Oh my gosh, I'm loving the reviews.
Sorry/not sorry about the cliff hanger :P I needed to split the chapter for reasons you shall see in a minute. Just keeping you on your toes!
I see George as an entitled, bitter a**hole. He won't change, but is a worthy opponent in my eyes, even without magic. He would do anything for revenge at this point. I have wanted to punch his fictional face myself many times :P Emma, I laughed so hard at your comment. My work is done!
Sara K M… soon, I promise. I intended for Dark Emma sooner, but she is plotting elsewhere at the moment apparently.
As always, thanks for the follows! And thanks to misscam, ouat-forevs, and a Guest for your reviews as well!
Snow had entered her bedroom amidst the howling wind and flickering lights, Charming's sword in her hand. Of all the things running in her mind, her first and foremost thought was protecting her baby. She saw Neal's cradle overturned and let out a cry, rushing forward to pick up her son. She looked inside and around the cradle. He wasn't there.
"Neal?" she whispered, eyes frantically searching the rest of the room. She turned, so focused on her task that she was not able to react in time as someone struck her, sending her to the floor. Faintly registering that she'd hit her head against the dresser she leapt to her feet again, ready to defend herself. As suddenly as it came, the howling wind quieted, leaving the loft eerily quiet. Not that Snow noticed as she surveyed the two people in front of her, one of whom held her son.
"Hello, Snow White," jeered the former king, with a triumphant smile that did not reach his cold eyes. Neal was holding perfectly still in his arms, looking at Snow with wide eyes. He didn't appear hurt, but Snow's hands itched to have him in her arms.
Sword still raised in front of her, Snow looked from Neal, to George, then to the remaining woman who was leaning against the wall. Lily looked almost bored, fiddling with her necklace and watching the proceedings as one would observe a casual game of tennis.
"What do you want?" Snow questioned lowly, gaze returning to George. She was relieved to hear the words come out evenly despite the fact that her heart felt like it was currently residing in her throat.
"Still skipping pleasantries I see. Good. We haven't much time before your charming shepherd arrives, I'm sure," George rejoined, observing her with amusement.
Snow clenched her jaw, anger rising. "If you even think about.." she began, stepping towards him. Suddenly, she wasn't moving at all. She felt her body freeze, hand still holding her husband's sword.
"Oh, not to worry. I'm not here to kill him. No, no. I have something better in mind. You see," George continued, stepping towards Snow and removing David's sword from her hand, "I want him to suffer, not die. After all you have taken from me, I deem that only fair don't you? Lily, release her so we can discuss our arrangement."
Lily rolled her eyes but did as George requested. Snow stumbled a bit as her body regained its motion. She felt like she'd just run a few miles.
"I won't let you hurt my family. Not again," Snow spat, trying to steady herself. George chuckled menacingly.
"You have no weapon and I have your son. What harm will you attempt to do to me? Even when your husband does arrive, there is nothing to prevent me from striking him down right here before you. Except you, if you agree with our arrangement."
No. Not Charming. Not Neal. No.
Snow fought back tears, gazing at Lily imploringly, searching for some sign that this wasn't real, that this was a mistake. All Lily did was stare unblinkingly back at her.
"What exactly is your arrangement?" Snow asked shakily, desperation beginning to seep through her confidence.
"You will return, with me, to our land. I am the true king, born of noble blood. I will return to my throne with you as my queen and your son as my heir. In return, I give my word to not kill your shepherd." George smirked, and added, "He will, of course, be forced to behave himself if he tries to free you."
"Why would I do any of that?" Snow attempted, already knowing the answer.
"Because I will kill your husband. And then you. What a waste that would be. You can consider yourself lucky. I had intended to only acquire this boy but Lily insisted that you accompany us. Given that she is the only means of returning to our land, I amended my initial intent."
Snow glanced at Lily again. This time, Lily's eyes shone with the same look Snow would sometimes see in Emma's eyes. Loneliness. Fear. Abandonment. Sadness. Anger.
"No child should be forced from its mother," Lily said quietly. "Even yours."
Snow gasped, tears now falling as her mind raced. She needed to stall. Charming would be here any moment, hopefully with help. They weren't going to lose each other again. He just needed time.
"What was the purpose of destroying our home when you could just as easily let yourself in the front door?" she asked, grasping at anything she could.
Lily snorted, her indifference masking her face again. "Apparently you didn't know Emma placed a protection barrier on your loft then?"
Snow's heart skipped a beat. No, she hadn't known that. It must have shown in her facial expression because Lily added, "Took more force than finesse. Not my best work but it did the job. My mother taught me about barrier magic. I have my own around your home now."
Snow blinked. "You're leaving Maleficent." She said it as a statement instead of a question.
"For now," Lily replied, bringing her hand back to her necklace. A piece of the egg she was hatched from, Snow remembered. "I need to find my father. I've searched all over this town. I think he is back in.. our land," Lily finished slowly, as if testing out how those last two words sounded.
"She doesn't know you're leaving," Snow guessed.
Lily shook her head. Snow opened her mouth to speak again but George interrupted.
"Enough. Do we have an agreement?"
Snow glared at him, then turned back to Lily and said, "You don't need him, Lily. He will only betray you in the end. Don't fall for his false promises."
"He knows the kingdoms," she rejoined. "My mother refused to go back. She's enjoying her time here. She… wants it to be just us. I want more than that. I want to know my own story. Besides, I don't trust you either and you have the Dark One for a daughter. So, I'll take my chances on him."
"Enough!" George spat, patience clearly spent. "Do we have an agreement?"
Snow hesitated, looking at Neal's pleading eyes. His lower lip trembled and he had started reaching towards her, looking for comfort. No, she couldn't leave him. If she and David were killed, Neal would be raised by this tyrant. The thought of that alone made Snow's stomach churn. If she agreed and left to return to the Enchanted Forest, Charming would live. He would find them again, she knew. He always did.
At that moment, all three adults turned at the sound of shouting coming from downstairs.
Charming no, Snow thought, wishing he could hear her.
"Well, it seems you have some rather quick thinking to do. Lily," George said, turning to her, "you know what to do. I don't want either of these fools getting ideas."
Lily nodded and turned towards Snow. Snow felt her body seize up again as she struggled against it.
"Don't fight it," Lily calmly instructed. "Just do what needs done. For your son."
And so, there Snow stood, tears on her cheeks, watching Charming fight his own invisible bonds as furiously as she was hers. She'd fought hard to say his name, to warn him, but Lily had regained control. As the air crackled with magic, Snow knew there wasn't much time left. Emma had been protecting them with magic. Maybe she would come if she felt the barrier being broken. It would certainly more than evenly match this battle that had started a lifetime ago.
The building shook and Lily looked up from the necklace in her hand. "The Evil.. Regina.. is trying to get through my barrier. I suggest you finish this."
"Now, my dear," George sneered as he brushed quickly past Snow, "I believe it's time to make your choice."
He strode over to stand behind David, placing the blade of the sword on the side its owner's neck. A small amount of blood started trickling at the slightest touch of the sharpened blade against skin.
"No!" Snow cried, stumbling forward, hands raised. She inhaled a shuddering breath, realizing she'd been freed to make her choice. Neal was openly crying in George's arms, now trying to reach for David.
Snow swallowed hard, stepping closer to David. "Please. Wait," she whispered.
"Your choice, Snow White. Foolish distractions will not work." As if to prove his point, he pressed the blade harder against Charming's neck.
"At least let me say goodbye," she said quickly, her tear filled green eyes gazing longingly into Charming's blue ones. George seemed to be assessing her and she could practically feel Lily's gaze boring into her back, but she only had eyes for Charming. Her love. Her husband. Her hero in any land. Even now, he stood frozen in his battle stance, ready to sacrifice himself for his family.
George removed the sword from David's neck, backing towards Lily, blade still at the ready. Snow glared at him as he held Neal, but turned to rush towards Charming, cupping his face in her hands and kissing him as more tears spilled over. Oh, how she wished he could kiss her back. Eyes closed, she broke the kiss, breathing him in.
"I love you. I am in love with you. In every way and for every reason, Charming."
Pulling away, she placed her hands on his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath her palm. She met his eyes and saw saw his tumultuous emotions reflecting from them as he gazed back at her.
"I have to protect Neal, Charming," she whispered, voice breaking. "I can't let him return to the Enchanted Forest alone." She moved her hands behind his neck, hugging his unmoving form as best she could as she silently sobbed into his shoulder. She knew it must be killing him not to touch her, comfort her, speak to her. She kissed his neck, noting that the bleeding had already slowed.
A warm glow was growing in the loft, and she could feel the beginning of a portal opening on the floor behind her. It was almost time then. She fleetingly wondered at how Lily was doing it.
The necklace, she suddenly realized, gripping Charming's jacket collar. She met his eyes again, seeing him frantically looking between the portal and her gaze.
"Charming, the necklace," she breathed as quietly as possible. "The necklace opened the portal."
"Say goodbye to the shepherd, Snow White," George boomed over the rushing sound of the portal as he raised David's sword precariously close to Neal. "It's time we return to our kingdom,"
Snow pulled herself up, hugging Charming tightly again, her forehead rested on his. "Find me," she breathed before kissing him once more, pouring in every ounce of love that she could. "I love you."
With those words, she backed away, tears freely falling as she gazed at him. George grabbed her arm to pull her closer to himself and it took all of the control she possessed not to make him pay dearly for that. He still had Neal, after all.
"I'll go with the boy. Then you. Then Lily," he ordered. Snow nodded faintly. This was really happening.
She watched as George and Neal disappeared into the portal, then turned to Lily who was still holding her necklace in her palm.
The necklace.
Snow moved so quickly that Lily was barely able gasp before her necklace was knocked out of her hand and she was falling into the portal. Snow was balancing perilously on the edge of falling in and regaining her balance when strong arms pulled her to safety. She was turned and pulled into a demanding kiss, David flushing her body against his own. It was more than heat. More than fear. It was love and a promise and all those things that were wonderfully Charming.
He broke the kiss, breathing heavily. "I'll find you, Snow," he rasped.
"Always," she replied with a tearful smile. She stepped towards the portal, hand still linked with his until she was as far away as their arms would allow. He kissed her hand, his tears falling on her skin, and she let go.
AN/side rant: I have to just say that I absolutely hated the storyline of Charming and Snow and baby Lily. I felt that it was OOC for them both. I get that it was the author story line and all that but I still hated it. Ugh. However, I alluded to it in this chapter bc it is canon so anywho…
Emma will make her appearance in the next chapter. That's a Charming promise.
Thanks again for reading!