A/N: This story fits into cannon between Snow White and Prince Charming's private wedding at Lake Nostos and their defeat of King George and subsequent capture of the Evil Queen. I assume that most people at that time still thought the Prince was his brother James so he will for the most part be referred to by that name. In scenes with Snow he will of course be called Charming, and in his own mind and some scenes with the few who know his true identity I may use the name David. I hope it doesn't get too confusing.

Unfinished Business

After burying Ruth, Snow White, Prince James, and Lancelot left Lake Nostos together to return to where Snow's troops were camped. Each was lost in their own thoughts. The only sounds were the clinking of Lancelot's armor, the crunching of their movement along the gravel path, and the tree leaves dancing in the wind.

Prince James squinted his eyes as he peered into the passing trees, and strained to listen for sounds other than the ones coming from their small caravan. He needed to remain on high alert. After all, enemy knights could be hiding anywhere in the dense forest. But the only thing keeping his attention was the rhythmic sound of his and Snow's boots in perfect step with one another as they followed hand in hand behind the cart. That and the pounding of his heart within his chest. It was so strong he could feel it physically beating. Beating for the women walking beside him.

His wife.

As of only a few hours ago, his wife.

He couldn't stop thinking about it. It was not how he had planned to marry her, and certainly not how he had planned to spend the hours after the ceremony. The thought of it had him glancing at her again, and once again, being struck by her beauty.

His life was no longer recognizable to him. He had gone from a poor shepherd boy to a dragon-slaying fake prince. He was a sword-wielding leader in a war for two kingdoms, and now, a husband. Husband to a jewelry stealing bandit, who was actually a true princess. The daughter of a king and queen, raised in the luxury of a palace, and rightful heir and ruler of a kingdom. He should probably be disconcerted and full of anger by it all, but even the death of his mother can't persuade him to be sorrowful for the turn his life has taken. He is grieved for sure. He will miss his mother dearly. His gut churns with anguish that he was unable to protect her.. Still, he can regret nothing that has brought him to his true love. And Snow White is his true love, of that he has no doubt. He tightened his grip on her hand, unable to suppress a smile as she looked his way. David...Prince James…Charming. His name doesn't matter to him, as long as he is hers, and she is his.

Snow walked along the path next to her husband, an odd sort of giddiness bubbling inside of her. How strange it was to think of him as such. Not him personally, she loved her handsome and charming husband beyond measure. She had said yes to his proposal after all. There was just so much she had planned on doing first, unfinished business that still loomed before them and their happily ever after. First and foremost, they needed to take back the kingdoms and deal with her step-mother and King George. Then there would be decisions on how they were going to rule. Would they keep the two kingdoms separate, or unite them as one? Would they tell people who David really was, or keep up his charade as Prince James? Whose castle would they choose as their home? These unanswered questions should have meant the actual wedding was still a long time off, possibly even years. Plenty of time for her to get used to the idea.

Then his mother had been hit by an arrow and lay there dying. She had shocked herself when, without thinking, she blurted out the words, "yes, you will."

As a little girl she had once dreamed of being married, but over the years that dream had faded. She had learned quickly that royal marriages were more often about political and financial gain, or even convenience, than about love. There was no doubt her father's marriage to Regina had fit into that category. She wasn't sure about her own parents marriage. They had obviously made great efforts to protect her and her innocence, but her life alone in the forest had allowed time for introspection. With the mind of an adult who was now wiser in the ways of the world, she remembered things. Signs that their relationship was much more complicated than it had seemed on the surface to a young and idealistic, sheltered princess. That was when she had decided that marriage and a family wasn't for her. Her only goal in life became finding peace. She wanted to find a place where she wasn't in danger, where she didn't have to constantly be on the run, always afraid and looking over her shoulder. A Place where survival itself was not a daily struggle.

Then she got caught up in a net.

Now here she was, so dizzy with love that she had to concentrate to keep her feet walking when they felt like skipping. Her hand tingled where he touched it, and when he squeezed it and smiled at her that tingle surged through her body to awaken thoughts and feelings she had never had before. She remembered as a child when she would sneak out of her chambers and hide behind the tapestries to watch the balls. She would smirk and shake her head at the behavior of the women of the court as they flirted with handsome suitors. How silly they looked batting their eyelashes and gesturing with great exaggeration. Their high-pitched giggles were so piercing, she would have to cover her ears with her hands. Now she knew exactly how they felt. She wanted to flirt with him, tease him, laugh with him. She inadvertently chuckled out loud at the thought of her being like those women.

"What's so funny?" She was pulled from her thoughts by his voice.

"What?"

"You were laughing."

"Just thinking about how strange life is." She met his gaze with a sparkle in her eyes. "And how happy I am."

He smiled back at her. Her breath faltered slightly like it always did when he smiled at her. A small squeal escaped from her when he suddenly grabbed her around the waist and quickly pulled her from the road, bringing her a few steps into the forest. He backed her up against a tree and covered her mouth with his.

She melted into the kiss for just a moment before pushing him away.

"Charming, what are you doing?"

"Must I really explain it?" He said teasingly. "I thought it would be quite obvious, I'm kissing my wife."

"But Lancelot?" She protested.

"Will most assuredly understand if he notices our absence. Besides we'll catch up shortly."

He leaned back in and continued what he had started. This time there was no protest, as Snow reached her arms around his neck to pull him closer. The kiss was short-lived though, as they heard a familiar voice growl menacingly through the air.

"Where is she? What have you done with Snow White? I can smell her scent on you, tell me now."

Snow looked up in a panic. "It's Red. We have to stop her before she harms Lancelot."

"Her timing is certainly unfavorable." Charming remained where he was, reluctant to release Snow from his grip. "Promise me that we will pick this back up soon. We have some unfinished business that I am quite looking forward to."

Heat burned through her as they locked eyes. She felt the gentle tingle of his fingers as he traced them around the collar of her bodice. She swallowed and gave him a shy smile that he took to mean yes before making a move to leave his arms. She had taken only a few steps when she hesitated and turned back.

"Let's not say anything about the wedding. I don't want anyone to know just yet."

He was taken aback by her request. "Are you afraid they would not approve?"

"Not at all, I just think it would be best for now."

They could hear as things escalated between their friends, evident by the pleading in Lancelot's voice as he tried to explain their disappearance.

"Your princess and her prince were just here. I don't know where they have ventured off to, but I have not harmed them, I swear. I have been trying to help them."

"Do not lie to me, leviathan. I know who you are, and whose side you are on. I will not hesitate to kill you."

There was no time to talk further. She allowed her hand to linger on the scar on his chin, lightly caressing it, before running to intervene before Red turned wolf on them. Charming hesitated only a second before chasing after her.

Snow rushed through the trees. "Red, stop. He's telling the truth."

"Snow!" Red filled with relief at the sight of her friend, but she did not fully release her hold on Lancelot's neck.

"Red meet Lancelot. You can trust him."

"Lancelot? Shouldn't he be in Camelot? How do you know you can trust him?"

Charming emerged from the woods to stand next to his wife.

"It's true. He protected Snow from King George, and brought her safely to find me."

Red was still not fully convinced. "Where were you two just now?"

"In the forest." Charming answered.

"Why?"

"We thought we heard something."

"If you trust him so much, why didn't you tell Lancelot before you went traipsing off to investigate suspicious noises?"

Charming shifted his feet and rubbed the back of his neck nervously, as he tried to think of something to say. Snow jumped in before Charming gave them away.

"There was no need to alert him, it turned out to be just a rabbit. The more important question is why are you here?"

"Looking for you." Red looked pointedly at Lancelot before finally releasing him. "We were worried something might have happened to you."

"I assume then the skirmish is over?" Snow inquired.

"For now. King George's army retreated when their new General here," Red tilted her head in Lancelot's direction, "went missing in the middle of the battle. They have made camp just a few miles from here. We assume that they are merely trying to regroup before they attack again. I'm here to find out what you want to do. Our forces were hit hard, I'm not sure we will last long if they decide to attack again quickly."

"How many did we lose?"

Snow's voice betrayed the emotional toll of her question. She knew as a queen it was her duty to show strength, but she struggled to remain aloof when people were dying. Charming stepped up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, knowing that any number of casualties was too much for her. As much as Charming tried to encourage her she was extremely burdened by the knowledge that this war was her fault. It was only the Queen's cruelty to her subjects, that kept Snow in the fight. The reality was that these men and their families were likely to die anyway, from hardship, disease, and starvation under Regina's rule, and King George's as well. There best chance was to fight, but that did little to assuage Snow's guilt.

"We estimate we lost around two hundred. Their losses were greater, but we had so few men to start with, and most of those are farmers and merchants. Good men to be sure, but not battle hardy. The King has five men for every one of ours, and that doesn't count the Queen Regina's forces. Snow, how can we win this war with such a small army, especially one that is untrained?"

Charming felt Snow shudder as Red relayed the situation. He tightened his grip on her, and she leaned into him for support. Red anxiously awaited direction. When Snow did not immediately respond, he spoke up himself.

"We cannot lose hope. Lancelot, you must know what King George is planning and where the factions of his armies are. Will you help us devise a battle plan?"

"I'm afraid that Red may be right about your chances, but I will do what I can."

"Then we must hurry and meet up with the others. Red, you run ahead and let them know that we are coming. Tell them to move north, and make camp near the mouth of the creek. We will meet with the war council as soon as we arrive to discuss our options."

Red hugged Snow, and nodded approvingly at Charming before disappearing quickly into the forest. Moments after her departure, they heard the familiar sound of a wolf howl, already a distance away.

The Prince asked Lancelot to water the horses before they continued on their journey. Then he turned to his wife and hugged her close.

"It's going to be okay, Snow."

"Is it? You heard Red and Lancelot. We can't win this war. We don't have enough men to defeat even George's army, much less Regina's."

"You must not give up hope. That is the one advantage that we have in this war. Every one of our soldiers, untrained or not, is worth more than one of King George's because of what they are fighting for. They aren't just fighting for you or me, Snow. They are fighting for hope, for a future for their families. We can give them that."

Tears filled her eyes, and her heart swelled with pride as she took in her husband's words. He was so earnest, so full of faith. He was going to be an honorable king someday.

"With you by my side, how can I not have faith. We will take back these kingdoms, and when we do we will honor the sacrifices our people have made. We will rule justly, with goodness and fairness."

Charming leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Yes, my darling, we will. I'll go help Lancelot so that we can be on our way."