Always

"Shh. Shh. Little one. It's alright." Snow cooed, scooping up the beautiful baby girl, who she had found crying in a hollowed out tree. "It's alright." she soothed swaying her hesitantly. This was dangerous. Here she was. A bandit, on the run from her step-mother holding a vulnerable infant whose mother was probably nearby...

"Shh… Shh. Emma." she soothed, unsure of how her name had even come to her but, one look at the intricately woven blanket confirmed it. But, how had she known? Who would leave a new-born baby alone in the woods with only a bandit princess for company? Unless… They didn't have a choice. Oh, Regina's tyranny had already torn so many families apart Snow thought furiously but, there was no way on earth she would let her hurt Emma.

From the moment her blue eyes settled on her own, she had felt it, the instinct to protect and love this little warrior.

"We need to move." Snow breathed worriedly. Relief flooding through her veins when Emma instinctively quieted. A bandit baby indeed. Holding Emma to her chest, Snow ran as if her very life depended on it. Pushing ahead, Snow was startled as she heard a twig snap. They were being followed. Of course they were. The adrenaline coursed through Snow White as she frantically thought of a plan, searching for anything to hide behind. A skinny, charcoal oak the only option as her sloppy footed assailant gained on them. Snow's back braced against it, cheeks burning and legs aching as she frantically placed a kiss on the innocently gurgling babe's forehead. "I promise you. I won't let him take you." Snow kissed her again and then, knowing the game of cat and mouse was up, she swiftly retrieved her dagger that had been hidden under her cloak, turned and then whispered a deadly promise. "One more step and I will slit your throat!"

He felt the metal press against the delicate flesh of his neck, trying to steady his breathing at the sight of her alone was a challenge, never-mind the fact that she could end his life in a split second. And she was holding… A baby? But, they had only parted three days ago and she had never mentioned a child. Focus! He thought, finally forcing out a surprised and ragged breath as she finally looked into his eyes. Horrified.

"Charming!"

"Snow."

What was he doing here? The last time she had seen him they were going in completely different directions. She, back to her life in the forest and Charming? It hurt her to think of it. Back to the nag. With the bad attitude.

Releasing him, she felt his relieved breath rumble into a chuckle. She'd nearly killed him and he was laughing? Charming.

"I told you I'd find you." Prince Charming grinned. "Yes, but I did not expect it to be this soon or with…" she stopped herself tucking the dagger away her eyes travelling with his as he too found himself caught. "Emma." Snow smiled, watching her fingers grip onto his. Almost as if she knew him.

"Is she…. yours?" David asked in wonder.

"I found her." Snow states, a bone deep instinct to say anything but no and the fact that she has no idea why or where it comes from scares her more than anything Regina could ever do.

"You found her? Where?"

"It doesn't matter." It is said almost nonchalantly as Snow begins to move ahead of him.

"Doesn't matter. Snow. Where are you going?" Frustration boils inside of him and he follows. "It's not your concern." Snow sighs in equal frustration as he continues to keep pace with her.

"You're out here alone with a defenceless baby and it's not my concern! Gods!" However, Snow only picks up on the concern involving Emma. "SHE'S NOT DEFENCELESS! She has me."

"Sorry." Snow apologises noting how taken aback he looks at her ferocity but it's not hurt she sees. It's a flicker of pride. The same pride he felt when she came back, reducing those trolls to nothing but squashed cockroaches under her boots. "And me." David beams, enjoying the look of absolute amazement on Snow's face. The face he hasn't been able to get out of his head since they parted.

"What?"

"Would you look at that? Snow White's finally lost for words." David chuckles and she just wants to knock that smug grin right off his ridiculously charming face.

"I am not and you are not. Thank you for the offer Charming but Emma and I will be fine." She says it so playfully, he almost rolls his eyes however; his attention is drawn to something else as he notices a stain growing on her furs. He doesn't want to embarrass her but, her gasp is unavoidable.

"This isn't possible." "Charming can you?"

"Oh!" David smiles as Snow eases a contented but hungry baby into his arms. "Hello Emma. I'm your-" It would have been so easy to say Papa. He felt it too. Like she belonged with him. With him and Snow.

"David." He whispered so only she could hear. "I'm your David." Emma gave a windy smile as if she knew something they didn't and he kissed her forehead before Snow came back to him.

"Charming." She looked so confused. "This is… but I've never been… it shouldn't be possible but I think…" Snow tried to make some sense of the situation. "I can feed her."

"Snow that's- Wonderful!"

"Wonderful?" Snow was completely taken by surprise and a little bit breathless by the joy on his face.

"Yes. Snow if you can feed her, then it will be easier to get you both somewhere safe." His arms seemed to naturally envelop around her and she nervously smiled.

"Sounds like you've got this all figured out. Charming." He extended his arm and she took it surprisingly easily.

"Ha. I told you I have a name." He said, giving a secret wink to Emma. "And I told you. Charming suits you." The giggle Snow emitted was so heavenly he knew he was done for.

Charming it is. David thought secretly. Already in so deep, he couldn't stop loving her even if he wanted to. Her and unbeknownst to them, their little saviour, who had somehow been sent to the past, to save the future. To save her family.