Finding You Always

Open Hearts

"But the once eternal source of light magic in the staff has slowly depleted due to him using it as dark magic. That's where your blood samples came in," Paul said.

"We're don't have magic though. How could our blood mixed with that power replenish it?" David asked in exasperation.

"You don't have magic...you only make it," Paul reminded.

"That's why he had your sister put a drop of the potion in my cocoa," Snow stated. He nodded.

"He wants our children..." David said fearfully.

"I can't know for sure exactly what he wants. Not even my sister knows his end game. He hasn't drank or used any of the potions yet. He's waiting for something," Paul replied.

"And he can get into Storybrooke?" David asked. He nodded.

"I wish I could tell you no, but he has a mermaid scale. Mermaids can cross realms and their scales can allow passage through magical barriers," Paul replied.

"Where on Earth did he get a mermaid scale? You said he rarely leaves Hong Kong," Snow said. Paul nodded.

"There are others that know about magic in this world. There is one man...I don't know his name, but he collects magical items and creatures. I don't know how he finds them or what exactly he's collected, but if my father needs something like another mermaid scale, he goes to this man," Paul said. Snow shivered and Charming squeezed her hip. He was thinking the same. Collecting living things like they were objects was beyond creepy.

"Are you going back to him?" Snow asked quietly.

"He doesn't want me back. He's a seer. He knows I'll eventually be unable to keep going along with his schemes. I've always been torn, because he's my father. But no one has gotten hurt here yet. He knows he can't count on me to go to any lengths to do his bidding," Paul explained.

"Then you'll stay?" Snow asked. Paul looked surprised.

"You...would want me to?" he asked. Snow looked at her husband with a long gaze.

"You didn't have to tell us anything. You could have run for the town line. It's not like we're going to follow you. No one cursed can leave Storybrooke," Snow replied.

"Plus, I think we still need more than one surgeon. Believe it or not, I trust you more than I trust Whale right now," David added.

"I...I don't know what to say," Paul said.

"You're staying then. I insist," Snow replied. David smirked.

"She usually gets what she wants," he warned playfully. Paul smiled.

"It is true that I've never met people like you before. I used to think science was superior to magic, because I had seen it do so many terrible things," he said, pausing for a moment.

"This world has so little magic, because very few believe in anything. People don't love like what I've seen from the two of you. A broken marriage and family is more common in this world than a whole one. You have quite the effect on a person that grew up having a father right there, but never knowing his love, an emotion he's not even capable of," Paul said sadly. David put a hand on his shoulder.

"If you wish to call Storybrooke your home, then we are more than happy to have you here...and call you our friend," David said. Snow nodded. Paul smiled and shook his head.

"I just told you that my insane father has been obsessed with idea of you both for a thousand years and wants to utilize the magic of your true love for a purpose that is probably horrific and you seem unfazed," he said in awe. Snow leaned into her husband's embrace.