eachdraidh | {4th Hope; Video; Seelie}

[The locket turns on to show Snow sitting cross-legged on her bed, a rather large book at her lap, titled 'Once Upon a Time'. Which is decidedly familiar to at least one particular other. If not various others in some more vague way. Fairytales. Though the ones in this particular book aren't quite the traditional ones most would be familiar with. She sets the locket to try show the pages, the pictures and at least some of the text.]

I know others probably had gifts recently, from home. This is what I was given. A book I found in my wardrobe and gave to my grandson. It has stories from our world. From the Enchanted Forest. Stories most probably consider fairytales for children. I thought I'd read at least one of them.

[When Snow White meets her Prince Charming. Of course. To show people aren't always as they seem. To show even if some might disagree initially, they can work together. Can come to care about each other in spite of the obstacles surrounding them.

She tells the story, starting from Charming and his fiance in the carriage, the road being blocked by a tree in a trap from a bandit who steals some jewels from the carriage when the prince gets out to find out what the hold up is. Chasing the bandit, he realizes it is a woman. She smacks him over the head with a rock and flees, only to later get caught in his trap, held up in a net. Between the banter and blackmail - him threatening to tell the Queen he's found the infamous Snow White, she agrees to help him get his ring back for his fiance. They go to the Troll Bridge and she uses her pixie dust to defeat them and save his life. The honorable thing to do. After returning the ring to him as they agreed, they part ways. Not yet realizing just how much of an impact this meeting would have.

There's a hint of an almost bittersweet smile at her lips as she reads, as she finishes that particular chapter and closes the book at her lap. Memories. Charming. How much she misses him in all of this.]

And that's how Snow White met Prince 'Charming'. Or, rather, the Shepard. But we can continue that story another time. Most of you probably already have plenty of questions from that as it is, I imagine.

[Really. Because. Snow please. At least Charming has a scar to forever remind him of said meeting with his future wife. Best first impressions.....]

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Yeah.

[Tom's face is a bit dopey, but then it usually is, so Snow will have to forgive him. If she's nice]

I stayed in a place that was real nice once. Almost a whole month 'fore we had ta leave. Does your Storybrooke got a school an' stuff?

We did, yes. I was a teacher there, actually. It wasn't the biggest town but we had what we needed.

[So it is likely no wonder she's currently got the title of 'Knowledge-Bringer' in attempting to assist the natives of Drabwurld in literacy.]

Barry's like that. We lived down where the tourists are though, so there's only a nursery, which'll be good for Baby Eve when she grows up. She's goin' ta have a proper education and everything.

I bet a real school is nice, yeah? Like if they got stories like you tell and all that learnin'...

[The idea of a simple, normal life is fascinating to Tom and often leaves him with a certain longing that he knows will never really be filled]

Never did get a lot of tourists around in Storybrooke. For. Well, obvious reasons. But you say you have a baby? That's wonderful.

[Part of her might be slightly jealous, given how much she missed of Emma's upbringing, the first words, the first steps. All of it. But she can't deny that joy in sharing this all the same. Being a parent.]

But you're right. The school is well enough staffed and we have plenty of resources. We manage well enough.

[He can feel his face burn at her question. There are so many confusing emotions when it comes to George and Nina, but none of those matter when he's with Baby Eve]

Nah, I'm jus' helpin' Annie. See, Nina, her mum, uh, Baby Eve's not Annie's, well, she died. An' then George died and so me an' Annie promised ta look after her.

An' Hal now too, but he don't like babies much.

[Tom thought it would probably be more fair to say Hal didn't like anyone much]

I see. But it's wonderful there was someone to care for her after that. I know the foster system can be rather difficult for children to go through. At least, back home. It was great that she had you to step in like that. Not just anyone could take up that responsibility.

[If only Emma had had someone to care for her long term. Rather than being shuttled from foster home to foster home, wearing down her trust more and more each time.]

Baby Eve is great.

[He was still very skeptical about her being some sort of human savior, but at least Annie wasn't calling her a God anymore. Tom wanted Eve to have a normal, happy childhood; the sort he so desperately wanted himself]

Plus I figure it's good ta practice so that when I find a lady and we get married I'll know 'ow ta help with the little ones while me wife is at work.

[Baby saviors. If only Tom knew the full story regarding Emma.]

Oh, but of course it will be! Any experience with children, especially babies is helpful, better than having none at all and being completely unprepared.

[No, she's trying not to think on how much she prepared and never got to share with her own daughter. Trying not to remember the state of the nursery that last time she saw it.]

Did you have a lady yet or were you still looking, back home?

Oh, no, I ain't got no one.

[He could feel the tips of his ears turning red. Relationships, from what he'd seen, were strange and often complicated, and talking about something like that with a very nice lady was almost too much for Tom]

McNair always said that when you meet the person you love, you jus' know that you'll love them forever. I figure she'll jus' know too, so we won't really have ta do much, jus' meet an' fall in love.

Well, I'm sure you'll find her. Probably when you least expect to, if my experience is anything to go on. Whether it happens here or back home. I hope you do find that happiness.

[Everyone deserves at least that chance. Even if there might be obstacles, even if that love might hurt at times. It's worth it. Or, so Snow figures. Even if there's been that ache in being separated from Charming ever since her arrival. There's still that belief, that hope and faith that he would find her. Or she would go back to him once this was over.]

[The lies that McNair had filled Tom's head with had really stuck with the young werewolf; for him love was all about romance and happiness with lots of self-sacrifice thrown in. The very idea of love left him with a rather dopey smile on is face]

I would't mind finding 'er here, but then I ain't sure I could take her home with me, and I'd want her ta meet Annie and Hal and Baby Eve. Course, if they show up here then it wouldn't matter none.

I hope your love comes here too, then you'd have all your family and it would be wonderful.

Of course. I understand that. Doesn't mean some haven't found a special someone in the meantime while they are here, even knowing once this is over we'll probably be separated.

As for Charming, well. If there's one thing we are good at, it's finding each other. He's taking his time about it this time though. But this is still nothing in comparison to the 28 years we were separated with the Curse.

That don't make it no easier, curse or not. Missin' someone you love is like missin' a bit o' yourself.

[He tries hard not to think of McNair, the only parent figure he'd ever had. Yes, the man had lied, but he'd given Tom a life and loved Tom more than anything]

I bet he's tryin' real 'ard ta get here ta you and your daughter, but this place is full of weird magic that makes it hard ta get to. Yeah, I bet 'e'll be here 'fore you even know it.

It doesn't make it easier, no.

[There's a slight shrug at that. It's a constant ache, that sense of pain and something missing. After this long, she's used to it but that doesn't mean it hurts any less to be without him. To know she is without him.]

I'm not sure if I want him to be here or not. If anything I might end up smacking him for making me wait this long.

[Before a barrage of kisses all over his face. Probably.]

It ain't so bad, yeah? I mean, we got food and a bed. Much better than sleepin' rough or in a caravan.

That don't mean you can't smack 'im a bit for makin' you wait and worry.

[It seemed there was quite a bit of friendly slapping that happened to husbands, if the telly was anything to go by]

I've been on the run long enough to never not appreciate a bed, trust me.

But you're right. I probably will.

[It's almost like another sign of affection of sorts from her, given how they initially met and he still has that scar from the rock she smashed at his jaw.]

{4th Hope; Video; Seelie}

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