History Heartwarming / OnceUponATime

* Mr. Gold offering Emma some advice/keepsakes from [Graham's death. Gold might not be the nicest man (which Emma knows from what he tried to do with Ashley), but his sincerity in talking about spending time with kids gives us a glimpse into the softer man we'll get to know this episode.

Given that this is the episode that reunited the two sisters, the many acts of true love, sacrifices and heroism really can thaw a frozen heart.

* Anna [reading Gerda's letter to Ingrid. Ingrid at first refuses to believe Gerda's apology and chokes Anna through magic, Anna then tells her although she may not be magical like her, Ingrid is family and family never gives up on anyone. Despite all that Ingrid had done to hurt Anna, Anna still believes that her aunt could be redeemed. Fortunately, Ingrid reads the letter and remembers the love her sisters had by touching the stone.

!!As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff as per policy]]. [[{{Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned}} You Have Been Warned.]]

!!As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff as per policy.]] Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.

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[[folder: Season 1]]

[[AC: Episode 1 - Pilot]]

-->'''Snow White''': He said it would be on her ''28th'' birthday!\\
'''Prince Charming''': What's 28 years when you have eternal love? I have faith. You'll save me, as I did you.

[[AC: Episode 2 - The Thing You Love Most]]

[[AC: Episode 3 - Snow Falls]]
* After their first misadventure together, Prince David tells Snow that if she ever needs some help, to send for him, and [[ArcWords he will find her.]]
-->'''Snow''': I almost believe you.

[[AC: Episode 4 - The Price of Gold]]

* Prince Thomas's promise to his wife right before he disappears.
-->'''Prince Thomas''': As long as I'm here, you will never have to go back to that life.

* Emma deciding to accept Graham’s offer to be deputy.

[[AC: Episode 5 - That Still Small Voice]]

[[AC: Episode 6 - The Shepherd]]

* It’s clear King George cared for his son, James, despite being a royal douchebag.

[[AC: Episode 7 - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter]]

[[AC: Episode 8 - Desperate Souls]]

[[AC: Episode 9 - True North]]

* Hansel and Gretel refusing Regina’s offer to stay. They love their father dearly and they will always choose family over comfort.

[[AC: Episode 10 - 7:15AM]]

[[AC: Episode 11 - Fruit of the Poisonous Tree]]

[[AC: Episode 12 - Skin Deep]]

[[AC: Episode 13 - What Happened to Frederick?]]

** Abigail and Frederick’s reunion.

[[AC: Episode 14 - Dreamy]]

[[AC: Episode 15 - Red-Handed]]

* Snow and Red’s friendship. They’ve only known each other for a short while but they’re ready to risk their lives to help the other.

[[AC: Episode 16 - Heart of Darkness]]

[[AC: Episode 17 - Hat Trick]]

* Grace continuously telling her papa she doesn’t care that they are poor; all that matters is that they’re together.

[[AC: Episode 18 - The Stable Boy]]
* Once upon a time, Snow White and Regina could have been great for each other, and seemed to have an immediate liking to each other. [[DoomedByCanon Right before the feud began]].

[[AC: Episode 19 - The Return]]

--> '''Kathryn:''' What we had, it just wasn't it for you. Maybe not for me either. You were just the first to see it.
--> '''David:''' You're kinda amazing.

* The card Mary Margaret’s class made for her. Doubles as a Funny moment.

[[AC: Episode 20 - The Stranger]]

[[AC: Episode 21 - An Apple as Red as Blood]]
* Every one of Snow White’s friends refusing to leave her when she’s about to storm King George’s castle.

[[AC: Episode 22 - A Land Without Magic]]

* This episode reveals that Regina brought Maleficent over too. Season Four reveals that Maleficent had lost her child, so for twenty eight years Maleficent did ''not'' have to suffer with the memory and pain of losing her daughter. As Ruby says, casting the curse actually ''was'' a good thing for some people who have pain and suffering they wanted to forget.

[[folder: Season 2]]

[[AC: Episode 1 - Broken]]

** [[FreakOut Considering how badly their last makeout session ended,]] the kiss Rumplestiltskin gives her in that episode was pretty heartwarming as well.

* Small, but Mulan's plea to transfer the wraith's mark from Philip over to her, [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy so he can be with Aurora.]] Whether or not she's in love with him (denial or otherwise), it's a beautifully loving and self-sacrificial action.

[[AC: Episode 2 - We are Both]]

[[AC: Episode 3 - Lady of the Lake]]

[[AC: Episode 4 - The Crocodile]]
* Rumplestilskin giving Belle the library and the conversation that follows.
* Every scene with Red and Belle.

[[AC: Episode 5 - The Doctor]]

[[AC: Episode 6 - Tallahassee]]

* Hook cleaning and bandaging Emma’s hand after she cuts it on the beanstalk.

* Emma and Neal’s relationship before things go wrong.

[[AC: Episode 7 - Child of the Moon]]

** Which would make sense, [[FridgeBrilliance considering Rumple's backstory.]]

[[AC: Episode 8 - Into the Deep]]

* The jury is out on whether or not Regina really is on the road to redemption, but her scenes with [[MoralityPet Henry]] in this episode were all [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes adorable.]]

-->'''Regina:''' Henry, I told you I wouldn't. And I haven't. Except for...with Daniel... and now. I've really been trying.

* Mulan's determination to protect Aurora, even if it is at the expense of Emma and Snow.

* Regina glancing over at Gold, who can only shake his head silently. Whether or not she actually cares about David, she certainly cares about Henry. The fact that she's being so open about something that is a lot of progress from the closed off distant persona she was in season 1. And in this case, she's also demonstrating the ability to empathize beyond a direct link from her to someone.

[[AC: Episode 9 - Queen of Hearts]]

* Hook catching Aurora’s heart before it falls into the portal. He’s still a villain but even he has standards.

** The fact that he was apologizing ''in the first place.''

[[AC: Episode 10 - The Cricket Game]]

* A small one but when Cora turns an innocent bystander into a fish, Hook kicks it into the water so that it won’t die.

[[AC: Episode 11 - The Outsider]]
* Marco and Emma deciding to let Henry be Pongo’s new owner.

[[AC: Episode 12 - In The Name Of The Brother]]

[[AC: Episode 13 - Tiny]]

** Grumpy seals the deal by clasping him on the back and saying "Welcome, brother." And the "dwarves" start breaking soil while whistling "Heigh Ho"

[[AC: Episode 14 - Manhattan]]

[[AC: Episode 15 - The Queen is Dead]]

** Johanna has apparently been keeping a garden of snow-drops in Storybrooke in honour of Queen Eva.

[[AC: Episode 16 - The Miller's Daughter]]

[[AC: Episode 17 - Welcome to Storybrooke]]

[[AC: Episode 18 - Selfless, Brave, and True]]

* Marco finally reuniting with his son. He doesn’t care what mistakes August made, he loves him regardless.

[[AC: Episode 19 - Lacey]]
* The opening scene, in which the Charming family celebrates Henry's birthday party in Gold's shop. Gold then gives Henry a magic wand as a gift. [[SubvertedTrope Then he uses it to kill Henry]]. [[AllJustADream Then it turns out to be a nightmare]]. Still, it was nice while it lasted.

[[AC: Episode 20 - The Evil Queen]]

* Seeing the disguised Regina truly wanting to change and be a part of Snow's family again when Snow says she still thinks Regina has some good in her. Of course, all that changes quickly, [[MoodWhiplash when they come across the villagers that Regina killed for helping Snow.]]

* ALL of the Henry/Emma scenes. These two have rarely had any time together just hanging out and it was a nice callback to season 1.
* Hook genuinely offering Regina his condolences for Cora’s death.

[[AC: Episode 21 - Second Star to the Right]]

[[AC: Episode 22 - And Straight On Til Morning]]
* While also a TearJerker in context, Emma finally referring to Snow and Charming as "Mom" and "Dad."

--> "Everyone looks at me like the Evil Queen, including my son. [[DyingAsYourself Let me die as Regina.]]"

[[folder: Season 3]]

[[AC: Episode 1 - The Heart of the Truest Believer]]

[[AC: Episode 2 - Lost Girl]]

* Charming explaining to Snow why he tricked her with a fake Excalibur: He wanted to see what she already knew. That she’s a warrior and a leader.

[[AC: Episode 3 - Quite A Common Fairy]]

* Robin Hood’s assuring his young son Roland that he will be nearby when he has to summon the shadow.

[[AC: Episode 4 - Nasty Habits]]

[[AC: Episode 5 - Good Form]]

-->'''Snow, Emma and Regina:''' ''Wait''.

** Regina saying "''We'' love you." She's acknowledging other people, including her archnemesis Snow, as members of her son's family.

-->'''Charming''': I just thought he deserved a little credit.

[[AC: Episode 6 - Ariel]]

* Snow telling Ariel to go be with Eric. Even though she’s just tricked her into getting captured by Regina, she still wants Ariel to have her happy ending.

* One from the writing staff: Lana Parilla very openly loves Ursula. And so they allow her to play Ursula in exactly the same fashion of her portrayal in the movie. As in character as the Queen doing what she needs to for her plans is, it's still very plainly the writers allowing Lana to come to work and play one of her favorite characters.

[[AC: Episode 7 - Dark Hollow]]

--> I have yet to see you fail.

[[AC: Episode 8 - Think Lovely Thoughts]]

[[AC: Episode 9 - Save Henry]]

* Easy to miss, but when Mary Margaret is able to get Henry to stop crying when Regina couldn't, she apologises to Regina, who says "No, it's not your fault... it's me." Let that sink in: she's saying that ''to Snow White.'' And it's the ''exact opposite'' of her [[NeverMyFault usual attitude toward her problems and Snow White.]]

[[AC: Episode 10 - The New Neverland]]
* When the gang get back to Storybrooke they get a warm welcome from the towns residents, hugs all around.

-->'''Regina:''' Her name is ''Tinker Bell.'''

* After they tell Regina about the bodyswitch.

[[AC: Episode 11 - Going Home]]

* Hook’s face when he sees Emma again in New York after a year.

[[AC: Episode 12 - New York City Serenade]]

** Snow and Regina, full stop. After trying to figure out who's going to rule the kingdom now that they're all back, Snow suggests [[WeCanRuleTogether becoming co-queens with Regina to give the people hope.]] And Regina, who's defined much of her life by her grudge against Snow, ''is on board with it,'' and later calls it "our castle" when the kingdom is blocked off by a protection spell. This from two women who've spent much of their lives fighting one another is nothing short of a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}.

--> "Mom, not every guy is going to be like my dad. Not every guy is just going to leave you."
--> "You're always looking for something to be wrong. You don't have to do that. Sometimes it's okay to accept things that are good."

* Hook admitting to Emma he didn’t come back to save her family, he came back to save her.

[[AC: Episode 13 - Witch Hunt]]

* While the fact that she has "someone to destroy" is ''not'' Heartwarming, the fact that the "someone" is ''not'' Snow and David ''is.'' Regina's moved past that vendetta!

[[AC: Episode 14 - The Tower]]

[[AC: Episode 15 - Quiet Minds]]

--> '''Robin:''' You know, I've heard many stories about the great and terrible Evil Queen, but from this angle, the "Evil" moniker seems something of an overstatement. Bold and audacious perhaps... but not evil.

[[AC: Episode 16 - It's Not Easy Being Green]]

-->'''[[{{Jerkass}} Zelena's father]]''': She's not like us.\\
'''[[GoodParents Zelena's mother]]''': You're right, she's not. ''She[='=]''s alone, and ''we''[='=]re going to take care of her.

--> '''Robin:''' You're really going to entrust something so valuable to a common thief like me?\\

[[AC: Episode 17 - The Jolly Roger]]

* Small one, but Hook finding his spyglass in Gold’s shop.

[[AC: Episode 18 - Bleeding Through]]

--> '''Snow:''' I know you. And you feel things deeply. With or without [your heart], you feel things with your whole soul. Don't let anything hold you back.

[[AC: Episode 19 - A Curious Thing]]

--> '''Mary Margaret:''' Regina! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you look smitten.

[[AC: Episode 20 - Kansas]]

* Rumplestiltskin proposing to Belle by handing her his dagger. Too bad the moment only lasts until he reveals that he gave Belle a fake one so he could kill Zelena with it Then the moment entirely changes again in Season Four when he ''does'', briefly, give her the real dagger.
* Small moment but Henry reuniting with Archie. After how close the two were in the previous seasons, it’s great to see them together again.

[[AC: Episode 21 - Snow Drifts]]

[[AC: Episode 22 - There's No Place Like Home]]

---> "Belle: I realize that I have not spent my life losing you -- I've spent my life ''finding'' you."

---> "Rumplestiltskin: I wasn't just unloved, and unloving: I was an enemy of love. Love had only brought me pain. My walls were up... but you brought them down. You brought me home."

---> "Rumplestiltskin: You brought light to my life, and chased away all the darkness. And I vow to you: I will never forget the distance between what I was and what I am."

---> '''Belle:''' Sometimes the best book has the dustiest jacket. And sometimes, the best teacup is chipped.
* We finally learn how Hook crossed realms to get back to Emma: he traded the Jolly Roger for a magic bean. Almost every significant event of his life happened on that ship (his brother’s death, the loss of his hand and first love, etc); it was his home. And he traded it so that Emma could find hers.

[[folder: Season 4]]

[[AC: Episode 1 - A Tale of Two Sisters]]
* Every time Marian calls Regina a monster or evil in this episode and the previous one, Emma is quick to comment that she's not and that Regina has changed. It's almost instantaneous and is a sign of how close the two have gotten and how Emma's view has changed concerning Regina from season one, where the two hated each other.

-->'''Elsa''': They would have been so proud of you, Anna.\\
'''Anna''': Of both of us, Elsa.

[[AC: Episode 2 - White Out]]

** Hook's's adorable attempt at flirting of how they don't get quiet moments together alone.

* David giving Anna his father’s horse for her journey.

-->'''Henry''': I know you're in there! You can give up on yourself -- ''but I'm not going to give up on you!''

[[AC: Episode 3 - Rocky Road]]

* Just how much Roland adores Regina for letting him get ice-cream in the last episode of season 3... which he uses to, inadvertently, guilt trip his mother: "Regina let me!" To make it worse? His R's sound like W's. Now, re-read those words! He calls Regina "Wegina".

--> If there's one thing I'm good at, it's surviving.

[[AC: Episode 4 - The Apprentice]]

* Snow practically squeeing over Emma’s first date with Hook. After missing so many milestones of her daughter’s life, it’s nice to see she gets to witness one.

[[AC: Episode 5 - Breaking Glass]]

** Hook shows up at the Sheriff's office to say hi and seeing she’s upset, immediately asks what’s wrong and offers a drink.

* Hook is taking Henry sailing. It's nice that the two are bonding and hanging out together alone. It also shows that Hook kept his promise to Henry back in season 3 about taking him out on the Jolly Roger again. Although it is not shown on screen, the fact that Henry wants to go sailing with Hook shows that he is clearly comfortable with him and likes him, as well as clearly accepting that his mom has a new boyfriend.

[[AC: Episode 6 - Family Business]]

[[AC: Episode 7 - The Snow Queen]]

* Robin’s BigDamnKiss with Regina.

[[AC: Episode 8 - Smash the Mirror]]

--> "I owe someone a quarter."

*** Then when FridgeBrilliance kicks in: where did the page come from? It appeared right when Robin needed it, just as the original book did when Mary Margaret needed it for Henry. The implication was that the storybook writer sent it when hope was needed, which means he did this time as well...which means he ''isn't'' against Regina, or any villain. Choice is always open to them, even ones like Cora, Zelena, Gold, and Ingrid. Whether or not he has the power to change their stories, ''they'' certainly do. This even suggests it may not be too late for Gold or the Snow Queen!

[[AC: Episode 9 - Fall]]
Given that this is the episode that reunited the two sisters, the many acts of true love, sacrifices and heroism really can thaw a frozen heart.

* David and Kristoff's reunion. They hugged like 2 long lost bros.

[[AC: Episode 10 - Shattered Sight]]

---> '''Henry''': I never liked you, and I like you even less now that you and my mom are...''together''.
---> '''Hook''': *grins* Emma used that word? Together?

** Emma’s face when Ingrid announces she’s going to adopt her. She’s always wanted a family and she finally found one.

[[AC: Episode 11 - Heroes and Villains]]

** Slightly HarsherInHindsight since we learn later this is Zelena, not the real Marian. Whether or not she’s being genuine though…
* Even though Rumple knew why Henry wanted to be his apprentice, he still agreed because he’s his grandson.

* Emma immediately noticing that [[NotHimself something is wrong with Hook]] as Rumplestilsken mind-controls him. It just goes to show how well they know each other.

[[AC: Episode 12 - Darkness on the Edge of Town]]

* Emma reassuring Hook that he’s not to blame for the fairies being trapped in the hat.

[[AC: Episode 13 - Unforgiven]]

-->'''Emma''': My parents would never lie to me. But the fact that I could think that they would, it reminded me that I have this tendency to... Expect the worst of people. In my childhood... People were always letting me down, and I...
-->'''Hook''': Hey. I don't intend to let you down.
-->'''Emma''':And I know whatever happened with that sea witch...you can tell me on your own time. Because no matter what, I gonna do what my parents always do. I'm gonna choose to see the best in you.
-->'''Hook''': And I with you.

[[AC: Episode 14 - Enter The Dragon]]

[[AC: Episode 15 - Poor Unfortunate Soul]]

* In an odd way, Hook’s reunion with the Jolly Roger. He gave up his ship, his home, with no intention of ever getting it back.

* Hook and Ursula’s conversation at the tavern. He doesn’t hold an ill will against her for trying to sink his ship, instead compliments her singing voice. When she mentions she wants to go to Glowerhaven in honor of her late mother, he immediately offers her free passage.]
** Hook promises Ursula he won’t take her voice because, unlike him, she has something to remind her of someone she’s lost.

[[AC: Episode 16 - Best Laid Plans]]
* Charming’s vision of baby Emma.
* The reveal that there have been numerous different authors of the Once Upon a Time book since the beginning of time, including "a man named [[Creator/WaltDisney Walt]]." Suddenly all the original creators of the characters used in the show are melded into its canon.

[[AC: Episode 17 - Heart of Gold]]
* Robin comes back from the Emerald City, claiming he hadn't gotten the potion...and figures out Will wasn't going to sell it. Then Will confesses it was for himself, to heal his own pain at having lost his sister when she fell through the ice. Robin praises him for his honor as a thief (which we find out later was what reminded him of the kind of man he wanted to be, and how he could still keep thieving), and embraces him farewell...only for Will to find out after he departs that he slipped him the potion after all.
** Will assuring Robin that he didn’t fail Marian.

-->'''Rumple''' (to Robin): Maybe you should take a piece of advice from a man who has pushed away every chance at happiness because it was never enough. If it's within your grasp, if you know where it is and who it's with... Then you should run to it, grasp it, and never let it go.

-->"[[DrivenToVillainy You made me a monster]]... [[TheAtoner but I won't let you]] [[FireForgedFriends do the same thing to Emma]]".

[[AC: Episode 18 - Sympathy For The De Vil]]

[[AC: Episode 19 - Lily]]

--> How about it Swan? How about we make today the day we both beat fate?

* Hook's parting speech to Emma, warning her to resist the temptation of darkness and stay on the hero's path by remembering everyone she has to live for and hold onto, even her parents whom she's currently mad at. And when she asks why he couldn't stay on it before, he responds he didn't have anyone...now he does.
** Emma mentions to Hook that he’s become a reason for her too.

[[AC: Episode 20 - Mother]]

---> '''Lily:''' I was expecting that you were this... [[BuffySpeak scary dragon bitch]]. But now I see... you're just this... real person. And it kills me.\\

---> [Your parents] done a lot of good. Turned themselves into heroes. Yes. I know they didn't own up to what they did. But did you ever think maybe they were ashamed? And they wanted you to like them. […] They were trying to protect you, Swan. Twice. Before you were born, they wanted to make you happy. And when they found you again, they wanted to make you proud. Do you want both those to be failures?

---> '''Emma:''' You're a hero... If it happened at my expense, it doesn't change anything. It doesn't change the good person you became, and it doesn't change what you are.
---> '''Mary Margaret:''' Which is what?
---> '''Emma:''' My mom. You wanted to make me proud, so you li... Omitted the truth, which was kind of self-defeating, but human. Cutting you out and trying to hurt you has just made me miserable... Anyway, I miss you and I forgive you.

[[AC: Episode 21 & 22 - Operation Mongoose]]

* Robin and Regina’s budding romance in the alternate world.

** Even better is that the Apprentice may have been friends with the Author before Isaac, Walt Disney. His discussion with Henry can be seen as him saying "Walt would be proud."

--> How many times do I have to tell you, love? I’m a survivor.
* Emma agreeing to help Lily find out who her birth father is. Season Seven reveals that it is ''Zorro!'' [[NoodleIncident Just what has Maleficent been getting up too?]] A word of warning - ''don't'' try and picture it: it'll be in your head forever.

*** Even more heartwarming when you take into consideration how far their relationship has come in just two seasons. The season 2 finale consisted of Hook being a villain and ready to leave the town to its demise...come now, it proves just how much Emma has changed him, but also how devastating it will be when we see how he deals with this loss.

[[folder: Season 5]]

[[AC: Episode 1 - The Dark Swan]]

* Blue encouraging Belle to go help the others find Emma and giving her an enchanted rose so she can still keep an eye on Rumple’s well-being.
** Belle’s reason for staying is because she wants to be there for Rumple if he dies.

* An item of Emma's is needed to orient the portal the Apprentice's wand makes. Regina reaches into a bag...and pulls out her baby blanket. She then quips, "I couldn't exactly carry that yellow car of hers"...but the look Mary Margaret gives her... Sniff.

** Season Seven reveals that Zelena raises her daughter ''without'' Regina for many years... and Robin ''turns out well.'' Zelena manages to turn over a new leaf and, like Regina, put revenge aside and become a good parent.

* Hook stopping Emma from killing Merida, without using the dagger. Even when Snow wants to use the dagger, he insists that Emma make the choice herself because he believes in her. It’s a nice parallel to last season where Emma constantly believed in Hook and his potential to be a hero.

--> I saved you. Now save me.

[[AC: Episode 2 - The Price]]

** Belle and Grumpy at the Camelot ball, talking about the rose and hope, before dancing together. It’s a sweet callback to when they first met when he was Dreamy.
* Snow encouraging Regina to go to the ball with them. When Regina says she doesn’t know how to dance, Charming immediately offers to teach her.

-->'''Emma''': I’m glad I get to share it with you, Mom.

-->'''Robin Hood''': Looks like you've found some believers.

-->'''Regina''': How did you know it would work?
-->'''David''': Regina, we weren't going to let you go.
* At the ball, Henry plays modern music ("Only You") for Violet...and as the song plays, we get scenes of Emma and Hook, Regina and Robin, and Snow and Charming dancing. It's really a great image of the love the show is all about.
** Their re-introduction at Granny’s with the jukebox playing the same song.

--> I spent over a century trying to find a way to kill the bloody crocodile. I can spend at least that long trying to save the woman I love.

[[AC: Episode 3 - Siege Perilous]]

* Arthur knighting Charming and giving him Lancelot’s seat at the Round Table.
* Belle’s excitement when she sees the Enchanted Rose connected to Rumple start to bloom.

[[AC: Episode 4 - The Broken Kingdom]]
* Young Arthur promising Young Guinevere he’ll fill the kingdom with her favorite flower on her birthday every year.

** Assuring Emma that he’ll never stop fighting for her and he stills believes a normal future together is possible.

[[AC: Episode 5 - Dreamcatchers]]

** Sir Morgan telling Henry he’ll make a great knight some day and Violet kissing him on the cheek in gratitude.

[[AC: Episode 6 - The Bear and the Bow]]

* Rumple tearfully revealing that he heard Belle’s voice while in the coma and it gave him the strength to stay alive. He’s clearly touched that she stayed by his side despite everything he did to her last season.

* Rumple refusing to pull Excalibur from the stone unless Dark!Emma returns Merida’s heart.

[[AC: Episode 7 - Nimue]]

* Hook giving Emma his brother’s ring and finally admitting he loves her.
--> The Dark One is immortal. Emma isn’t. Bring her home to me.
** Before her confrontation with Nimue, Emma can be seen holding the ring, as if trying to remind herself of what she’s fighting for.

[[AC: Episode 8 - Birth]]

* Regina and Robin practically cooing over Zelena’s newborn baby.
* Hook telling Dark!Emma that he still loves her, regardless of what she’s done.
* Regina assuring Emma that she’s not a weak person and doesn’t need the Darkness to protect her family.

[[AC: Episode 9 - The Bear King]]

[[AC: Episode 10 - Broken Heart]]

** Emma briefly managing to get the Darkness out of Hook’s head, much like how he did with her earlier, by reminding him of their future.

* Gold promising Belle that he’ll be the man she deserves if he survives his fight with Dark!Hook.

[[AC: Episode 11 - Swan Song]]

[[AC: Episode 12 - Souls of the Departed]]
* Neal returns as a spirit to tell Emma he's not in the Underworld but still loves her and Henry. Emma even tells Neal that she would’ve come back for him if he was there.

* Emma trying to convince everyone to take Cora’s boat back but they all insist on staying to help find Hook.

[[AC: Episode 13 - Labor of Love]]

-->'''Regina''': You [[DefeatMeansFriendship defeat]]ed me in a way no one thought was possible. You made me your friend, by never giving up on me.

-->'''Hook''': Now, somebody's come down here to save me, and I need to make her job easier.
-->'''Meg''': How do you know she's here?
-->'''Hook''': She got me a message.
-->'''Meg''': How do you know that wasn't one of Hades' tricks?
-->'''Hook''': Because I know! When you love someone, you know.
* Young Snow White’s first kiss with Hercules.

[[AC: Episode 14 - Devil's Due]]
* When Rumple uses his crystal ball to check in on Belle, we see her having breakfast with Leroy. Nice to see that they’re still friends!

* Hook collapsing against Emma’s shoulder after she rescues him.
* Snow accompanying Regina to the graveyard to look for Daniel’s headstone.

[[AC: Episode 15 - The Brothers Jones]]

* Charming sees Henry sulking and gently reminds him that he has a family that will always look out for him. It’s enough to snap Henry out of his funk and decide to write an ending for everyone trapped down below.

[[AC: Episode 16 - Our Decay]]

* Belle’s reaction when she learns she’s pregnant.
* After being miserable on her birthday, it’s nice to see Zelena laughing like a little schoolgirl during the bike ride with Hades.

[[AC: Episode 17 - Her Handsome Hero]]
* Belle and Gaston’s first meeting is actually pretty sweet. Too bad it turns out poorly.

* Hook reassuring Emma that she hasn’t failed yet and Snow reminding her that everyone chose to come with her to the Underworld.

[[AC: Episode 18 - Ruby Slippers]]
* Thanks to Regina’s belief in her, Zelena is trying very hard to make a HeelFaceTurn. She’s even genuinely shocked when Hades shows her what he did to Auntie Em. Granted, it’s just so she can see her daughter again, but it shows huge growth for her.

* The scene with David and Hook, where David confesses how upset he and Snow are over once again not being there for their child. Not only does David end up admitting, in his usual wry fashion, that while he mostly came to the Underworld for Emma, he also came for Hook because, as quoted from David, "You've grown on me", Hook personally thanks him for doing so and apologizes for him and Snow--for any of them--being there, and encourages him to use the slippers with Ruby to get back to Neal. It's a great CallBack to the closeness and camaraderie the two of them developed in Neverland together back in Season 3, and how well they have worked together in the seasons since.
* Both Mulan and Snow encouraging Ruby to act on her feelings for Dorothy and assuring her that Dorothy doesn’t see her as a monster.

* Ruby waking Dorothy with True Love’s Kiss. It’s the show’s first example of a same-sex couple being True Love and it is beautiful.
-->'''Dorothy''': You came back for me.
-->'''Ruby''': And I always will.

[[AC: Episode 19 - Sisters]]

* Young Zelena playing with young Regina. When they two girls find out that they’re related, they’re all the more happier. Until Cora ruins it…
* Cora telling Zelena that she does regret abandoning her and that she’s sorry.
* [Cora restoring both Zelena's and Regina’s memories, hoping that it will help strength their bond. This allows her to redeem herself and move on to the better place.

[[AC: Episode 20 - Firebird]]

-->'''Regina''': Well then... let's make use of the gift he gave us.

[[AC: Episode 21 - Last Rites]]

* Hook gets to be restored to life as a reward for helping stop Hades. Zeus provides this reward by saying he is sending Hook "where he belongs."
* Hook and Emma's reunion in the world of the living. Emma is so happy to see him again, she can’t stop kissing him.

[[AC: Episode 22 - Only You]]
* Charming hugging Hook when the latter returns to Granny’s alive.

[[AC: Episode 23 - An Untold Story]]

* When everyone makes it back through the portal, Hook starts to thank Emma for saving them again, but she makes sure Henry gets the proper credit. On the same note, even Gold admits "That boy is still full of surprises" when it turns out his belief in the fountain wish is indeed what the Dragon meant and how he inspires New Yorkers, of all people, to believe in magic if only for a few moments.

[[AC: Deleted Scenes]]

[[folder: Season 6]]

[[AC: Episode 1 - The Savior]]

[[AC: Episode 2 - A Bitter Draught]]

-->'''Hook''': Long ago, I... I tried to kill you in the Queen's castle once. I failed. But along the way, I did something I can... live with no longer. I laid a hand on you. And there's the matter of my shooting you at the town line.
-->'''Belle''': Yeah, well, you've changed since all that.
-->'''Hook''': Maybe. I have a long road to travel before I can be someone I can be proud of. Despite the forgiveness of others, I must forgive myself, and I'm not there yet.

* Regina’s speech to the Land of Untold Stories citizens, encouraging them not to be afraid of their future in Storybrooke.

[[AC: Episode 3 - The Other Shoe]]

* Snow and Ella’s first meeting.

[[AC: Episode 4 - Strange Case]]

[[AC: Episode 5 - Street Rats]]

[[AC: Episode 6 - Dark Waters]]

* Emma successfully convincing Aladdin to stay in Storybrooke and help Jasmine.

[[AC: Episode 7 - Heartless]]
* The whole part with David saving Snow back in the Enchanted Forest, without even knowing who she was, and that this was the start of their true love as symbolized by the sapling.

* Hook stopping Emma’s tremors by [[YoureBetterThanYouThinkYouAre reminding her of who she is]] and kissing her hand.

[[AC: Episode 8 - I'll Be Your Mirror]]

[[AC: Episode 9 - Changelings]]

* Hook immediately running to Emma’s side when she has another vision.

[[AC: Episode 10 - Wish You Were Here]]
* It may not have been real, but Princess!Emma’s life in Wish Realm was clearly a happy one.

[[AC: Episode 11 - Tougher Than the Rest]]
* In the flashback, August telling Emma the story of “The Ugly Duckling” and briefly convincing her to believe in hope again. Even though she still ended up becoming the jaded person she is today, it definitely resonated with her; after their encounter, she officially changes her last name to “Swan”.

* Rumplestiltskin helping Robert find James without any strings attatched. He plays it up though, by asking for a strand of his hair, but it’s clear he has a soft spot for reunited families.
* David proposing a toast to family...with Regina and Hook joining in.
* Hook surprisingly being the voice of reason to David throughout the episode, trying to convince him to not pursue vengeance for his late father. It culminates outside of George’s cell with David breaking down in tears and Hook offering a comforting shoulder.

* While it is a distraction, Hook telling Emma he needs to kiss her. Emma's giggle is generally very sweet.

[[AC: Episode 13 - Ill-Boding Patterns]]
* Archie once again encouraging Hook, this time to tell Emma the truth about David’s father.
* Rumple refusing to let his son darken his heart, both in the past and the present.
** While Belle is horrified by what happened to the Blue Fairy, she tells Rumple she’s proud of him for putting their son first.
* Emma happily accepting Hook’s marriage proposal.

[[AC: Episode 14 - Page 23]]

[[AC: Episode 15 - A Wondrous Place]]

* Jasmine standing up for Ariel after the latter is humiliated in the market place.

[[AC: Episode 16 - Mother's Little Helper]]
* Gideon reading “Her Handsome Hero” to Roger, the boy whose cell is across from him.

[[AC: Episode 17 - Awake]]
* During the First Curse, Mary Margaret and David managed to break the curse on themselves. Granted, David was awoken by the Pixie Dust, but he was able to wake Snow up without True Love’s kiss.

-->'''Charming''': She’s beautiful.
* Hook’s shadow gently touching Emma’s cheek.

* Regina points out that Snow gave up her family for the good of everyone in Storybrooke. Snow responds that [[TrueCompanions she got a bigger one in return.]]

[[AC: Episode 18 - Where Bluebirds Fly]]
* Young Stanum and Young Zelena’s friendship.
* Snow planning Emma’s wedding.

-->'''Regina''': How do you feel?
-->'''Zelena''': Weak.
-->'''Regina''': But you've never looked stronger.

[[AC: Episode 19 - The Black Fairy]]

[[AC: Episode 20 - The Song in Your Heart]]
* Snow lending Emma her wedding dress to wear. Emma is clearly touched by the gesture and, had the Black Fairy not ruined it, probably would’ve worn it.
* Regina insisting that Emma’s wedding go forward.
--> I ruined your parents’ wedding. The least I can do is make sure you get to enjoy yours.

** Emma’s song. She realizes that she’s never truly been alone and she’s not running away anymore. It’s absolutely beautiful.
*** Due to how the spell works Emma has everyone effected’s song in her heart. Meaning that even when she was enemies with Hook, Regina, and even Zelena, she had their songs in her heart.

** Both Emma’s parents walking her down the aisle and giving her away.

-->'''Hook''': Emma, when we met, there was just one thing that mattered to me: getting my revenge. And you did something that no one else ever could. You showed me that a heart full of love was the most precious treasure of all, and one that I don't intend to lose. They say that a captain's heart belongs to his ship. And with this ring, it now belongs to you.
-->'''Emma''': Killian, I spent so much of my life on my own. And then Henry found me and brought me to Storybrooke and helped me find the rest of my family. But just because you learn that you come from true love doesn't mean you believe that you'll ever find it. But thanks to you, now I have.
** The absolutely wonderful "A Happy Beginning" which ends the episode. Aside from Emma and Hook's duet, and Snow and Charming's, we get to see ''Regina and Zelena'' sing together. Then the whole town joins in, and we get to see all the Dwarves together, Archie and Marco, and more...it really stresses how everyone in Storybrooke is one big family, joined by such strong bonds of love and friendship. [[TearsOfJoy Sniff]].

[[AC: Episode 21 & 22 - The Final Battle]]
* Charming and Hook working together to retrieve a magic bean. Charming at one point refers to Hook as his son…in-law.

* Henry’s faith in Emma ultimately bringing her back to Storybrooke. She may not remember but she’s still willing to fight for him.
* The Evil Queen staying behind so that the other’s can get away.

[[AC: Deleted Scenes]]

[[folder: Season 7]]

[[AC: Episode 1 - Hyperion Heights]]

[[AC: Episode 2 - A Pirate's Life]]
* Even cursed, Hook is still able to recognize Emma’s picture. We later learn that this is Wish!Hook but he still remembers his encounter with Emma. It seems like Emma and Hook will always have a special connection.
* According to Regina, everyone’s happy endings in Storybrooke have stuck. Including Snow’s and David’s.

* Regina’s face when she sees how grown up Henry is.
* Henry pulling some strings so that Jacinda can still see Lucy’s recital, despite not having enough money for tickets.
** The look of pride and happiness on Jacinda’s face as she watches Lucy dance.
* Turns out that Rumple's HeelFaceRevolvingDoor problem has actually gotten fixed. He is a heroic cop, just [[CowboyCop one that is not shy about playing hardball with the rules.]]

[[AC: Episode 3 - The Garden of Forking Paths]]

[[AC: Episode 4 - Beauty]]
* The opening scene with Belle planning Gideon’s first birthday and Rumple giving her a travel album so that she can finally fulfill her dream of seeing the world.

* Roni comforting Henry and encouraging him to try and find happiness again. Even when she doesn’t have her memories, she’s still looking out for him.

[[AC: Episode 5 - Greenbacks]]

[[AC: Episode 6 - Wake Up Call]]
* Rogers pushing Tilly in a wheelchair. You can see he’s trying not to smile.

[[AC: Episode 7 - Eloise Gardener]]

** The reason why he names her Alice: it’s his mother’s name.

[[AC: Episode 8 - Pretty in Blue]]
* Alice and Wish!Hook reunion. She’s so happy to see him again and he’s so shocked to see how much she’s grown.

[[AC: Episode 9 - One Little Tear]]

* Anastasia refusing to give up on her mother and releasing several lanterns into the sky. Not only does Rapunzel see them, but it’s enough to motivate to finally escape.
* Even though Marcus moved on with Cecilia, he still kept Rapunzel’s cloak, even mending it.

[[AC: Episode 10 - The Eighth Witch]]

* Zelena declares that she and Regina "practically invented" Mommy issues. This is true. However, their "Mommy issues", which were resolved in Season Five, have ''brought them together.''

[[AC: Episode 11 - Secret Garden]]

** Victoria admits that she’s always loved Lucy.
* Wish!Hook convincing Zelena to keep fighting for Robin and that she doesn’t need magic to do so.

[[AC: Episode 12 - A Taste of the Heights]]
* Weaver assuring Rogers he is not to blame for Tremaine’s death.

* After being crowned queen, Tiana asks Henry, Ella and Regina to join her outside to greet her subjects.

[[AC: Episode 13 - Knightfall]]
* Wish!Hook comforting Alice after she has a nightmare of Gothel coming for her and tossing her father out of the tower. This kickstarts his quest to find Maui's fishhook to save his daughter.

* Mr. Smee is not only happy to see Hook again, but he’s willing to return the Jolly Roger to its rightful owner.

* Regina revealing to Lucy that she’s awake and she going to find a way to save Henry.

[[AC: Episode 14 - The Girl in the Tower]]
* Rogers and Henry working tirelessly to prove Tilly’s innocence throughout the episode.

** Tilly and Margot meeting for the first time. Just like Alice predicted, they “know” each other, even when they don’t.

[[AC: Episode 15 - Sisterhood]]
* Regina and Lucy set up Henry, Nick, and Rogers to have a guys’ night out.

* Even though letting Anastasia go means he can’t get to Belle, Rumple is okay with that. In fact, he admits that [[GoodFeelsGood every good deed he does]] helps him feel closer to her.

[[AC: Episode 16 - Breadcrumbs]]

* Rogers helping Tilly get a job at Sabine’s truck. When he stops by to pick her up at the end of the day, he finds out not only did she do a great job, but she finally felt “seen” by people.

[[AC: Episode 17 - Chosen]]

** Because he’s blind, Ivo describes to Zelena how her pictures her face. She is moved.
* Jack/Hansel’s friendship with Henry was indeed genuine. Sadly when Zelena and Regina arrived, it became harder for him to suppress his vengeance.

* After Henry’s car is found abandoned, Rogers almost immediately knows something is wrong and puts the Candy Killer case on hold to find him.

-->'''Regina''': You get on that bike, monkey and you fly.

* Kelly lightly teases Margot about the girl she likes enough to stay in town for. Zelena knows full well that not even mindwiping curses can stop True Love pairs from finding each other, and from her enthusiasm she realizes that her daughter has found hers again. Even if Robin doesn't remember who she is, she'll be able to be happy, and Zelena wants that more than anything.

[[AC: Episode 18 - The Guardian]]

* Rogers referring to Henry as his “unofficial deputy”.

[[AC: Episode 19 - Flower Child]]

* All of Tilly and Rogers’s scenes together. From Rogers immediately believing Tilly about Eloise, to Tilly covering Rogers’ car with mushroom stickers, to the two them learning that they’re actually father and daughter.

[[AC: Episode 20 - Is This Henry Mills]]

-->''Sometimes, you have to leave home. When you've been there for so long, you don't know who or what you'll be outside of it. But then you realize every experience, every trial, every moment has shaped you. And you take that place with you, no matter where you go next. I'm lucky. I have an incredible home. You won't find it on a map. But in it, you will find magic. You'll find love, hope, and something to believe in. You'll find a family that fights for one another, who never gives up on each other. And even when they're separated by curse or distance or time...''''[[ArcWords they find each other. They always find each other]].'' ''I wish the world could know the story of my family, how it was all true, how every moment of it happened. And you may think this is just a story. But that's the thing about stories. They're more than words. They live inside of us. They make us who we are. And as long as someone believes that...there will always be magic.''
* The first thing Henry does after he’s remembered? Hug his daughter.
* The return to Storybrooke this time is especially moving, since we not only get to see Granny again (and hear a hilarious story about Grumpy), there's mention of throwing a huge party at the diner after Henry gets into every college he applies to. And there's the little touch of the writers remembering Anton/Tiny which, while it's there to explain where Henry got the magic bean, is a reference to a sweet character we haven't seen since Season Two. It's wonderful to know that behind-the-scenes, he's been there with the other dwarfs all along, happy and accepted again (thanks to Snow, Emma, and Charming) despite what happened to his people.

[[AC: Episode 21 - Homecoming]]
* Alice and Wish!Hook’s reunion, even if they still can’t get too close to each other. Still, he promises that he’ll keep looking for a cure.
--> I love you too, Starfish.

[[AC: Episode 22 - Leaving Storybrooke]]
* Regina seeing Robin Hood again, finally giving the viewers proof that his soul wasn’t destroyed. He reminds her of how far she’s come and that she can still help Wish!Henry. When she wakes up, she’s holding one of his feathers.

** When Wish!Rumple advances on Wish!Hook, Henry, Alice, and Robin, Rumple, badly injured, stands long enough to get between them and him. Now think about who those four on the floor are: Wish!Hook, who is a version of the man who has been Rumple's enemy for decades; Henry, the "boy who will be his undoing"; Alice, the only one who (before Wish!Henry undid it) could have taken his immortality and powers; and Robin, the daughter of the woman who killed his son. After so many years of putting his own life, vengenace, and power above others, he's protecting the very representations of those weaknesses.
* Before they face the black knights, Wish!Hook asks Robin to take care of Alice, as his heart has been getting worse. She one-ups him by asking his permission to marry her]]. He lets her sweat for only a moment before breaking into a grin, hugging her, and happily giving it.

[[folder: Other]]

[[/folder]]

* Henry visibly showing that he cares about Regina and hoping that she's found a valid way for them to be together again. Unfortunately she hasn't, and Henry is horrified at [[KillEmAll what her way is]], but the moment was heartwarming while it lasted.

* A meta example: There's something touching about the depiction of the ''Frozen'' characters. It feels like they jumped from the movie right into this show. Anna especially is perfect.

* In a slightly meta sense, the scene where Regina tells Snow White what happened with Wish!Robin. Not only does Snow show great sympathy and regret for having been right, Regina immediately tells her it wasn't her fault, but Regina's. To see her say something that not only was once completely beyond her but which she could never have believed in her heart--the same thing which lay at the heart of her original hatred for Snow, blaming her for something that wasn't her fault and later refusing to accept responsibility for her own wrongdoing--is heartwarming enough. The fact she can say it so easily and readily, and Snow doesn't even remark on it, really shows how far they've come.

* In a meta sense, the return to Storybrooke this time is especially moving, since we not only get to see Granny again (and hear a hilarious story about Grumpy), there's mention of throwing a huge party at the diner after Henry gets into every college he applies to. And there's the little touch of the writers remembering Anton/Tiny which, while it's there to explain where Henry got the magic bean, is a reference to a sweet character we haven't seen since Season Two. It's wonderful to know that behind-the-scenes, he's been there with the other dwarfs all along, happy and accepted again (thanks to Snow, Emma, and Charming) despite what happened to his people.

** Slightly HarsherinHindsight since we learn later this is Zelena, not the real Marian. Whether or not she’s being genuine though…

** Slightly HarsherinHindshight since we learn later this is Zelena, not the real Marian. Whether or not she’s being genuine though…