After Henry (Once Upon a Time)

Chapter Nine: Fall for Mills

Ivy: Malibu's waters were heavenly, sun rays were kissed by Apolo, that beach was indeed a delightful place to spend the afternoon. But of all the wonders that little realm of sand held, nothing compared to Henry Mills coming back from the tender blue waters, his body filled with small drops of water, falling to the ground, green eyes highlighted by the warmth of sun, his upper body shining like a beacon as the yellow star covered the little water drops with warmth and rays reflected themselves, shining the figure I adored so much.

My eyes flickered, they wondered, delighted by sweet tempting desire, as I saw my god of affection taken by the sweet inferno of Malibu's sun and the gentle touch of its waters.

But that vision of wonder could only take my mind off my worries for a few seconds. Last days' events came rushing inside my brain, screaming in agony, as I knew all too well I was living a lie and Henry's fairytale life wasn't as dead as he thought to be, it was waiting on the other coast, buried in his long lost memories.

And I was the reason why all of that happened. I created the curse that should change our stories, but darkness tricked me, stole from me unholy power and used it for its own benefit.

How long until I finally realized I had to do the right thing?! I knew I've always been selfish, but with Henry, I couldn't be, I loved him too much to keep him from his happiness. But then again, the shining in his eyes, in the moments where he was with me, was way brighter than the one he had with Cinderella if he even had one!

I knew I was a fool to believe that fate would be so nice to give me an opportunity with Prince Charming. Whoever cast this curse built me this chance to be with Henry, so I'd get distracted from the pull of solving this mystery and saving everyone. After all, why bother to be a hero, when you already have a happy ending with Henry Mills?! A chance, only the unholy power of the curse could give me.

"Hi, beauty." He complimented me, blushing my cheeks and drawing a smile on my red lips.

"Hi!" As he leaned closer, his lips touched mine and I closed my eyes, holding to the taste of honey and begging for the curse not to break and his memories to finally set into place, taken no more as simple imaginative flares that breathed inspiration for his next fairytale book.

"Are you sure you don't want to go for a swim? It's fantastic!" He asked me, leaning closer as he lied on the stretched towel next to mine and his arms filled with tiny bits of sand.

"Maybe, later." I promised him, laying my hand above his marble chest, as he closed his eyes and invited the beach's warm air.

"Okay." He smiled politely and kissed me once again.

The taste of his lips couldn't get more addictive, I was so drawn to it, that for those tiny seconds, the magic of true love could take me off my worries.

"Would you mind putting this on my back?" I asked him, throwing him the sun cream in a funny silly way.

"If you ask gently!" He teased, already too familiarized with my sassy way and bitchy moves I never seemed to get off completely.

"A princess doesn't need to ask for anything." I jerked around, engaging him, as usual.

"Okay, very funny, miss Ivy!" He flushed, he always seemed to, every time I was sassier than usual, sassier than him!

He placed the sun cream on my back, struggling with the fact my bra made the task even more difficult.

"Oh, sure, you can take it off." I smiled, and could only imagine his face now, as he stared at my back and his fingers took it off, trembling with nervousness.