Chapter 1:

The purple clouds finally disappeared, leaving the residents of Storybrooke stunned and very confused. Suddenly, they remembered their past lives; who they really were, living in an entirely different land, and none were sure how they ended up in this new world. It was as if they were all waking up from the same dream. After a few moments, confusion turned to excitement as everyone reunited with their loved ones. Nova ran into a waiting Dreamy's arms, Gappetto left immediately to find his lost son, and Jefferson cried tears of joy when his Grace finally recognized him, running to him, screaming "papa." It seemed that all of Storybrooke was celebrating. That is, everyone except the royal couple.

Snow White and James were still standing in the middle of the street, silently taking it all in.

"James, we did it! We defeated the curse!" said Snow, jumping once again into her Charming's arms. "You found me!"

"Did you ever doubt I would?" he asked cheekily.

Snow allowed a small laugh at her husband's easy confidence, something she missed and lived without for 28 years. Then realization hit her, and she gasped, "Emma." It all clicked. The stranger of the town who became her roommate and best friend was her daughter. No wonder she always felt a connection towards the young woman she couldn't explain. She watched as comprehension hit James' face, and held back tears as he started crying.

"Snow, where is she? Where is our daughter?" he choked.

"I have a hunch." Snow responded. "Follow me."

Storybrooke Hospital was a buzz. Everyone was talking about the escape of a presumed mental patient from the psych ward, and how a 10 year boy just barely escaped death.

Snow gasped again. Henry just fine, but that wasn't the only thing that excited her. If Emma was her daughter, that meant that he was her grandson. Her favorite student whom she felt compelled to break him out of his shell and loneliness by giving a storybook of fairytales was her grandson. She couldn't believe it. Barely half an hour ago, she was Mary Margaret Blanchard, an insecure woman who was destined to be alone with no family, but now she was Snow White, queen of her land, and, with her husband by her side, was about to meet her daughter and grandson, properly. "That boy they're talking about is Henry," she told James.

"Henry?" James asked, and as he looked at his wife, he too came to the realization that the boy whom he decided to look after and protect from a distance was his grandson. He was a grandfather. He caught a reflection of himself in a nearby mirror, and laughed at the irony. The curse robbed 28 years of his life, and he certainly did not feel like or look like he should be a grandfather.

"What's so funny?" Snow asked.

"Just that I think we're the best looking grandparents out there." James responded with a smile. But then he became serious. "What happened to Henry?"

"It's a long story, but Emma will be with him." Snow replied.

As they made their way to Henry's room, Snow's confidence dwindled, and she stopped dead at the door. "James," she said desperately, "What if she hates us?" "What will we do? I will never forgive myself," she cried, collapsing into James' chest, finally letting her tears fall.

"She won't hate us." James said, rubbing soothing circles on his wife's back. "She'll want an explanation, but she won't hate us."

"How can you be so sure?" asked Snow, lifting her head to look at her husband in the eyes.

"Because I am her father," he answered simply.

Snow raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue. "You don't know her though. She may be you're flesh and blood, but that doesn't automatically make you an expert of her or her feelings. You haven't seen her in 28 years. She could hate you, and she has every right to."

"Exactly, she's my flesh and blood. We're family. You can't hate family. Be mad at them yes, but hate them no. Familial love is the most powerful kind love and can weather any kind of storm, even a 28 year separation." He smiled down at his beautiful wife, and gave her a chaste kiss. "Ready?" he asked, giving her a reassuring look.

Snow took a deep breath. "Yes," she said as James knocked on the door.