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 that he doesn't get a second name like everyone else does in Once.
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Enjoy this one!
/
When James awoke that morning everything simply felt right. The sunlight was pouring in from the window, hitting the bed with a warm glow and curled up in his arms was his wife. His Snow. She was staring up at him from her place nestled against his chest with those warm eyes he hadn't realised he missed until he saw them again and a sleepy smile. She was fitted against him so snuggly James wasn't sure whose limbs belonged to who anymore.
He sighed and pressed her closer to him in the warmth of their love, every line of her softness matching every line of his hardness. One her hands drifted by his chest to trace invisible patterns on his skin, the sole of her foot rubbing against his calf under the sheets.
"I woke up and almost thought I'd imagined it." She admitted softly, "That we were still in our home and hadn't lost the last 28 years."
James kissed her forehead gently, "I know but we found each other, my love, and Emma found us."
"Emma." Snow said, the realisation hitting her and she instantly bolted up in bed, clutching the sheets to her body as she turned to stare wide-eyed at her husband, "Oh Gods, James. I was living with her for months and I never realised."
He rose up with a sad expression as he placed another small kiss to her shoulder, "You couldn't have known. Regina made sure of that. This wasn't your fault."
"You knew, you broke the curse." Snow replied with a sigh.
James frowned, "Only because our grandson is a smart little boy otherwise I would have been stuck under this curse like everyone else."
"Grandson." Snow said shocked, "Henry. We've missed so much."
"I know, but Emma knows about the curse now. I had to tell her Snow, I couldn't lie. She's still dealing with everything but she's as strong as you are." He smiled softly.
"I want to see her, Charming." Snow replied.
He nodded, "Okay, we'll get dressed. She's at Graham's."
"Graham's?" She asked confused.
"There's a lot to catch you up on." He smiled and kissed her once more before moving to get out of the bed. Snow's hand on his arm stopped his progress.
James turned to look at the slightly scared expression on her face, "What if she hates me?"
"She doesn't. She's spent so long looking for her family, it's a shock to finally have answers but she's getting there. We just have to be patient with her." James explain softly.
Snow bit her lip but nodded, "She's beautiful." She commented.
He smiled, "She is. She's the best of us that's for sure."
"But we didn't raise her."
"No," He replied gently, "But we can't change that and Emma knows it. Come on, Snow, our daughter is waiting for us now. That's what's important."
She nodded and smiled, rising from the bed herself to get dressed, "You're filling me in on Graham in the car, Charming."
She heard his chuckle as he found his jeans and smiled.
They had their family back.
The pair made it to Graham's in record time and Snow knew if it wasn't for their need to see Emma she wouldn't have let Charming out of the bed for a good while yet but she hadn't seen her daughter in 28 years and she refused to wait another second.
James opened the door and they found Graham and Henry sitting in the kitchen, each clutching a bowl of cereal and looking particularly unhappy about being awake so early.
"Jason is locked up for now, we need to decide what to do with him in the long run though." Graham explained as the pair stepped into the small kitchenette, "How you doing today, Mary?" he asked, eyes going to Snow.
She smiled wide, "I'll be a lot better when I can put an arrow in Jason and then a few more in Regina."
Graham's reaction was comical, his spoon dropping into his bowl as his mouth hung open in shock, "Snow?!"
She laughed and nodded and Graham put his bowl on the counter to hug his friend. She returned it eagerly, happy to see the former Huntsman that had become a part of their family.
"How did you get her to remember?" Graham asked James over Snow's head as they pulled apart and James went beet red. At the look on his best friends face Graham quickly amended his statement, "Never mind, I don't want to know."
James smiled gratefully at Graham as Henry looked over to his grandma with an unsure expression on his face. Snow seemed to understand the boy's hesitation and moved over to crouch down by his chair.
"Henry," She smiled, "Thank you for everything you've done for this family. I wouldn't have remembered without your help."
Henry tackled her in a hug that almost had Snow on the floor if it wasn't for her quick reflexes allowing her to grab the leg of his chair for balance as she returned the hug, "I knew Gramps would do it." He whispered.
Snow quirked an eyebrow in James' direction at the name and saw her husband beam with pride, "Gramps has never been short on faith." She agreed with a smile, "And either have you it seems."
Henry smiled, "I must get that from you guys because Emma struggles with it."
Snow rose to her feet then, "Where is Emma?"
It was Graham that answered, "She was in the shower so she should be out soon. We'll be lucky if she left us any hot water though, right Henry."
The boy nodded, "I told you not to let her have the first one."
Graham laughed, "Chivalry, it doesn't have the benefits it used to back home."
Emma remerged from the shower only a few minutes later with damp hair but dressed and seemingly ready to start the day. She paused as she entered the small and now overcrowded kitchen, a sceptical look on her face. Graham pressed a mug of coffee into her hands and she smiled gratefully.
"I didn't realise we were holding a town meeting." She said as she took a sip of the hot liquid in her hands, "And you didn't come home last night." She added, looking pointedly at James now.
"He was breaking the spell on Grandma." Henry explained off-handedly as he chewed another mouthful of cereal.
Emma eyes turned to Snow then, her mother not having looked anywhere but her since Emma had walked into the room, "You… You remember?" Emma asked gently.
Snow had tears in her eyes and nodded with a watery smile, "Oh Emma." She said and rushed over to her daughter to envelop her in a hug. Emma stood stunned for a moment, not used to the contact before meeting her father's gaze. She help up her mug to him which James took then sighed as she relaxed into the hug with her mother, arms coming up to embrace her as well.
"I'm so sorry, Emma." Snow whispered into her hair, "I'm so sorry, my sweet girl."
Emma pulled away first, trying to keep her emotions in check because there was too many people in the room to completely let her guard down and she needed time to process everything. Snow gave her an understanding nod and took a step back which allowed Emma to release the breath she didn't realise she was holding.
"It's not your fault. I know you wanted to raise me and would have if it wasn't for Regina's curse." Emma said not meeting Snow's eyes.
Snow gave her a sad smile, "It wasn't totally Regina. It was my decision to put you in that wardrobe and she wouldn't have casted that curse if it wasn't for her hatred of me anyway. We're all at fault here."
"Snow it wasn't…" James protested.
"I know." Snow cut him off, "Regina made her own choices and actions that led us here. I just meant I accept our actions shaped Emma's future as much as Regina's did."
James and Graham looked at each other then, "Acceptance?" Graham questioned.
"The third quality of a pure heart." James nodded clearly thinking the same thing, "If that's three out of the four traits…"
"Only one left to go." Graham concluded.
Emma frowned and looked over at them both with furrowed eyebrows, "Someone want to explain what the cryptic guy speak means?"
…
Regina stalked into the Sheriff's station, heels clicking against the tiled floor. She walked with the elegant of a Queen, even in a black pantsuit and trench coat. She entered the station with one of her skeleton keys, eyes automatically going to the only occupant of the room.
Jason's head snapped up at the sound of her entrance, a smirk curving on his mouth as he rose to meet her as closely as the bars of his cell would allow.
"You're here to get me out?" He asked with a smile.
Regina came as close to the bars as she could, "Did you keep Snow hidden? Did you do as I asked?"
"You told me Charming wouldn't find her." Jason insisted, "He could have killed me."
"You should have begged him to." Regina sneered, "It would be more merciful than what I have planned for you."
Jason frowned, "Regina I'm your only ally here. Think about this."
"Unfortunately you have proven to be a fairly poor ally and I need Emma Swan gone. I need magic to defeat her." Regina explained.
"Magic doesn't exist here, it doesn't thrive." Jason replied, hands gripping the bars.
Regina smiled, "That's true. The only magic here is in the items from our world. I just need something to kick start it."
Jason eyes went wide, "Something such as?"
"Your heart should do quite nicely." Regina replied as she shoved her hand into his chest and pulled out the blackened heart of the man in the cell. Jason growled in pain as she held it up triumphantly, "A bit black but it should work. Enjoy these moments, dear. They shall be your last."
She turned out her heel and sauntered out, "We had a deal, Regina!" Jason shouted behind her.
She smiled wickedly, "And now we don't." She replied without looking back.
Regina made it back to her home, shrugging off her coat before entering the dining room where she had set up everything she required for the spell. Emma Swan would be no match for her magic and if being the pupil of Rumpelstiltskin taught her anything it was that everything had a loophole. Magic could create magic and the most powerful magic Regina had was in the ability to take a heart in this world.
Jason's heart was mostly black yet not as black as her own but the condition didn't matter. It was the sacrifice that was key to bring back magic to Storybrooke. She reached across the table to pick up the lamp she had placed their earlier. Ornate and detailed and hundreds of years old. Aladdin's lamp, the very lamp that once housed a Genie and made Jafar a Sultan. The lamp Regina had hidden in her possession since she stole it from Gold's shop months ago. Now was the time to use it.
The lamp once held a powerful form of magic and Regina knew enough residue magic was felt to restore her to full power, she could feel it as she held the lamp in her hands. Trust Gold to horde the most precious items for himself.
She picked up Jason's heart, holding it out over the lamp and began to squeeze. It felt satisfying and powerful to have that control again, she almost forgot how much she missed it. The heart turned to dust in her palm, falling onto the lamp on the table. Regina made sure not to waste a grain as she waited.
It didn't take more than a moment for the lamp to glow, a soft purple masking the original gold as magic interacted with magic. Regina smiled as she picked up the lamp with both hands, it buzzed at her fingertips as the once dormant magic came to life. She closed her eyes and absorbed the magic, hands glowing purple which seeped up her arms.
She could feel it, the power surging through her veins once more as she drained every last bit of magic from the lamp until the glow faded and the lamp fell from her fingers. It looked damaged and battered now, barely an echo of the trinket it once was.
Regina held her hands in front of her, marvelling at the feeling before raising a hand towards the wall. A fireball shot out, burning the mirror that hung there.
She smiled wickedly.
Back at the station, Jason's body lay on the floor of his cell, face contorted in pain. He was dead.
…
"Graham's good with him, you know?" James broke through Emma's thoughts as he helped her make more coffee. She looked over at where Graham and Snow were on the couch as they told Henry the story of how they met, one Henry insisted he wanted to hear from the people who lived it.
Emma smiled at the scene, "I know."
"I'm sensing a but?" James replied with a smile.
"I don't know, I guess I'm a little anxious about what happens next." She admitted, pouring hot water into the mugs.
James went to pull out the milk with a frowned, "How so?"
"We break the curse then I assume you guys are planning to find a way back to the Enchanted Forest, right?" Emma asked.
He returned to her side and placed the milk on the counter, "It's home."
"Not to me," Emma said softly, "I spend five minutes of my life there."
James nodded, understanding, "You're not sure it's what's best for you or Henry."
"Henry wants to go," Emma replied, "Does it make me selfish if I'm not sure?"
"No." He insisted, "You're right, you grew up here, in this world. This is the only home you know. You don't need to decide anything right now, and home to us is wherever our family is, Emma. Wherever you are, that's where we'll be."
She smiled gratefully although they both knew it wouldn't be that simple, they had a Kingdom to run back home and subjects to protect. Graham only knew the Enchanted Forest and Emma knew he missed it, it was a part of him. The question was could it be a part of her as well?
Graham came over to them, having excused him from Storytime, "I'm going to head to the station, I want to check on Jason and see if he knows what Regina is planning." He explained.
James nodded, "I'll come. I want to make sure he's locked up where he can't hurt Snow anymore."
"I don't think he wanted to hurt Snow, just Mary." Graham replied.
The Prince sighed, "He still went after my wife."
Graham turned to Emma then, "Are you going to be okay?"
She sighed and smiled, "Family time, what could possibly go wrong?"
The men chuckled and James placed a hand on her hand, "She knows not to push you, she just wants to get to know you."
Emma nodded, "I think I can do that."
As Charming and Graham headed out of the station Emma made herself comfortable on the couch with her second mug of coffee while she and Henry listened to Snow's story. At first it was just Henry's insistence but Emma couldn't help but find herself immersed in her mother's life as well.
"You hit him with a rock?" Emma asked incredulously.
Snow smiled, "I was trying to rob him," She protested, "I didn't know I was going to end up marrying the man."
"You scarred him for life and he still asked you to marry him," Emma chuckled, "I'm starting to think he would have been the push over when I was a kid."
"Your father would have probably indulged your every whim," She confirmed, "He always wanted children."
"You didn't?" Emma asked gently.
Snow sighed, "Of course I did but when I became a bandit I gave up on those dreams." She admitted, "If it wasn't for Charming I would have never thought it possible."
There was a rapid knock at the door causing the conversation to stop. Emma sighed, placing her mug down on the coffee table before standing.
"I'll get it," She said as she made her way to the door, "But I definitely want to hear this Princess with the bad attitude story when I get back."
Snow practically beamed at her daughter and took a sip of her own coffee.
Emma opened the door and instantly wanted to close it again when she saw Regina on the other side. She pushed Regina out the doorframe and closed, closing it behind her so not to alert Henry to her presence.
"What do you want?" Emma sneered, protectiveness seeping through her.
"To see my son." Regina demanded.
Emma shook her head, "That's not happening unless Henry wants it to."
"So it's not enough you get your family back, you have to take the last of mine as well?" She asked, voice sharp.
"You're the reason I grew up without them in the first place." Emma stated, "And Henry is our family not yours."
Regina sighed, "I should have killed you the moment you came into this town, Miss Swan. Then I wouldn't have any of these problems."
Emma heard a small click from behind her and briefly wondered if she shut the door properly before joining Regina in the hallway. She didn't have time to check though.
"You're curse is breaking, Regina. My parents remember, Graham remembers. Henry can't stand to be anywhere near you. What do you have left?" Emma asked.
"You're right." Regina replied, "I have nothing left to lose."
She raised her hands and a force sent Emma backwards, body falling through the door that wasn't quite shut, back hitting the floor as she fell. Regina's hands were raised to strike again, magic clinging to her fingertips.
"Mom!" Henry yelled as she rushed over to Emma before Snow could stop him.
Regina's spell hit, it just didn't hit Emma.
Henry fell back against the floor, eyes closed. Emma looked at her son instantly, ignoring the pain in her own body, "Henry!" She screamed, hands going to his face, "What did you do?"
Regina looked horrified, hands shaking, "It was meant to hit you."
Emma wasn't listening, her eyes solely focused on Henry. Snow had made her way over to them in that time, hands gripping Regina's arms as the Evil Queen's eyes were trained on hands. Snow shook her fiercely.
"What did you do?" Snow demanded and Regina didn't seem to care that she was Snow again right now. Henry was still unresponsive as Emma shook him gently, tears on her face.
Regina's voice was distant, "It was a sleeping curse. It was meant to be her."
Snow growled fiercely, "The only reason I'm not aiming an arrow at you is because my concern is Henry. If he dies, I'm coming after you, Regina. I don't care how black my heart goes."
"Come on Henry, please." Emma was sobbing, "How do we fix this? You have to fix this, Regina. I'll do anything you want, I'll leave just let him be okay."
Regina was shaking all over now, the realisation that she hurt her son washing over her, "I can't." She whispered brokenly.
"Emma, we need to get him to a hospital." Snow said, letting go of Regina in disgust and placing two fingers on Henry's neck, "He's breathing but we need to get him help, okay?"
Emma wasn't focusing on anything but the paleness of Henry's face and the shallowness of his breath, "Okay." She whispered hoarsely, more tears falling for the boy who had just called her mom for the first time.
She refused to let that be the last thing he says to her.
/
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Next chapter includes: Emma realising many things while Henry fights for his life and a turning point that means nothing will ever be the same again.