Author's Note: Hello all. During the first half of the season, I fell in love the character of Ingrid/The Snow Queen and have been itching to write a fanfic with her character. This is a complete AU that takes place in our world.

Synopsis: Ingrid owns an ice cream shop on the North End of Boston. She lives a plain and simple life as a shop owner and a new parent to her adopted baby girl, Emma, until the day comes when her past returns to haunt her. A man, a man that she has not seen in over fifteen years, finds her and tells her that her youngest sister and her husband have died, leaving their two young daughters without parents. Ingrid is their only living relative. Now she must not only decide whether or not to take these girls, whom she has never met, into her home, but also decide if she is really ready to face the past that she spent fifteen years trying to run from.

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or its characters. Those rights belong to Disney and ABC.

Steam rose from the hot mug; just the fresh scent was beginning to wake her up. She still hadn't caught up on sleep and she doubted that she would anytime soon, considering the circumstances. Coffee seemed to be the greatest thing in the world right then.

There was complete and utter silence; another thing that seemed like a precious gift to her. She had slept through the night, and thank goodness for it, because Ingrid was starting to feel herself going crazy from it.

As the blonde took her first sip of hot coffee, though, she began to hear the crackling. She glanced at the little monitor beside her on the kitchen table, hoping that it was just a slight movement, but it grew louder. She listened to the slight whimpering noises echo from the speaker.

"Alright," she quietly said with a sigh as she stood from her seat. At least she had a few moments of peace. Perhaps the little one wouldn't be too difficult this morning. She could only hope.

Stepping into the dark nursery, Ingrid could still hear the slight whimpers. "Hey there, angel," she said softly while glancing into the crib. There laid a beautiful, blue-eyed baby girl just staring up at her longingly. As Ingrid caressed the three-month-old's small stomach, she grinned. "You finally did it," she praised the child for sleeping through the night. While lifting her into her arms, she continued, "And it's a good thing we both did because we've got a long day ahead of us."

0-0-0

Spring and summer were Ingrid's busiest times of the year. Owning a little ice cream shop, it made perfect sense. And Ingrid's was the best in town; everyone said so. She was proud of it too. Owning a business, even a little one, in the North End of Boston was kind of a big thing. She had spent a good several years saving up for it too; just a little ice cream shop with a cozy apartment right above for herself and whoever else was to come along. It was perfect.

Setting her three-month-old in the front carrier strapped to her body, Ingrid could now set the shop up for opening. With the busy season beginning, Ingrid wondered: could she really pull off dealing with the new baby and the busy season with the store?

After two years with the business going strong and fifteen years on her own, Ingrid finally decided to give herself a change. It took a few months and a lot of paperwork, but she was happy to have Emma in her life. It was strange to think of herself as a mother, though. If she had been asked a few years earlier, she would have said that a child was the last thing she wanted. But somewhere down the line, she changed, and now she could see that it was for the better.

Cupping her daughter's head with her hand as she leaned forward to open up the fresh vats of ice cream, Ingrid smirked. As she stood, she placed a gentle kiss on the infant's head. It was probably going to be difficult juggling the shop and a baby, but she would make it work for sure.

"Let's get moving," she said softly as she flipped the sign on the front door from closed to open.

Only a few moments later, Ingrid heard the little bell above the entrance chime. They were right on time, as they were every Saturday morning at 10 AM. Ingrid glanced up from behind the counter with a smile as the sweet old couple approached.

"Good morning," she greeted kindly, brushing her hand over her very calm infant's head. "What can I get for you two?"

"Morning, sweetheart." The old woman, Mona, made her smile. "I'll have my usual."

"Coming right up," Ingrid chuckled. Mona always got the same thing every week: one scoop of cookies and cream in a little cup. As she began to scoop the serving, she asked, "And what can I get you, Bud?"

Buddy was always a bit different every week, though the first thing he would always do was ask Ingrid to list all of the flavors even though they were listed on the chalkboard behind her. He could never read it. And Bud made it very clear that glasses weren't necessary for someone like him. He felt that he was too tough and manly for glasses. After the first few weeks of hearing that, Ingrid stopped suggesting it and put on a simple smile as she recited the list of flavors.

"What do you got?" the man asked routinely.

With a gentle chuckle, Ingrid began, "I have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, peanut butter swirl, rocky road, dark chocolate raspberry…" The list went on for a good minute. With a breath, Ingrid then finished with, "If I might make a suggestion, the rocky road is delicious."

"I'll take your word on that," Bud replied with a wink. "Two scoops and add a bit of fudge to it."

Raising her brow as she picked out a second ice cream cup, Ingrid commented, "Sounds like someone has quite a sweet tooth this morning."

"You better believe it," he laughed.

As Ingrid leaned forward into the ice cream cooler to scoop the elderly man's order, Mona took a glance at the content infant quietly resting in the carrier upon her mother's chest. "How are you and the little one adjusting?" she asked curiously.

She replied with a grin, "We've both been doing really well, actually." Filling the cup with two scoops as requested, she commented, "Finally got her to sleep through the night last night."

"Must be a relief for you," the older woman chuckled.

"It is." Ingrid nodded. "Believe me."

As she reached over the counter to hand Bud his order, the man chimed in, "You two aren't too crowded in the itty bitty apartment of yours?"

She laughed. "I wouldn't say it's itty bitty. It's… cozy. And it really is just right for Emma and me."

With a little smile watching the young blonde bounce her baby against her chest, Mona said, "Motherhood suits you, dear."

She wasn't sure how to respond to that. It was really the first time anyone had said that to her. Should she have said thank you? She didn't know. Glancing down at the small patch of blonde hair on her baby's head, she just nodded. "Family was really all I ever wished for." She handed Bud the change and listened to the register close with a light clink. "Have a nice day, both of you."

"We'll see you next week," Bud said, digging his spoon into his cup and then going to open the door for his wife.

With a chuckle, Ingrid replied, "10 AM, sharp."

0-0-0

"Hey, I'm sorry," was the first thing Ingrid heard after the bell chimed again at the front entrance. She glanced up at the teenage boy, who seemed rather flustered and out of breath.

"You're late," she replied quickly and with a hint of irritation.

"It's been a tough morning." The green-eyed brunette moved to the back room, grabbed his apron and began to tie it.

Shaking her head after finishing up with a customer, Ingrid commented, "That's not an excuse, Sam."

"Getting your bike stolen is," the kid snapped back. It was clear that he was not in the mood to receive a lecture from her.

"Again?" Ingrid asked. It astonished her how often this boy could get himself into such a mess sometimes. It even made her question on occasion why she had hired him in the first place. Listening to the boy sigh as he stepped up to the cash register, she shook her head. "You need better security for your things."

"You sound like my mother," the boy commented.

"Smart woman." She pointed her finger at him and smirked. As she went to take Emma out of the carrier, she continued, "You're lucky you got here in time for the afternoon rush. Can you take her for a second?" She handed the baby over to the sixteen-year-old without even giving him a chance to protest. She removed the carrier from her body and then took off her apron before reaching her hands out to take the baby back. With a sweet smile, she asked, "Are you hungry, sweetheart?"

With a hint of sarcasm, the teenager replied, "Well, now that you mention it, I didn't get to eat breakfast."

Ingrid just rolled her eyes as she placed Emma against her shoulder. "Man the counter while I head to the back to feed her. If you can manage that, then I'll consider grabbing a bagel from the apartment for you." She gave Sam a little pat on the cheek before she stepped into the back room.

0-0-0

Lifting her head at the sound of footsteps, Ingrid noticed Sam standing before her with a bit of a concerned look on his face.

"Ingrid, there's a man in the front looking for you," he said.

With sigh, the blonde glanced down and continued changing her daughter's diaper as she had been. "Can't you take care of it?" She asked.

"He was quite persistent that he wanted to see you specifically."

She glanced up with some confusion, and finally just nodded her head. "Just give me a few minutes and I'll be right there."

When Ingrid returned to the front of the shop, the sound of a familiar voice forced her to stop right in her tracks. "Hello, Ingrid."

Her eyes grew wide, but she hesitated looking up. Could that really be him? Yes it was definitely a much older and more mature voice, but she still knew it anywhere. Finally, she glanced up and there he was. With a quiet voice she whispered his name. "Jack?" She could feel herself going into a slight mental shock. After fifteen years… he was right there, standing in front of her. But why?

There was no smile on his face. On the contrary it was the complete opposite; utter sorrow and seriousness. "It's been a long time," he spoke deeply.

"Wh- What… are you doing here?" she managed to stutter.

"We need to talk."

So what do you think? Interested in finding out more? Curious as to who Jack might be? Please review and tell me what you think!