Once Upon a Time (TV series)/Heartwarming

• Grumpy begrudgingly applauding during Snow White's wedding.
  • This becomes more Heartwarming in Hindsight, as he was likely hesitating to applaud due to his bitter memories of what he thought was the love of his own life. But now he recognizes that Snow White has actually found hers.
• The end of the pilot, with the clock moving again now that Emma's settled into the town.
• When Snow White starts to rethink whole wardrobe idea because she doesn't want to leave Charming, his response is easily the most romantic line in the 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.

• Emma going to stay with Mary Margret so that she would have someone at the end of Episode Three.
• Jiminy getting his wish of being turned into a cricket to escape his parents, and heading off to be Gepetto's conscience.
• Nicholas and Ava reuniting with their father.
• The dwarves taking in Snow White after she was forced to tell James she didn't love him, and Grumpy convincing her to wait on taking the potion that will make her forget him. Even before that, he silently offers his hand and she takes it as they walk through the forest.
• Mary Margaret and David successfully reuniting a dove with its flock, and then finally getting together.
• While out on a Valentines Day Girl's Night, Ashley is unable to get over the fact that she and Sean have been unable to truly be together, much less married, due to her taking care of the baby, and him working long hours in order to support her and the baby. Just as she's getting ready to leave, cue Sean with flowers. And a ring and proposal.
• It ends in tears, but Rumpelstiltskin's burgeoning relationship with Belle is incredibly sweet. And even in the real world, we see that he'll go to any lengths to retrieve the one memento he has of her.
  • Indeed. When Belle returns with straw, he's positively surprized that she actually came back and skips down stairs. Then he pretends he was spinning the whole time in that awkward embarassed sort of way that people do when they're trying not to be obvious about something. And then later in the real world, when Regina is dangling Belle's cup, Mr. Gold's hands are positively trembling beneath it since he's so afraid it'll get damaged in some way.
  • The fact that true love's kiss was actually working even if it all went to shit afterwards.
• Emma's willingness to spend time with Henry even though she knows its a distraction by Regina so she can talk to Mr. Gold.
• Dreamy and Nova watching the fireflies, after Belle advised him what she really wanted.
• Granny revealing to Ruby that she's planning to retire soon, and wants to give the cafe to her.
• Snow returning to the dwarves with a mug, saying it's all she can replace when she trashed the cottage. She apologizes, and the "It's you/It's me" exchange puts it into borderline Tear Jerker territory. And then they all reassure that they'll help her to rescue Charming, every step of the way.
• Henry's reaction when Emma asks to borrow his book, showing that she's starting to believe.
• The Mad Hatter explaining why he doesn't contact his daugter, the fact it's not even a consideration if it might cause her pain, the sheer disbelief he expressed at the thought of it showed just how much he must care for her.
• The exchange between Emma and Mary Margaret at the end of the episode.

Emma: Nobody's ever been there for me, except for you. And I can't lose that, I cannot lose my family.
Mary Margaret: Family?

• August immediately forgiving Emma when she realizes he wasn't the one who betrayed her. That kind of thing isn't seen too often in stories like this. Is not as sign of selflessness, August has a guilty conscience. He abandoned Emma when she needed him the most.
• August finally talking to his father, Marco at the end of "The Stranger."

Marco: You realized your mistake and you tried to fix it. That's important. If I had a son, that would be enough for me.
August: How would you feel about... taking on an assistant?
Marco: I can't pay you.
August: That's okay. I just feel like fixing things.

• In the season finale, the reunion between Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin and Belle.
  • Diminished somewhat by the fact he's still evil.
• Snow White and Prince Charming having their reunion in the middle of the street, then just holding on to one another as the inevitable tide of magic hits, ready for any outcome.

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