Death is Inside the Bones

by Liv Marie

Five years after being convicted for almost destroying Storybrooke with a trigger in her pursuit of vengeance against Snow White, Regina receives a visitor seeking her help. Turns out that while Regina had been paying for her crimes, another kind of curse was cast upon this world bringing the dead back to life with a special appetite for the living. SQ Big Bang 2014. #COMPLETE

14. Bonus scene

When the storm reaches its peak and there is nothing left for the small crew left in the Jolly Roger to do but wait for it to pass, Snow excuses herself and heads to the ship's basement.

Locked in his cell, Charming notices her arrival the instant she unlocks the door. With his arms raised and his face pressed against the bars he grunts. Looking every bit as downcast as she feels, Snow enters the room although she doesn't dare to get too close.

Storms always make him more restless.

So, what she does is sit on a wooden crate next to the door and stare at her husband's figure for the longest time. Her voice finding its way out only long after the tears have already dried on her face.

"They are gone, Charming."

She hears herself say and, as one might expect, his only response is more grunts and groans.

Snow misses her husband's voice more than anything. More than his smell or his presence in the middle of the night. More than his smile, his bad jokes, the way she could perfectly fit in his arms. The one thing she might miss more is the spark of recognition in his eyes.

"You know, before leaving, Regina came to me." She speaks normally as if he could understand her. "I know... I was surprised too. And even more so when she told me her reasons. She wanted to give me this."

Opening her hand, Snow reveals a magic bean. "Regina said that I would regret the choice I was making. That one day I would wake up and realize that true love can be more than romantic love. And then she said that when I was ready to understand and accept that, I should use it to find my way back to them."

Snow loses track of time as she stares at the bean in her hand. Her fingers caressing its smooth surface. "She was so angry, Charming. Not Regina- Our daughter. I don't think Emma will ever forgive me. To be fair, I'm not sure she should. But I- I don't-"

There is a long pause. Silence. A rueful sigh.

"She was right, Regina. She still knows me better than anyone, I suppose. I'm just not ready to leave you, my love. Not yet... Not while there might still be a cure out there. So, I can only hope Charming... Just hope that when I am ready, it's not too late... And that wherever our family might end up, they'll be fine. And closer to a happy ending."

"And who knows, maybe we'll get to meet again one day."

The end.