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ask-missparker · 2 months

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Don’t Give Up On Me / OUAT AU Series

Pairing: Snow!Amelia x Charming!Nikolai, Nicholas and Amara

Extra characters/mentioned: The Dark Prince!Alexander, Rumple!Cole, Captain Hook!Jeremy, Charming!Michelle, Mal!Liane, Prince!Ethan and etc

Click here for Part 2

Note: This fic leds into two other tales hehe

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In the lower left corner of dungeons within castle held a dimly shaped cell surrounded by rock, dust and debris. On the walls held starching marks made with a small dagger counting the hours spent inside each and how many more days until release. On the ground of that very cell held Snow White in her dusty white dress, slightly knotted hair and shoes that used to be as white as snow now a cover in a light brown.

Her body was laying peacefully or so it seemed, deeply unconscious from eating the very apple set up for her that very night.

Hovering over her body from the other end of the cell held a man dressed in black, smirking as he said, “No wonder why they say your one of the fairest of the land..makes sense my brother likes you. Your disobedient little pest like him, yet again he could never get a woman long enough to stay for him. The real question let’s see if he can get here in time before that poison reaches the rest of your body and never wake up.”

Alexander got a fierce tip from his soldiers and other royals that his brother has been wondering around the woods like a hopeless dog running away like a coward trying to protect himself from him. In response, he made sure to keep an eye on that particular spot of his brother’s heart. He knew death was too easy of an excuse for him, but then he wondered, what’s worse than death? Suffering that feeling of loss and the pain that comes with it!

And then little Snow White walked into his heart. His smirk only grew, if Nicholas truly wanted and loved this woman he will have to prove it himself. He may hate his brothers guts, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to see him put up a fight and see if there is still something there.

If he’s really willing to go the distance for something as stupid as love..

~~~~

As Charming prepared for battle that morning come, his mind raced with millions thoughts of a millisecond ranging from blaming himself for losing her to the fire that boil at that mere thought of her suffering by King Midas men.

His sword in hand burned at how tight his grip was held, placing it into it’s rightful spot by his side. He sniffled glaring remembering the arguments held with Michelle and Hook at how he should go in with back up. He didn’t want to put any more people in danger than he already had, he couldn’t live with himself if Cole or Queen Caroline lost their loved ones because of him.

However he did proclaim if he needed an additional crew member, they would know. His turned around and swiftly left his small home within the woods, riding his horse racing towards the castle sneaking past the guards and stabbing a few knights to do so. A part of him felt like it was too easy this time, his chest tighten racing towards the cells to find Snow.

He only found pieces of fabric from her wedding dress within the cell as he gasp, feeling his heart sadness then release allowing him to breath. He sighed releasing she wasn’t here but her dresses fabric felt thicken than the material he grabbed earlier, a laced coat dust particles that belonged to the a certain type of magic.

His brother’s magic.

He groaned, realizing he had something to do with this. He looked over his shoulder to see incoming guards, swiftly masking a turn escaping Midas castle and returning to the woods gripping onto the frabic of the dress halting for his horse, Maximus, to stop and rest. He climbed down for the horse and kneeled wiping his finger across the fabric of the dress as the black particles rises onto his fingers and into the air.

Charming wasn’t one to use his own magic anymore as he used to, crafting a shadow sword as a replacement as the blade can cut, disappear and reappear to his wish.

But for the circumstances of this mission, he must, with a twist of his wrist a cloud of black appeared from the magic remains of his brother revealing an image to him being a glimpse of his women on the ground of the very dungeon he was trapped in all those years ago as his brother smirked over her.

But the thing was, he knew his brother would not keep her there for long and move Snow somewhere else out of his reach and into the forest. He was smart enough to figure out that his sword to led him to harm his brother as a reward for his crimes, knowing he will find Snow but his brother would want something in return.

“Hello!”

He didn’t flinch once, knowing that voice just as well, turning around he grimaced pinching the bridge of his nose to face Cole. Last he saw of him was on Jeremy’s ship, as Hook gave him the wonderful blue crested ring as promise for their love. Cole stood on a log with a leg crossed over the other with a grinned dress in black as always, but this time with a dark brown coat and the one of many rings on his finger waving.

“What is it that you want?” He asked, titled his head with a old look, couldn’t help but return the grin and rolled his eyes, “I’m kinda busy here.”

Cole grinned and nodded, deciding whether or not to hop off the log as he said, “Oh I know. Busy, busy, busy man! And you don’t have much time to waste.”

“And I am guessing you’re here to help me.”

“Well, you are friends with my favorite Captain and you did help him get my gorgeous new jew, so I believe it’s only fair.”

“What’s your price?”

“Sneak into your brother’s vault and get me a lovely old item that he stole from me.”

“What item?”

“A crested item, a crystal ball that I want to shape into a saber for my collection. The saber allows me to look beyond realms and within this land using blood magic to track it.”

“Who are you tracking?’ “My brother, he left Wonderland not to long along in search of a witchy dragon to slay and he has been blocked out his net for me to find him. God knows my brother isn’t the brightest in the land and as promised, I need to make sure he’s not dead.”

Nicholas nodded knowing Cole isn’t one for plenty of details depending on the person and knows he has beef with his brother beyond his knowledge so he won’t ever question why or what happened between them. But he did question one thing.

“Why are you helping me? Aside from the Hook part.” Charming asked, lifting his sword into place.

Cole just grinned, “Because! You and I both want the same thing, for good things to happen. True love and blah blah blah to win.”

“Hmm.”

“And your princess has grown on me.”

“Snow is..?”

“Yes, yes, yes! Do you want my help or not?”

“I do.”

Within a matter of moments, Charming was given a old tiny hyper crystal that would glow a sharp red when he’s within range of the ball. Cole gave him a light start, pausing the clock then restarting it once Charming reached his old castle.

A shiver went up his spine at returning to the very place he lost his partner and his family turned upside down, there were vines growing up and around the collapsible groups, the carousel he used to play in was damaged to stone and as he entered across the back of the palace where he once used to sneak out of to explore the woods on the backs of horses, the colors that used to bleed with one another..we were sucked out of any brightest light left. The walls used to be a golden brown, turned seemed to be a dull brownish grey, the flowers that belonged to his mother went from daisies to fallen roses.

~~~~

As he went down the steps to the vaults, slaying away guards within the shadows muffling his shouts with a blade to their necks and others knocking out the knights who tried to capture him. However, two came his way dressed in black masks and leather from head to toe, just as he thought they were gonna murder him one twist their sword and the one follow behind him as the other knock a knight out cold.

He knew this place a little too well, so he knew she wasn’t in the dungeons or any an cell within the castle, she must’ve been moved by now. His brother wasn’t gonna make it that easy for him, just yet. It was all a test of some kind.

Charming lifting his sword ready to knock both of skrulls together when the two knights flipped the face guards to reveal his two friends. Jeremy and Michelle smirked having figured it was only fair to help out with the knights meanwhile Charming collected the item for Cole, Nicholas was about to remark them for being so foolish for coming here but he just winked instead thankful for his friends. He rushed off and into the vault, pulling out the tiny crystal waiting waving it around as he searched for the ball in question.

His footsteps creaked as his flinched around swiftly turning his sword instead the person behind him, the blade fell above his older brother’s cheekbone giving him a mere cut. Alexander hissed then scoffed as he rolled his eyes with his hands behind his back, a part of him was impressed at his quick moves but still pathetic as always as he moved away from the blade.

“Cute.” Alexander remarked in a monotone, using two fingers to pushed the sword downstairs, “Yet, never as good as good me. And I thought with the months—ah no, years away you’ll get better. Guess me not.”

“Pardon me for not perfecting my craft, I was too busy trying to get away from you.” Charming muttered with a glare.

“And yet, you come back rushing to the place where it all began?”

“You took something from me.”

Alexander scoffed and playfully gagged walking around, “And did I take from you this time? You’re pride? You’re little toy? Father’s favorite pendent? I wouldn’t have done if it were to listen to good little brat you were and not disrupt me every day.”

“I was young, I didn’t know any better. I grew to understand you never liked me because in your eyes I was always our parents favorite meanwhile you weren’t. If you nicer, it couldn’t been different!” Charming added, as his flickering to the tiny crystal in hand.

“It wasn’t! You were born and took away everything from me. And every time I tried to have you behave, you would act to embarrass me.”

“No wonder why you’re heart is so dark..now like I was saying, I want my things back.”

Nicholas has grown to understand that his older brother was just selfish, mean and cruel only caring about himself in hope to lighten the mere sight of his true feelings. He knew his brother was alone and always will be, as a child he tried to befriend him plenty of times, show him a picture of kindness but he always in response got the cold shoulder.

He stopped trying to save him at this point, the only person who can make that change was himself, not him. They had to make the decision to do that themselves and overturn that choice.

Alexander noticed he was in his vault searching for something wasn’t labeled his and used a shadow to pushed Charming to to his face as he snarled with a smirk. His younger brother will never learn, to disobey, you get hurt in the process. He knew he was here for his preisous little princess, thanks to King Shaw’s tip before his exile, but he was here for cruel stolen item. Not his item but someone else’s he assumed.

Charming and Alexander were in a position to fight within the vault, as darkness filled the room to the Dark Prince’s command.

Charming closed his eyes wilding his sword, it guided him opposing member turning around to feel Alexander behind him popping and out of the shadows summing a sword at his will to fight his brother. The two of them were at it, not like princes, but training knights ready for battle.

Alexander even used one hand to his blade of swords growing bigger with the commsuing darkness above them, mocking his younger brother and yelled, “Tell me when your tired of missing, brother.”

Charming glared and growling twirling his sword summing his shadows at combat, hoping off treasure chests within the vault yelling, “I only have to hit you once.”

The fight went on for a while, neck and neck, things flying across the room, remarks being thrown to one another and be siblings were even tossed across the floor. In the mist of the fight that led them into a hallway, Charming noticed the tiny crystal bringing a low glow as he smirked. It wasn’t in the vault but in another room. With his confidence returning, just as Alexander was about to tower over him and tossing him out a window, he disappeared within a shadow and used another one to kicked him into a separate place within the castle. The Dark Prince was thrown away into the depth of his castle the dungeons knocked out cold.

~~~~

Nicholas run down the hall into the room thinking he found to find said room, following the crystal as it grew in color only for his grin to drop. “Oh come on!” He muttered, due to the moment he enter the room he was found within the chambers was the crystal ball, yes, but what he didn’t expect who guarding it.

Once this is all resolved he is gonna need a strong drink…

“My brother doesn’t need a beast to guard his items, when he already is one himself..” Nicholas said to himself, readying his sword, “At least it’s not the trolls again.”

But to his surprise, just as he moved forward to silently attack the dragon, it didn’t appear as fearful but more like calm. Tired even. It whimper, opening their eyes to showcase purple orbs with pools of tears within. It let out a soft growl that grew as he carried himself over to the said beast. Their leg was chained up to a wall that made them look smaller.

The dragon snarls and whimpered some more, showcasing themselves to be larger than life but they—she wasn’t. His eyes widen, seeing she was missing her—Nicholas has slayed dragons before in one go but this was different, she didn’t want to fight him.

He wasn’t gonna fight another if they weren’t going to themselves, he was in the very castle his parents build him in. If his mother was here, she would be hurt to see him do such as thing. Nor did he think himself as a killer either. He never was a murder.

He rushed over using his blade to cut though the chain releasing the dragon as she transformed from dragon into human. Her horns were still there but they were surrounded by long blonde curls, her dragon like scales were now a dark purple long dress, she held a cape close to her body and her paws were a black almost a deep purple slippers.

“Are you alright, miss?” He asked, helping her stand with one hand and the other still grip his shadow sword.

She hesitated but took his hand as she nodded, “I-I think so..”

“What did my brother did to you?”

“It’s a long story..I’m sorry, did you say brother?”

“Heh, yeah, long story..I apologize for almost hurting you.”

“It’s alright..I’m okay, just uh why didn’t you?”

“I couldn’t. You were a prisoner here, not a helper of his. I’m Prince Nicholas..”

“Liane..t-thank you. You can uh, take your thing..”

Nicholas took the item on the table and stuffed it into his satchel, looking over his shoulder he noticed that he couldn’t escape the same way he came. He glanced over at the stain glass windows of the very room as chaotic yet delicate smirk appeared on his lips.

Liane asked, “Uh, what exactly are you g-?”

But she didn’t get a second to finished her sentence, as she grip tightly around his neck as he held onto her waist telling her to brace for impacted. All from Liane could be heard was a sequence of ‘Oh my god!’ repeated over and over again, as Nicholas launched them from the ground flooring through the glass window shatter around them as the two right into landed in the ocean waves surrounding the castle.

The two clawed onto the shore near the woods, Nicholas helped Liane up asking if she’s doing alright as she yelled if he was crazy or just plain dumb. The prince just shrugged and snorted a smile.

“W-we could have died!” Liane whisper yelled, sighing at how soaking wet her dress was.

“But we’re safe and sound from him!” Nicholas replied with smile still on his face.

“We jumped into the water we could hav..”

“We survived that’s what matters.”

“Huh? Wait, no your right. You didn’t plan that, did you?”

“Nope. Call it pure luck and last time I checked my brother won’t after us a while.”

Liane broke into a small smile and thanked him once again for helping her back there saying she can now return home safely, hoping he found her princess. Nicholas smiled telling her to keep hope alive and her prince might have to save her soon enough. The two paired aways afterward.

~~~~

He arrived still soaking wet to the place where Cole requested to met him. At docks near the huge pirate ships, and as always he found him curled up against a few barrels on the ground comfortably with his man. Nicholas couldn’t help but smile at the two, the way his friend returned from the castle before him with grinned at his dinner.

Jeremy was grinning and laughing trying to hush Cole who was playing with his short blonde hair telling a joke stealing a piece of chicken from his plate.

“Who made this?” Cole said chew the chicken with a snarky smirk.

“Mr. Smee did it.” He replied taking a bite of the bread being presented on the plate.

“Tell the chief he desires a raise!”

“Don’t push my crew, babe. They hear that and they would all want one.”

“Ah pishy caca, love.”

“No he’s right.” Said a voice.

Both men looked up to find Nicholas soaking wet holding up the promised crystal ball but no princess, yet. Jeremy snorted seeing his friend’s face as Cole bit back some laughter of his own, eating some more chicken for himself.

He stole a kiss from his man before standing up taking the crystal ball from Nicholas’s hand nodding with appreciation for the task being complete. Jeremy kept snorting explains that Michelle returned home safe and sound as Nicholas sent him a playful glare.

“I’m guessing your lady is miles away from the castle too? I didn’t see her in there.” Jeremy exclaimed after coming down from his effective snorting.

“Nope. He is hiding her somewhere else and I won’t rest until I find her.”

“Aw my boys in love!”

“Shut up. It’s a test to see how hard am I willing to work for this.”

“I say you worked hard enough. Babe, help him!”

Cole sassed him with a smirked, “I’m getting to it! But i need that.”

Nicholas heart pinged again as over his chest lay his gifted chain and asked, “My chain from Snow?”

“Mhmm that lovely little gift from her mother, that now belongs to you will guide you to her.”

“A location spell? Smart.”

“I know I’m genius.”

Jeremy slapped his arm playfully and chuckled watching Nicholas pass the chain over to him. He asked why his heart felt like it was bruised during the beginning of this mission, Cole was doing the locator spell on the chain as he explained how the heart feels like it’s lost when a loved ones is gone.

Cole knew that well after his father Erik and stepfather Charles broken up years ago when he was a child before getting back together, it felt like their bodies were sometimes in pain because they were apart for so long.

True Love, as he called it. A connection between two people whether they believed it or not, as opposite a pairing may seem, if they are somehow meant to be, fate has its ways to pulling them together.

Once Cole was done, he smiled saying depending on the next favor was, Nicholas might own him by collecting whatever another item was. He rolled his eyes and chuckled lightly telling Jeremy to keep his man under control as the pirate captain just winked in return.

Before Nicholas could go, Cole yelled, “Ah! Wait a minute stupid. You’re gonna find your girl dressed like you went swimming with the fishes?”

With a flick of his wrist Nicholas was dried up with his hair freshly swept back, a white collared shirt with a long elegant leather coat, dark brown pants and boots that fit him perfectly. For added measure, Cole added a nicely tailored hat that seemly fitting his more pirate side. It made him look rather dashing and distinguished from the other men in the crowd.

“Much better.” Cole added as he looked over at his shoulder to see the sun almost laying down to rest and huffed, “Go before your time runs out!”

He thanked both of them before swinging onto his horse riding Maximus across the docks into the woods allowing the chain with the small hoop to guide him through the forest. He could see the sun going down as he approached Max to hurry in which the horse speed riding like the wind.

“Woah boy! What did I feed you today?!” He muttered jokingly.

Max followed his direction going past the trees in vintage and entryway into the lower ends of the valley sliding into the ground path of the woods. His hat almost flew off completely a couple of times messing around his hair a bit. The chain kept glowing brighter and brighter than ever before as they moved through the forest reaching the edge of the plantation then began to slow down as they landed int the exact spot she was placed in.

Nicholas hoped off his horse, patting his head with a soft smile pacing himself over to find a bed in the middle of the woods surrounded by dwarfs. He heard stories around him being great hard working men, he looked over to see it was Snow asleep. Her skin looked paler, her were a blushing pink instead of their usual light red color and her body looked cold despite being dressed in long sleeves.

One of the Dwarfs, Grumpy gave him a once over and raised an eyebrow before noticing that he held a chain similar to the jewelry Snow was wearing.

He gave him a small smile and said, “You better do something or sister is gone forever. At least say goodbye.”

Nicholas smiled softly and walked across placing his hand over Snow’s very own as he leaned over to capture her lips against his. He muttered a small glimpse of hope that she’ll wake up as his heart started to settle into a nice flow. As he did, a small wave that would’ve felt like blast pushed through them and across the landscape of the woods. He pulled away to be met with the sound of gasping coming from the woman he loved dearly.

She opened her eyes as color started to return to her cheeks and looked over to see who woke her up, her lips slowly growing into a smile. Her voice was a little horse as she said, “Y-you found me..”

He smiled softly in return blinked as tears slowly appeared thanking the heavens it worked as he nodded placed a hand on his across her face. He replied, “Did you ever doubt I would?”

“The sleep gave me a pause..truly, I was afraid you wouldn’t come..”

“I came, it took me a while but I made it. I will always find you.”

She smiled chuckling, as he helped her stand up from the bed thanking the Dwarfs for watching over her. Grumpy just winked saying that him and his brother are here to help the good guys just say the word as the prince chuckled in return respecting them.

~~~~

Snow and Charming walked alongside each other letting Max relax from carrying the weight of things all day, especially after his thick run across the land. Nicholas finally took a breath getting his girl back and foremost by the end of day, wrapping an arm around her shoulder rested his head on top of hers. Snow hummed at his touch as she wrapped both around his middle playing with the layer hair at the back of neck that flipped up, instead of flipping downward.

“Hey no touchy!” He joked nuzzling his head against hers.

“You ruined your hair earlier.” She hummed in response giggling.

“Uh excuse you? I’ll have you know i was racing against time, m’lady! You try running across the woods and trying to look perfect while doing it. It ain’t easy, I’ll tell you that much!”

“Okay, okay you win! Whatever you say, princey. I do have two questions for you.”

“Which are?”

“How did you get here so fast?”

“I had help from Cole. I went on a few trials to get him an item but then he came through with a location spell.”

“Location spell?”

He nodded pulling out the chain that relaxed its glow having done its job eariler, as he explained it led him right to her. She giggled seeing how her mother’s jewelry saved them after all.

Nicholas joked as he moved away for a moment, “You know I’ll have to meet your mother after this to thank her.”

“Thank her? For that little thing?” She asked with a teasing tone.

“Yes ma’am. You’re mama will be having a son in law real soon.”

“She’ll have a field day, never wanting us to leave hearing—wait, did you say son in law?”

She didn’t have a moment to finish her sentence as he grinned widely enough removing the hoop off the chain. She was about to joke about something than decide to let him figure it out himself.

He tried to kneeled down properly but the pants Cole gave him were a little too tight, for his liking and he usually doesn’t mind tight fitted leather as he decided to stand instead.

The noise and incoming jokes he made resulted in Snow to laugh looking away snorting as he told her to be quiet he was trying to be romantic here.

“Shut up, you’re ruining my moment!” He remarked breaking into laughter himself biting his bottom lip.

“Your moment?” She exclaimed softly giggling trying to stop herself from falling into more laughter.

“You done?”

“Mhm hmm.”

“Good. As i was trying to say, Amara Snow, will you marry me?”

She made a face as if she’s thinking about her answer and playfully said, “Hmm i don’t know.”

His face playfully dropped giving her a look that said ‘seriously women?’ As he smirked and added, “May I also remind you that I jumped into a freezing cold ocean today? I think my butt cheeks were chattering on my way to the docks.”

“You jumped into the ocean?”

“Yes ma’am, but it was for a stupidly good reason.”

“In that case, yes.”

“A ‘yes’ as in you’ll marry me or ‘yes’ as in you will give me well deserved massage after risking ass today?”

“Yes to both!”

“Good answer.”

“Shut up.”

She rolled her eyes chuckling realizing she got work to do tonight after his glorious save as he ran the hoop nicely onto her finger then bringing a couple of kiss onto her face. She pressed a few of kisses wanting to hear all about his day and where they were heading next.

But before Snow can say another word, he lift her into his arms as she wrapped her arms sound his neck as Nicholas requested he take them to their home within the forest where he would tell her everything that happened. He leaned forward to press another small yet warm kiss onto her face as she closed the space between them with a smile asking for him to lead the way.

~~~~

The two made their way to the small house within their own hundred acres woods, finally after all the hassle back in each other’s arm once and for good. Nicholas released Max to go to stretch his legs and rest before dinner, as he followed Snow up the steps to find a note stuck on the door.

She plucked it gently off the door and opened it to read an invitation for Princess Michelle’s ball in 3 weeks, due time to prepare for the festival of riches, everyone in the land was to be invited.

Nicholas smirked, “Three nights, free drinks and food to die for.”

“I guess we’re going to a ball.” She replied returning the smirk.

The two chuckled and entered their home, locking the door behind them as they lit the fireplace to flop onto the couch in glee. Nicholas sat on the couch as dinner was being cooked on the stove as Snow sat behind him to rub whatever knots that landed in between his shoulders blades. To say he was satisfied was an understatement.

He hummed and softly grinned, “If this is the treatment I get, I should risk my ass more often.”

“Shut up, charming.” She replied jokingly holing back her giggled.

He looked over his shoulder for a split second and smirked saying, “Hush, you’ll ruin the moment.”

“I can’t with you sometimes.” She added rolled her eyes returning the same smirk.

The future spouses stayed cuddling in the comfort of the living room til dawn, for as long as they were together all was fine in the world.

~~~~

And that’s it! Tell me what did you think about it in the comments below. Any thoughts you had? Any ideas for future fics?

Click here to see what happened to Ethan and Liane tale

Click here to see Michelle’s 3 night festival and the lovely tale about that couple

Click here to see how Jeremy and Cole met

Tags: @missstrawbs2001 @purpleprincessonfyre @meiramel @gcthvile @rickb-chaos @gaminggirlsstuff @wizzzardofoz @thechoooooosenone @luna-d-marsh @rooster-84 @thecavalrywife @cherrysft and etc

#fantasy au #fanfic series #ouat au #once upon a time fanfiction #danielle campbell #thomas doherty #ben barnes #snow white #prince charming #dark prince #liane felton #jeremy michaelis #cole lensherr #ethan lensherr #ethane #michroch #nikmia

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purpleprincessonfyre · 3 months

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OUAT AU - Electric Touch

Ib: @jackiequick

Characters: Liane Felton St. James, Ethan Lensherr Long, Rick Banner, Cassandra Ashfield Sean, Belladonna, Sherrif Erik Lensherr

Ship: Ethan x Liane

Being a mother is hard. A role your body never builds you for specifically, that you take on nevertheless, is always more special and beautiful when you choose it for yourself. At least, that's what Liane St. James was telling herself as she paced on her lawn, trying not to blow her stack in front of the Sherrif, her neighbour Rick and her best friend Cassandra Sean who was trying to say soothing things.

"She could have already gotten on a plane and flown to another country by now!"

"Be reasonable Lia, Bella is a smart girl."

"Yeah too smart! I'm such a bad mother! She could be dead in a ditch and I wouldn't know...why didn't I give her a cellphone for her birthday..."

"She would never have used it. Trust me, she won't have gone far."

Liane's temper cooled but never fully disappeared. It was a flaw of hers that she had a rather hot temper and if looks could kill she could've hurt many people with a single withering glare. Cassandra was one of the few people who could handle Liane's temper and she was a great friend to her when her rage started to bubble over.

"We can't put out a missing person's alert yet, Miss St. James, its still too early. Besides, she's a teenager. They rebel more than most." The Sherrif scoffed, really wishing he wasn't there. The adults continued to argue as the sound of tires were heard from up the road as an unfamiliar blue car was heading towards the house. Liane was still pacing as the car pulled up and her daughter Belladonna stepped out along with a man who looked to be in his late 20s, perhaps early 30s, with dark hair, green eyes and a clean shaven face. Rick was still grilling his daughter Riley before they realised Belladonna had returned.

"For the eighth time, where is Belladonna?"

"I'm right here."

Liane turned around to see her daughter standing on the lawn and instantly she ran to embrace her intelligent little girl, tears rolling down her cheeks as her heels clacked against the concrete.

"Oh my God you scared me half to death!"

"You can be so dramatic Mother."

"Where did you go? What happened?! I was worried sick..."

"I found my birth father and an uh pen pal.."

Liane looked up and saw a man with her daughters hair and her nose staring back at her, letting go of Bella to greet this stranger who felt oh so familiar to her in a way she couldn't quite put her finger on. He approached nervously and smiled, hands stuffed in his pockets, shrugging.

"Hi."

The Sherrif gave Liane a look before introducing himself to the newcomer and taking Belladonna inside so the adults could talk. Liane looked up at Bella's father trying to look confident but was tapping her nails on her knee the way she did when she was nervous.

"Liane St. James, I'm her adoptive mother."

"Ethan. Ethan Long. It's nice to meet you."

He held out a hand for her to shake and she took it, a crackle of electricity seeming to pass through her as they touched, something seeming to spark inside her as they shook hands. The silence was awkward after they let go of each other and Liane tried to break the ice a little.

"Well I guess I should thank you for bringing her back. Would you like to come inside? I don't know how far she travelled to find you but I wouldn't want you to get back on the road so soon after that...revelation. Uh, drink?"

"Uh.. yeah yeah that would...yeah. Thanks."

Liane smiled and led him inside of her house. The house was very obviously decorated with femininity in mind, pastel shades on the walls, bursts of pink and purple scattered throughout the decor and furniture and a few items that belonged to Bella in shades of jet black or grey showed that their tastes very clearly differed.

Ethan took a seat in the kitchen as Liane busied herself looking for supplies, rummaging through cupboards for cups and such to make him feel welcome.

"Tea? Coffee?"

"Uh coffee is fine thanks."

"Black?"

"Yeah Uh two sugars thanks."

Liane got to work making drinks, dumping coffee into a mug that said Fighter-Town, Maine on it and brewing a vibrant tea in a dainty tea cup covered in flowers for herself.

"So Ethan, where did my elusive girl find you?"

"Uh Boston actually so not...not very far."

"Oh I see, is it just you then?"

"Yeah uh...yeah it's just me."

Liane brought over the mug of coffee and her tea and sat at the table with him, taking off her dark blazer to reveal a pink frilled blouse and kicked off a pair of pink kitten heels as she sipped her tea. She loosened her long blonde hair from its tight chignon and it cascaded down her back, instantly looking at least ten years younger.

"So what happened to Bella's mother, if that's not too personal a question?"

"Uh well its sort of complicated I guess. Messy breakup, neither of us felt ready, it wasn't really my decision but we were young and foolish."

"I know what that's like...." Liane responded, stirring her cup listlessly. There was sadness in her eyes as she gazed just past Ethan at the window overlooking the town, clearly trying not to dwell on the past but not quite being able to escape it.

"Uh so what about you? Is there someone in your life?"

Liane laughed but there was no humor. She put the teaspoon down and looked at Ethan directly as she spoke.

"Not anymore. There was someone, started out like a dream and then turned into a nightmare. I've never been very lucky with love. I tend to attract the wrong type of person. Lucky for me Bella has her head screwed on right. She sees through those men quick as anything, her opinions are harsh but she's never been wrong. If she comes up to me and says 'Mom, that man is dangerous' I listen good and get out of there fast. She's a smart girl."

"So I've heard..." Ethan quipped, trying to lighten the mood. Liane smiled, starting to relax. She was beginning to see flashes of her daughter in him, the way he spoke, his mannerisms, the way his eyes moved as she spoke, it was eerie but strangely comforting.

"So how does one end up in Fighter-Town eh?"

"I was born here, it's all I've ever known. Never wanted to go anywhere else, never tried either..." she said, once again gazing out the window. This seemed to take Ethan by surprise, a slight air of suspicion coming over him as her eyes seemed to cloud over for a moment before returning to him.

"What never? Not even on vacation? Disneyland? Niagara Falls? Yellowstone? Hell, NYC?"

"Nope. Never really felt the need to go anywhere. Besides this place isn't that bad. We do have a beach!"

"A beach? What color is the sea?"

"Depends on the time of year but its almost blue?"

Ethan laughed at that, making Liane chuckle too.

"It's not much but, it's home I guess. Always has been."

They fell silent again after that, not really sure of what else to say. Liane traced the lip of her cup carefully while Ethan just sat there awkwardly, checking his phone every so often.

"Damn, reception up here is kinda lousy."

"Eh you get used to it. Internet comes and goes and sometimes phone calls get cut off but yknow."

"So uh well, what do you do? For work I guess."

"Oh uh I'm a lawyer. Self-employed which is easier said than done. Doesn't pay...that well I suppose but it makes me happy and keeps food on the table. And people tend to trust you when you vouch for them."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting to hear that but pleasantly surprised to learn his daughter was being raised by an intelligent woman. As he finished his coffee, the Sherrif poked his head into the room, saying his goodbyes.

"I'd best be off, I'll be at the station if you need anything else, Ms St. James. Bella seems alright, you take care of yourselves now."

"Thanks again Sherrif. I'll see you around."

The Sherrif nodded, touching his hat and headed out the door, leaving the two alone.

"So...the decor, Bella's idea?"

"Oh no! Not even a little bit. She hates it all, pastels, pinks, fluffy and cute is not her style. But she respects my love for it. On her ninth birthday she very politely informed me that my taste didn't match her own and she would prefer to wear darker clothes and have a bedroom that suits her style from now on. And that she would like to play the violin. So we went out and got her all those things and she seemed content."

"Wow she just asked that? And you weren't offended?"

Liane chuckled, picking up a lavender leather jacket off the back off Ethan's chair and hanging it on a hook by the door.

"I always treated Bella like a person when raising her. Never used baby talk with her, never spoke down to her, told it like it is, she was the one who told Me Santa wasn't real so that tradition died early on, never believed in the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny but she's a hell of a reader. Her shelves are covered in fantasy stories, I guess she likes the escape."

Ethan smiled and the light seemed to dance in his eyes as he did, bringing a warm smile to Liane's face in turn. She felt comfortable around Ethan for some reason, but she wasn't quite sure why yet. She noticed his cup was empty and went to reach for it to put it away and accidentally grabbed his hand instead, the two of them suddenly locking eyes as that feeling of electricity suddenly ran through Liane again, that warm spark that made her question everything.

"I'm so sorry..."

"I was reaching for the-"

"No you're good I-"

"Wow, your hand is warm-"

"Well I-"

They were cut short by the sound of Belladonna clearing her throat by the door, her arms crossed over her chest as her large, dark eyes landed on Liane's.

"Your show about insipid doctors and nurses wishing to fornicate with one another has started. Your love for it dictates that you wouldn't want to miss it."

"Forni- oh Grey's! Of course, thanks sweetie, thank you for the reminder."

"Grey's Anatomy?"

"Yeah the characters are intriguing. Oh judge me, I could care less, I'm allowed to like dumb things."

Ethan laughed and the flicker of a smile appeared on Bella's face briefly as well. Liane rolled her eyes, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she got up and walked Ethan to the door.

"It's been a pleasure, uh I would suggest if you plan on sticking around you find a room at Grandpa's Diner up the road, I don't really have the space to accommodate you unless you were okay with the couch?"

"No uh, I'll go check out that diner place and..."

"It's okay if you need space after all this. Take as much time as you need. Really." She smiled, seeing the sun start to sink in the distance, the sky now a burning pink and purple as the day drew to a close.

"Here uh, take my number if you want to come and see Bella at all, just in case you drop by and we're not in." She offered, handing him a pink business card with her details on. He smiled and wrinkled his nose, noting the scent of freshly cut roses on the card.

"Scented?"

"It leaves an impression, yknow?"

"Sure does. See you around St. James."

"Welcome to Fighter-Town, Ethan." Liane smiled, waving him off as he left. As she shut the door she saw his car pull away and watched him go, feeling that tug in her chest again, and sighed.

"You are the least subtle person I know."

Liane jumped, turning around to see Belladonna stood behind her, her face as always impassive but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes.

"Don't. It's only natural to try and connect with someone so closely linked to your family. Do you want to stay in touch?"

"Do you?"

"Yeah, but he's your Dad, what's your verdict, my little raven?"

"I'd like to see him again. Ask him questions. Tell him about myself. Fix things. And other stuff."

"Duly noted. Please tell me you paused the TV."

Bella reached into the pocket of her dress, holding out the TV remote.

"It boggles my mind that you still doubt my intellect to this day."

Liane smiled, taking the remote from her and headed for the lounge, a strange warmth now lingering on her heart. Ethan Long was now occupying space in her mind. Here we go again.

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks again to Lor for restarting my OUAT obsession and getting my mind into the world of fantasy..again

@jackiequick @gcthvile @blueboirick @mallowbee4 @meiramel @ask-starrk @ask-missparker @askstevella @wizzzardofoz @therealdaydreamstark @thechoooooosenone @finlayholmes @rickb-chaos @luna-d-marsh

#ouat #ouat au #liane felton #askliane #liane's blog #violet pyre #mcu fandom #ethan lensherr #ethane #cassandra ashfield #belladonna #marvel roleplay #once upon a time #fantasy au

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