Hey everyone, this is my first OUAT fic. Let me know what you think. I don't have a plan where this story will go, so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. 3A

XX XX

Snow and David stood in front of the door, both barely breathing. Snow reached out for the handle and slowly opened the door. As she touched the luminescent substance a clear picture began to take form. Sitting silently on a bed was Emma, no more than 8 years old, reading a book. David took a step forward, Snow put her hand out.

"What are you doing? We have to get our little girl." David held onto Snow's outstretched hand and moved it away from his chest.

"What about everyone else?" Snow looked into David's eyes pleading for an answer.

David turned Snow to look at him resting his hands on either side of her face, "We know where they are, we know what to do when she turns 28. We can make sure she meets Neal and has Henry. We can save her from going to jail. We will have baby Neal again, we can start as soon as we save Emma. We can save her from everything. Emma needs us."

As if nothing in the world mattered, Snow turned and walked hand in hand with David toward their daughter.

Emma looked up from her book when she saw a weird light emanating from the closet. "Uh… who are you?" She looked at the two strangers. She wasn't scared of them, they looked nice. Their faces were both showing something that had never been shown to her, love. Why were these two people looking at her like that?

"Is your name Emma?" Snow knew they couldn't scare her too much. They had to be gentle. Since their time together Snow had learned a few tricks to getting Emma to trust her quicker.

"Yeah. Who are you?"

"We're…" David began speaking.

"We think we might be someone who can look after you for the rest of your life, but we have to make sure. We just came by to see if you'd be ok with us maybe coming back and taking you home with us. Our names are Snow and David Nolan." Snow thought about going by Mary Margaret, but it would just be so confusing for Emma when she got older. She didn't want to start their new relationship off with a lie.

Emma looked at both of them, confused. Why would two complete strangers want to keep her? Why would they be asking for her permission. "Uhh, not that I don't appreciate you asking, but why would you even want me?"

David understood what Snow was doing trying to slowly open up to Emma so he knelt down in front of her, "Because we've always wanted a daughter just like you. We have to go now, but we'll be back to get you. Hopefully, maybe, if you'd like, we could meet up every day until we can make it official. What would you think about that?"

"I guess that would be ok." Emma continued staring at them, wondering. Could life really be this kind to her? She decided that she wouldn't run away tonight, just to see if these people were right. "Uh, when would be the next time we could meet? I have school tomorrow."

"What school do you go to?" That sounds a little like a stalker or kidnapper, Snow started to stutter and finally spit out, "We can pick you up, take you out for ice cream, and bring you back here." She searched Emma's face for any sign of fear.

Emma looked into Snow's eyes and saw Snow's trepidation as if what Emma said would make or break her world. "I go to South Boston Elementary. I get off at 3:15."

Snow let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. David stood up and took Snow's hand, "Well Emma, it was nice to officially meet you. We'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, nice to meet you too." Emma slipped her headphones back on and looked down at her book. She wasn't really reading, she was watching. Watching as the two people whom she hoped would save her gave her one last loving look and walk slowly out of the room.

XX XX

Snow and David made it out of the house without anyone asking who they were. As they stepped onto the pavement a great weight was placed on their shoulders. Snow turned to David, "David, we have so much we need to do. We have to get a house. We need jobs. We need to get clothes and toys and furniture. What are we going to do?! We need this to be done like yesterday. No one is going to give us custody of Emma if we aren't stable. David are you listening to me?"

David took a deep breath and faced his frantic wife, "Yes, Snow, I'm listening to you. I've thought of all those things as well. I have a plan. I have my wallet on me and there's a little money in there. First things first we should look for a way to get more money so we can find a place to live. How about we see if any of my debit cards still work?"

"Ok, where to?" Snow turned around and looked down the street, then turned back around and looked the other direction. She had no idea where they were or where anything was. They should probably find a map and mark where the house and school were so they didn't loose Emma again.

"Look there's a store up there. We should probably get a map and some coffee. I have a feeling we're going to be up late."

"You read my mind Charming." With that she kissed David, grabbed his hand, and walked toward the small convenience store.

XX XX

Snow and David went to the convenience store and found to their surprise that David's debit card worked. They were able to get a substantial amount of money out before the machine told them that was all they could take out for the day.

They purchased a map and asked the attendant where they were on the map. They circled their location so that they would be able to find Emma's house again.

As the day went on they were able to find the elementary school and a few houses that had promise. They knew that they'd need jobs first so they stopped at the elementary school.

Snow walked into the front office, "Hello, my name is Snow Nolan. I was wondering if you had any teaching positions available."

The receptionist looked up at Snow, "Hello, actually we really need a 5th grade teacher. Do you have any experience?"

"Yes ma'am. My husband and I just moved here from Maine. I worked in an elementary school there teaching 5th grade actually."

The receptionists face lit up with delight, "If you'd hold on just a moment let me get the principal."

Within the next hour Snow was able to talk to the principal, teach a small lesson with the rowdy 5th graders (who she managed to subdue rather quickly - to everyone's surprise), and secure a job. She walked out to meet David who had been sitting under a tree memorizing the map.

David looked up when he heard those familiar steps coming closer, "Hey there new teacher."

"How did you know?" Snow kissed David and sat next to him.

"You were in there for over an hour. I kinda figured it had to be good news."

Snow fidgeted with her fingers for a moment, "Why is this so easy? I feel like something terrible is going to happen at any moment. We've been so lucky being able to get the money out, me finding a job so easily, what's going on?"

"Don't worry about it. Even if something bad does happen, we'll be together and we'll make sure everything works out in the end. Emma will know that we love her and that's all we want. Right?"

Snow took a deep breath and looked at David with all the love she had, "You, my Prince Charming, are very wise. Now," Snow stood up and extended her hand, "let's find you a job!"

They stopped by the DMV on their way to lunch and got new ID's. David found a quaint diner and Snow made sure they marked it down on the map. As they were leaving they saw a sign for help wanted at the local animal clinic.

"Fate." That's all David had to say. Snow didn't even argue with him. They searched for the address on their map and made their way to the animal clinic. David went in and came out 20 minutes later. "I got the job. They really are short staffed. They want me to come in tomorrow at 7 till 3. It looks like we'll all have the same schedule."

"Perfect. Now, how about we find a house. I don't think this will be as easy as the jobs. We might have to find a hotel for the night."

David took Snow's hand, "that's alright, at least we're together and we know where Emma is."

XX XX

Emma ate her dinner quickly and ran back up to her room to finish her book. She was reading a story about Snow White and it had completely engrossed her. Why she suddenly liked a fairy tale Emma didn't know. She usually found them boring and full of wishes that would never come true, but since she first saw Snow and David she had this craving to read a fairy tale. Since Snow's name was Snow, Emma chose Snow White as the first fairy tale to read.

As Emma read she became more and more engrossed until finally she looked up and realized that everyone was in bed, asleep. She looked at her clock and realized that it was nearly midnight. She quickly got dressed into her pj's and climbed under the covers. As she slowly closed her eyes she pictured Snow and David above her singing her a song and kissing her goodnight. Maybe fairy tales could come true, maybe she could have parents that actually loved her.

For the first time in years Emma slept without a single nightmare.

XX XX

Snow and David were able to find a real estate agent quickly. They looked through a dozen houses until they found one with a big backyard and plenty of room for them to expand their family. The agent filed their paperwork and told them she'd be in contact with them. David quickly explained their dilemma on not having a phone (due to cell phones not begin around yet) and promised the agent he would check in every day after work, the agent agreed.

They found a hotel that was in between the school and the animal clinic and fell into a blissful sleep.