THE ENCHANTED FOREST, 2018.

It'd started with a handful of terrified people from the village, demanding to see the king and queen. They'd gone on about what they'd seen with white faces and chapped lips, and were sent away after their overly intricate tale had been told. Snow and David, with Regina's agreement, had written them off as either drunk or maybe a little off their rocker.

But then it continued with Ruby, who after her days in wolf form due to the full moon, had asked to talk to Snow and they'd disappeared into Snow's room for over an hour. Ruby looked more frightened than she'd like to admit, with shaking hands and pale skin reflecting off the candlelight.

And then it was confirmed after David had decided enough stories was enough, and had gone off into the edges of their land into the deep forest, to see if the rumors were true. He'd come back a full three days later, with wide eyes that confirmed it more than anything, and requested a meeting.

That's how at this very moment, Snow, David, and Regina are poised in large-backed uncomfortable chairs seated around a table reserved for only the most important of conversations between the rulers of the kingdom.

"Well?" Regina asks, her voice projecting loudly across the cold, empty, cathedral-like room. She crosses her legs regally and readjusts the skirt of her black gown dripping with jewels to sit rightfully over her legs.

"Well? Well, the rumors are true," David replies, splaying a hand and running it down the front of his face.

"So what do we do?" Snow asks, crossing her arms tightly across her own gown, while Regina fights the urge to roll her eyes at the useless question. Isn't that the reason they are gathered here?

"It doesn't make any sense." Regina disagrees, shaking her head so her ridiculously long ponytail swings to her opposite shoulder. "I thought we wiped out the ogres ages ago. And if we didn't, why are they just coming back now? We've been back here for six years now, why wouldn't they have come sooner?"

"Well, as we know, they're extremely slow as well as blind. I guess they just recently found out that we're back?" David offers up, followed up by a non-regal shrug.

"We can't have another ogre war." Regina deadpans.

"How long until they reach us?" Snow inquires to David, with that furrowed brow look that always comes over her in times such as these.

"A fortnight, maybe, and that's being generous."

"Well, then, we'll just just have to prepare for a fight," Snow decides, as if that ended the matter. Overcome, Regina pushes back her chair and stands.

"With what Knights? With what army? Coming back here our kingdom was painfully small to begin with, but over the years it's been dissipating because nobody can accept the fact that we can't go back to electricity and wi-fi. Our crops are dying, we barely have any people, and we have no army. If the ogres reach us, we will be wiped out."

Snow looks a bit taken aback, then casts a glance over to David, seeking his support to stand their ground, but he shakes his head slightly and sadly. "I have to agree with Regina," he sighs. "We don't stand a chance."

"Then what are we supposed to do, just sit here and wait for our lives to end without doing anything?" Snow demands, indignant, searching their faces for a better option.

"We could leave," David puts out so quietly, both woman hardly hear him. At their confused faces, he continues his thought with a bit more strength. "We could leave, so quietly that the ogres don't even know we had. They'd be attacking an empty kingdom."

Regina mulls this over; she sits back down. "Go on," she grants.

"We could go East. Far East." He suggests, and Regina shakes her head immediately.

"That would take us to the Infinite Forest. We wouldn't even need ogres to wipe us out then." Regina objects, and David nods in resignation.

"They're coming from all sides except East." He explains, making a deep frown etch into Regina's skin. Without really thinking, they both look at Snow for another option, and are surprised when they find her looking as white and wide-eyed as if she'd just seen a ghost.

"Snow. Snow! What's wrong?" David implores in shock at his wife's expression. Snow shakes herself, then blinks rapidly.

"I just....I just had a thought..." She stammers, and if Regina wasn't so preoccupied with their dire situation she would have made a snarky comment. In fact, she's having trouble biting back the sarcasm hugging her throat even now--they have no time for Snow to start acting like her life just flashed before her eyes. Say what you want to say, or don't.

"What?" She snaps, having successfully held back her other comments, but needing to voice her impatience somehow. She's blown back, however, when she hears what had crossed Snow's mind.

"Your Dark Curse," Snow blurts. "Regina, what if we went back?!" Her tone of voice climbs as she continues, her excitement clear.

Regina forces her fast beating heart to calm in her chest as she replies. "Snow," she begins much calmer than she feels, "if there had been even the slightest chance that I could cast that, I would have been away from this hellhole and back with my son six years ago."

David seems to latch on to his wife's over-the-top suggestion, though perhaps the mere thought of a chance of seeing his daughter again blinds his sense of reason. "Well...why can't you?"

Regina throws her hands in the air. "I can't cast something so huge without every last ingredient and all of my magic strength. I need the heart of the thing I love most, and, surprise, Henry is worlds away from me. Even if he was here, I would never. It's impossible."

"Isn't there another way to cast it? There has to be another way." Snow counters desperately, searching Regina's dark eyes, practically begging her to cave and say that she can.

She doesn't. "If there was another way, do you really think I would have killed my own father?" Regina demands, practically hissing out the words.

David quickly intervenes before anything gets out of hand, stretching out an arm at both women sitting opposite each other. "Okay, okay. Regina, what other choice do we have other than this?"

Regina casts her eyes at him, dark and fiery, but glazed over with emotion from even the idea of being able to see her son again. "Nothing. We have nothing. There's nowhere for us to go--hell, we're practically dying out here even without the ogres to wipe out the rest of us."

Snow lets out a little whimper at that.

David sighs again, the true colors of their situation staring him in the face. "What about Charlie?" He asks, the tone of his voice lowering and softening dramatically at the mention of his son.

Regina closes her eyes; pity flooding her veins as she thinks of the son Snow and David had given birth to only a few years after landing here. He was only four--he was young, he was far too young to die such a horrifying death. "He can't--he can't..." She trails off, sympathy coating her glance towards his parents. She's unable to continue.

"We have to leave." Snow says in panic, almost hysteria; and this time Regina can't blame her. When the safety of your child is at stake, nothing else is as important. Her earlier indigence fades, and she sits back in her chair, leaning back her head in resignation. She can't cast another Dark Curse--she can't. But is it their only option?

It's silent for a moment--a long, deafening moment. Then David's leaning forward and speaking again. "Do you have access to every other ingredient?"

"What?" Regina turns towards him, aghast.

"Everything except the heart. Can you get that?" He repeats, breathless, his face blanching.

"I--"

"Is two weeks enough time?" He interrupts her, practically barking out his question this time.

"I...suppose..David, what exactly are you trying to say?"

His mouth settles into a straight, thin line, while both of his hands grip an opposite armrest. "We have a heart. Snow will cast the curse."

--

The next week and a half had been absolute hell. While Regina worked herself to death getting everything she needed for something she absolutely could not believe was finally happening, Snow and David had spent their time completely attached at the hip, hardly leaving their room. Though when they did, they would leave the grounds, go for a hike, sit in the garden amongst the flowers while Snow laid in his lap, or take a long walk around the inside of the castle. No one could look at them when they did this--not even Regina. For how ridiculously long she'd strived to absolutely destroy their happiness, kill Snow, grind one or both of them into dust, whenever she saw them together, looking into each other's eyes lost in love and sadness, her heart clenched in her chest and she felt bile in her throat for thinking she was helping this happen. She was collecting the ingredients. She was going to cast every aspect of the curse except for the part where Snow White was forced to murder the only man she had ever loved. The father to her children. Her True Love.

This isn't to say that this hasn't come down to a fight. Neither David nor Regina ever thought Snow would agree or relent from her absolute refusal. And neither could blame her. But when the day drew nearer to the time the already losing battle would have to be fought, when finally the quakes in the earth were felt and heard from each massive ogre approaching to seal their doom, and especially whenever Snow looked into her precious Charlie's face, she knew what she had to do.

This wasn't in vain. This was to save all of them. This was so that Charlie could grow up and live his life, one that his father would be absolutely proud of. This was for their kingdom, their friends, their family.

It truly had to be done. There was no other way.

Snow had never cried more tears in her entire life than she had that day when the internal battle raging within her finally picked a side and won out. There was no word in all the dictionaries in the world that could describe the utter, profound, unbearable grief she was in when she realized that there was nothing left she could do. She either had to murder her love, her Charming, or she had to refuse, sit back, and watch as the ogres killed them all. She would never forget the moment she told David this. He'd cried--not in sadness, but in happiness that she'd come to her decision, and called her every single variation of the word "strong" he could come up with. They vowed to spend their every last minute as husband and wife together and to enjoy every second.

And then that last second finally came.

A single earthquaking footstep echoes throughout the castle grounds, reminding each inhabitant of what is coming extremely fast, extremely soon. David's estimate of a fortnight had proved true, and now with the huge boiling pot filled with almost everything needed to cast the Dark Curse sitting in front of them, they had not a moment to lose. The ogres would be upon them any minute now, and there's only one ingredient left needed to cast them all back to Storybrooke once more.

One ingredient needed that will take the life of one and grant the lives of a hundred others. But, Regina feels as she watches Snow, David, and Charlie having one last precious moment together, the curse will not just take David's life. It will take away a husband, a father, a friend, a grandfather, a hero.

"I need you to promise me something, okay little buddy?" David asks his son softly from his kneeling position on the cold, marble flooring.

"Yes, Daddy?" Charlie puffs up his chest and stands as tall as he can, feeling extremely important to be carrying a promise from his hero.

"I need you to be a very good boy. I need you to be there for Mommy, since I can't, okay? I need you to eat your vegetables so you can grow up strong, and I need you to be truthful and always selfless. Can you do that? Can you be my brave little boy?" David says in a breaking tone, gently holding his son's tiny hands as he implores this from him.

Charlie's smile falters, as he notices how important what his father is saying is. He pauses; then he nods slowly, then more as he becomes more sure of himself. "Yes, I can. I'll be a good boy, Daddy."

David grins then--a watery one but a proud smile all the same--and leans forward to pick his son up off the ground to cradle him in his arms. He kisses him on the forehead as he sets him back down, and ruffles his unruly hair one last time. "I love you."

"I love you too--Daddy, I don't want you to go," Charlie begs through a sob, breaking his father's heart into a thousand little pieces. Regina blinks back her own tears while turning away, feeling as though she has no right to witness this.

"And I don't want to leave you. But I have to, okay little buddy? But you'll still have Mommy and you need to be there for her, okay?"

"Okay-ay," Charlie whimpers, another hiccuping sob interrupting his speech.

Regina walks over to the little boy, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Charlie, do you think you can go over to Aunt Ruby now? Can you be brave?"

The boy nods; then launches himself forward and tucks himself into his father's arms once more. Then he has to go--he's being led away crying, but with only the brief understanding of a toddler. He knows that Daddy's leaving, but he doesn't understand. And it's all much too painful--Ruby's picking him up and taking him from the room, because there is no way in hell anyone will let him stay for what's coming next.

Snow slowly turns to face her husband with mouth open, unable to be contained as a strangled sob escapes her lips. "David--no," she falters, not able to say anything more.

David shakes his head, lifts himself from the floor, then collects her into his arms. "My Snow," he whispers. Once more, Regina presses her lips together and turns away. For whatever comes next, it needs to be private.

"I can't do this. I can't. I won't--can't kill you," she whimpers, clutching at the front of his clothing as she presses her face against his heart--desperately listening to the comforting thump from it while it's still safely in his chest and beating, keeping him alive. No, no, she can't--she can't take that perfect, steady beat away from him. She can't hold something so precious in her hand and watch as she turns it to dust. She can't see the life leave his eyes.

She can't imagine a world without him--doesn't want to. She can't see a future without his deep, caring voice, his contagious laugh, his smile, the way his striking eyes sparkle just for her. She can't imagine a world without his perfect kiss, the way he holds her at night, the way he hugs her making her feel as though there is no safer place to be, can't imagine someplace without the steady comforting beat of his heart, without the only rock there has ever been in her life. With David beside her, she could handle whatever life threw at them with their love. Without him, she's only half of herself. She can't live the rest of her life without him.

"Snow, think of our child--think of Emma. Think of everyone here. You must. You can do this, you are the strongest, most heroic, most beautiful woman I know and have had the absolute honor of loving." He tells her, as a tear falls from beneath his blonde eyelashes as he lifts her chin to stare into her mesmerizing eyes for as long as he can.

"David, don't," she pleads, reaching her hand up to hold his cheek. "I love you," she whispers through a choking sob.

"I love you, too. I love you more than I've ever loved anything else in this world or beyond it. I love you as my wife, the mother to my children, my Snow White. But that's why you have to do this," he croaks out, cradling her cheek in his hand, and stretching his other across the swell of her chest, feeling the beat of her heart.

Snow shakes her head, but this time in utter sadness and resignation. She lifts herself onto her toes, and presses a wholehearted kiss onto his warm pink lips, feeling the beautiful shock of true love flow through them and around them, as she enjoys every last second of their connection. When she finally breaks away, David tenderly wipes the tears off of her cheeks.

Finally, Snow gives her the cue. "Regina,"

Understanding all too well of what's expected of her, Regina goes rigid, and turns back to them. She takes a few steps forward, then instructs David to face her.

"I'm not going to lie, this is going to hurt." She says, always blunt, but this time with pity lacing her words. She searches his icy eyes with her own, trying to convey all she can in a single glance. I'm so sorry. She takes a breath, then plunges her hand into his warm chest with practiced ease. Without having to grope around much, she places her hand around the desired organ and rips it straight back out of his chest.

A strangled groan escapes him, and he hunches over in pain, but not yet dead. Regina cradles the bright red heart in her hands, spotless of any dark stain, and carefully hands it over to Snow. That's the most brutal part of this all--Snow is forced to do what comes next. Snow takes it uncertainly from her, and is shocked and horrified at how warm and heavy it is, and at the fact that it's still beating in her hand.

David, who was able to recover himself from the quick surgery, stands upright once more and gives Snow one last kiss, making sure it's a damn good one. "I love you," he states calmly afterwards, though full of feeling, but also sounding resigned as though he's completely aware of his fate and is at peace with it.

"I love you." Snow whispers, clutching his hand with one of her own as she holds his heart over the cauldron. Refusing to look at what she's about to do, she watches her husband's last living moments as she begins to squeeze the organ keeping him alive. He does an impressive job at masking the pain, but she can see it's there; not wanting to torture him, she knows she has to finish the task quickly. She gives his hand a squeeze; he squeezes back. As she crushes his heart to dust over the curse, she watches as he gives her one last smile, before he crumples and falls to the ground, lifeless.

As soon as the dust from his heart reaches the boiling mix, the curse begins to activate. Deep purple toxic smoke clouds start to pour from the top of it, slowly reaching out to all corners of the Forest once again. Of this, Snow pays no mind. She drops next to him, screaming out in the agony of her heart, curling herself over him.

She kisses his cold lips, though she knows that not even True Love's Kiss will wake him this time. Nothing will cause those gorgeous blue eyes to shine with life once more. She holds his body next to her on the cold ground, refusing to let go.

Snow's sacrifice was not in vain. The curse wraps around the inhabitants, ready to shift them back once more.

AN: yayy, they're going back to Storybrooke finally! I told you it would happen. I needed a reason for it to happen, thus: ogres.

Yes, I took the idea of Snow casting the curse from the show. What, I'm way too stupid to come up with something original! And yes, I know I'm evil ending the chapter like this. But for those who have seen the show know what comes next for Snow and David--and yep, that's coming next chapter. Those who don't? Well, grab more tissues. I'll try to update soon.

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