A/N 1: as a writing exercise, I developed a system where I asked for a pairing and random numbers from four different variables (bookcase, book in bookcase, page, line), and then set a timer to 15 minutes and wrote.

Prompter: Random Number Generator

Ship: Gremma

Bookcase: 4

Book: 31

Page: 150

Line: 18

"'I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am in town.'" The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes/The Speckled Band, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

A/N 2: AU where even though Emma was born early, Charming could go through the wardrobe with her and has raised her to believe in the curse (I thought about using David's curse last name of Nolan, or letting her stay Emma Swan, but given the scenario and the fact that many last names come from occupations, I thought, you know, maybe when David got there and was getting them settled the last name Shepherd happened since that's what he grew up as). They've just gotten to Storybrooke.

Emma Shepherd is a princess, destined to break a curse. Her father had instilled a sense of duty in her that meant she would not rest until the Evil Queen's grip on her people is broken.

Until she meets her mother, and that woman knows her.

But she's in the town, now, and she doesn't know how to break the curse. Her father watches one of the teachers at the school sadly and the young woman, Emma's own age, is exactly as he always described her mother, his Snow White.

But Emma, Emma finds herself drawn to the town's Sheriff more than she knows is wise. Her father identifies him as the Huntsman, one of the Queen's slaves who was their ally when he could be. She knows him, so far, only as Graham. Sweet and sad and lonely Graham, who always has a smile or a joke ready for her.

She shouldn't care for him as deeply as she already does; it's likely he's already got a happy ending, or will have once she's stopped the curse, anyway. Someone from back there that he's supposed to be with. Someone not her. They're from different generations, and it just doesn't add up that it might have been if not for the curse that never should have been cast.

She discovers the Queen's vault quickly, and though she would like to return the hearts to their owners, she doesn't think that she can until the curse has been broken. So, with her father's help, she finds them a new hiding place, somewhere away from the woman who took them.

And though she knows he's free now, or free as he can be, when Graham surprises her one night by leaning in as though to kiss her, she stops him with a hand on his chest, gentle, pushing him back. He doesn't know who he is, and she will not take advantage of that.

"I'm not looking for a relationship right now," she murmurs as a way of explanation, of apology to him. "There's- Things I have to do yet."

The curse is her focus, it has to be. That's what's right. That's her duty. Her obligation to her people. Her obligation to her family. She is the Savior, and what she wants cannot come first.

…

When the curse is broken and the Queen is imprisoned, she carries a small box with a heart inside to the apartment she knows is Graham's in order to return it. He needs it, after all.

And this time, when he attempts to kiss her, she lets him.