-The Enchanted Forest-:past time

Leaves crunched under Merlin's feet as she ran as fast as she could, and get as far as she could from Camelot. Though none of the guard were racing after her, she still ran, trying to to away from the place she once called home and had left her heart behind in.

She yelled in in surprise when her foot caught on a root and tripped, face-planting in he dirt. Lying there, she almost gave into the temptation to break down. But she soon came to sense. Arthur didn't deserve her tears, not after casting her away without a second thought.

Merlin stood slowly, dusting of her clothes.

"Are you all right?" Merlin looked up a the voice and saw a young woman with pale skin and black hair. "I saw you fall and I wanted to make sure you were all right."

" Oh, um, yes...I'm fine. I'm just naturally clumsy is all. I'm Merlin," Merlin held out her hand. After hearing her name, the young woman was in shock. She weakly took her hand.

"I'm Snow White. I'm sorry, but did you say your name as Merlin?" Snow asked.

"Yes, that's my name."

Snow smiled brightly, "Wow, this is amazing. All the stories I've heard about you, protecting King Arthur and Camelot. You're quite the legend here." The smile disappeared, replaced by a frown and creases appearing on her forehead. "But why are you in the Enchanted Forest? You're far from home." Merlin's breath hitched, pain blooming in her chest.

Snow's eye softened, taking in the young girl in front of her. This was a young woman who had the weight the world on her shoulders. She looked defeated, devastated at being forced to leave her home. But there was one other thing Snow saw; a kindred spirit.

"Well then, you'll have to find a new home then and I know just the place. Come on." Snow grabbed Merlin's and started pulling her with her into the forest. "But you just met me! Why would you want to help a total stranger?"

Snow stopped and turned toward Merlin, a determined look on her face. "Because even if we just met Merlin, I have a feeling we are going to be great friends. That's why I'm helping because you are my friend now," Snow said, smiling at the young Sorceress. Merlin smiled, trying to hold back the tears that were on the verge of coming out. "Thank you, Snow." Snow smiled and they continued on their way.

As they traveled, Merlin told Snow all about the adventures she had while helping defend Camelot and Arthur in her younger days. Snow had collapsed in a fit of giggles when she told her about Uther marrying a troll and Arthur being turned into donkey with the voice and ears. They laughed over the knights ridiculous schemes, especially Gwaine and Percival. They soon arrived at a castle where it was bustling with activity.

"Merlin, welcome to my home. And as they say my home is yours now." The girls walked into the city where Snow was addressed as 'Your Majesty', with Snow taking it in very gracefully like any leader would.

At the entrance of he palace stood a handsome young man speaking with a dwarf and dressed in royal clothes and a sword hung at his side. Catching sight of them, he smiled and finished his business with the dwarf before coming to meet Snow.

"I was beginning to worry where you were. You're later than usual," he said.

"Well, let's just say I was helping a friend in need. Charming, I want you to meet Merlin. Merlin, this is my husband Charming AKA David. We met in the forest when I noticed her fall to the ground."

Like Snow Charming had a look of awe on his face, "The Merlin? Of Camelot?" Charming asked. Snow nodded and he shook Merlin's out stretched hand, "Wow, it is truly an honor to meet you, Merlin. The stories I've heard from the druids gave me inspiration to be more brave than I was. Without your help, Arthur and Camelot would have surely perished." Merlin smiled, shaking his hand.

"It's nice to meet you as well, David. Thank you for accommodating me. I haven't met this much kindness before." The Charmings smile, glad they could help their new friend.

- Storybrooke, present time, Monday afternoon

"I can assure you Leroy that if you don't kick this nasty habit of yours, you will be meeting your making sooner than you expect. Please, stop drinking and get sober. It'll be good for you," Dr. Merlin Emerson said to the so-called town drunk, Leroy. They were siting in her office going over his test results. Leroy sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"It ain't all that easy, Doc."

"It's not meant to be easy. That's why they call it withdrawal. Now, go to that AA meeting, get a sponsor, get sober. and stay that way. I don't want have to id your body cause you had alcohol poisoning."

Leroy gave her a small smile, "I hope you know you are are the only I'd probably ever do this for, Doc," Leroy said as he stood taking the AA pamphlet from her hands. Merlin smiled as she followed him out to the waiting room.

"Yes, Leroy, I know that. Now, just do as I say and go get sober and you'll see how better you'll feel without alcohol in your system."

"Got it, thanks Doc." With that, Leroy waved goodbye and walked out of the office.

Merlin shook her head and headed back into her office. Once Leroy's file was stowed away safely, she sat down behind her desk and placed her head in her hands. Already she could feel a migraine coming on, and it was only 10 am. She stood and walked over to the counter where her coffee pot sat. Once she had her coffee, Merlin quickly drowned two Excedrin's. Taking her cup back with her to the desk, she took out a couple files and started the horrendous job of filling out charts.

Later, as she was walking down the sidewalk, she almost yelped out loud when someone wrapped arms around her legs, but from the tell of the arms, she knew who it was.

"Hi, Dr. Emerson. How are you today?" Henry Mills, on of the mayor, asked.

Merlin smiled and turned to get eye level with her favorite patient. "I am doing well today, Henry. How about yourself? Did you have a good day at school?" Ever since Regina had adopted Henry, she had formed a close bond with the young boy, what with being his pediatrician and the only doctor Regina really trusts.

Henry smiled, showing off perfect teeth. "Good. Ms. Blanchard took us to the hospital today to help out the patients there. I secretly think she's there for the guy in the coma. But what do I know? I'm just a kid after all," Henry smiled that secret smile, one Merlin knew too well.

"Well make sure you keep yourself out of trouble, Henry. And don't forget that we have an appointment on Wednesday." Henry nodded as he walked away with his mother. Merlin continued on her way home. Turning down her street, she nearly ran over Emma.

"Merlin, hey sorry. I was in a hurry and I wasn't watching where I was going."

"It's not a problem, Emma. If you don't mind me asking what were you in a hurry for?" Merlin asked, tucking a stray of hair behind her ear.

"I was on my way to talk to Sheriff Graham about the deputy position he offered me. Are you just getting out of work?"

Merlin nodded, "Yeah it was a slow day so I sent everyone home. Good luck with the sheriff, Emma." Emma nodded and continue on her way, "And Emma?" Emma stopped and turned toward her.

"Despite what Regina and her lackeys think, I'm glad you are here and decided to stay. Its good for Henry and I think you'll make a great a great deputy here on Storybrooke. Never forget that." Emma smiled and gave her a two finger salute. Merlin turned and continued on her way home, happy to let Emma know she had a friend and ally here in Storybrooke.

*****I am going to be skipping around a lot so I can get to the part where Emma breaks the curse and hopefully go from there.*****

When Merlin heard about Henry being in a coma, she immediately ran to the hospital and took over as his doctor, as was her right as his primary care physician. Emma and Regina had gotten into, Regina saying Emma was supposed to eat the turnover and be in the coma, not henry. Whatever the hell that meant. Me. Gold had pulled Emma away, saying something about going to find something to save Henry. Regina had followed shortly after, saying something about not trusting Gold.

Merlin kept by Henry's side, watching his vitals and making sure he was comfortable. Then the unthinkable happened.

She had left the room for a few minutes when Henry's heart monitor went off, signaling that he was crashing.

"Get the crash cart now!" Merlin yelled to the nearest nurse. Once at Henry's side, she immediately started compressions while the nurse was giving Henry breaths. Merlin was so focused on doing the compressions she never realized Regina and Emma had returned from wherever they were. After awhile, the nurse stopped breaths and put a hand on Merlin's arm.

"Dr. Emerson, he's gone. You can stop compressions now." Merlin slowed to a stop and looked at her watch. "Time of death…." Merlin took a shuddering breath, "2:15pm."

Regina cried out and turned to Dr. Whale. "I'm so sorry, Regina. Emma."

Emma was a mess, tears running down her face as she moved closer to henry. Merlin moved back to give her some space.

"I love you, henry," Emma said and kissed Henry's forehead. At the contact thought, there was a flash of light that burst out and sent a wave through the entire town.

And Henry woke up.

And Merlin remembered.

Once everyone wasn't as disoriented, they all started trying to find their family and loved ones. The dwarves were reunited, as was Snow White and Charming. Merlin ran over to greet he friends.

"Snow! David!" They turned and graced her with a huge smile.

"Merlin!" They both shouted happily. The three friends embraced, happy to be together again. Red and Granny found their way over and they joined in. Then the dwarves also found them and joined the hug pile.

Emma arrived with Henry in tow, the latter a smile on his face.

"See, I told you you'd bring the happy endings back." Henry said all smug like. He then ran over to Merlin and gave her a big hug.

"Oh Henry don't ever scare me like that again. I think you took five years off of my life," Merlin said clutching the boy to her.

"Don't worry, I won't. I'm sorry I scared you."

Merlin looked over a the Charmings to see snow and David hugging Emma, finally reunited with their daughter at long last.

"It's ok kid, it's ok"

Eventually once things calmed down, everyone piled into granny's for some coffee and hot chocolate. Snow and David sat with Emma and Henry, talking and getting to know each other. Henry noticed merlin sitting in a back booth, staring out the window a lost expression on her face. Sliding out of the booth he walked over and sat across from her.

"So, did you ever find Arthur here? From what I've read in the book, I gather he's suppose to be your happy ending. The Once and Future King and His Sorcereress."

Merlin smiled sadly henry, "Unfortunately, he's all the way back in Camelot. And even if he was here, I seriously doubt he'd want anything to do with me." Henry frowned at this.

"but why? From what I could tell from the book you two were the best of friends, and were about to become something more."

"Sometimes the book doesn't tell the whole story. I never told Arthur about my magic and when he found out, he was livid with me. He said that he would spare me my life, but I was banished from Camelot and if I ever returned he'd have no choice but to kill me. I left heartbroken, running until I tripped when I entered the Enchanted forest. That was when I met Snow. They had just taken the kingdom back from Regina when I met her and she offered me a place to live.

"So, no, Henry I won't have my happy ending."

Henry's eyes turned sad, "But that's not fair. Everyone deserves a happy ending. There must be a way to get you to Camelot to be with Arthur again." Merlin placed a hand on Henry's arm,

"Henry, the only way I would be able to get to Camelot is of we had a way to open the portal between our worlds. And to do that you need magic. And…"

"And we're in a world without magic," Henry finished. Merlin placed a hand over Henry's.

"Listen, I know you want everyone to have a happy ending, but sometimes it's just not possible," Henry visibly deflated, "But I won't give up because you are right. I love Arthur with everything in me and if he were in my position, I think he'd do the same." Henry smiled brightly at her. They shook hands, sealing the deal between them.