Monthly cycle

Charmings path

He walked down the long dark tunnel in the cave that was barely lit by a torch every few meters until he saw a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
"Finally!" Charming smiled speeding up as he approached the exit.

As he exited the tunnel he found himself in a large field, which was suspicious considering that they were on a rock island.
He walked up the steep hill until he reached the top and found a small farm with homemade fences keeping sheep in and charming gazed upon the land with a look of familiarity.

"David!"  Charming's mother, who's been dead for over 30 years, shouted as she walked out of the farm house with a Sheep dog at her feet. Immediately the dog ran over the charming, running circles around him.

"Wilby!" Charming laughed bending down to stroke the dog he hasn't seen in years."mother," he continued as a warm smile covered his face and he wrapped  his arms around his mother like he'd been craving to for the past 3 decades. So much had happened that he wanted to tell her about: the dark curse, Emma and Neal, Henry.

"I've been waiting for you, I'm making a broth come on," she smiles as she ushers him inside.

Inside it looked exactly the same as it did when he'd  left to become the 'prince' all them years ago.
"How is this possible? Charming asked as he gazed at how nostalgic this whole situation was as his mother played him some broth and poured him a glass of wine.
"Here you've had quite the journey, you need this!" His mother laughed as she poured him more wine
"You know?" Charming asked as he placed his spoon in to the hot broth in front of him.
"Of course I know! Your my only son," his mom told him sitting across from him
"Erm... what about James?" David asked
"Well, technically yes two but you were the only one a raised!" she told him which made him curious, she'd never say that.
"Mother?" He asked gently
"Yes son?" She looked up from her bowl so he'd continue
"What's going on?" He asked grabbing her hand
"Well we are having dinner of course," she laughed tapping his hand and handing him some bread
"I know, but how?... your dead and this farm was burnt to ashes when I wouldn't marry princess Catherine," David told her
"Ah... maybe in the real world but not here!" His mother told him
"Sorry?" Charming began before the door opened and he was joined by snow, Emma and Neal who sat beside him at the table whilst his mother got them a bowl of broth
"Emma!" He said shocked as she sat there smiling at him... healthy.
"Hi dad!" She beamed pouring herself a drink
"What is this place?" Charming asks
"We're in your mind of course!" His mother chirped
"Pardon?!"
"This isn't real baby!" Snow smiled touching his cheek and he melted into her touch "it's your dream, your ultimate reality,"
"Aye and seems pretty good to me!" Killian laughed as he and Henry walked through the door
"Your here too?" He asked
"Of course they are here they are your family!" His mother told him as Killian sat beside Emma kissing her on the cheek as Henry sat on the opposite side.

They all ate dinner and laughed about memories they shared and things they'd missed.
"What now?" Charming asked as they were all sat outside, him and snow sat on the grass with Neal, his mother in her rocking chair, and Emma Killian and Henry messing around in the field having fun as the sun set.
"Now... you live in the present and be happy," snow smiled placing her head on his shoulder as Killian swung Emma around as he caught her and Henry.
"The present?" Charming continued "what about the future?" He continued
"What about it?" Snow asked looking into his eyes "time doesn't move here, ever, we just stay like this forever,"
"I love you and I miss you!" He smiled looking into her eyes deeply
"I'm right here,"
Snow smiled
"It's not real!" David cried
"It's as real as you make it," snow smiled
"Even though it isn't perfect in my life... it's real and I love them, I can't abandon them, I will not abandon them!"
"Congratulations!" Snow smiled.

Suddenly the world began to get smaller and everything turned to black.

He awoke back inside the cave but this time he was in front of a huge water fall
"I'm coming Emma!" He told himself