Screams pierced the air as another contraction ripped through Snow White. She was trying desperately to delay the inevitable, Regina's curse was coming and if only she could hold on a little longer she and her unborn child could get to safety.

"I can't have this baby now!" Snow sobbed in pain looking up at her husband desperately.

"Doc, do something." Charming begged the dwarf before turning his attention back to Snow. "It's going to be okay. The wardrobe is almost finished, just hold on."

Hold on.

That's all Snow had to do, suddenly the doors to their chambers burst open, and for one frightening second Snow feared it was her stepmother.

But to her relief it was only Geppetto who entered the room.

"It's ready." Geppetto said and Charming moved to pick her up, yes, Snow thought, get me to the wardrobe, everything will be fine once I'm in the wardrobe.

But Doc put a stop to it all,

"It's too late." He said, "we can't move her."

And so baby Emma was born. Snow White held her daughter, and for a few blissful seconds she forgot about their impending doom. But then it all came crashing down on her,

"The wardrobe… It only takes one." Snow said softly, their plan was ruined, it was over.

Regina was going to win.

"Then our plan has failed." Charming said as if reading her mind, "at least we're together." Snow was inconsolable,

"Goodbye, Emma…" Snow sobbed, Regina's curse was getting closer.

This was the end.

Snow White and the prince kissed Emma's head.

A pulse of magic spread throughout the land.

And then, as quickly as it had started, it stopped. Snow drew a shaky breath as she felt Charming leave her side. He made his way over to the window and looked out.

"Snow." He said, very quietly and very seriously, "the curse. I think it failed."


Several weeks later the whole kingdom rejoiced, royals from far and wide flocked to the castle for the christening of the baby princess. Snow sat beside her daughter's cradle, as Charming greeted their guests. Suddenly she heard a voice call out,

"Their royal highnesses, Prince Thomas and Princess Ella!" Snow looked up and smiled as Thomas and Ella approached her, Ella looking weak and frail, clutching their two week old daughter to her chest.

"Snow!" Ella called, her smile, though genuine, was weak.

"Ella, dear!" Snow greeted warmly, though highly concerned for her friends health.

"Is this her?" Ella asked peering into the cradle. "Is this your Emma?" Snow smiled,

"That's her," she said bending and picking Emma up.

"Oh, the little darling!" Ella cooed,

"Congratulations, Snow. She's beautiful." Thomas said,

"Why, thank you, Thomas." Snow said happily,

"We really must be going," Thomas said cordially, "you have other guests."

"Of course, I'll find you later," Snow said squeezing one of Ella's hands as the couple moved on. Charming was next to approach, he smiled and took his place beside his wife on his throne.

"The most honored and exalted excellency, Mistress Blue!" Snow turned her attention to the Blue Fairy as she approached. She bowed to the rulers respectively,

"Your majesties," she murmured. I have three gifts to bless the child with, if I may?"

"Of course," Snow White said laying Emma back in her cradle. And the Blue Fairy began,

"Little princess, my first gift shall be the gift of beauty, my second, the gift of song. And my third gift, sweet princess shall be..." But she never finished because in that moment the doors burst open. And The Evil Queen strode in.

"Sorry I'm late," she said, the room fell into a fearful silence. "Well, quite a glittering assemblage, Snow. Royalty, nobility, the gentry, and, how quaint, even the bug is here." The Blue Fairy glared angrily but said not a word. "I really felt quite distressed of not receiving an invitation." Regina finished,

"You weren't wanted!" The Blue Fairy said crossly,

"Not wanted...? Oh dear, what an awkward situation. I had hoped it was merely due to some oversight." Regina said coldly, "for I, too, have a gift for the child." The blood in Snow's veins ran cold.

"And what would that be?" Snow asked cautiously,

"A life." With that a plume of purple smoke billowed from Emma's cradle. Panicked, Snow lunged to retrieve her daughter. But when the smoke cleared Emma was gone. Snow whirled to face her stepmother and screamed in horror, in Regina's arms was baby Emma. "Emma. Did I ever tell you what a lovely name that was? However did you pick it?" Tracing the name embroidered in purple on Emma's baby blanket, Regina grinned wickedly.

"Give her to me!" Snow cried, her heart was hammering in her chest. "Regina, I swear if you hurt her-"

"Hurt her?" Regina cut Snow off, "now why would I do that? I am simply saving the child. After all, no child should have to suffer at the hands of such a monster." Snow's eyes widened,

"Regina, please what is this all about?" Snow asked.

"I think you know perfectly well what this is about." Regina replied,

Daniel.

It always boiled down to Regina's stable boy.

"Regina, please I was a child I didn't know! Cora-"

"She ripped his heart out because of you!" Regina barked, the malicious crack of Regina's voice. Woke up Emma who began to cry, Regina's voice became sickeningly sweet. "Oh! Hello, Emma. Oh, sh, sh, it's alright." Snow felt sick to her stomach. Suddenly, as if they just then realized something was wrong, some of the knights charged Regina, without even looking away from Emma, who had quieted, Regina disposed of the guards with a flick of her wrist. Desperate, Snow lunged for Charming's sword. Snow was all too ready to drive the blade into the witch's heart. But before she could, she found herself immobilized. Regina chuckled darkly, "careful, we wouldn't want to hurt the baby now would we?" She said, tears poured down Snow's cheeks, she could hardly stand to see her baby in Regina's arms, she had failed.

"Emma!" Snow cried out pained, Regina grinned, clearly relishing Snow's pain.

"Why are you doing this?" Charming demanded, who Snow now noticed was immobilized as well. Regina's face grew dark,

"Because this is my happy ending." Regina snarled, and without another word, disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke, taking Emma with her.

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