"Snow, wait!"

Snow turned quickly. "I've waited long enough Charming, I'm going to meet my baby. Are you coming or not?"

"It's just…maybe this is a mistake, maybe this will cause the curse to, I don't know…continue like Rumplestiltskin said."

Snow looked at her husband like he had grown a second head. Slowly she took a deep breath to stop her from saying that as much as she loved him he really was incredibly dense sometimes. "Well, first of all, I don't consider the Dark One a particularly credible source. He twists things to his own advantage. You know this."

Charming nodded, still not entirely convinced. "But our friends, Snow, if he is right."

"Our friends are okay for now, they aren't happy, but they aren't in danger. We always planned to raise Emma. Both of us, and then only me, but circumstances got in the way. Emma is alone and has been for ten years. She needs us. She's never had a choice David." Snow turned to the doorway, Emma sat on a thin mattress, in ill fitting clothes, utterly and completely alone. David followed her gaze. "We will find a way David, we will find a way to save our friends, but not at Emma's expense. I'm going to our little girl now, I'd really like for you to come with me." She stepped forward without turning back.


"Hey, Beanpole! What are you staring at?" Emma pulled her gaze from the closet to look at Jessa Woodly. Jessa wasn't so bad. She wasn't nice by any stretch, but she didn't usually hit, and generally ignored the little ones. She came up with the most unoriginal insults, liked to snatch food from your plate if you were unlucky enough to sit next to her (and of course Emma was) and she snored really, really loudly.

"Nothing." Emma shook her head. "I thought I heard something."

"Mrs. J says it's your turn to set the tables."

"But…" Emma had been on meal set up for 2 weeks, and she didn't mind that much, but she'd also been pulled into clean up duty almost everyday as well. She was never going to finish her homework at this rate. Jessa was already gone, and it wasn't worth arguing over anyway. Jessa certainly didn't care. She looked again to the closet. It was quiet now, so it must have been her imagination. She put her book down, shrugging.


The spinning stopped as suddenly as it had begun. It looked like she was only seconds away, stepping through that threshold had been more of a journey than he had suspected. He took ahold of Snow's hand, and noticed Emma's bed was now empty. "She was just there." Snow squeaked. He knew she was as close as he was to tears.

"Snow, it's alright, I'm sure she's still close by."

"You're right, I just."

"You know more about this world than I do, but I doubt we could just announce she's ours and walk out with her."

"Oh gods." She went pale.

"I think it's best if we get out of this room, before someone starts asking questions we can't answer." He didn't want to leave without at least seeing her in person, but they only had one chance to get this right. He kept watch while Snow sat down carefully, caressing the spot Emma had vacated.

"David…David she has her blanket."


It was late when Emma made it back to her room. Jessa and Laurie were playing cards, DaShawna and Jen were arguing over the latest Seventeen magazine. "You ain't gonna marry him!"

"What do you know?"

"I know my man don't like fat girls with freckles AND acne."

Emma rolled her eyes, and quickly put her earphones back on. She didn't have any music to listen too, her tapes had been stolen or lost long ago, but it made it easier to ignore the drama surrounding her. She was the youngest in this room and the smallest by far, causing waves was nothing she was interested in. As if on cue Jen burst into tears and tried to push DeShawna to the floor, jarring Laurie's bed and sending the cards flying in the process. The screaming was sure to attract the night monitor, if not Mrs. J herself, but Emma didn't notice. The corner of her baby blanket was sticking out from under her pillow and there was a small note on it.


David made his way up the narrow stairs, hoping Snow was back. They had been here for three long days, and were no closer to getting Emma. Snow had the foresight to bring money…something about emptying a bank account and certain documents that were considered important in this world. Because of that they had been able to rent a room, and start looking for work, but David had no such documents and that was clearly going to be a problem. He felt completely useless and he hated it. Even his ever hopeful true love was out of her depth. It seemed even though Storybrook was in this world, it wasn't exactly part of this world. Snow knew about the Social Secure number that everyone was always asking about, and birth certificates and driver's licenses, but was at a loss when it came to so many other things. Though she had vague memories of college and getting her position at the Elementary school, she could not remember applying or interviewing for the position. And of course since her schooling was completely fake, she wasn't sure if her degree was from a real University or not.

All David wanted to do is see his daughter. He walked passed the building, The Somerville Home for Disadvantaged Youth, at least twice a day. He was pretty sure Snow did the same, but so far neither had managed to see her. The kids in the play yard seemed younger than she did, occasionally, he saw older children playing with an orange ball, or sitting on the steps. He didn't understand how he kept missing her, and part of him feared that she was avoiding him. Maybe the note hadn't been a good idea after all.


Emma pulled the crumpled paper from her pocket as soon as she knew she was alone. She didn't know what to think. Her first instinct, of course, was that it was a joke someone was playing on her. Her baby blanket and 'origin story' made her an easy target for bullies. But then, she couldn't think of a single kid who could write so well or so neatly or so, so warmly. She had to believe it was a prank, a really, really mean one, but part of her wanted to believe.

Our Dearest Emma,

There is so much we need to tell you, and we will, but first we need you to know we are close Emma and we will be together soon. We never meant for things to turn out this way, you were meant to be loved and protected, cherished. We will find our way back to you soon, we love you so very much. For now Emma, stay strong and brave, and believe.

Love,

M and D

It was stupid of course. Really it didn't say anything. For all Emma knew M and D stood for Mary and David…not Mom and Dad. And if they were there, in her room, why didn't they just tell her this to her face, why didn't they just take her home? Emma's eyes and chest burned. Once again she crumpled the stupid paper up and made to throw it in the trash, but once again she just couldn't let go.