What Could Have Been
VuryEvilquem asked for a one-shot set in season 3 of Snow, Charming and Hanna visiting their other castle and seeing the nursery, just like Snow and Emma in season 2.
Snow thought that maybe…just maybe there would be ashes left from the wardrobe. Cora used them once to create a portal for herself, so maybe they could do that again. Snow knew it was a long shot, but she had to try. She and Charming decided not to mention any of this to Hanna though. Ever since her encounter with that beanstalk, they stopped telling her of their plans to get back to Emma and Henry and encouraged her to stop trying to find a way too. They didn't want her putting herself in danger anymore. As far as Hanna knew, they were just coming here to see their old home. David planned on coming here at some point anyways. He had to see it. He had to see what became of their castle. The place he and Snow called home before the first curse. The place they were going to start their family and raise their children.
"So, was this it?" Hanna asked as she looked around at what would have been her and Emma's nursery.
"It is," Snow said with a sad smile as she wrapped an arm around Hanna.
"Of course, we would of had another crib made for our little surprise princess," David told her with a wink.
"And more toys too," Snow added.
Hanna looked around at the remnants of what would have been her and Emma's toys. "Seems like there was enough toys here for ten babies."
"We wanted you girls to have everything," David said.
Hanna just nodded her head and looked around. She tried to imagine what her life would have been like if she grew up here…but she couldn't or maybe she just didn't want to. Those thoughts were too painful.
"Hanna, what is it?" Snow asked, noticing the look on her daughter's face.
Hanna just shook her head. "Nothing. Let's just get out of here." Hanna quickly wiped away the tear that had fallen down her cheek and rushed out of the room.
Snow and David sighed. Maybe it was a mistake bringing her here. Having her see what could have been. Maybe that was too much for her.
"David…it's gone," Snow said as she nodded towards where the wardrobe use to sit. There weren't even any ashes left.
David put his arm around his wife and guided her out of the room. "Come on."
Snow let a few tears fall as she left this broken room for a second time. Regina was right when she said this curse was a reset. Every chance of creating a portal seemed to have been taken away. Snow and Charming wouldn't give up though. They would see their oldest daughter and grandson again someday. They just knew the would.