Just a small 50 word idea that turned into a whole story. Contains some Charming family feels, and *warning* also main character death. First go at OUAT.

Was going to request it for a Charming family drabble fic that I love (please check out the story: Our Charming Family by JustMeAndMyKeyboard) but an extended idea came to me when I was half asleep and I had to write it. Spent ages writing this, whenever I had a spare moment alongside the final year of my law degree, and it was honestly the only thing that kept me sane.

This was meant to be a o/s but it is taking so long to write, and I think 10,000 words, (which is about what I'm up to so far) is too much to read in one go. So each chapter will be short (about 600+ words each), and will be published at an unreliable schedule of someone who is either working or studying 7 days a week. Wanted to get something posted, as I write a little every day. Currently typing up chapter 9, though I have written A LOT more, so the first few chapters might be semi-regular.

This story is my only source of excitement at the moment, and so I will be very happy with reviews! Constructive criticism welcome, ultimately it will be interest in the story that keeps me writing.

So, apologies for the long A/N and on with my first OUAT fic.

PS: (Added after story completion 05/02/17) - most of the authors notes at the beginning and end of each chapter will probably not make much sense now. Please just ignore them (aside from the story recommendations!) and the notes at the end should explain.

A Bittersweet Second Chance / In My Arms

Chapter 1 - The Perfect Morning

The first thing Snow had done as she awoke wrapped safely in her husband's arms, was smile. She glanced up at Charming, without moving her head off his chest and watched him as he slept. Snow had always been a light sleeper, all through the first curse it being an affliction she didn't know why she suffered, and then even more so after Neal was born. Charming was like any typical male, and would sleep through a freightliner running through his bedroom.

Not wanting to waste any of the day; especially the precious time before Neal woke up, Snow lifted her head, running her fingers lightly up his bare chest. She smiled as he wrinkled his nose, already in the stages of waking. Leaning up, she pressed her lips to his, giggling as his blue eyes met her hazel ones. He may sleep through ogres rampaging his castle, but one kiss from his true love would wake him from any slumber.

Not satisfied with just the one kiss, Charming grinned, pulling his wife tighter against him, rolling them so she was lying back, smirking at him. He mirrored her smirk, before capturing her lips in a kiss once more.

~absc~

Later, as Snow was making her oatmeal, Charming was sat facing Neal in his chair, fighting with him to keep his socks on while trying to feed both his son and himself. Snow watched her husband and young son interact and felt her heart swell with love for them both. She turned back to the stove, stirring the pot, thinking to her other child, probably awake in her own house, getting ready for work.

Despite her parents and Killian's best efforts, Emma was determined to carry on working at the station right until she dropped. Killian and her father had collectively put their foot down however, and banned her from doing anything other than desk duty for a number of months. Of course Emma had been bitter about it, but as soon as her husband had reminded her it was the best thing for their baby she had stopped trying to escape on stake-outs and was getting on with paperwork without too much grumbling.

"Mama!" Her youngest squealed loudly, breaking Snow out of her daydream. She turned and laughed loudly at the sight of her husband tickling their son's feet, and the delighted giggle coming from Neal. She turned off the stove and quickly made her way over to her son, swinging him up into the air, which only made him giggle harder.

~absc~

After breakfast was finished and David had washed the dishes, the couple and their young son moved about their apartment, getting ready for the day ahead. Snow was excited; she had planned a baby shower for her daughter, which was taking place that afternoon at Granny's diner. Snow was going to finish preparing for the event, while, like usual, Charming was going to keep Emma company at work and take her over to the diner later. Charming was glad that he and Emma had had the sense to hire some new staff at the station, so that they were able to leave for the afternoon, and there were still trained staff to deal with the criminals.

As soon has Emma had announced her pregnancy, her parents had informed her, rather than asked her that she was no longer to go on stakeouts or patrols. Red and Leroy had been hired for that. One of the main reasons that Emma had reluctantly agreed to remain at work in the station on desk duty, is that Charming had compromised, and cut his time so that he was doing paperwork with Emma on the days she was working, and was performing his sheriff duties on her days off.

Standing by the door, pulling on his jacket, Charming turned at his wife's call. She handed him his lunch in a brown paper bag and a second bag he knew was meant for Emma, before kissing his cheek. Charming's eyes sparkled as he placed the bags on the table next to the door, grabbing his wife by her hips, pulling her into his arms. He was grateful that Neal was distracted with his building blocks; he recently had gotten into the habit of purposely interrupting any intimate time between the couple.

"Do not forget. 2pm. whichever criminal you're chasing; stop and bring Emma to Granny's." David grinned and nodded his true love's infectious excitement was rubbing off on him. He knew that Snow had been feeling bad she had never had the chance to do this for Emma when she was pregnant with Henry, and so was really going all out this time. She had even asked Regina to give Henry permission to get the afternoon off school so he could attend. He placed a searing kiss on her lips, striding over to where his son was playing for a goodbye cuddle, before picking up the lunch bags, making his way out of the door.

Snow waved him off from the door, turning back inside with a lazy grin on her face. Today was shaping to be the perfect day.

So I will update the next chapter when I know there is someone out there who will read it..

~cjkp~