Thanks for all the incredible response to this verse! I'm excited to explore this one too so keep those prompts coming. I might not update as often as I like, but I will get to all prompts so please send them. Thanks again and here are individual responses to reviews:

Jennifer Baratta: Thanks! Glad you liked it!

PopPotter777: Yep, it would have been a long way, but doable. I may not have shown them, but it's a narrative expectation that there were breaks. A bus wouldn't be my choice either, but it wasn't like they could afford a plane. I suppose they could have built the wardrobe in Snowing's room, but if you remember, Emma came early and it was barely done in time anyway. So not sure it would have mattered much. Once she went into labor, Snow couldn't be moved.

Number Ten: Glad you like it. I know, I don't like to think about it. Killing Charming off would have been a huge mistake.

sexystarwarslover: Yep, they will bide their time, until it's the right time to return to Storybrooke. Ha, yeah David has a lot to learn about his new land. I know, I love Daddy Charming. Yep, it's definitely good that this was before Whale. Yep, Regina doesn't get off easy here. Yes, Emma is going to have the best parents ever! Glad you're enjoying!

Austenphile: Glad you like this new verse. It has a ton of potential. David is a bit lost and he gets a little more comfortable in this chapter. This chapter basically sets up a lot of semantics necessary to move it forward. The Swan family is, let's say, officially born in this chapter. ;)

gleefan2009: Glad you like it! Hope you continue to enjoy. :)

Swan

Chapter 3: Forging a New Path

It had been a few weeks in this new land for them and the night since they had taken back their family and forged this new path. Thinking on her feet had never been Mary Margaret's strong suit, but fortunately it was Snow's.

When they arrived in Minnesota that night on the bus, they had checked into a motel under Mary Margaret Blanchard since that was the identification that she had on her in the moment. She was a bit worried about it being flagged since Regina had likely put some feelers out to track them down. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Regina probably wouldn't involve official police in the matter. That would raise too many questions and even might require outside visitors from Storybrooke if she was really going to press some kind of case. Plus, all they had really done was leave town, which wasn't a crime; at least not to the real police. Add to that fact, even if she did make up some story about them being thieves or something, she'd have to tell them they left town with no vehicle to trace. That would only raise more questions and she obviously couldn't tell them that they escaped through a magical door.

No, if Regina had anyone looking for them, it was probably a private investigator and even they had to operate inside the law. She didn't discount the possibility that Regina might find some shadier individuals to look for them, but that had risks too.

So while she didn't think they were completely out of the woods, she didn't think there were actual police officials looking for them. Because using her identification might have led to them being found and if that hadn't, her withdrawing everything from Mary Margaret's savings account would have definitely put them on the radar in a big way.

But weeks passed and no one had bothered them or sought them out. They had both been very careful and observant of the people around them, in case someone was watching them. And so far, if they were being watched, the person doing so was really good at being discreet.

Living a fairly meager existence for ten years prior to this as Mary Margaret Blanchard had yielded quite a nest egg for them and it was the break they needed. They were able to get a small two bedroom apartment that was fairly nice and furnished. One room for them, one room for Emma, and August was gladly sleeping on the couch that pulled out into a bed. It was a good start, at least.

The next step was finding jobs and for her, technically she had a perfectly valid teaching license in this world. But she wasn't sure if she wanted to teach under the name Blanchard and getting new identification was both expensive and didn't come with her credentials. David, however, had no documentation and August said he had connections to get such documents. It wasn't cheap, but Snow knew her husband needed them. She also had enough insight to know that they needed a birth certificate for Emma with their names on them and they made that happen, so there would be no question that she was theirs, as long as they didn't return to Boston. The foster system was broken enough that it wouldn't be a question. And if it was, they'd be ready to run if they had to.

Soon, thanks to August, they had David's documentation, stating that he was David Swan with the necessary information and identification. Then, surprisingly, it was August again that came up with the cheapest alternative to getting her own name changed and she had almost kicked herself for not thinking of it.

In this land, she and David weren't legally married. It hadn't really dawned on her, for she considered him her husband in every way. And that was something they wanted to rectify immediately, though explaining to her husband that a piece of paper was required as proof of their marriage in this land was entertaining, to say the least. And so, dressed in the nicest clothes they had at the moment, the four of them were headed to the courthouse in their new town.

"Aren't you and Mommy already married?" Emma questioned, as she walked beside her father, with her small hand in hers. Snow smiled at her and felt her heart skip a beat when Emma called her mommy. It hadn't taken her too long to start referring to them by their titles. She accepted everything far better than she had hoped. But somehow, despite everything that she had been through, their baby still had enough hope inside her that when her father held her for the first time, she saw it all. The night the curse was cast, Snow screaming in agony, as her father was forced to take her from her mother's arms, the battle that ensued with him fighting and almost dying to protect her, and then finally having no other choice but to put her into the wardrobe. Somehow, their unconditional love had broken through her heartache and well earned mistrust of most adults and she was able to accept everything. They both knew Emma still had trust issues, with good reason, and she still struggled to feel like their love was real. She was programmed to feel like the other shoe was going to drop when things were good, so naturally she had been waiting for that to happen.

She had even tested them over the past few weeks in the form of tantrums and defiance, but they were there with only love and patience, especially David. She had always admired his patience and the way he handled their precocious daughter was something that still left her in awe on a daily basis. No matter what frustration or confusion he was feeling about this new life and the things that had happened to all of them, he was easily able to push his own issues aside to properly deal with Emma's. She had too, of course, and they both had thrived in their relationships with their baby in this short time. But David's loving patience was something all of them had taken comfort in, even August, much to his surprise. She felt bad for him since he had his own abandonment issues with Geppetto, but her husband had really taken the teen under his wing in a way that she wasn't surprised by. And August had taken to him just as much as Emma had. Having a positive male role model was going to do wonders for August going forward, she was certain of that. And they both had insisted that August was undoubtedly a part of their family now. She had even discussed with David, when they could afford it, having a birth certificate made for August with them listed as his parents for legal adoption reasons. Obviously any birth certificates they had made for themselves or the kids would have been considered forgeries if found out, but they doubted the documents would come into question unless someone really wanted to dig deep on them. None of them were actually born in this land, so there were only certain ways for them to get such documents. She knew it wasn't exactly lawful, but they were Emma's parents and wanted there to be no question of that. If they had to move around a lot of evade the law, then they would do so. This time, they were going to do whatever they had to in order to be and stay a family.

"Well...technically we are. We got married in our land, twice. But apparently you need a piece of paper in this land to prove that you're married," David answered her and she wrinkled her nose.

"That's silly," Emma commented and he chuckled, as he looked at his wife.

"That's what I said," he agreed.

"And I don't disagree, but if that's what they want so I can legally call you my husband, then that's what we're going to do. Don't tell me you object to marrying me again?" Snow teased. He gave her a look.

"Please...you know it's not that. I guess I'm still trying to understand this world," David replied, as he pecked her on the lips.

"And you're doing very well. It has to be overwhelming, I know," she said.

"A bit, but I'm not alone. I have my family," he said, as he put his free arm around her and even pat August on the shoulder, as he walked on the other side of Snow.

They reached the courthouse and went inside. It would be a quick and simple ceremony in front of a judge, but no less special than any of their weddings.

Snow was wearing a simple white dress that was a mix of lace and cotton that came to her knees. She had found it at a nice consignment shop, along with some nice clothes for David, Emma, and even August. David wore a nice button down shirt and slacks, as did August, while she had found a cute skirt and a nice cardigan to go with it for Emma.

When it was their turn, they went before the judge and spoke vows from their heart, words they meant with every fiber of their being and perhaps even more so now than on the days they had been married before. The Judge finished the short ceremony, declaring them husband and wife, and they sealed it with a passionate kiss.

Now that she was legally married in this land, it would be an inexpensive name change on all her documents and she would officially be Margaret Swan. She had decided to simplify her first name and decided on Margaret for a clean start and more anonymity. It would still say Mary Margaret on her documents and that would allow her to use her credentials as a school teacher, despite the last name change.

Now she could look for a job to support their family and David would be looking too. He had a lot of skills in farming and with animals, so they were searching for jobs that were asking for help on farms and with animals. Her husband was adjusting well enough to this new land and once she had shown him how to use all the modern appliances, he had gladly taken up the cooking of meals for their family. He loved to cook, as it was something his mother taught him to do, and she knew it gave him great joy to feel so useful.

She remembered just last week when she brought Emma home after her first day at a new school. First days were always rough and though she was used to being the new kid quite often, it didn't make dealing with it any easier.

Last Week

"I hate school," Emma had declared, as she arrived home and promptly ran into her bedroom. Snow sighed and looked at her husband, who was in the kitchen.

"Bad day?" he asked, as she came in and put her arms around him. He kissed her forehead.

"I think so...first day as the new kid can't be easy," she said, as she noticed the plate of freshly baked cookies.

"You've been busy," she mentioned, with a smile.

"I thought it might help. I had a feeling she might have a rough time today," he replied. She kissed him tenderly.

"I think she could use her daddy right now. You and Emma are so much alike," she said.

"You think?" he asked. She laughed a little.

"Baby...she's is the female version of you. She bottles her feelings and is very uncomfortable talking about them. I don't know...maybe I just push too much," she replied. He kissed her forehead again.

"It's only because you care. Let me try," he said, as he took some cookies with him and peered into their daughter's room.

"Hey princess," he called, as he slipped into her room.

"Bad day?" he asked, as she shrugged and continued to pout.

"Cookie?" he asked, as she perked up at that.

"You baked cookies?" she asked.

"Mmmhmm...I thought you might need some cheering up after your first day. New places and people can be scary," he replied, as she took a cookie and began to munch on it.

"Were you scared when you woke up from the coma in a new place?"she asked.

"Very and I still get scared. This world is very foreign and new to me. I still feel a bit out of my element, but I have you and Mommy to get me through it. Just like you have me and Mommy now," he replied. That's all it took for her to climb into his lap and he hugged her close, as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"We're never going to leave you again, Emma. I promise," he whispered.

"What if the Queen finds us?" she whimpered.

"Then we'll find a new place to live to get away from her," he answered.

"There might be a lot of new places, but we're going to stay together this time," he promised. She reached for another cookie and started eating it.

"You like the cookies?" he asked. She nodded.

"They're the best. No one ever made cookies for me before," she mentioned.

"No one ever put you first either, but that changes now, Emma. You will always be first to me and your mother," he promised, as she threw her arms around him.

"I love you Daddy…" she said and tears came to his eyes, as he cradled her head. It pained him that this was probably the first time their baby girl had ever felt loved and safe. But they were both determined to make sure she never felt alone or unloved again.

"I love you too, princess," he said. Snow watched from the doorway, as tears were already streaming down her cheek and she put a hand to her heart. He met her watery gaze with his own, with love glowing in their eyes.

Present Day

They arrived home that evening and enjoyed dinner together, before reading Emma a story together. August had been inspired by his new life to start writing down everyone's stories from their land and they had started telling his finished ones to Emma, though they often told her their own story from memory. Never one for fairy tales before this, Emma had become enthralled by the real versions, which were very different from the ones she knew. Once she was fast asleep, Snow and David watched her sleep for quite some time, together with arms around each other.

"I know this isn't the life we originally planned, but it's a very good life," Snow whispered to him.

"Yeah...it's better than the one we were dealt for sure. She's not going to be alone again, my darling," he whispered back. She looked up at him and he pressed a tender kiss to her lips, before sweeping her into his arms.

"Come on...I think it's time for us to have some alone time," he whispered with a husk in his voice that gave her chills.

"You read my mind, my love," she purred, as he carried her to their bedroom. This life wasn't being lived in a palace, but they were rich in all the ways that it mattered. They were a family torn apart and reunited by the grace of the fates. And someday, they would return for their people and free them from a dark curse. But until then, they would raise their daughter together and flourish in their love...