A/N: Wow! I just want to say, to those who have been following my stories, a super big thank you for all the continued support! It means the world to me!

Hope you guys enjoy this next installment! More to come soon!

On The Inside

Chapter Two: Disbelief

They journeyed through part of the night until finally settling down on a hill that overlooked their surroundings. Aurora wanted rest. Though she wouldn't admit it, Emma did too. Snow had to speak for her, telling the group that they should gather their energy for morning. So everyone settled under the stars.

Maybe an hour went by when a half -asleep Mary Margaret heard rustling beside her. She opened her eyes, her brows furrowing in confusion as Emma go to her feet and wondered off. Mary Margaret pushed off her forearms to sit up, watching as Emma lowered herself to the curve of the hill, her head tipping up to the sky.

Emma was wishing on a star. After spending countless nights bargaining with God to bring her parents back and wishing on stars for their return- long before she grew to an adult- she swore to never give into that desperation again. No one was listening anyway. But that night she broke that vow. She found the brightest star, closed her eyes and wished to go home to her son. She wished for her mother to hold her and make everything okay.

"Do you want to be alone?" a quiet voice asked.

Emma shook her head as she opened her eyes

Mary Margaret sat down on the grass, her eyes following Emma's line of vision.

"They never looked this bright in Storybrooke."

"No," Emma agreed.

"There's nothing to get in the way here. No street lights or flashing store signs. It's nice, isn't it? Seeing all the stars how they truly are. They can really light up the sky."

Emma nodded. Her eyes rolled to the ground. "She would have killed me."

"I'm sorry?"

"Regina. If you didn't send me through the wardrobe, she would have killed me."

Mary Margaret nodded, her gaze falling from the sky. "Yes, I believe she would have."

"You saved me."

"No," Mary Margaret said. "You were right. I chose one curse over another. I panicked, Emma. You were our only hope. You had a destiny bigger than just being my daughter… I had to give you the best chance you could have to break the curse."

"That's not why you did it," Emma argued. "Not entirely anyway… You wanted the truth from me, now it's your turn to come clean… you did it to save me."

Mary Margaret took a quiet breath as she tried to gather her thoughts.

"You let everyone, even David, think that you sent me to Maine so I could be the savior. But that's not the whole story…. I read that part of the book and now I get it… we couldn't go through together, but you realized Regina could take me and you wouldn't be able to stop her. So you sent me through. You let David think fate and the prophecy would keep me safe and everything would be alright but-"

"But I was an absolute wreck," Mary Margaret finished. "But I second guessed my decision even as the words left my mouth... Emma, if I could do it all over again-"

"You would make the same choice, and that's okay. I get it… you wanted to give me my best chance."

"Oh, Emma," Mary Margaret sighed. "Please don't be so understanding about it."

"I couldn't imagine being in that position. Having to choose… she would have killed me or raised me as her own. Who knows. Bitch is crazy, but… it's really hard to be ticked off about it when you were just trying to save me."

"But you are, and that's okay."

Emma looked to the ground, pulling a flower from the grass and picking off the pedals. "Have you realized it yet?"

"I'm sorry?"

"The book. Geppaddo told the blue fairy to lie about the wardrobe. You were told it only had enough magic for one but it could carry two. Pinocchio took your spot."

Mary Margaret's eyes widen in disbelief. "I could have gone with you."

Emma nodded.

"I gave it right to Henry. I looked through it but I didn't… I could have gone with you."

"I wanted to punch a hole through the wall when I found that out."

"Oh, honey… you know I would have gone with you. If I could have, I would. I wanted nothing more than to be with you."

"I know," Emma murmured through a nod.

"Do you want to hear about it? I know you've read some of the book, but I'd love to tell you about your birthplace."

Emma nodded.

"Well, let's see, where to start…"

TBC…

Thoughts before you go? I'd love to hear 'em! Thanks for reading!