9. Eternity

It was bed- time and their daughter and new-born son were safely tucked up. Emma in her bed and baby Daniel in his Moses basket which she insisted they bring in so that he could listen to the story.

"Ok, are we all ready?"

"Yes, Daddy." Emma exclaimed happily.

"And what about you my son?" He smiled and tickled the six-month old who by now had almost jet black hair and the hazel green eyes of his mother.

"He's ready." Snow chuckled, placing a kiss on the side of her husband's for-head before perching herself on the bed with her son and Emma waiting expectantly. It was their ritual now nightly stories together at least, until their children were old enough to say otherwise.

"And what story do Princess Emma and Prince Daniel want to hear?"

"Rapunzel's." Emma said for a change knowing that would momentarily throw her father.

"Em, what have I told you about teasing Daddy?" Snow mock chided.

"It's so much fun." She replied truthfully.

"I see how it is." David replied arms folded pretending to hold back a sob that is until Snow leant forward and whispered a private promise which suddenly made him feel a lot better. "That's how it is Charming." Snow swooned the last word which only made their seven year old roll her eyes.

"Daddy… the story."

"Ah. Which one do you want? It's your turn to pick Mommy." He said lovingly at Snow who put a wriggling Daniel in front of her and blew kisses on his stomach as her husband lay beside them having put the basket on the floor for her.

"Hmm…?"

"Ours."

"As you wish."

"Once Upon A Time, deep in the heart of the Enchanted Forest. A carriage containing a young prince and the…" He was stopped by Snow's kiss as she whispered "nag with the bad attitude."

"A carriage containing a young prince and the nag with the bad attitude whom was to be his betrothed was halted in its path by a fallen tree fate and unknown to him, a bandit intervening…"

He carried on for hours until Emma was asleep and their son was safely settled in his crib in their bedroom.

"Charming?" Snow loomed over his shoulder arms lacing behind him as he watched Daniel lost in his dream." She was wearing a Lavender silk slip that tickled against the back of his leg as she pressed a kiss against his bare shoulder the one marred by the diagonal fire of a knight's blade and that still gave him occasional pain.

"Yes Snow." He tuned into her devotedly and captured her by the waist pulling her close.

"You did not finish the story."

"How does it end?"

"With happiness, children and Eternal Love."

"I like that ending." She said before she was lifted up and spun in the air love assured and sealed in a goodnight kiss. The first of an eternity. Their eternity.

Thank you so much for all the feedback, follows and general love for this story. I want you to know that I loved writing it and although, I reached the end I wanted to do you and them justice. xxxx