A/N: Charming's fairytale name is going to be James in this story to help separate everything out later and it always annoys me that he doesn't get a second name like everyone else does in Once.
Thanks again for all the reviews!
Enjoy this one!
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Regina smiled wickedly as she strode through the main street of town, heels clicking on the pavement as her black cape fluttered behind her.
The Evil Queen was back.
The unsuspecting citizens of Storybrooke were all out in force, celebrating the curse breaking. Regina had seen it, the purple mist clouding the town that could only have been Emma's doing. She watched as Granny and Red hugged tightly, laughing quietly to themselves. The dwarves were embracing their kin as well. Pretty much everyone in fact had seemed to have gravitated towards their loved ones as soon as the curse was over.
Everyone except Gold that is.
The imp was curiously watching Regina from where he stood just outside his shop, his face was a mask of stone and Regina barely paid him attention. He didn't have power here and she wasn't going to waste anymore of hers on him that needed.
There were more important things to deal with.
The citizen's faces quickly changed from love and happiness to anger and fear as they heard her approach. Regina had changed into one of her signature Evil Queen outfits, leaving no question as to her authority in this land, the black bodice and leather pants helping her to project her evil exterior to the world.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" She sneered at the people as she passed, "You'll want to hear what your Queen has to say."
"You're not a Queen here!" It was Grumpy that responded for them and somehow Regina wasn't surprised.
She quirked an eyebrow, "Is that so?"
A smile curved her lips as she threw a fireball from her fingers, the fire hitting the town hall and quickly enveloping the once perfect structure in its flames. The people gasped collectively, different expressions of fear more prominent on their faces now.
"Let me make something very clear to you all." Regina shouted, a Queen addressing her people, "I hold the power in this world and as long as none of you get in my way I'll let you keep your miserable existence. You cross me, I'll burn this town to the ground and you'll have nowhere to run while I do."
Granny stepped forward, Red wasn't too far behind her, "We might not be able to leave this town but we won't let you take over either."
"Take over?" Regina said with a hint of amusement, "This is simply me surveying my Kingdom. You can rest assured that my qualms aren't with you, Wolf."
The older woman frowned, clearly insulted but Regina didn't care. She reached out, grabbing the nearest dwarf to her. The simple one she could never remember the name of.
His brothers rallied together of course, ready to fight but Regina stopped them dead in their tracks by creating another ball of fire in the palm of her face and holding it close to her captives face, "Oh no, that's not going to work." She told them.
Grumpy tensed, "Let him go."
"Certainly. When you bring your precious Snow White out here."
And she'd wait for them to do just that, this would have more impact with an audience.
She didn't have to wait long, she knew Snow cared about the dwarves far too much to even think about defying her and all too soon Grumpy was running ahead of Snow and her Prince down the street. Emma and Graham were nowhere to be found and Regina guessed they must still be at the hospital. With her son.
Snow and Charming came to a halt a few feet away, "You got what you wanted, Regina. I'm here, let Dopey go." Snow pleaded, her hand in Charming's.
Dopey. That was his name. He was shaking against her and Regina didn't need to see his face to know he was scared. She looked over at Snow, the cause of all this in her eyes and curled her fingers against her palm, the flames distinguishing against her palm. She sneered as she all but shoved Dopey back towards his brothers where they all surged forward to get him before pulling back.
Regina's eyes were locked on Snow, "Nice of you to enjoy us, dear."
"You can stop this, Regina." Snow said, eyes searching, "Henry's going to be okay. Emma healed him with True Love's kiss."
Of course she did, Regina though bitterly, how could Saint Emma Swan do anything else?
She shook her head, "Henry turned his back on me but I'll make him understand. As soon as he realises the type of person you are, Snow White."
Charming had moved in front of his wife slightly, trying to protect her, "I want your heart." Regina sneered at the couple. She looked around then, addressing everyone as she spoke, "And someone is going to give it to me and for every day that you don't; for every day you choose to protect her; I'll kill one of you instead."
"Regina, please!" Snow cut in, "They're innocent. It's me you want, they have nothing to do with this."
Regina smiled, "Oh but they do, they protected you once before and I have no doubt they'd do it again." She eyed Snow and Charming again, the latter had his sword raised like he was daring Regina to try something just to give him an issue, "Even your precious husband is ready to die for you."
"Henry won't want this, Regina." Charming said, "He wants to see the good in you."
"And he might have, had your wife not killed my True Love." Regina explained, "So which one of you will bring me the heart of the fair Snow White?"
The people all held firm, their love of their Princess shining through the defiance as Regina knew it would. How long would it be before that changed though? How many people had to die before they feared for themselves more than they loved their Princess?
The silence was clear.
Regina smirked, "Perhaps you simply need some encouragement?"
With a wave of her hand another figure appeared next to her, black smoke making it difficult to make out who it was. Their hands were bound behind their back and as the smoke cleared Regina's eyes were on Snow's. The realisation and horror on her step-daughters face was more than satisfying as she reached into Aladdin's chest and withdrew his heart in her hands.
"Alfie!" Snow cried, a tear slipping down her cheek.
The heart in her hands was red and pure and Regina barely looked at it as she clenched her fingers and it turned to dust in her palm. The ashes floating to the ground as Alfie's body hit the floor.
"No!" Snow was sobbing now, her eyes on Aladdin's lifeless body as she all but collapsed. She would have hit the floor herself if it wasn't for Charming's hands on her arms.
Regina dusted her hands together, "You've been warned and more will follow if I don't get Snow White's heart by this time tomorrow." She decreed and with that she was gone, another puff of black smoke curling in the place she once stood.
Now all that was left was Snow's sobs, Charming's pleading tones of apology and a body of the street rat turned bartender who had been a loyal friend in a lonely world.
…
"Should we be going this?" Emma asked as Graham grabbed her hand and led her away from the squad car, "Henry just woke up, we should be there."
"Henry's fighting fit, Emma. You heard Whale, he'll be discharged tomorrow." Graham reminded her gently, "And we need to do this, we need answers."
She nodded, knowing he was right, "You think Gold has them?"
"He hasn't led us wrong before." Graham pointed out as they crossed the street and made their way to Gold's shop, "And after Regina's public execution and personal witch hunt for Snow we need to figure out how to get everyone home before they start to panic."
Emma sighed, "I should go and see her, Mary and Alfie were close and she'll take this hard."
Graham squeezed her hand a little tighter, "I think James is the only one who will be able to get through to her right now. Trust me, give them some space."
Graham pushed the door to Gold's shop open and allowed Emma to enter ahead of him. They approached the counter together as Gold strode out from the backroom without his usual smile in place. "Well, if it isn't Storybrooke's latest celebrity couple." He said without malice or humour.
"Do you know how to get home?" Emma asked, "To the Enchanted Forest, I mean."
"Preferably before Regina insights a war and rips your mother's heart from her chest?" Gold added as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Graham frowned, "We don't have time, Gold. Do you know or not?"
"I know a great many things, Sheriff. I know you both owe me a favour from the last two times I helped with your boy, perhaps it's time to call them in?" He mused.
Emma's eyes narrowed, "What do you want?"
"A choice." Gold responded, "As to whether I go back or not. I want to be able to return to this world as I please and I no longer want to be a prisoner in your parents' dungeon."
"Why would you want to return here?" Graham asked curiously.
"That is none of your business." Gold snapped, "Let's say I'm looking for someone and leave it at that, shall we? Are those terms agreeable, Miss Swan?"
Emma paused, "If you really do know how to get back and everyone gets there safely then I'll agree to the terms."
Gold seemed to appraise her for a moment before he nodded, "I do have a question though. Do you really want to go back?"
"What do you mean?" Graham asked confused.
Emma sighed, "He means me. Do I really want to go back."
"This world is all you've ever known. It's a big risk to take your boy to a new land on faith alone, especially for you." Gold commented with a small smile.
"I grew up alone and it sucked," Emma replied with hard eyes, "I'm not alone anymore so if a little bit of faith is what it takes to be with my family and keep them safe then I'm more than willing to give it a go."
Gold nodded, seemingly happy with the answer.
Graham's hand slipped into Emma's, "What do you know? How do we get home?"
"We don't." Gold replied, "Your boy does."
"Henry?" Emma asked, eyes wide.
Gold nodded, "A dark curse brought us here and only the lightest magic can undone it. The lightest magic comes from an act of selflessness, it's from the heart, Miss Swan. Henry has the truest heart I know."
"You have to be lying." Graham said sharply, "Henry's just a boy."
Emma shook her head, "Actually it makes perfect sense."
"Emma, you can't be serious?" Graham replied in shock.
"I don't like it any more than you do but think about it," She pleaded softly, "Henry has always believed, in heroes, in happy endings. Going back is how we level the playing field again, it will return all the happy endings. Henry was given the storybook for a reason, maybe this is it."
…
James had managed to get Snow back to the loft, although he practically had to guide her the whole way before she finally spoke. He hated it, the brokenness of her movements, the stiffness he felt as he pulled her jacket off her shoulders and hung it up.
He hated it because he couldn't help her. Because she'd lost a friend, the only one she had as Mary and nothing he could say would make that better. Her eyes were empty, vacant and James had never seen her look so defeated. Not when they put Emma in the wardrobe, not when she lied and told him she didn't love him.
He guided her into the bedroom, sitting her down at the foot of the bed as he knelt down in front of her. She wasn't staring at anything but her hands were shaking and James knew she hadn't shed the last of her tears yet.
"It's my fault." The words were hollow and he didn't recognise her voice for a moment, "It's all my fault."
His heart ached as he lifted a hand to cup her cheek, "No, Regina did this."
Snow shook her head, "Because of me."
"You can't blame yourself for this." James insisted, "You aren't responsible for Regina's actions."
"I am now, you heard her, Charming. He was the first but she'll do it again. She will keep going until she wins. How much more are we going to lose? Was ourselves and our daughter not enough?" A few tears slipped down her cheeks.
James sighed, "We'll fix this. No one else is going to die, Snow. I swear."
"Alfie did." She responded coldly, "He was good and kind and innocent and he died."
"I know." James replied, leaning up to press his forehead against hers, "I know, my love, I know."
She was sniffling now but James held her to him, "He didn't deserve it, James. He didn't."
He nodded, "I know." Because what else could he say?
Snow's sobs racked her body then and she collapsed with her head pillowed against his shoulder, "We couldn't protect Emma and we can't protect our people. I couldn't protect him."
James held her, tightly as Snow clung to him. She might have left bruises with her strength to keep him anchored to her but James couldn't care, he would give her whatever she needed. She could take any part of him she wanted, it was all hers anyway.
"Is that why you have been distant with Emma?" James asked softly, "Because you feel like you failed to protect her?"
"I did fail to protect her. I told you to put her into that wardrobe, what kind of a mother does that to her child?" Snow was sobbing, "I look at our little girl and I see our failure at protecting her staring back at me. It kills me, Charming. All we ever wanted was a family and we couldn't protect it."
James shook his head, "No, we made the only choice we could to make sure Emma survived, to make suffer she didn't suffer with us. Emma understands, Snow, she does but we have a chance now. We have a family now, don't shut her out. You're both too stubborn for that fear to end well."
Snow didn't reply but he felt her hands grip him tighter and he continued.
"I know you lost a friend, and I promise you it won't be for nothing." James whispered, "We'll stop her, Snow. Together. I just need you to have faith right now, if you can't have faith in happy endings or heroes then have faith in me. In our family."
Her respond was muffled, "I do have faith in you, Charming. I always have faith in you." She pulled back then, "No one else is going to suffer; I won't let it happen." She vowed.
James smiled at the fighting attitude, "There's my wife." He remarked.
Snow nodded, "Will you just hold me for a while?"
He could do that. James let her guide him onto the bed, head against the pillow as she curled herself around him, taking whatever she needed as she wrapped herself around his frame. She was mostly on top of him, lips against his jaw, nose to his cheek as her hands stroked over where his heart was beating and her legs rested between his own.
"I've got you." He vowed quietly, squeezing her to him.
Snow nodded against him, "I love you, Charming. I've loved you since I first met you and I think I love you more every day."
"Snow…"
She cut him off, "Let me say it." She ordered and he fell silent, "I don't regret it, everything we suffered through and fought for. I don't regret a single second because I got to spent them with you. I want you to know that. I wouldn't be who I am without you, James, because even when I wasn't sure you always knew." He felt her tears against his skin and tried to swallow the lump in his throat, "My heart has been yours before I even realised it, before I was even sure it still worked. It's yours. You know it better than anyone, better than me. You knew my fears about Emma before I could fully understand them. Everything I am is and will always be yours."
He didn't know how to respond, he wanted to echo every word back to her, to let her now he felt it too but she kissed him instead. Longing and sweetly, like she was trying to burn every sensation he gave her onto her skin.
No words came to him as she shuffled against him and started removing their clothes. What could he say when the look in her eyes said it all. She needed him, with an intensity he couldn't understand and one that might have scared him if he had the time to think about it.
No words came as her hands wandered his skin and her lips caressed him with equal amounts of love and neediness. There was a desperate edge to her movements as she slid down onto him, like she was afraid of something she hadn't voiced aloud.
No words came as they climaxed together and he felt her tears on his chest, they were silent now and that scared him more but then she was there, burrowing back into his arms as he let sleep take him. All the while never getting the image of her face, so sorrowful, or the feel of her trembling hands.
It was several hours later when Snow made the move to get up from the bed and Charming's arm knowing she probably wasn't going to return to them again. She wanted to, to climb inside the safety he provided and lose herself to him.
She wouldn't though because Alfie died today and she didn't stop it. This whole thing was her fault and he paid a price that should have been hers. Charming would be angry she knew, she also hoped he'd forgive her because she couldn't stand the idea of anything but love in his eyes.
Snow dressed quickly and quietly but she knew exactly how to tread so not to wake him up. He'd try and stop her and she couldn't have that.
This would end tonight. Whatever happened Regina would not be killing another friend. Not because of her.
She wouldn't allow it.
No matter the cost to herself.
There was one thing she needed to put right first, one person she needed to see. Emma.
/
So what do you think? Thoughts?
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Thanks!
Next chapter includes: Snow goes to Regina and Charming wakes up to find his wife missing. Plus a much awaited Emma/Snow emotional release and accepted I've been planned for ages!