Finding You Always

There's No Place Like Home

Finding You Always

Chapter 81: There's No Place Like Home

Zelena smirked with wicked glee, as she watched the dark purple cloud roaring toward Storybrooke.

"What is that?" Walsh asked.

"The Dark Curse. This...this will work out better than I imagined," Zelena hissed.

"I don't understand," Walsh replied.

"Of course you don't," she commented dryly.

"The Dark Curse is bringing my sister and that Charming little family back to Storybrooke and along with them, a plethora of new citizens," Zelena explained.

"Let me guess, we're going to be among these refugees?" he asked.

"Yes...I'll have to be sure the Dark One doesn't see me. But you...you're going to have your very own furniture store. And Snow White is going to see the most charming baby crib in your store window," Zelena said, as they watched the smoke sweep through town from the hill, where they stood overlooking the town. Instant changes and accommodations were made by the curse. New shops for new owners. New houses and apartments for new residents. But perhaps most notable was the large forest area near the stable that now had a lush wildlife reserve for the various creatures that had also come. There would be mild confusion and uncertainty that would absorb the heroes' attention. And Zelena fully intended to capitalize on their distractions.

~*~

Emerald eyes snapped open and she shot up in bed, looking around in alarm. This was their bedroom, in their home...in Storybrooke. At last...they were home, alarmingly thanks to another curse. But this one had not stolen their memories. In fact, she remembered everything all too well. She looked beside her and she marveled at the rise and fall of his chest.

"Charming..." she uttered. She had almost lost him. Again, Clayton was lucky he was dead or she'd be using him for target practice. David opened his eyes and searched the room, quickly realizing where they were.

"Snow..." he uttered, as his eyes quickly found hers.

"How..." he started to say, but before he could finish, Summer came running in and he scooped her up, as he got out of bed.

"Daddy...we're home!" she exclaimed. He smiled and kissed her hair.

"Yeah we are, peanut," he said, as their grown children and grandchild rushed in too.

"Oh my God...Daddy," Eva cried, as they surrounded Snow and Charming in a group hug.

"I'm okay...and apparently alive," he said in surprise. He could see Snow was on the verge of breaking down in tears. Emma must have noticed too so she spoke up for her mother.

"Mom had Regina split her heart and put half in your chest," Emma explained. He looked at his wife in awe and she nodded, her eyes glistening. He smiled at all of them.

"I love you all...so much," he said, as they spent a few more seconds huddled together.

"We should probably head to town soon though. There are bound to be a lot of new faces around and people are going to be confused," he reasoned. They agreed and went to get dressed, with Emma taking her baby sister with her, leaving her parents alone.

"Snow..." he uttered, as she cupped his face in her hands.

"It almost happened again...it did happen. For two of the longest minutes of my life...you were dead," she sobbed, as he swept her into his strong arms.

"Those were the two worst minutes of my life," she sobbed. He pressed his forehead to hers.

"But you didn't give up. You saved me...again! Snow, you gave me half your heart," he said, awe and amazement in his voice. She sniffed, as he wiped her tears away with his thumbs.