#so I guess hyperion heights was supposed to be downtown

[hookaroo]

Vocivore, Ltd. (14 of ?)

A OUAT WINTER WHUMP FIC

Also on FFN and AO3 (ack I need to update there!) (ListerofTardis)

Tagging @ouatwinterwhump, @killian-whump, @cocohook38, @killianjonesownsmyheart1, and @courtorderedcake <3

***THE MOST WONDERFUL COVER ART BY COCOHOOK38 HERE!!!!!******

****NEW!!!!!!!!!!!! Chapter 12 animation and art that will absolutely astound you!!! THANK YOU MY WONDERFUL COCONUT FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!*************

Present (Wednesday, continued)…   

Storybrooke General is a far cry from the UW Medical Center. Quieter, even with the current sudden influx of patients into its modest Emergency Department. Smaller; that’s a given. About 15 fewer floors, no view of Husky Stadium or its cluster of 30-plus trumpeters having sectional rehearsal in the upper deck.

Lower tech, too. Jones glanced idly at the folder containing scrawled notes on actual paper, thinking of the computerized system in Seattle that probably still contained “Rogers’’’ record detailing his overnight stay for an indeterminate heart issue that seemed to resolve itself, to the bafflement of his caregivers.

Yet the most crucial difference could not be credited to either facility. And even as he thought of it, proof reached his attentive ears.

“Papa?”

The word floated above the general hubbub of questions and reassurances, pained moans, and beeps and hums of machinery. But he recognized the voice easily, even in his slightly drugged state.

“Alice?”

There came the sound of metal on metal somewhere nearby, and then a surprised,

“Oh. Sorry, sorry--wrong curtain.”

With a fond smile that was somewhat lopsided by the swelling in his cheek, Jones called,

“Over here, love.”

A few seconds later, the curtain to his own little alcove fluttered tentatively, then billowed open as Alice ducked inside. She took in his condition with apprehensive eyes, inching closer, obviously restraining the urge to throw herself into his arms.

“Sheriff Emma called and said you were hurt, and I… well, I thought…”

He held out his hand and relaxed into as placid an expression as he could muster. Alice came closer and grasped it, but he could see she feared hurting him.

“I’m okay, Starfish. Just a bit sore.”

“But you’re bleeding; maybe… shall I fetch a nurse, or…?”

Jones tightened his grip, ignoring the spikes of pain from lacerated skin above shifting muscles. Emma's assessment of the stab wound in his chest had been correct: the sword point had cracked his sternum, which was the source of the most severe pain, but required little more than rest and pain medication as treatment. After imaging to rule out deeper injury, the chest laceration had been repaired; the more minor of his cuts, however, had only been temporarily covered and still needed stitching. Ruefully, he pointed out,

“So are three quarters of the other patients in here right now. I can wait.”

Alice looked like she wanted to protest, but he gave a decisive nod and pulled her closer. As she moved, the fingers of her free hand splayed of their own accord. When nothing happened, she vented a tiny groan of frustration.

“Ugh, I hate not being able to help you!”

“You are helping, just by being here.” He thought once again of that lonely night in Seattle, of freshly restored memories drowned out by crippling pain in his chest, with no one there to bolster his spirits, to give him hope for any sort of future happiness. On impulse, and despite protesting muscles and painful friction on half-clotted gouges in his skin, he pulled her into a tight hug. “I will never take this for granted. Not ever.”

“So you keep saying,” she teased, but her answering embrace was just as fierce.

“I do?”

“Oh yeah. Only every time we do this?”

“Well then it must be true.” Jones allowed her to gingerly extricate herself, then he settled back with a wince. Alice perched lightly on the edge of the bed, gracing him with a watery smile.

“I, uh, heard that the other you is in pretty rough shape.” She fidgeted with the coarse cotton blanket, her eyes sad. “Is it true, then? He was slave to that… killer-monster that took Hope?”

“Aye, he was.” Jones sighed, but strove to exude confidence. “But he’s safe now; Emma won’t allow him to fall back into the killer’s clutches.”

“But…” She trailed off, though her unspoken words were not difficult to guess at. Despite Dr. Whale’s best efforts, there had yet to be a single survivor of the neurological side effects of enslavement.

“He’ll be all right,” he said firmly. In a lighter tone, he added, “We’re made of strong stuff, he and I. All tempered steel and elegance. Though we both know which of us is the handsome one.”

Alice giggled at his attempts to show off his good looks, which were more than slightly marred at present by the blood and bruised swelling all down one side.

“‘Course; no contest there.” She squeezed his hand, reveling it its warmth, its size and strength. The way he could make her feel safe even with so simple a touch. Sensing her thoughts, Jones stroked his thumb along her fingers.

“Why don’t you tell me how the preparations are coming?” he suggested. “I could do with a bit of good news at the moment.”

Just as Alice had drawn a preparatory breath, about to embark upon an enthusiastic update, a scrub-clad man ducked into the alcove, carrying a draped tray.

“Mr. Jones?” After confirmation, he continued, “Kermit here. We’re catching up out there and should be able to get you taken care of very soon.” He set his burden down on a stand and glanced at Jones’ wrists, encircling his own with finger and thumb in demonstration of what he sought.

“Ankle?” he guessed, and Jones nodded.

“The right one.”

Kermit quickly confirmed his identity via the ID band around his ankle, then announced,

“I’m just here to numb you up a little; someone else will do the actual suturing.”

“Can I stay with my papa?” asked Alice. “I promise I won’t get in the way.”

Scrubbing his hands with sanitizer before donning gloves, Kermit shrugged. “As long as your papa doesn’t mind.”

Alice turned an anxious gaze on Jones, who smiled.

“Of course you can stay, Starfish. In fact, I’d prefer it if you did.”

“I will need you to go around to the other side, though,” Kermit told her.

“Alice,” she supplied, though he hadn’t asked. “I’m Alice.”

Her introduction made, she reluctantly let go of Jones’ hand and skirted the bed. Kermit was increasing the height to give himself better access, at the same time lowering its head.

“I’ll be performing a nerve block in this arm and probably the other one, too. Basically, what that involves is putting a small amount of anesthetic into a cluster of nerves in your upper arm, here.” He tapped a spot on his own bicep in demonstration. “And that deadens sensation all the way down the forearm and into the hand. It reduces the amount of anesthetic needed for larger injuries like this.”

By this time, the bed was at its highest position. Checking to be sure she wouldn't be hurting him, Alice slid her arms around her father’s upper arm in a possessive hug, stooping to rest her head on his shoulder. Kermit lay a drape on the bed near Jones’ right ear.

“I’m going to have you raise your arm up, just like… this… hand above your head… perfect.”

Jones now had his arm resting on the drape, his shoulder at an angle greater than 90 degrees, his elbow bent, and hand up near the headboard. As Kermit disinfected the underside of his patient’s upper arm, he launched into a more thorough description of the procedure, along with risks and alternatives. Jones indicated his understanding and didn’t have any questions, so Kermit said,

“Okay, great. I’ll go ahead and numb the skin here so you won’t feel the bigger needle. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.”

Jones turned his gaze upon Alice, who had lifted her head and was watching with a half-fascinated, half-apprehensive expression. He gave her a reassuring smile and gentle reminder.

“I believe you were about to tell me of Captain’s Smee’s Kiddie Cruise.”

Alice beamed at him. “We should call it that! I’ll have to remember that one.”

It had been her idea, after the gut-wrenching news of Hope’s disappearance. Get the rest of the vulnerables out of harm’s way, she thought, but in the least scary manner she could devise. Which turned out to be a sailing excursion on the Jolly Roger. Smee’s Jolly Roger, not the one currently berthed in Storybrooke Harbor. Although, with the rousing success of the first endeavor, the identical ship was now involved in plans for a similar voyage.

They had taken everyone down the coast, beyond the borders of the United Realms, along the shores of the Land Without Magic and, presumably, out of reach of the monster. Such a project had required a lot of careful planning, but had gone off without a hitch, and they were only back for a day or two while they restocked and recruited more families with young children.

Listening to his daughter chatter took Jones’ mind off of the mild discomfort of the procedure, the more moderate breakthrough pain of his injuries, and his fear for everyone he held dear. He felt a swell of pride as Alice recounted detailed preparations that would please even the most straight-laced captains. Of which category Smee was definitely not a part.

“That’s it,” announced Kermit some time later, smoothing a Band-Aid over the puncture and completely throwing off Alice’s train of thought. “Not so bad, right?”

“No.” Jones wiggled his fingers slightly, feeling a definite muting of sensation all along the torn flesh. “And worth it, without question.”

“Glad to hear that,” replied Kermit. “Cuz we get to do it all again on the other side!”

*****

It took almost two hours to thoroughly clean and repair Jones’ wounds, and by the time that was complete, Alice had curled up in a chair nearby to doze. Apparently, her duties as event planner were taking their toll on her energy. Jones himself came close to that state on several occasions, but was always brought back to awareness by a word of instruction, a twinge in one of his wounds, or an announcement over the hospital intercom.

With the tightening of the final knot and the placement of the last bandage came the inevitable instruction to dress and make his way to the reception area for discharge. Which meant more waiting. And eventually, though Alice seemed content to sit and gossip the afternoon away, Jones encouraged her to head home and spend some alone time with Robin. After all, he was intimately acquainted with the lack of privacy aboard his beloved ship. He knew they hadn’t had the opportunity for much one-on-one interaction during the cruise.

Besides, Jones was not intending to head straight home once he was released. Too many questions remained. He needed to find out how David was faring, if Killian was all right, and what, if anything, he could do to help. It was time for a visit to the inpatient ward.

[lilacmoon83]

Finding You Always

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 186: Interlude

Snow hummed contently, as he kissed her deeply. She lay sated atop his bare chest, after a passionate bout of morning lovemaking. It had been a week since they returned to Storybrooke and it had been pure bliss. They had done everything they promised to do in that short week. They had picnics in the woods where they pretended to get lost for hours, made love on their picnic blanket down by the Toll Bridge, spent some much needed downtime with their children and family in the form of dinners at Granny's, barbecues in their backyard, and trips to the reserve.

They had also tended to business by telling their friends and family of their upcoming undertaking. The uniting of the realms. It took a bit for Granny, the Dwarves, and James and Aphrodite to get their heads around it, but when the Goddess revealed the all the realms had once been one, nearly three thousand years ago during and when the Crystal Kingdom had both existed and been in its prime, everyone easily got on board.

Next, in a Town Hall meeting, Snow revealed the idea to the residents of Storybrooke. She and David answered their concerns, which included things like crowding, increased crime, and just general fear of change. Snow assured them that a good curse, as she had coined it, would expand the land that Storybrooke occupied and the magic of the chalice would keep them concealed. Aphrodite described it as sort of a pocket dimension and Snow continued by assuring that all the Kingdoms or realms would still have clear borders and each would still have an independent leader responsible for governing their realm. Regina chimed in to assure they she and Snow would provide those leaders with guidance and support. Then came the question of security to which Snow answered that David would be hiring many more deputies and they would work in conjunction with other Kingdoms to train their Knights and peace keepers for a new type of policing. She had already appointed her husband as Supreme Sheriff, General of their police and Knights and essentially King to her Queen. David promised that Emma would take up the full mantle as Sheriff of Storybrooke as well and that James would have an integral role in training new Knights and deputies. Xander would join them as well and they would be hiring many more deputies, with the dwarves returning to their roles as Royal Guard.

For the most part, most seemed to accept this new undertaking, though it was not without scrutiny or even fear of the unknown. But that was to be expected. And now that they had rested for a few days and declared their intentions to their people, Snow and David prepared to begin their journey around the realms with their idea. They would be starting with Agrabah and then traveling to the other Kingdoms in the Enchanted Forest. They had enlisted Hyde to travel back to the Land of Untold Stories to inform any left behind that had not arrived with him aboard the dirigible years ago.

After they had visited the necessary Kingdoms in the Enchanted Forest, they would journey to Oz to speak to Glinda and the other witches, then Neverland to visit the Immortal Tribe. They decided they would enlist Whale to travel to the Land Without Color since so little was known about it to them and magic was a bit of a hard sell there.

Then Olympus would be the final visit and they would journey there with Aphrodite to speak to Zeus. They were a tad worried about that one, but Aphrodite assured them that even if Zeus was against it that they could count on her, Hermes, and Poseidon's support for sure. And she was certain Zeus could be convinced.

This was quite possibly the largest undertaking they had ever attempted, but they did not fear it, for they were going to do it as they did everything. Together.

She mewled and bit her bottom lip, as she felt her husband's lips skim her neck and his hands roam with passionate intent.

"We need to get up, my love. We have quite the journey ahead," she reminded. He sighed and pecked her on the lips.

"I suppose you're right...but how about you join me in the shower? We can save time that way," he prompted.

"How is that going to save time?" she asked skeptically.

"Uh...it's not. I just want shower sex with you," he admitted and she laughed, as he pulled her against him.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing we want the same thing," she responded. He grinned and pulled her out of bed and into the bathroom.

~*~

Seattle

2018

Major Donovan sat down across from Cecily Clayton and placed a tape recorder on the table.

"As you can imagine, I have many questions. But let's start first with your father," she said, as she put the file down in front of her. It was all the information the FBI had on him, complete with his mugshot from when Detective Rogers arrested him for what he did to the Nolans. But this was only the tip of the iceberg.

"And I haven't heard what I get in return for answering your questions," Cecily responded.

"You were caught on camera stealing highly valuable and priceless artifacts from an ancient civilization. There is no scenario in which you don't serve jail time for that. But if you tell me what you know...then I can make sure it's a nice prison," the Major offered.

"Nice try...but you want the information I know about what just happened in this city and you'll do anything to get it. I want to walk," she demanded.

"That's not going to happen," the Major argued.

"Then my lips are sealed and I want a lawyer," Cecily responded. The Major was silent for a moment.

"House arrest and an ankle bracelet. How long depends on what you have and you'd be required to work for us at every stage," Major Donovan offered.

"It better be a penthouse with all the amenities," Cecily bargained.

"Depends on the information. If it's good...you get a decent apartment without rats. If it's great...then maybe we'll upgrade from there," the Major stated, as she pointed to the file.

"Start talking...because if you think we don't have ways of getting information out of you, off the books, so to speak, then you're sadly mistaken, Ms. Clayton," the Major argued. Cecily smirked.

"Well...that didn't take long. Five minutes and you're already threatening torture," she quipped, as she looked at her father's picture.

"In this land, my father was an eccentric museum owner with a flare for rare and priceless artifacts. But to all the other realms, he was known as the Collector," she revealed. The Major raised an eyebrow.

"Other realms?" she questioned.

"You don't really think that this Earth is the be all end all of the Universe, do you?" Cecily questioned.

"Are you saying this is about extraterrestrials?" Donovan questions. Cecily laughed.

"No...nothing so pedestrian. I'm talking about humans for other lands and earths that are very different from this one. But that's just the tip of the iceberg," Cecily replied.

"And what did your father collect?" Major Donovan questioned.

"The same thing he collected here. Rare artifacts, priceless items...even magical people," she revealed.

"And how do you expect me to believe such things?" the Major asked.

"You saw magic right before your eyes and you're still denying it?" Cecily questioned in returned and snorted.

"Typical muggle," she goaded, as she glowered at the other woman.

"Fine...so tell us all about this magic and where the Nolans took all those people," she responded.

"Oh, that's a really long story and I don't like this room. It's cold and this chair is hard. I also need a good bottle of wine and maybe a lobster dinner. I miss the east coast fare," she replied. The Major picked up another file that had just been delivered.

"In 1983, thirty-five years ago, David Nolan was found on the side of the road in rural Maine with a stab wound to his side and his infant daughter in his arm," she said, as she showed her the file.

"Thirty-five years later, the same man is serving as a detective for the Hyperion Heights Police Department and has barely aged a day. Can you tell me that story?" she questioned. Cecily smirked.

"I can tell you everything if my demands are met," Cecily retorted.

"Fine...you'll get your cushy penthouse apartment in downtown Seattle, whatever food and wine you want, and you'll serve your time there for the next five years. I don't think I have to tell you how easy you're getting off considering the federal crimes you've committed," the Major offered.

"Does the ankle bracelet come in just basic black or can I get it diamond encrusted?" Cecily asked sarcastically, as the Major slammed her hand down on the desk.

"This is your last warning, Ms. Clayton. Talk or I'll get it beaten out of you," she growled. Cecily smirked.

"Deal accepted, but you might want to make that apartment in Boston, because you're on the wrong coast if you want to find the Nolans...or should I say, the Charmings?" she replied. The Major's eyes narrowed at her and she regained her composure, as she put her phone to her ear.

"Fuel the jet. We're relocating to Boston. Make the arrangements for our stay...and our co-berating witness," she said, before hanging up.

"Then Boston it is, Ms. Clayton. Then while you're gorging yourself on fine wine and lobster, I expect to hear everything," Major Donovan replied. Cecily smirked.

"Then you better order for yourself and your staff, because this is a very long, complicated, and sordid story that will change the way you think about your world. This story will blur the lines between reality and fiction and you'll learn that everything you thought you knew is wrong," Cecily said ominously in a way that actually made the Major believe her.

~*~

Rose and Fandral arrived at Hermes' temple on Mt. Olympus and the bubble around them disappeared. They followed the Goddess hand in hand to her viewing pool and she waved her hands over it.

"Are there any survivors at all? Of Asgard, I mean?" Fandral questioned. She turned to him and nodded.

"Yes...and it appears that will settle in a small country on Midgard...Earth. But I'm afraid that no one was spared the cataclysm of what just occurred. The disruption was so devastating that we even felt it here on Olympus," she responded.

"Does this have anything to do with that...that bastard that slaughtered Thor and my people?" Fandral questioned.

"Yes...but you must know that Thor managed to survive his battle with the Titan," she revealed.

"Thor is alive?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes...but half of all life in that nine realms has been wiped out," she responded.

"Half of all life? How is something like that possible? Even a war or natural disaster could not do damage like that," Rose surmised.

"No...but a person possessing the right power can," Hermes replied.

"I've known him to decimate planets and systems alike, but even for him, it takes time. Yet you make it sound like half of life was just wiped out in an instant," Fandral remarked.

"Because it was," she responded.

"That's not possible!" he refuted, but then Rose saw a haunted look enter her husband's eyes.

"Unless…" Fandral uttered, as he searched Goddess' eyes and she nodded.

"By the look on your face...I take it that you are familiar with the Infinity stones," Hermes surmised.

"All too well," he responded.

"The Infinity Stones? I remember those being mentioned when I was reading Asgardian history," Rose said, as he took her hands.

"Yes...the Infinity stones are elemental crystals of great power. Describing the scope of their power is...difficult or at least it was. After seeing what we saw in Seattle, they're not completely dissimilar to star gems, except greater in raw power and obviously are not tied to people like star gems are," he explained. Hermes nodded.

"Each stone controls an element of reality, but not meteorological elements like star gems. But rather things like reality, power, time, soul, space, and mind. And this being...this monster managed to acquire all six," Hermes explained.

"And that allowed him to cause this devastation?" Rose asked.

"With a literal snap of his fingers," she revealed.

"And that's why the story stopped?" she asked. Hermes opened the book, revealing that since then the story had resumed.

"A new author has picked up where the last one left off, but these realms have experienced such devastation that I fear their stories will have difficulty moving forward. Life cannot just resume after something like this. People will not just move on. Healing from this will take...generations, if at all," she said.

"What of him? What of the monster that did this?" Fandral questioned.

"He has done what he meant to do and has disappeared. I have no doubt that your friend and others like him will seek justice against him. But I fear that even making him pay for his crimes will be an empty victory and can never fill the void he created," Hermes said.

"We should go to him...to that Earth. Thor doesn't know you live and perhaps finding that he has one close friend that is not dead will help him," Rose suggested.

"There is nothing I can do to help Thor," he replied dejectedly.

"I disagree, but I understand that you don't wish to take Rose and the children into an unstable universe," Hermes stated.

"As long as that monster draws breath...it is a risk I cannot and will not take with my family," he said, as he took her hands in his own. She sighed, but did not argue further. However, this was one story she would be closely monitoring, for if the time came where this threat was gone, she was going to see to it that her husband connected to his roots again.

~*~

Breakfast at the Charming residence was lively, as usual, with David in the kitchen making a mountain of pancakes for his hungry family. Snow was still packing for their trip, while he took care of feeding them all. While the kids and everyone else were eating at the table, Xander moved into the kitchen and sat at the island. He sipped at his juice and was glad that his detox period was behind him. He didn't worry about slipping now that he had his memories back, but he was relieved that he had gone through proper treatment.

"David…" he started to say, as his son turned from the griddle, having finished the last of the food.

"Dad...you don't have to do that," he protested.

"I know...but I still think we need to talk," Xander insisted. David sighed and delivered the rest of the food to the table, before returning.

"It's not your fault...I don't blame you," David assured.

"And I'm grateful for that, but it doesn't change the fact that you spent two years pulling my drunk ass out of bars. It doesn't change the fact that I could see, even through my stupor, at how angry and disappointed you were," he replied, as his son sighed again. He and Emma were a lot alike in this way. Both of them liked to put up walls when it came to their emotions. They were more than ready to help others deal with their problems, but neither of them liked dealing with their own, as Snow had pointed out to him more than once over the years.

"It doesn't change the fact that you needed me...that Summer needed me for those two years when you thought your wife and the love of your life was dead. When Summer thought her mother was dead. When you thought your son was dead," he continued.

"Dad…" David protested.

"I broke my promise," Xander added.

"Not on purpose...I know that now," David insisted.

"I know, but it doesn't change the fact that it happened," Xander insisted in return.

"Clayton did that to you. If there was one thing that man knew...it was revenge," David replied, as he put a hand on his father's shoulder.

"But he's gone and this time, he's not coming back," he added. Xander nodded.

"Not gonna lie...I wish I could have seen him finally go down," he mentioned.

"Well, it was satisfying, especially since his arrogance caused his own demise," David said.

"Hung himself on accident...yeah I don't think I could have come up with anything more fitting than that," he agreed.

"So...we're okay?" Xander asked. David smiled.

"Better than okay," he agreed.

"But we won't be if we don't get over to the table for breakfast. Between Leo and Bobby, the food isn't going to last long," he joked. Xander chuckled.

"I get Bobby...he's going through another growing spurt. But what's Leo's excuse?" he joked back.

"Charming metabolism...your fault Gramps, not mine," Leo retorted.

"Suppose you have a point...now pass the pancakes," he agreed, just as Snow came down the stairs. David joined her and kissed her tenderly.

"We're all packed," she informed.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked. She nodded.

"I am," she replied, as he took her hand. They joined their children and ate breakfast with them. After their stomachs were filled and they cleaned up, David carried their backpacks full of clothes and other essentials. Since they did not foresee any danger in what essentially was a diplomatic visit, they gave Summer and Bobby the choice to either go with them or stay behind with Regina. The two had opted to go with their parents, while their three grown children would stay behind, as they had jobs they were eager to resume.

They journeyed out into the backyard, as their older children and Xander prepared to see them off. Hugs were exchanged, while Snow and David assured that they would be back in no time. With that, David tossed one of their many beans in their possession and a vertical portal opened. The four of them held hands and journeyed through the portal.

~*~

The Queen observed the stone palace, as they approached it and the guards at the entrance that wore masks in the likeness of jackals. She also heard an inhuman roaring, which was a bit startling.

"Don't worry...those are just the Horned King's army of undead soldiers," Mephisto assured.

"Zombies?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow. He chuckled.

"We prefer undead. They only eat mortal flesh when we tell them to and they don't create more undead with their bite," he corrected. She wrinkled her nose.

"Thanks for the distinction," she replied sarcastically.

"So...what exactly is a Horned King? And how does he make these undead soldiers?" she inquired.

"With some of the darkest magic in existence. It got him banished and would have got him executed, if they had the power to do it. He's possibly been here longer than any of us...roughly almost ten thousand years if the Pharaoh is to be believed," Mephisto explained.

"Pharaoh?" she questioned. He smirked.

"Essentially the supreme ruler of this place, not that there is much to rule. He too was banished here, by the Olympians. If the stories are true...he was worse than the all the titans put together," he stated.

"Now that is someone I'd be interested in meeting," Regina replied, as they went inside and she soon found herself in a circular room with a table that was likely some kind of war room.

"Who the hell is this?" a female voice asked. The Queen turned to find a willowy blonde woman dressed in a very tight green leather bodysuit, which accentuated her already pronounced curves.

"Easy Amora...she is a new arrival. Another cast out by those that call themselves heroes. The woman scoffed.

"Heroes...such an oxymoron. I've tempted many a supposed hero into my bed. They are not as virtuous as they claim," she responded.

"Normally, I'd agree with you, but the pair that constantly ousted me are sickeningly good and true love always wins the day for them," she spat distastefully.

"You're right...that's nauseating," Amora quipped.

"So...what do we call you?" she questioned. The Queen smirked.

"The Evil Queen is my well earned moniker...so you may refer to me as Your Majesty," she responded. Amora snorted derisively.

"Yeah...that's not happening here, Queenie," she retorted. The Queen regarded her for a beat and then nodded curtly.

"Regina will do then," she responded, as she noticed a huge figure in the corner. The man had to be over seven-feet tall and wore heavy armor, except for his arms. They were not covered, but one could not see the true skin, for his arms were stained in crimson. He had a red cape as part of his armor and his face was hidden behind a mask in the likeness of an antlered skull mask. He was probably the most terrifying thing she had ever seen and that was saying quite a lot.

"And I'm assuming this must be the Horned King?" she inquired.

"So I've been told," Amora responded.

"Does it speak?" Regina asked. The blonde woman shrugged.

"I've been told he can, but I've never heard it. He mostly just grunts and breathes heavily," she replied.

"Unnerving and a bit creepy," the Queen commented.

"Especially when one has no idea what's beneath that mask," Amora agreed.

"So...when do I get to meet this supposed Pharaoh?" the Queen questioned.

"You don't get to meet him. He'll decide if you can have an audience with him," another female voice interjected. Regina looked up to find a dark-haired, seemingly middle aged woman, as she swept into the room in a long, dark cloak.

"And who the hell are you?" the Queen inquired.

"Many things...including far more powerful than you, newcomer. But you can call me...Mim," she replied mysteriously…

~*~

When they returned from Olympus, only a mere hour later, Rose and Fandral retired for the night. But sleep didn't seem to be in the cards for Fandral on that night, so instead of keeping Rose awake with his tossing and turning, he elected to get up. He padded onto the veranda outside the royal chambers, shirtless and relished the gentle evening breeze on his bare skin. He knew what this was mostly. Survivor's guilt. While most of his people had not been so lucky, Hela nearly slaying him and his falling through that breach as Asgard collapsed had been the best thing that had ever happened to him.

He had found true love; something he didn't think was possible for a warrior like him. He had three beautiful children with the love of his life. He had gained everything, while his oldest friends had lost everything. It made him wonder what superior being had decided to smile on him, but not his friends. To him, he was no more deserving of happiness than they were.

He wasn't surprised when his brooding was interrupted by a pair of arms encircling his waist. He smiled, despite his mood, and pulled her into his arms, as he dropped a kiss on her ebony hair.

"I was hoping I wouldn't wake you," he said.

"I don't sleep well without the man I love by my side, holding me in his arms," she replied, as she kissed him tenderly.

"And I'm glad I did wake up, because I would never wish for more sleep when my husband needs me," she replied. He sighed.

"I know you are having a bout of survivor's guilt and after all that we learned, that's not surprising. In fact, it's very understandable," she reasoned.

"But I would never regret where my life has led...I just wish things had turned out so well for my friends," he replied.

"Of course you do. But do you really think your friends would begrudge you happiness?" she asked. He shook his head.

"No...I know they wouldn't," he agreed.

"Then honor their memory by being happy," she said.

"For my friends that have passed...I think I can do that. But Thor…" he replied.

"That's why I believe we should go. I think he deserves to know that he has not lost everyone. He has one friend that he doesn't even know is alive," she reasoned.

"I'm just not sure that it is a good idea," he answered.

"Because of this...mad titan?" she asked.

"That's part of it...I mean he did just commit genocide on half a universe," he answered.

"But it's more than that. What if seeing me makes Thor feel worse?" he questioned. Her brow furrowed.

"You do not think he will be happy to see that you are alive?" she asked in confusion.

"No...I think he will and I would love for you and the children to meet him finally. But...what if he looks at what I have gained and it only serves as a reminder to him of everything he has lost?" he asked. She put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I think you are focusing on the negative, my love. I think finding that you are alive and well could only bring happiness to one of your oldest friends," she told him. He looked at her, as she lifted her head and he gently caressed her beautiful face with his hand.

"You are as beautiful as you are persuasive, my Rose," he finally agreed. She smiled at him and took his hand.

"Then can I persuade you to come back to bed?" she tempted. He smirked.

"I'm not sure sleep will be easy, my angel," he replied, to which she gave him a sly smirk.

"Good...because sleep is not what I had in mind," she said. He smirked and she yelped, as he swept her into his arms.

"Well, in that case...our bed awaits," he replied, as he carried her back into their chambers.

~*~

A portal opened in the desert of Agrabah and deposited the four of them. Summer and Bobby looked around in wonder, as they had arrived on a cliff side overlooking an incredible, expansive city.

"Wow...so this is Agrabah?" Bobby asked. Snow and David smiled, as they joined hands.

"It is...and that's the palace," David replied, as he and Snow shared a smile at the wide eyes of their children, for they were seeing their beloved book that they had been raised with come to life before their eyes. Now, they would begin the journey of consulting all the Kingdoms and then bringing everyone in their nine realms of story together...