Charming tells his story, and it turns out that when his family starts to plan to break the Dark Curse, it's much easier to believe another town resident when his memories start to surface. The million-dollar question of the day, though . . . is that enough to change his fate?

***

The passage of time didn't matter in the slightest to Emma as she curled up on Queenie's bed, still clutched in David's tight embrace. She didn't care about the grip he held on her, for she clung to him just as tightly. She had always been the parent giving hugs to her child, or the younger sibling receiving one from her elder ones. It felt so good to be the child on the receiving end of a hug this time, even if her father appeared to be the same age as her.

But that was just a fleeting thought, as David didn't seem to care at all that she was the same age as he. All he did was stroke her hair as he hugged her close, his hands faintly trembling as if he couldn't believe she was there. Emma couldn't blame him, because if everything in Henry's storybook was true . . . he had been cursed for twenty-seven years and had waited that long for her.

Yeah, screw time. Emma was just grateful she had her father back.

"How did you find us?" David whispered, as if afraid speaking louder would break the moment.

"Henry found me," Emma admitted, shifting to rest her head on his shoulder. "He stole Mary Margaret's credit card and took a bus to Queenie's bakery. He got there when we were closing for the night. I had to drive him back." She shrugged. "He convinced me to stay."

"I'm glad you did," David smiled. "He's a smart kid."

"Yeah," Emma nodded. "He is." They sat in comfortable silence for a few seconds, then Emma took a deep breath and sat upright, tucking her feet under her so she sat cross-legged. "Dad - " Oh, saying that was going to take some getting used to. "How did this happen?"

David sighed and looked down at his hands. "How much do you know?" he asked.

"Only that there's a curse and I'm the one who's meant to break it," Emma answered sheepishly. "I, uh . . . didn't believe a lot of what Henry said in the beginning. This curse is nothing like I've ever learned about."

David nodded and reached for her hands. Emma let him take them, which seemed to give David confidence to speak. "When I married Snow, Regina arrived and promised she would destroy our happiness if it was the last thing she did. Snow thought about it every day, and when she was pregnant with you, she decided she wanted to ask someone what she meant. When we visited Rumplestiltskin, he told us the Queen meant to curse us into a place where time would stop, where we would have everything we love ripped away from us. The only happy ending in existence would be hers."

Emma swallowed hard. "That's why we look the same age."

"Yeah," David nodded with a weak chuckle. "A little odd, but I think I can get used to it. I remember what happened in the Enchanted Forest like it just happened yesterday."

"Well," Emma gestured pointedly to him.

David's laugh was more genuine that time as he nodded. "Rumplestiltskin told us that our only hope was you, that we had to send you somewhere safe. By your twenty-eighth birthday, you would find us and break the curse. The Blue Fairy found an enchanted tree that, when fashioned into an appropriate vessel, could send someone to another world. Geppetto and Pinocchio turned it into a wardrobe . . . but the wardrobe could only protect one." Emma's heart dropped into her stomach, and David swallowed. "We planned to send Snow through before you were born . . . but she went into labor the day the wardrobe was completed. That was the same day Regina cast her curse . . . and Snow couldn't be moved."

"And since the wardrobe could only take one, you sent me," Emma concluded numbly.

"Yes," David whispered, his voice broken as his grip on her hands tightened; Emma swore she felt her bones creak. "She told me to take you to the wardrobe while she was confined to her bed. I fought through Regina's soldiers to reach the wardrobe, and I was run through just as I put you inside. The last thing I remember before waking up here was the soldiers checking the wardrobe . . . and you were gone."

"And I was here," Emma finished, trying hard to swallow around the lump in her throat. "Alone."

"I wish that hadn't been the case," David shook his head, tears in his eyes as he looked at her. "You shouldn't have had to be alone. I'm so sorry about that, Emma."

Emma took a deep breath, reaching up to wipe away a few of her own tears. "Well, I wasn't alone for the last part of it. That's why I'm not freaking out so much right now."

"I see," David smiled as he looked around the room. "You made yourself your own little family."

"It's bigger than this," Emma laughed, her heart lifting as the subject changed. "Some of it's on the other side of the pond."

"Europe, right?"

"Britain," Emma nodded. "It's another long story." She fiddled with her watch, then she looked at David. "Do you want to meet them?"

David looked at her, his surprise evident. "Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly. "I mean . . . I'd be thrilled, Emma, but this has to be overwhelming for you."

"Overwhelming describes the day I first took Harry to Gringotts," Emma said blandly.

David blinked. "Where?"

"Exactly," Emma smirked as she got to her feet. "You told me how we all ended up here. Besides, you're officially part of Operation Cobra now, so you should know the other players."

"Operation what?" David repeated, but he was smiling as he stood and followed her.

"Henry's idea," Emma said in explanation as they left the room.

David laughed as she unlocked the neighboring room. "That explains a lot."

Emma pushed open the door and smiled at the sight that awaited her. Newt was bent over a few potion vials, mumbling to himself as he worked. Harry was snuggled against Queenie on his bed, his nose buried in one of his textbooks, but she could tell from his scrunched nose that he wasn't paying much attention to what he was reading. His head shot up when she stepped into the room, and he immediately jumped off the bed. "Mum!"

"Hey, kid," Emma's smile widened as she hugged her son. "There's someone you need to be reintroduced to." Harry's emerald eyes turned to the man who followed Emma into the room, and his eyes brightened when he realized what happened. "Dad, this is my adopted son, Harry Potter-Swan. Harry, this is . . . " She bit her lip to contain a laugh, then gave up when her laughter bubbled up anyway. "Well, he's your grandfather."

David made a face at that description, but Harry grinned widely. "Aunt Queenie brought your memories back!" he cheered.

"She certainly made them come back," David agreed with a thankful glance in Queenie's direction before he turned back to Harry. "And I got some new family members, too."

Harry nodded in agreement and hugged him around the waist, and David rubbed his back with a pleased expression. "He wasn't going to fall asleep," Queenie gave Emma an apologetic smile.

"Oh, I think it's gonna be a while for me to do that, too," Emma chuckled, tugging out the bands that held her braids in place. "So I figured we should talk about what we can."

"That's smart," Newt agreed as he corked one of the potions and stood, brushing off his hands with a smile as he crossed the room. "Prince Charming," he playfully bowed.

"Something tells me you should just keep calling me David for the time being," David said dryly, but he returned the bow with a grin.

"Oh, if we're to avoid the Queen's wrath, absolutely," Newt grinned cheerfully, not showing any sign of fear as he extended his hand. "Welcome to the family, David."

David shook his hand firmly, his hand settled protectively on Harry's shoulder. "I'm glad I'm getting it back."

"As are we," Queenie told him, a somber expression on her face. "I merely wish it would be that easy to bring your wife's memories back."

David's face twisted with pain as he sat across from her; Harry jumped up and claimed the space next to him without a word. "My luck comes from my condition when the Queen's curse hit," he said. "I think it'll be up to Emma from here on out."

"No pressure," Emma sighed as she sat on David's other side.

"So," David cleared his throat and looked around at his daughter, his grandson, and their surrogate family. "Tell me what you want."

Harry looked expectantly at his mother, aunt, and uncle. The trio exchanged looks, then Newt fidgeted and took a deep breath. The story poured from all of them, starting from the Global Wizarding World with Grindelwald to Newt and Queenie's time on the run to Voldemort's rise and Dumbledore's manipulations. David's expression darkened with each tale, but he listened attentively and never interrupted. The fury he displayed when Harry quietly spoke about the Dursleys made Newt glance at Emma, for the magizoologist had seen that rage on Emma's face often.

"Gringotts is the wizarding bank run by goblins," Queenie was explaining as Harry started to nod off against David's arm. "We took Emma and Harry there right away so she could blood-adopt him, ensuring Dumbledore couldn't place him anywhere else."

"Blood-adopt?" David interrupted for the first time since the story began, his brow knitted in confusion.

"If a child's parents die, the guardian next in line to take custody of the child adds their blood to a potion that the child then drinks," Newt elaborated. "That child is then theirs in both blood and magic. This method also allows families who may be unable to have a child to take an orphan and claim them as their own to continue the line."

"So I'm Harry's third biological parent, in a way," Emma smiled fondly, looking down at her tired son.

"Magic can do some incredible things," David marveled, running his fingers through Harry's hair.

It was such an Emma gesture that Queenie couldn't help but smile. "Indeed, it can."

"When we were at Gringotts to complete the adoption, Gornuk - the goblin who helped us - took some of my blood for an inheritance test," Emma told David. "It shows a person's family line, their blood status, and . . . well, their inheritance, as said in the name. When mine appeared, it showed you and . . . Mom . . . but your statuses were unknown."

"When we came here, we figured out that was the curse," Newt nodded.

"That must have been a shock," David looked at Emma.

Emma snorted. "Ruby was listed as my godmother, too. That was even more confusing."

"Red," David smiled fondly. "Snow's best friend."

"Next to Mary Margaret, she's been our biggest supporter," Queenie grinned. "She made sure we could stay here when Regina tried to kick Emma out."

David laughed. "That's the wolf in her!"

Newt blinked. "The wolf?"

"Yeah," David nodded. "Red is a werewolf."

Queenie burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh, there goes all of the fairytales we know."

"Pretty sure our knowledge went out the window when we figured out I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, Queenie," Emma sighed, but her lips quirked up in a smile as well. "We should try introducing her to Remus when the curse is broken."

From there, they summarized much of their years for David: life on the reserve, Harry receiving his Hogwarts letter, meeting the Malfoys and Hermione in Diagon Alley, and Harry's first year at Hogwarts. David's expression turned more troubled as they spoke.

When Emma finished with Henry arriving at the bakery, David wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in for another hug. "You are amazing," he whispered into her hair, and Emma buried her face in his shoulder to avoid the others seeing her tears. How many years had she craved to have a parent praise her? And David did so effortlessly. "And I will be glad to see the end of this Bumdlebore."

Queenie burst into a fit of giggles. "Dumbledore," she corrected.

David shrugged unapologetically. "Him, too."

Newt grinned widely at Emma. "Your father," he told her. "Definitely your father."

"I know," Emma grinned in return. "And now we need to get my mom, too."

"Right," David nodded. "So . . . what do we do about Operation Cobra?"

***

Emma regretted her decision to walk into the diner with her family as soon as she saw Graham throw a dart that hit its target: the chest of a stag's picture. She watched as Sidney Glass clapped him on the back while laughing. "Nice shot, Chief. I betcha 20 bucks you can't do it again."

Graham downed the next shot of alcohol handed to him, and his next dart hit the eye of the stag. Glass's smirk fell off his face, and Graham laughed, shaking his head and smirking at Glass as he grabbed his darts from the board. "Hey, Ruby, next round's on him!" he called.

Emma looked at Graham, her anger resurfacing as soon as she made eye contact with him. Ruby shook her head and smiled gently at Emma, who sighed and leaned on Newt. She wished it was her dad instead, but he had left earlier in the day to go see Mary Margaret. "Emma, Harry, Newt, Queenie," Ruby greeted each by name. "What can I get you?"

Emma shook her head as Harry took a seat at the counter with Queenie, the boy glowering at Graham. "Nothing - " She was cut off by a dart coming way too close to her head, and instincts honed by her years at Newt's reserve and Lucius's rigorous training made her swerve to ensure she was out of its path. She whipped around to see where it came from, her hand instinctively reaching to grab her wand from her jacket. "Hey!" she barked angrily. "What the hell? You could have hit me!"

The sheriff shrugged and smirked at her. "I never miss," he said smugly. "You've been avoiding me since the other night when you saw me . . ."

He trailed off, and Emma crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Leaving the mayor's?" she finished for him, taking a small amount of glee at the face he made. "And, yes, that is a euphemism. I'm not avoiding you, Graham. I just have no interest in having this conversation. It's your life, and I really don't care."

She turned to start talking to Ruby, trying to ignore the man next to her. "If you don't care, then why are you so upset?" Graham asked.

Emma threw her hands up in annoyance, almost hitting Newt in the face. "Hey, watch it!" her brother snarked, grabbing her arm and putting it back down.

Emma ignored him and sighed as she rubbed her temple. "I'm not upset, Graham. I'm just surprised you could do that with Henry inside the house."

Harry frowned, questions running through his brain. He looked up at Newt and Queenie, but they shook their heads at him, their eyes pinned on Graham. He ignored the looks the two were passing him and focused solely on Emma. "If that were true, you'd be at the bar with me having a drink and not running away," he said. "Can we please talk about this? I need you to understand!"

Emma felt her patience thinning even more. "Why?! What do you need me to understand so badly?"

Graham shrugged and looked away. "I don't know. Uh, maybe it's so I can understand."

Emma huffed. "You need analysis, go talk to Archie," she deadpanned.

She went to turn again but was faced with Graham groaning. "I wanna talk to you," the sheriff whined.

Emma shrugged. "Well, your bad judgment is your problem, not mine," she told him with a glare.

"You don't know what it's like with her," Graham shook his head. "I don't feel anything. Can you understand that?"

He moved to touch her, but Emma backed up and into Newt's chest. The magizoologist hadn't budged from his position behind her at all, and as he put his hand on the small of her back, she straightened and narrowed her eyes at Graham. "A bad relationship? Yeah. I understand a bad relationship. I just don't wanna talk about yours! It's none of my business!"

Graham's shoulders dropped, and he deflated. "Look, I know you and Regina have your own issues, and I should've told you about that before you took the job."

"Yeah," Emma nodded. "Why the secrecy? We're all adults. You can do whatever you want."

He shrugged and looked at her sadly. "Because I . . . I didn't want you to look at me the way you are now."

Emma tilted her head, Harry following her movement. "Why do you care how I look at you?" she asked, relatively certain she didn't want the answer.

"Because . . ."

Graham trailed off, and Emma huffed impatiently. "Wha - "

Her voice was cut off by Graham pressing his lips to hers, and Queenie choked on her drink when images that didn't belong to her suddenly flashed through her mind.

The blurred impressions of a forest, lush and green . . .

A wolf with one eye red, the other one blue, appearing to howl at a full moon . . .

She reeled back from the counter and turned to watch Emma abruptly push Graham away from her and step back, right into the protective hands of Newt. "What the hell was that?" Emma demanded, eyes flashing like the Killing Curse.

"Did you see that?" Graham asked breathlessly.

Emma narrowed her eyes. "How much have you been drinking?" she demanded. "That was way over the line!"

As she fully turned to face her siblings and her child, all looking at her with sad eyes, Graham sighed. "I'm sorry. I just . . . "

Emma spun, snarling. "What? You what?" she asked, anger filtering into her voice so much that Harry backed up in his seat a little to press against the counter.

"I just . . . " Graham swallowed hard. "I need to feel something."

Emma deflated slightly, but she turned away from him again and turned to Harry, who was closest to her now. He leaned into her side, and Emma hugged him and kissed his head. "Listen to me, Graham," she told the sheriff, her voice firm. "You are drunk and full of regret. I get it. But whatever it is you are looking to feel, I can tell you one thing. You're not getting it with me."

Graham appeared to contemplate speaking again, but after a glance at Newt's stone-cold expression, he changed his mind. The quartet of witches and wizards watched him walk out, and Harry looked up at Emma. "Why won't you give him at least something?" he asked with a frown. "He'd be good for you, Mum."

This kid, Emma thought fondly as she kissed the top of his head. "You'll understand eventually, kiddo," was her eventual reply. Harry huffed, but he smiled at her anyway.

***

Regina was working at the dining table when she heard the knock. She got up and opened her door, seeing Sheriff Graham standing in front of her. "Graham?"

Graham took a breath. "Is Henry asleep?" he asked, voice pleading.

Regina nodded. "Yes, he is. He fell asleep about an hour ago. Why?"

Graham sighed in relief, grabbed her waist tightly and walked her backwards. He kicked the door shut behind him, and he kissed her as soon as he heard it shut.

***

An arrow shot through the air and into a stag at a fast speed. A man, a hunter, stepped out from behind a tree and kneeled beside it, putting his hand on his antlers. "You have died so that I may live. Forgive me. Your sacrifice is honorable. Thank you," he whispered. Hooked up as a branch snapped near him. A wolf approached him, head tilted down. "Don't worry boy," the Huntsman told his most loyal companion. "You won't go hungry tonight."

Graham woke up soaked with sweat, and he sat up straight, rubbing his face. He groaned, the sound waking a sleeping Regina from next to him. "What is it?" she asked tiredly.

"I had the most intense dream," he said, voice full of confusion and awe. "I was in the woods hunting, and I killed a deer. There was a wolf," he added, thinking about it.

Regina sat up a little, leaning on one elbow. "A wolf?" she repeated, her voice holding skepticism.

Graham nodded. "Its eyes," he muttered, his own eyes tinged with mania. "One was blood-red and the other one was black as night. The funny thing is, I think I've seen the wolf before."

He sat further up, taking off the blanket around his legs. He threw his legs off the bed and placed them on the ground and grabbed his pants. "Come back to sleep, Graham," Regina shook her head. "It was only a dream."

Graham shook his head in frustration. "It didn't feel like a dream," he told her. "It felt like a memory."

He stood up and put on his pants the rest of the way, followed by both his undershirt and his uniform shirt. "Graham?" Regina sat up properly this time, eyes focused on him.

"I need some air," he told her. "I need to think."

Regina sighed, stopping Graham from making his way out of the room. "Graham, please. Come back to bed."

Graham shook his head, struggling to clear it. "I left my car at Granny's, anyway. I need to go and get it. Clear my head."

He sat down on Regina's bed corner, pulling on his boots and ignoring Regina as she scowled. "Graham, it's late. You're tired, probably still drunk. Don't leave, okay?"

"Since when do you want me to stay anyway?" he scoffed and stood up to leave.

"You're not well!" she said, waving her hand over him.

He walked to the door and pulled it open. "I'm fine, Regina," he told her and walked out of the door, closing it on his way out. When he stepped out of the house, he began the walk back to Granny's. He fumbled his keys when he went to unlock his car, and he grumbled in annoyance as he bent to pick them up. Approaching footsteps made him look up, and he stared in shock at the wolf with piercing eyes just a few feet away. Graham shuffled away, but the wolf merely looked at him then trudged away.

The wolf's eyes were mismatched - one red, one blue.

***

Emma grinned at Ruby and Mary Margaret as they sat in Mary Margaret's apartment, the trio of friends drinking wine, snacking, and spending the night gossiping. "One nighters is as far as I ever go," she laughed, Ruby laughing with her.

This particular strain of conversation came from Emma asking where the flowers on her counter had come from, and Mary Margaret explaining how they had been an apology bouquet from Dr. Whale after their disastrous date, and that led to talking about one-night stands.

"That's because you're - " Mary Margaret stopped herself from talking and sipped her wine, trying to act conspicuous.

It didn't work, as Emma's eyebrows raised as she looked at the teacher. "Because I'm what?" she challenged.

Mary Margaret shook her head. "Nope. Never mind."

Emma kicked out with her foot, knocking Mary Margaret's feet off the couch. "Tell me! What do I do?"

"You're just protecting yourself," Mary Margaret answered with a sigh. "With that wall you put up."

"Just because I don't get emotional with a man," Emma scoffed.

Ruby sighed. "I see where she's coming from Emma," she said, and Emma looked at her godmother (and wow, that was harder to think of than David as her father) in betrayal. "You do have a wall put up."

"You don't get emotional with a man?" Mary Margaret scoffed. "The way you've downed half a bottle of wine on your own in the last half hour tells a very different story, Emma."

Emma crossed her arms. "What story is that?"

Ruby scooted closer to Emma and Mary Margaret, patting Emma's leg. "The one that's obvious to everyone - except apparently you. That you have feelings for Graham."

Emma shook her head in denial. "Come on. I don't have feelings for Graham!"

"There's that wall!" Mary Margaret sing-songed, getting up and going to pour more wine into her wine glass.

"That's not a wall," Emma defended.

Mary Margaret raised her eyebrows when she came back. "Really? Because I see one."

Emma threw her hands up. "There's nothing wrong with being cautious! Ask my siblings! And my son!"

"Oh, true, true," she conceded with a sigh. "But Emma . . . that wall of yours, it may keep out pain. But it also may keep out love."

***

Sheriff Graham entered Mary Margaret's classroom as she started setting up her chalkboard for the children's lesson. He cleared his throat, and she jumped and turned, startled. "Mary Margaret, can I talk to you?" he asked.

"Oh, goodness, Graham. You scared me!" she laughed. When she saw his solemn face and pale complexion, she grew worried. "Graham? What's the matter? Are you okay?" she asked, signaling for him to move closer to where she stood at her desk.

"I think we - " Graham gulped. "I think we know each other."

Mary Margaret did a double take. "Of course, we do!"

"No, no, no," Graham shook his head. "Not from here. Not from Storybrooke."

Mary Margaret frowned. "From where, then?"

Graham took a deep breath. "Another life."

She stared at him in surprise. Whatever she had expected to hear, that hadn't been it. "What?" she finally sputtered in surprise.

"Mary Margaret, how long have we known each other?" Graham asked.

Mary Margaret frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know," she answered. "A while."

"Do you remember when we met?" Graham pressed, sitting in the chair across from her.

Mary Margaret opened her mouth to answer, then she froze as she considered. She wracked her brain for anything, but all she came up with was . . . "No," she admitted.

"Me, neither," Graham nodded. "I can't remember when I met you or when I met anyone. Isn't that odd?"

"I don't know," Mary Margaret whispered. "I . . . I suppose. I think that's just life. Things get hazy."

Graham gulped. "Have I ever . . . hurt you?"

Mary Margaret balked at the thought. "Oh, Graham, no!" she shook her head rapidly. "Of course not! What is going on?"

"Do you believe in other lives?" he asked instead of answering.

Mary Margaret tilted her head. "Like heaven?"

Graham shook his head. "I mean, like, past lives."

Mary Margaret blinked, then she sighed in fond exasperation. "You've been talking to Henry."

Graham blinked. "Henry?" he repeated.

"Oh, he has this book of stories," Mary Margaret explained. "He has been going on about how he thinks we are all characters from them, from another land. We've forgotten who we really are." She watched a faraway look enter Graham's eyes, and she frowned. "Which, of course, makes no sense."

"Right," Graham mumbled. "No, of course."

Sunlight coming through the windows glinted off the sheriff's forehead, and with a concerned look, Mary Margaret left her desk and laid the back of her hand against his forehead. "Graham, you're burning up!" she gasped, eyes wide in concern. "Go home and get some rest. I think you'll feel much better after you've had some sleep."

"Right," Graham cleared his throat and nodded. "You're absolutely right. I'm sorry I've disturbed you." He stood and clasped Mary Margaret's hand gratefully. "Thank you."

"Of course," Mary Margaret nodded, watching with worry as Graham left.

***

"I don't get it!" Emma complained as she plucked her green-feathered darts off the floor. "You're hopeless in the kitchen, yet you're accurate as hell when you're using thrown weapons!"

"That's the Sacred Twenty-Eight training," Newt chuckled as he pulled his yellow-feathered darts out of the center of the target on the bulletin board. "Come on, I've seen the work Lucius has done with you. Just imagine these are lighter knives."

"Yeah," Emma snorted as she took aim. "Feather light knives. Not gonna happen."

Newt's three darts grouped in the center once again, then Emma launched dart after dart at the target. She groaned when her darts clattered to the floor again, and she smacked Newt in the shoulder when he burst out laughing. "Shut up!" she groused, fighting the urge to smile.

"Our tax dollars hard at work, I see," Regina remarked as she stepped into the bullpen, glancing from the pair to the dart board.

"Graham isn't here," Emma informed her as she gathered her darts. "I assumed he took a sick day." She regarded Regina with a wry look. "With you."

"Oh, so you're aware of us?" Regina's dark eyes lit, and she smirked smugly. "Good. That's why I'm here. Because I'm also aware of your relationship with him."

Emma snorted. "I don't have a relationship with him."

"Oh?" Regina raised an eyebrow. "So . . . nothing's ever happened between the two of you?" Emma stiffened, and Regina chuckled. "You forget, Ms. Swan. I have eyes everywhere."

"Apparently those eyes don't take into account that Emma didn't make that move," Newt hummed, twirling a dart between his fingers.

Emma nodded in agreement. "It didn't mean anything."

Regina pursed her lips. "Well, of course not. Because you're incapable of feeling anything for anyone."

Emma narrowed her eyes. "Careful, Madam Mayor," Newt warned, abandoning the darts to stand behind Emma.

"This doesn't involve you, Mr. Scamander," Regina shook her head.

"You're implying my sister is a robot with no feelings," Newt deadpanned. "I think this very much involves me."

"Contrary to your belief, Madam Mayor, I'm not alone," Emma smirked and folded her arms. "And the way we live our lives is our business."

"It is until it infringes on my life," Regina scowled. "Stay away from Graham. You may think you're doing nothing, but you're putting thoughts in his head, thoughts that are not in his best interest. You are leading him on a path to self-destruction." Emma gave her an incredulous look, and Regina smirked. "Stay away."

Regina turned on her heel and walked out of the station, and Emma tapped her fingers against one of her darts. "It is so tempting to throw this at her back," she told Newt.

Newt smirked. "I think your father gets the first crack at her, don't you?"

"That should probably be my mom," Emma shook her head. She paused in her actions. "I just said that out loud, didn't I?"

Newt snickered. "Still wrapping your head around it?"

Emma groaned and threw her dart with more force than necessary, burying it deep into the target. "This curse sucks."

Newt nodded in agreement. "One thing stood out to me from what the good mayor said, though." Emma looked at him expectantly. "Putting thoughts into his head? Right after Graham said he was seeing things?"

Emma froze. "Just like my dad did?"

Newt nodded. "I think whoever Graham is . . . he's starting to wake up."

***

Harry had been insistent on Henry coming to the inn after school, which Henry was happy to do. He knew his brother didn't like being at the mayor's house, and he couldn't blame him. He climbed the stairs to the next level of Granny's inn, and he paused outside of the door to Emma and Harry's room. He could hear voices inside, but neither belonged to Emma, Newt, or Queenie. So who was with his brother? "Harry?" he called as he knocked on the door.

"Coming!" Harry called. A few seconds later, he opened the door with a grin and grabbed Henry's hand. "You won't believe what's happened!" he gushed.

"What?" Henry stumbled in after his brother, making sure the door shut behind them. He paused when he saw David sitting on the bed, a few of Harry's textbooks from Hogwarts scattered around him. There was a new confidence to the man, and there was an awe and excitement in his expression that made Henry brighten. "You remember!" he realized.

"I remember," David nodded, and he laughed loudly when Henry practically flew across the room to engulf him in a hug. "And I hear I have you to thank for that!"

"I didn't do anything," Henry shook his head, looking up at David in confusion.

"Emma said you were the one who made her bring you back to Storybrooke," David gently tapped him in the chest. "You brought her here, and the curse started to break. You did more than you believe, Henry."

Henry shimmied to sit comfortably on the bed, Harry hopping up to sit with them. "How did it happen?" Henry asked eagerly, his eyes bright with the need for knowledge. "How did you get your memories back?"

"It was Aunt Queenie," Harry grinned.

"She worked her magic," David nodded, grinning when Harry groaned at the pun. "She brought my memories back to the surface, and eventually, Prince Charming won out over David Nolan."

"Awesome!" Henry bounced up and down in delight. "Wait," he paused and looked at David in confusion. "Does that mean I get to call you Grandpa now?"

Harry burst into a peal of laughter, and David chuckled fondly. "Yeah, kid," he nodded, ruffling Henry's hair. "I guess so. Maybe not in front of the Queen, OK?"

"OK!" Henry chirped happily. "This means that Operation Cobra is going to work!" He grinned at Harry. "And Emma believes?"

"She does," Harry nodded. "Especially now that we have someone to tell us exactly how the curse works."

"Not exactly, maybe," David amended. "But there aren't many people from the Enchanted Forest that I didn't know."

Henry giggled with glee. "Awesome."

"You think that's awesome?" David smirked and gestured to the textbooks strewn across the bed. "Harry's been telling me about his magic."

"Oh, yeah, that's cool, too," Henry nodded in agreement. "He used his magic to protect me in the mine."

Harry blushed. "Like I was going to let you get hurt if I had the ability to stop it."

David watched with a smile as the boys bickered back and forth. This was obviously a recurring argument for them, yet they appeared to be arguing more for fun than anything else. Henry gesticulated to argue his points, but Harry's green eyes flashed just like Emma's as he countered. It was unmistakable: they were absolutely her sons.

***

Ruby's glare at Queenie fell rather flat, given her mouth was full of one of Queenie's niffler-shaped cookies. "You will run Granny out of business with these confections," she accused, but there was no heat in her voice as she wolfed down the rest of the cookie.

Queenie giggled as she closed the box of pastries. "I could be convinced to let them be sold here."

"That would make business boom," Ruby nodded as she wiped down the counter. "Now, how soon will the boys be down for a snack break?"

Queenie checked the clock on her wall, her nails clicking on the counter. "Soon, I imagine," she answered.

"I'll go get to work on that," Ruby smiled and headed towards the kitchen.

"You're a gem!" Queenie called after her.

Ruby's laughter echoed as she disappeared into the kitchen, then the door to the diner burst open. Queenie turned on her stool and watched Graham fall into the diner, his eyes blown wide as he looked around. "Sheriff?" she asked in concern, standing when she saw the sheen of sweat on his brow. "Are you feeling OK?"

"Henry," Graham panted, his eyes searching the diner. "I need to talk to Henry."

"What's wrong?" Queenie asked, her brow knitting as she reached out and put a hand on Graham's shoulder -

"So, who do you want me to kill?"

"Without fail, every one of my father's men has offered me condolences . . . except you."

"I hunt you, yet you stop to compose a letter?"

The silver flash of a knife descending, avoiding snow white skin and instead slicing through plants . . .

"You're not going to kill me?"

"Run!"

Queenie recoiled at the voices ringing in Graham's head, and the sheriff looked at her, his expression feverish. "Please," he begged. "I need to speak to Henry."

Queenie swallowed hard and grabbed Graham's arm. When Ruby left the kitchen, she found no sign of either person.

***

A hasty knock on the door interrupted Harry and Henry, and the boys paused and looked at the door in unison. "Harry?" Queenie called. "Is Henry in there, too?"

"I'm here!" Henry answered. The lock clicked open, and Queenie entered. She wasn't alone, however, and Henry blinked in surprise. "Sheriff Graham?" he asked. "Are you looking for my mom?"

"Or mine?" Harry asked.

David, however, stiffened when he recognized the desperate look in Graham's eyes. "No, I don't think he is," he said slowly as he rose to his feet, hand twitching to grasp the hilt of a sword he didn't have.

Graham looked at him in surprise, then a look of dread formed on his face. "I know you," he said weakly, appearing ready to collapse. Queenie's iron grip on his arm was probably the only thing keeping him upright. "Don't I?"

"I think you do," David nodded, narrowing his eyes as he stopped in front of the sheriff. "Don't you, Huntsman?"

The remaining color drained from Graham's face. "I know that name," he croaked. "What . . . what's happening?"

"He's remembering?" Harry asked in surprise.

"I've seen the flashes," Queenie nodded. "He was looking for you, Henry."

"For me?" Henry repeated, eyes widening.

"Mary Margaret," Graham nodded weakly. "She said . . . she said you have a book, and everyone in Storybrooke is a character in it. Am . . . am I in it?"

"You are," Henry nodded, diving for his backpack and finding his book. "Everyone from Storybrooke is in it." He flipped through the pages with ease, then he turned the book around and showed Graham. The face of the Huntsman looked up at him, and when Graham's knees finally buckled, David leapt forward to help Queenie guide the sheriff to sit on the neighboring bed. "When did your flashes begin?" Henry asked quietly.

Graham gulped. "Right after I kissed Emma."

David's eyes sharpened. "You kissed Emma?" he asked sharply.

Harry wrinkled his nose, a childlike look of disgust on his face. "Ew."

Queenie bit her lip to smother a smile, and she patted Harry's shoulder. "You'll understand one day, Harry."

"What did you see?" David asked, looking intently at Graham.

"A wolf," Graham answered. "I saw that I had a knife in my hand, and I was with Mary Margaret."

David nodded slowly. "You were about to hurt her."

Graham nodded shakily. "How did you know that?"

"Because Mary Margaret is Snow White," David told him. "I only met you once, but you told me what you did for her, and she told me about you later. I called you the Huntsman, because that is all you were known as."

Graham looked at David in shock. "So . . . so these images, they're real?" he asked hoarsely. "They're memories?"

"They are," David confirmed. "You're remembering your other life, Huntsman. You aren't going crazy."

Graham didn't look too relieved by the thought. "So . . . the wolf?"

"Makes total sense," Henry piped up. "You were raised by wolves. That's why you keep seeing one. It's your friend, your guide. It's trying to help you."

Graham rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm remembering this because I kissed your mother?" he asked. "How is that possible?"

David drummed his fingers on his knee as he contemplated. "Well, Emma wouldn't exist if it wasn't for you," he finally said. Graham looked at him in surprise, and David chuckled. "I'm Prince Charming. Emma is my daughter with Snow White. You spared Snow in the forest, and you helped me escape when Regina held me captive. You made sure we survived. If we hadn't, Emma wouldn't have been born."

Graham swallowed hard. "Do . . . do you know what happened after I spared Snow White?"

"I do," Henry said. "The Queen took your heart. She ripped it out. It's kind of her thing. She never wanted you to feel ever again."

Graham's colorless face looked slightly green now, and Queenie couldn't blame him. Doomed to a life without feeling . . . he couldn't imagine it. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

Graham jolted as if he had been electrocuted, and he zeroed in on the book in Henry's lap. "Let me see that book?" Henry nodded and handed it over, and Graham frantically flipped through the pages until he landed on a picture with the Evil Queen. "What's that?" he asked, tapping the page. "I saw that, too. The wolf was howling at it."

Henry peered at the page and recognized the building at once. "That's her vault," he said. "It's where she put your heart."

A manic glint entered Graham's eyes, one David didn't like one bit. "The wolf wants me to find it," the sheriff breathed, and his abrupt slamming shut of the book made everyone else in the room jump. "Thank you!"

"Sheriff!" Queenie shouted as Graham rushed for the door.

"Huntsman!" David called frantically.

Graham left them all in the dust as he disappeared, and Henry gulped. "That's not good, is it?" Harry asked timidly.

"No," David shook his head, watching Queenie pull out her phone to call Emma. "No, it's not."

***

A few seconds after Graham's squad car pulled up to Regina's house, Emma's bug peeled up and parked behind him. Graham gritted his teeth as Emma and Newt exited the car, and he shook his head as he strode across the lawn. "Are you here to have another go at me?" he asked bitterly.

"That's uncalled for," Newt scowled.

"Queenie called me," Emma shook her head, walking quickly to catch up to Graham. "So. The Huntsman, huh?" Graham looked sharply at her, and Emma snorted. "I know magic exists, but it took my sister forcing my dad's memories to the surface for me to believe in the curse. I got the gist of your part of the story."

Graham sighed and angrily made his way across Regina's lawn. "It makes no sense, yet it makes all the sense in the world," he told her.

Newt snickered. "Now, where have I heard that before?"

"Shut up, Newt," Emma glared at him, but he shrugged and whistled nonchalantly, sticking his hands in his coat's pockets as he followed them. "So," she cleared her throat and looked at Graham. "Queenie said we're . . . looking for your heart?"

"Yeah," Graham nodded. "I need to find it. It's the only thing that explains why I don't feel anything. I just need to follow the wolf."

"I knew there was a wolf!" Emma grinned victoriously.

Newt tilted his head and looked at Graham. "I'm still comprehending the missing heart."

"It's a thing, according to Henry," Graham grimaced. "The Queen wanted Snow White's. When I failed to give her the heart she wanted, she took mine instead."

"Well, then," Emma rubbed her hands together. "Let's get it back." She paused. "How do we do that?"

Newt grinned and pointed. "I think he's a good one to follow."

Three pairs of eyes locked onto the mismatched pair belonging to the gray and white wolf standing across the street. "That's it," Emma whispered faintly. "That's the wolf I saw when I ran into the Storybrooke sign."

"That's my friend," Graham grinned. "Come on!"

He took off at a sprint, closely followed by Emma and Newt. The wolf ran ahead of them through the woods, and Newt squinted through the trees. "Are those tombstones?" he asked warily.

Emma narrowly dodged one of said tombstones, looking around the graveyard hesitantly. "Where is he taking us?"

The wolf howled ahead of them, and Graham pointed. "This way!"

Emma groaned at the shaded treeline, but she followed Graham through the shadows. "This would be a lot easier if this wolf was like Khione!"

"Who?" Graham looked at her in bewilderment.

"My brother's familiar," Newt explained helpfully as he picked his way through the tombstones.

Graham looked even more lost. "Familiar?"

"Alright, look, when we get your heart back, I'll explain," Emma waved away his question. "Deal?"

Graham nodded. "Yeah, deal."

"Great," Emma nodded in return, and she looked around with a frown. "Where did he go?"

Newt peered through the trees as well, then he pulled out his wand. "Lumos!"

Graham shielded his eyes from the light provided by Newt's spell, and he gawked in shock. "What the hell?"

"You're missing your heart, and this is surprising?" Emma raised an eyebrow. "Newt?"

Newt aimed his wand around the graveyard, and he shook his head. "Lost him."

Emma huffed. "Damn it."

Newt completed his circle, and he paused in his tracks. "But I think we found where we're supposed to be."

Emma stared at the worn stones in front of her, then she tilted her head up until she saw the sigil engraved at the top of the building. "Is this a crypt?" she asked.

"It's a vault," Graham shook his head. "The Queen's vault, where she keeps her hearts."

"Hearts. Plural." Emma took a deep breath. "Right. OK."

She looked expectantly at Newt, but the magizoologist gave her an amused look in return. "I've got the light," he held up his wand pointedly.

Emma rolled her eyes, but she pulled out her own wand and aimed it at the door. "Alohomora!" The lock clicked, and Emma shoved open the door. "Come on."

Graham and Newt followed her inside, Graham clicking on his flashlight to add more light. Newt swept his wand's light over the sarcophagus in the center of the vault, and he tapped Emma's shoulder. "Look."

Emma paused in her perusal and saw the inscription. "Henry Mills, Beloved Father," she read with a whisper. "Oh."

Newt stepped away from the sarcophagus, watching Graham investigate the vault. "Do you know exactly what we're looking for?" he asked.

"No," Graham shook his head, frustration all over his face. "It's got to be in here somewhere. There's got to be a hidden door, a lever . . . something!"

"OK, well," Emma took a deep breath. "If she had to store multiple hearts, I can't see where she could do it here."

Newt eyed the sarcophagus. "Nox." The light on his wand extinguished, and he took a deep breath. "If there's anything I learned from Grindelwald's rally in Paris, it's that a bloody lot can be hidden underneath a family's crypt or mausoleum. You just have to find the entrance."

Emma eyed the sarcophagus warily and placed her hand on Newt's arm, shuffling to stand slightly behind him. Before Newt could cast a spell, however, a familiar, angry voice came from the entrance of the crypt. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Newt quickly shoved his wand into his coat pocket as Regina's heels clicked on the stone outside, and Emma just managed to push her wand up her sleeve and out of sight as she stepped out the door. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Bringing flowers to my father's grave," Regina bit out, holding up the bouquet in her hand. "Like I do every Wednesday."

"Don't blame them," Graham said as he stepped out after the siblings and up to Regina. "It's my fault. I wanted to look in there."

"Really?" Regina narrowed her eyes. "Why? What were you looking for?"

Graham opened his mouth to answer, then he shook his head. "Nothing," he muttered. "It was . . . nothing. It was nothing."

Regina didn't look convinced. "You don't look well, dear," she said, reaching out and grabbing his arm. "Let's take you home."

Graham yanked his arm free of her grasp, and Regina looked at him in surprise. "Regina, I don't want to go home," he told her. "Not with you."

Regina's cheeks flushed angrily. "Oh, but you'll go with her?" she spat, glaring at Emma with vitriol.

"Hey, this is between you two," Emma held up her hands defensively. "Leave me out of it."

"She's right," Graham nodded. "It's between us. And things have to change."

Regina sneered. "And I wonder why that is, all of a sudden."

"It has nothing to do with her," Graham said firmly. "I've realized that I don't feel anything, Regina. And I know now . . . it's not me. It's you."

Regina stiffened. "So you're leaving me for her?"

"I'm leaving you for me," Graham corrected.

Regina clenched her jaw. "Graham, you're not thinking straight."

"Do you always put words in people's mouths so you hear what you want to hear?" Newt asked in disgust.

"Newt!" Emma punched him in the arm.

"What?" he asked defensively. "She is!"

"He isn't wrong," Graham admitted, making everyone look at him in surprise. "For the first time, Regina, I am thinking straight. I'd rather have nothing than settle for less. Nothing is better than what we have. I need to feel something, Regina, and the only way to do that is to give myself a chance."

Regina stared at him in betrayal. "Graham," she whispered, reaching for his hand.

Graham stepped out of her reach. "I'm sorry," he told her. "It's over."

Regina's face twisted in fury, and she turned her anger onto Emma. "I don't know what I ever did to you, Ms. Swan, to deserve this," she accused. "To have you keep coming after everything I hold dear."

"I told you, it's not her!" Graham glared.

"None of this happened until she got here!" Regina exploded.

"She is right here," Emma interrupted coldly, and she stepped forward to meet Regina's glare. "And I am wondering if the delightful Madam Mayor ever stopped to think that maybe the problem isn't with me but with her."

Regina's eyes bugged open wide, and Newt coughed to cover his laughter. "Excuse me?" the mayor sputtered.

"Henry came and found me," Emma spoke slowly as if she was speaking to a toddler, aiming for the jugular like Lucius had taught her. "Graham kissed me. Both were miserable. Maybe, Madam Mayor, you need to take a good, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why that is. Why is everyone running away from you?"

She must have struck true, for Regina lashed out and punched Emma right in the face. "Regina!" Graham gasped in horror.

Emma whirled around, her braids flying behind her, but Newt smoothly slid in her path, hand raised. "Emma," he warned.

Emma sneered at Regina, her eyes narrowed to slits. "She's not worth it," she declared.

She stormed away from the crypt, tossing her braids back over her shoulder so they were out of her face. Newt gave Regina a disappointed look, his tongue clicking. "Hit my sister again, and I have no problem hitting back," he told her. "Or I'll have Queenie do it for me."

Regina swore her jaw creaked from the force of clenching it so hard, and she watched Newt follow Emma, the man's blue coat billowing behind him. "Graham?" she asked, looking expectantly at the sheriff.

Graham silently shook his head, and he followed the siblings, leaving Regina alone.

***

Back at the sheriff's station, Graham had prepared an ice pack for Emma's wound and handed it to her, apologizing. "I don't know what came over me. I kind of lost my mind. I'm sorry, Emma."

Emma smiled at him softly, wincing at the pull of broken skin on her face. "It's okay. You were tired. And feverish. And heartbroken. But . . . " She sighed, thinking about all the information she had absorbed in the past few days alone. "You were right. The curse, it is real, and dangerous. And so is Regina."

Graham nodded, preparing iodine in order to apply it to Emma's face. "I don't know why I let myself get caught up with her." He sounded angry with himself.

From behind the two of them, Newt made his way back inside, tucking his phone into his pocket. He walked up to them and placed a hand on Graham's shoulder. "Because it was easy. And safe. Not feeling anything is an attractive option when what you feel sucks. Everything you did, said, and felt today was better than what you have been feeling and doing. You stood up to her."

"I know, but I just can't believe I was so stupid about it!" Graham muttered angrily, and Emma cupped his face stopping him.

"She spent years poisoning your mind, but you let your heart be your antidote," she told him, repeating a phrase she'd heard from one of Harry's friends, even though Graham didn't know that.

Graham gently wiped Emma's cut clean and Emma winced at the sting, but she smiled at him gratefully. "There," Graham declared with a soft smile. "All better."

"Yeah," Emma looked up into his brown eyes with doe eyes, and Graham looked back.

"What?" he asked, completely missing Newt give Emma a knowing smile and slip out the door. Emma shook her head and slowly walked over to him. She cupped his face, and then cautiously leaned in and tentatively kissed him. He gripped her waist and pulled her into him, gasping into the kiss and pulling Emma as close as he could get her.

When Emma pulled away to breathe, she saw Graham's eyes widen, a faraway look in them. "Graham?" she asked worriedly. "You okay?"

Graham nodded, a look of awe forming on his face as he started to smile. "I remember."

Emma blinked. "You remember what?" she asked, hardly daring to hope.

"The Enchanted Forest!" he laughed with a grin, and he cupped her face with his hands. "Thank you."

Emma smiled at him, lifting her hands and placing them on his face again. "I didn't do anything."

"But you did," he argued, leaning into her hands.

Before she could say anything back, Graham doubled over in pain and fell to the ground, landing on his knees. "Graham!" Emma cried out, lurching to support him before he completely slumped onto the ground. "Graham!" She shook him violently, trying to get him to wake up. "Come on, Graham, wake up!"

Barely seconds after she started to shout, the door banged open and Newt burst back into the room, his eyes widening when he saw Graham laying on the floor and Emma shaking him and sobbing. He rushed to Emma's side and took out his wand, running it over Graham. When Emma saw the look on his face, she knew what he would say before he shook his head. "No!" she sobbed, her voice rising with hysterics as she desperately shook the unmoving sheriff. "Graham, come on! Wake up!"

Newt moved to his sister, his hands gentle as he pulled her away from the dead sheriff. "Emma, it's okay. It's alright, you're gonna be okay," he whispered, trying to calm her down. She was screaming, trying to get back to Graham. "Emma!" he finally yelled, his grip on her upper arms tightening.

Emma whimpered brokenly as she looked up at him, her hands shaking as she clutched at him. "We only just got out our feelings," she choked.

"I know, Em. I know. Everything is going to be okay," he whispered, kissing her head.

She nodded. "There's no way he was in pain all day," she told him, sniffing and angrily scrubbing the tears off her face. "This only just happened. And I think I know what happened."

"What?" Newt frowned, looking at Graham's body. He hadn't been able to detect a certain cause of death with his wand.

"Regina crushed his heart," she declared without a hint of doubt in her voice. "I'm certain of it."

Newt stilled, feeling like smacking himself. "It's definitely possible," he nodded, glancing down at Graham's body. Emma followed his line of sight and flinched, and she whimpered, covering her mouth to try and stifle the sound. Newt carefully pulled her into his arms, and as Emma buried her nose into the crook of his neck, he dialed Queenie's number on his phone.

She answered on the third ring. "Newt?" she asked worriedly. "Something happened."

"You have no idea," Newt sighed, resting his chin atop Emma's head. "Can you come to the sheriff's office with David? Don't bring the boys. It's Graham." He glanced down at Graham's body sadly, holding a crying Emma tightly to him and keeping her head turned away from the man she had just allowed herself to love. "He's dead."

***

Oh, Graham . . . you really did get dealt the worst card of the first season, didn't you? Alas, we hardly knew ye.

In our discussions when we first decided yes we really are writing this series, we never even considered Graham as the final choice for Emma, and we knew he wouldn't survive. If anything, we made his death even sadder because he knew he wasn't crazy. Is it bad that I don't regret it? (Not at all, considering I'm the one who wanted it done all together and started the path to him actually being told he wasn't crazy ~ Miss Singer)

But we knew people had questions about Graham's role in the story, so we decided to give you the full episode in just one chapter. At least we gave you Charming being the best new member of the family? *smiles nervously*

"Desperate Souls" is next . . . and I think we'll really get to see Lady Regent Peverell come out to play! ;)

~ Miss Moffat

***

Hi all! So, I'm back (kind of). It's been a rough couple of weeks, to say the least. And I'm happy to be back! We are terribly sorry for any inconveniences regarding Graham, but we knew it had to be done.

I don't regret it either, considering we have some VERY fun things planned for Emma's romantic company <3 (we had that figured out from the get go XD ~ Miss Moffat)

(Also, this chapter is just over 20 pages, so...you're welcome💜)

As always, stay safe, stay sane, and stay hydrated! And also stay warm! It's getting cold!

~ Miss Singer <3