You saw the magic cloud approaching and felt your breath catch in your throat. You had no idea what was going to happen, but you knew the curse was bad and that there was no stopping it. You closed your eyes and waited.

*28+ years later: After the 2nd Curse*

Archie ran his hand over his face in exhaustion. Ever since Snow and Charming cast the second curse, there had been new people in Storybrooke. People who had no idea how to function in this modern day world. And Archie? He talked to almost every single one of them and it was beginning to wear him down.

Still he kept up his jovial facade, hoping that maybe, just maybe, the one person he missed most would have made it to Storybrooke. You. Archie prayed that one of the knocks on his office door would be his best friend returned to him. One day, his prayers were answered.

Archie had been dozing at his desk when Pongo whimpered. It took Archie a minute to register that someone was knocking. He rose from his seat and answered the door. The first thing he saw was (h/c) hair. Then, his gaze traveled down to a pair of (e/c) eyes. Finally, he saw a smile he'd recognize anywhere.

"Jiminy! It is you!" Archie felt a pair of arms wrapping around him as he stood there in shock. You were really here. He couldn't believe it. You pulled back and flashed him a cheeky smile. "Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to greet me properly?" In an instant, Archie hugged you. "Y/N. I can't believe you're finally here," he whispered.

You laughed softly, causing Archie to pull away. "Come on in," he said, moving to let you pass. "How did you find me? Were you looking?" You glanced back at him with an arched brow. "Of course I was. Why wouldn't I look for my best friend? I missed you, Jiminy." Archie didn't respond for a minute. He wasn't used to anyone calling him Jiminy anymore, but then, you'd known him since before he was a cricket and you hadn't known his Storybrooke persona.

"Jiminy? What is it? Did-did you not want to see me?" you asked, you gaze falling to the floor. Archie started. "Of course I want to see you, Y/N! It's just..." Archie trailed off, not knowing what to say. He was torn. Seeing you now, Archie realized that it wasn't just your friendship that he'd missed. It was you. He'd missed everything about you. But he also had a life in Storybrooke that he loved. A life that could be hindered by the past.

"Just, what, Jiminy?" you prompted. "I don't know." You laughed. "Jiminy, I understand. Things are different now. You have a life here. Probably a better one than you had in the Enchanted Forest. It has been 28 years, after all. You have new friends. Maybe even a love. I won't get in the way of that, I promise. I just wanted to see you again."

You moved to leave, but Archie caught your wrist. "I don't." Your brows furrowed. "Have a love, I mean. How could I? Who could take the place of my best friend in my life? Even after all this time." He let go of your wrist when he realized you weren't running away anymore. "You mean that, Jiminy?" Archie nodded, urging you to hug him again.

You wouldn't tell him, but you were glad when Archie said he didn't have anyone in his life romantically. You'd loved him before the first curse hit and it nearly killed you to open your eyes and see that you were still in the Enchanted Forest. You were glad to have retained your memories of him, but those couldn't take the place of your best friend. The man you loved and hoped would one day be a man again instead of a cricket.

Archie buried his face in the crook of your neck and your arms tightened around him. After a moment, Pongo whimpered again, causing you to separate. "Oh, Y/N. This is Pongo. Pongo, Y/N." Pongo came over and licked your hand. "Hi there, Pongo. So, you're Jiminy's new best friend." Archie glared playfully at you, making you laugh again. Archie watched your face as you looked down to keep talking to Pongo.

He couldn't help but think about being with you. Maybe, one day, that would happen. For now, Archie was willing to wait. After all, he'd already waited for 28 years. What was another little while? "What's on your mind, Jiminy?" you asked. Archie blinked, not realizing that you'd turned your gaze back to him. "Nothing important." You crossed your arms under your breasts and smirked. "You know you can't lie to me." Archie sighed. You were right. He never had been able to lie to you.

"So, what is it?" Archie took a deep breath and replied, "I was thinking of us. Of how good it is to see you again and to have you back in my life. I was thinking about how I don't ever want you to leave again." You smiled up at him. "Well that's good. I was thinking the same thing. I can't tell you how broken I was to find out that I was safe in the Enchanted Forest while you were here as Archie Hopper."

Archie reached up and pushed a strand of hair from your face. "Yes, I do. When the first curse broke and I remembered who I was, my first thought was of you.I searched the town for you only to discover that you weren't here. I thought you had died and I lost hope for a while. Now that you're here and alive, I don't want to lose you again." You leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Then I guess it's a good thing I don't plan on leaving any time soon." Archie blushed and you giggled. 0.