape.

Find me, she silently begged, please find me.

…

The first thing Graham was expecting when he stumbled through the living room to get to the kitchen was not the sight that greeted him. Henry was sat on the couch with a controller in his hands and Graham could tell from the soft sounds of crashing and gunfire Henry had found his stash of console games. He smiled softly at the lad who looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep and that would certainly explain why he was up so early in the morning.

"Do you mind?" Henry asked when he noticed Graham in the doorway, gesturing to the controller in his hands.

Graham raised an eyebrow, "Are you old enough to be playing those types of games?" He asked, a hint of teasing in his tone.

Henry shrugged, "After last night I don't think a little violence is going to damage me." The boy responded as he went back to tapping the buttons on the controller.

Graham wanted to argue but he knew Henry was probably right. The little boy had seen an awful lot in his short life and that didn't sit well with Graham one bit.

"You're not going to tell Emma are you?" Henry asked after a moment.

Graham pretended to think for a moment, "Not if you have a spare controller for me." He replied.

The grin on Henry's face was well worth it and the boy paused the game to grab the second controller. Graham sat down on the couch and took the controller from Henry as the boy took his seat.

"Couldn't sleep?" Graham asked once they were both emerged in the game, trying to get the men in the game to safety.

Henry shrugged, "Nope."

"Thinking about your mom?" He asked gently and Henry seemed to freeze beside him for a second.

Graham heard the boy exhale softly, "She's my mom, and I wanted to believe there was good in her. There used to be before I knew about the curse."

The Sheriff took down a virtual enemy before replying, "She's your mom, Henry. She wasn't trying to hurt you but she's held this grudge for a long time. That's not something she can let go of easily."

Henry nodded, "You guys are my family too, and hurting you guys will hurt me."

"Nothing is going to happen to us." Graham replied, "Or your mom. Emma won't let anyone hurt her because she knows how much Regina means to you. We'll figure it out, okay?"

Henry bit his lip, "What if when all this is over and we break the curse and go back I want to live with Emma?"

Graham smiled softly, "Well, that's something you'll have to talk to Emma about but I'm sure she would like that as well."

"And you'll be there too?" He asked.

"Is that what you want?"

The boy seemed to think for a moment, "You make Emma happy and it's nice having you around. Emma sucks at this game."

Graham chuckled, "Then yeah, I'll be there too." He swallowed thickly at the statement and turned his focus to the screen in the hopes Henry wouldn't see his eyes glass over.

He'd never had this before.

He had his pack then James and Snow but this was different.

This was a family he was helping create rather than one that adopted him.

"Well, let's see what you got." Graham challenged as they started the next level.

Henry grinned, "You're going down."

…

James knocked on Mary's door to pick her up for their date and he had to admit he was slightly nervous which was ridiculous considering she was already his wife. He gave three soft knocks on the wood and waited for her to answer, fingers tugging at the collar of his shirt. The seconds ticked by and there was no answer. James frowned at that, he was on time and Mary hadn't mentioned cancelling to him.

He tried again, knocking a bit louder this time and waited. His ears were restraining to try and listen for any sounds of movement on the other side of the door. That was odd. There was nothing but silence.

He felt a spike of worry in his gut and James knew better than to ignore it. Something was wrong, he could feel it in every fibre of his being. He reached down to grab the spare key he knew she kept under the mat and put it in the lock.

"Mary?" He called out, hoping she was simply in the shower and couldn't hear him knocking. James knew better though. A quick glance around the apartment confirmed his suspicions that it was empty.

James frowned as he left Mary's home, slipping the key back under the mat and shutting the door. He zipped his jacket up higher and decided to check Sultan's before he allowed the overprotective side of his mind to take over. It was possible she simply forgot about their date and was stuck at the bar instead.

He broke two speeding laws on the way over to Sultan's and James really hoped to see her behind the bar but as he pushed his way into the building it was Alfie's face that greeted him not Mary's.

This isn't help the churning in his gut that told him something was so very wrong.

"David." Alfie smiled, "What you doing here?"

He stepped up to the bar, "I'm trying to find Mary, is she out back?"

The bartender frowned, "It's her day off; don't you have a date?"

James nodded, "She's not at home."

Alfie's frown deepened, brows furrowed, "That's not like Mary."

Or Snow, James mentally added.

"It is weird though," Alfie continued, "Jason hasn't been in all day either."

That caught James' attention, "What?"

"Jason. He never misses a chance to criticise us at work but I haven't seen him all day." Alfie replied, "You don't think…"

James eyes darkened at the thought, "For his sake, he had better hope not."

"Jason is a sleaze but he wouldn't hurt her." Alfie said gently, "I don't think he'd have the bottle."

"Then how do you explain them going missing at the same time?" James asked.

Alfie cocked his head to one side, "Maybe Mary's just running errands and didn't realise the time."

James knew Alfie didn't buy that any more than he did. Something was wrong and his worry was only growing at the knowledge that Jason was unaccounted for. James nodded blindly to Alfie before walking out the bar. The bartender was calling to him but James didn't reply. The worry in his gut was quickly rising to fear. He needed to find Snow, now.

He stumbled on autopilot to his truck before leaning up against it, he reached into his pocket for his phone. He already knew Mary wouldn't answer but that wasn't who he was calling.

Graham picked up on the fourth ring, "James? I thought you had a date?"

"Mary's missing. Jason is too, something's wrong, Graham. I can feel it." James replied, one hand scrubbing over his face.

"You sure she's missing?"

"She isn't at home or work. Alfie said he hasn't seen Jason all day either. I'm telling you something is off." James insisted.

Graham sighed on the phone, "Okay, I believe you. So you think Jason what… kidnapped her?"

James frowned, "Do you have another explanation?"

"No, I just don't understand why he would." Graham explained.

"He has a thing for her. Maybe she knocked him back one to many times?" James suggested and the fear within him made his stomach drop at the thought, "God, Graham, if he so much as touches her…"

"We'll find her." Graham cut him off, "You'll find her. This can't just be Jason, he isn't smart enough for this."

James nodded, "Regina."

"She feels threatened now we're awake. She wants Snow to suffer, it makes sense." Graham replied and James could hear the distain in his voice.

James pushed off from the side of his truck, climbing into the driver's side instead, "There are only so many places she can be held without someone noticing. It's a small town."

"The woods." Graham replied, "I've spent enough time in them to know in the right spot you can't hear for miles."

James clenched his free hand on the steering wheel, "It will take too long to search it all and Snow doesn't have that kind of time."

"I'm getting in the car now, I'll help." Graham replied and James could hear him jogging.

He shook his head, "No, I need you to go to the station, find out if there is any buildings listed in the woods that would fit Jason's needs. He wouldn't keep her out in the open."

"You shouldn't do this by yourself." Graham replied, concern in his tone.

James smiled, "I'll be fine, my sword's in the back."

Graham sighed, "Are you going to kill him?"

"That depends on how Snow is when I find her." He said darkly, "Call me when you find something." He added before hanging up.

He threw the phone into the passenger seat and started the truck, heading for the woods. He could cover a few places while Graham was searching.

Please hold on, Snow, he thought as he peeled away from the sidewalk.

He knew one thing for sure, Jason would wish he was dead when James got hold of him.

…

The woods covered miles and spanned across most of the edge of town and James knew realistically he couldn't search it all. He didn't have the time. Snow didn't have the time.

He had to do something though and driving his truck through the sparse areas of woodland looking for tracks seemed like a good place to start. Jason would have needed a car to get Snow to wherever he was keeping her and he probably wasn't smart enough to cover his tracks. That's all James needed, Jason just had to make one mistake.

He was growing more frantic as the minutes ticked by, his knuckles white against the steering wheel as he drove. Snow would be able to handle herself in a situation like this, she was fierce and a warrior in her own right. She could certainly best him if she put her mind to it. But she wasn't Snow right now, she was Mary and James didn't think Regina would have left that knowledge or fighting spirit in her when she cast this curse. That's what made James worry the most.

He stepped down on the gas pedal, his gut clenching. He needed to control himself, he was a fighter and if this was him going into battle he needed to have a clear head otherwise he would be no good to Snow.

The sound of his phone made him slam the brakes on hard, his body jolting forward until the seatbelt threw him back. James grabbed the phone, pushing the button eagerly.

"Graham?" He prayed.

His friend was straight down to business and James was thankful, "There are three abandoned buildings in the middle of the forest. They are practically shacks, used for campers I think. One is unsafe due to the storms so Jason can't be in that one. The other has a direct trail path leading to it so I think he would avoid that one as well, the risk of people would be too high."

James nodded, "Where's the third one?"

"Drive as if you are heading for the town line and stop when you get to the point we normally close off the road in bad weather. Then you head on foot east, keep heading east and you'll find the dirt path that surrounds the cabin. Follow it." Graham instructed.

"Thank you," James replied, already on the road heading out of town which helped, "I'll find her."

Graham paused, "I can come and meet you? You're direction in the woods never was that great."

"I can't wait, Graham, I need to get her." James sighed.

Graham seemed to accept the answer, "Go get her. Just don't do anything you aren't going to be able to live with."

The implication was clear and James replied with his thanks again before heading off. Graham didn't want him to kill Jason, he wasn't one of Regina's men or King George's. He was as cursed as the rest of them and he didn't belong in this world any more than James did.

He reached the end of the road and didn't even bother to lock his truck as he jumped out, grabbing his sword for the truck bed. James unsheathed it, leaving the covering in the truck as he heading east with nothing but his sword in his hands.

It felt like hours before James found the dirt path Graham had told him about, he crouched low making out boot marks in the wet mud and knew he found the right place. Him and Graham always did make a formidable team. Him and Snow made a better one.

James followed the footsteps cautiously keeping an eye out for any sign of Jason but he found none as he approached the cabin that looked like a strong gust of wind could knock it to the ground. The windows were covered and there was no signs of movement from the cabin. He snuck over to the back door rather than the front and the lock was rusted away so he had no trouble jamming his sword his against to prise it open. It creaked loudly and James tensed, waiting for Jason to come out.

He didn't.

As he entered the cabin, James could only hope that meant Jason wasn't at home right now. His eyes quickly swept through the dank and rotten space and everything was clear. There was two rooms off the main one, one being a bathroom and the other one…

James pushed the door open, sword raised ready to strike. Jason wasn't there but Snow's frantic eyes met his over the space between them, relief in her green orbs at the sight of him. James quickly moved in front of her, resting the sword on the floor as his hands reached up to remove her gag.

"David." She half gasped, half sobbed, her eyes never leaving his.

"You're safe, I've got you." He replied, removing the bindings from her legs with ease. His eyes moved over her, checking of injuries. She had a trickle of dried blood near her hairline and from what James could tell her cheek was beginning to bruise. He grit his teeth at the thought of anyone hurting her.

He quickly undone her hands as well, noticing the raw red skin of her wrists. She winced as the ropes tugged the flesh and James felt his anger boil at her pain. "What did he do to you?" He whispered brokenly, one hand as close to her bad cheek as possible without hurting it.

She didn't reply, simply slid off the chair to crumple in his lap with her arms around his neck. She was sobbing now, the sound muffled by his neck and James held her as tight as he dared.

"I found you." He whispered softly, "I will always find you."

"I know," She sniffled, "I knew you'd come. I don't know how I could just feel it."

She pulled away slightly to meet his eyes and James hand came up to rest on her good cheek, "There is nothing that would keep me away from you." He vowed.

She managed a small smile, "He'll be coming back."

"We need to go, can you walk?" He asked gently, helping her raise to her feet.

Mary nodded, "Yes."

James picked up his sword and grabbed her hand, "Let's go." He replied as he led her out the way he came.

She squeezed his fingers, "Where'd you get the sword?" She smiled.

Oh, right. This wasn't Snow. "It's a long story," he replied, "I'll tell you one day."

They made it out of the cabin and up the dirt path when James heard it, a snapping of twigs under a foot. He barely had enough time to register where it was coming from before he was knocked to the ground by a heavy body.

Jason loomed over him, his face unreadable.

/

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Next chapter includes: A whole lot of Snowing and no cliffhanger (I promise!)