The night was endless. No sleep came, partly because her head was trapped in a carousel of worries about her son Henry, and partly because her heart ached with guilt and led her to Captain Hook, his eyes unbelieving as she clasped the shackle shut around his wrist and backed away.

But I had to do it, she thought. He couldn't be trusted. I have to protect my family. And that snarling snare of a thought came back to her, as it had for many weeks now. The reason everything went wrong was because I trusted someone.

"You okay?" Emma turned sharply, caught off guard by the slight figure of her mother, Snow White.

"Yeah I'm just uh...thinking." She dug the heels of her boots into the soil and waited for what was certainly coming.

"You should get some rest, you haven't slept-" Snow moved closer to Emma, her hands held together as if in prayer.

"I know!" Emma barked it, her eyes flashing for a second before widening in surprise at herself. "I'm sorry. I'd like to sleep, but I can't. My...brain won't let me." She sighed deeply and continued her unseeing stare into the thick impenetrable night.

"Why don't you talk to me about it?" Snow deposited herself lightly beside her daughter and smiled kindly. Emma gazed at her and shook her head, bereft of the strength to speak her truth. Snow tucked a blonde lock of hair behind Emma's ear and whispered, "It's ok, Emma. You talked to me about things before. You know, before you knew I was your mom."

"I know." Emma felt for Snow. She understood her mother's concern, for it was the same she felt when Henry was worried or upset. But it didn't make the situation any less absurd or awkward. But talking about Henry would be alright. She could do that and get some of that off her chest, and Snow would understand. But that left Hook, prowling around her mind and heart, screaming her name in anger, hurt.

"Was it something Hook said?"

"What?" Emma felt her heart contract and expand with every beat. It felt like being simultaneously crushed and levitated. How does she know?

"Well you've been unable to sleep ever since you came down from the beanstalk. And I don't think you've told us the whole story about what happened up there-" Snow began.

"I told you! Hook distracted the giant, I hit him in the face with that magic sleeping powder stuff, we looked for the compass, couldn't find it, the giant woke up, threw some boulders at Hook, grabbed me, and I talked to him, convinced him to give me the compass, and I left. The end." She tossed up her hands in exasperation.

"Hmm...No, that's not all there is. I'm your mother Emma. And I know that the face you're making right now is not a truth face."

Emma crossed her arms and glared at Snow.. She had, without thinking about it, begun to pace around the small clearing.

After a few seconds of this she stopped and turned to her mother.

"Fine. Here's how the story really ends." Under the bright light of the stars, Emma saw Snow's small nod and patient gaze.

"I asked the giant a second favor..."