Welcome to Finding You Always 2! I'm really excited about debuting this fic. I've been working on it since late summer and have quite a lot done so far. I will be posting weekly updates on Saturday nights. If I end up getting behind in the future, I might go to bi-weekly updates, but for now, they will be weekly. This story will introduce a new universe of characters and concepts, but don't worry if you discover you haven't seen this particular series. Everything you need to know will be detailed and explained and will mostly remain the established Finding You Always universe. I will also list face claims for characters and add more as they appear. The core cast of Once remains the same as the show, of course. Also, the face claims for Ariana Dashing and Zia Ramos, love interests for Flynn and Bobby respectively have changed and updated. I will also respond to your reviews after each chapter, so please consider leaving feedback. It really helps keep me motivated. Without any further ado, let's get to it.
Face Claims:
Core Cast of Once: Same as the show.
Those that appeared as side characters in the show: Same as the show (Elsa, for example)
Fandral the Dashing and Rose Red: Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin
James and Aphrodite: Josh Dallas and a blonde Ginnifer Goodwin
Bobby Charming: Logan Lerman
Flynn Charming: Tanner Buchanan
Leo Charming: Matt Lanter
Eva Charming-Sakura: Bailee Madison
Paul Sakura: Christopher Sean
Summer Charming: Luna Blaise
JJ Bradley: Garret Wareing
Ariana Dashing: Ciara Hanna
Zia Ramos: Jenna Ortega
Hermes: Nakia Burrise
Finding You Always 2
Also on FF.net and A03
Chapter 1: Prelude to Conflict
Five years. Five years of peace had settled over the United Realms and it was a very welcome thing that none of them had taken for granted. At first, the release of Ouranos, such a God of destruction like him, had been very troublesome. Clayton's perversion of his destruction was even worse. Many universes had Gods of destruction to keep the balance. These Gods, like Ouranos, could lay waste to a planet with the blink of an eye. Clayton's intent to erase the truest loves though by separating them by death and inserting himself would have left this planet Earth in eternal darkness. There was no balance in that. Hermes had worried his release would have consequences, but so far, she had seen no evidence of it under her meticulous watch. Until now.
Her morning rounds had started out as any other day, but something strange had sparked her interest. She peered over the edge of her lookout, which floated high in the sky above the planet Earth of this realm. From her viewing pond, she couldn't be sure what she was seeing, so she put herself in a bubble and disappeared. She reappeared at the edge of realms, where the All World River, the gateway to infinite universes and realms swirled violently before her. Her caduceus staff appeared in her hand and she carefully stuck it into the waters to test what she had seen, though it was only a glimmer; so much so that she had almost missed it. When she pulled her staff back, she was stunned at what she found. How long had she been missing this? How long had there been a problem that was only now appearing as a glimmer? She didn't know what to make of the sickly magenta slime that covered her staff.
"Dear Gaia…what does this mean?" she uttered in disbelief. She didn't know yet and because of that, she didn't want to inform James and Aphrodite yet. They would need to soon know, but first, she needed more information and that meant a little realm hopping was in order. Steeling herself and taking a breath, her bubble reappeared and she disappeared into the All World River…
~*~
David had never been good at hiding his emotions. He was a passionate man, never afraid to express those feelings for those he loved and the warrior side of him had always clearly shown pride when he saw his kids displaying their unique powers and gifts in the name of defending all that was good and just. His six children were all exceptional in their own ways, with vast power and unique skills.
Their eldest Emma, the clear leader, and an affinity for more general magic, though it often manifested as white fire when needed most. Leo, in addition to his gift with animals, channeled most of his magic in the form of lightning at his fingertips.
Eva, the healer among them, channeled hers often from the very air as pink tendrils of wind. Summer, aptly named, since her bubbles formed from the waters all around them.
Then there were the youngest in their brood. Bobby and Flynn. His youngest biological son was somewhat of an amalgamation of all his siblings. He drew his power from the very earth itself, therefore able to channel all the elements and wield it like energy from his hands. Then there was Flynn and though he was adopted, they had discovered he had an incredible affinity for hand to hand combat, both in hands and with a sword.
When he had started Flynn's Knight training, five years ago, they had wondered if he could learn magic, even though he wasn't born with it. However, he was a bit disappointed to find that he couldn't harness any magic, no matter how hard he tried. To keep him from feeling left out or like he wasn't one of them, David began a rigorous training schedule with him and discovered that his aptitude with a sword was prodigious and soon awakened a sleeping warrior inside him of the likes which David had never quite seen. He recognized his immense potential for fighting and decided to enlist someone far more skilled at hand to hand combat than him; particularly martial arts. There weren't many martial arts masters around in the United Realms, for most that had any kind of power relied on magic rather than the discipline of the fighting arts. But there was one. Mulan.
To say that the female warrior was excited at the prospect of someone else having an affinity for martial arts like her, was an understatement. From his first lesson, it was like a light was turned on inside Flynn and the pace at which he mastered everything Mulan taught him was completed with such ease and speed, it left both he and the warrior flabbergasted at times. Flynn had gone from a novice to a master to completely surpassing Mulan in martial arts in the short five years, so much so that he now trained regularly in hand to hand combat with the Asgardian army. It was then Fandral's turn to be stunned at the boy's seemingly unusual strength for a human that seemed to now exist within him. Fandral often joked that he truly wondered if Flynn was perhaps Asgardian, after all.
As far as brute strength, he gave Bobby a run for his money now, with the latter actually having to use magic to strengthen his limbs when they sparred. Today, they were doing sword work and watching the two young men always drew quite a crowd, especially among the Asgardian warriors. While David usually wore his sword in a scabbard on his hip, Flynn had taken to wearing his around by a crossbody strap on his back and was rarely seen without it these days.
The two smirked at each other and panted heavily, pausing to catch their breath. Bobby loved to fight almost as much as Flynn and it gave David a bit of ease knowing that they would be there to step in as protectors of the United Realms as he aged. Not that he was old by any means. The Chalice had slowed his and Snow's aging to barely a crawl. By now, they should have been somewhere in their seventies if you counted curse years, but they looked and felt like they were still in their late thirties.
"Not so cocky without magic…are you?" Flynn taunted. They had agreed that Bobby wouldn't use magic, unless it was just in his limbs since that was in his blood and naturally enhanced his strength.
"Please…I've had a sword in my hand since I was a toddler. I don't need magic," Bobby bragged. They were brothers and best friends. Any jabs at each other were purely talk with no real malice behind it. Both his boys were witty, but at least Flynn had a little more tact, whereas Bobby had absolutely none.
"Enough trash talk. Katas," Mulan ordered. Both sheathed their swords in the scabbards resting on their backs like a pair of non lookalike twins, before sinking into fighting stance and going through their martial arts katas with Mulan. When Flynn took an interest in martial arts, so did Bobby, and he learned alongside him. It made David a bit angry sometimes that Gothel had hidden his origins from all of them. Flynn should have come to them from the start. He felt it in his bones and he should have been spared a harder life and been raised alongside Bobby from the beginning. He and Snow hated that he'd been a street kid, because of that witch. Sometimes he wanted to apply for a search warrant to tear apart her whole shop to see what else she was hiding, but he didn't have cause. The witch was careful and somehow still stealing youth from somewhere. He was sure it was a crime, but he couldn't prove it. Where she could be getting the magic, he didn't know, but he knew it was stolen nonetheless. His family was the obvious source of magic, but he knew there were other sources to tap. He just wished he knew where.
The Gothel of their land was supposedly not as dangerous as the one they had encountered and ultimately battled from Starcomb. But he had long felt that this one could be just as much of a threat if they continued to let her run her operation. However, until she made any overtly illegal moves, his hands were tied.
Once both boys were sweating profusely from exertion, Mulan finally dismissed them for the day. Now came the inevitable trip to Granny's to fill their empty stomachs, which also came with family time.
"Hit the showers and then we'll swing by and get your Mom on the way," he told them, as he walked out of the training facility where only the best warriors in the United Realms trained. Right in the backyard to the Andresian palace.
"Their prowess as warriors never ceases to amaze," Fandral mentioned, as they met up outside.
"I know…Flynn's potential really is as remarkable as Bobby's innate abilities," David agreed.
"It's good to know that the future of the United Realms will be in hands like these, even if neither of us is going anywhere for a long time," Fandral said. He nodded.
"Yeah…as much as I'm enjoying the peace, I wonder how long it will be until another enemy appears. I hate that I think that, but after everything we've been through, it's hard not to," David admitted.
"I do as well, but at least we are keeping up our training and have not become complacent, which would be a fatal error," he replied. David nodded.
"We'll see you at Granny's later," Fandral said, as they broke off and David met up with the boys, who were cleaned up and freshly showered.
"Ready?" he asked. They nodded, as David pressed a button his watch, designed by Hyde for all of them, and a sparkling orange portal appeared before them, providing instant transportation to Storybrooke.
~*~
It had been a very long time since Hermes had come to this place. Even during all the turmoil in her home realm, she had never needed to consult with other Gods and otherworldly beings from other universes. Only in the direst of circumstances did a God or Goddess come to this place. It was a place of bright white light and wispy clouds. Among the clouds were many pillars and sort of even resembled different hubs like at a train station. An infinite amount of hubs, as all the Gods from infinite universes could come here to meet if needed. And it was definitely needed now.
"Hermes…it's been a very long time," a gentle, kind voice said. She smiled and bowed slightly, as he did as well. He was a short man, with lavender skin and a white mohawk for hair.
"Shin…it has, centuries in fact," she said, as she followed him into one of the hubs and it became a knoll of grass, complete with trees. Shin's own planet.
"I'm glad to have some company, though I sense you are not here for pleasantries," he said. And that's when she noticed his blank viewing pond.
"Your universe…" she uttered, as she observed the nothingness.
"Yes…I'm afraid it was slowly all destroyed and not by its destroyer, I'm afraid," Shin said.
"How is that possible?" she asked.
"A terrible, very evil being started by destroying my Earth. But then something worse came along and erased it all, until there was nothing. Then it moved onto other worlds. I was about to summon many of us, but I assume you are here, because you have discovered the problem," Shin said.
"I didn't know what I had discovered or how big of a problem it was, but now seeing this…I must know what is going on," she said, as she showed him her caduceus with the slime residue. He waved his hand and a hologram of the All World River appeared before them. She watched as the swirling portals that represented a realm or universe slowly flickered with light, before dying completely. They were dead, void of light, and at the pace it was happening, it was alarming and completely unnatural. From time to time, universes died and flickered out of existence, due to calamity or tragedy, but at a pace like this, it meant something was very wrong.
"Shin…what is doing this? Is my Earth next?" she asked.
"Yes…there is some time to prepare, but the slime you found means there is already evil seeping into your Earth," he replied.
"I must know the whole story…I must know what this is before I return to Aphrodite and her charges," Hermes said.
"Yes…your universe has much more hope than some. A fighting chance, perhaps," he said.
"The truest loves…" Hermes said.
"Them and their offspring, yes…but there is another that may be the key to tipping the scales in our favor," Shin replied. Hermes' brow furrowed and a large man approached, with a ruddy complexion and long white hair.
"This is a very long story and we need tea," Shin said, as his attendant set the tray down.
"Thank you Kibito…now I must begin about twenty three years ago…"
~*~
They should have been used to it by now, but people still side eyed the Charming table, as their youngest sons made quick work of plate after plate of food. Before he began training as a Knight and in Martial Arts, Flynn ate a normal portion like any other normal person. But since starting his training, his appetite had expanded exponentially to the point that he now rivaled Bobby when it came to the amount of food he could put away. It was astounding, but the boys' training was intense and nothing to balk at, so no one really thought it was unusual for Flynn since Bobby's appetite was so legendary.
"Storybrooke really needs a buffet or something," Emma commented.
"Yeah right…there's no way a buffet could stay in business with this family," Leo replied, with a mouthful of food, earning him a look of disdain from his wife.
"I know your mother taught you better manners than that and I expect you to be better in front of our daughter," she scolded lightly. Leo stopped eating and swallowed, before smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry hon," he apologized, before making a goofy face at their flaxen haired daughter, who sat next to her mother. Winter giggled.
"Yeah…good thing you two are filthy rich, cause I don't know how you'd pay the tab for this brood otherwise," Granny commented, as she handed the check to David.
"Trust me…me either," he replied. Snow smiled, especially at her youngest boys. They were both dating, but still living at home in their castle and she was in no hurry for them to leave. Add to that, she now had six grandchildren and one great grandchild. Obviously Henry was grown now and her great grandchild, Lucy was as well, only a year younger than Bobby. But their castle was full of little ones in Hope, who was nine now, Winter, who was six, twins Jayden and Mia, who were five now, and Summer and JJ's four year old son, Hunter. Their family had grown quite a lot in the last five years and she knew it would continue to do so.
"And you used to make fun of me for how much I eat," Bobby teased. Flynn rolled his eyes.
"Yeah…yeah, you're never going to let that go, are you?" he asked.
"Nope," Bobby replied.
"So…what do you two have planned tonight?" Snow inquired. They looked at their mother and knew that was code for did they either of them have a date tonight.
"Uh…I think Zia is busy with her parents tonight," Bobby replied.
"Yeah…and Ari is probably with her parents too. I think we're going out tomorrow night," Flynn replied. Snow couldn't help herself. The four of them were so cute together. Neither relationship was very serious yet, but she knew both relationships were likely to go the distance.
"Yeah, we're pretty tired from training so we'll probably just go home and watch a movie or something," Flynn said. That was perfect for Snow; she loved having them around in the evening. After paying the check, they did just that, going home with the boys, while parting ways with their older children, who went to their own homes with their families.
~*~
"By the Gods…" Hermes uttered, as she let Shin's story sink in for a few moments.
"Damn Atanos to the pits of Tartarus!" she said hotly, as she got up and paced a few strides.
"Yes…this High Priest truly opened up a can of worms with the release of Ouranos, though I believe it was the choice of host that truly put in motion the chain reaction that began destroying worlds," Shin said.
"Clayton…" Hermes growled.
"Yes…quite a formidable man for having no real battle power," Shin mentioned.
"The absolute worst," she agreed.
"I just don't know how I break all this to the truest loves…or most of all Flynn…or…I guess that's not his real name, after all," Hermes said.
"No…but it is a name he chose himself and one we will honor until he makes the choice as to whether to don his birth name," Shin replied. She nodded.
"I…I know mortals are not usually allowed here, but I think I need to bring them with Aphrodite and her husband. I think they need to see all of this first," she mentioned. Shin nodded.
"Exceptions are made for exceptional mortals and they are that. It was my intent to see that Flynn made his way to them as an infant. I hand picked them, but that horrible man had them captive elsewhere at the time," Shin explained.
"Yes…Flynn came while Snow and Charming were captives in Atlantis and then the second curse threw so much chaos at us that Gothel used it to her advantage," Hermes said, clearly upset by it, as she knew Snow and Charming would be. Gothel's interference in Flynn's life was far deeper than they thought and her lies had deprived him of his adopted family unnecessarily. Arrest warrant or not, she knew Charming was likely to throw her in prison and toss the key through a portal.
"I'll go now and make preparations to bring them here. But even…even if the boy's powers and true heritage are awakened, is it enough? It was not enough for his father…and other fighters," she said.
"I don't know…he has help here too and in some ways, magic could be key here. It's not something they had, so combined with ki powers, it could be the edge needed. But there is no way to know…they must all train fiercely. Evil is stirring and it will soon make itself known, sooner rather than later," Shin said, as he sighed.
"It has not been stopped yet and your realm is next. If it is not stopped here…I don't see what chance the rest have, save for perhaps a similar one to mine where things did not go so badly," he added and then smiled thinly.
"Ironically due to another version of this boy…he is very important to many timelines it seems, regardless of the version," he said. She nodded.
"I'll return soon…" she promised, as she exited the Kai's world and arrived back at King's Crossing, before her bubble transported home to her Temple. But she did not stop there and headed straight for Mount Olympus…
Thank you for submitting this! I hope you like it!
OUAT SPOILER WARNING:I am basing this off BTS pics put out there of Snowing standing outside arandom house kissing and holding Baby Neal. Also, let’s pretend that Hookactually left in 6x14 with no intentions of returning for the sake of this.Takes place several months in the future from where the show is at right now.
#46: “If you love it so much, why don’t you marry it?”
Also on AO3/FF
Send me a number from this list with a pairing and I’ll write a ficlet!
“Well, we have a decision to make,” David said as hesat across from his wife at Granny’s. Spread out in front of them were picturesof three different houses, all of which they had just got done looking at. Emmaand Henry had taken Neal out for the day, so it was just them having this latelunch.
“We don’t have to decide today,” Snow pointed out.
“If we don’t, I don’t think we ever will.”
Snow sighed, knowing, he was right. Shortly after sheand Emma had returned from the Enchanted Forest, the three of them haddiscussed getting a house together. What they hadn’t planned on was a string ofevents leading to Henry being dragged to Neverland and then Pan cursing the town,separating them. After they had finally gotten their memories back, things justhadn’t slowed down. Between Ingrid then the Queens of Darkness, followed bytheir daughter’s own darkness and a trip to the Underworld, they had barely foundtime to breathe. Things were just starting to go back to normal, or as normalas Storybrooke could be.
After Hook left town and Gideon was defeated, Emma movedout of her house. It was never really hers, she had just begun squatting thereas the dark one and technically it still belonged to Rumple, so she just gaveit back to him. He offered to sell it to her or her parents properly, but theyhad all declined. The house held far too many bad memories. What was supposedto be the place for Emma to start her own happily ever after, had turned into anightmare. Snow and David were more than happy to have her (and Henry, when he wasn’tat Regina’s) back in there, but as the months went on and Neal grew, they knewit was time to find a new home.
There was only one issue with a town such asStorybrooke: no one ever moved. When Regina’s curse created the town, she madesure everyone for the most part had a place to live. The few houses that didremain were only a result of causalities of the different villains or thosethat chose to stay behind during one of their million trips back to the EnchantedForest. As a result, there were only 3 that really suited their needs as agrowing family. It was their first time shopping for a home and neither hadmuch experience. Snow’s fake memories of Mary Margaret before Emma came werefoggy, so she couldn’t even remember what Regina had made up to be her historyof getting the loft.
“I really liked this one,” Snow said, holding up apicture of a red brick house, the back yard was a decent size, enough for Neal torun around in. “It has enough bedrooms for all of us, plus even a spare bedroomin case we decided to have another baby.”
“I don’t know,” David said, squinting a bit. “I likedit, but I don’t think there’s enough land.”
Snow rolled her eyes. “Not this again. This isn’t theEnchanted Forest, we’re not going to have farm like acreage. Unless you want tobuy Zelena’s old house. She did go back to Oz after all.”
“It’s far too small,” he replied, missing the sarcasmin her voice. He picked up a picture of another one. It was a little smallerthan the one that his wife liked, though bigger than Zelena’s. “I liked thisone.”
“It’s right near the beach.”
“So? Isn’t that a plus?”
“When it storms, our house could get flooded.”
“What?”
“I’m just saying,” Snow took a sip of her tea.
David rolled his eyes. “But it’s perfect. It’s gotmore land…”
“Just barely. And what do you suppose we do with allthat extra land?”
“I don’t know, we could get animals?”
“You want to get animals?” Snow raised an eyebrow. “Theremay be more land, but certainly not enough for sheep or anything.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I just love it.”
Snow groaned, a mixture of sleepiness, frustration andother feelings she had been neglecting came to a head. “Well, if you love it somuch, why don’t you marry it?”
David saw the look on her face. He knew that she wastired but also that there was more that she was willing to admit. The loft hadbeen their first home as a family. Not only had it been where they settledafter the curse broke, but it was where she had begun bonding with Emma. It waswhere they had brought Neal home from the hospital. Where he had just taken hisfirst steps just a few days ago. It was where them, Emma, Regina and Henry hadcountless game and movie nights. There had been many debates over the mostrandom things between all of them, lots of hot chocolates with cinnamon enjoyedat the island. So many memories were tied up in that little loft, leaving itbehind was going to be hard. He understood just how she felt.
He reached out and took her hand. She looked at him,seeing his sympathetic face and sighed.
“You know home is where our family is, right?” Davidasked, softly.
Snow shut her eyes and nodded, before opening themagain. “I do.”
“Doesn’t mean this isn’t hard.”
“It’s what’s necessary, though. That loft was justsupposed to be meant for Mary Margaret. She was single and childless.” A smallsmile went across her face. “Snow White is a wife and mother of two, she’s agrandmother too, with a grandson that spends at least half his time with her.”
“Emma did offer to get her own place.”
“We’re finally a family again, all of us,” Snow said. “Plus,even when Emma was living in her other house, we knew the loft couldn’t containus forever. With Neal walking, having those narrow stairs isn’t safe. I know weneed to move, I just didn’t think it’d hit me so far. But you’re right.” Shesmiled fully. “It doesn’t matter where we live, as long as I have you and ourkids, it’s home.”
David grinned and leaned across her, kissing her lips.They let it linger for a bit before finally pulling apart. When they did, bothof their eyes hit the third picture. It was of a simple white house with aporch. Snow remembered that one, it had been the first one they looked at it.She had really liked it, but wanted to look at the other options. With thedebates with David over the other two, she had nearly forgotten all about it. Ithad the number of bedrooms they wanted, the kitchen appliances had been updatedrecently. There was a garden out back, plenty of room to put up a swing set andtrees perfect to build a tree house for Neal someday. She could feel Davidlooking at it too, as if he had forgotten about it too.
“I remember really loving this one,” he commented.
“I did too.”
“Maybe we should marry it,” David teased and Snowgiggled, rolling her eyes.
“Emma texted me that they were taking Neal to the parkto feed the ducks. Why don’t we go pick them up and then we can take them by,to get their opinion before we say “I do”?”
Snow carried her son into the kitchen at arms length and sat him on the counter, while she got a wet washcloth.
"You're a mess, baby," she said, fondly cleaning him off the remnants of his dinner. Regina came in behind her and though there was an awkward silence between them, she had a fond look for the baby.
"He was a big fan of your lasagna," Snow said and she managed a smile at that.
"I can see that…he reminds me of Henry at that age," Regina offered, as there was another awkward pause, but Bobby gave them a topic of conversation, as the washcloth floated from the sink. Snow sighed and caught it, before putting it back in the sink and picking him up.
"I don't know what we're going to do if they see him do this and find out he has magic," she said, the fear and stress clear in her voice. And in the past, that fear and stress that she was burdened with would have thrilled Regina. But now she found that it didn't. In fact, it was getting harder and harder to hate them. Henry really had changed her; alarmingly so. The Evil Queen would have relished her enemy's pain and took delight in rubbing it in her face. Moreso, she would have eagerly told their NSA handlers about the child's magic and reveled in them ripping the baby from Snow's arms. But now, being a mother herself, she didn't wish the loss of a child on even her worst enemy. Henry would be proud, if he could ever believe in her again.
"They won't," Regina offered and her step-daughter looked at her skeptically.
"I can only hope…but he's too little. He has no idea what he's doing," she fretted.
"Maybe not…and he is very young, but if you allow it, I may be able to work with him a bit," Regina said.
"Really?" she asked, with hope in her voice. She nodded.
"You'd do that?" Snow asked again.
"Of course…I mean, after all, he's sort of my…my grandchild, isn't he?" she asked uncomfortably. Snow smiled.
"He is…" she replied.
"But…isn't he too young to teach?" Snow wondered.
"In many ways, yes…but if I can start teaching him control this early, we may be able to teach him it's not appropriate around certain people. It's a long shot…but if we realize his potential earlier enough, he may help us eventually get out of this situation," she explained.
"Emma has a lot to unlearn to realize her full potential with magic. She's spent a lifetime being told it's not real. Bobby doesn't have those restraints. Your son could potentially be the most powerful light magic user in existence someday," she added.
"And you do this for us?" Snow asked.
"For now, I will do it for Henry and the baby," she replied.
"But…with everything that's happened, I can see clearly now that you and your husband are not my enemies," she added.
"For what it's worth…I am sorry about Daniel. I never thought something bad would happen," Snow said.
"I…I didn't understand what would happen…that…that…" Snow stammered.
"That my mother would kill him?" she asked. Snow closed her mouth and nodded. Regina signed.
"I know…you were a child, but we can't go back," she said.
"Can we move forward?" Snow asked. Regina paused for a moment.
"We can try…for real this time," Regina replied, bringing a small smile to the raven haired beauty's face.
"Thank you Regina," she said, as she lifted her son up and left the kitchen to change him, leaving Regina with her thoughts for the moment.
~*~
"Still thinking about that spar, mate?" Killian asked, as they sipped at coffee following dinner. David shook his head.
"It's just…I'm a decent swordsman, but King Arthur, regardless of his natural talent, should be unstoppable with Excalibur," the prince said.
"It was pretty cool that you beat King Arthur though, Gramps," Henry mentioned.
"The lad is right…you're selling yourself short, mate. You're more than decent and that comes from a pirate that's seen a lot of sword fights," Killian replied.
"Thanks for the compliment…but even if my skills are exceptional, that was still supposedly Excalibur in his hand," David said.
"You think it's a fake?" the former pirate asked. He shrugged.
"I don't know…but I certainly would like your input. Surely you have an opinion on the matter," David said, as he looked toward the Dark One, who had been mostly silent.
"Rumple?" Belle asked.
"What you lack in tact…you certainly make up for with your observation during battle," Gold said.
"The pirate is correct…you are an exceptional swordsman, especially considering your relatively young years compared to us," he added.
"Even if King Arthur has no skills of his own…he should easily mop the floor with most opponents with Excalibur in his hand," he concluded.
"Then you think it is a fake," David stated.
"Perhaps…though I'm not sure I would risk touching it unless I was positive it's a fake," Rumple said.
"Is there an easy way to tell by looking at it?" Belle wondered.
"No…not without close examination. If it's a fake…it's a good one," Rumple said.
"It doesn't make any sense…why would King Arthur leave his Kingdom to come through a portal to this world?" Neal wondered.
"That's the big question…he has to be after something," David said.
"The tree…he was pretty intent on burning it," Emma mentioned.
"Any guesses?" Neal asked, looking at his father.
"I may have one," Belle interjected, as eyes went to her.
"There are many different versions of the stories about King Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Roundtable. There are a few versions where Merlin is sealed away in a tree," she mentioned.
"Wasn't Merlin an ally to King Arthur though?" Neal asked. She nodded.
"In most versions…but the Arthur we met seemed less than noble. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he may have fallen out of favor," Belle replied.
"And you think he could have maybe sealed Merlin away or had him sealed away?" Killian asked. She shrugged.
"There's no way to be certain without learning his story…but from what we've seen, we know that many of the real stories have unexpected twists and aren't at all what most people think," she reasoned.
"But why?" David wondered.
"That's an easy one…power," Rumple stated.
"If Arthur could no longer wield the real Excalibur and fashioned a fake…then he would do anything to keep those he couldn't trust quiet. If he's exposed…he loses his Throne," Rumple surmised.
"So how do we get King LARP to come clean?" Emma asked. Rumple smirked.
"We could make a deal…but what he wants most likely is to burn that tree that might have a wizard inside it," he replied.
"A wizard that could help us out of this mess," Emma said.
"I bet Merlin could tell us everything," Killian replied.
"Yeah…but how do we get said wizard out of a tree?" Neal asked, as he looked at his father again.
"It's tough to tell what would trigger his release without knowing who put him there and what kind of spell we're dealing with," he said, as Emma's phone rang and she answered it.
"I thought they blocked our cell access when we came into the compound?" Neal asked.
"They…they did," Emma replied in confusion, as she answered it.
"Hello?" she asked.
"I know what you need to release Merlin and I can give it to you," the voice said.
"Who the hell is this?" Emma asked.
"It's me Emma…it's August," he replied. She rolled her eyes.
"And what do you want in return?" she asked.
"It's not about what I really want…it's what my employer wants. Can we meet?" he asked.
"Your employer?" she asked.
"It's a long story…but let's just say I would be rotting in Rikers Island if not for them," August explained.
"What the hell did you do to get sent to Rikers?" she asked.
"Nevermind that for now…can we meet?" August asked.
"If you haven't noticed…our freedoms have been revoked too," Emma replied.
"Tell the NSA that I have all the answers they want and the key to stopping the magical fissures in this world," August said.
"You're Pinocchio…how the hell are we supposed to believe anything you say?" Emma asked. She could almost hear him smiling.
"Fair point…but I can give them the rogue agent that's working against them. They'll be curious enough to arrange a meeting for tomorrow. We'll be waiting outside that facility at 10am tomorrow morning. Their curiosity will override their cautiousness," August said.
"Fine…but if you double cross us, I'll make sure you wish you were back in Riker's," Emma warned, as the line went dead.
"What is that puppet up to now?" Gold wondered.
"He says he has all the answers we need," Emma replied.
"Yeah…but what is the cost? August never does anything if there isn't something in it for him," Neal said. David sighed.
"He's so different from the little boy we knew long ago…I guess that's what this world does to you," David mentioned. He had deep regrets about what Emma had experienced growing up in this world without them…even if she no longer blamed them.
"If there's even a chance he's telling the truth…and that's a big if, then we need to hear him out," David suggested.
"Do you think we can sell it to our captors?" Emma asked.
"Yes…because we won't take no for an answer," he replied, as they dispersed for the evening, after filling Regina and Snow in on what was going on.
~*~
Snow and David returned to their apartment and put Bobby down for the night in his crib, before retiring to their bedroom. Snow wasted no time in making her affections known and kissed him deeply. They stumbled toward their bed, as she undid the buttons on his shirt and their kisses became feverish. Clothes became discarded puddles on the floor, as they found the bed and engaged in a passionate bout of lovemaking. After, Snow lay contently atop his chest and his hand rested firmly on the small of her back, spooning her against him. They exchanged soft kisses and their usual insatiable hunger for each other seemed to be in overdrive that night, especially for Snow, as she climbed atop him and proceeded to make love to him again in many ways, leaving him breathless, until he reversed their positions and returned the favor in full. Finally, when they were both sated and entangled beneath the bedclothes, they spoke softly to each other.
"Guess we had more pent up energy between us than usual," he mentioned. She smiled.
"Mmm…and for us, that's saying something. But that was only part of it," she confessed.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well…I always get a little hot and bothered when I get to watch you in a battle, but watching you mop the floor with King Arthur was a huge turn on," she confessed again. He smirked.
"Even if it is probably because his Excalibur is fake?" he asked. She smiled.
"Oh, I don't care…he's still King Arthur and your skills are obviously superior to his. Even if he had the real Excalibur in his hand, it's easy to tell that you're the superior swordsman," she replied.
"Maybe…but he's still King Arthur. The legend precedes him," he said.
"I'd say he did a pretty poor job of living up to the legend," she replied, as she kissed him tenderly.
"Besides…you're Charming and that's so much better," she cooed, as their lips met again and they gave into their amorous desires once more.
~*~
The next morning, in the new Castle, things were tense, to say the least.
"It's too risky," Alivia argued.
"How does this August supposedly even have his memories? I thought that was impossible without our intervention," she said, as she looked at the General.
"We don't know…but if August is going to tell anyone, it's me and I know when he's lying," Emma said.
"He says he knows what is special about the tree. It's a risk we need to take," David added.
"We at the NSA don't take orders from civilians, especially one that has a rather sordid history of lying and allowing his employer in without knowing their identity is an unknown factor that we are not comfortable with," Shaw said.
"The way to stop the magical bleed over in this world might be in that tree. I think it's a risk you want to take," Rumble advised.
"Why should we believe you?" Alivia asked.
"Because if there's something in that tree that can stop this…then it's more powerful than you and you wouldn't want something like that released unless there' no other options," Casey answered.
"You should listen to the Major," Rumple responded, to which Alivia rolled her eyes.
"We will meet them, but you will all follow my lead and orders," Shaw said.
"I'm taking point on this too and I won't take no for an answer," David replied, as he and Shaw stared at each other. Finally, the General relented with a smirk.
"Far be it for me to deny the man that defeated King Arthur in a duel," he responded, as his phone chimed.
"It appears that the puppet is here," he said, as the gates to the compound opened. Shaw wasn't sure exactly what he was walking into here and he didn't like it. He was explicitly clear with that damn puppet that if he made contact with anyone from his land that he would no longer receive the cure, yet he had done it anyway.
August was selfish though, which intrigued the General as to why he was risking it. If August exposed him to the others, he would feed him into the woodchipper himself.
"Well…come on, what are you waiting for, dahling?" Cruella asked.
"You realize by crossing General Shaw that I'm basically condemning myself to turn back to wood, right?" August asked.
"Oh pfff…I told you, I'm about to be in control of everything and I'll make sure you get your little elixir so you can stay human," she promised, as she
"This is the NSA…I still don't see how you plan to do that," August said.
"Oh…I have my ways," Cruella drawled, as they entered the compound in her sedan, which was followed by a truck being driven by Horace and Jasper.
"How dreary…better than those blasted woods I suppose, but dreadful. I do like when my enemies suffer though," she mushed. He rolled his eyes.
"What enemies?" Snow White and the Prince never did anything to you," he said.
"No…they were always perfectly good and well, Charming…especially that Prince. Now there is someone that really gets me going. What he sees in that vapid little upstart of a Princess, I'll never know," she complained, as she licked her lips.
"Speaking of…" she purred, as she spotted them ahead. She parked and August got out first.
"Mr. Booth…I assume," the General said in a measured tone. August smirked. They had no idea that the NSA had him locked up all these years. This would be fun.
"General Shaw…long time no see," he said. Emma blanched.
"You know him?" she asked.
"Oh yes…but that's a tale for another time," he said, as a woman exited the driver's side of the vehicle.
"Oh hell…" they heard Rumple mutter.
"You've got to be kidding me," David said.
"So lovely to see you too, dahling…" Cruella replied, as her eyes raked over him.
"How the hell are you even here?" Snow asked.
"Wait…you guys know her?" Emma asked.
"Ems…take stock. Fur coat and two toned hair," Neal replied, as Emma's mouth dropped open.
"Cruella fucking De Vil is real?" she uttered.
"Will you watch your mouth in front of our son?" Regina chided.
"Oh she's real…and just as psychotic as the stories say. They got this one right," David said.
"Grr…I do love when you get angry, Chisel chin," she purred.
"How do you have memories? Everyone from there doesn't, unless we awaken them," Alivia said. Cruella laughed.
"Oh no, I escaped that dreadful forest long before the curse," she said.
"How?" David demanded to know.
"I'd be happy to tell you in private over drinks…and pleasantries, dahling," she purred, while pouting her lips.
"Hard pass," he retorted.
"State your business," the General demanded.
"I have what you want, General…and I'm more than willing to make a deal," Cruella purred.
"And what is that?" Shaw asked, as she fished something out of her handbag.
"A pen?" Emma asked, unimpressed.
"Oh no…not just a pen, blondie…a very special pen," she said.
"The author's pen," August clarified.
"You mean…author like the one who wrote the book?" Snow asked.
"That's exactly what he means and he's double-crossing us again," Rumple growled.
"August…" she started to say.
"I'm sorry Emma…but this is the only way for me to stay human," August said. She wanted more explanation on that, but he wasn't offering.
"Maybe if you'd do the right thing for once…that wouldn't be the case!" David growled and August looked away, not able to meet the Prince's gaze. In many ways, he was still a little boy looking up at the valiant Prince Charming in awe.
"I'm too far gone…one right won't erase what I've done and in this world, you learn very quickly that it's survival of the fittest," August replied.
"No…you're just a coward that picks the easy path," Neal retorted and August said nothing, as Cruella interjected.
"If you want this pen…then I need something from you too," she said.
"Like what?" the General asked.
"Simple…my bastard husband is being indicted for fraud and money laundering by the FBI. They're trying to tie me to all his dealings as well. You can have him, but make them cease their pursuit of me, so I can take control of his fortune," she replied.
"His assets and money have been seized as evidence," he said.
"You want the pen…then you'll give me the mansion and a very sizable settlement. I also have that name for you. Check your phone," Cruella replied.
"Done," the General agreed.
"Don't make a deal with her…she's literally the devil," David protested.
"Oh you have no idea, dahling…but you could," Cruella purred, as she licked her lips. They were about to make the hand off when David stepped between them and drew his sword.
"Don't get stupid, Your Highness," Shaw snapped, as several agents drew their guns. Snow gasped.
"Charming…" she uttered in fear. Bobby whimpered, as he seemed to understand the danger to his father.
"You're not bulletproof, Charming…stand down," Casey warned. He had a hard time showing emotions, but he respected the Prince greatly for his courage and prowess as a warrior. Suddenly…the General and his agents felt rumbling beneath them and there was shock and awe, as the pavement just around them started to spider crack. Regina saw the baby's hand glowing and quickly stepped in front of Snow. Emma saw it too and thinking quickly, she outstretched her hands, like she was the one doing it.
"How…how are you doing this? We have magic dampening devices all over the compound," Alivia said.
"Guess they don't work on true love's magic…now put those guns you have trained on my father away or I'll make sure the Earth swallows you all," Emma replied. It was a huge bluff, but the General signaled for them to put their weapons away.
"You don't hold all the cards here, Miss Swan. I'm taking possession of that pen and the rest of you will return to your quarters, unless you'd rather it be the detention block," Shaw warned. David gently put his hand on Emma's arm.
"It's okay…we'll find another way, but we can't do that if we are separated in the detention block," he whispered. She lowered her hands and thankfully, the shaking stopped. She looked back only to see that her mother was rubbing soothing circles on the toddler's back. She turned back and glared at August.
"You better disappear or if I find you when I get out of here…it won't be pretty," she warned. August gulped and got back into the car with Cruella.
"This is wrong…" August lamented.
"Relax dahling…we both got what we wanted. Now you're free," she said, as she handed him a wad of cash. It was enough money to set him up for good if he was frugal, but it didn't make him happy. He had no one to share it with and likely never would since he just betrayed anyone that might actually care about him.
"Great…" he muttered, as she started driving.
"Where can I drop you off?" Cruella asked.
"The airport," he answered.
"Ah…doing a little traveling?" she asked.
"Let's just say that I'd rather not be around if Emma does get out of this mess I left her in," August replied.
The door to the detention block buzzed, as General Shaw swiped his badge and allowed the eye scanner to authenticate his identity. He walked down the dark hallway, his shoes being the only noise in the prison block. He approached his first destination and peered in on a blonde woman inside.
"Good afternoon, General Shaw," she said.
"Ingrid," he greeted in response.
"I trust that my information has garnered my freedom?" she asked.
"If your information on the location where you hid the scroll you used to slip into this world pans out…then yes, a discussion about your freedom may be on the table," he replied. She hissed and came into the light, wrapping her hands around the bars.
"You told me that I was free to go and be with Emma if I gave you the location of that scroll," she growled.
"And we'll discuss that further when I get the scroll and see if it is of any use to us," Shaw said.
"Besides, Ms. Swan has her parents now. I doubt she has any room in her life for you," he added, as he moved onto the next cell.
"Your information was limited to a land that was not part of the Dark Curse. All our real information has come from our wooden friend here," Shaw said, as a figure hobbled up the bars, revealing a completely wooden and adult August W. Booth.
"Without the book, we could have never come to know everything that we do about the other realms. Rumpelstiltskin was never very forthcoming and his tongue was much harder to loosen. But you have been singing like a bird, my puppet friend," Shaw said.
"Because you promised me the cure," August rasped.
"I have given you all the information you've asked for from the book that I can remember. You promised me one of the Dragon's cures," he pleaded.
"Yes…and we still don't know why the trigger reversed the magic that the Blue Fairy used to turn you back into a human child. It's more evidence that the trigger somehow punishes the liars and villains," he mused.
"Yet you jumped at the chance to help a likely enemy of your people for the chance to help yourself again," he added, as he produced a glowing potion from his jacket pocket.
"It would seem you have learned nothing, but the cure is all yours," he said, as he gave it to him. August scrambled for it and popped the cork, before downing the liquid. Shaw watched, as wood turned to flesh and August breathed a sigh of relief. The General opened the cell and let him out. August watched him wearily.
"And just so you know…I have learned. What's the catch for this magic?" he asked. The General smirked.
"You'll need another elixir every two weeks and if you want it, you'll work for me," he said. August sighed. He knew something like that was coming, but he was so desperate to be human again that he was ready to do just about anything.
"I'll be in touch. If you make contact with anyone from your land until I say it is okay, the deal is off and you'll end up in a wood chipper somewhere," Shaw warned, as he handed him a burner phone. August nodded and took the phone, before being led out by security.
"Let me out of here!" Ingrid demanded.
"Sorry…you told me of your powers and I can't risk you figuring out magic and plunging the world into an eternal winter," Shaw said.
~*~
After picking up the baby, they arrived home with everyone following. Emma opted to grab some takeout after getting Henry and soon, they were all gathered in the Charming living room, eating dinner and discussing the harrowing events of the day.
"We have to figure out what they're hiding. They know more than they're telling us," David insisted.
"We agree, mate…but you and I both know we'd never make it past that kind of security," Killian replied.
"He's right…I was their captive for three years. We must consider the possibility that there may be others," Rumple interjected.
"You think so?" Belle asked. He nodded curtly.
"I told them nothing during my time in their captivity, despite promises of freedom. I knew a lie when I heard it. Only when the magical anomalies began occurring did they reveal others had survived. Until I had that piece of information, I never considered cooperating," Rumple said.
"And others might not have that strength of will, especially if they're promised the right thing," David said.
"If we can figure magic out…then nothing they do matters. We can take down any security team and foil any of their attacks," Regina said.
"Magic worked fine in Storybrooke once you learned how to use it," Snow replied.
"What's your point?" she asked.
"She means that it didn't for you at first. What did you do to suddenly get it to work for you?" David asked.
"I…I went to my darkest place with the help of my mother's spell book. That's no longer an option," Regina replied.
"Maybe a magical object is the answer to activating it," Emma suggested.
"Which is great, except that if anything survived, they probably have it under lock and key," Regina replied. Emma deflated a bit at that. She was right…who knew if anything had survived at all and if anything did, they had no way to get to it.
"When you created the trigger, you should have warned me it could do this," Regina hissed.
"Except that I didn't create the trigger, dearie…nor the curse," he revealed.
"What?" she asked in surprise.
"We thought you wrote the curse?" David asked.
"No…it was written by a very dark being, who intended to use it much in the same way that Regina did. I am able to tell you everything about the curse, but the trigger is something of a mystery to me. I didn't pay it much mind, because I never thought you'd be foolish enough to use it," he said sternly to his old apprentice. She huffed at that. She was getting tired of being blamed for their predicament, even though she was the reason for it.
"Did you know this dark being?" Snow asked. He gave her a look and there was a long pause.
"Yes…she was called the Black Fairy," he said, offering nothing else at the moment.
"What happened to her?" Henry asked curiously.
"When she became a dark fairy, in pursuit of creating the dark curse, she was banished to a nether realm by the Blue Fairy. Only she knows of her motivations and how she came to be corrupted. Despite my attempts, the blue gnat has never loosened her foul tongue," he answered. He hated fairies and it was for a far deeper reason than they knew, but he wasn't revealing that to anyone anytime soon. He was being truthful about knowing very little about why she had done what she had.
"This is great…once again, we're nowhere," Regina said in frustration, as she watched Henry play with the baby and actually allowed herself a smile. Her son was helping him build a castle with his blocks.
"Yeah…this is a lot like the castle your Mom and Dad lived in," Henry cooed, as Bobby held up a block for him. Henry took it and put it on top. Unfortunately, the blocks toppled and fell to the floor.
"Uh oh…" Bobby said.
"It's okay…we can rebuild it, buddy," he said, as he started gathering the blocks again. With what happened next, time seemed to stand still for those few moments. Bobby giggled and clapped his hands, as several of the colorful blocks floated into the air around him.
"Oh my God…" Regina uttered.
"He…he can't be doing that," David said, equally stunned.
"He is the product of true love, dearie…if anyone has a natural aptitude for magic, it would be your children," Rumple said.
"Then how come Mom can't do it?" Henry asked.
"Theoretically, she can…we all can. Her natural ability gives her far more potential than us. But it may be that our minds and awareness are blocking our ability to harness it. The baby has no such hindrance. He's pure and innocent," Rumpe answered.
"They…they can't find out," Snow fretted, as she quickly swept him up into her arms and the fear in her eyes was palpable.
"If they find out…they'll take him away," she said, as she was almost panicking at this point. David was quick to pull them both close and kissed her hair.
"No…we won't let that happen," he said, as he looked at the others. The worry was palpable in his eyes too.
"We gotta figure out magic and soon," Emma said.
"You can't risk taking him to daycare anymore," Regina said. Snow nodded.
"Well…I don't have a job, so that won't be a problem until we have another creature or calamity pop up," she said.
"Yeah…we can't take the kid with us, but who can we trust?" Emma wondered.
"I can watch him," Henry said.
"I don't know kid…" Emma replied.
"We don't have much choice…" Rumple said. She sighed.
"You think you can handle it, kid?" she asked. He nodded.
"Bobby and I'll be fine," he assured them. They were satisfied with that for now, but Bobby figuring out magic before anyone else was causing serious anxiety. No one wanted to see some clandestine agency rip the baby away from his parents and turn him into a lab rat. But for that night, they agreed to disperse to their own homes and hope tomorrow would yield a solution to them being trapped in a world that soon might hate them.
~*~
"And you saw this?" the Knight asked the squire.
"Yes…I'm sure of it. I overheard them talking and saying that the lake was not quicksand and rather a portal. A portal that is staying open," the squire said.
"That's nonsense," one of the Knights spat, but the other one, who clearly outranked him, held his hand up.
"We do not know that for certain and no man, sane or otherwise, would jump into quicksand unless that's not what it was at all," the Knight reasoned.
"But if it is a portal…of what use would that be?" the other Knight asked.
"I don't know…but it is something that our Lord should be informed of either way," he said, as they mounted their horses and left to see Lake Nostros for themselves.
~*~
Neal had found a dive motel to stay at the night before and first thing that morning, he set out to find the place that Emma supposedly was working. He went inside the small shop on the block that was lined with many other small shops and looked around.
"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked.
"Yes…I'm looking for someone that works here," he said.
"Oh…do you need a bond for someone?" she asked.
"No actually…she's just an old friend. Emma Swan," he replied.
"Oh…I'm sorry, Emma no longer works here. She left for a new job a week or so ago," the woman said. He frowned and nodded.
"Thanks anyway," he said, as he turned to leave, when he caught the news on the television. He saw Tamara and Greg on screen, making some report from Time Square and he clenched his fist. He would find Emma…but first, he was going to make those two tell him what they had done, for he was sure they had something to do with all of this.
~*~
David peered into their son's room and sided up next to his wife, as she watched him play. He slid his arms around her waist and kissed her hair.
"Has he been floating any toys around?" he asked. She hummed.
"No…so far, it was just that once that we saw. But we know it's going to happen again," she replied.
"And we will protect our son. I know I promised you that after we got married that we'd never have to run again, but if it comes down to it…we will to save him," he said. She squeezed his hand.
"I know…" she replied.
"I don't want to leave you here alone…maybe you and the baby should come to Castle," he said. But she shook her head.
"No…as much as I want to stay close to you, it's too risky. It will look suspicious if we bring him to Castle and not to daycare and if he has another display of magic, then there will be no hiding it from them," she reasoned. He nodded and kissed her tenderly.
"Call me if you feel that something's wrong or even a little uneasy," he pleaded. She nodded and kissed him again.
"I will," she said, as she saw him off and then went back to Bobby's room.
~*~
"Where is that Principal?" Tamara asked impatiently, as they waited on their guest. They planned on interviewing the Principal from the school Mary Margaret Nolan had worked at and expose her identity first, which would easily lead to exposing her husband's identity as well. By the end of it, she'd have the public eating out her hand and turn them against those she would portray as dangerous.
"Are you sure the NSA released him this morning?" Greg asked.
"Yes…he called and said he was being released, because they have nothing to hold him on, unless they want it to go public that the NSA is involved in a cover up operation," Tamara answered.
"Yeah…he's fifteen late. Maybe he made a run for it," Greg suggested. She huffed and dialed his number and immediately got a message that the number was no longer in service.
"Dammit…he's ghosting us," Tamara cursed.
"Are you surprised? The NSA may have let him go, but probably also suggested that he steer clear of any high profile promotions or interviews. They can find someone just by pinging a cell phone. I'm sure he's more scared of them than us. He's probably in another state by now," Greg reasoned.
"What do we do now? We're on the air in five minutes!" she said hotly.
"I don't know…neither of us are real reporters. I liked it better when we were just stalking and eliminating those freaks from that damn town. And he still won't let me at that bitch that killed my father!" he exclaimed back.
"You know why…we're back in prison or worse if we step out of line. Now…we need a story or we're going back there!" she argued.
"You're the one that suggested we do some big story in Time Square! That's kind of the thing you should have a backup for!" he shouted.
"Don't blame this all on me. I'm the one that pulled you off the street and helped you find that damn town. You'd be nowhere closer to getting answers about your father if not for me," she growled.
"And yet…we're both still pawns. First for the Home Office and now for this…psychopath!" Greg said.
"Working for a psychopath…guess that shouldn't surprise me now," a voice said. Tamara froze and her eyes widened, as they turned to find Neal Cassidy standing before the.
"N…Neal?" she stammered. He smirked.
"Yeah…bet you think you're seeing a ghost, you know since you shot me and I fell through a portal," he said, as he came closer.
"How…how did you survive?" Greg questioned. Neal glared at him.
"Some friends found me and I spent the last three years trying to find my way back to my family, no thanks to you two crazy morons," he said.
"Neal…you and I both know how dangerous magic was and if you're back, you now know what it is doing to this world," she pleaded.
"Just shut up…you tried to kill my whole family and steal my son! And you're going to tell me where they are," he growled. She swallowed thickly and knew she had just moments before she was supposed to go on the air with some huge story that she didn't have.
"Wait…if you're here, then you had to come back through a portal. Where was that portal?" she asked. He scoffed.
"Like I'd tell you two anything," he replied. Before she could say more, there was a sudden tremor beneath their feet.
"What was that?" Greg asked, as they felt it again and it was stronger this time. Their eyes widened, as the concrete a few feet away cracked and a horrible shrieking was heard. They watched in disbelief, as a creature emerged from beneath the Earth.
"What is that thing?" Greg shouted, as they dodged the winged thing swooped down on them. It had snakes for hair, bat-like wings, and bleeding red eyes, with sharp fangs and claws as well.
"I think it's a Erinyes!" Neal cried, as he ducked the creature again. It screamed again and they held their ears in pain.
"What the hell is an Erinyes?!" Tamara shouted.
"More commonly known as a furie! They usually come to punish people for crimes and sometimes, even drag them to the Underworld!" he called back.
"What crime is it here to punish!?" Greg cried.
"You really want me to answer that with you two?" Neal cried back, as they ducked it again. Neal rolled away and looked around for something to use as a weapon. He found a discarded two x four near a dumpster and stood up, before swiping at it when it went by. It screeched, as he made contact and sent it flying into a building. It angrily bounced back and pursued them again.
"Start filming!" Tamara said, as Greg got the camera and took cover behind a parked car, just as two black SUV's pulled up and screeched to a halt. Several people poured out of it and time seemed to stop for a moment, as shock came to them all.
The vehicles pulled up behind Roni's bar and she led them inside the backway, after unlocking it and flipped on the lights.
"Wow…" Emma said.
"Mind your tongue, Miss Swan," she warned.
"No…it's nice. Just not what I pictured for you," Emma replied.
"This way," Casey said, as he led them into the backroom, where the liquor was stored. On what Regina thought was her security pad for the door, Casey entered a code and the wall slid open, showing a set of stairs that descended into the basement that Regina didn't know she had. They followed him down and saw a room with a large screen, with computers and control panels.
"This is the war room…I assume you're familiar with something like this?" Casey asked.
"Yeah…it looked a bit different, but Snow and I are no strangers to a good war room," David replied.
"These are containment cells, in case there's ever an intruder or we catch something alive that we need to hold until it can be transported," Casey said, as he showed them the glass prisons.
"And this is the armory," he said, as he led them into that room, where weapons lined the walls and rested on a table of open cases.
"Whoa…that's a hell of a piece," Emma said, as she picked up the gun.
"Think you can handle it?" he asked.
"Yeah…but David said bullets aren't going to work," she replied.
"That doesn't fire bullets," he said, as he pressed a button and the far wall slid back, revealing a target wall. He flipped the safety off and the weapon whined to life.
"An ionic laser blaster that will obliterate anything," Casey said, as he fired and burnt a hole in the target.
"Whoa…" Henry said, as he watched. It was comic book level stuff, so naturally, he was enthralled.
"This bow looks a bit different than what I'm used to," Snow said, as she picked it up.
"It's very durable and you have different kinds of arrows. The standard arrow, the exploding arrow, and the grappling arrow," he said.
"Think you can handle it, Princess?" he asked.
"Snow is the best archer you'll ever meet," David assured him.
"Can you shoot like your daughter?" Casey asked. David smirked and took the weapon and aimed at the target, firing three shots that hit the bullseye each time.
"What else have you got?" David asked. Casey smirked and led them to the sword table.
"Aye…now you're talking, mate," Killian said, as he immediately went for the cutlass.
"Compliments on craftsmanship. This world certainly can make attractive weapons," he mentioned, as David chose the broadsword and scabbard.
"We'll need daggers too," Snow said, as they both chose a couple of small daggers and holsters for them too.
"Where are you going to put that one?" Emma asked.
"One on the waist and probably another hiding on my ankle," Snow replied. Emma blanched, realizing this was kind of normal for them. Killian smirked.
"How about you, Swan? Sword for you?" he asked.
"Uh no…I think I'll stick to guns. It's in my wheelhouse," Emma replied.
"Everyone will be required to train regularly on all weapons," Casey said, as Regina picked a sword. She only hoped to figure out her magic in this world, because it was her
comfort zone. An alarm beeped and Agent Casey went to the main control panel, before bringing an image up on the screen.
"Looks like our first mission is here," he said.
"That's a bridge troll…" David replied.
"Bad?" Emma asked. He nodded.
"The worst. They hate humans…people will get hurt if we don't stop it," David replied, as they geared up.
"Follow me…there's an external exit down this hall," he called, as they followed him out and to the vehicles in back.
~*~
"What is that thing?" Tamara asked, as they watched from afar. Part of their new job was to surveil those from Storybrooke that had been chosen to fight the magical anomalies that were in the world now. Their new superior had informed them that the body had been dumped, with no shred of forensics, in the river. Apparently, when she was identified by the authorities, her name would be flagged in the system and General Shaw, who was in charge of their operation, would be alerted. Their new boss wanted them to soon learn that they were being hunted and he wanted his former employees to be baffled as well.
"I don't know…but whatever it is, it's ugly as hell," Greg answered, as he glared at them.
"I can't believe the Queen is still alive," Greg growled.
"Easy…we have to follow orders or we'll end up right back in prison," Tamara warned, as they watched.
~*~
David got out of the vehicle and he and Killian looked at the monstrosity that was wreaking havoc in a busy business district smack in the middle of downtown.
"How exactly does the government plan to explain this away, mate?" Killian questioned.
"They can't," David interjected.
"Most people will buy whatever we come up with and tell the news to push," Casey said.
"So that's how it works, eh? Just come up with a narrative and push it to the sheep? People are just cattle to you?" the former pirate asked.
"Bingo," David replied, with disdain.
"Look…the normies can't handle this stuff. Right now, we're calling it unexplained phenomena. Hologram and CGI tech is getting really good. Those watching on television will
buy that someone is causing these hoaxes and we're investigating to find who is behind it," Casey explained.
"And for those up close and personal?" Snow asked.
"They don't know what they're looking at. Let's just handle it and make it go away," he replied, as they moved in.
"Bloody hell…I can smell it from here," Killian said.
"Yeah…bridge trolls smell like death," David replied.
"Since when are you two friends?" Emma questioned.
"We weren't…but then we worked together for three years and he often joined us for evening meals and holidays. Guess we are now," David said, just as surprised as her.
"Aye…you're not so bad either, Dave," Killian quipped and Emma rolled her eyes.
"I need a good bird's nest," Snow said, as they looked around and saw a fire escape on a nearby building.
"Give me a boost?" she asked. He smiled.
"Always," he replied, as he lifted her up so she could grab the ladder and then she proceeded to climb up it. Snow positioned herself at the top of the building, readying her bow to fire at the first opportune moment.
"Doesn't seem too concerned with us," Emma mentioned.
"You're right…" David said, as he unsheathed his sword and shouted at the ugly, rampaging troll.
"HEY!" he called, as he thrust his sword toward the monster, hitting it in the belly. It roared angrily and pulled the sword out, before tossing it away.
"Thanks for pissing it off," Casey said, as his blaster whined to life.
"It's a troll…it's perpetually pissed," David retorted, as he rolled away from the creature's hand and grabbed his sword in the process.
"That's right ugly…come get me," he called, as Casey and Emma fired their blasters and it cried out in pain, as the blaster fire burned its flesh.
"HEY!" David called again, drawing his attention toward the building where Snow was perched. Killian made a slash with his cutlass while David was distracted and lopped off his left hand. The creature roared in agony and looked up at the sky, howling in pain. Snow took her shot and got him dead in the eye. The creature dropped dead to the ground, as Snow climbed down and David helped her down.
"That was an amazing shot," David said, with a smile.
"Guess I still got it," she mused, as they shared a kiss.
"Impressive," Casey said.
"Thank you Major," Snow replied.
"How are you going to contain all this? Dozens of people saw this," Emma said, as several black vans pulled up around them.
"Clean up crew…which is our cue to return to Castle. As for the spectators, most will be encouraged to keep their mouths shut and most will comply," he said.
"Out of fear, I presume," Gold stated.
"You know how powerful fear can be, Mr. Gold," Casey retorted.
"You're lucky I don't have a hang of the magic here yet, Major," he hissed.
"Rumple…" Belle chided.
"As for the ones that decide to shoot their mouths off on the Internet, they'll be labeled crazy and conspiracy theorists. Our media is very good at spinning a narrative," Casey stated.
"So the media does the government's bidding…guess I'm not surprised," Emma said.
"I don't make the rules…I just follow them and I expect the same from my team," Casey stated. There was an uncomfortable silence. None of them were quite comfortable with the rules outside Storybrooke and as far as they knew, there was no getting back what they once had.
"Well…that's one dead troll. Who knew that Snow White could do that," Greg mentioned.
"Nevermind that…" their new boss snapped.
"We've planted the body and they'll soon know of her death," he added.
"How? The body will go to the morgue and city Police will investigate," Greg said.
"Very true…but all people from that place are marked in the system by the government. She'll be flagged immediately and the case will be handed over to General Shaw's little taskforce he's created. Then they'll soon know that someone is ripping hearts," he replied.
"But one body…they might think it's a coincidence," Tamara reasoned. He smirked.
"So true…it's time to seek another victim. Let's go," he snapped, as they followed him.
"That was good work, team," General Shaw said from the video screen. They were back in Castle and debriefing was fairly quick. His image blinked out and Casey pushed back from the console.
"Does that computer look up anything?" Snow asked.
"Yes…but it's only to be used for missions," Casey replied. She sighed.
"I just want to know what became of Red and Granny," she said.
"You don't need the computer for that…just google Ruby's diner," he replied, as Henry took out his phone and did so.
"Ruby's Diner in Brooklyn," Henry said, as he showed them.
"Anyone up for dinner?" David asked.
"I could eat," Killian replied
"Can we, Mom?" Henry asked excitedly. She smiled.
"Sure," she agreed, as they started to leave.
"Are you coming?" Emma asked Regina, who looked surprised by the invitation.
"Sure," she answered, eager for any time spent with Henry.
"You two should come too," Snow said to Belle and Gold. She smiled and he relented, as they followed as well.
~*~
The elderly man walked as fast as he could with a cane, as he looked behind him and tried to escape the two people that had been stalking him since his trip to the drugstore. He rounded the corner and was just moments away from his apartment when he was shoved against the brick wall of the building. He looked at the two young people in fear.
"W…what do you want? Take my money…just don't hurt me," he pleaded.
"Sorry…your paltry earnings aren't of any use to us," Greg said, as a third figure approached and was shaded by the darkness. The man suddenly gasped for air and tried to scream in excruciating pain, but his breath was stifled. His last image of his life was watching the figure pull his own heart out of his chest. It glowed and that was the last thing he saw, as it was crushed. The three left the body to be found and soon, they would know they were being hunted. The old man was just a villager in the Enchanted Forest and a simple, retired senior in Storybrooke. But the message would be received, nonetheless…
~*~
The bell rang on the door of the diner, as it opened, giving them all instant Deja Vu, as they painfully remembered Granny's. Their town was gone and their people were scattered throughout a city of millions.
"Hi…welcome to Ruby's," Ruby herself said and Snow tried not to tear up.
"Hi…I'm not sure if you have a big enough table for this brood," Snow replied.
"We can push some tables together and it looks like we'll need a highchair. Hello, you little cutie," she cooed at the toddler in her husband's arms. David smiled.
"This is Bobby," Snow said to the woman who should be her son's Godmother.
"Well…that's a cute little name to go with such a cutie," she cooed, as he smiled shyly.
"We can push these tables together back here," she said, as she ushered them to the back of the diner and they sat down.
"This isn't fair…" Snow said, as she watched her best friend go behind the counter with Granny to get drinks for them.
"I know, my love…" David said, as he squeezed her hand.
"Rumple…do you really think they'll let us go if we complete this mission?" Belle asked.
"If magic is here in any capacity…then I'm not sure this mission is ever complete," Rumple answered.
"That's what I don't understand…I can't summon it and I haven't seen you do it yet either, so how do we have magical creatures running amuck?" Regina asked quietly.
"Oh magic is here, dearie…we just haven't found a pocket of it yet, but I can feel it at every point one of these things pops up," Rumple replied.
"But it's different from Storybrooke…it's muted somehow," he added.
"Maybe we can track the locations. A detailed map with all that equipment back at Castle wouldn't be hard to create," Snow suggested.
"That's a good idea," David said.
"Aye…perhaps there are similarities in the location," Killian agreed.
"A common denominator…maybe that's how we figure the magic out," Emma said.
"And how these creatures are even being created," David said.
"If we can answer some of those questions, perhaps we can figure out a way to diminish magic's presence here and there'll be no need for this task force then," Belle replied. They nodded.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they're never letting any of us go. He said they would, but his superiors will never let it happen. Right now, we have a job and if that changes, we'll likely end up in a government facility somewhere," Rumple said, alarming them all.
"We can't let that be our fate…we have to figure out exactly what happened with that trigger," David said, as he looked at the former Queen.
"And here comes the blame game again," she deadpanned.
"No…no blame, because like it or not, we're all in this together and we have to stay together if we're going to survive. I just want to know everything about that thing," David said, as he paused as their food was delivered.
"That's just the thing…it was supposed to just destroy the town and everything in it. It would be as if the town never existed. How most of us even survived…I have no idea," Regina said.
"What about Greg and Tamara?" Henry asked.
"What about them?" Emma asked.
"Well…they had a bean. They were trying to open a portal. My…my dad fell through a portal," Henry replied sadly. Emma put her hand on his shoulder. It was the first time any of them had spoken about Neal…but he was remembered by all of them.
"Is that it?" Killian asked curiously.
"What do you mean?" David asked.
"Those lunatics opened a portal while the trigger was activated. What if…" he replied.
"What if the magical creatures are coming through portals and just not appearing with magic?" Belle asked, finishing his thought. He nodded.
"Essentially…yes," he agreed, as they continued to eat.
"If it is portals that are causing all this…then maybe escaping isn't impossible, after all," Snow said.
"Wait…you mean escape back to the Enchanted Forest?" Emma asked.
"Yes…at least we'd be free again," David replied.
"But if they find out there are portals…they could follow us. Can you imagine if people like this had access to other realms and what they could do?" Regina asked.
"As much as I hate to admit it…they have proven that technology is a match against magic…and sometimes supersedes it," Rumple added, clearly uncomfortable in admitting such a thing.
"They're right…" Snow realized.
"Or they already know it's portals. Ten bucks says they're not telling us everything," Emma said and no one seemed eager to take that bet.
"Where is my book?" Henry asked.
"I'm afraid they have it, my boy…and it's under lock and key. I don't think we'll be getting it back," Rumple replied regrettably.
"The clean up crew…they're using us to dispatch the creatures so they can examine the scene," David realized.
"Then we need to get back to that site…without getting caught somehow," Emma said.
"Perhaps that is a conversation best had elsewhere," Rumple suggested.
"We can go back to our house. I can make coffee and we can discuss this more," Snow offered. They nodded, as Ruby came back.
"How was everything?" she asked. Snow smiled.
"It was delicious, but this little one is sleepy…can we please get the check?" she asked.
"Sure thing," Ruby replied, as she promptly returned and they paid for their meal.
"I hope you come back soon," she called.
"Oh, I think we'll be back. We really liked it," Snow assured her, as they left and headed for the small house that Snow and David had made their home in for the last three years…
"That was amazing...but then it always is. It always has been," she swooned, as she lay atop his chest. He kissed her hair and heard his phone chiming. He grabbed it off the bedside table and answered.
"Hey Em...is everything okay?" he asked.
"Not really...remember that armored truck that went into the water?" Emma replied.
"Uh yeah...we saw it on the news," he said.
"Well...the guy inside that has been there for three days that should be dead just woke up and lunged at me! He's alive!" she said.
"Lunged at you...like the wolf," he said, as Margaret's eyes widened.
"The Wolf?" she asked.
"Uh…I'll explain when we see you. You're at the hospital?" he asked.
"Yeah...I don't know much yet, but Regina is here. Maybe you two should come too and bring Neal," she replied.
"We're on our way," he said, as they got up and got dressed.
"David…" Margaret said, as he took her hand.
"I'll explain on the way," he replied, as they went to wake Neal and Gold.
~*~
Flashback - 3 days ago
Two workers loaded the bank's cash into an armored vehicle. Suddenly, another truck pulled up and three armed, masked men got out. One raised his gun and shot the two men, before his accomplices finished loading the cash into the armored vehicle. In response, the first man then shot his accomplices and got into the armored vehicle, before driving off with the cops chasing him furiously. This would end with him jumping an embankment and plunging the vehicle into the Harbor. That should have been the end of the man...but strangely it would be just the opposite.
~*~
That same man was now being wheeled into the emergency room, with an oxygen mask and barely aware of his surroundings. To say that Emma was close to freaking out was an understatement. This man had been submerged for a little more than three days and was not only alive, but seemed relatively unharmed. So when David arrived, she didn't fight his inserting himself into an investigation for once and welcomed his help.
"Hey...we got here as soon as we could," he said, as he hugged her and then Margaret. She saw Neal there as well.
"I thought I better come too," Neal replied. She nodded.
"So you're sure he was in the water?" David asked.
"Uh yeah...really sure. He was in the truck when it was pulled out of the water. The door fell open and water came gushing out of it. Then so did he...only he lunged at me and scared the living crap out of me," Emma explained. The other three exchanged a glance.
"What?" she asked.
"Lunged at her...like the wolf," Neal reasoned.
"What wolf?" Emma asked.
"Henry had a Calling...he drew a wolf lunging at you," Margaret explained.
"I sort of had it too. I heard a growling earlier today at your apartment and I opened the door and saw a wolf there. Obviously it wasn't really there, but it definitely seemed like a warning," Neal added.
"Okay...but clearly this guy isn't a wolf," Emma said. David looked at her.
"Are you sure? Didn't he rob an armored truck and then shoot his accomplices point blank?" her brother asked. She looked at him.
"Okay...you might have a point. He's clearly not a good guy," Emma replied.
"Do we know who he is yet?" David asked.
"His name is James Griffin. He's about what you'd expect from someone who robs an armored truck. He's got a pretty good rap sheet," Killian answered, as he approached. A cool look passed between him and Neal.
"Uh…Neal," he said, as he put his hand out. But Killian didn't bother to return the gesture.
"You're the man that kept Emma from coming back to New York?" Killian asked.
"He's the man that Henry saved when he ran off. He was lost and freezing to death up in the mountains," Margaret explained. But Killian acted like he hadn't heard her and kept staring at him with an accusing gaze.
"Neal...Neal what?" he asked, fishing for a last name. Neal smirked.
"Not telling you since I know you're just itching to run my name," he said.
"Then you do have something to hide?" Killian accused.
"No…Emma and her family know all about me. I'm actually family...turns out I'm Regina's half brother," Neal said.
"What? How the bloody hell is that possible?" Killian asked.
"Long story...but it's true. They just didn't know about each other. Cora apparently has gotten around over the years," Margaret said.
"So if you don't want me running your name...that means you do have a rap sheet," Killian replied.
"Okay...we're not doing this right now," Emma interjected.
"Emma's right...we need to focus on the real problem here and it's that man, who I think we all know is not good," Margaret fretted. David put his arm around her.
"Hey...it's going to be okay," he assured her.
"Is it?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"He's a very bad man...a murderer. Why does he get to come back?" she asked.
"I...I'm not sure," he replied, hating that he didn't have an answer.
"I'm not saying that everyone on the plane is good...but no cold blooded murderers that we know about. Baron Samdi himself may not be a moral character, but he's no murderer. So why would this man be brought back?" she asked.
"I don't know...but something tells me we'll soon find out," he replied, as he held her, as Regina approached.
"Did you find out anything?" he asked.
"Not much yet...he's still only semi-conscious. I was able to calculate how long he was under water though...and it's a doozy," she replied.
"How long?" Margaret asked.
"Exactly eighty two hours and eight minutes," Regina replied.
"828…" David uttered. Before they could contemplate further, they heard a commotion and Regina rushed back to see what was going on.
~*~
The nurses moved around the patient, checking vitals and trying to determine if there was any lasting damage. But looking at the man, it was hard to believe that he had been in the water for three days. It was impossible, but then so was a plane coming back full of people that had been presumed dead for almost six years. The man started to moan though, as his eyes opened.
"Help...there's fire everywhere…" he uttered.
"They're dying...they're all dying!" he cried, as he started to thrash.
"Whose dying?" Regina asked, as she burst in and tried to get close, but the nurses kept her back.
"We need to sedate him, Dr. Mills…" one nurse said.
"I need to speak with him," she insisted.
"He's not your patient, Dr. Mills," the nurse refuted, as his cries stopped and he slipped into unconsciousness. But one thing was clear to her. This man had what appeared to be a Calling and a dangerous one at that. She needed to figure out a way to draw some blood from him. If he was having Callings, it meant he likely had the same blood marker that the passengers did. What it all meant, she was uncertain, but if this man was like them, then it added a new and uncomfortable element to all this. This man was a murderer and it would only fuel the conspiracy that they were all dangerous and sinister. Because she was certain that those people that were fueling fear of them might actually be right about this James Griffin.
"What's going on?" Margaret asked, as Regina came back out into the Emergency waiting area.
"I...I think he had a Calling," Regina replied.
"What?" David asked. She nodded.
"A violent one...he said there was fire everywhere and people were dying, but they sedated him before I could garner more information," she said.
"He's having Callings…" Emma realized.
"Then he's one of us," David added.
"No…" Margaret said.
"MM…" he started to say.
"No...that man is not like you at all...any of you," she refuted, as she put her arms around his neck.
"You're a good man...a wonderful man. You're an amazing husband and an incredible father. You're a hero that has helped so many people...he is nothing like you. He is a monster and I won't let people start comparing that...that wolf in sheep's clothing to the people that I know and love," she said fiercely. He gave her a gentle smile and pecked her on the lips.
"Okay...in character, he's nothing like us. But...for some reason, he was brought back. Maybe he's getting a second chance to do the right thing...maybe he is getting that Calling for a reason," David surmised.
"Then we need to help him and find out what he just saw...and what's coming," Emma said, as she approached the room.
"I need to talk to him when he wakes up," she said, as she flashed her badge. The nurse looked like she wanted to refuse her, but nodded reluctantly, because she knew that this man was technically under arrest when he was well enough to be released. Now all they could do was wait.
"Can we talk?" Killian asked. She sighed and let him pull her away so they could have a private conversation.
"Who is this guy really?" he asked. She scoffed.
"You need to curb your jealousy...like right now," she replied.
"So you didn't just spend days up in some cabin with him alone?" he asked.
"It's not like that...and even if it was, it's none of your business. You're married," she argued.
"Not anymore...and it is my business, because I care about you and something tells me that he has a shady past," Killian said.
"He used to...but he's clean now and he's like us," Emma replied.
"I knew it...drugs," he said. She rolled her eyes.
"Did you miss the part where I said he's like us or do you just not care? You're ready to convict him...but trust me, that won't go well," Emma replied.
"Fine...what do you mean he's like you?" he asked.
"I mean that he went up on that mountain a little over a year ago and disappeared…" she explained. He looked at her skeptically.
"What do you mean disappeared...like the plane?" he asked. She nodded.
"He almost froze to death...in a cave and then he came out. A year later," she whispered.
"And we're not ready for that to be public yet," she warned.
"And the part where he's Regina's brother?" he asked. She nodded.
"Apparently so...Neal's father is Mr. Gold and he apparently had a relationship years ago with Cora. She walked out on them when Neal was a baby, because Gold was really poor back then," she added.
"Still doesn't mean we shouldn't be leery of him," he argued. She rolled her eyes.
"That's just your jealousy talking...and it's not like that between us. He has...Callings like me. We had the same one...and now he's had another, maybe about this guy. So if you want to focus on a bad guy...then I think you should focus on Griffin," Emma argued.
"Fine...not like I have a choice. Can't really run him through the system without a last name and I'm guessing he doesn't use his father's last name?" Killian asked.
"He doesn't and if Neal was bad, there was no way a Calling would have led Henry upstate to save him," Emma replied.
"We can't be certain of that, especially if this guy, a murderer, is having Callings too," he hissed.
"So now he's like all of us?" Emma asked.
"Yeah…MM's right. This is exactly what everyone is going to do now. Compare the passengers to this monster," she added. He sighed.
"I'm not comparing him to you...or your brother," he said.
"Just to Neal," she argued. He suppressed the urge to let out a growl. He had forgotten how maddening she could be at times. But he loved it...and her still.
"Fine…I'll focus on this Griffin guy for now," he relented.
"Detective Nolan...Mr. Griffin is awake again," the nurse said. She nodded and stepped behind the curtain, noticing that they had already handcuffed him to his bed.
"I'm Detective Emma Nolan…" she said.
"Detective," he stated in greeting.
"Do...do you remember earlier when you were crying out?" she questioned.
"About the flames and people dying?" he asked. She nodded.
"Yeah...hallucinations, thanks to all the drugs, I guess," he replied.
"Except...that it wasn't a hallucination," she said.
"What do you mean?" he asked. She took a deep breath.
"Wait...you're from that plane. The one that came back," he realized. She nodded and blew out a breath.
"And you're aware that you should be dead too...you were in the water for three days," she replied.
"That's what they say...but how is that possible? How is any of this possible?" he questioned.
"We don't know...but sometimes we have visions. We refer to them as Callings and sometimes they are warnings of bad things that could happen in the future if we don't stop them," she explained, knowing that it sounded insane.
"So…I had a vision of the future?" he asked.
"Possibly," she replied. He smirked and she suddenly realized her mistake of revealing too much to him too early.
"So…if I can remember the details in this vision or Calling...I can stop it?" he asked.
"Well...they're not always clear, but if we work together, then it's possible," she stammered. He smirked.
"Or maybe...I just found my golden ticket out of jail," he said.
"Griffin...that's not how this works. Callings have to be followed and manipulating them for your own purposes could have untold consequences," she argued.
"Sounds like I'm a man on borrowed time as it is. I don't have a lot to lose...have a good evening, Detective," he said, as the nurses returned.
"No...wait…" she said, as they ushered her out.
"Sorry...but Mr. Griffin needs his rest. You can question him again once he's transferred to the Police station," the nurse said, as she was forced out.
"What's going on?" David asked.
"I...I think I just blew it," she replied, almost in tears. He took her in his arms and hugged her.
"He's going to use what he knows...he's going to use it to get a deal," she said.
"Hey...we don't know that yet. There is no way they're going to let a cold blooded killer walk free, no matter what," he said. But she shook her head.
"If it saves hundreds...maybe thousands...they won't have a choice. I can see it...he's going to reveal the Callings to the world and I walked him right into it," she said.
"Oh honey...this isn't your fault," MM said, as she hugged her.
"You were right...he's a monster and I didn't listen. I was so focused on telling him that he has a second chance to make a difference, but he doesn't care. How did I not see that? I'm a cop...I know scum like him," Emma fretted.
"You've seen the good the Callings have done...you've seen them change people. This isn't your fault...some people are just bad. But most aren't and you took a chance on me. It paid off...this one might not, but we'll figure it out," Neal assured her. She nodded and kept letting MM hug her.
"I'll get us some coffee...real coffee. I saw a kiosk just down the block," Neal offered. David nodded gratefully, as he joined their hug and cupped the back of her head, like he always did. All her life, no matter what they were facing or the mistakes their father made, David and MM had always been there to dry her tears and keep the monsters away. It was part of the reason she became a cop. She wanted to help keep the monsters away from other people that needed help and protection. So the fact that she may have just inadvertently helped unleash a monster back into the public made her sick to her stomach. David and MM had chased all the monsters away as kids and she had vowed to keep the monsters away from them as an adult. But now this wolf loomed over her family like a dark shadow and she didn't know if she would be able to protect those she loved most from him...and soon more public scrutiny.
Regina approached, just as Neal returned with coffee for all of them.
"I managed to get a vial of blood and I'm running it now to see if it has the marker," Regina said.
"Even if it does...this man is not like any of you," Margaret insisted again. Regina smiled.
"We know...and we'll figure this out. Maybe no one will believe him anyway," she suggested.
"It's possible…" David said.
"Except I opened my big mouth and told him everything. He'll use it...he's a wolf and he smells blood. He knows this is his ticket out of jail...and he won't care who gets hurt," Emma replied.
"If that's true, then he would have done all of this regardless of what you told him. He would have figured it out, because we know this won't be his last Calling," David said.
"He's right Em...he's a career criminal and a monster. He'll do anything to get out of the hard time he's facing," Margaret reasoned.
"Then why?" she asked, as she looked at all of them.
"Why was he brought back? Why are the Callings speaking to him?" Emma asked.
"We...we don't know yet, but there must be a reason we don't see yet," David replied.
"Or maybe the Callings aren't good, like we thought," she argued.
"That can't be...they've done so much good," Margaret argued back.
"If we follow them...but what happens when we fail one? What if others have failed them already and we don't know about it? What if this guy coming back is punishment? Or what if we're not as good as we think. What if we were brought back for nefarious purposes, just like Griffin?" she rambled. Margaret shook her head with vehemence.
"No…I refuse to believe that!" she said adamantly.
"Whatever the Callings are brought my family back to me! There is nothing sinister about that," she added.
"But we know that there are two sides. There's good and evil. Good brought my family back to me, but maybe it's evil that has brought Griffin back and this is our fight. Our battle...good against evil, because make no mistake, Emma Ruth Nolan, you are good. All of you are...there is nothing I have ever been more certain of," Margaret said passionately. David smiled and kissed her tenderly, as he cupped her beautiful face in his hands.
"She's right...there is always two sides to everything. This could be good versus evil...and Griffin is working for the other side. Which means we'll do whatever we have to in order to stop whatever evil he might bring," David said, giving Emma perspective that only he and MM could and a new resolve to stop Griffin from using and manipulating the Callings for his own evil purposes...
"So...what's the point of this thing again?" Emma asked, as she walked along the sidewalk with her son. He shrugged.
"I don't know really...just curse stuff I guess. It's to celebrate the town's founding by the miners, but that didn't really happen," Henry replied.
"You know, there are mines under the town. You fell into one," Emma reminded him.
"Those are dwarf mines," he countered.
"Dwarf mines...right," Emma said stiffly.
"You know it's true now," he said.
"Henry," she started to protest.
"But you're still in denial," he added. She huffed.
"Okay fine...then if I'm supposed to break the curse, how do I do that?" Emma asked. He shrugged.
"I don't know...it just says that you do. Even Mr. Gold can't see how," Henry replied.
"Which makes no sense...and why me?" Emma asked. He sighed.
"Because you're the product of true love and true love can break any curse, just like Gramps broke the sleeping curse on Grams," he explained.
"Well...then why can't they break it? Sounds like they've done it before," Emma said. He shook his head.
"It doesn't work that way. That was a sleeping curse and this curse was designed so only the Savior can break it," Gold interjected, as he approached with Neal. She sighed.
"Yeah and besides, Grams and Gramps kiss all the time so it would have broken already if they were the ones that could do it," Henry added.
"He definitely has a point," David said, chuckling, as he and Snow approached as well. Emma refused to meet eyes with Mary Margaret and instead focused on her son.
"Well...then I'm about to be a huge disappointment to everyone, because I don't know how to break the curse and I'm not sure I even want to," she said, as she stalked off, but not before almost colliding with Tamara.
"Sorry," he said, as she blew past her.
"Is she okay?" Tamara asked, as she sided up to Neal.
"Uh yeah...we just disagree about some things, but she'll come around," Neal replied.
"Is this about custody arrangements?" Tamara asked.
"Uh no...we're on the same page when it comes to custody," Neal replied.
"Then Emma is going to move to New York?" Tamara asked.
"Move to New York?" Mary Margaret interjected.
"Uh no...Emma's not moving to New York," Neal assured her.
"But baby...this is a nice town, but we're going to eventually have to go home," Tamara said.
"Yeah...can we talk for a minute?" he asked, as he prodded her off to the side, leaving Snow, David, and Gold with Henry.
"She's trouble," Snow muttered.
"Agreed," Gold said.
"We don't know that yet...I mean, it's natural for her to not get why Neal might want to stay here now," David reasoned.
"Trust me dearie...she knows more than she's letting on. I know people and that one needs to find her way out of town as soon as possible," Gold said.
"I agree...but she is engaged to your son. This could be messy," Snow replied.
"Probably...but Neal's not leaving. He won't do that to Henry. He knows that they both belong here," David assured her.
"I hope you're right," Gold said.
~*~
Regina seethed, as she watched her son with them. She couldn't believe that she had no choice but to let them have visitation. Henry had always spent Miner's Day with her, but things had drastically changed. There were now outsiders in her town, Mary Margaret was no longer alone and miserable, and her son's biological family now surrounded him. And it had to be them...the two idiots and her former mentor. His grandparents. It made her sick thinking about it.
"Regina…" Kathryn said, as she approached.
"Hello Kathryn...this must be hard for you, seeing them here together," Regina replied.
"Actually...it's not that bad," Kathryn said. Regina's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?" she questioned.
"Well…I've had a lot of time to think and I mean, look at them. Even in our best days, David never looked at me the way he does her. And I deserve to be looked at like that," Kathryn said.
"Of course you do...that's why we have to fix this. They don't belong together. He belongs with you," Regina insisted.
"No...he doesn't. Look at them," Kathryn said again, as they saw the pair with wide smiles for each other. They were practically dancing in the middle of the street in their own little world. It made her want to vomit.
"I'd rather not," she seethed.
"If you knew about David being in a coma at the hospital...why didn't you tell me sooner than you did?" Kathryn asked. Regina's brows furrowed again.
"What? I did...I called you as soon as I found out," she insisted.
"But you were his emergency contact. You would have known the moment he was brought in and yet he was labeled a John Doe. He was there for years," Kathryn said. Her eyes narrowed.
"Who told you this?" Regina asked.
"David and Mary Margaret pointed it out," Kathryn replied. She clenched her teeth.
"Of course they did...they are putting lies in your head," Regina said.
"Or maybe you are. I'm letting David go...why can't you let it go too? They're happy and I'm going to find happiness now too. David and I aren't right for each other," Kathryn replied.
"But you are," Regina insisted.
"No...the whole reason he was in the accident is that he was leaving me after a huge fight! Why are you insisting that we should be together when he wants her. They're happy," Kathryn said.
"Well, she shouldn't be!" Regina snapped and Kathryn recoiled.
"She's a monster…" she hissed, as she glared at her step-daughter.
"She's the tramp that stole your husband and gave my little boy that book that filled his head with delusions. She needs to pay and you're going to help me make her," Regina insisted. But Kathryn shook her head.
"No…I'm not," the blonde said, as she walked away.
"Kathryn…" Regina called, but her call wasn't yielded. She had lost complete control now. Her plan to frame Mary Margaret for Kathryn's murder was now no longer a viable or believable plan. But this wouldn't stand and she would come up with another way to destroy her. She had not come this far, only to have everything unravel. She turned and nearly bumped into a blonde woman. Her eyes narrowed to slits.
"Who the hell are you?" Regina asked. She couldn't believe it...this woman was not a part of her curse either. Another outsider and she was at a loss as to explain it. The woman smirked.
"Someone who hates that little retch as much as you," the woman cooed, as she walked away. Regina watched her go, reeling from her answer. She had no idea what to make of this, but if this mysterious woman hated Snow too...then she was an ally.
~*~
"What did you want to talk about?" Tamara asked, as they found a quiet place.
"Listen…I know that all of this is really new and out of the blue…" he started to say. Tamara smiled and squeezed his hand.
"It's okay Neal, I get that you have to hang around this town until the trial is over and if you're worried about not getting custody, don't be. I think your chances are very good," she replied.
"Thanks...but that's not everything," he said, as he took a deep breath.
"The thing is...I need to move here. For good," he said. She blanched.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I know this is sudden...but this is Henry's home and he doesn't want to leave it," Neal replied.
"Neal...I get that it will be a difficult transition for Henry, but we have a life in New York! And I'm sure once he gets adjusted, it will be fine, you'll see that," she insisted.
"It's a lot more complicated than that. My Dad is here...and Emma has family here too," he said.
"You told me that Emma was an orphan; that she had been abandoned as a baby," Tamara recalled. He stared at her with wide eyes. Crap...he had told her that.
"Yeah...but Mary Margaret is like family to her and I know she doesn't want to leave her," Neal explained.
"Emma can barely look at Mary Margaret lately. She doesn't approve of her torrid relationship with a married man," Tamara pointed out.
"It's not torrid and David is divorced now. Believe me, Emma will mend her relationship with her...Mary Margaret and Henry adores them too. They're family to him as well," he said. She shook her head.
"I don't understand any of this," she refuted.
"I know...it's hard, but staying here in Storybrooke is absolutely what's best for my son," he said.
"And...things are slowly mending between my father and me," he added.
"You told me that you hated your father! Tamara said.
"Things change!" he exclaimed. She huffed.
"Well...then I guess you have a choice to make, because I'm not moving here, Neal. We can have a good life in New York...with your son. Emma can either come or not, I don't care. But if you win custody...then you need to move back to New York with me, because I'll be going with or without you," she said, as she stormed off. He sighed and put on a brave face, as Henry waved him over excitedly. He joined his son and didn't let on that anything was amiss.
~*~
Many Years Ago
Queen Narcissa wrinkled her nose in disgust, as her carriage rode through one of the poor villages in her Kingdom. The royal coffers were nearly empty, yet she continued her lavish spending on frivolity. Her court was urging her to marry so there could be a merger, but none of the suitors appealed to her. They were either handsome and vain like her, which meant they would be focused on themselves instead of her. And the ones willing to shower her with everything were usually old and or ugly.
Add to that, her sister's due date grew closer and the more it did, the more unhinged she became. The moment her niece drew breath, she would become the fairest in the land and it was driving Narcissa insane. Everyday since she had found out, she asked her mirror the same question, now sometimes two or three times a day, hoping for a different answer. But the mirror's answer remained unchanged. She was the fairest in all the lands, but her niece would soon usurp her. So today, she had set out to do something about it.
Her carriage arrived at its destination and she emerged, causing gasps among the peasants. Queen Narcissa rarely left the comforts and safety of her castle, so it was a rare occurrence when she did.
"Where is she, footman? Where is this witch you promised could help me?" she demanded of him.
"Her message assured me she would be here, My Queen. As long as we provided the gold for her trip. She is coming from Dunbroch, after all," he said.
"She'll have her gold," Narcissa snapped, as there was a cackle from one of the traveling stands at the edge of the marketplace.
"I'd rather have some of those baubles you're wearing," the witch said.
"My diamonds?" the Queen asked.
"You do want a solution to your problem, do you not?" the witch questioned. Narcissa reluctantly parted with two of her large diamond rings.
"My magic mirror insists that once my niece is born...that I will no longer be the fairest in all the land," Narcissa confessed.
"How troubling…" the witch said, though by her tone, it was easy to tell that she meant that snidely.
"She must never be born!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"My, my...such hatred for a child and all because she might be prettier than you?" the witch asked.
"I am the fairest of all!" Narcissa shouted.
"No one can take that from me...can you help me or not?" she asked. The witch took a long pause and then produced a vial of sickly green liquid.
"See that this makes it into your sister's tea on her next visit...and it will cause her to miscarry," the witch said. Narcissa smirked deviously and looked at the vial.
"But be warned...killing a child will darken your heart beyond repair," the witch warned.
"I'm not killing a child...I'm killing a little mongrel," Narcissa insisted, as she got back into her carriage and was off again with a satisfied smirk. Once her sister drank her tea laced with this potion...her place as fairest in the land would be secure once again...
Jekyll smirked, as he looked at the photo of a necklace with a ruby pendant in the book he had swiped from Rose Red's library some time ago. It was a copy of the long and true history of Aphrodite. He had taken it to see if he could glean any weaknesses in the lore of the Chalice and use it to defeat them. And now, after days of skimming through the tome, it looked as though he just might know exactly what he needed to turn the tables against them and defeat Charming once and for all.
~*~
Though it was small, the library of Cibola was magnificent in its own right. The books looked to be very old, but well kept, and rested on golden book shelves.
"We need to bring Rose and Belle here. These books look like some of the oldest in existence," Snow mentioned, as she looked at her eldest.
"Can you use a little magic to translate some of these titles?" Snow asked. Emma nodded and waved her hand, causing the lettering on the bindings of the books to change to English.
"Can you read any of this language?" Bobby asked curiously, but she shook her head.
"It's a dead language...maybe even older than Latin," Zia replied.
"Let me guess...Lunarian?" he asked and her eyes widened.
"You know about the Lunarians?" she asked.
"A little. The first truest loves were Serenity and Endymion. I guess she was Lunarian and in one of my visions, I met their daughter," he explained.
"That's amazing!" she exclaimed and he blushed.
"Yeah...so were the Lunarians really from the moon?" he asked. She giggled.
"No...that part isn't true. They just worshipped the Moon Goddess Selene. The most noble bloodline and first Queen of the Lunarians were named Serenity and thus why all first born daughters in the royal line were named such," Zia explained.
"I guess that makes more sense than living on the moon," he agreed.
"You sound sad about that," she mentioned. He smirked.
"Well, I read a lot of comics and it would be so cool if they really did live on the moon and there was some kind of moon base or something," he said. She giggled.
"I don't think I've read any comics," she mentioned.
"Oh you have to! They're great and Fandral can tell you about some of them that are actually real with all his adventures with Thor," Bobby gushed
"I have heard of the Norse God, Thor. But I'm guessing what I know is not what he's like at all," she mentioned.
"Yeah, the Thor that Fandral knows is a bit different from the one in Mythology," he said.
"Maybe you can tell me about it," she replied. He nodded.
"I've love to," he said.
"Someone is crushing hard," Emma muttered to her mother.
"I know...it's so cute..." Snow gushed, as she looked at her youngest and put a hand to her heart. Emma chuckled and shook her head, as she saw a book that said Maui.
"Hey...wasn't Maui a demi-God?" Emma asked.
"You found a book on Maui?" Zia asked. She nodded and pulled it out. When she did, both the pounamu stone and the book glowed.
"Whoa…I think we found it," David said, as Emma opened the book, while Zia peered over it.
"Lunarian again," she said, as she used her magic to translate it, before handing it to the dark haired girl, who skimmed it. After several minutes, she gasped and started reading.
"Listen to this," she said.
"And though he was fatally wounded by the Void, Maui gave explicit instructions to his younger brother Tao so that his coveted fish hook be protected from those who would exploit it, especially the Void," she read.
"The Void? Is it really talking about Runeard?" David asked.
"How could it be? Runeard wasn't born during Tao's lifetime," Snow replied.
"No...but his powers came from somewhere. He didn't have them when he was banished," Killian reminded them.
"He's right...he picked them up in the Netherworld somehow and we don't really know how or why," Bobby said.
"Before he died, Maui disguised his fish hook as Pounamu stone and told his younger brother that he must guard it from the Void. And so Tao sailed to the island of Mu, aboard his family's luxury vessel, the Solaris, and consulted with the High Priest of Cibola to help him create something to protect the stone. But the High Priest, Atanos told him that only the children of the sun could help him craft something to protect the fish hook of Maui," she read.
"Atanos sent him east to find his son, Esteban, insisting that he was one of these children. Esteban accepted Tao into his Kingdom once he learned he was sent by his father, Atanos. But Tao was much less trusting and it took him time to trust Esteban. Even then, Tao never revealed what the stone actually was. Only that he must conceal it from the world," she continued.
"Does it say what the stone does?" Bobby asked. She nodded.
"Once Esteban met Zia and they were declared the truest love in all the realms by Venus did Tao realize that it was the Chalice of Venus that could craft what he needed," she continued.
"But Tao's mistrust of Zia did not serve him well and he was not happy when he discovered that she knew what the fish hook could do. He accused her of being a witch at first and thought she wanted the fish hook for herself. When she revealed that she knew the fish hook could…" Zia said, as her eyes widened and trailed off.
"What? What does it do?" Emma asked impatiently. Zia swallowed thickly.
"When she revealed that she knew the fish hook could capture all the natural elements, including the sun and the moon, she convinced Tao that she knew what they needed to craft to protect the stone," she revealed.
"Capture the elements?" Emma asked.
"If that's true, it can control the weather, including the phases of the sun and moon. That could be devastating," Snow realized.
"Do you think Aphrodite knows?" David asked.
"I don't think so…" Zia said, as she continued.
"Tao was grateful for her help when she used the Chalice to create a golden jar. In her possession were two golden bars from Cibola, the last in her possession. She used the chalice to melt them down and pour them into a mold of Tao's choosing. The jar mold was one from his home and thus the fish hook was sealed inside so only the children of the sun could open it," she read.
"Tao begged Zia not to tell Esteban what the pounamu stone really was and what it could do. He feared the information could be revealed inadvertently to Esteban's advisors, whom he did not trust," she continued.
"Mendoza," David surmised.
"Most likely," she agreed.
"Zia was very reluctant to keep information from her husband, but agreed and told him only that the jar could never be opened, for the purpose of the stone inside could never be revealed, as it could fall into the wrong hands, particularly, the Void's," she finished, as they looked at each other and then at the stone hanging around Bobby's neck.
"Okay...so this thing probably should go back in the jar," he said, as he took it off.
"Yes…if Runeard sees this, he'll know what it is if he is the Void now and I want you no where near something like that," Snow said, as she took the stone.
"So we seal it back in the jar...but we need to put the jar somewhere that it can't be accessed," David agreed.
"In the tallest tower of Cibola," Nubia chimed in.
"Why there?" Snow asked.
"Yeah...a bunch of steps will hardly deter someone like Runeard," Emma warned. Nubia smiled thinly.
"No...but there are fail safes. There is a place for the jar built into the highest temple by Atanos himself. You'll know it when you see it," Nubia said, as they ventured through the gates and saw the tallest tower gleaming in the distance.
"Okay…we can just teleport ourselves up there," David said.
"I'm sorry, but the journey to the tallest tower must be traversed by foot and by the children of the sun," Nubia said.
"Truest loves," Snow corrected.
"Yeah, sounds like the children of the sun had too many secrets between them. Snow and I don't keep anything from each other," he added.
"Of course...it was their flaw. I do not believe they ever told the Goddess about the stone," Nubia said. David sighed.
"That is a lot of stairs," he said. She smirked.
"Is Prince Charming going soft on me," she teased.
"Do I look like I've gone soft," he teased back, as he towered over her.
"Oh no...and I know where every muscle is," she gushed, as her hands swept over his torso.
"Yeah...you guys have fun with Stairmeggedon," Emma quipped.
"Those that are of their bloodline can accompany them," Nubia chimed in.
"Yeah, hard pass. I'll wait here," Emma said.
"Chicken," David teased.
"Could that mean me? I'm only his half sister," Natalie mentioned.
"I'm sorry...only the children can accompany them, being that they are of both of them," Nubia answered.
"Damn…" she muttered and then looked at her brother.
"Tell me all about it?" she asked. He smiled.
"I'll take pictures for you," he promised.
"I'll go...but I guess Zia can't come?" Bobby asked.
"Actually, she can, because she is training to become the High Priestess of Cibola, she is permitted to enter the sacred temple," Nubia replied. Zia smiled.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," she said, as she and Bobby followed his parents.
"Uh so...if she's going to be the High Priestess, does that mean she can't get married someday?" Emma asked curiously.
"Stars no...where would you get that idea?" Nubia asked.
"Just the whole Priest thing. In some other religions, it has some restrictions," Emma replied.
"Denying a person of love sounds like it would cause many problems," Nubia observed.
"Oh it does, which is why I asked and I'm glad this has no restriction of that kind," Emma said. Nubia smiled.
"You are good to look after your brother's feelings," she complimented.
"He's a great kid...and I hate it, but he's probably going to end up saving us all from Void," she mentioned. Killian put his arm around her.
"He'll be okay, love...there's no evil that can defeat this family. I've seen it try and fail," he assured her. She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder, while they waited for them to return.
~*~
"Oh Dark One...your magical protections are no match for science," Jekyll said, as he used his demon powers to burn through the magical protections on the shop door. The cameras weren't picking up anything, since he was using his nano technology to disguise his presence. Therefore, no alarms went off in the shop. He proceeded to the safe behind the counter and then a device he had created to crack the combination. The door opened and he extracted the ruby necklace.
"The necklace of Harmonia...misfortune to any who wear it," he said, as he disappeared in a fiery display.
~*~
"Thanks for bringing this to me...I'll definitely get it added to the Master copy right away," Henry said, as he skimmed through the hidden history of Arendelle that they had recently uncovered.
"Thanks...it's an uncomfortable history. I'm still trying to accept that Arendelle has such a bloody past," Elsa said.
"That's not your fault. Many Kingdoms have committed atrocities in the past. It shouldn't be up to the ancestors of those Kingdoms to pay for those misdeeds," Leo replied.
"He's right...you're doing exactly what you should be. You're informing your people of their true history, which means that they can learn from the past mistakes of their people. Then history hopefully won't repeat," Henry agreed. Elsa smiled and nodded, as they noticed a copy of a tabloid from the Land Without Magic.
"You've got to be kidding. Grimm got someone to publish his dreck?" Leo asked.
"Well...it's a tabloid so I doubt too many are taking it seriously. He and Goldie are doing their best between this and their dumb podcast to make people fearful of magic," Henry said uncomfortably.
"The podcast is getting a lot of hits lately...too many," Eva agreed.
"Are you worried that it might be working?" Paul asked.
"To be honest...yes. They're sowing a narrative of fear and anxiety toward magic and magical people that makes what the Home Office did look like nothing," Henry replied.
"That's why I've been doing my best to keep new chapters of the book up and I've even talked to a few contacts I have at reputable publications in the journalism world to make sure the true story is out there. But you know how people love gossip," Henry replied.
"Yeah...Grimm is even live streaming Goldie's stupid show on the Internet so people in the Land Without Magic get all the happenings going on here in the United Realms, from her skewed point of view, of course," Eva complained.
"Is ENN live streaming any of their broadcasts? Now that we have honest journalists running that show...they should be doing the same," Elsa said.
"She has a point," Leo agreed, as Henry smiled.
"You know, that's a great idea. I'll head over there later and talk to Mr. Boots' replacement. He'll love the idea," Henry said.
"Who is running it now?" Eva asked curiously.
"August," Henry answered. Her eyes widened.
"August left the Storybrooke Mirror?" Leo asked. Henry shrugged.
"A bigger and better opportunity and they came to me and asked me to run it, which I don't have time for. So I recommended the next best journalist I know," he replied.
"That's great! I still wish we could do something to counter their podcast though," Eva said. Paul smiled.
"Maybe we can," he said.
"Like what?" she asked.
"You love podcasts...you listen to them all the time, no matter the subject, because it's an easy way to learn while you're working. So...why don't you do your own," Paul replied.
"You think I should do my own podcast?" Eva asked.
"Now that is an incredible idea," Henry replied.
"Yeah...you could counter their narrative and get all the guests. No one worthwhile would go on their two bit broadcast, but you could get all the good guests. All of us, Mom and Dad, and anyone in our family," Leo said.
"He's right and it will blow theirs out of the water," Henry agreed.
"I'm not even sure I know how to do a podcast though," Eva said.
"I do though and I know August can set us up with all the best equipment. We can go over there now if you want," Henry said.
"That sounds great...I would really love to get the real message out through the airwaves," she agreed. Paul kissed her cheek.
"You're going to be great," he said.
"Will you be my co-host?" she asked.
"Me?" he asked.
"Who better? You were born in the Land Without Magic and you can attest to what it's like having lived in both worlds," Eva said.
"She has a good point," Leo agreed. He smiled.
"Okay...two doctors doing a podcast I guess," he agreed, as they proceeded to head over to the Enchanted News Network studio.
~*~
Jekyll looked at the model on his laptop with satisfaction. He had created the computer model of his plan and with his demon magic, it would all become a reality in a matter of moments.
"Yes...this will be quite perfect," he said, as he made the final modification to the virtual model on his screen.
"You know, I do not take kindly to being summoned, doctor," Rodmilla said, as she arrived.
"I am the reason you're luxuriating in your new castle now. You are at my beck and call, Rodmilla. Make no mistake...I can end you with a flick of my wrist," he warned, as he produced a tiny flame in his palm. She stilled and swallowed her pride.
"What can I do for you, doctor?" she asked.
"You can create this in the ocean at these coordinates," he replied, showing her the model.
"What is all this?" she asked. He smirked.
"My very own nightmare and the place where Prince Charming will perish at my hand," he replied. She didn't question him and did as he asked. She hardly thought he would be successful. No one had managed to defeat Snow and Charming yet and they were more powerful than ever. Honestly, if he did, it would destroy Snow White and cause her eternal misery. If he didn't and Charming finally rid them of the doctor, she'd be free of his insanity and being under his thumb. It was a win-win situation for her.
"There…" she said, as it was complete.
"Good luck doctor...I think you'll need it," she surmised.
"I don't need your luck...my power will overcome him this time," he insisted, as he walked out of his lab. It was time.
~*~
David looked at his wife in amusement, as she groaned during their climb to the top of the tallest tower.
"Okay...you were right, these stairs are a nightmare," she whined, as she lagged slightly behind him with her hand in his.
"Yeah...you'd have to really want whatever is up here to make this climb," he agreed.
"Would you like me to carry you the rest of the way?" he asked.
"No...that would be very unfair to you," she replied.
"But I could," he said. She smirked.
"I know you could...I'm well acquainted with all your muscles," she replied coyly. He smirked back.
Behind them, Bobby closed his eyes and put his hand over his face in embarrassment, as Zia giggled.
"They are so embarrassing sometimes," he said.
"I think they're adorable," she replied.
"Yeah...just wait until you're eating dinner with them and they're feeding each other and start making out. It gets less adorable really fast," he said.
"We can hear you," Snow admonished.
"I know...it'd be nice if you and dad didn't make out during dessert," Bobby replied.
"Yeah...your chances of that aren't good," David said and he rolled his eyes.
"We just got the Emma eye roll," Snow snickered to him.
"Of course...she taught it to them all," he said, as they finally reached the top.
"Finally," Snow said.
"At least going down won't be so bad," David replied, as they went inside and found golden walls except the one in the center. The center wall was stone, with hieroglyphics on each square.
"They just look like symbols," Snow asked. Zia nodded.
"This is the Temple of the Sun...so they use the language of the Chalice. Lunarian," she replied.
"David…" Snow uttered, as she pointed to the square with the depiction of a split heart.
"Wow...and here's one of the chalice," he said.
"Look…" Bobby pointed at five squares in sequence below the split heart.
"Fire, lightning, wind, water, and earth," he said, pointing at the flame, lightning bolt, gust of wind, wave, and a leaf. They looked at each other in amazement.
"This is depicting the seven of us," David said.
"Your love is written in the stars," Zia replied.
"What's this one?" Bobby asked, as it showed a figure surrounded by many objects.
"The Collector…" Snow realized.
"Clayton's bloodline...it's always been a threat, even back to Serenity and Endymion," David said.
"What is this one?" Snow asked, as it depicted another figure shrouded in what seemed like darkness.
"The Void…" Zia said gravely.
"There's the hook," Bobby said, pointing out Maui's fish hook.
"How do we seal the jar away?" David asked.
"The Chalice…that's all I know," Zia replied. Snow and David willed it into its cup form between them and the wall immediately reacted by lighting up in a variety of colors. The squares slowly receded away from the center of the wall, as a compartment revealed itself.
"I guess that's a good place," David said, as they placed the jar inside the compartment. The squares glowed and returned to their place.
"All secure I guess?" she asked.
"Yeah...seemed too easy," he replied.
"I think we're just used to everything we have to do being a pain in the ass," Bobby quipped.
"Language," she chided, as David took pictures for Natalie, before they started back down the stairs.
"You know how we said that going down would be better?" Snow asked.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"It's not any better," she replied, making him chuckle.
"Hey...we got out of there without something or someone trying to kill us. That's a win for us," he reminded her.
"So true," she agreed.
"So...is it safe?" Emma asked. They nodded.
"These pics you just sent me are fascinating. It's practically your story in hieroglyphs," Natalie said, as she swiped through the photos.
"Yeah…I guess we shouldn't be too surprised by now. The texts that King Arthur was once studying back before we met him depicted the chalice and our split heart," David recalled.
"Do you remember whatever happened to those texts?" Natalie asked curiously.
"I assume they're still somewhere in Camelot. I'm sure Lancelot and Guinevere would be happy to let you check them out," Snow replied.
"I'd love to build a display out of these pics and anything they have for the museum," Natalie said. Snow and David smiled. She was really finding her niche as curator of the Atlantis museum.
"So...I guess we're done here," Emma said.
"Yeah...let's head back to Mu," Snow replied, as a portal suddenly opened and they could see Dr. Jekyll through the portal, on an island that seemed to be besieged by molten lava.
"What the hell…" David said.
"Greetings…" he said.
"Not even man enough to face me now? You have to do it through a portal?" David challenged. Jekyll smirked.
"Oh on the contrary...the lovely scenery behind me was created with just you in mind, Charming. It is where you will perish at my hand," he claimed.
"No...you leave my husband and my family alone!" Snow shouted.
"Alas, dear Snow...I could do just that if you would submit yourself to me," he offered.
"No way in hell psychopath…" Bobby said.
"You're not taking her, especially not into some fiery hellhole," David added. The doctor smirked again.
"Like I said, Charming...this fiery hellhole, as you put it, is for you," Jekyll said, as his arms became fiery chains that shot through the portal. They wrapped around him and pulled him through it. Snow cried out in alarm, as it closed and she looked around frantically.
"I'll get a bean," Emma said, as she prepared to transport herself to Anton's field, but Jekyll's voice cut her off.
"Do not bother, Savior...for there is no way you can get to this island via portal now," Jekyll said, as a hologram appeared before them in the sky.
"Charming!" Snow cried, as she saw her husband behind the doctor and on a piece of rock surrounded by a lake of lava.
"As you can see, he is in quite a state of peril and without the help of the Chalice, he will perish at my hand," Jekyll said.
"And the demise of the legendary Prince Charming is being broadcast to the entire United Realms and beyond! It is time for everyone to witness the fiery end to the truest love!" he added.
"Why isn't Dad calling the Chalice sword?" Emma asked. Snow willed the chalice into sight and saw that she had both halves. She tried to will it to her husband...but nothing was happening.
"I see that you have found that your husband is completely cut off from the power of your Chalice," Jekyll said.
"You Son of Bitch!" Snow cried, as she broke down in tears and Emma held her mother, hugging her tightly.
"How the hell is that possible?" Bobby asked, as Regina and Rumple appeared at their location.
"Because he stole the necklace of Harmonia from my shop and placed it around your father's neck upon his arrival in his demonic realm," Rumple answered, just as the twins appeared with Summer and JJ in tow.
"The necklace of Harmonia...how does that cut him off from the Chalice?" Leo asked.
"It's a long story...but in short, from my restored memories, it was a necklace created by Hera and meant for me," Aphrodite replied.
"It curses the wearer with misfortune. Hera meant it for me, but a man named Cadmus found it where Hera left it for me first. He presented it to his bride, Harmonia, and she was killed in a horrible accident on their wedding day. It's been an object avoided like the plague since," Aphrodite explained, as she and James appeared.
"Then why did you have it in your shop!?" Emma cried.
"Because I'm already cursed and immune to its charms. As the Dark One, I was entrusted to keep it away from humanity by Zeus himself. Centuries ago...but the damned psychopath found it. It's quite likely he has been browsing through Rose Red's books without her knowledge," Rumple said.
"We have to do something! We have to get the chalice to Dad somehow!" Summer cried.
~*~
David looked around and hissed from the burns on his arms, thanks to Jekyll's fiery whips. He saw the peculiar necklace around his neck and took in his surroundings. It was definitely an island, but the erupting volcano in the distance had turned it into a nightmare. Acrid smoke filled the air, as embers and ash rained down. Molten magma flowed around the remaining land like a river and the heat was so sweltering that it was hard to breathe.
"Welcome to your demise, Prince Charming," Jekyll said. David extended his hand and attempted to call on the Chalice sword, but found that nothing happened. Jekyll smirked.
"I'm afraid that necklace around your neck will cause you quite a bit of misfortune. Whatever light magic you are able to wield is thwarted by the cursed necklace of Harmonia," he announced. David tried to take it off, but found that he couldn't.
"So this is it...you're so afraid to face me on an even ground that you have to take away my weapon and give me a serious disadvantage?" he challenged.
"Fairness is for heroes. I am a villain, as you so eagerly point out time and again. So I decided to stack the deck in my favor, so to speak," Jekyll said, as an ordinary sword appeared in his hand.
"But I will give you a weapon...not that it will matter much," he added.
"Fine…I'll fight you at a disadvantage and still win," David said confidently. Jekyll chuckled, as his own fiery sword appeared in his hand.
"Oh, your hubris will see that you fail miserably," the doctor said, as he charged with a fierce battle cry and David moved to defend himself.
~*~
Snow screamed, as she saw David narrowly escape falling into the river of lava, as he dueled the psychotic doctor.
"I have to get to him…" Snow sniffed, as she tried to use the Chalice again, but became frustrated when it didn't work again.
"Why isn't it working!?" she screamed.
"It's the necklace...it won't let us portal there with magic," Aphrodite said regrettably. That thought struck Eva.
"But we could with science!" she realized. Snow looked at her daughter with a tearstained face.
"Honey...what do you mean?" she asked.
"That's how he's doing all of this. He got around Mr. Gold's magical protections in the shop with science. We have to use science to get to Daddy," Eva replied.
"She's right...he would have never got through my protections in the shop using magic. He found another way," Gold confirmed.
"Then how do we do it?" Snow asked.
"Hyde...I'll go and see what he and Mr. Flaversham can do," Emma said, as she hugged her mother quickly.
"I'll go with you," Bobby said, as he disappeared with her. Leo and Eva sandwiched Snow between them and held her, as she cried and they witnessed their father try to stay alive.
~*~
"And if you're just joining us...it seems that everyone's favorite Prince is under siege by none other than Dr. Jekyll himself. It would see that the good doctor has found a way to isolate him from his precious Snow White and their magical chalice," Goldie reported, as those at Grimm's tavern all seemed glued to the fight.
"You think he'll do it?" one patron asked.
"If he does...he'll be a legend," another answered.
"And if he does...we will capitalize on the grief of his family and wage attacks on their Kingdoms," Rodmilla said, as she entered with Runeard. A few of them looked uneasy by this plan, but they did not protest. The last protester had been swiftly dealt with and none of them wished for that fate.
~*~
"Hyde!" Emma cried, as they burst into his lab and saw they were watching the spectacle on one of the computer screens in the lab.
"I guess he's beaming the frequency to every screen," Bobby realized.
"I'm afraid so...the doctor has gone too far again," Hyde said.
"He's blocking us off with magic and made it so my Dad has no access to the Chalice," Emma replied.
"And you hope there is a scientific solution," he replied. They nodded.
"We have been working on something...a teleportation device, but it is in no way ready for human trials," Hyde said.
"Yes...at this point, it would likely kill a person in transit. We're still working on the human application," Hiram added and their hearts sank.
"But we have had success in teleporting objects," Hyde said, as he showed them what looked like a silver pad.
"You think you can teleport the chalice to our Dad?" Bobby asked.
"If I can triangulate his location within a few yards. That will take a few moments, but we're ready if you can take us closer," Hiram said, as they picked up their equipment. Emma smiled and nodded, as the four of them disappeared.
~*~
David breathed heavily, but coughed since the air was so filled with heat and ash that it was overwhelming.
"You are so fragile without the power of your chalice sword…" Jekyll goaded.
"Then stop dodging me and actually fight. I may not have my Chalice sword, but I am a master swordsman and even with all your powers...you're not. I think I'll fare better than you think," David challenged. Jekyll smirked.
"I will so enjoy slowly killing you while the lovely Snow watches," he said, as he looked up.
"Pay close attention, my dear Snow! I want you to see the life leave his eyes when I crush him!" he called. David charged him at that and their blades clashed in a fury of strikes, parries, and slashes.
"You're tiring, Charming...I can see it. But I do not tire anymore," Jekyll warned, as they exchanged blows.
"You are fragile...and can barely breathe here. But I am in my element," he continued to boast.
"Doesn't matter," David said, though his words sounded labored.
"True love always wins," he insisted, as the doctor elbowed him in the gut and sent him to the ground. He slid painfully across the ground on his back and could feel the burns already. The pain was excruciating, even as he tried to pull himself to his feet. His shirt was in tatters now, as embers had burned holes in it. But he pressed on and got to his feet, only to have to block Jekyll's blade again.
"Time to die, Charming...and it will be slow and agonizing," he promised. David swept his legs out from under him, but the demon shot a fire blast at him, forcing him to dodge. He rolled to the ground and stared up at the blackened sky. He coughed, as the ash filled his lungs and he tried to move, despite the multiple burns covering his body.
"Snow…" he croaked, as he could feel her presence and love enveloping him.
"Not sure I'm going to make it out of this one, my love…" he whispered, as the doctor's shadow loomed over him…
~*~
Snow cried out, as she saw her husband roll to the ground and she reached out toward his image.
"I have to get to him...this can't be happening!" she cried in anguish, just as Emma reappeared with Bobby, Hyde, and Mr. Flaversham.
"Can you help?" Eva asked.
"We have a solution, but it's not yet ready for human testing. However, we believe it can get the Chalice to him," Hyde replied.
"No…I have to go to him. Please…" Snow cried.
"Mom...this will work, but you getting ripped apart in a teleporter does not help Dad," Emma soothed, as she put her hands on her shoulders. Reluctantly, Snow nodded and watched them set up their equipment.
"Not to pressure you...but you need to hurry!" Leo called, as they watched the dire position their father was in.
"Can you get a fix on his location fairly quickly?" Emma asked.
"Got it...fortunately, the doctor is sending up smoke signals into the atmosphere so to speak," Hyde replied, as he nodded to Snow. She placed the Chalice on the flat device and stepped back, as her children huddled around her.
"Initiate," Hyde said, as Hiram operated the controls and the Chalice disappeared. A few seconds later, the image before them and all the screens where it was being broadcast were filled with a blinding white light, resulting in no one being able to see what was happening.
"Charming!" Snow cried.
~*~
"Do you think she'll feel it? When I drive my fiery sword through your half heart?" Jekyll asked, as he looked down on his nemesis with a smug smirk. He was going to savor and enjoy the Prince's demise immensely.
"She will...but my children will avenge me and protect her," David rasped, as he coughed again.
"So...you're finally admitting defeat?" Jekyll asked with glee.
"I may die at your hand...but our love won't. That will never die," he replied.
"Yet you will be able to do nothing from the afterlife to stop me from making her mine," Jekyll said, he saw a beam of light penetrate his shield around the island.
"Impossible," he uttered, as the light faded and he saw the Chalice resting about a hundred feet away.
"No…" he said. It should have been impossible and he saw Charming's hand twitch.
"Not this time…" he seethed, as he prepared to thrust the blade through his chest. The Prince could barely move, but managed to lift one leg enough to kick Jekyll off balance. The doctor stumbled briefly, but it was enough and the Chalice flew into his hand.
"Noooo!" Jekyll screamed in rage, as light exploded around David and blinded him, as well as blowing him back several feet.
He growled, as he rolled over and tossed his cracked glasses away, before pulling himself to his feet. But what he saw when the light started to fade gave him pause.
David stood tall, as the light faded in his familiar leather jerkin, pants, and boots; the very outfit he had fought many battles in before. His wounds were healed and the Chalice sword gleamed brightly in his hand. The necklace of Harmonia fell off in pieces and burned to ash.
Jekyll seethed and cursed, as he decided to find a way out of this botched plan to fight another day, but the Prince anticipated his next move. David tapped the tip of his sword on the ground, sending a lightwave of power throughout the entire island and the sky.
"What is that?" he asked, as he saw the shimmering shield around the island.
"You promised there was no escape for me from this island, so I'm promising the same for you," David replied.
"You think you can really end me?" Jekyll challenged. David smirked.
"Oh…I know I can," he replied, as he charged, almost catching the doctor off guard. His sword became alive with fire and he parried the Prince's blade. But he was shocked when his sword shattered into a million pieces upon contact with the Prince's. Jekyll screamed in rage and blasted him at point blank with fire. But David slapped the flames away with his blade in expert precision.
"Damn you!" Jekyll screeched, as he slashed at him with his fiery whips, but David evaded his fire and Jekyll made a run for it in an attempt to somehow escape the island. He cackled maniacally, as he ran toward the river of lava that had burst up between the land mass.
"Once I disappear into the fire...you'll never catch me! And then, I'll pop up again when you least expect! Just like Mephisto did!" Jekyll warned, as he saw the river within reach. He laughed, preparing for his escape, as he jumped toward it.
~*~
"Damn him…" David cursed, as he chased the psychotic doctor. If he slipped into the fire, he'd disappear and come back to haunt them again. He couldn't let that happen again. He knew of only one move that could stop him now. He stopped in his tracks and thrust his sword into the air, sending it sailing toward the monster.
~*~
The fire could be seen reflecting in Jekyll's eyes, as he was just a few feet from escape, but he lurched and looked down to find Charming's blade protruding from his chest. He landed on his feet, just at the edge and turned around, looking at him in shock. He saw the blackness slowly spider webbing from his wound and started to see the ash flaking from his body.
"No...this can't be! You can't defeat me!" Jekyll cried, as he lurched again and the blade returned to David's hand.
"I just did," the Prince stated.
"You're done...and you're never going to hurt my wife again, let alone haunt her," David assured him.
"The Chalice absorbed the Olympian crystal long ago. No Underworld, no afterlife, nothing...you just stop existing and we rest easy, knowing that not even your soul can cause harm to anyone ever again," he continued. Jekyll tried to charge at the Prince again, but the white fire from the Chalice sword consumed him in a brilliant flash. He screamed briefly, as he was destroyed and his cries were swiftly squelched, as was his existence.
Charming sighed in relief, as he used the Chalice sword to create a portal out of the hellish island and he returned to Cibola.
The moment his feet hit the sand, Snow was in his arms. He smiled, as she kissed his lips and then buried her face in his neck, as she wrapped her around around his neck. He smiled and held her, as she quietly sobbed in relief.
"It's okay...I'm okay and he's dead, Snow...for real this time," he said, as he pulled back and cupped her beautiful face in his hands.
"He's dead, my love...he's never coming back," he promised. She sniffed and cried happy tears, before their lips crashed together and her feet dangled off the ground, as he picked her up and spun her around while kissing her passionately. Their lips finally parted and their kids gathered around them with hugs as well.
~*~
"And...it appears that the battle is over. Dr. Jekyll, who quite possibly was Charming's greatest challenger ever, is dead. It would appear that no one can defeat the Charmings," Goldie stated gravely.
"Most will celebrate this, I'm sure...but those of us that have made mistakes and refuse to play by their set of rules, life will not improve at all," she added.
"Snow and Charming will continue their reign, unchallenged it seems. Their children will continue to make all others fail to measure up, and Henry Nolan Charming's narrative will continue to be the only acceptable version of the story, while other talented writers like those in the Grimm line will be ignored," she continued.
The patrons in Grimm's bar went back to their normal business and Elias tossed his rag down on the counter in frustration. Charming's heroics would once again be the highlight of any articles and it almost seemed pointless for them to even do a podcast.
He noticed Runeard leaving and Rodmilla followed. Curiously, he followed as well. After all, this mysterious former King was likely the only real challenger to the Charmings that they had now.
"What are you doing?" Rodmilla asked, as she followed him into Jekyll's lab. Runeard was silent, as he picked up the staff that Jekyll had recreated from Hiram Flaversham's blueprint of the original design.
"They will soon come...emboldened by the fact that there is no real challenge here, even without magic. Except me, of course," he said.
"I have magic...synthetic magic that works here where theirs might not," Rodmilla replied. He smirked.
"Oh my dear...I think we both know that whatever you can muster up can easily be quashed by Charming now...or his Asgardian doppelganger for that matter. He just killed a demon with powers derived from hell itself," he reminded her.
"But you can challenge him!" she insisted.
"Oh not yet...not without this staff filled with the star gems I cannot...it's too risky. He knows what I can do with a touch...he'll anticipate my every move. I am not a master swordsman. Jekyll's arrogance is partially why he's dead now. He had no business fighting a warrior of Charming's caliber, even with all his demonic power," Runeard said.
"So...what, you're just going to disappear and leave me to fend for myself?" Rodmilla questioned.
"I must go into hiding for now. I do not have a plan ready to take on all the elements at once. I must take them by surprise and now is not the time. Good luck to you," he said, as he faded away with the staff and the doctor's gloves.
"There must be something in all this junk that we can use!" she cried desperately.
"The only way we still win any of this is to get their mixed blood and write ourselves a new narrative," Grimm said.
"Which is impossible!" she shouted.
"Then you better find a place to lay low...because this will be the first place Charming and his brats come for," Grimm replied, as he left the lab and started back to his tavern.
"There you are…" Goldie said, as she joined him.
"You're a wanted woman...this place isn't going to stop them from coming for you now that Jekyll is gone," he warned.
"You too...that's why we need to escape," Goldie said.
"Where? Pleasure Island was the one place that gave them pause," Grimm replied.
"The Land Without Magic...we can escape there and still do our podcast, you can write…" she said. He sighed.
"I guess it's all we have. We better go now though or we'll never make it. As it is, it will take us all night to go around the checkpoints again," he replied.
"Without the tavern...we'll be broke in no time," he warned.
"We still have a pretty good following with the podcast and that brings in some money. We'll have to supplement in other ways. It's that or prison," she replied, as they started packing what they could.
"We'll manage, I guess...now to figure out where to go," he said.
"The nearest bus stop is Misty Falls. We'll figure it out on the way to Boston," she replied, as they headed to the Harbor to make their escape.
~*~
After celebrating at Granny's with a mountain of food and all their family and friends, they had come home with their kids and retired for the evening. Except with them, there was no sleeping yet and the celebration had continued, in a much more intimate manner.
She rested her head against his chest and relished his arm around her.
"You did it...you freed us from his insanity," she purred, as she looked up at him. He gently kissed her.
"I said I wouldn't rest until he could no longer haunt you...I'm just glad I was able to keep that promise," he replied.
"I never doubted you...but I came very close to losing you," she said, as her eyes misted.
"Shh...no, you could never lose me. He never had a chance...not when it's you and our children that I'm fighting for. Not with a true love as powerful as ours," he replied, as she kissed him passionately and then pressed her forehead against his once their lips parted. He gently wiped a tear away from her cheek and green eyes stared into blue.
"I feel so free with his shadow finally gone," she admitted. He smiled.
"We are free, my darling. There are still battles ahead, but he was the worst one and he's gone forever," he promised. Their lips met again in a searing kiss and their passion consumed them once more. Once again, they had faced certain doom head on and their true love had prevailed, as it always would.
