THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK ON LAST CHAPTER. HERE GOES LUCKY THIRTEEN! (THAT WAS A HOUSE REFERENCE. LOVE THAT SHOW 3)
DON'T OWN IT.
The Charming Family decided to take the day off. They had been through so much the past few days, and knew they needed the rest. James and Henry were riding the horses around the castle. Graham and Emma were spending the day in their room. Snow sat in the basement next to Regina, watching her chest rise and fall. The image she was seeing scared her. It was true that she didn't like the woman, but she did respect her. Seeing her so fragile-looking made Snow melancholy. She heard footsteps and glanced to the doorway, where Doc appeared.
"Hi." He smiled, slowing his pace.
"Hi." She copied, but her smile wasn't nearly as convincing.
"What's the matter?" Doc asked.
Snow sighed. "I loved her for a number of years. I believe she once loved me." She took a breath and pressed on, voice quivering. "I don't think it was her choice to become evil. I think she got enveloped in darkness, and it consumed her. She doesn't deserve this… No one does."
"You are a good person, Snow. Don't ever forget that." Doc wrapped his friend in a hug.
"Careful, Henry, not so fast!" James called, watching his grandson ride his horse at an alarming late.
"I am being careful." Henry replied.
"If your mother saw you she'd be having a heart attack." He said.
"Then don't let her see me. Let's go to the meadow!" The boy didn't wait for confirmation; he sped off without so much as a glance to make sure James was behind him. The older man sighed, and followed despite himself.
Graham and Emma laid in bed, propped up on their elbows, breathless. He played with a strand of Emma's hair, pulling it straight, then grinning as it curled up again.
"Your hair's so pretty." He said. "It's very princess-y."
"Thanks." Emma blushed.
"Now that we averted a crisis with Regina, are you ready to talk about our wedding?" Graham asked.
"Uh…" She looked like a dear in the headlights.
"Sorry. After what just happened, I forgot that you're a commitment phobe."
"I guess it would be a good thing." She shrugged. "I want to, believe me I do. I just- I don't know. We haven't even been dating- " Graham silenced her with a finger to her lips.
"You know how I know you're the one for me?" Emma shook her head, Graham's finger moving along with it. "Because, you broke my curse when you kissed me."
"And true love's kiss breaks all curses." Realization finally dawned on Emma. "Wow."
"Mhm." He said, placing tender kisses to her neck.
"Graham!" Emma squealed.
The family regrouped in the early afternoon, having had enough excitement for one day. They sat on the backyard patio, taking in the rare sunny afternoon in winter. Come spring and summer, thunderstorms would roll in on a daily basis.
"Henry, put your coat on." Emma said.
"But it's warm!" Henry insisted.
"It's only 47. I know it feels warm cause of the sun, but you'll catch a cold." She said. Henry turned to Graham for confirmation.
"Do what your mother says." He nodded. Reluctantly and with a slight pout, Henry pulled.
"Ooh, you're playing bad cop!" Emma let a small smile grace her face, pointing at Graham.
"I am not!"
"You made Henry do what he didn't want to. That, my Dear, is bad cop." The blonde deduced. Snow giggled, and glanced lovingly at her husband. Her and James had a way of communicating non-verbally.
"I love you." James tenderly kissed her on the forehead. Graham caught Henry trying to hide the face he was making.
"So, Henry," He asked, "Who's your true love?"
"Uh…" Henry flushed. "I don't know yet."
"I think this would be an appropriate time to tell some news." James rescued Henry, shooting him a wink. The boy smiled his thanks.
"Please don't be pregnant." Emma mumbled.
"Ella and Thomas are going to come for a visit in a few days!" Snow beamed.
"Thank God." Emma sighed.
"It'll be great to see them again." Graham said.
"Where's Red?" Henry asked, finally realizing that her friends weren't with her.
"She's staying with the dwarves right now. Although, when it Wolf's Time comes, I should probably go be with her." Snow said. "Thanks for reminding me."
"She should stay with us!"
"Henry, I love Ruby, but she's a wolf. She could kill you." Emma didn't have to finish to get her point across.
"We'll all be super careful!" She sighed. Why couldn't her son ever just take 'no' for an answer? "Can we, Snow?"
"We do have a dungeon that could be helpful during Wolf's Time. We have numerous spare rooms. Her Granny would have to come, too; that would only be fair. I don't know. Charming, what do you think?"
"I think we could pitch her the idea." James shrugged.
"I swear this is a conspiracy against me." Emma declared.
"Or maybe you're just in the minority." Graham teased. Ignoring his comment, Emma said,
"If it was pretty much anyone except Ruby, I wouldn't go along with it." She got up.
"Where are you going?" Henry asked.
"I don't know, somewhere inside. It's freezing out there." She called over her shoulder, yanking the door open.
"Honey, you spent the whole day inside. Some fresh air wouldn't hurt." Snow said.
"I just sat out there with you."
"For half an hour." James said, fixing her with a stern look.
"Fine. Just don't blame me if I get hypothermia." Emma said. The truth was, she wanted to be there. She wanted to be with her family and forget everything and never worry. She was just so afraid that she'd wake up, and it'd have been a dream. Graham seemed to read her mind.
"This is real, Emma."
"Or maybe I'm delusional." At Snow's alarmed look, she continued. "I'm kidding. But seriously, can we take this inside?" She rubbed her arms for added emphasis.
"Sure." Snow smiled.
I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR IDEAS. I THINK A WRITER'S BLOCK IS COMING…