So When I changed Snow's mom's name to Eva over a year ago I didn't bother proof reading it. I probably should have because it changed more than I wanted it to in some of the words.. Thank you to for letting me know about the mistake.

Emma walks into ballroom wondering why she's there in the first place. Why would anyone want an orphan at a ball?

She had been walking in town when she noticed this old woman about to collapse. Emma, being a considerate person, runs over o the lady and walks her to a nearby bench.

"Thank you, you're sweet to help an old woman like me."

"Please, no thanks are necessary. What kind of person would I be if I didn't help you?"

"Nonetheless, thank you."

"There you are." Emma looked up to see a brunette woman walking towards them.

"Snow, there's no need to worry. As you can see I'm perfectly fine."

"Mother" Snow says with a sigh, "we have to get back home and you have to rest. You know what the doctor said."

"Yes, do not fret I'm right behind you." The old woman says while getting back off the bench.

Emma notices she is having trouble getting up so she puts one arm around her waist and another around her shoulders to help her up.

"Thank you again."

"Maybe you should rest." Emma says more as a joke.

"Indeed." the woman says with a smile, "I'm Eva by the way; how rude of me not to introduce myself sooner."

"If you are rude then what does that make me? I'm Emma; it's a pleasure to meet you." Emma says with a smile.

Eva returns her smile, "This is my daughter Snow."

"Thank you for taking care of my mother." Snow says.

"As I told Eva, I was only being a good citizen but your welcome nonetheless." Emma was about to walk away when Eva said one more thing.

"As a proper thank you why don't you have dinner with us?"

Emma turns around and is about to say something when she finally notices the difference in their social standing. "I would be honored, but it appears that I have the lack of proper clothing to accompany you. Your wellbeing is all the thanks that I need." Emma bows and smiles and is about to leave again when someone grabs her wrist.

"Nonsense, I'm sure I have something that'll fit you." Emma is shocked to see Snow was the one who stopped her. At this point it would be beyond rude to say no, so Emma didn't really have any choice in the matter. All Emma did next was smile and bow again to say yes.

A few hours later Emma was standing in the ballroom thinking of polite ways to leave. That was easier said than one. It appeared that while Emma was eating and getting dressed Snow had been enamored with Emma's life. She wanted to know everything about her. Emma didn't have the heart to turn her down in her life stories. Truth be told, Emma felt a connection to the woman and wasn't sure why.

"I'm going to get a drink," Snow said and walked away. It was in that moment that Eva stood next to her.

"I see you made fast friends with my daughter. I'm glad, she doesn't have many friends." Eva said with a sad smile.

"Why, she seems to like everyone and is a kind person."

"Walk an old woman to her room?" Emma nodded and walked with Eva out of the ballroom.

"Almost thirty years ago my dear Snow lost her baby daughter at birth. Her husband was so distraught at the loss of his first born that her left and hasn't been seen since."

Emma looked away from Eva and cleared her throat to get control of her emotions. "I'm sorry to hear that. Knowing that I'm surprised to see her so happy and cheerful."

"Me too, today was the first day that I could tell her smile was real."

"What's so special about today?"

"Today is her daughter's birthday and today she met a young girl with the same name as her. You Emma, have the same name as Snow's daughter. Snow wouldn't like me telling you this part, however; I think snow wishes that her Emma was like you."

"Me, why me? I'm no one special. I'm just an orphan girl who had to jump from house to house."

"That may be, but it has also shaped the person you are today and Snow and I both like her."

"Emma dear, why are you crying?" Eva asked.

Emma touched her cheek and felt that they were wet. "I'm sorry I wasn't even aware that I was crying."

"It's quit alright dear. Why don't you go back to the party and tell Snow that I retired early."

Eva was about to close the door when Emma thought of a question. "Wait, I don't want this to come the wrong way but how can you afford all of this?"

"What do you mean dear?"

"The castle, the food, the servants, the cloths, the party; how can you afford it all? It's not like your queen or anything."

Eva only smiled. "Emma where are you from?"

"Me, another realm actually. I was found on the side of the road when a man found me. eventually, he adopted me but her got sick and died when I was five. I didn't have anywhere to go so I moved from house to house until I came of age."

"Then how did you come here?"

"That's what I don't understand. Where I come from there is no magic, there used to be but because everyone stopped believing in magic it went away. Now there is only science. Anyway, one day two years ago I woke up here. I don't know why or how."

For the first time since they met Eva wasn't smiling. Instead she looked confused. "Do you know the exact date two years ago it happened?"

"I do, but can you promise me to not tell Snow?"

"Yes, but why?"

"Once I tell you you'll understand." Emma took a breath. "It was two years ago today and today is my thirtieth birthday."

"You're thirty?"

Emma nodded.

"And your birthday is today?"

Emma nodded again.

"And your name is Emma?"

"You see if Snow knows all that then she'll think I'm her daughter, but I wasn't born here. I don't want to open a can of worms that might not close."

"A can of what-?" Eva asked.

"Sorry it's a saying from where I come from. It means that I don't want to get Snow's hopes up and then have it come crashing down all around her."

Eva nodded with a sad smile and right before she closed her door she finally answered Emma's original question. "Emma, the reason why I can afford all of this is because I am queen."

Emma was beyond shock. She is friends with a real queen and princess. A queen and princess wanted to be her friend, and they were nice. The walk back to the ballroom Emma was in a daze.

"Emma?" Snow said excitedly.

Emma looked up and smiled. Snow had an infectious smile and Emma was glad she had one at this point in her confusing day.

"I want to introduce you to a few people. This is Princess's Ruby, Belle, Aurora, Mulan, and Regina."

Emma gulped.

All of them are princesses. Well fuck me. Emma thought to herself. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you." Emma said with a bow. She wasn't one for curtsying and just because she was in a dress doesn't mean that she was going to start now.

"It's nice to meet you. Snow speaks highly of you. This might be presumptuous, but would you care to dance."

Emma smiled and reached to the hand that was being offered to her. She didn't care, nor remember, that she didn't know how to dance. What she did notice was the gorgeous figure who asked her.