This is initially a one-shot, but depending on the response I get from you guys I might write new chapters with Snow's thoughts and feelings at different times and what she wishes she could say to her daughter.

I hope you enjoy it! Please leave reviews, getting feedback from you guys is so helpful and it inspires and motivates me to write!

I do not own Once Upon a Time or any of the show's characters.

My dearest little girl,

As I hand you over to your father, I can feel my heart being shattered to pieces. I look at your small face and all I can think of is how I wish I had one more moment with you… one more minute to look at your perfect little face and to feel your little hands as they reach for me… to look just once more into your beautiful eyes which I can tell are going to be blue like your father's. Oh, Emma, how I wish I could hold you in my arms and never let you go… I wish I could see you grow up, become the most perfect girl in the kingdom.

I have been seeing your face in my dreams ever since I found out you were coming into this world. Your father has sung to you and talked to you every night. He tells you that you are his beautiful princess, that he will teach you how to ride a horse and how to sword fight. He tells you he knows you will be just as beautiful and just as kind as your mama. Your daddy is the kindest, bravest man in our realm, and he loves you so very much, my little angel. He has loved you from the moment he knew you were coming to us. We never thought we would have to say goodbye to you before we got a chance to get to know you, baby girl. We never thought you would be ripped from our arms before you got a chance to know me and your daddy, to know just how much we love you.

Every night in my dreams, I see you, but lately these dreams have been terrible nightmares in which you are taken from me. Sometimes, when your daddy thinks I am sleeping, I hear him cry and I know it is because he is scared. He tries to be strong for me, but I know that he is just as scared as I am. We cannot imagine a world where you are not here right next to us, my little princess.

The nine months I carried you for were the happiest months of my life, and it pains me to know that our time together has been cut short so soon. I have never felt a sharper pain deep in my chest than the one I feel right now as I let you go. In the past, I have been poisoned, I have buried my mother and father. Still, nothing compares to the pain of saying goodbye to you, my precious girl. I know I must protect you, send you away to a safer place, but I cannot convince myself that you belong anywhere but in my arms.

As your father adjusts you in his arms, I see you stretch your little hands trying to reach for me. I want to hold you again, and this time I will not let you go, no matter what curse is cast upon us. Your little lips let out a tiny cry and I know it is because you don't want to leave us, you don't want to grow up without us. I know you want to be back in the warmth of your mama's arms, and I want you right here with me too. I know I have to be strong, but I feel my heart break into tiny pieces as I watch your father carry you out of the room. I am now left by myself, with nothing but the memory of your precious little face. I can still see it if I close my eyes, and I hope I can hold on to this memory until I can finally see you again.

Your grandmother once told me that parents must always put their children first. I know she is watching over us at this very moment, and I hope I am making her proud. I now understand what she meant. I must put you first even if it kills me inside. She would have loved you, baby girl, and she would have spoiled you and given you all of her love. She is the reason you are here… she gave her life so you could have yours. I will eternally be thankful, for she gave me the most precious of all treasures.

I am so sorry, my angel, that I won't be there with you to hold you in my arms when you are scared at night. I am sorry I won't be the one teaching you how to walk or how to talk. I am sorry I won't be there to soothe your fevers or to comfort you when you have your first heartbreak. I am sorry I won't be there to tell you how beautiful and how loved you are. If I could be with you, I would tell you that every day. I hope there are people in this new world that will take care of you and protect you just like I wish I could. I would give my life to keep you safe, my sweet angel. I hope you are happy wherever you are, and that they treat you like the princess you were born to be. Oh, what I'd give to have the chance to raise you and take care of you, and to see your father spoil you like I know he would.

I want you to know that even if we are in different worlds, my heart will always be right next to yours. Every time you look at the sky, I hope you can feel me right next to you, holding you tight in my arms and telling you that you are my treasure. And when I feel the sun or a soft breeze on my face, I will believe that is you sending me a sign, and I know I'll feel you close to me.

I hope that one day you can forgive me, my Emma. I know I will never forgive myself for not being with you, even it I have no choice. I know you will grow into a beautiful, kind, brave princess and I can only dream that when you save me, when you save our whole kingdom, you will find it in your heart to forgive your heartbroken mother, who loves you more than she ever thought she could love anyone and who would give all she has to be able to come through with you.

I pray that you are cherished and loved wherever you are. I will always love you with all my heart, my girl, and I will think of you every day and every night. When you come back to me, I promise I will hold you so close to me and never let you go.

I love you... I love you.