Chapter 3: Snow

Snow was pacing back and forth. She wasn't quite sure what to think when she got off the phone with her grandson. Henry said that there was an accident involving Emma.

Snow was in a quandary of emotions. What could have happened to Emma? Henry sounded so scared. Did Regina turn her into a toad?

"Mary Margaret?" David said as he came down the stairs from the attic. David had built a nursery for Neal in their attic, and put baby up there. Neal was only a few weeks old, and they usually kept him down stairs in a bassinet so Snow could do 2 am feedings easily. When Henry called saying there was an accident, David felt it was safer to put baby in his room, "Why don't you come and sit down. I am sure everything is okay."

"It's 1 am, David. Why would Henry call at 1 am, and why would Regina drive at 1 am, if everything was okay?" Snow would be devastated if something happened to Emma. She turned around and threw her arms around her husband. She knew David would be devastated too, if something was wrong with Emma.

She melted in her husbands arms and breathed him in. David pulled her closer.

There was a knock at the door and the two looked at it, preparing for the worst, "It's unlocked," Charming called.

Regina came in first followed by Henry and Hook. There was no sign of Emma. Snow began to panic inwardly, "Where's Emma?"

"Something has happened," Snow's stepmother started, "Emma came to see me today while I was mixing potions. Well, to make a long story short, one of my potions spilled on her," Snows shut her eyes and smashed her lips together, she may have to murder her stepmother, "It was a complete accident. She will tell you that herself."

"What happened Regina?" Snow's voice was firm and frightened at the same time, "Is her skin purple? Did you turn her into a dog? A roach? What?" Regina stayed quiet. As did everyone in the room. This made David begin to panic.

"Is she alright?" Charming asked in an alarmed voice, and stepped forward slightly in front of Snow, "Where is she?"

"I'm right here," A little girl stepped out from behind Captain Hook and Henry.

Snow's eyes widened. The child was about 4 or 5 Snow guessed. She had blonde hair and Emma's green eyes. She was dressed like Emma too. She had on a miniature white t-shirt, dark-wash blue jeans and a red leather jacket. Most importantly, she could see herself and David in this little girl. More so than she could in the adult she knew as her daughter. This was her little girl.

Snow looked to Charming. He had the same expression on his face that she imagined she had. One of surprise and a the thought of a second chance as a family. She could raise her little girl.

Snow bent down and held out her arms, "Come here, Emma," She said with a wide smile.

Emma obliged and hugged her. Snow got carried away and lifted Emma up in her arms. David came around and hugged Emma from the back, so they were in a large family embrace.

Snow couldn't help the tears coming to her eyes. Henry spoke of this on the phone like something terrible had happened, but it wasn't terrible. Not to her.

With a giddy giggle, Mary Margaret practically skipped to the couch with Emma and sat her down on her lap, "David, go get Neal from upstairs," She instructed her husband who understood completely and ran up stairs to get their baby. "Regina, my camera is in that drawer!" She squealed and squeezed Emma.

Emma wanted to scream that she is still an adult, but decided to keep her mouth for the moment.

David joined them with the baby, and Regina came back with the camera, "Regina," Snow smiled, "Would you mind putting us in something more adorable for the picture?"

Regina waved her hand and they were all dressed beautifully.

Emma looked down at her pink little girl dress and white tights and wanted to puke. She kept a good face for Snow. She knew that her mother wanted this moment.

"Ready?" Regina asked.

"Yes," Snow answered and Regina snapped the picture.

They were a beautiful family of four.

A few hours had passed, and the Nolan house was quiet. David put a the twin size bed that Emma slept on when she lived with Snow, up in Neal's room. Emma was fast asleep. Neal stayed downstairs in his bassinet next to his mother and father.

"Charming?" Snow nudged him in his sleep.

"Hmm?" A sleep filled Charming sort of answered.

"Regina said it's going to take her awhile to find a cure for Emma. I think we should fix a corner in Neal's nursery for her. She can share a room with her brother for now." Snow turned over and put her head on Charming's chest, "It will be nice, being together, as family. I finally have my little girl back."

David turned his head lightly pecked Snow's forehead, "How are we going to deal with this?"

"I think Emma is going to need some new clothes-"

"No, I mean, who are we going to tell about this? So far Regina, Henry and Hook know, but what about everyone else?" David wondered aloud, "Emma is the sheriff in this town, but she can't be sheriff anymore."

"She doesn't need to be sheriff anymore," Snow concluded, "She needs to be our little princess."

"Snow, it's not going to be that easy," David warned.

"Charming, I didn't get a chance to be with Emma as a little girl. This is my chance. Okay?" said Snow.

"Okay," David agreed with a shrug.

"I suppose we can tell the truth, if it comes up," Snow told her husband, and gently rubbed small circles into his chest hair.

"It's gonna come up, Snow,"Charming laughed. How could it not?

"Then we'll deal with it as a family," Snow yawned and shut her eyes.

Hook came by the Nolan residence early the next morning. He would keep his promise to Emma. He hoped Regina would find a cure quickly. He and Emma were just about to start a new relationship, one that he wanted to be a part of. She was the first woman he had felt strong feelings for in awhile. She loved her, and hadn't had a chance to tell her.

"Hook?" David said in surprise when he opened the door.

"I'm here to see Emma," Hook grinned at David.

"Mary Margaret took her shopping for new clothes this morning," David explained and Hook nodded.

That will be interesting, Hook thought to himself, "May I come in and wait?" Hook asked, "I brought her these," He pulled a colorful bouquet of tulips out from behind his back.

David eyed the bouquet warily, but allowed the pirate to enter, "Would you like some coffee?" he offered the one handed man.

"No thanks, mate," Hook said as he took a seat at the kitchen table, "I can join you while you drink yours."

The two men sat at the table quietly. Neither knew what to say to the other. Killian was the first to speak.

"How do you want to handle this with Emma?" He asked. He wanted to help.

David was taken back. Why was this pirate asking him about dealing with Emma? He and Snow just got a chance to be a family with both of their children, and why was this pirate trying to interfere?

"We are going to deal with this as a family," David informed him, trying to make it perfectly clear that he was not wanted.

"I see," Hook nodded and broke eye contact. David may not want him involved, but he would be there for Emma.

"I am the deputy sheriff. I can take over her duties from now on," Charming stated coolly, "I've done it before."

"You mean, you can take over her duties, until she is back to her old self," Hook added in. Hook was beginning to get a clearer picture of what was actually going on here, but he decided it was best to keep quiet for now.

"Yes that's what I meant," The father snapped.

"Is there anything I can do to help? I already promised her that I would come by everyday to see her," The pirate informed him.

"No, seeing her everyday is help enough," David did not like Hook seeing his daughter everyday. Didn't he have anything better to do with his time than visit a little girl?

"Alright," Hook looked down, resisting the urge to punch Prince Charming in the face, "What do you want to tell the town's people?"

"It's none of anyone's concern," Charming was getting ready to punch Hook in the face.

"Really," Hook scoffed, " the sheriff being missing in action is none of the people's concern? I would think that would be something that everyone should be concerned with."

"It's up to myself and Snow what to tell people," David hissed.

"Emma doesn't have any say at all?" The pirate chuckled dryly.

"Emma has been through a rough time," Charming stood up, getting very angry, "I am her father, and I know what's best for her. I would appreciate it if you stayed out of this!

"Calm down, mate. I don't want to cause a problem with you. I know this is a big change for everyone. I just want to keep my promise to Emma," Hook said, and thought to himself him, there is no way you can keep me way.

"And what promise is that?" David couldn't wait to hear this one.

"That I would make it a point to see her everyday." Hook decided to keep the finding a cure part to himself.

"Fine. You can sit here and wait, but if you will excuse me, I have some stuff to finish in the nursery," Charming huffed. He got up and went upstairs.

"Thank you,"Hook rolled his eyes, but was content to wait.

Snow and her two children were at Jack and Jill's children's boutique. It carried the finest children's clothing in Storybrooke.

Emma cringed at the sight of the cutesy pink dresses that Snow so desperately wanted to buy for her. Emma slipped away and went to go look at the designer jeans section. Who knew designers made such amazing jeans for children? Emma smiled wide as she looked through the collection.

Snow didn't notice that Emma was gone for several minutes. When she finally did notice, she was instantly worried. What if she was kidnapped?"Emma? EMMA!" Snow called, she pushed her stroller, with Neal inside, in and out of the aisles, "Thank goodness, Emma, there you are," Snow was very relieved when she spotted her daughter, "Don't you ever sneak away from me again," Snow snapped, her heart rate was through the roof.

Emma gaped at Snow in confusion. Since when did she need to ask permission to do anything? "I wanted to try on some jeans." Emma informed Snow blankly. Emma was very displeased when she saw the disappointed look on her mother's face.

"Look what I picked out for you,"The mother held up two frilly dresses, and Emma almost lost her lunch. She wasn't about to wear little girl dresses. She was a grown woman, "Please Emma, For me..." Snow insisted, as if she could read Emma's thoughts.

Emma shrugged, "Fine. I will try them on, but I am not making any promises," Emma took the dresses and marched to the dressing room, trying not to shudder as she walked.

In the mean time, while Emma was changing, Snow began packing the shopping basket part of her stroller with a number a cute little boy outfits for Neal, "You are going to be the most handsome baby in Storybrooke," Snow cooed, "Yes you are."

Emma came out in the first dress with a disgusted look on her face. There was no way in hell she would allow Snow to buy this dress.

"You are too cute for words!" Snow smiled in pure delight.

"I think I'd rather have the jeans," Emma grunted.

"Please Emma," Snow insisted, "Can we please get this too? I will get as many pairs of jeans as you want, as long as we can get this too." Snow was practically jumping up and down. Her daughter was so cute, she must buy the dress for her.

Emma made a face. With more pleading from her mother, she reluctantly agreed.

"Charming!" Snow practically cheered when she walked through the door, Neal in the stoller and Emma following behind, "Look what we got!" She stopped the stroller, and picked Neal up.

David ran down the stairs. He greeted Snow with a kiss and bent to give the baby a light peck too, "Well I just finished Emma's corner of the nursery and you are going to love it."

"Wonderful!"Mary Margaret cheered, "look at all this," she smiled.

David bent down and removed the shopping bags from the bottom of the stroller. He oohed and aahed over everything his wife brought.

Emma took the opportunity to slip away. She walked into the living room and her face lit up, "Killian," She whispered.

"Swan," he shot her a smile. In David's absence, Hook moved to the sofa and starting watching this magical glowing box called television."For you," he said as he handed Emma the flowers.

Emma took them and inhaled their scent. This was the happiest she had been since she had been turned into a child, "Thank you." she smiled, "not just for the flowers, but for keeping your word."

"Did you doubt me?" He lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Why would you want to see me like this?" Emma inquired. There was no way he could be attracted to her in this form.

"Because, I know you will be back to your old self soon, and I don't want to miss that," Hook said, "I will stand by you for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse-"

"We aren't married, Captain," Emma shook her head. She was glad he was here. She actually felt like an adult.

"Hook?" Snow said, walking into the living room, slightly alarmed, "I didn't realize you were here."

"He promised our daughter that he would come to see her everyday. Isn't that just delightful?" David said sarcastically, and Hook rolled his eyes.

"Would you like to come upstairs and see what my charming husband," Snow gave David the evil eye, "did with Emma's part of the room?.

"I'd be honored," The pirate stated and bowed his head.

They all went upstairs.

"Oh, Charming! It's perfect." stated the happy mother, as she looked over her husband's work. It was beautiful.

"For a little girl," Emma said under her breath.

Emma's gushing parents didn't hear what she said, but Hook heard her loud and clear. He must find the cure.

Author's Note:

Poor Charmings! Their whole family has been rocked and they don't know what to do! Do you think they will figure it out? It's the Charmings! They have to right?

Don't forget! If you would like to see the pics for this fic! Please visit my Profile for the link.

Next up: Belle!