A/N: This is meant to be a bit of fun, nothing too heavy, so if it seems like the characters should be a little more serious, that's why. Hopefully it's not too out of character, as I feel like this would be bemusing enough to them that the worry would be slow to set in. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1: Home
Emma's head was spinning and she squeezed her eyes more tightly shut against the light. How much had she had to drink last night? Wait, she hadn't been drinking ... the liquor had been to start a fire. But why? She'd taken a fall... at least she'd landed in soft grass. Wait - she'd been inside. In a flash it all came flooding back. The curse, the wraith, the hat - her parents - the heroes. She snapped her eyes open when she felt the hand clinging to her arm and was relieved to find Mary Margaret attached and not that reject of a demonic Pac Man ghost.
Mary must have felt her movement as she began to stir as well. Emma sat up and then assisted the brunette in doing the same as she groaned. "Remind me to never go portal diving without a parachute again," the blonde joked.
"Are you okay, Emma?"
"I could ask you the same," she replied.
"I'm fine... for the most part," she said as she rubbed her sore neck. "And I gather you must be if your sarcasm is in tact."
"Where are we?"
Mary Margaret blinked and finally took in their surroundings. "I... I think we're back in the Enchanted Forest..." It was, amazingly, exactly as she remembered it - including the almost electric sizzle of magic in the air. It made everything seem brighter and more colorful - and to her chagrin, after 28 years, it felt almost cartoony. Perhaps Disney hadn't gotten everything wrong.
Emma grumbled. "Regina lied? There's a shocker."
Mary nodded, but it was one sight she'd just laid eyes on that had her mind racing to form a plan.
"What's with the red clouds in the distance? " asked Emma.
"Ogres... we need to find someplace safe ASAP."
"Whoa, wait, ogres? As in fe-fi-fo-fum?"
Mary shook her head. "No, those would be giants," she replied distractedly. "These guys are meaner, almost mindless killing machines."
"Fantastic."
"But it doesn't make any sense. I mean, Regina not bringing them to Storybrooke does, but by themselves... that red cloud can only mean one thing..."
"And I'm guessing it's not that the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is on the loose."
"There's an epic battle being fought over there. It's an Ogre War. But there shouldn't be enough people left to wage war."
"So, sticking with Regina lied theory then," replied Emma with a shrug. "I'm more worried about how we get home. Besides, isn't that a good thing? That means there's people here. Maybe someone can help us."
"You don't understand. There have been only a few Ogre Wars in this world's history. The last one in our kingdom raged for almost a decade, and though I was a child when it ended, even I remember the blood skies and the joy that swept the land when the monsters were finally pushed back behind the mountains once more. This-" Snow was cut off before she could elaborate further by the sound of approaching horses and realized that by some luck of fate they'd landed next to a road. A very familiar road in fact. She placed a protective hand on Emma's arm and the blonde was surprised at the strength of her grip. Size certainly didn't seem to matter when it came to the pixie-haired woman. "Be ready to run at my word. You can never be too carefu..." She trailed off as she got a better look at the two carriages and the emblem the retinue of mounted soldiers accompanying them were flying from their pikes.
"What? What is it? Run?!" If this had been her roommate, the old Mary Margaret, Emma would have assumed the woman had frozen in fear, but this was Snow White. She wasn't sure what the woman would do when frightened - but she had taken on the wraith with just some hairspray and a lighter. She guessed Snow didn't freeze like a deer in headlights, no matter how doe-eyed she was.
"They're flying our colors, our coat of arms, Emma..."
"Our?" replied Emma skeptically.
"It was to be your kingdom, you know." A nostalgic smile spread across her face. "The red pyramid for strength, the flowers for growth and wisdom, and the lion for nobility in battle."
"Right. So if it's ... ours, why is some other guy rollin' through the country wearing it?"
"That is an excellent question. In the meantime, keep your eyes fixed on the ground. We'll provoke way too much attention if we don't show deference to whoever is masquerading as our family."
"Won't he recognize you? You'd think he'd know the family if he's playing the part."
"Eyes down, Emma," she ordered as the carriage pulled to a stop right in front of them. "And with my hair and these clothes? Doubtful. At least as long as I don't push it," she whispered hurriedly. "It has been 28 years, remember? You do realize I should be nearing my 60's?"
"How fare you, fair ladies?" a man's cheery voice called out from the first carriage.
Emma had expected Mary to do the talking, but as the pause extended, the blonde quickly spoke up. "We're fine... your, uh, Highness? Sir?" What the hell did they call people here? Emma glanced over to see Mary's eyes wide as saucers, even as she continued to stare at the ground.
"Only fine? Well, that won't do. And you seem to have been roughed up, if you'll excuse the observation, and you have no horses, no supplies. It is difficult in this time of war, but I do my best to make certain that everyone's in my kingdom is as happy as they can be, so let me help. I am King Leo-"
"-pold," finished Snow and she couldn't help but look up. Her heart and mind were racing. There was no way this could be possible. Her father was dead! She'd likely be weeping if she weren't in such shock.
Leopold chuckled. "Ah, so you've heard of me! Given your strange attire, I wasn't certain you would have. Clearly you're from a distant land, yes?"
"Brother, you have no idea!" replied Emma.
"Emma! Etiquette!" Snow chided. Her father was forgiving on matters of pomp and circumstance, but that didn't mean the guards always were. And that could equal a bash from the flat side of a broadsword.
The King laughed again. "Oh, don't worry yourself. In fact, I rather like that title. You are not my subjects, so why not consider me a brother to your realm?"
'Because you're my father,' thought Snow. And almost really was, considering he was younger than anything she could clearly remember. He hadn't greyed yet, as her mother's death had aged him considerably, and he wore just a beard on his chin, not a full goatee. She swallowed. That meant her mother was alive here... somewhere. She could see her again. Emma could see her, maybe even meet her. Emma was meeting her grandfather right now! It was almost too overwhelming, but she couldn't help the smile currently painting her face. If only Emma knew.
"Thanks... to you your Majesty."
"Pish posh! It's no bother. Well, I've introduced myself. What may I call you ladies?"
"Mary Margaret, Your Grace. And my companion is Emma." It was beyond surreal to Snow to be introducing herself to her father, and with an alias to boot.
Leopold nodded. "Names as lovely as their owners. Now, it looks as if you have met with a bad string of luck. Were you robbed?" replied the King genially.
Emma nodded, as did Snow, who seemed to have found her voice again. "Yes. Bandits. I'm afraid they made off with our money, food, even our ponies." Emma shot her a strange look at that last word, and she could practically hear the blonde's 'Ponies? Seriously?' in her head. But she knew her father and what would tug at his heartstrings, and getting help from him might be their best, or only bet, for getting home. Not that she had a clue on that front at this point.
Leopold frowned. "Hmm. Probably refugees, rather than bandits; they tend to behave far worse with young women..." Snow nodded. That was her father, always assuming the best about people. Even hypothetical thieves. "Well, there's nothing else to it, you'll simply have to let me take you to my castle."
"Oh, no, we couldn't ..." protested Emma. Mary fought the urge to blurt out that they could trust this man, being her father and Emma's grandfather, and luckily, succeeded. She'd just need to be clever for the moment, before they could talk.
"As I'm certain you are aware, the nearest towns are over two days walk in either direction. My summer palace in merely half a day's ride by carriage. You shall take your rest, and I can provision you for your journey whenever you are ready to take your leave."
Emma made another noise of protest, but Mary was too quick. The brunette bowed her head. "Your Majesty is too kind," she said warmly. "But we respect the rule of the land so, if you insist-"
"That I do."
"Then we shall."
At this, Emma cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, but would it be alright if I spoke briefly in private with my... sister here? We have certain plans this might affect. Your Honor?" she added hastily.
Though a little bemused by her behavior, Leopold nodded in acquiescence. "But of course."
That was all Emma needed and she grabbed Mary, leading her about ten feet away. "Are you nuts?" she whispered. "The guy could be some sociopathic despot!"
"That's no way to talk about your grandfather, Emma."
Emma blanched. "WhoaWhoaWaitaminute. You're telling me that... that dude over there is-"
"My father."
"The dead one?" replied Emma incredulously.
Mary rolled her eyes at the certainly got her tact from her father. "Right."
"But how is that possible?"
"Don't ask me!"
"Well, is he, like, risen from the dead? Cause he doesn't seem like a zombie."
Mary shook her head. "No. He looks just like his last portrait with my mother. Couple that with the Ogre War raging, and our land even being here at all and..."
"We need a Delorean."
"Or at least a flux capacitor."
"Can you get a carriage up to 88 miles per hour?"
Snow shook her head wryly, but continued. "My father was the kindest man I've ever known, renowed for his generosity, and we've landed in his lap. I think this is our best shot, Emma. He will likely be able to point us to someone who is a realm jumper, or can sell us some beans."
"Like, as in 'magic beans?!"
"Well, I'm certainly not starting a farm here! And there still might be some left. Or maybe the Blue Fairy or a Time Turner. I don't know, I'm kinda thinking this through still."
"Why not just tell him who you, er, we are, anyway?"
"I don't even know that I've been born yet. This world may have magic, but our story will still be hard to swallow. Time travel is almost impossible. So, until we have a plan, I don't think walking up and saying 'Hi. I'm your maybe-not-born-yet daughter from the future and different realm, and here's my daughter who is also the same age as me because of a curse that your future wife cast' would float."
"Point taken. So... what? We take him up on his offer and get a plan together in the mean time?"
"That's my thought."
"Can I introduce myself as Calvin Klein?" At Mary's 'be serious' glare Emma held up her hands.
"Hey, look, this is how I cope. It's sarcasm or panic." And she meant it, as the small quaver in her voice at the last statement betrayed. Mary gave her arm a squeeze and shot her a reassuring smile before heading back over to her father.
"Thank you for your patience, Your Majesty. Now, I am certain we don't want to delay you any further. Where would you like us?"
"Well, I have some war council business to go over with my advisors, so I'm afraid you won't be able to ride with me." He led them to the first carriage, from which he'd emerged. "But I believe you will find the company in here more than charming." Emma smirked at the irony, but the King didn't seem to notice. "Her nursemaid is ill, but I assure you, she behaves as a girl years older. Darling?" Leopold opened the small door put a hand inside, and when he partially withdrew it, there was a small girl, no older than five holding on to it. "It looks as if you won't be stuck with just men on this trip after all. Isn't that wonderful?"
The small raven-haired girl grinned. "Oh, yes Daddy."
He smiled indulgently. "Darling, I'd like you to meet Mary Margaret and Emma."
Emma was already grinning, as it was plainly obvious who this was, but then the little girl lifted the edges of her frilly princess gown and said, "Snow White. Peesed to meet you," and bounced in a small curtsey.
"That's pl-eased to meet you. Remember our L's?" Leopold gently corrected.
Little Snow scrunched her face up. "Puh-leased to meet you!"
Emma was pretty sure her face was going to split in half with suppressed laughter and she glanced at Mary, who seemed to be blushing. The woman, noticing the attention, shot Emma a glare that clearly warned 'don't you dare'. Damn, she knew her well. Not that that would stop her from teasing at some point.
"Good job, sweetheart!" Leopold smiled.
"Pleased to meet you too, Princess," Mary replied, doing her best to mask her discomfort as she returned a far more graceful curtsey. This was going to be one hell of a weird ride.
"The pleasure is all mine, Princess," added Emma a little too enthusiastically. Mary nudged her in the ribs and Emma started, realizing she'd forgotten that other nicety. She was certain she would have made a terrible princess had the curse never happened, as she gave the little girl a clumsy Frankenstein's monster of a bow-curtsey.
"Haven't you ever curtseyed before?" asked little Snow, laughing.
Emma shrugged. "Not... really?"
"Well, you gonna come in?" Snow asked the two women and Emma nearly snorted.
"Not too much sass there, Snow," warned Leopold.
Snow looked a little guilty, and Mary was surprised she had to clamp her mouth shut as she'd almost replied "Yes, father" in unison with her younger self. Leopold then offered his hand and the pair of women quickly climbed into the carriage.
Both were intently aware of the girl's eyes on them, brown orbs studying them with a look well beyond her age. Mary wondered if she still possessed that penetrating look - it would explain how she had stared down men twice her size, even while looking like the penniless orphan on the run that she once was.
"You got a question, kid?" Emma asked suddenly, and it sounded like she was talking to Henry.
"Kid? Like a baby goat? You speak almost as queerly as you're dressed," Snow exclaimed with a giggle.
"Didn't your father say something about sass?" shot back Emma with a smirk.
"Sorry, yes ma'am," replied Snow.
Mary raised an eyebrow at her daughter. "Did you seriously just scold m-the Princess," she asked incredulously.
Emma just shrugged devilishly. "Hey, I've scolded you before. Or don't you remember the whole Jefferson incident?"
Mary scowled. "That was before we knew. It's not the same!"
Snow clasped her little hands in her lap. "Please, don't argue or something I did. I didn't mind what Emma said. Truly. Almost nobody treats me like a normal girl. It makes it hard... Daddy and Mommy get me playmates, but I don't really have any friends in the palace... well that aren't birds."
Mary was blinking back tears, which she hurriedly brushed away before her younger self noticed them; but not before Emma did. Apparently, a lonely childhood was something she and Mary had in common. She gave her mother's knee a discreet, comforting squeeze.
Snow herself wasn't crying, and a sea change in mood, apropos of children and grown Snow, quickly brightened the girl's face as she got an idea. "Could you be my friends?! It would be wonderful!"
"We're a little old to be-" began Emma, but she was quickly interrupted by Mary.
"Of course we will!" she exclaimed, her beaming smile - a mirror of little Snow's. She had been this girl and knew the loneliness, but little Snow just reminded her of why she had such a connection with the birds to begin with. It was beyond weird, but on some level she could disassociate herself with this child, making the need to alleviate her sadness for a little while not feel entirely self-serving.
"Of course we will," deadpanned Emma. She didn't like making promises, especially the commitment kind, but she supposed the girl was her mother in one sense or another and had been her best friend up until early this morning. Or maybe yesterday, given it was daylight again. Besides, it would be a great way to get to know her, and probably some pretty sweet blackmail material later.
Snow clapped her hands and reached forward to grab one of each woman's hands. "We'll have so much fun! I know many wonderful travel games! And I'm sorry if you thought I was jesting about your clothes, they're just so strange! I rather like them though! Where are you from?" Snow spoke a mile a minute.
"A land far far away," replied Mary Margaret.
Snow cocked her head. "Such as... King Midas' kingdom?"
Emma laughed. Not that she knew how far away that was, but it couldn't be farther than Earth.
"Another kingdom. Other realm..."
"Emma!" Mary cringed and Emma simply gave her a 'what?' expression.
"Other realm?!" Snow cried excitedly.
Emma nodded. "Coming here was kind of an accident. We're just trying to get back to our families." Mary simply shook her head. She knew her daughter was independent, but they needed to be careful what they said. Loose lips sunk ships after all. And she knew herself even better than her little self - if she was told it, as a child, it was no longer a secret. She wouldn't learn to keep her mouth shut, not really, until after Regina and Daniel.
"Which one? Wonderland? Or, oh! OZ! Did an evil witch send you here? I can't imagine what I'd do if I lost my family... I'm sure my Daddy will be able to help you. I'll ask him as soon as we arrive home!"
Emma and Mary exchanged a look and the brunette mouthed 'I told you so', to which Emma simply rolled her eyes. She figured the kid version of Mary would be exuberant, but she'd also figured shy and demure, just like her adult self. 'But that was Mary Margaret. This is Snow. Or was.' She realized she didn't know her 'mother' much at all. Hell, it hadn't even been 24 hours - although she'd proven herself to be a take charge badass pretty quickly. Figures that a little princess wouldn't be much in the way of shy.
Snow, meanwhile, had continued obliviously. "When I grow up, I wish I could go on adventures like the bards sing about, but Daddy says princesses don't do that kind of thing." She pouted for a moment, then leaned in to whisper. "But Mommy says maybe, when I'm big enough, we can sneak off an' have some fun together, at least camping and always undercover. She was an adventurer. Before she was Queen of course."
Mary blinked as a ball of ice seemed to explode in her gut. She'd forgotten about that. Snow had been far from old enough for her mother to fulfill such a promise before she'd died.'Gods, I how much else of her have I lost?'
It was Emma's panicked expression that drew Mary out of her reverie, and she almost laughed. She had to admit, even she was getting a little overwhelmed with the barrage from her tiny self. Not to mention it was rather painful to listen to the girl go on about her dreams for the future when she knew exactly how not like she'd planned her future would turn out. She herself was still working on her happy ending.
If there was one thing Mary Margaret knew, it was that yes, she'd always dreamed of grand adventures, like a prince was expected to actually go out and do. It's what had drawn her to David when they'd first met - a romantic quest. Which meant there was only one way to stop the diatribe from her younger self's mouth. She sighed and leaned forward, taking Snow's hands up in her own, feeling as if she was looking into the most surreal mirror.
"Snow, honey, we come from a land without magic."
That stopped the girl in her tracks and she cocked her head. "But... how can a land not have magic? How can wishes work without fairy dust?"
"They don't," replied Emma, hoping she wasn't being too morbidly blunt. At the girl's fallen face she hastily added, "We have to go out there and make them happen ourselves. It just takes a little more work."
Snow frowned. "Sounds boring. That's too bad." Suddenly, she hopped up from her seat adjacent from them, slid in between the two, and patted each one on the knee in the best comforting gesture a small child could manage. "Don't worry. We have lotsa magic here. We'll get you home so quick. Quicker than the fastest horse in the land, 'cause you're missing your family, and nobody should be away from their family. You'll see." She received a pair of smiles from both women, and while she didn't notice the sadness behind their eyes, she did notice something else. "You have the same smiles. You're family, right?" Emma exchanged a glance with Mary and nodded. "So, it's not all bad, anyway, 'cause you have some of your family with you, right?"
"Right," replied both, their voices thick with emotion.
Snow peered up at Emma and stuck her finger on the blonde's swan pendant. "That's pretty. Where'd you get it?"
Mary raised an eyebrow. "An excellent question. And what better time to swap stories than on a road trip?" Emma groaned, but made no further protest.
Mary just smirked. Maybe having her younger self around wouldn't be too bad. Her younger self could get away with questions all day long and Emma would have to humor her. If it took her little self to open her up and let her know her daughter better, then why the hell not?
Emma pursed her lips. "Well... it was a gift."
"From your Mommy?" asked Snow.
"No... though that would have been even better than who gave it to me," replied Emma, peering over Snow's head to meet Mary's eyes. Mary cocked her head to one side, just like Snow, and the sparkle in her eyes told her the gesture was appreciated.
"Oh! Your true love?" asked Snow.
"No," answered Emma a little too quickly. "Uh, just a guy I was very fond of. Once."
Snow's little brow furrowed. "Are you sure he wasn't your true love?"
"Uh, yeeeah. Pretty dam-arned sure," replied Emma. "Now, I think it's my turn to ask you a question," she said, changing the subject as quickly as possible.
"Okay!" answered the girl brightly.
"Uuuh." Emma realized she hadn't gotten that far. It was just a topic changing statement. Finally, the obvious came to mind. "Oh! What's your favorite color?" Mary gave her a 'really?' look, to which Emma simply shrugged.
"Blue! I know everyone says it should be pink, but who has pink eyes? And I want my prince's eyes to be blue."
"And why is that?" asked Mary, again amazed that she'd forgotten the reasons behind a lot of the things she still loved.
"Shouldn't you know that?" blurted Emma and Mary widened her eyes in exasperation. Again, clearly, her daughter had gotten her sense, or lack thereof, from Charming. Snow simply looked slightly confused.
Emma quickly recovered "Uuh, because you have to color coordinate your clothes to match his eyes... right?"
Snow nodded. "But especially the wedding. Have you ever been to a fire and ice ball? They're wonderful! And ice is blue and comes in winter like snow. You know, so me!"
It was so a kid's logic, Emma couldn't help but laugh. Mary smiled even as she shrunk a little in embarrassment. It seemed so self-centered, and the Mary half of her felt especially mortified at making an entire event about herself when it was supposed to be about the bride and groom. 'But... that is how little girls think,'' she had to remind herself.
"And, if my prince has blue eyes, maybe our children would have blue and green eyes and it would be the prettiest eyes ever!" Snow declared.
Mary furrowed her brow. "What, like cats who have one brown eye and one blue eye?"
Snow rolled her eyes, causing Mary to return the same out of sheer reflex. "No! That would be strange. I mean both in the same eye!"
Emma smirked at the irony. "Oh. Like mine." She wondered if just wishing for something like that was enough to make it come true for Snow in this land. The thought was as unsettling as it was kind of sweet.
"Lemme see!" Snow pulled herself up to her knees, putting her hands on Emma's shoulders and the blonde had to stop herself from flinching backwards at the sudden assault on her personal space. She loved Henry, but beyond that, she mostly didn't do kids. Of course, this one being a tiny version of her mother, had somehow wormed her way into Emma's good graces, just like Henry. 'It's gotta be a family thing. Or a blood thing or... whatever.' She wondered if David would manage the same once they got back home. He sure as hell had more of an uphill battle, though, given his behavior with both Katherine and Mary Margaret.
.
"Ooh, you're right! My Mommy has the prettiest starburst gems ever in her tiara and your eyes are just like that! They're very beautiful eyes," she concluded soberly, as if she had reached an important decision.
Emma twisted her brow in embarrassment. "Um... thanks, kid."
"I wholeheartedly concur," added Mary with a nod, a sentimental grin now on her face.
"Great, well, now that that's settled..."
"My turn for a question?!" Snow piped up.
"You just got a question!" replied Emma.
"That's okay. She can go again," said Mary. She wasn't sure what she wanted to ask her little self, if anything. It was all making her incredibly homesick, which was a feat, considering they were literally on their way to her childhood home. And then there was the prospect of her mother.
"What's your prince like?" Snow asked of Mary.
"I-I'm sorry. Wh-wha - why do you think I have a prince?!" sputtered Mary. Had they given something away? They certainly didn't look the part of royalty.
Snow shrugged. "Ok, maybe not a real prince, but Mommy says a girl's true love is always her prince. And you are wearing a ring!"
'''Duh' might not be a word in Fairytale Land but the tone of voice sure is,' Emma thought wryly.
Mary nodded, letting her tensed for fight or flight shoulders relax. "Well, let's see. He's kind and brave..."
"And charming," teased Emma.
"And handsome?" asked Snow.
"Oh, yes," Mary replied with a smile. "With sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, like you like..." She was careful to keep any other details vague. The last thing she needed to do was have her past self conjure up a specific picture and somehow have David miss the mark.
The game of questions eventually turned into real rounds of 20 questions, though Snow often went over her allotment. It was mildly embarrassing for Mary to have her daughter see that, but mainly because she was pretty sure Emma could tell the girl was only pretending not to know her numbers very well, considering she was a stickler when Mary or Emma had reached their limit. It had been almost two hours and Snow was clearly sleepy, so Mary opted to tell the girl a story she was reasonably certain would conk her out. Soon the little one was fast asleep in Emma's lap.
"Good job," remarked Emma.
Mary shrugged. "Well, if I can't select the kind of story to bore my own self to sleep, I would never have made it running a classroom full of kids."
"Well, whatever. When we get home, I'm gonna need some tips like that for Henry. I've gotta get caught up quick. Speaking of... how are we gonna get home?" She hated how small her voice got, as if she needed rescuing. The fact that they both did was beside the point.
"With faith," replied Mary, and Emma couldn't help but be bolstered by the sentiment, despite her skepticism.
"Right. So... faith in a wizard, or a genie something?"
"No genies!" exclaimed Mary, taking Emma back.
"Alright. Geez. What did they do to you to make a big, manic blueberry Robin Williams so scary?"
"One killed my father. Well, Regina was also to blame, but Sidney made his own decision that day. And he paid for it," Mary said darkly.
"Whoa! Wait, as in Regina's lapdog, newspaper sleeze, Sidney Glass?" Mary simply nodded.
Emma frowned. "Well, I guess I don't feel so bad about him being locked away for the Kathryn thing, then."
Mary studied little Snow cuddled on Emma's lap and shook her head. "How is it that you get more mothering time with little me than I'll ever get with you?"
"Apparently fate's a bitch," replied Emma. "But let's be fair. There is no 'get to' here. This is really really weird. I can only imagine how much more for you. I mean, I'd be freaking out so much if I were in your shoes!"
Mary ran a hand through her short hair. "I think I might be in shock? I mean, I know that's me, but it doesn't seem real. It's not like the Enchanted Forest has home movies, or even photos. As royals, we'd have our portraits commissioned once every few years, but that's hardly the same. And a five year old's recollection of things is hardly subjective."
"What, you mean you don't have animated portraits like in Harry Potter?" Mary raised a single eyebrow in response. "Hey, had to ask! If it helps any, I don't have any either. I mean, I have a few pictures from when I was a kid, a couple school ones and photo booth things, but no home movies."
"Actually, that makes me even sadder." She sighed, but at Emma's slightly crestfallen look, pulled her shoulders back. "But, it's no use dwelling on the past. We can wallow when we're back home."
"Hold on," said Emma. "Maybe we should... are you a light sleeper?"
Mary shook her head. "As a child, I was a log. It was living on the run, one eye always open that made me a light one. Guess it stuck."
"I know that feeling." Emma let out a quiet grunt as she lifted the girl and laid her down on the opposite cushioned bench. "Jeez! What, were your clothes lined with solid gold as a kid?"
"Are you calling me fat?" replied Mary with a smirk, as she dug out some travelling blankets she knew were stowed in the compartment under their seats and tucked them around her younger self.
"Well, I know little Snow said that her father would help, but what do you think?" asked Emma quietly as they sat back down.
"He'll offer a hand. Of course, if he and mother knew our true identities, they'd move heaven and earth for us."
"But we risk me and Henry's existence and who knows what else if we tell," concluded Emma.
"Right. I'm just wondering if all of this already happened."
"Wouldn't you know?"
"You'd think. But, for all I know, the curse swiss cheesed my brain. The thing is, I've been having the strangest sense of deja vu since we stepped into the carriage. I... I think I'm starting to recall something about two strange women who visited our castle."
"You mean you remember us? But like, from her view," asked Emma, nodding at Snow.
"I... there was some hubbub and... I was five, they don't let you around the interesting stuff, and what little you do see you don't understand much of."
"Ok, time travel headache."
"You're just getting one? I've been wishing for an Advil since my father appeared."
"Let me guess, whatever cures them here tastes awful and is made from, like, eye of newt ?" snarked Emma.
Mary nodded. "Well, the tastes awful thing, yes. No amphibians, though." She paused, cocking her head in a joking fashion. "At least I don't think..."
"Funny. So, I take it you don't remember if we told them who we are or not?"
"If we did, I was never told. " She nodded briskly to herself, obviously reaching some kind of decision, and Emma was struck by how much of the little Snow had appeared in Mary Margaret since regaining her memories. "Well, in the meantime, we should play it cool and slow. If it looks like we need to reveal ourselves, so be it. The key is to not second guess ourselves."
"Agreed."
"And not drop any more details?"
Emma rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'll put my old bail bonds person hat back on for the duration, ok? I used to be better at the no-info game until someone decided to take a wrecking ball to my walls. And I'm not talking about Henry."
"Oh... Regina then?"
Emma groaned at the bad joke. "Oh, yes, of course." She moved her gaze out the window, watching the passing scenery. "So... this was home, huh?"
"It used to be," Mary sighed. "But home is where your family is. And ours is in Storybrooke."
"Well, give me the rundown. What do I need to know before we reach our destination?" asked Emma.
The pair spent the rest of the trip preparing as best they could while keeping an eye on Snow to make sure she was truly asleep. Mary filled Emma in on everything from etiquette to geography to creatures of the Enchanted Forest, while Emma put her talents at creating false identities to catch bail skippers to good use, making sure their cover story was airtight.
A couple hours later found the pair dozing, Mary's head on Emma's shoulder; Emma's head propped against Mary's. The blonde wasn't sure what caused her to flutter her eyes open at that moment, but she couldn't help the gasped "Whoah." that escaped her lips. This roused Mary as well, as she soon saw what had caught her daughter's attention. They had just crested a hill, and she knew exactly what Emma had seen. The view was always the same. The hills parting like theater curtains to reveal her mother's gleaming summer palace.
"You lived here?"
Mary just nodded as she blinked back painfully joyous, yet sad, tears. Everything she'd ever lost was wrapped up in that castle. The best and the worst moments. And looking at Emma, she realized, some moments that were stolen altogether. It all came to squeeze her heart.
"It's beautiful. Like …"
"Something out of a fairy tale?" remarked Mary.
Emma barked a laugh. "Well, yeah."
Mary smiled."Welcome home."
AN: Next Chapter: Family Breakfast
